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This is just wrong and ignorant. The world doesn't need it to "end". The world needs scientifically developed immunity and that comes in the form of a vaccine not this "herd" concept where millions and millions of human beings are infected.

Another good day for IL. 20k+ tests, 1700 cases, 8.5% positive rate.

So what happens if a viable vaccine takes 10 years to develop. Do you re-evaluate your risk taking then. Or are you going to hunker down and live in a cave for 10 years. While I am hopeful of the existing vaccine research this is a new virus and its not a guarantee that it will be successful. I mean this is the only problem with waiting for a cure. I am socially distancing and doing my part. My job is already 100 percent remote and I am part of most companies critical infrastructure. A lot of people are not. My neighbors are acting like its spring break. One of them had a bonfire in his front yard and I counted over 50 people drinking and not socially distancing. I don't see how this is going to be sustainable especially here were we really only have a few months of golden weather. I think is all going to become bedlam in the next few weeks. Next Saturday is going to be 80+.

I don't disagree. But like it or not, I'm not going to a restaurant unless either there is virtually zero transmission in my area or until there's a vaccine. I'm not going to a baseball game without a vaccine. I'm not going on a vacation without a vaccine. I'm not going into Kohl's and trying on clothes in a dressing room without a vaccine or virtually zero transmission, I'm not waiting in a Black Friday line without a vaccine. You can declare the doors are open all you want, and even if I keep my job and my health insurance through this, I'm hunkering down for the next year+. This is the logical, rational choice for a very large number of people, particularly since we know that it can do serious damage to a large number of healthy people without killing them. So airlines, restaurants, hotels - there is nothing these things can do right now. You can't just declare "Things are back to normal" even if you have a low level of transmission in an area, because it would be dumb to behave as though it is. And 50, 75% of people in an area are going to understand - while the other 25% are letting themselves get sick, it's really dumb to go out right now. Can a hotel survive if 75% of its demand vanishes? Can a restaurant? No, obviously not. Which means...if we want these things back in a year, the only plausible answer is continued government support.

Two things: 1.) Trump is a TV personality, an entitled rich guy who has always been about staying rich and keeping wealthy, a bad president. I'm not sure what we're allowed to say about people before getting banned here so I'll stop there. 2.) To show how we all believe what we believe, you wrote: "unfortunately people who supposedly have no jobs and have no money and are about to commit suicide, jubilantly packed bars and restaurants in Wisconsin." How unfair a sentence was that? Supposedly?? I know tons of people fired or laid off recently. The unemployment numbers, if they are real, are staggering. A lot of people are suicidal and hurting and have nothing to do with the bargoers. Just trying to show you how we all have our takes and some look unfair to people on the other side. We aren't "crazy." I think it's a fascinating study in human behavior and the brain. Look at me. It's 1:38 p.m. Sunday and because of all the articles and TV snippets I've caught and dictatorial slow-moving actions by government in Kansas, yes I'm scared to go to church at 5 p.m. today. It's open at 5 p.m. to 70 people and I've been brainwashed (that's probably not the right word) into utter fear (nine weeks of isolation will scramble parts of your brain, Dick Allen). I think I'm going to go and make my donation in the back of the church and see how I feel when I get there. Finally ... your comment about science. That's part of the problem. Some of us have family members in medical field and some of us know people who know people who state the corona problem is not that bad and reopening should be done. So good people, ones obeying the rules so far (I've broken no rules and done nothing risky til perhaps going to church today) have their brains muddled and torn by all the different chatter. We don't necessarily believe the science. If that makes us despicable, well there's probably going to be a Civil War in which we could pay for our doubts about the science here.

I haven't heard this specifically but I think the White Sox will try to prioritize Cespedes during this upcoming period. Then you worry about Colas later. Nobody else has money either and his Japanese club believes that they own his rights. If his situation isn't solved this summer, they could theoretically just sign Oscar Colas using 2021 signing money and push his signing to that period. There likely won't be any minor league baseball anyway so it's not a huge deal at this point.

Why do people keep responding to Greg here? He's obviously trolling. People take the bait every time.

