Phillies Dealing With Coronavirus Outbreak As MLB Nears Return To Play

Pat Gallen reports.

WE LEARN TODAY THERE AREMORE POSITIVE CASES OF A VIRUSCOMING FROM THE PHILLIESSPRING TRAINING FACILITY.LAST WEEK FIVE PLAYERS ANDTHREE STAFFERS TESTEDPOSITIVE.ANOTHER PLAYER NOT INCLEARWATER ALSO WAS POSITIVE.THE NEWS COMES AS WE GET BACKTO BASEBALL STARTING NEXTMONTH.HERE'S PAT GALLEN.ON MONDAY THE MLB PLAYERSASSOCIATION REJECTED THEOWNERS FINAL OFFER.AND A LINE DRIVE TOWARDLEFT CENTER FIELD.THAT'S GOING TO BE GOOD FOR ABASE HIT.Reporter: TODD ZOLECKIEXPLAINS.THE PHILLIES WILL HAVE SOMESORT OF SPRING TRAINING FOR AFEW WEEKS AT CITIZENS BANKPARK, MAYBE EVEN HAVE SOMEWORKOUTS AT FDR PARK ACROSSTHE STREET JUST FOR SOCIALDISTANCING PURPOSES.CENTER FIELD.Reporter: MAJOR LEAGUEBASEBALL IS READY TO IMPLEMENTA 60 GAME SCHEDULE THAT WOULDBE COMPLETED BY THE END OFSEPTEMBER BUT AMID THECORONAVIRUS WOULD SOMEPHILLIES SAY THANKS BUT NOTHANKS.MATT GELB OF THE ATHLETICS SAYTHAT'S POSSIBLE.AT RISK OR HIGHER RISKFAMILY MEMBERS, KEY PLAYERSHAVE YOUNG CHILDREN, WIVES AREPREGNANT RIGHT NOW AND THENFOR SOME OF THESE GUYS THEY'REGOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A TOUGHDECISION.Reporter: IF THEY DO GETBACK ON THE FIELD HOW WILL ITLOOK?IT'S GOING TO BE ADESIGNATED AREA LIKE THENATIONAL LEAGUE FOR THE FIRSTTIME EVER AND PROBABLYBENEFITS THE PHILLIES A LITTLEBIT.THEY HAVE COUPLE DIFFERENTGUYS WHO COULD BE THAT DH.BIGGEST THING WE'LL SEE IS ABIGGER PITCHING STAFFER ANDPROBABLY LESS INNINGS FROM THESTARTERS.Reporter: AND ZOLECKISAID IN THE END BASEBALL MAYHAVE DONE SOME LASTING DAMAGETO THE SPORT.IT WAS JUST A GREATOPPORTUNITY WASTED AND THENYOU WONDER HOW MUCH THIS ISGOING TO AFFECT FAN INTERESTDOWN THE ROAD.THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE LABORDISPUTES COMING UP IN THE VERYNEAR FUTURE.