Posted on 04/07/2020 2:18:39 AM PDT by Mozilla
Major League Baseball and its players’ union are reportedly considering a highly complex and unorthodox plan to be able to restart the sport as early as next month — which would involve radical changes to the game and could end up sequestering players and coaches for the entire season if the coronavirus outbreak stretches throughout the summer.
According to ESPN, the league’s unusual proposal for jump-starting the 2020 season next month has gained the blessing of high-ranking public health officials. But to comply with online social distancing guidelines and anticipated lockdowns in many states where teams play, MLB would attempt to centrally locate all the teams in one metropolitan area and emplace numerous new rules to prevent the spread amongst players, coaches, and umpires.
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Acting Navy Secretary Rips Fired Captain As ‘Too Naive Or Too Stupid’ in Leaked Speech to Ship’s Crew MLB Reportedly Proposing Bizarre Plan to Restart Season in May: All Games Played in Phoenix; Players, Coaches Sequestered Until Outbreak Ends By Reed RichardsonApr 7th, 2020, 2:05 am 22 comments
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Major League Baseball and its players’ union are reportedly considering a highly complex and unorthodox plan to be able to restart the sport as early as next month — which would involve radical changes to the game and could end up sequestering players and coaches for the entire season if the coronavirus outbreak stretches throughout the summer.
According to ESPN, the league’s unusual proposal for jump-starting the 2020 season next month has gained the blessing of high-ranking public health officials. But to comply with online social distancing guidelines and anticipated lockdowns in many states where teams play, MLB would attempt to centrally locate all the teams in one metropolitan area and emplace numerous new rules to prevent the spread amongst players, coaches, and umpires.
Per ESPN, the league’s plan “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 and from the stadium, sources said. Federal officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as 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.”
In addition, the league is proposing other, possible in-game rule changes to comply with public health rules to stop the spread of coronavirus. These could include:
– Players and coaches sitting in the stands, spaced at least six feet apart, rather than in the dugout.
– Using an electronic strike zone to calls balls and strikes, so the home plate umpire could remain separated from the batter and catcher.
– No mound visits from catchers or coaches.
– Implementing seven-inning double-headers, to possibly catch up on missed games and achieve a 162-game regular season.
– Increased use of on-field microphones worn by players for TV broadcasts.
Field of Dreams: If you build it, they will come.
Does not sound like must-see TV to me.
Not bizarre, smart. Solve the problems, get a sport back on. They’ll be it. And saviors of normalcy.
The Astros will figure out a way to cheat with this.
“Cool! I mean, HOT! Playing baseball outdoors in the blazing AZ summer heat, much less double-headers, is a little bit crazy.”
The rookie-level Arizona League already plays in the Phoenix area from June through August.
The Las Vegas Aviators play in similar temperatures. And there were minor league teams in the Phoenix and Tucson area for many years.
It’s working for the sport of wrestling... :)
I can’t figure out why Tennis shut down. They have no contact, and make most of their money by TV contracts.
If they sequestered the entire league, why would they have to avoid mound conferences, or the home plate umpire? The point was that if you know nobody has it, nobody can give it to anybody.
You test everybody once a week, and isolate the positives, and move on.
That’s good! :-D
I would LOVE to see the Boys of Summer come back! Anything to start to get back to some kind of normal. Play ball (indoors)!
Totally agree with you about playing baseball *outside* in temps that can get up to 115 degrees or so. Huh?? Not a good idea...
I know. Hubby and I have been going for walks in a lovely park in town that has tennis courts. The courts are *always* full... everyone IS social distancing, from what I've seen.
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