Hitch

Deaths, unfortunately is the only solid way to record this. The US did f*** all testing at the beginning when it was spreading like crazy. We're always about a week or two behind the actual real numbers due to incubation periods. Deaths are the only real barometer, as long as they aren't being hidden under other causes.

There will be no baseball this year. No chance.

The sale of sex toys has gone up markedly everywhere, but Canada leads the way with a 135% increase. Could explain the toilet paper panic.

Great post. One shoot of hope is that the percentage of new cases in Italy have started going down slightly, it is hopeful that the closing down measures are taking hold. As you say, state and local goverment have taken the lead when the f***wit in charge keeps deflecting his inadequacies. So hopefully this can be avoided. The US is still very much up against it, however.

Of course you will, it's bred into you. The point about comparing the Italian situation is how utterly rampant the virus was before real steps were taken. Just like in the US. Hopefully we won't see the same outcome, although I am not hopeful.

Which is missing the point. The WHO have said 1% will die. You don't need to have the 6% of the Italian numbers. I'm sure you can work out 1% of the US population and seeing as your response to this has been f***ing catastrophically bad up until recently, I think that number is very hopeful for the US.

Ah the stupidity of ignorance. Always a delight to come up against. You don't have to take my word for it, we could always listen to the World Health Organisation: https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/best-healthcare-in-the-world/ Here, if learning is something you're even capable of educate your ignorant idiocy away: https://www.who.int/healthinfo/paper30.pdf Hopefully the US with its 37th ranked healthcare system and its 28 million uninsured will indeed meet the lofty standards of the Italian system, because if it doesn't there will be a catastrophe.

Having lived in all three countries, I would agree on the social interactions in general (although people socialise on mass in the big cities in the States, too), but travel around the States is also far more prevalent, with plane journeys being like bus journeys in Europe. It might have helped if Trump wasn't calling it a hoax made up by the Democrats and media for a week when it started appearing in the States. The reason Italy has been so catastrophically f***ed, is that the virus was transmitting freely in people for weeks before they knew they had such a terrible issue. This was also case in the U.S. And the testing required to keep a virus like this under control has been woefully under-carried. In fact its been utterly farcical and inept. World history means little here. Containing a virus outbreak is down to the leaders at the time and the population. China have been obliterated in war several times from forces thought to be inferior to theirs, yet they have contained this virus (and others like SARS) due to the strength of their leaders and the servitude of their population. The population of the States don't suffer that sort of servitude, and unfortunately, have an absolute f***wit in charge at the absolute worst possible time. Hopefully the people below him make the right moves. State senators and mayors certainly seem to be, thankfully. I fear it won't be anywhere near enough. And if it isn't, millions could die.

I have friends that live in Italy and Spain. The accounts of what is happening there are horrific Italy has a brilliant health system. They simply cannot keep up with the amount of people than need ICU beds. Spain is going the same way (well everywhere is), and the US response was so slow, so inadequate, so political that the spread will be almost impossible to stop. Unless a miracle is found and quick, you can forget sport this year, this thing will wreak havoc across the US. If you have even a tickle of a cough, or the slightest sense you might not be well, stay away from all your elderly loved ones (or anyone with bad health) for at least 14 days.

I get the sense that some of you have no idea what's heading your way in the coming months.

You can be sure of one thing, there will be no baseball this season. It's going to be the least of our worries.

Not a day too early.

It is not hysteria! Coronavirus outbreak numbers in Italy by date: Feb 18: 3 cases Feb 21: 20 cases Feb 27: 655 cases Mar 1: 1,694 cases Mar 7: 5,883 cases Mar 12: ~10,000 cases Spain is going the same way. They are literally deciding who to try and save and who to leave die in the corridors in Italy at this very moment. I know this as indisputable fact. Health systems are not set up to deal with high numbers of ICU patients. If the heat doesn't kill this thing (and there are signs so far that it doesn't) then the numbers are going to be horrifying. This isn't government sticking their nose in, or media over-blowing things, this is a pandemic which the US has not reacted to at all. I can't overemphasise the horror that is happening in Italy right now. 3 weeks ago they were going about life as usual.

That will be the case for only the next few weeks. If that.

And if you pick it up and pass it to somebody not so healthy?

We'll be lucky to see any baseball this year. Our only hope is the warmer weather stalls it but there's little evidence of it as yet. I have friends who live in Milan, Italy. The only advice I can give you now is stay the f*** away from crowds and mostly any other people(especially if you're older with any underlying issues/complaints). This is going to explode in the US (partly down to the horrific opening response to it, just like Italy's), and in Italy right at this minute, they're deciding who lives, and who dies in the corridor as they don't have the ICU beds to deal with what's happening.

There's absolutely no chance the season is going to go ahead. No baseball will be the least of people's worries

This is also, true. It's balancing act, it would sting to see him go somewhere else and stay healthy but I really don't expect it. Quite how we'll build our rotation next year, I don't know, but at the moment I feel it's better to go with out a player almost certain to miss swathes of the next two years (after this one). We'll see I guess. One this for sure, Chaim has got his hands full now.

Because I don't think he so going to be able to stay healthy. I thought that was pretty clear from the post. If I thought he could stay healthy, sure I'd definitely want us to keep him. But I don't, at all.

I'd like to rescind my prediction that we may well surprise people with how good we are this year. That feels like...a stretch now. Not that surprising news, really. Didn't like the contract when it was inked. Time to break it up a bit now. Hopefully Evaoldi has a great season then trade him. He might, might stay fit this year (he won't), but he sure as s*** isn't staying for for another three. If we can get out of that contract we must. If JBJ manages to be anything other than crap and we can get a lottery ticket at the deadline, take it. Workman, too. Keep Chavis, Dalbec and all our younger players and use the (hopefully) mush increased financial flexibility to go at it again hard the next few years (after this one).

I think everyone likes his stuff and personality. He's just made of biscuits. Hopefully he can put together a healthy year, but I doubt it.

Haha touche.

Yeah I agree, I'm just allowing my mind to wander as I so liked the idea of it at the start.

Which is fair enough all round. Maybe if we threw in more cash it might get it done. But I doubt much will happen there, now.

Yup, absolutely agree. First report I saw had Qunatril and Campusnao coming here. I'd do that deal in a heartbeat, but doesn't look at all likely now.