Hmmmmm?
Starting things back up is gonna be a much harder thing then people think…
There is a ton to digest in ESPN’s report early Tuesday morning which outlined MLB’s ambitious plan to potentially play regular-season games in empty stadiums in Arizona by late May or early June.
MLB on Tuesday morning clarified in a statement that while a one-location season has been discussed, the league has not settled on the idea:
“MLB has been actively considering numerous contingency plans that would allow play to commence once the public health situation has improved to the point that it is safe to do so. While we have discussed the idea of staging games at one location as one potential option, we have not settled on that option or developed a detailed plan. While we continue to interact regularly with governmental and public health officials, we have not sought or received approval of any plan from federal, state and local officials, or at the players association. The health and safety of our employees, players, fans and the public at large are paramount, and we are not ready at this time to endorse any particular format for staging games in light of the rapidly changing public health situation caused by the coronavirus.”
Below is the proposed plan reported by ESPN, which cites interest on both the league’s and union’s part.
How?
Coronavirus tests capable of generating same-day results would need to be more widespread and available to MLB in a way that does not “diminish access for the general public,” per the report.
MLB’s plan “has the support of high-ranking federal public health officials who believe the league can safely operate amid the coronavirus pandemic.”
Where?
Under the proposed plan, the entire league would settle in Arizona for the 2020 regular season. Games would be played at Chase Field and at surrounding spring training complexes in the Phoenix area.
Players would be sequestered almost like jurors, able to go to and from the stadium and basically live in a different form of quarantine. They’d be away from their families for a prolonged period of time, which would suck. A lot of us are in this same boat, sacrificing our ability to be with some of our loved ones to keep them safe.
When?
Early June for regular-season games is a target date with teams needing at least a week to 10 days to reach a level of preparedness for the grind. But there is no definitive word as this entire plan is dependent on the availability of COVID-19 tests with rapid turnarounds.
It’s also dependent on Arizona not becoming a hot spot. As of midnight Tuesday, there were 2,456 total COVID-19 cases in Arizona, 23rd among U.S. states….
Coronavirus has taken one of my favorites. RIP singer songwriter John Prine