Matt Barnes Tested Positive For Covid-19

JM3

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I haven't pitched competitively in like 25 years, but if the Red Sox need someone to eat spring training innings, just fly me in.
 

MonstahsInLeft

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Hoping and praying he's OK, and also that this doesn't kick off a run of positive players to jack up the start of the season...

I can't wait until they can start vaccinating the athletes on the Sox/Pats (insert other favorite teams here) so that in addition to reducing the risks to everybody's health, these quarantines, contact tracings, impacted games, limited off-season workouts, virtual OTA's etc. can start receding.

But that made me start to wonder how they'll pull that off. I mean best case scenario even the healthiest of these players should qualify for vaccination in the next month or so but how do they actually administer them after the season starts?

I mean I was lucky and just had sore arms for a couple days after my shots but it seems like even that "best case scenario" would probably cost guys at least day or two. But you're almost certainly going to have a decent percentage of players who are knocked out for several days (a COVID vaccine DL? extra roster spots?).

I'm sure the teams can't wait to be able to get their team shots and relax some of the protocols but are you going to build in off-days for guys to get them immunized? Stagger shots among your starters? Immunize a starting pitcher between starts and cross your fingers? Wait for the All-Star Break? Have a league-wide pause?

They should probably try for J&J and just be one and done, but in addition to potential holdouts (Simmons!) even getting players who want the vaccine is going to be a little tricky.
 

nattysez

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Opening Day bullpen might look even rougher than usual...

Eight Boston Red Sox identified during
contact tracing after Matt Barnes’ positive COVID test; 4 of those individuals were considered in close contact and must quarantine for 7 days since the last exposure. Other 4 are considered “extra scrutiny contacts”
https://t.co/NQGqonlWqB
 

nvalvo

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Well, it looks like the first jurisdiction that the Red Sox will travel to that will have announced universal adult vaccine eligibility will be Minnesota, April 13-15. Minnesota plans to move to universal adult eligibility at the end of March. Perhaps they could line up some one-shot J&J doses there without skipping in line.

Then again, speaking as someone who got knocked on his ass this week by a first dose of Moderna firing up my immune system (yay!), you might not want to do everybody the same day. Massachusetts is aiming for universal adult eligibility April 19. So it probably makes sense to just give the players their shots over the span of a week or two at Fenway, and make it into a media/PR thing: Eduardo Rodriguez grinning and flexing with a bandaid on his shoulder...
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Opening Day bullpen might look even rougher than usual...



https://t.co/NQGqonlWqB
Per Pete Abraham: Ottavino, Sawamura, Hernandez, Taylor, Brice, Valdez, Walden, and Brewer are among the pitchers who have been "cleared" to pitch (by virtue of Cora naming them as available today). That's a full bullpen, though Walden would require a 40-man move. Not necessarily the ideal or optimal group, but enough to get by for a couple days if necessary.

View: https://twitter.com/PeteAbe/status/1376176944350384130
 

The Gray Eagle

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Opening Day bullpen might look even rougher than usual...



https://t.co/NQGqonlWqB
"Identified" is a little odd in the headline there, because the players haven't been named publicly. The Red Sox know who they are but aren't saying publicly.

At least we can deduce some of the players who aren't being quarantined:
A look at the upcoming pitching schedule eliminates pitchers who might be in close contact protocol.
Josh Winckowski, Adam Ottavino, Josh Taylor, Austin Brice, Phillips Valdez and Marcus Walden will pitch today (Sunday).
Tanner Houck will start Monday’s game and be followed by Darwinzon Hernandez, Brice, Ottavino, Kaleb Ort and Raynel Espinal.
Martin Perez will start Tuesday. Both Hirokazu Sawamura and Colten Brewer also will pitch.
Seems like anyone who played yesterday wouldn't be in quarantine. Here's the box score:
https://www.google.com/search?q=red+sox+pirates+box+score&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS782US782&oq=red+sox+pirates+box+score&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i22i29i30l9.7599j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#sie=m;/g/11mbznpnfk;4;/m/09p14;dt;fp;1;;

So Kike, Verdugo, JD, Devers, Renfroe, Marwin, Chavis, Arroyo, and Dalbec should all be in the clear for now since they played yesterday.

