MLB's testing sweep brings some success but optics are issue

Miami Marlins' Adam Conley pitches during a baseball workout at Marlins Park, Tuesday, July 14, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)PHOENIX (AP) -- Major League Baseball's COVID-19 testing sweep appears to be having some success even as large swaths of the United States continue to struggle with containing the fast-spreading virus.

MLB and the players' union released statistics on Friday saying six of 10,548 samples were new positives in the week ending Thursday, a rate of 0.05%. In addition to five players, one staff member tested positive.

That's fairly good news for a sport that's trying to begin its abbreviated 60-game schedule next week. But players and coaches are also aware that the…