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My deeper dive into the question of whether MLB might begin play without all of its players or instead increase the size of its protection bubble to include families – even though it could increase the risk of a shutdown later. (free) https://t.co/GzKeGR5c3F
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) April 23, 2020
There are forty question marks in that article, all legit concerns too. Makes games this season seem like Mt. Everest.
Boy there is sure a lot to think about on this issue. Playing baseball again is not going to be that easy. One thing a lot of folks don’t consider is the problem of births, deaths and marriages and how they affect players and staff. Leave the campus for one of those things and you go into a separate quarantine upon return which is not good. The idea of when fans can attend games is even stickier. Even IF they will WANT to attend games this season. And now they are talking about this virus becoming a seasonal thing like the flu. That may not be as bad if, like the flu, it mostly happens in the winter but no one knows yet. Anyway I will stick around until I hear those magic words again…………….PLAY BALL. BATTER UP.
I did not know it was 40 question marks, but that does say something in itself, doesn’t it? I tried to consider all angles as realistically as I could. Talking with Danny Mac yesterday got me started, then I saw a national writer on social media yesterday afternoon assert that a positive test of a player would just cause a two-day interruption in play. That just did not seem right and one thing led to another – then 40 question marks later…
Thanks for reminding me of another question for MLB Brian. Suppose one team becomes a ‘hot spot’ for the virus with maybe 3 or 4 people including players and staff testing positive. Would MLB dare to pull that entire team from the schedule for two weeks or however long is needed. We are also presupposing that the same umpires would work all games with the same teams which would be difficult since one team will change each series. OMG see what idle time has done to my idle mind?
What happens if they start playing and just one player
tests positive? How many will it take before they shut the whole thing down again?MM3 asked:
Suppose one team becomes a ‘hot spot’ for the virus with maybe 3 or 4 people including players and staff testing positive. Would MLB dare to pull that entire team from the schedule for two weeks or however long is needed.
Great questions, MM3 (as well as bccran). I did touch on this in the article, but like the rest of this, there are no clear answers. But here is a related angle. Say one team gets pulled for two weeks. How does the schedule get reworked for the other teams, or does an already compromised schedule become even more imbalanced? Could there come a time that the standings become so uneven they are worthless?
Brian wrote:Could there come a time that the standings become so uneven they are worthless?
I think this is the one thing that hangs them up the worst. One or more teams dropping out of competition for weeks could destroy the season for sure. I am beginning to think there are more ‘what ifs’ than anybody can come up with and many of them are bean balls to baseball this season.
To that point, I use the links of a chain analogy. It feels less painful than a fastball to the cranium! 😉
Seems like baseball won’t really return to normal until they develop a vaccine. With many top scientists throughout the world working on it every day hopefully they’ll have it ready sooner than later.
With all the “what ifs”…. who, what, whens and wheres and if the C-19 disrupts the schedule and players are at risk…. I’m with bcc. It may become mayhem and do more damage to the game than good. I miss the game as much as the regs here and the true die-hards…. but be reasonable and wait for the vaccine.
I want the game back with the most semblance to pre-covid ball.
Don’t count on any boost in payroll for a year or two. It will probably be the opposite.
https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2020/4/23/21230629/payroll-and-a-pandemic-2021
I want the game back with the most semblance to pre-covid ball.
Unfortunately, it seems like the most likely scenario may be a yearly COVID outbreak that will not be able to be stopped any more than the regular flu is, vaccine or not. This year is basically a lost cause (in baseball terms, not in the least in personal terms) of testing and working on a vaccine to see if there may be any other way. I’d imagine that 2021 will proceed with some caution, but not without risk, even if there is a vaccine.
gscottar, absolutely. Even putting aside the huge losses owners will take in 2020, how can players earn increases when they aren’t playing? This may take several years for the game to recover from.
It also puts into major questions what the next CBA (which will need to go into place after the 2021 season) will look like. In my assessment, the chances of owners and players amicably seeing eye to eye on future money matters were much higher when the gravy train was running at full speed.
This is not players, but is the first time any team has covered employees for the month of June, as far as I know.
Part-time workers and interns with the Indians have been furloughed, with the potential to make the same amount of money or perhaps more through unemployment benefits. Other organizations have considered taking similar measures as they try to figure out financial paths forward.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 24, 2020
Makes one wonder if individual MLB clubs could qualify for one of those small business loans that the PPP is offering. Last heard 500 employees and less qualifies as a small business.
I have no idea, GC, as I really do not expect anything. I would be very surprised if they assemble before July, and even then, there would be a lot to overcome first. At this point, I think the better odds are in favor of it not happening at all, but some rapid advances could change that.
In terms of personal opinions, most everyone probably sees it a little bit differently. It is clearly bigger than baseball, though MLB certainly has its share of issues as well.
This article talks about uneven pay for game-day workers. While there are many anecdotes, I did not find the detail I was seeking. They say 32 of 91 pro sports teams do pay these workers, but they do not list them and provide details for most. I would find it more interesting to compare who is paying what than reading about a few examples that may not be representative.
When COVID-19 hit, owners across the NBA, NHL and MLB pledged to help take care of their game-day workers.
A @usatodaysports survey found many those promises weren't quite what they seemed.
Reporting with @RachelAxon, @ByBerkowitz and @Tom_Schad https://t.co/SOy5APq1W6
— Nancy Armour (@nrarmour) April 26, 2020
Nancy Armour is one ‘writer’ that I have never seen a positive article from. In fact she is downright ignorant on some of the sports that she attempts to write about.
New Subject: Here is a nice article on one of the minor league teams about to bite the dust.
https://tinyurl.com/y8ds772sThe Pirates have suspended their contributions to their baseball operations employees’ 401K plans, the first known team to do so. With @Ken_Rosenthal: https://t.co/2G4eJfS23G
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) April 28, 2020
The Cardinals are seeking tax credit under the CARES Act to retain full-time employees. The team does not qualify for the Payroll Protection Program.
I don’t care who gets the money, just so long as they spend it. Our economy is on life support. We need to get it going.
Sad news from the NY-Penn League and about a former A’s minor leaguer.
New #Astros from Texas Sports Nation — Owner of Astros' minor-league affiliate dies from COVID-19 complications https://t.co/bD3VthOQnR
— Chronicle Astros (@ChronAstros) May 1, 2020
The A's are mourning the loss of former Athletic minor leaguer Miguel Marte, who passed away earlier this week due to complications from COVID-19. Marte played in the A's system from 2008-2012. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.https://t.co/PV7UEuAuvL pic.twitter.com/mVeLdOUciU
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) May 1, 2020
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