Cardinals pitcher Andrew Miller feels there’s ‘some doubt’ a 2020 season will be played.
Even though all 30 MLB teams, with some minor exceptions because of opt-outs or COVID-positive tests, have reported to Summer Camp (aka Spring Training 2.0), St. Louis Cardinals reliever Andrew Miller remains skeptical about a 2020 season being played.
According to Cardinals beat reporter Jeff Jones, Miller said, “I think there’s still some doubt that we’re going to have a season now.”
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It’s unclear what led to this statement. Perhaps it was Mike Trout’s unwillingness to commit to playing in 2020. Trout and his wife are expecting a baby this August and his main concern is keeping his wife and unborn child safe.
However, Trout isn’t alone in feeling some trepidation. In fact, Trout told reporters, “I’ve talked to a lot of guys across the league and they’re texting me a lot. I’m not gonna name any names, but they’re all thinking the same thing: ‘Is this gonna work?'”
Even San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey expressed some hesitancy about playing this season, saying to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, “I want to see how things progress here over the next couple weeks.”
There’s also all the positive tests that were reported throughout the weekend. Guys like Freddie Freeman, Miguel Sano, Salvador Perez, DJ LeMahieu, and more have tested positive for COVID-19. Though most of these players are reportedly asymptomatic, guys like Freeman are said to be experiencing pretty fevers, chills, and body aches.
And finally, there are the opt-outs; players who have decided to sit out the 2020 season for fear of contracting and spreading the virus. We’re talking players like David Price and “King” Felix Hernandez.
Perhaps these are all the reasons for Cardinals pitcher Andrew Miller’s troubling comments. With the country undergoing a mass resurgence in positive cases, the league faces a tough challenge as the season kicks off. Hopefully, the extensive health and safety protocols will cover all the bases in keeping players safe.