MLB Suspends Operations, Starting This Afternoon

[Brownie19]

Some players are open to taking the field with masks on, if it means they can play ball.

 

https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/masks-field-diamondbacks-ahmed-ready-games-can-played/

 

holy f*** that's stupid.

[glory]

[Jonn]

 

Why would anyone want this. I don’t want Baseball or Sports back until it’s ready to be played with fans and in Home ballparks with no health and safety concerns. However long that takes. Do people really want to see the NBA Championship trophy presented in an empty arena in Las Vegas. How anticlimactic and weird it would see players holding up trophies infront of nobody. They also can’t be assured any of this would be sustainable. It would just take one player or person to be involved in this process to get the virus to shut everything down again. Most of these suggestions are shortsighted. They need to be realistic and logical. This is obviously all money driven and not remotely about the integrity of the game.

[Jimcanuck]

I for one would be ecstatic to see some games, regardless. Even if it's just a compendium of MLB and MiLB players that have had the virus and recovered.

[BTS]

Why would anyone want this. I don’t want Baseball or Sports back until it’s ready to be played with fans and in Home ballparks with no health and safety concerns. However long that takes. Do people really want to see the NBA Championship trophy presented in an empty arena in Las Vegas. How anticlimactic and weird it would see players holding up trophies infront of nobody. They also can’t be assured any of this would be sustainable. It would just take one player or person to be involved in this process to get the virus to shut everything down again. Most of these suggestions are shortsighted. They need to be realistic and logical. This is obviously all money driven and not remotely about the integrity of the game.

 

Gimme baseball in empty spring training parks as long as it doesn’t take resources that the health care system needs.

[Dick_Pole]

Why would anyone want this. I don’t want Baseball or Sports back until it’s ready to be played with fans and in Home ballparks with no health and safety concerns. However long that takes. Do people really want to see the NBA Championship trophy presented in an empty arena in Las Vegas. How anticlimactic and weird it would see players holding up trophies infront of nobody. They also can’t be assured any of this would be sustainable. It would just take one player or person to be involved in this process to get the virus to shut everything down again. Most of these suggestions are shortsighted. They need to be realistic and logical. This is obviously all money driven and not remotely about the integrity of the game.

 

Put the games on Zoom, and have endless feedback of fan cheers.

 

Also, I wish to have sports if the leagues have deemed this to be sufficiently safe and feasible.

[Beans]

Gimme baseball in empty spring training parks as long as it doesn’t take resources that the health care system needs.

 

That's the thing. There'd have to be so many more tests for coronavirus than exist right now. You'd have to test every player, every coach, every trainer. Plus they'd have to have medical personnel on site, as all sporting events do, and there aren't enough medical personnel to spare right now, and if there isn't a flattening of the curve there won't be any medical personnel to spare for many, many months.

[TheHurl]

According to Kate Upton and Justin Verlander MLB players were told yesterday that they will start to receive their weekly paycheques. JV is donating his to a different charity each week, which they will announce on Kate's instagram.

[Brownie19]

That's the thing. There'd have to be so many more tests for coronavirus than exist right now. You'd have to test every player, every coach, every trainer. Plus they'd have to have medical personnel on site, as all sporting events do, and there aren't enough medical personnel to spare right now, and if there isn't a flattening of the curve there won't be any medical personnel to spare for many, many months.

 

Christ we're banning camp fires in half of Ontario just to reduce the stress on the emergency system.

 

I can't imagine this will ever happen - but holy f*** would I welcome back baseball in any form.

[glory]

 

Key parts of the article:

 

Major League Baseball and its players are increasingly focused on a plan that could allow them to start the season as early as May and has the support of high-ranking federal public health officials who believe the league can safely operate amid the coronavirus pandemic, sources told ESPN.

 

Though the plan has a number of potential stumbling blocks, it has emerged above other options as the likeliest to work and has been embraced by MLB and MLB Players Association leadership, who are buoyed by the possibility of baseball's return and the backing of federal officials, sources said.

 

The plan, sources said, would dictate all 30 teams play games at stadiums with no fans in the greater Phoenix area, including the Arizona Diamondbacks' Chase Field, 10 spring training facilities and perhaps other nearby fields. Players, coaching staffs and other essential personnel would be sequestered at local hotels, where they would live in relative isolation, and travel only to the stadium and back, sources said. Federal officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Health have been supportive of a plan that would adhere to strict isolation, promote social distancing and allow MLB to become the first professional sport to return.

