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Just a little perspective on how many people die from the flu during the flu season each year:
https://www.health.com/condition/cold-flu-sinus/how-many-people-die-of-the-flu-every-year
There were 61,000 people who died from the flu during the 2017-2018 season. That was a really bad year.
They apparently don’t have hard numbers yet for the 2019-2020 flu season because it takes awhile for all the data to come in. But here’s another link:
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm
Social distancing has surely helped reduce the number of deaths from the Covid-19 virus. No one will ever know how many deaths were, or will be, caused by the economic hardship that social distancing is causing.
I am not trying to open up a debate about who’s right and who’s wrong about how we, as a people, are dealing with Covid-19 virus. The topic of this thread is what motivated me to say something, and post links.
bccran asked:
MLB would still get TV revenues even if they didn’t play in front of fans, right?
I sense I did not make my point clear. There is the motivation as you noted to play games in front of no fans. But that can be done most safely in one or two controlled locations. My question is what is to be gained by instead having the MLB team entourages travel to New York, Chicago, etc. when fans still cannot attend?
Put another way, when all fans can do is watch on TV, isn’t it always going to better to hold the games in the safest environment possible?
Put another way, when all fans can do is watch on TV, isn’t it always going to better to hold the games in the safest environment possible?
This is an excellent point. The idea where the East teams play in Florida, the Central in Texas and the West in Arizona makes as much sense as any in this time. Would playing the same 9 teams 9 times each be kinda boring? Maybe, but baseball is baseball and I’d watch the Cards for sure.
They could have a mini playoffs in each pod, where the #2 and 3 seeds play a best of 5 for the right to play the #1 seed in a best of 7. Then repeat in FL, TX or AZ for the three teams that win each pod. The only travel would be to the site where the final two series would be played, and they could delay the final series so they could test before starting. Then they could play the games nightly.
Put another way, when all fans can do is watch on TV, isn’t it always going to better to hold the games in the safest environment possible?
I agree with you on this but I think some of the players are balking at being quarantined in a hotel for 4 months. If the home ballparks are open then the players probably assume they could be with their families.
For what the players make in salary I personally think they should suck it up and do what is necessary to get the games played in the safest manner possible.
Fair point, gscottar, but player comfort and safety likely has nothing to do with why public officials are pining for games to be played in their cities or states. They make general statements that make great sound bites, but also make it clear that others have to figure out the details to make it happen.
Personally, it is hard for me to envision how bringing sports teams into New York City any time soon would be considered a good idea. Even if I am a NY player who likely has a in-season residence in the area, I am going to want to keep my family at their off-season home (in FL or AZ, for example).
Playing games in the lowest risk environs possible makes a lot of sense. How about the Dyersville Darlings?
MLB could start 2020 season with Opening Day by Fourth of July, report says https://t.co/nAkdJePLPG
— CBS Sports MLB (@CBSSportsMLB) April 28, 2020
The above sort of answers my question about why return home to play – a hope that fans might be allowed back into ballparks later in the season.
A new variation that seems to have some folks excited.
One part I did not understand.
“The plan, pending approval of medical experts and providing that COVID-19 testing is available to the public, would eliminate the need for players to be in isolation and allow them to still play at their home ballparks while severely reducing travel.”
Do they mean the players would not need to be isolated from their families? Because you would think they would still need to be isolated from the general population. Or am I missing something?
It is a minor point, but I don’t get his divisions. Miami is in the East but Atlanta is in the Central?
MLB discussing plan to start season with three 10-team divisions, and expanded postseason, with hopes of playing in own home stadiums this summer. https://t.co/aHeNftRZhj
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 28, 2020
Part of the methodology for starting in AZ, FL and possibly TX is that the virus dies at 78-80F. Anything outdoors in June-August in those states would surely help the spreading between the players.
It appears this interview was conducted before the newest plan of playing in home cities was disclosed, as Dr. Fauci mentions the Arizona Plan. It will be interesting to see his reaction to Tuesday’s news.
Letting a sports league reopen would probably mean isolating the players in their off time, Dr. Fauci said. "I know it’s going to be difficult for them not to be out in society, but that may be the price you pay if you want to play ball." https://t.co/6LmbjkwqDs
— NYT Sports (@NYTSports) April 29, 2020
After reading the Nightengale article it reinforces my opinion that MLB is trying to bend over backwards to appease the players who don’t want to be isolated in a hotel for four months away from their families.
