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So we shut it all down. Including food production and distribution? Not saying we don't need it but won't we all starve? Any time a store gets a shipment there will be lines 2 blocks long that you stand in before the store completely sells out of goods? If we keep this trend of shutting EVERYTHING down, I think we're in big trouble. Big ol fat America (aren't 50 percent of peeps overweight?), coddled America is going to have NOTHING for its citizens to eat or do very very soon?

Nice thoughtful post. I agree with your second and third sentences a lot. I don't like reading or listening to news either because of the uncertainty. It seems to me there have been rash decisions after rash decisions with the obvious goal to make us all stay home. I personally don't think it's un-American to question this a bit. We've gone from a carefree country mostly discussing partisan politics this past year and doing whatever the hell we want to do, go wherever we want to go, to being told to stay cooped up and don't dare leave your abode. I happen to question why we can't sit in a coffee shop and work when there always are no more than 5 people in there. While I tend to agree with social distancing nobody knows for sure if sitting in a coffee shop in Lawrence Kansas at 2 p.m. on.a Wednesday is harming me and the world both. I liked the fact there was a story that Kansans are "outraged" the decision was made to close all schools at all levels. While I may agree with the decision I think some of these decisions are a bit harsh with no public input. Just shut up and do what the experts say. Forgive me for not handling staying home very well. It's difficult for some of us to deal with even if it may be a selfish attitude.

It says: "But here's the catch: if we EVER relax suppression before a vaccine is administered to the entire population, COVID-19 comes right back and kills millions of Americans in a few months, the same as before. After the 1st suppression period ends in July, we could probably lift restrictions for a month, followed by 2 more months of suppression, in a repeating pattern without triggering an outbreak or overwhelming the ventilator supply. Staggering breaks by city could do a bit better. But we simply cannot EVER allow the virus to spread throughout the entire population in the way other viruses do, because it is just too deadly. If lots of people we know end up getting COVID-19, it means millions of Americans are dying. It simply can't be allowed to happen." -- So as I feared there will be no sports and no activities that include crowds for 18 months or so. The minute we relax and allow regular interactions as before we start dropping dead. This is bizarre because 18 months of this will mean what, 50 percent of Americans will be let go from their jobs and nobody will be going to school? I guess all kids will be homeschooled? We've been told for years a significant amount of folks live paycheck to paycheck. A lot of people have started their own businesses. Nobody wants to talk about the economy but it will be decimated. So we have Americans with no income forced to say at home for basically 2 full years. We have no sports and we pretty much have no way to pay for food. Suddenly what we were arguing about a month ago ... democrats like AOC with their free stuff theories vs the very rude Trump and his mean nicknames for demo candidates ... seems pretty silly. We're all stuck indoors for 18 months and we have no sports and no incomes. Folks this would be a good time for Russia/China to invade us. p.s. How come we never hear about Russia with this disease. So China is recovering rapidly and almost over it and how is Russia doing? Do they even have corona? Was this germ warfare? So many questions and nothing but despair here.

You make good points, however ... maybe if you shut up and growl at the extra work for the same pay but produce so much for the company you'll still be kept on. And you'll prove a producer can have a bad attitude and still be valuable to the company. In other words, I yam who I am and I ain't sucking up. Like you I 'hope all is well with everyone' and wish America the best in attacking the crisis. Be kind to one another and only buy what u need!

Caulfield, if you wanted to return to the USA could you? I assume you aren't working right now. Are you worried about any of this? Are you free to walk around and leave your place and shop?

I saw a video today of Chinese doctors and nurses walking in parade-like fashion removing their masks and smiling as if to say it's over. Caulfield I heard a rumor that Trump is likely going to SOON issue a mandatory 14 day lockdown for all Americans. Do you think this will happen here? Does anybody else? This was a federal judge telling somebody I know to be ready for this. It's supposed to be coming SOON. I'm not trying to be a dick, just asking you all if you believe it. It really worried me and I couldn't sleep last night after the person emailed me. I DID NOT load up on groceries today in response. And I am appalled at the hoarding of toilet paper in KC. It makes me so mad at people I could punch a wall. I am upset about me, me, me and greed of people in this crisis compared to the normal outpouring of love/sensibility when hurricanes strike!

Caulfield, the Big 12 has effectively eliminated all sports the rest of the school year. No college baseball, etc. MLB and NBA NHL on hold. My question to you is, now that China has told the world it has conquered the virus, do you foresee our teams playing again this season or ever? Again, how can MLB start playing on May 1? If the spread of the virus has slowed but is still out there (and people say it will be bad for something like 12 weeks then reappear in the fall) people will say the reason it is not so bad because we halted spectator sports and large gatherings? So I predict we will not have sports again until maybe the start of NFL and college football. What say you sir?

This season is in jeopardy IMO. I hope they don't cancel in month increments. Let's see what happens and go two weeks at a time. But the way sports officials have been acting, it sure seems as if sports leaders have been told in no uncertain terms that they are expecting the worst with hospitalizations, etc. My prediction is no baseball til June at the earliest IF corona isn't that bad. And even then, the experts might say the reason corona isn't so bad is we stopped large gatherings of people and better safe than sorry and let's get to the winter and see how bad it is. We might not have baseball this season is my take.