 

Should the league and union agree to a deal, sources said, it would strongly increase the possibility that teams descend on the Phoenix area in May, provided the logistical issues -- securing robust coronavirus testing, lodging, security, transportation and myriad other matters -- can be solved. After a two- to three-week training camp, during which the protocols would be tested and iterated, MLB could consider beginning its regular season, sources said.

 

Both sides acknowledge the uniqueness of the season would not be limited to stadium location or roster size. Among the possibilities that have been discussed among people from both sides, though not in the talks Monday, according to sources:

 

• Implementing an electronic strike zone to allow the plate umpire to maintain sufficient distance from the catcher and batter

 

• No mound visits from the catcher or pitching coach

 

• Seven-inning doubleheaders, which, with an earlier-than-expected start date, could allow baseball to come closer to a full 162-game season

 

• Regular use of on-field microphones by players, as an added bonus for TV viewers

 

• Sitting in the empty stands 6 feet apart -- the recommended social-distancing space -- instead of in a dugout

Edited April 7, 2020 by glory

[Beans]

 

[Fearthedoc]

Brace yourselves, the roboumps are coming.

[BTS]

This would be amazing.

[Jimcanuck]

Seems quite workable, I'm just wondering if there will be rule changes to minimize player contact on the field. Mentions no mound visits. What about tag plays?

[Olerud363]

Seems quite workable, I'm just wondering if there will be rule changes to minimize player contact on the field. Mentions no mound visits. What about tag plays?

 

Seems a lot of people are missing the point... things ARE NOT returning to normal anytime soon, so it's a choice between new normal or nothing... if 'nothing' goes on too long there will be other problems.

 

3 phases

 

1. Virus propagation phase - r = ~ 2.5 - Virus grows uncontrolled, BJ Message board poll reveals no one cares about nothing burger virus. Few hundred thousand or so in North America get virus.

 

2. Virus reduction phase - r = ~ 0.5 - Extreme lockdown. Doors welded shut. People may hang out on Blue Jays Message Board but no where else

 

3. New normal phase - r ~ 0.9 - Somehow lead semi-enjoyable life... baseball in empty stadiums could be part of that.

 

4. Back to normal?? - months and months probably before this happens....

 

I don't claim to know the true r values, or optimal lengths of each phase... except that Phase 1 went from about Feb 1 to March 20th or so... Phase 2 is really only 3 weeks old and probably should go another 3 weeks... then it would be nice to get to phase 3.

 

Don't know anything really... but if people think phase 2 should go on much longer that's OK... just keep in mind quality of life, Economy, etc. etc. etc.

 

Also - I do not want virus to grow... so I'll take the best options that give us r=0.9 or so... if Arizona baseball can't be played within a system with r of 0.9 we shouldn't have it... if it can be played in a system with r = 0.9 we should have it.

[glory]

Seems like it will either be Arizona baseball or no baseball in 2020. I can't imagine a scenario where if this plan fails that there is any sort of contingency. Most likely they have been told that even if restrictions on non essential businesses are removed in a month or two that having large gatherings of people in stadiums is still not going to be feasible for a while. The biggest issue is probably going to be testing and the number of tests they can have without impacting testing for the general public. Players being isolated for 5 months in Arizona seems like something players would be against, but I can think of a few rea$on$ why they'd eventually warm up to the idea.

 

If MLB can keep players, coaches, etc, safe, and everyone is on board with it (CDC, etc), then I'm 100% down for it. Arizona baseball is better than no baseball. Plus, even though they'd lose revenue due to no fans in attendance, it might actually help grow the game if they mic up players for TV broadcasts and they become the only live sports content available.

 

Still a long ways to go though. Not getting my hopes up to avoid disappointment if it stalls.

[jays4life19]

Seems like it will either be Arizona baseball or no baseball in 2020. I can't imagine a scenario where if this plan fails that there is any sort of contingency. Most likely they have been told that even if restrictions on non essential businesses are removed in a month or two that having large gatherings of people in stadiums is still not going to be feasible for a while. The biggest issue is probably going to be testing and the number of tests they can have without impacting testing for the general public. Players being isolated for 5 months in Arizona seems like something players would be against, but I can think of a few rea$on$ why they'd eventually warm up to the idea.

 

If MLB can keep players, coaches, etc, safe, and everyone is on board with it (CDC, etc), then I'm 100% down for it. Arizona baseball is better than no baseball. Plus, even though they'd lose revenue due to no fans in attendance, it might actually help grow the game if they mic up players for TV broadcasts and they become the only live sports content available.

