Elephant Rumblings: Reds miss weekend after one player tests positive for coronavirus

Good morning, Athletics Nation!

Major League Baseball has hit its next coronavirus hiccup, though so far this one hasn’t run as deep as the ones that affected over half the Miami Marlins roster or put the St. Louis Cardinals out of action for two weeks.

This time the team in question is the Cincinnati Reds, who had one player test positive after Friday’s game, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Further tests yielded no more positives, reports insider Jon Heyman, but still their Saturday and Sunday games against the Pittsburgh Pirates were postponed, with Monday appearing to be out as well per Jason Mackey of the Post-Gazette.

Will this episode stop at one Reds player infected and then a quick return to action for the team, or will it spiral into a larger outbreak like happened to the Marlins and Cardinals? We’ll find out soon.

There’s room for hope, though. The Cleveland Indians showed how seriously they’re taking things by optioning two star pitchers back to their alternate training camp. Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac were caught breaking protocol to leave the team hotel one night, and the Indians aren’t taking it lightly even though that pair represent two of their better players.

In the meantime, all 18 Marlins players who tested positive are cleared and back in camp working out, reports Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald. The Cardinals played three games over the weekend, their first since July 29, and won two of three against the Chicago White Sox.

We’re past the one-third point of the short 2020 campaign, so baseball only has to hold out for another five weeks or so in order to complete its regular season and get the playoffs going.

A’s Coverage

• Gallegos: Puk, Montas updates; Hendriks’ heat
• Kawahara: A’s Frankie Montas’ next start could be Tuesday; A.J. Puk making progress ($)
• Kawahara: A’s Lou Trivino seeks to regain 2018 form, bigger bullpen role ($)
• Hickey: Athletics’ Luzardo Tips Cap to Giants’ Batters for `Hunting Heaters’
• Hickey: The Best Seat in the House Friday and Saturday Belonged to Lou Trivino
• Hickey: Two Weeks (Plus) to Remember Have Athletics on Verge of Great Possibilities
• Hall: A’s place Burch Smith on injured list, recall James Kaprielian
• Hall: 2020 A’s: Year of the Grand Slam
• Hall: A’s prospect watch: Vimael Machin earns first MLB hit
• Friday: Game #20: A’s stun Giants with 9th-inning comeback, win 8-7 in extras
• Saturday: Game #21: A’s get Gott again, come back in 9th for 7-6 win over Giants
• Sunday: Game #22: No comeback needed, A’s sweep Giants with 15-3 rout

MLB News & Interest

• Noga: Adam Plutko on Cleveland Indians teammates Zach Plesac and Mike Clevinger: ‘They hurt us bad’
• Norris: MLB Mulls Plan For Teams To Add 15 More Players To Alternate Site ($$$)
• Todd (roundup): MLB Considering Expansion Of Player Pool
• Lindbergh: As It Celebrates the Centennial of the Negro Leagues, MLB May Undo a “Major” Mistake
• Adams (roundup): Astros Activate Yordan Alvarez
• Todd (roundup): Rangers Select Juan Nicasio; Greg Bird Elects Free Agency
• Johns: Mariners’ Lail, Odom recalled; Wisdom released
• Hummel: Cardinals coach Willie McGee, concerned about family and health, opts out of season
• Today in Baseball History

Weekend Sweep Highlights

Friday: Win! Five-run 9th-inning comeback, highlighted by Piscotty’s grand slam.

Saturday: Win! Three-run comeback in the 9th, highlighted by Canha’s go-ahead homer.

Sunday: Win! In a 15-3 rout! Also, Kaprielian made his debut out of the bullpen.

Best of A’s Twitter

The last time the Giants had been on the other end of one of these was 1929

Illustration of an epic comeback

... and another the next night!

One True Outcome

That’s Mr. Biscotti to you (click through for full thread)

President Kaval REALLY likes to troll the Giants!

Best of MLB Twitter

At least one MLB team taking this thing seriously

Hopefully a team gives Cotton another chance!

SCHROCK N ROLL!!!

... and another former Baby A!

... and yet ANOTHER!

The Angels and Mariners are a combined 14-31, so the acronym works on an extra level