MLB Exploring Idea of Starting Season in Empty Spring Training Stadiums Might Be the Best Hope We Have

Right off the bat, I'll begin the way every speculative article about the return of sports should until this resolves itself: the spread of the virus dictates when the games can return. Not the President, not the commish, not any one person. Only collective action can reopen the gates to the stadiums we consider our second homes.

That being said...damn right, we would like some sports back now, please.

Though MLB agreed last week to a deal with the Players Association that stipulated the season would open when gatherings were deemed safe by the CDC, it does appear they're willing to entertain the "empty stadium" loophole factored into the deal. Major League Baseball is at least exploring the possibility of opening play in Florida and Arizona, across the relatively close set of ballparks in both regions. There are flaws baked into the plan, but eyeing it may be our best hope yet of competition resuming.

It goes without saying that there's a good chance this won't work, either. We watched one positive test for Rudy Gobert torpedo the entire NBA season, so all it'll take is a singular chaotic event to throw things into flux once more. Players would likely have to be isolated, transported by people who are isolated, and live in several different approximate "bubbles" across the region, as long as the models that predict the virus' spread are somewhat accurate.

Of course, we'd need to take into account that Florida is about to become a hotbed of the disease's spread, too.

At least -- at least -- this current plan does show MLB is willing to think outside the box in a last-ditch effort to save the campaign. As long as they find a way to safely carry it out, this plan could get the league back in action before the 2020 season is rendered meaningless.