And anyone who plays today wouldn't be quarantining either. I hope to see X and Vazquez today, and hopefully hear about the rest of the rotation soon.

X is in the lineup today, which is very good news. Franchy is, too. Vazquez is not, though.
https://www.overthemonster.com/2021/3/28/22355095/boston-red-sox-minnesota-twins-lineups-spring-training-martinez-bogaerts-cordero-winckowski

Edit:
On the broadcast, O'Brien is talking about Vazquez now, saying that he's expected to play Opening Day, and is not playing today because he's still bothered by getting hit in the face with a throw the other day.
 
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Lose Remerswaal

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I think Walden can be added to the 40 for “free“ if Barnes goes on the Covid list . They would have to remove him from the 40 man the old fashioned way with risk of losing him when Barnes returned. But they did the same with him a couple weeks ago, not much risk/loss
 

nvalvo

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Jen McCaffrey had a great piece at the Athletic where she ran through the process of elimination to see who may be isolating.

It's ominous:

As of right now, pitchers Andriese, Nick Pivetta, Garrett Richards and Garrett Whitlock as well as catcher Kevin Plawecki are among those not listed as available. Pivetta pitched his last game Friday and was not scheduled for more work, so he could be unaccounted for and yet still not be isolating.
That's a lot of pitching depth. But we have Houck and Seabold on the 40-man, so... fingers crossed that we don't have any more positive tests.
 

MonstahsInLeft

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It sounds like the “extra scrutiny contacts” may only have to isolate for 5 days which is big.

The other 4 for 7 days but since they usually go back 2 days prior to the positive test with regard to designating someone as a contact that could be shorter than expected too.
 

joe dokes

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Jen McCaffrey had a great piece at the Athletic where she ran through the process of elimination to see who may be isolating.

It's ominous:



That's a lot of pitching depth. But we have Houck and Seabold on the 40-man, so... fingers crossed that we don't have any more positive tests.
I can't find it now, but I thought there was some sort of 40man exemption for COVID stuff.
 

CanvasAlley

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May 22, 2016
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Well, it looks like the first jurisdiction that the Red Sox will travel to that will have announced universal adult vaccine eligibility will be Minnesota, April 13-15. Minnesota plans to move to universal adult eligibility at the end of March. Perhaps they could line up some one-shot J&J doses there without skipping in line.

Then again, speaking as someone who got knocked on his ass this week by a first dose of Moderna firing up my immune system (yay!), you might not want to do everybody the same day. Massachusetts is aiming for universal adult eligibility April 19. So it probably makes sense to just give the players their shots over the span of a week or two at Fenway, and make it into a media/PR thing: Eduardo Rodriguez grinning and flexing with a bandaid on his shoulder...
I'm a bit alarmed to read of your Moderna experience. I am finally on the vaccine elegibility list and hoping for the Pfizer.
 

richgedman'sghost

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It's kinda ironic how life works out. As a liver transfer survivor I have a compromised immune system. I was eagerly awaiting my time frame to get the vaccine. Unfortunately due to a botched hip replaced surgery, I developed 2 viruses. My doctor has advised me not to get the vaccine until we are sure the virus has cleared my body. I do intend to get the vaccine when allowed to. I post this just to show that yes there are certain people who due to medical circumstances cannot get the vaccine. Also I post this because some people in here are nosey and would demand to know the reason why. Anyway go Sox!!
 

nvalvo

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I'm a bit alarmed to read of your Moderna experience. I am finally on the vaccine elegibility list and hoping for the Pfizer.
I don't know that alarm is really justified. A fraction of vaccine recipients get these responses, which are just the result of the immune system's reaction to the spike proteins produced using the mRNA from the vaccine — i.e. doing what it's supposed to do, if perhaps a bit more vigorously than necessary.

More detail on my experience: I got the shot on Wednesday afternoon, and felt fine that evening and night. I began to feel flu-y and exhausted by mid-day Thursday, and canceled a meeting and basically went back to bed. I certainly wouldn't have been able to play a sport on Thursday. I was beginning to feel better by Thursday night; by Friday, I was a bit bleary, but certainly well enough to go about my normal workday — I taught a class online, etc.; by Saturday, it was as if nothing had happened. My wife got the same shot at the same time as I did, and... nothing. Maybe a bit of soreness in her shoulder.

