In the wake of MLB stopping Spring Training and postponing the season at least eight weeks, everyone from players to fans are left with unanswered questions.
Will there be an extended season?
Will there be a shorter season?
Will there even be any baseball at all in 2020?
The answer from MLB is simply “We don’t know.”
The CDC announced on March 15th that they are restricting events with more than 50 people for eight weeks. This made March 26th Opening Day impossible. As of right now, there is no set return date or idea of when Opening Day will be.
So far, the only two cases of coronavirus in the MLB world are two Yankees minor leaguers who tested positive. As a result, all Yankees minor leaguers are being quarantined for two weeks.
One of the downsides to this is service time. For example, the Red Sox traded Mookie Betts, who only has a year left on his contract, to the Dodgers. If 2020 is not played, or if it is a shortened season, Dodger fans will be upset. Per The Athletic, the Player’s Union is not asking players for a full year of service if the season is not played. Obviously, this is unimportant relative to the global situation, but fans will still be frustrated, and they are allowed to be.
Fortunately, with this break, Minor League players will be paid as well as stadium employees. Minor League players had not been paid since August, and though they are expected to be in fighting form throughout Spring Training, they do not get paid in that time. Their first paycheck would have been on March 26th, MLB Opening Day. Because of the shutdown, thousands of minor leaguers were not sure if they would be paid until this was all over. Thankfully, MLB announced they will be compensated.
Right now is a time of uncertainty in the sports world as well as the real world. Hopefully, this will all be over soon, and we can get back to life as we know it and the game we love.
Photo: Sydney Daniel
I would love to bring back Sunday doubleheaders! Let’s play two!!!!