We live in a remarkable time where we can send people into space for months – or years – at a time, we can text photographs to friends and family (almost) anywhere in the world, we can transplant nearly every organ in the human body, and we can purchase anything online with our smartphones in a matter of seconds.

Yet we – the entire human race – are currently in the midst of the worst health crisis since the Black Death (caused by the Bubonic plague) swept through Asia, Europe, and Africa in the 14th century that killed an estimated 50 million people, that has even the most brilliant of medical minds completely baffled.

I am, of course, referring to the coronavirus, and to be brutally and terrifyingly honest, the worst is yet to come.

As of this writing, the coronavirus, which is believed to have originated as ‘severe acute respiratory syndrome’ (SARS) in 2002 in the Guangdong province in China and flourished in the Middle East ten years later, is responsible for an estimated 3,800 deaths. However, according to the World Health Organization, the world is “on the verge of reaching 100,000 [cases],” with confirmed cases in more than 90 countries around the globe.

The good news (unless you were among those 3,800) is that according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins, more than 55,000 patients have recovered from the flu-like illness. Additionally, Chinese officials have confirmed more than 50,000 people have recovered in that country alone.

The bad news (you had to know this was coming) is that while it is clear that the vast majority of those infected get only mild cases of coronavirus, authorities cannot say with any certainty how many of those who contract the virus are likely to die from it, brilliant medical minds notwithstanding.

As expected, coronavirus finally made its way to the United States (reportedly via cruise ships and international flights), and over the past two weeks, many corporations, companies, and small businesses have instituted ‘no handshake / no hug’ policies among their employees, especially those in the food services industry; this because of the highly contagious nature of the virus.

So what does any of this have to do with baseball and why is it even being mentioned on a Dodgers-based blog site, you ask?

The answer to this question is – or at least should be – blatantly obvious and answered with yet another question: What better way to spread an extremely contagious virus than at major sporting events where upwards of 50,000 people are gathered and in very close proximity of one another?

Although there has been no official announcement from Major League Baseball or MLB commissioner Rob Manfred (yet), it is impossible to believe that this worldwide health crisis has not or is not being discussed as you are reading this article. As such, it is also impossible to believe that discussions of fan-less baseball games are not at the very least being considered by MLB and even more so by individual MLB teams.

As a result, don’t be surprised to see increased screening scrutiny at ballpark entrances and significantly more hand sanitation stations at every MLB and MiLB ballpark across the country.

…that is if fans are even allowed into MLB and MiLB ballparks across the country.

Stay tuned … and please exercise good personal hygiene practices at all times.

Play Ball! (I hope).

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