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Good morning and happy Tuesday. Before we get started, please remember to A) wash your hands regularly and thoroughly, B) vote if you are in a state that is voting today, and C) wash your hands regularly and thoroughly.
Now, onto a completely unrelated topic. On Monday, the MLB issued a joint statement with the other three major American sports leagues that are currently in season (the NBA, NHL, and MLS).
The statement announces that the leagues are limiting media access pre- and post-game. Essentially, media members will no longer be allowed in the locker rooms/clubhouses, and will instead conduct media obligations from designated areas.
Enclosed is the official joint statement from the NBA, NHL, MLB and MLS on their new locker room access restrictions in the wake of the coronavirus crisis ... pic.twitter.com/KkATJVI6rH
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) March 9, 2020
OK. You might be unsure how to feel about this, so let’s check in on how members of the San Francisco Giants beat feel:
Asinine. This is opportunistically restrictive and not grounded in common sense at all. In what other transactional relationship is this going to be the policy? Do players have to maintain 6-8 feet from waiters, bank tellers and the dude behind the Starbucks counter, too? https://t.co/qjaiqjRoxo
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) March 9, 2020
Well, that’s certainly a strong take, and I’ll let you decide whether or not you agree with that. There is definitely a case to be made that if things are severe enough to alter game day operations, that games should simply be canceled.
In other news that’s more specific to the Giants, reliever Matt Carasiti suffered an arm injury over the weekend that will require Tommy John surgery. That’s never fun news.
Tough breaking news in #SFGiants camp. I've learned that RHP Matt Carasiti will undergo Tommy John surgery tomorrow morning in San Francisco. Carasiti was injured Thursday vs. Cleveland. Forkball specialist had a great chance to win a bullpen role.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) March 9, 2020
Carasiti was a Farhan Zaidi special, which is to say he was signed over the offseason to a minor league contract with an invite to major league camp. He was pitching decently, with seven strikeouts in five spring innings.
And finally ... let me just leave this here for you all to happily feast your eyes on.
Just gonna leave this here. pic.twitter.com/JH1Mr3BKLG
— Doug Padilla (@DougPadilla) March 7, 2020
It’s beautiful. These are my people.