Coronavirus concerns grow, but Opening Day still scheduled in Seattle
While Seattle Mariners spring training is continuing as planned in Arizona, growing concerns about the coronavirus outbreak back home have prompted this question: Will Opening Day be played in Seattle?
The Mariners are scheduled to open their season at T-Mobile Park on March 26 with a four-game series against the Texas Rangers, followed directly by a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins, before they hit the road for the first time.
That plan hasn’t changed with three weeks still to go before Opening Day, and any decisions to alter that plan likely won’t be made until the regular season draws closer, but the Mariners remain in contact with public health officials as communities around Seattle declare states of emergency, schools cancel classes and businesses take extra caution with their employees to avoid further spreading the virus. Washington state had 14 confirmed coronavirus deaths as of Friday.
Any decision regarding Seattle’s schedule would ultimately come from major league baseball. The league does not presently plan to cancel or postpone games, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Tuesday, but continues to monitor the situation, and has given guidelines to each team as spring training continues.
“We’re business as usual here,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said Friday. “We’re trying to get our team ready to go. If things like that play in when we get closer to (Opening Day), I’m sure I’ll be made aware. Those decisions will be made above me, and we’ll adjust accordingly.
“But, right now it’s just focus on what we need to do with this group of young players.”
Mariners coaches and players have had discussions about the virus, and guidelines for how to prevent contracting and spreading the virus have been posted in their Peoria clubhouse.
“I know our trainer has addressed the group — just cleanliness, how you need to take care of yourself, washing your hands and doing all of those other things,” Servais said. “We haven’t gone any further than that, testing anybody or things like that, but we have talked about it.”
The Mariners have 20 more Cactus League games to play before their scheduled return home at the end of the month.
“Hopefully things will be in good shape — or in better shape — by that time when we open up,” Servais said. “But, we’ll just have to wait and see.”
