Miami Marlins’ Coronavirus Crisis Must Serve As A Cautionary Tale For Professional Sports

Major League Baseball has made the prudent decision to postpone a grand total of seven ball games for the Miami Marlins beginning with the July 27^th home opener and running through Sunday, August 2^nd. They were supposed to play a combined four games in a home-and-home series against the Baltimore Orioles and then return to Miami for a three-game weekend series against the Washington Nationals. The Marlins have been decimated in terms of personnel and morale. At present count, a combined 17 ball players and coaches have tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Marlins have been subjected to various forms of criticism based on the events that had occurred during this past weekend’s three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies. As they are currently self-quarantining and undergoing additional testing in Philadelphia, an uncertain future lies ahead of them in terms of health and safety. The Marlins’ resiliency is presently being tested while they have also become a cautionary tale for every professional sports franchise.

Finger pointing and blame will not solve this terrifying problem for the Marlins or the rest of Major League Baseball. This crisis cannot be treated as an isolated incident or downplayed in any way. Sadly, the Marlins’ misery has become an important case study for Major League Baseball as they learn more about the coronavirus, how closely ball clubs are adhering to all of the protocols, and the extraordinary challenges on the horizon. You are now left to wonder whether all 30 ball clubs will successfully complete a 60 game schedule.  

The operations manual has already been exhausted and we have yet to complete the first week of the abbreviated season. Major League Baseball knows the coronavirus is in charge and will dictate the rules of the game until further notice. Even with astute planning and comprehensive protocols, Major League Baseball is still defenseless as this treacherous virus spreads with exceptional speed and intensity.

It would not be surprising to see ball players begin to reevaluate whether it is in their best interests to continue playing this season. They will be far more attentive to the concerns expressed by spouses, children, and other family members after witnessing what the coronavirus is currently doing to the Marlins. Ball players have already begun to express trepidation and use their voices in favor of sound judgment. The Nationals were clearly against playing ball games in Miami this upcoming weekend prior to the postponement and voted against traveling to a state that is currently a hot spot for the coronavirus.

Now more than ever, the ball players’ voices need to be heard especially those who have been infected with the coronavirus. First baseman Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves publicly shared his scary experiences battling this disgusting virus. He discussed a body temperature reaching 104.5 degrees and the moments he questioned his own mortality.   

The Marlins will not be the only professional sports franchise to suffer at the hands of the coronavirus. Rest assure, there will be additional cases and varying levels of severity within baseball and other professional sports. However, the Marlins’ current health crisis will force other ball clubs to pay closer attention to all of the details and warning signs. Sometimes, we forget or overlook the fragility of elite athletes and view them as superhuman in nature. Now, we have been introduced to a new vulnerability regardless of your athletic prowess.

Major League Baseball has long considered itself a social institution with social responsibilities. The pressure to return to action was enormous because of the significance of professional sports to the American economy, especially baseball. It is the embodiment of comfort and normalcy amid times of distress. Let us hope baseball’s return were for these reasons instead of television revenue, expanded playoffs, or other selfishly driven motives.