The Yankees are afflicted by an outbreak of the COVID virus that came out of nowhere. All bets are now off as the Yankees struggle to make do.
The Yankees were set to open a four-game series against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium tonight on ESPN, except if you’ve tuned in, you are relegated to a re-run of the All-Star Game.
By now, most Yankees fans are aware their team is under attack, not by the Red Sox but from the COVID virus.
ESPN is reporting that The Yankees‘ post-All-Star break opener against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night was postponed because of positive COVID-19 tests among New York pitchers Jonathan Loaisiga, Nestor Cortes Jr., and Wandy Peralta.
Plus, Aaron Judge, Kyle Higashioka, and Gio Urshela are also in COVID-19 protocols, sources told ESPN’s, Buster Olney.
Yankees: Ouch, Can They Move on
If you haven’t counted yet, that’s a huge whack on the team, and where we go from here is anyone’s guess.
Stating the obvious, GM Brian Cashman says, “We’re in a very fluid situation right now,” – as is major league baseball’s scheduling department charged, together with the Yankees, for coming up with make-up dates that will almost surely pile up as the weekend progresses.
Still, the primary concern is with the Yankees players who may or not be afflicted with the virus. In that regard, Cashman assures that “As of right now, everybody’s OK.”
Surely, with the team having reached the 85% plateau of vaccinated players, as required by MLB to “loosen up” restrictions. The level of politics reaching into this situation is likely to explode soon.
Still, it’s best to remember which of the Yankees are vaccinated and who are not remains an unknown and is likely not to be disclosed.
Yankees: Do They Have A Plan B
Nevertheless, this throws a wrench into the team, and their fans hope for a beginning to the second half that would see a turnaround, with play in the field that would jettison them into a Wild Card spot in the playoffs.
On the one hand, nothing changes, and the games still must be played. But coming on the cusp of road-series wins in Seattle and Houston, this has to be a setback for a Yankee’s team that was looking to grasp on any silver lining they could reach.
At this point, we know nothing more about the rest of the Yankees’ series against the Red Sox that is scheduled to conclude Sunday night.
MLB, as they did, for example, when the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies were afflicted in the same way earlier in the season, can be expected to intervene if the situation expands and more games are forced to be postponed.
Yankees: Challenges Lead To Wins
For the Yankees, this represents a challenge, which, if they can overcome, can lead them not only into the playoffs but possibly beyond to the Promised Land and Number 28.
The Yankees can look across the Whitestone Bridge to see how the Mets got it done in the first half, with a bunch of no-names players who rose to the task of being a player in the major leagues.
Today’s promotion by the team of Trey Amburgey might be the source of a spark the team will need if key players are out for a while.
Round and round we go, where the wheel stops, no one knows, and so it is today as the Yankees look at an unexpected hiccup to their season.
I like it. Let’s see what you’ve (Yankees) got – once and for all…
Here’s What Readers Are Saying…
Bill Johnson Out of nowhere? Cole was on an IV last week sick as a dog
Uri Zak “For the Yankees, this represents a challenge, which, if they can overcome, can lead them not only into the playoffs but possibly beyond to the Promised Land and Number 28.” I am afraid to continue the season we need a manager like Don Mattingly. Remember the last season when half of Marlins was on COVID, but they still managed to stay competitive and even made playoffs. I am not sure that Boone is up to the task.
Pedro Hernández Now the season truly is over, they don’t have pitching for regular scheduled games… there’s no way on he’ll to climb back up on a make-up tight schedule towards the end of the season!
Closing Published Comments And Final Thoughts
With the story ever-evolving, we’ll close published comments on this article, moving instead to a more recent story from earlier today:
Yankees: Judge And Cole “Drove” To Denver – COVID Outbreak Meaning?
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal.
