Cubs: Rob Manfred not scared by Miami situation, but should they be?

The Chicago Cubs have had no positive tests for COVID-19. The Miami Marlins? 18 cases of it. Time to panic?

The Chicago Cubs haven’t had a positive test for COVID-19 for a player–except for Tommy Hottovy, the pitching coach. The Miami Marlins? Eighteen cases of it, with more to follow–and there will be more. Remember when we’d have Arizona, Texas and Florida as the prime states? No. Just no.

They are assembled in their divisions, with American League teams scattered about. But division play is key to it. The Brewers, Reds, Pirates and the Cardinals will make up most of the schedule.

Florida is a hotbed of the coronavirus–and it shows. Eighteen cases of it–16 players and two coaches–have it. That’s half of the roster–literally one more than half. They are quarantined in Philadelphia, and Marlins CEO Derek Jeter released a statement that they were going to do daily COVID-19 tests.

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Sandy Alcantara, Miami’s Opening Day starter, tested positive for coronavirus. Honestly? It’s a mess. And Rob Manfred not worried about. Not now, anyway.

"“I don’t put this in the nightmare category,” Manfred said. “We don’t want any player to get exposed. It’s not a positive thing, but I don’t see it as a nightmare. We built the protocols to allow us to continue to play. That’s why we have the expanded rosters. That’s why we have the expanded pools of additional players. We think we can keep people safe and continue to play.” h/t Steve Gardner, USA Today"

The league issued a statement the Marlins wouldn’t have a game until August 3. To be honest, I don’t know about that. The minimum is 14 days, and the Marlins don’t have that much talent to their roster. Granted, there are no fans. So the 10k fans would be irrelevant. But half their roster would be devastating to see.

And a ‘taxi squad’ full of players? Repeat after me—taxi squad. The Cubs don’t have that many players on the TS that are essential to it. But half their roster?

Time to panic.