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brooklynite

(94,803 posts)
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 05:52 PM Apr 2020

MLB considering radical realignment for 2020 season: Grapefruit and Cactus leagues

Source: USA Today


Major League Baseball, assessing myriad proposals, has discussed a radical plan that would eliminate the traditional American and National Leagues for 2020, a high-ranking official told USA TODAY Sports, and realign all six divisions for an abbreviated season.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the proposal is one of several being discussed.

The plan would have all 30 teams returning to their spring training sites in Florida and Arizona, playing regular-season games only in those two states and without fans in an effort to reduce travel and minimize risks in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/5128935002

25 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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MLB considering radical realignment for 2020 season: Grapefruit and Cactus leagues (Original Post) brooklynite Apr 2020 OP
Works for me. LisaM Apr 2020 #1
The players would do this? 😳 SheltieLover Apr 2020 #2
I'm Rebl2 Apr 2020 #9
Right! SheltieLover Apr 2020 #13
This whole situation is a dream for Manfred jgmiller Apr 2020 #3
Or... klook Apr 2020 #25
Social isolation is toxic to a lot of brands and products bucolic_frolic Apr 2020 #4
Big question for me: heckles65 Apr 2020 #5
As long as it's safe for the players and staff PLAYBALL!! aeromanKC Apr 2020 #6
Sure. When doctors; nurses & governors have the supplies they need without question... EarthFirst Apr 2020 #7
Really bad idea. Even worse alignment. Auggie Apr 2020 #8
I hope so. Would give stay at home Americans a chance to enjoy our national pastime. jalan48 Apr 2020 #10
Unless and until they can get the players to stop with the constant SPITTING, stopbush Apr 2020 #11
"the constant SPITTING" left-of-center2012 Apr 2020 #15
Really? I watch almost every Yankees game. Plenty of spitting. stopbush Apr 2020 #22
If there is one sport with a mindset stuck in the 19th century rurallib Apr 2020 #12
ESPN Poll Last Night ProfessorGAC Apr 2020 #14
"stuck in the 19th century" left-of-center2012 Apr 2020 #17
Will the players wear masks? left-of-center2012 Apr 2020 #16
The Pirates will be bad regardless. DeminPennswoods Apr 2020 #18
Beyond stupid. kairos12 Apr 2020 #19
Playing day baseball outdoors in Maricopa County (AZ) is ridiculous SBoy Apr 2020 #20
I just want them to get rid of the DH. nt Progressive Jones Apr 2020 #21
Universal DH! El Supremo Apr 2020 #23
No universal DH. Capt. America Apr 2020 #24

SheltieLover

(57,073 posts)
2. The players would do this? 😳
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 05:59 PM
Apr 2020

Much as I love ⚾️, I would not want players to take the risk of becoming infected!

TY for posting.

jgmiller

(395 posts)
3. This whole situation is a dream for Manfred
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 06:02 PM
Apr 2020

He wants to radically change the game and now he's going to get to mess with everything. Last week they were talking about 7 inning games which is just idiotic.

I'm fine with a one year realignment like this but watch this guy is going to mess with the basic rules to prove a point and pretty soon we're going to be watching something really ridiculous.

bucolic_frolic

(43,379 posts)
4. Social isolation is toxic to a lot of brands and products
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 06:03 PM
Apr 2020

sports is no different. Entertainment seems not the same when you spend time defending basic necessities of life. Keeping a brand in mind with an abbreviated product? Untested. Didn't attendance falter for awhile following strikes in major sports leagues?

The funding foundation for major leagues sports is uncertain going forward. Corporate income and cash flows are unknown going into earnings season and many are expected to punt on forward looking forecasts. That makes advertising revenue for TV networks, which fund sports to a great degree, unknown. Ticket sales also unknown. Wonder if they have escape clauses in the contracts with players? Taxpayers in many cities invested, of course, hundreds of millions of dollars in stadiums and arenas, expecting tax revenue, jobs, prosperity surrounding home teams. The fallout could be massive, or it could be subdued, or it could be temporary. Only time will tell, but the actions of everyone involved say a crisis is at hand. The Fed prints, the politicians write checks, payment deadlines are flexible .... something bigger than ever is happening.

aeromanKC

(3,328 posts)
6. As long as it's safe for the players and staff PLAYBALL!!
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 06:13 PM
Apr 2020

But, I just don't see how they can make it safe. That's still a lot of people getting together.

EarthFirst

(2,905 posts)
7. Sure. When doctors; nurses & governors have the supplies they need without question...
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 06:17 PM
Apr 2020

PLAY BALL!

If the supply chain necessary to organize the safety hundreds of players; staff; grounds crews; etc. are met before our emergency medical staff are not met first; no deal.

Sports are a undoubtedly a great morale boost; however it’s not essential when people are dying by the hundreds every day in just New York...

Auggie

(31,212 posts)
8. Really bad idea. Even worse alignment.
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 06:23 PM
Apr 2020

The season is TOAST. Fuggitaboutit.

Dodgers HAVE to play the Giants. Have L.A. sitch with the Cubs.

stopbush

(24,397 posts)
11. Unless and until they can get the players to stop with the constant SPITTING,
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 06:38 PM
Apr 2020

no approach will be safe.

rurallib

(62,465 posts)
12. If there is one sport with a mindset stuck in the 19th century
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 06:50 PM
Apr 2020

it is baseball.

Follow the science, folks. Until we get some form of vaccine and/or cure stay apart.

Baseball, use your influence to push Trump and his cronies to do things right to get us out of this massive fuck up.

ProfessorGAC

(65,272 posts)
14. ESPN Poll Last Night
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 07:24 PM
Apr 2020

72% of people (61% of those identifying as sports fans) say they won't attend a game without a vaccine in place!
There are only a few sports where isolation, distance, and fan free environment does not materially change the game.
Golf is one! Give the caddie a rest (pay him anyway), use carts (one player per cart), and no gallery. If not for the pit crews, racing would seem to apply too.
There are others and they'd work for similar reasons.
Revenues would be down, but not zero.
And most sports are better on TV in this age of HD.

 

SBoy

(92 posts)
20. Playing day baseball outdoors in Maricopa County (AZ) is ridiculous
Fri Apr 10, 2020, 07:46 PM
Apr 2020

Talk about a hitters league, the pitchers have enough problems throwing curves in the Spring and in the controlled environment of Chase Field. The dry summer heat will drain them completely and totally mess with the break on their pitches. I see lots of 14-12 games with five home runs and games lasting four hours. I think they would have something like the full 40 man rosters and then activate maybe 30 for the games so the players don’t wilt. The Arizona Summer Rookie League have 9am start times to try and avoid the hottest part of the days.

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