Baseball confronts first COVID-19 crisis. Will it be the last?

Some sports have been more successful at re-starting than others. Baseball is going through a rough patch now with about half of the Miami Marlins traveling party, mostly players, having contracted COVID-19 during the team’s opening series at Philadelphia. The outbreak has ripple effects with other games being postponed.It’s baseball’s nightmare scenario that hasn’t occurred in some other sports, like soccer, that have re-started in the U.S., or in other countries. So as pro and college football approach, is it time to ask—if behaviors don’t change and coronavirus numbers continue to climb in the U.S.—are the health risks worth continuing the re-start efforts?Star columnist Vahe Gregorian joins SportsBeat KC host Blair Kerkhoff in the discussion. Carry on or cancel? Can you want sports to be played but raise the possibility of it being a bad idea? After a break, you’ll hear from Royals manager Mike Mathney and All-Star Whit Merrifield on how the Marlins’ news hit the Royals’ clubhouse on Monday.Story links:Royals: Marlins’ COVID outbreak bad for all of baseball, potentially devastatingFive Patriots players, including two starters, opt out of 2020 NFL season Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices