It’s almost like “players will police themselves” was never enough. The extensive health protocols MLB laid out were not followed closely. We’ve seen players slapping hands, spitting, sitting closely in the dugout. Human nature.

If MLB must go forward, the league should install ballpark regulators. Maybe just their presence will help deter players from breaking protocols. It’s a move the league should have taken months ago, when owners instead focused on $$$.

And the obvious: the virus is still a threat in the US, but let’s not pretend it hasn’t been controlled in other countries. Wearing a mask works. Social distancing works. Being mindful to the point of paranoia might be the only way to play baseball. At what point is it worth it?