Lovullo cautions players after Marlins outbreak

In the aftermath of the virus outbreak with the Miami Marlins that forced the postponement of two MLB games on Monday, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said he spent part of morning issuing reminders to his team to keep doing what it has been doing in order to stay safe.

“Let’s not get complacent,” Lovullo said on a conference call with reporters before the Diamondbacks finished their season-opening series in San Diego. “We’ve had a successful weekend (with no positive tests) and we’re successful because we have done everything that we’re supposed to. Nobody’s going out. We’re staying in the hotel. We’re washing our hands. We’re wearing our masks where we have to.”

Minutes later, Lovullo acknowledged that there have been “certain behaviors that I’m being made aware of” that he would like to see his team clean up. He was asked if he were referring to celebrations.

“A little bit, a little bit,” he said. “I have to be very careful with it. You know, every once in a while I’ll put my hand out there and knuckle a guy and I'm like, ‘What an idiot. Why did I do that?’ So I can only imagine how excited the players are getting.”

The Marlins reportedly have had 11 of their 33 traveling players and two coaches test positive for COVID-19 in recent days.

Their scheduled home opener on Monday against the Baltimore Orioles was postponed.

Major League Baseball also postponed the New York Yankees-Philadelphia Phillies game that was scheduled for Monday at Citizens Bank Park, where the Marlins played the Phillies over the weekend.

Despite his general satisfaction with his club’s ability to stay virus-free and follow health and safety protocols, Lovullo acknowledged that his team comes in contact with other teams during games and thus is dependent upon the decisions of others.

“It’s a great point,” he said. “It doesn’t necessarily mean because you’re safe in your own bubble that you’re going to be fine. It’s the people around you as well that you have to be mindful of.”