I've had a tough time confirming anything during this pandemic. The White Sox have heavy rumored interest in Cespedes though. Today, Oscar Colas signed with Alex Cotto, the same agent that represents Norge Vera and Yoan Moncada. I'm not sure if it means anything but it's something to watch.

That would be a great way to cover all 3.

I am at the park in Lawrence, Ks., under the gazebo surfing and I thought I'd update you on my Sunday dilemma and what I've observed today. -- Texted my brother the nurse in Chicago and told him I was thinking of going to 5 p.m. Mass (70 people max, hand cleanser walking in, three people per row every fourth row, no singing, maximum time had to be 45 mins). I told brother I was getting scared and didnt know if I should go. He said, "GO!" So I went. -- On the way there I drove thru U of Kansas campus as it's a shortcut to church. As I hit the business building area, there were 6 young women with cap and gown on with adults dressed up. Today would have been graduation day at KU. I honked my horn loudly 3-4 times, gave a thumbs up, and the girls smiled, screamed and waved. I must confess I teared up as college seniors didn't get their graduation. These families obviously did this on their own. KU is SHUT DOWN baby! None of the women or adults had masks on. -- Got to church and walking up I noticed across the street a party (prolly a makeshift graduation party) of at least 50 people on a lawn. Nobody had masks. Everybody had beer. Typical graduation type party: kids and adults, no masks. -- Went up to door of church, was mobbed by Knights of Columbus guys putting soap on my hands and making me sign in. They read me the rules. I had my mask on as did they of course. I counted 14 people at Mass. Nobody was seated anywhere near me of course. The Mass took 30 minutes; the visiting priest was from anothe country and I couldn't understand a word he said. They brought in some priests to help out and he is one of them. No hard feelings, I appreciate his service; I just couldn't understand his broken English. -- Mass ended, I left and got drive through coffee and am at the park. On driving to the park I drove downtown Lawrence and I must say it was pretty crowded for the first time in a long time (we open up Monday). The ice cream store which had one person outside taking orders with the line of customers outside, had a long line with a worker in a mask. Not one person in the line had a mask. CONCLUSION OF MY DAY: Glad I went to church. If I get the virus from that it was meant to be. I wasn't near anybody. It was good to be back in there. .... I feel like people don't want to wear masks. Get mad all you want. This is my observation. ... Finally I think one of the reasons people are saying F You to lockdown and masks is they don't trust the scientists who are all over TV (the naysayers claim the figures have been off; dont shoot the messenger), they don't approve of power hungry politicians who IN SOME CASES appear too bossy and in love with power and making decisions for political reasons; they are not as scared as before of contracting the virus (they think if they get it it'll be like any other virus). ... There also is an eerieness about being outside, almost like it will be in the aftermath of a nuclear bomb if and when we ever get bombed. Just a weird vibe. Now would a troll give u an update like this? I am a concerned citizen and good person who has obeyed all rules. I am not a troll, just arguably a strange person. Peace. Out. (Episode 9 and 10 baby, enjoy Jordan).

The problem is the only way for it to end is to spread it. A vaccine will probably never come but if it does it's a long long way from being released. A "cure" will never happen. Yes New York got hit hard but literally 86% of the 22k deaths are age 60 and over. 30% are over age 90. A better strategy is to protect those most at risk of death/ hospitalization and let others spread it. Crowds are the most efficient way.

We've never, ever seen biological science mobilizing like it is right now. The US government is in the way of course, and there's going to be issues like "do we have enough glass to hold the vaccines as they're distributed" that the government should be dealing with but it isn't, but with this many candidates it seems likely that we'll get there eventually. I just read a promising paper saying that the immune system T-Cell response to this virus is strong enough that long-term immunity may be possible: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/05/t-cells-found-covid-19-patients-bode-well-long-term-immunity With the work being done on this thing, and the ways people are trying to shortcut development, I'm genuinely hopeful that there can be one available before the 12 month mark is hit, but if I were a policymaker I'd be asking how we can deal with this for 18 months.

While I don't have sympathy for people not wearing masks, I have plenty sympathy for people up against it economics-wise. But I don't see how pressuring workers to return to infested meat packing plants is the answer. Normal economic policy is not the answer. I don't know what the answer is, but we are not coming close to getting answers from Washington. These problems are huge, and the people there are small-minded.

