Saturday BP: Baseball is on the brink

Hello and happy August everyone.

Baseball has been hanging precariously for months. It was suspended in March, argued about for three months, planned for a month, and now has been in action for over a week. And it always felt like it was on the brink of going away.

That’s as true now as ever. On Friday, ESPN reported that commissioner Rob Manfred has warned the Players Association that the season could be canceled if they don’t ramp up their coronavirus precautions. This comes on the heels of 21 members of the Miami Marlins organization testing positive for the virus, and numerous games getting postponed across the league.

Here’s what Jeff Passan wrote:

Should another outbreak materialize, Manfred, who has the power to shut down the season, could move in that direction. Multiple players briefed on the call fear the season could be shut down as soon as Monday if positive tests jump or if players continue not to strictly abide by the league’s protocols.

Networks broadcasting MLB games have been alerted to look at possible alternate programming after this weekend should the league shut down, sources told ESPN’s Keith Olbermann.

Oof.

Did Barry Bonds hit a home run today?

He sure did.

August 1, 2000: Against the Milwaukee Brewers, Bonds hit a solo home run in the 1st inning off of John Snyder. It gave the Giants a 1-0 lead, and they would win 13-8. It was his 33rd homer of the year.

August 1, 2001: Against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bonds hit a solo home run in the 1st inning off of Joe Beimel. It gave the Giants a 1-0 lead, and they would win 3-1. It was his 46th homer of the year.

Giants links

• Roger Munter waxes on players coming, players going, and opportunities (There R Giants)
• Grant Brisbee on the Giants wild bullpen dance being necessary (The Athletic, subscription required)
• Alex Pavlovic on how Marco Luciano has impressed hitting coach Donnie Ecker (NBC Sports Bay Area)
• Kerry Crowley on Gabe Kapler, Bruce Bochy, and why the bullpen mistake mattered (Mercury News)
• Henry Schulman on how the Giants restrictive pitch limits look better with all the pitcher injuries across the league (SF Chronicle)
• Mark W. Sanchez on why the Giants aren’t panicking about Hunter Pence (KNBR)
• Andrew Baggarly on Gabe Kapler’s error on Thursday (The Athletic, subscription required)
• Dalton Johnson on how San Jose Giants announcer Joe Ritzo has found a silver lining with no baseball (NBC Sports Bay Area)
• Henry Schulman with a mailbag (SF Chronicle)

Have a wonderful Saturday, friends.