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Mark Shapiro spoke to the press about today’s decision (I used to get invited to telephone press conferences at one time).
More Shapiro: "We respect the decision. The virus has been well managed by public health and political leaders in Canada. We understand and appreciate the decision."
— Rob Longley (@longleysunsport) July 18, 2020
Mark Shapiro is meeting with the media via Zoom now. Starts off by thanking Toronto Mayor John Tory, Ontario Premier Doug Ford as well as municipal, provincial and federal public health offices. Says public and community health was always the top concern for all. #Bluejays
— Mike Wilner (@Wilnerness590) July 18, 2020
Well, I’m guessing community health wasn’t the top concern for all. If it was, the province and city wouldn’t have approved. No matter what, the approval wasn’t based on community health. You could possibly think that there is slim chance of someone getting sick from the teams coming to town, but you can’t think there is no chance. You can decide that the chance is so slim it is worth it.
More Shapiro: "We respect the decision. The virus has been well managed by public health and political leaders in Canada. We understand and appreciate the decision."
— Rob Longley (@longleysunsport) July 18, 2020
And he tells us that Dunedin and Buffalo are not the only options:
Shapiro said there are "alternatives that are real" beyond Buffalo and Dunedin for the #Bluejays.
— Rob Longley (@longleysunsport) July 18, 2020
It really sounds more and more like Buffalo won’t work. He said there are space and infrastructure issues at Buffalo. Triple A clubhouses aren’t anything like major league clubhouses. And when you want the players to distance, well the clubhouses there really won’t work. There would be a lot of construction that would have to be done.
Shapiro said Dunedin is the only option that is 100 per cent seamless and ready to go but from a player health standpoint has issues (obviously.)
— Rob Longley (@longleysunsport) July 18, 2020
Yeah, ‘player health standpoint’ Dunedin would be a terrible place to be.
"We move forward with no excuses. All of our alternatives are going to be imperfect." #Bluejays president Mark Shapiro.
— Rob Longley (@longleysunsport) July 18, 2020
This one makes it sounds like it is the other teams coming into the country that had the government worried.
Shapiro feels #BlueJays satisfied all of the Public Health Agency of Canada concerns within their control, travel in and out of the U.S. was decisive factor
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) July 18, 2020
Anyway the team is playing intrasquad again today. The lineups:
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays have an intrasquad game today at Rogers Centre ahead of a season that begins in six days. Lineups below.
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) July 18, 2020
Hyun-Jin Ryu looking to go six innings vs. Tanner Roark who's budgeted for four.
Also expected to pitch: Hatch (3 IP), Bass (1), Giles (1), Cole (1) pic.twitter.com/LaNutzouU1