One of the additional benefits to playing in major-league cities is it would alleviate a possible split among players who are opposed to playing the entire season in Arizona/Florida/Texas. Several high-profile players, including the Angels’ Mike Trout and the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw expressed strong resistance to playing the season away from their families.
gscottar asked:
Wasn’t it Fauci who stated a week or two ago that the Arizona plan sounded “promising” to him?
Yes, and he repeated it in the NYT article. My point is that the new plan goes beyond the Arizona plan because at some point, it includes teams playing back in their home stadiums this season. To the best of my knowledge, Dr. Fauci has not talked about that. He is still back on the point that today’s testing is not yet adequate to even allow playing in Arizona.
gscottar said:
After reading the Nightengale article it reinforces my opinion that MLB is trying to bend over backwards to appease the players who don’t want to be isolated in a hotel for four months away from their families.
I read it the same way as you. This is just my speculation, but perhaps the discussion could go like this:
MLB to players: We may have to start playing in isolation in Arizona, but our hope/plan is that we can shift play to your home cities later this summer. That way, you could join your families again sooner than if we had to stay in Arizona through October.
Players to MLB: What assurances can you give us?
MLB to players: That is not going to be under our control, but we are highly motivated to play in our own stadiums as soon as we are allowed to.
Then the players would have to decide.
I’m lost. If they play in Arizona and Florida, why can’t their families join them and live in a rented house/apartment/condo? Just like at Spring Training.
I’m lost. If they play in Arizona and Florida, why can’t their families join them and live in a rented house/apartment/condo? Just like at Spring Training.
I suppose it would be because they would be more likely to go out and about and catch a virus and spread it to their mate or parent. Why bring a family to be quarantined when they can stay at home and move about more freely. I dunno, I dunno, I dunno.
Darn sure won’t be many singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame with no fans huh?
bccran asked:
I’m lost. If they play in Arizona and Florida, why can’t their families join them and live in a rented house/apartment/condo? Just like at Spring Training.
It is a matter of timing. When are testing and approvals in place to allow this? Baseball wants to get back sooner so they have to make compromises. As Dr. Fauci said, to start sooner, players will probably need to be isolated.
When the environment is safe enough for players to play and families to be together, why stay in Arizona?
Dr.Fauci has been wrong about a lot of things and he is again.
I don’t think Dr Fauci needs any support but just the fact that he has been in his job for 35 years and seems to have nothing but good said about him makes me lean his way when he describes things. He is a scientist and they are never willing to commit hard and fast to things until proven. He is not really on what he feels is solid ground yet with the virus because not enough time has passed. JMHO
If the Cardinals and their families are sequestered at home right now in their houses, condos, apartments, etc., why would it be any different in Florida or Arizona? Wouldn’t the same conditions exist? Is it a worry that they might pick up something in the locker room, dugout, or between the lines and bring it home to the houses, condos, apartments they rent in Florida or Arizona?
No matter what they finally decide or what formula they come up with, this season is cooked. Some teams are bound to be treated unfairly. Some players are bound to be unhappy. No matter how, or who they decide to crown “champion” in 2020, they will forever be obliged to lug around a giant asterisk. Why don’t we just skip attempts to design some goofy regular season, wait until September, then start a long, 32-team playoff? The last man standing can be awarded the asterisk.
Just checked on the ‘Field of Dreams’ game scheduled for Aug 13th between the White Sox and Yankees in Dyersburg, Iowa. Looks like the field is under construction but the likelihood of the game being played is still under consideration. There are building an entire new field next to the movie set field and it will have seating for 8000 along with a bunch of small buildings for dressing rooms and other things you find at a baseball stadium. MLB has not released cost but they did spend $5 million for the Ft Bragg field they constructed. Not sure if this field will be temporary or not but they had to make a new field because the old one did not meet MLB standards nor size requirements. CF was only 314 feet. I hope they can make it happen. Never realized that the James Earl Jones character, Terrance Mann, was supposed to be J.D. Salinger who was very much alive when the movie was made. I would like to go but those ambulance fees would really set me back…..LOL
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