Outside The Confines: Another NL Central team downed by COVID

We won’t dwell too heavily on the highlighted topic today, as most of the articles I’m sharing will have a lot more to say (in a much more well-structured fashion) than I can in a little blurb, but let’s hit the high points.

It seems that the NL Central has become something of a hotbed for coronavirus activity. First it was the Cardinals missing a myriad of games thanks to multiple postiive cases among players and staff, and now it’s the Cincinnati Reds who have been set back by it, with a positive case postponing most of their weekend series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Don’t expect to see any makeup games any time soon, either.

All this, of course, as the Cardinals have returned to play this weekend in preparation for a very long slog of double-headers as they attempt to make up for lost time.

Now let’s get into the news.

• C. Trent Rosecrans and Ken Rosenthal look into the weekend’s positive player test for the Reds. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Nick Selbe also has a deeper look into the positive test over at Sports Illustrated.
• Meanwhile Jesse Rogers takes a look at the Cardinals’ triumphant return this weekend.
• Before their success, Jay Jaffe broke down what the upcoming schedule of games is going to look like for St. Louis.
• Daniel Brown looks back at the iconic Field of Dreams monologue through the lens of 2020. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• With MLB recognizing the Negro Leagues, Ben Lindbergh is one of many writers asking “What took so long?”
• Kevin B. Blackistone asks the much deeper question of why the Negro Leagues ever had to exist at all.
• Sean Gibson thinks it’s time to rename the MVP award for Negro Leagues star Josh Gibson.
• It’s impossible for families to be present as their sons and brothers make their major league debuts this year, but Kyle Hart’s brother still found a way, shares Chris Cotillo.
• Mike Vaccaro takes a historical deep dive into the deadly pitch that killed Ray Chapman 100 years ago.
• Jayson Stark continues his delightfully odd series on useless and weird baseball facts. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• I guess the Royals are tired of watching baseball.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.