I had COVID a year ago — although it was too early for testing, it was confirmed by serology months later — and anecdotally people who had COVID are more likely to get these reactions to the first shot. Others are more likely to get them after the second.

I have not heard that Moderna or Pfizer or J&J are any more or less likely to produce side effects, so I don't know that you should bother optimizing on that score. My advice would be to pick an appointment time where next-day side effects, if any materialize for you, wouldn't be too disruptive to your life, rather than picking based on on which jab is on offer.

It's kinda ironic how life works out. As a liver transfer survivor I have a compromised immune system. I was eagerly awaiting my time frame to get the vaccine. Unfortunately due to a botched hip replaced surgery, I developed 2 viruses. My doctor has advised me not to get the vaccine until we are sure the virus has cleared my body. I do intend to get the vaccine when allowed to. I post this just to show that yes there are certain people who due to medical circumstances cannot get the vaccine. Also I post this because some people in here are nosey and would demand to know the reason why. Anyway go Sox!!
RGG's anecdote shows the importance of everyone who can get the vaccine getting it when it becomes available, so that we can help confer the protections of herd immunity on those who cannot get it themselves for whatever reason.
 

dynomite

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after all that, rumors that it was a false positive. Team isn’t commenting but multiple outlets are reporting it:

https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2021/03/boston-red-sox-trying-to-determine-if-matt-barnes-had-false-positive-covid-19-test-reliever-remains-asymptomatic-and-away-from-team.html

Side effects of each are well documented on the internet. Suggest you do some reading up so you are prepared.
And I probably should keep this to V&N, but I'll just add here a hopefully unnecessary PSA (not at you Lose, or anyone in the thread, mostly for people reading on this site): **GET THE VACCINE WHEN YOU'RE ELIGIBLE** (again, unless as above you’re advised not to for some reason). Far and away the most common side effect for those who haven’t had it is that you might -- might! -- have a mild fever and feel crummy for a few days. But you’ll literally be saving lives, getting our country closer to safe reopening, protecting those who can’t get it, and 100% protecting yourself from serious illness or death from this disease.
 
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Sandy Leon Trotsky

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after all that, rumors that it was a false positive. Team isn’t commenting but multiple outlets are reporting it:

https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2021/03/boston-red-sox-trying-to-determine-if-matt-barnes-had-false-positive-covid-19-test-reliever-remains-asymptomatic-and-away-from-team.html



And I probably should keep this to V&N, but I'll just add here a hopefully unnecessary PSA (not at you Lose, or anyone in the thread, mostly for people reading on this site): **GET THE VACCINE WHEN YOU'RE ELIGIBLE** (again, unless as above you’re advised not to for some reason). Far and away the most common side effect for those who haven’t had it is that you might -- might! -- have a mild fever and feel crummy for a few days. But you’ll literally be saving lives, getting our country closer to safe reopening, protecting those who can’t get it, and 100% protecting yourself from serious illness or death from this disease.
I have to add that not getting vaccinated also will allow the virus to continue to circulate and mutate. We do not want mutations... further mutations could mean the virus moves further away from the current vaccine and we'll continue to have to figure out how to revaccinate people every year to deal with new strains of the virus.
 

CarolinaBeerGuy

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This is literally the first time I've seen the term "non-infectious positive" in regards to COVID-19. Sherman should have, at the very least, asked a follow-up question to clarify the meaning of the term.
 

dynomite

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Huge relief (pun intended) for them and for the staff these opening weeks.

re: "non-infectious positive" I'm not an expert, but I think this has to do with people who had COVID a while ago still testing positive due to tiny trace amounts of dead virus in their system. Actual medical professionals please feel free to correct me and I'll happily delete this.

More than 260 COVID-19 patients in South Korea tested positive for the coronavirus after having recovered, raising alarm that the virus might be capable of "reactivating" or infecting people more than once. But infectious disease experts now say both are unlikely.

Rather, the method used to detect the coronavirus, called polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cannot distinguish between genetic material (RNA or DNA) from infectious virus and the "dead" virus fragments that can linger in the body long after a person recovers, Dr. Oh Myoung-don, a Seoul National University Hospital doctor, said at a news briefing Thursday (April 30), according to The Korea Herald.