I agree, but I think you’d agree that the real shitstorm brewing is unemployment. People are not taking this seriously enough. It’s all roses and sunshine right now, but if the restaurant and hotel industries, and basically tourism in general, don’t return within the next two months, there’s going to be total mayhem. Once all the people who populate those industries stop receiving their little $600 poppers in July...holy shit. That doesn’t even take into account all the hundreds of thousands of businesses integrated with those industries that may not come back. Once the $600 goes away, unemployment won’t be enough to control the masses. That was the whole point of the $600.

Because the mask and haircut storyline has dragged on for so many weeks, there has to be a catharsis/conclusion. Or for the same reason Jose Abreu debates never die, although they just might fade away.

The one (hypothetically) starting July 2nd, yes.

Holy fuck does this post suck (rhyme intended).

Just my opinion, but anyone who is working away from home and around other people right now should get hazard pay. I don't care who it is or how much they're getting paid. The players aren't being unreasonable at all. If you have enough money to own a sports team, you can pay your players for playing in empty stadiums.

I find it ironic you call the governors bullies when the biggest bully in history is in the WH. The reason we have to go through this is because of the very slow federal response. I read where if everyone wore masks and practiced social distancing the cases and death toll would be 12% of what the are. The only reason Trump is all about opening up is because his advisors at Fox News told him he has no shot of being re-elected if the economy is still in the gutter on Election Day. Things would go back to a lot closer to normal if you follow the science, but unfortunately people who supposedly have no jobs and have no money and are about to commit suicide, jubilantly packed bars and restaurants in Wisconsin. Do you really think they are going to prove the science wrong? Eric Trump said yesterday the Democrats cooked up Covid 19 to keep Donald Trump from holding his rallies. Apparently they organized it so well the rest of the earth agreed to participate. He said once Election Day comes and goes, the virus will magically disappear. These people are crazy.

Man I can't wait for the park to have that kind of electricity again. It's been way too long.

My opinion may be colored by the fact that I live in NYC where 20,000 people are dead. The problem isn't the people attending large gatherings "taking their chances," it's providing fuel for the virus to keep spreading. Everyone who gets it, even those who don't get particularly sick, keep the virus alive in the community. If the average person who gets it gives it to two people, you can see how that just delays when this thing is finally over. Not to mention the inevitability of people dying as a result. I would love to have crowds back, but it is a terrible idea. Just a note, players didn't die, but people affiliated with the NBA definitely died as did Karl Anthony Townes' mother.

Exactly...and then adjust that rate for the vast majority of deaths being over 65 with comorbid conditions. They have a much better chance of dying from something else vs this virus. In my opinion they should be playing in front of fans...those that are scared to come out stay home. Every covid model has been based on poor data and pretty much every decision around this has been bad.

I feel your concern. I could be just like the doorman; we all could. Healthy today and after my Mass or haircut I could die within 2 weeks. I don't want to die and don't want to give it to anybody. I do think America is in a great divide; people who talk like me (and much worse since I abide by the rules) and people like the LA mayor who has locked it down til August. I think there will be a Civil War if this continues. Or total unrest anyway. I think my problem and the problem of the Fox TV watchers is we dont like to be bullied; we don't like the aggression. The LA guy said they will turn off the AC and the water of any businesses open. Other business owners are being thrown in jail even though many criminals who were in jail have been released from jail because of virus concerns. To those politicians I say quit acting so tough when the (unpopular) president is on the other end of the scale, saying open schools, open everything! There can't be such a big discrepancy in president and Guvs and mayors. There are those of us very concerned about the economy being bad forever. I listened to some politician (I think the LA dictator guy) say LA would never be the same and it would never completely reopen. I am hearing "new normal" now out of politicians and I don't like it. I can believe we will have sports again with fans and we will travel again and have picnics and full churches. I don't accept this as the "new normal." I've come to realize there is a great divide. And you and I will probably never get along again. There is a divide too great to close with people with opinions on this. That's why I think there will be a Civil War. I won't ever physically yell at or hit somebody who disagrees with me, but it could get bad out there with those upset at the orders. And if Trump were to somehow win again ... I do think this time the rioting will be worst of all time. I wish you and yours well. Like I said I've abided by all rules and now that I can go back to Mass and in the coffee shop of 5 peeps in there I'll wear my cloth mask even though I personally feel the masks are full of dust and grossness just from carrying them around. Peace.

