Cardinals Change COVID-19 Policy after the Outbreak

With spiking cases of positive coronavirus cases that the St. Louis Cardinals have been coming up with over the past few days, the team has tweaked its COVID-19 policy. The team has already listed six players on the COVID-19 injured list this week right after the pandemic outbreak took over the organization. However, the reason for the outbreak has not yet been established, but the information is being looked upon to investigate the reason. In the wake of this outbreak in the organization, the Cardinals have decided to bring about some important changes to the COVID-19 policies.

Cardinals Positive COVID-19 Cases.

Cardinals manager Mike Shildt in a statement directed players that those players who are not in the playing squad as of now, cannot enter the dugout during games. Shildt is skeptical that the virus entered the dugout from outside (from some asymptomatic individual) in St. Louis. This purely has come with an attempt to play outside the bubble. Until now, multiple MLB teams have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak during the first two weeks of the season. As of now games the Cardinals had to play have been postponed.

This week as many as 13 Cardinal players have been tested coronavirus positive. Of the thirteen positive COVID-19 cases, six have already been placed under the COVID-19 injured list. The players who have been placed under the COVID-19 injured list include Carlos Martínez, pitcher Paul DeJong, shortstop, Junior Fernández, pitcher, Yadier Molina, catcher, Kodi Whitley, pitcher & Edmundo Sosa, shortstop.

St. Louis Cardinals’ Previous Schedule.

The Cardinals’ were about to take on the Detroit Tigers through Tuesday-Thursday. But, the game was postponed because of the pandemic outbreak. The game that was to be played against the Chicago Cubs was also postponed and could not be done as scheduled. Around a week after the outbreak, the team returned to some light workout sessions, after the Cardinals along with some players & staff members were quarantined in Milwaukee. This is definitely “a breath of the fresh air” as is mentioned by Mike Shildt. After 13 players having been tested positive for the virus, out of which seven are players and six staff members, the game was suspended & the team has been spending most of their days in their hotel.

This Tuesday, August 4, they were cleared to travel to St. Louis after two consecutive negative tests as administered on each of these individuals. They left for St. Louis on the morning of August 5 and got time for workouts in the very afternoon.

Cardinals manager Mike Shildt on a conference call said that You can't take for granted even the freedom we have in a somewhat limited-freedom world when you're in a hotel room for six straight days and you get outside. It's a nice feeling to feel that sun, and move around, and get a little sweat going and see the guys enjoying their workout."

Filling out a Roster with Multiple Players on the Injured List.

Filling out the roster with multiple players on the injured list is a challenge for the league. The players who reported positive test results included two All-Stars, catcher Paul DeJong & Yadier Molina. Yadier Molina, the All-Star right-hander also was set to the injured list with no reason until now known for the outbreak. While they will be taking on the NL Central rivals, the Cardinals will be seven players down.

The Cardinals have on the roster pitchers Alex Reyes and Genesis Cabrera who are from the team’s alternate training site in Springfield, Missouri to fill the vacancies. Catcher Jose Godoy has also been added to the taxi squad after the infielder Rangel Ravelo was placed on the injured list. Contracts of pitcher Roel Ramirez & infielder Max Schrock have also been purchased. Talking about this whole situation, Shildt said, "You know, I'm optimistic. I'm optimistic about the group I currently have. We clearly miss the guys that aren't here. But the guys are in good spirits and excited to get back to the fields. We'll just take it day by day with this group and compete."