 

Still a long ways to go though. Not getting my hopes up to avoid disappointment if it stalls.

 

That's a good point about growing the game. Sports fans who don't particularly like baseball would probably watch as there is absolutely nothing else to do these days. Also, since you can pretty much bet on sports in the USA now even non sports fans might watch if they can throw some coin down.

 

Hell, i signed up to effing instagram last night so i could watch the Ballina cup (which was athletes players playing beer pong in a march madness style tournament) because of lack of entertainment options.

[Brownie19]

Would you carry like a 40 man roster in Arizona with 14 not on the active roster but training and remaining in game shape who would replace people on the active roster when there are injuries?

[Barkerfan23]

cant belive this farce is true

[Barkerfan23]

I'd much rather have a 2 month season in August and September with an expanded October playoff

[Deadpool]

If everything went perfectly, Arizona Baseball in May would be amazing. It would definitely grow the game, it would be not only the only sport to watch, but the only live entertainment of any kind, really (aside from the occasional live-stream "concert" or whatever). The problem is that if even small things go wrong, it could be a complete and utter catastrophe.

 

All it takes is one infected hotel staffer and baseball could be well and truly f***ed.

 

I do like the fast tracking of the auto-strike zone though...

[BlueRocky]

 

[glory]

That's a good point about growing the game. Sports fans who don't particularly like baseball would probably watch as there is absolutely nothing else to do these days. Also, since you can pretty much bet on sports in the USA now even non sports fans might watch if they can throw some coin down.

 

Hell, i signed up to effing instagram last night so i could watch the Ballina cup (which was athletes players playing beer pong in a march madness style tournament) because of lack of entertainment options.

 

Yeah people are craving any type of sports content right now. TV ratings across the board are up during this lockdown. The game would benefit greatly both regionally and nationally if they were able to come back by May or early June. They would have a shitload of games to provide to TV networks, and as you said people who generally wouldn't watch baseball would watch just because there's nothing else on. Give players mics during games. Give the audience every reason to keep watching and get to know the players more. It would be a real opportunity for baseball to grow as a brand, which is crazy considering what is going on in the world. They need this more than the NBA does.

[max silver]

Has there been any word on whether there could be any sort of minor league season this year? The MLB plan looks like a logistical nightmare at best, and that's for a far more limited number of teams and players than would need to be accounted for in the case of minor league ball.

[Abomination]

The biggest issue I can see is that you still have players touching the ball. Pitchers often lick their fingers. If one pitcher gets it, an entire team might. I guess there's the same risk of that whether it's in August or May though.

[max silver]

The biggest issue I can see is that you still have players touching the ball. Pitchers often lick their fingers. If one pitcher gets it, an entire team might. I guess there's the same risk of that whether it's in August or May though.

 

Baseball players very well may be the world's worst offenders for constant spitting as well. Maybe the suggestion that players wear masks, although awkward at best, may actually help somewhat.

[Beans]

Now I'm reading reports that MLB is also deliberating on another plan with the following dates: Spring Training restarts June 15, season begins without fans July 1, fans return Aug. 1. Edited April 7, 2020 by Beans

[Jonn]

Do we really expect that young millionaires will be able to shuttle back and fourth between a ballpark and hotel for several months without making mistakes. Without having needs. Are some of these players going to be allowed to have their entire family living with them or will they not be able to see family or friends for several months.

 

All it takes is one player or person involved in this to introduce someone from the outside this bubble to take this whole thing down.

 

It seems highly unlikely this will get approved by health officials.

[Jimcanuck]

Do we really expect that young millionaires will be able to shuttle back and fourth between a ballpark and hotel for several months without making mistakes. Without having needs. Are some of these players going to be allowed to have their entire family living with them or will they not be able to see family or friends for several months.

 

All it takes is one player or person involved in this to introduce someone from the outside this bubble to take this whole thing down.

 

It seems highly unlikely this will get approved by health officials.

 

I can't imagine they would not have family with them, if they have one. Others, like Reese McGuire for example, will need to find things to do. Although the game schedule is apparently going to be intense, so free alone time might not cause problems.

 

40 man rosters means we might see guys like Franco, Kelenic, other guys of that ilk on the field.

[Beans]

I can't imagine they would not have family with them, if they have one. Others, like Reese McGuire for example, will need to find things to do. Although the game schedule is apparently going to be intense, so free alone time might not cause problems.

 

... lol, my favourite thread so far this year.