Details of MLB's Arizona 2020 Season Proposal Are Absolutely Wild
By Adam Weinrib
Major League Baseball, unlike the NBA and NHL, didn't even get to play a portion of their season before the coronavirus pandemic struck.
This puts the league in a unique position -- of course, they could theoretically bag the campaign as the nation goes through a disaster, without the record books affected in any way. However, that's not the preferred solution -- after all, who doesn't want baseball to return in some way, shape, or form, as long as it's safe?
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Word broke late Monday night that the league is focused on a CDC-backed proposal that could start games as soon as May, with the league entirely situated in Arizona. It's all a stunning turn of events.
NEWS: Major League Baseball and the MLBPA are focusing on a plan backed by federal health officials that could have players in training camps by May and games soon thereafter.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 7, 2020
Details at ESPN on how MLB may return -- and the difficulty in doing so: https://t.co/zDoNa3k4pm
Nobody saw May coming, and we're all having trouble fathoming how this plan could project normalcy.
And when you look at the details of the plan, things get even cloudier.
Just awful ideas pic.twitter.com/AhyPVkldBa
— Jack Jokinen (@JJFromTheBronx) April 7, 2020
So, it's safe enough to play baseball, but not safe enough for umpires to be a part of the proceedings? And we're striking mound visits from the picture? And, uh, get rid of dugouts, too? The players just sit in the stands a recommended distance apart?
As of now, even though it's the league's apparent focus, this still feels like a wish-fulfillment race through a minefield of hurdles.