COVID-19 impact on MLB season

[brewerfan82]

MLBPA taking a vote today to decide if they want to accept MLB's 60-game proposal. To me, if they vote against it, it really makes that "when and where" stuff look like lip service.

Agreed, I thought it already sounded pretty hollow considering they had already rejected the MLB telling them "when and where" several times at that point, but if they continue rejecting proposals after basically insinuating all the blame is on MLB's side, they're really going to come off bad.

[BuckyBrewer61]

My perception of the “when and where” thing was basically the players saying - look, we aren’t getting anywhere and we aren’t going to waive our right to file a grievance. So let’s quit the public negotiating, at this rate we’re not anywhere close to signing anything new. We’re ready to play under whatever is legally in place at the moment and we’ll let the lawyers figure the rest out later.

 

They weren’t just saying “make us a proposal telling us when and where, and for however much you want, with whatever safety measures you want, and with however many concessions present and future you want us to swallow, and we’ll just sign it.” Quite the opposite. The perception that the continued negotiating is contrary to that mantra is off-base IMO.

 

But yes, both sides still look terrible here.

[brewerfan82]

Fair enough, and almost certainly correct, but then the owners should just be tweeting "We'r ready when you are" back. But you're right, the whole thing is ridiculous at this point.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Absolutely the mortality rate has something to do with the current approach going forward with sports. You're telling me that if concerns from March hadn't been worst case and we were looking at a 5% incidence fatality rate, we wouldn't have called off all 2020 sports by now and be instituting widespread stay-at-home orders? Of course we would. If something isn't killing people you're going to be a lot less concerned about it spreading than if it was killing people at a high rate. H1N1 blew up enormously in terms of spread, but we didn't take major precautions to address its exponential growth. Why? Because it simply wasn't very lethal.

 

COVID is absolutely more dangerous than H1N1, but definitely far less than what we feared on March 15th. So does that come into play when determining if we need to shut something down when someone gets it or quarantine, contact trace, test, and move on? Certainly.

 

College sports is a little different than pro sports and I'm not sure we'll have any. But I wouldn't be surprised if we do. They are going forward with Northwoods League Baseball here in central Wisconsin, with special precautions. I don't know how to specifically answer what each individual sports organization will do when a team has players who test positive. Those scenarios will of course be planned for well in advance as to how they will be handled.

 

I don't think it really matters, to be honest, unfortunately. Whether it's .4% or 4%, I don't see how NFL moves forward. The number of people involved before you even consider fans is just so much bigger per game. I'm on your side of this, but practically speaking I don't think the mortality will really affect sports happening or not.

[JohnBriggs12]

As of Friday, Illinois is going to allow up to 20% venue capacity for spectator sports. That would mean roughly 8,000 fans for games at both Wrigley and Guaranteed Rate Park. Concessions would be allowed with restrictions.

[owbc]

As of Friday, Illinois is going to allow up to 20% venue capacity for spectator sports. That would mean roughly 8,000 fans for games at both Wrigley and Guaranteed Rate Park. Concessions would be allowed with restrictions.

 

It seems like keeping the players COVID-free is going to be a greater challenge than getting a couple thousand fans into the stadium.

[CheezWizHed]

I heard a story where a company in Israel has invented a light mist disinfectant that people can walk through before going into large stadiums. Combine that with temperature tests and that would greatly increase the safety.

[gypcasino]

https://670thescore.radio.com/illinois-20-percent-capacity-outdoor-stadiums-phase-4-chicago-not-reopening-yet-cubs-white-sox-bears

 

“The new guidelines for Illinois' fourth phase of its coronavirus reopening plan will affect venues such as Northwestern's Ryan Field, Illinois' Memorial Stadium and Northern Illinois' Huskie Stadium -- but not yet Chicago venues such as Wrigley Field, Guaranteed Rate Field and Soldier Field. Indoor venues such as the United Center will remain closed to fans for the entire state.“

[JimH5]

Until a pitcher is warming up to throw the first pitch of the season, I don't want to hear from Rob Manfred, Tony Clark, Bob Nightengale, Ken Rosenthal, Jon Heyman, Buster Olney, etc.

 

This constant back and forth, will they or won't they stuff is tiresome and not worth my interest.

[nate82]

MLB implements 60 game season players to report on July 1st.

 

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/rob-manfred-implements-60-game-mlb-season-for-2020-after-mlbpa-owners-fail-to-reach-deal-per-report/live/

[pacopete4]

Bummed we lost the DH out of this. Stinks.

[homer]

I'll take it.

[MVP2110]

Bummed we lost the DH out of this. Stinks.

 

I thought the DH was removed for 2021 only. Pretty sure it's part of the safety protocols for this season so it will be implemented

[pacopete4]

Bummed we lost the DH out of this. Stinks.

 

I thought the DH was removed for 2021 only. Pretty sure it's part of the safety protocols for this season so it will be implemented

 

I hope so but I thought I saw multiple tweets saying it wasn’t going to occur.

[A Swing and A Drive]

I believe Universal DH is part of the March agreement for 2020 but not 2021.

 

Have had a hard time confirming this online however

[brewerfan82]

Took a stab at what a 60 game season from July 24th to September 30th could look like:

 

 

That schedule includes 12 games vs. each division opponent, 4 games vs. an interleague rival, and 2 games vs. each remaining interleague opponent.

[A Swing and A Drive]

Per ESPN, for 2020 only...

 

“The universal designated hitter likely would remain in place, as it's part of the health-and-safety protocol.”

[adambr2]

They've robbed the enjoyment of this day from many, I'm sure. I would have been elated for this day a month ago; now, just indifferent.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

They've robbed the enjoyment of this day from many, I'm sure. I would have been elated for this day a month ago; now, just indifferent.

 

I'm pretty happy. Leery ... but this is the first actual progress MLB related since mid-March. I think the excitement will build for a lot of people as we get closer to that opening weekend.

 

If huge manufacturing facilities can stay open in this country without huge spikes in cases, there is no reason why MLB, with its huge emphasis on health and safety, can't figure this out. Perhaps I'm just trying to squeeze out the last little bit of optimism I have left for baseball this year.

[monty57]

Per ESPN, for 2020 only...

 

“The universal designated hitter likely would remain in place, as it's part of the health-and-safety protocol.”

 

I'm happy we're getting a DH, as I've thought we should have one for a long time.

 

But, can someone explain to me how having a DH will help prevent a player from getting COVID? Seems more like something the league wanted to get implemented, so they're using COVID as a cover to get it put in place.

[CheezWizHed]

The explanation is simple. Now Brewer's pitchers won't get COVID while diving back into first base.

[DocLuna7]

Has anyone seen anything in if expanded rosters will be in place for this season and if so how many?

[BrewCrewForever]

I thought it was supposed to be 30 man rosters instead of 26. And then a taxi squad of players to take from in case of injury/covid.

[adambr2]

You know what will be kind of hilarious? When the first bench clearing brawl is about to take place and someone jumps in and reminds them that they can't do that because of social distancing requirements.

[dlk9s]

You know what will be kind of hilarious? When the first bench clearing brawl is about to take place and someone jumps in and reminds them that they can't do that because of social distancing requirements.