Yes but what about the NBA players...a bunch got it back in February and now they are piling their corpses up like cord wood...oh wait. We are, right now at about 1 in 4,000 Americans dead from this...Italy during the plaque had 2,400 dead out of 4,000 and THEY didn't cancel baseball. I'm tired of hiding under my bed and I want to see Robert and Moncada and Jimenez hitting.

Actually, I respect public officials who care about my safety a lot more than public officials who only care about their election chances in 6 months.The funny thing is the administration was slow to act because they were worried about the stock market, now acting way too quickly for the same reason. Did you see the video of a reporter being hassled by people (great people POTUS tweeted) just covering their reopening? Those people were so great, one even made a hang Fauci sign. No need to listen to the science. The reason you are supposed to wear a mask isn’t to protect you, but to protect others. If you can’t be bothered to put one on. you have shown what you think of the others. Why weren’t you and the rest up in arms when Trump was on board with this social distancing, and the rest? Why wasn’t it dictatorship then? Why weren’t you pissed off airlines were losing money and people were losing jobs when Trump imposed his travel bans? if you really think just going back to normal can happen, you haven’t been paying attention, I live in Chicago. Cook County now has the most cases in the country. My safety as well as my asthmatic wife’s, and 82 year old father concerns me. Plus I am part of a community. I owe the people of my community the effort to do what I can do to halt the spread of the virus. I have been tested for the virus and antibodies and was negative with both. I had initially thought I would like to have been positive with the antibody test, but that would have meant I was walking around with it for a while and passed it on to others, and they would have passed it on, and who knows what my infection would have done. A doorman in my building in his 40s died because of Covid 19. I spoke to him his last day on the job, and he had no symptoms of being even slightly ill. A week later, he was dead.

You are coming to the wrong conclusion IMO. My position will be forever ... if people are hoarding all the disposable masks and I can't get one, shame on them. I'm not selfish in not wanting to wear a cloth mask that I had to order online (many people still don't go online and put their CC info on there) and doesn't fit right and is hard to tie. And falls off. Get me some boxes of 50 masks that are not price gouged and maybe we can talk. I'll tell you right now. Masks reek. I'll wear them where I'm told I have to wear them (planes, trains, barber shop, church).

I have come to the conclusion that people who refuse to wears masks don’t give a fuck about anyone but themselves.

One week left of regular season games before they show the 12 postseason games. The 9/20 Crede walkoff vs the Indians will be shown Saturday night. Probably the biggest win of the season. If they lost and the next two days went the same way, the Sox would have been in second place with 10 games left. Uribe made a play in the 8th inning that could have been a season saver. AJ steps on Aaron Boone scoring from 3rd. It was a classic game.

Couldn't agree more. I don't understand why the assumption is being made that playing baseball in empty stadiums under constant supervision and strong cleaning precautions is any more dangerous than wherever they would be if not at the ballpark. Its not like they are being held in vacuum chambers with no human interaction when not playing. I understand the fear of front line workers with constant interaction with the public (cashiers, health care workers, etc), but it seems like people are hijacking those reasonable fears into other lines of work like baseball where the public interaction just doesn't exist.

And I'm sorry... I have no sympathy for the "risking our lives" bit. This coming from a guy who lost his uncle to this virus. You are in your 20's and early 30's, in top physical condition. You are at a MICROSCOPIC risk of losing your life and will be 10x more protected than the average citizen. People are going back to work in restaurants, factories, etc. I am going back to work in a gym training and rehabbing athletes soon. The world is slowly getting back to work, for much less money and in much more hazardous situations. It's simply not asking that much.

If I understand this correctly the healthiest people on the planet with 24/7 access to premier unlimited health care are concerned about returning to work because they might endanger their health. Imagine what the rest of society without those advantages is facing.