Major League Baseball will finally be playing meaningful baseball games for the first time since October 2019. Opening Day for most teams will be July 23th,2020 as they embark on the weirdest baseball season ever. Here is a preview of what to expect and some early predictions.
For one thing, there will only be 60 games and there is a Designated Hitter in every game. Each team will only play teams that are in their region. Extra innings will feature a runner at second base to start with and, the big one, no fans in the stands. To tell the truth it will be an odd season that will have a different feel.
Predictions
Though fans are still excited about baseball coming back because it’s better than the alternative. Here are some predictions for the new season. The Yankees and the Dodgers are still World Series favorites at least on paper despite the challenges they face. The Athletics, Rays, and Braves round out the top five power rankings. All three teams possess good offenses and young talented pitchers that make them contenders.
Another storyline to watch will teams that look to surprise everyone this year. The Rockies, Padres, and Twins are some teams to watch despite what they look like on paper. The Rockies have a sneaky good lineup, above-average fielding and young talented pitchers.
They also have all Stars Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story who are always MVP contenders. The Padres have a good. solid team that could make them contenders. Their pitching and power offense could be the real deal. The Twins have a better team this year and they look to be a contender.
There is also the storyline of whether the cheating scandal affects the Astros and Red Sox in more ways than one. The Astros on paper have a good team but many will wonder how much that is real. It could affect their mindset on the field along with their overall play. The Red Sox are at a crossroads of where the team stands especially after struggling last year.
Media and Special Content
MLB and its teams have been using social media, remote broadcasts, and online events to kick off the 2020 season. They will have to use technology to their advantage to celebrate the return of baseball. For instance, teams have been hosting events that feature music artists, interviews, and other content that is Opening Day related. Plenty of content to prepare fans for the season because of the circumstances keeping them out of the parks.
On Wednesday night the Red Sox hosted a Livestream event called the Fenway Sessions to celebrate the return of baseball, culture, and concerts at historic Fenway Park. Featuring New Kids on the Block and Foo Fighters. Expect more teams to do similar types of events with hometown artists to keep fans interested.
Finally, baseball is back as weird as the season will be its better than nothing. There should be plenty of story lines to watch. For more sports and entertainment content visit the Belly Up Sports website.
