Tuesday Morning Hot Links

The Dow Jones lost a higher percentage of its value yesterday than it did on Black Tuesday. When was Black Tuesday? 1929. Things aren't going to get any better. Each day is better than the next. Look at what happened yesterday and subtract two weeks to see what Italy was dealing with. That's what's coming.

It's going to be a tough few weeks for everyone as more countries impose lockdowns to fight #COVID19. In Italy, we'll have it until April 3 at the earliest.

Here are some tips @_silviagatta and I learned over the past ~10 days of lockdown here in Rome.

A thread. 🧵

— Federico Viticci (@viticci) March 16, 2020

*Baseball isn't coming back any time soon. I'm guessing with no knowledge of anything, really, that  Opening Day is July 4 (it'll be the end of May at the earliest) with an obviously shortened schedule. What could that look like? The Astros inexplicably didn't play on July 4, 2019 but they played 75 games from that point to the end of the regular season. I've got some time, so what about:

Two 4-game home-and-away series with each divisional opponent: 32 games
One 4-game series with every other league opponent, five home series, five away series: 40 games
One 3-game inter-league series: 3 games.

Voila: 75 games!

*Do you have some cash laying around and want to help some people negatively affected (as if anyone is positively affected) by the quarantine? Help out:

DopeMelodie
MHardy25
Lissa-willason
Hisaw13
BigAaronC
EastNashBill

*ESPN: When could MLB actually return?

*Brian McTaggart has four takeaways from an abbreviated Spring Training.

*You have plenty of time on your hands. Check out Mike Meltser and Jake Kaplan's new podcast on what life is like around the Astros' complex right now, Joe Smith, etc. I had a podcast, once...

*ESPN's Alden Gonzalez: How MLB players, execs, and others are facing the Coronavirus uncertainty.

*A Yankees minor-leaguer tested positive for Coronavirus.

*Once again Minor-Leaguers are getting screwed.

*The Athletic (unlocked) had their writers pick their favorite story.

*SI's Emma Baccellieri: The Last Day of Baseball.

*MLB is prohibiting any scouting activity, domestic or international.

*MLB and the MLBPA are each donating $500,000 to Meals on Wheels and Feeding America.

*Amazon: September 1918: War, Plague, and the World Series.

*Starting at 8am Tuesday (March 17), all Harris County clubs and bars will close for 15 days. Restaurants will move to carry-out/delivery only.

*STAAR Testing requirements have been waived for the 2019-2020 school year.

*Be prepared for Texas schools to be closed for the rest of the school year.

*Dollar General is going to offer seniors-only hours.

*A Musical Selection: