Finally, a ray of sunshine, a glimmer of hope, a potential start date for the 2020 MLB season. Jeff Passan has reported about a plan that the MLB and MLBPA are focused on that could allow the 2020 season to begin as early as May. Let’s all agree that a May Opening Day would be, just about, the greatest thing ever right now. This plan reportedly has the support of “high-ranking federal public health officials” and could see the MLB try and bring some semblance of normalcy back into our lives. This plan, however, has many potential tripping points.
The outline of the plan would have all 30 teams play games in the greater Phoenix area with no fans in attendance. Players, coaches, and other personnel deemed “essential”, would live in relative isolation at nearby hotels, and only be permitted to travel to the stadium and back. One large hurdle to clear would be the availability of COVID-19 tests with quick turnaround times, which officials believe could be available by early May. These tests would not diminish access to the general public.
League officials believe that the players could be skeptical of leaving their families for an indefinite amount of time, as an inability to slow the coronavirus outbreak could lead to no home games being played in 2020. Passan reported, however, that the “combination of receiving paychecks for playing and baseball’s return offering a respite to a nation beset by the devastation of COVID-19 would convince players to agree to the plan.”
The league is preparing for a two- to three-week training camp, where their protocols would be tested and players would prepare before the start of a regular season. The plan also includes provisions for the possibility a player or coach tests positive for COVID-19. Those provisions include teams carrying more players on their roster which would allow more players to earn a major league salary and service time, something very appealing to the players union. Other provisions include an electronic strike zone, no mound visits, seven-inning doubleheaders to try and approach 162 games, on-field microphones for use by players (yes please).
Other problems will have to be dealt with as they arise and this plan is far from perfect. This plan, however, is the closest we have come to live sports in almost a month.
Do you see that? Far off in the distance?
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It’s a ray of sunshine, a glimmer of hope, a light at the end of the tunnel. Baseball is coming back.
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