These tests "are very simple," said Carol Shoshkes Reiss, a professor of Biology and Neural Science at New York University, who was not involved in the testing. "Although somebody can recover and no longer be infectious, they may still have these little fragments of [inactive] viral RNA which turn out positive on those tests."
Link
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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False positive?
This seems like the answer based on this tweet from Alex Speier: "One major league source said that Barnes has had several COVID-19 tests come back negative since the initial positive result on Saturday. Between that and his asymptomatic status, the Joint MLB-MLBPA COVID-19 Committee evidently felt comfortable clearing him to return."

View: https://twitter.com/alexspeier/status/1376621261770612741


I think I saw reports that the test the players usually take is involves saliva rather than a nose swab. Are those more likely to yield false positives?
 

Max Power

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This seems like the answer based on this tweet from Alex Speier: "One major league source said that Barnes has had several COVID-19 tests come back negative since the initial positive result on Saturday. Between that and his asymptomatic status, the Joint MLB-MLBPA COVID-19 Committee evidently felt comfortable clearing him to return."

View: https://twitter.com/alexspeier/status/1376621261770612741


I think I saw reports that the test the players usually take is involves saliva rather than a nose swab. Are those more likely to yield false positives?
From personal experience, yes. I came back positive with a saliva test, but had no symptoms. My wife and kids also had no symptoms and I had no reason to believe I was in contact with anyone who was. A subsequent nasal swab came back negative.
 

triptych

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Non-infectious positive is a term usually used to specify a test showing the lgG antibody's presence, which won't reach detectable levels until at least 11 days after initial infection. Since the infectious period of the the SARS-CoV-2 virus ends eight days after initial infection, the presences of lgG antibodies indicates inability to infect others with a greater than 99% probability.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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I'm a bit alarmed to read of your Moderna experience. I am finally on the vaccine elegibility list and hoping for the Pfizer.
Hate to break it to you, but Pfizer second dose side effects were worse for me than when I actually had Covid. That being said, neither were really all that bad, and the vaccine symptoms lasted ~36 hours.
 

iddoc

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Nov 17, 2006
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Huge relief (pun intended) for them and for the staff these opening weeks.

re: "non-infectious positive" I'm not an expert, but I think this has to do with people who had COVID a while ago still testing positive due to tiny trace amounts of dead virus in their system. Actual medical professionals please feel free to correct me and I'll happily delete this.



Link
The PCR tests detect viral RNA but do not tell you whether infectious virus is present. A number of possibilities here:
  • Prior infection (several weeks to even several months ago) with residual RNA. In these cases, the amount of RNA detected is very low, but such measurements are not standardized and not routinely reported. Also it is possible that the type of test that was positive in this case is not at all quantitative (rather, yes/no only)
  • Tail end of mild active infection
  • False positive, either because the specimen was contaminated somewhere along the way, or because the test amplified something other than SARS-CoV-2 RNA
 

CanvasAlley

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Hate to break it to you, but Pfizer second dose side effects were worse for me than when I actually had Covid. That being said, neither were really all that bad, and the vaccine symptoms lasted ~36 hours.
I appreciate you sharing your personal experience - even if it did send me scurrying for BevMo coupons.
 

trs

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Huge relief (pun intended) for them and for the staff these opening weeks.

re: "non-infectious positive" I'm not an expert, but I think this has to do with people who had COVID a while ago still testing positive due to tiny trace amounts of dead virus in their system. Actual medical professionals please feel free to correct me and I'll happily delete this.



Link
This is certainly something that occurs with a decent degree of consistency. I went through Covid earlier this winter and as a teacher where I live, I was on an automatic 10 day sick leave. Once those 10 days were up and I had no symptoms for 48 hours, I could return, no PCR confirmation necessary. I asked why and the doctor basically said that it might say you're still positive for up to 2-3 months after due to trace amounts of the virus in your system. Or at least that's what I think she said.

So yeah, Barnes could have gotten it weeks ago and not really known about it, OR policy is changing and there's rising confidence that asymptomatic cases are largely non-infectious.

Back to baseball -- I hope Barnes is ready to pitch and no one gets sick!