I keep changing my mind. Today I am convinced there will be no pro sports til August at the earliest and no NCAA Tournament. The Jazz player getting sick is the tip of the iceberg. You've got 3 weeks of NCAA Tournament and just because there are no fans, the players are still traveling all over and for what?? For CBS and TBS and TNT. With NO FANS allowed there's no reason to head to these cities except money for the NCAA and the colleges via the billion dollar TV contract. And though it's sad and bad, too bad. We have to try to stop the virus and one way is through isolation. People just shouldn't be traveling. There will be no economic impact in the cities hosting regionals and some of the kids or coaches might infect others and get sick themselves. Economic impact of the teams and 125 fans that are allowed of each team?? Hardly. Again, postpone it til mid summer and see if you can play or just crown no champion, but there's not going to be an NCAA Tournament and there will be no NBA the rest of the season. MLB is in trouble as well!! Wow.

I don't mean to understate. I'm just torn. Half the day I think it's nothing and some kind of conspiracy, the other half I think all sports should play before no fans til mid summer. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-cancel-everything/607675/

Holy crap. Really Soxfan? Best wishes to you. Hope you don't get any symptoms. Keep us posted please.

My prediction is big time sports will not agree to play games with no fans. Even with the big TV contracts those 40-100 dollar tickets help revenues too much. I'm still thinking this is not a huge deal. Unless you are pretty old, this virus strikes and u get sick an u get better. Nobody's said it's like a crippling disease or anything. Right? Play ball.

Good thread. I love the posts. Random thoughts ... a.) when i'm in a normal optimistic mood: We're all going to be OK. The weather is going to be warm/hot soon and most people I know NEVER get sick in the summer. Does the heat help burn away the germs? I don't know. I'm hoping yes. Also the USA hasn;'t been hit with many cases. I'm thinking business as usual and don't worry be happy. b.) when I read the Websites at night and get "informed." Well Italy today shut everything down. No events with crowds, etc. This is bothersome. I wonder if it's necessary to do this, then I wonder if yes it is necessary that we in the USA are going to be shut down soon. I have 8 rolls of TP so I haven't checked the stores here yet to see if the shelves are void of toilet paper, etc. I wonder in a pessimistic mood if the upcoming NCAA Tournament and all those full arenas for 3 weeks won't REALLY infect a ton of people. And MLB is generally outdoors so will the outdoor air help keep the disease in the atmosphere and not in our bodies? I worry about things that are fun being canceled: church, sporting events, concerts, summerfests, movies, etc? When I'm feeling optimistic and read that several countries are quarantining all people when they arrive via plane for 14 days? It's hmmmm. 14 days? My overall mood is don't worry, be happy. Don't panic. When I catch up on the news at night, my mood is "hmmm ... if Italy thinks this is so serious ... are we doomed soon in the USA?"

Has anybody written a story on McCann yet this spring? Seems obvious to see if he's OK with his new role.

oops, Is Robert ready for the bigs? Cool.

I think we have to finish 18 above .500 or the season is a failure. I mean cmon. I know the Central Division teams always play us tough, but we have all these stars on our team. We have some of the most electric younger players in baseball in Moncada, Timmy, Madrigal and Eloy and the new RFielder I forget his name. We have EE and Abreu who are name players. We have Grandal who is one of the best choices you could have at catcher with McCann. And we have all these young arms to go with Keuchel and Gio. Cmon. I am being nice in demanding 18 over .500. I have a feeling they are gonna have to fire RR in May, late May if we STILL are sub .500 club.

I don't know. I'm so skeptical about governments these days and everything the only person I trust about this is Caulfield. It doesn't seem like this is that big a problem (yet?). Kansas has no cases. I think Kansas City has no cases. There are not many in other states.

Seriously, what do you do if you have no food hanging around the apartment? I guess if it hits here, if there are a couple cases reported, I better stock up on something.

You sound very concerned Caulfield. Here, as somebody stated there is utter calm as if we have no problem. Which is it? Hundreds of thousands to be quarantined soon or nobody? Take care sir.

damn. caulfield you should contact CNN and/or NY Times about writing a daily diary/video diary for them. Make some money.

Hang in there, Caulfield. You have friends in Internet land praying for u and your and/or sending u best wishes. Are u running out of $$? Take care sir.

Caulfield I still don't understand why everything is shut down. I mean here in the US we have flu season. A TON of people catch the flu and people with demanding jobs still have to work (and infect everybody). We seem to get through it and in the summer it burns away so to speak. You said businesses are going to fold there? The school can't pay you? What is going on? I see Italy is very paranoid about this if it's the right word. Tell us more Caulfield. How do people eat? I would guess the stores are closed and/or out of goods. Is it illegal to leave your house? Peace brother.

Delmonico sticking around?

I rarely say I told you so, but I feel so strongly about Abreu being worth all the money he gets. Watch that video folks. Abreu rocks. I'm glad he makes a ton of money.

I'm upset, very upset that our current insurance providers fricking will not pay 100 percent of our expensive medical costs. For instance one serious illness/hospital stay can cost you so much money. Let's say the bill is 80,000 bucks. You'll be lucky if insurance pays 20,000. That's why I ask about possibly voting for somebody with universal health care/free!! I am upset at pharm costs for drugs and the fact insurance companies are rotten to the core in not paying 100 percent of our medical costs.