Manfred committed to season amid COVID-19 surge: 'Players need to be better'

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred isn't ready to give up on the 2020 season just yet.

Even amid a COVID-19 outbreak that's reportedly affected 20 people within the Miami Marlins organization and as multiple St. Louis Cardinals players test positive, Manfred remains committed to pushing through.

"We are playing," Manfred said, according to Karl Ravech of ESPN. "The players need to be better, but I am not a quitter in general and there is no reason to quit now. We have had to be fluid, but it is manageable."

Team owners reportedly held a conference call Friday and are similarly hopeful the season can be completed in some form or another.

The Marlins haven't played since their July 26 contest in Philadelphia. The Phillies haven't played since then, either, a development that's sent ripples across the schedule and caused postponements for the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Washington Nationals.

Several Marlins players reportedly failed to follow MLB's health and safety protocols during a preseason road trip to Atlanta, leaving the team hotel to go out at night on July 21 and 22.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, reportedly had six individuals within their 58-person travel group test positive for COVID-19 as of Saturday morning. The team confirmed Friday at least two players tested positive.

Two of the Cardinals' games against the Milwaukee Brewers have been postponed so far, while Brewers outfielder Lorenzo Cain has elected to opt out of the rest of the season. Sunday's doubleheader is also postponed, Jeff Passan of ESPN reports.

For now, the schedule remains fluid, and they made many changes on Saturday. The Marlins are set to return to action on Tuesday against the Orioles in Baltimore, while the Phillies will open a series Monday against the Yankees.

Manfred's words did not go unnoticed by major-league players. Cincinnati Reds starter Trevor Bauer and Brewers left-hander Brett Anderson took to Twitter to voice their opinions on the matter: