Arena The Major League Baseball Thread

Amazing.

 

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id...VaLBPilcMyWD-GDoQXeDAAKrUq36jeXLnwgABO269uzqc




-A universal designated hitter

 

I think this proposal is an exercise in mass fantasy (or delusion).

 

I also think the owners leak it early so they can make the MLBPA look bad. Even in the midst of a pandemic they cannot help but be fill in the blanks.

Unless something drastic changes I dont see them playing this season and it most likely won't have anything to do with the pandemic which I totally get. If it's too dangerous to play, it is too dangerous to play. But if it's cancelled over money which is my guess then I will say just end baseball as America's pastime.

 

I don't see anyway they don't play and I'm still kind of baffled they're not being more aggressive in restarting. I'm most concerned that the powers that be mistake everyone's relief at having baseball back as support for permanent realignment or other changes.

Amazing.

 

I'm okay with using the pandemic as a way to get the DH permanently into the National League ...

 

I've already accepted inevitable defeat in that battle. But I will not accept realignment.

Amazing.

 

I'll take anything over the DH in the National League.

 

I don't see any way that any season actually happens. I think it's a fantasy that borders on a delusion. We're not seeing team sports in the United States again until 2021 at the earliest.

 

The Premier League is starting back up June 1st. If they are starting back up again, then I don't think North American team sports are far behind. Besides this country is just insane. Insane Simon Malls just announced they are opening 50% of their malls in the US next week. We barely have flatten the curve and yet malls are going to reopen. If some person at the Gap who is not even working a living wage is forced back to work with no real precautions then the MLB along with the NBA will regrettably have no leg to have stand on with the general public. I don't agree with that but most people will. The fact that they cannot keep COVID-19 from getting into the White House had no bearing on most people. Crazy.

 

You couldn't pay me enough to venture into any of the Simon Malls on Long Island anytime soon.

The question with baseball is how long they'd need for Spring Training. Have the majority of the players just been sitting at home on their butts playing video games like The Show just to kill time? Maybe they have gyms in their homes, but I doubt they'd be out on the ballfield practicing. If they have a season start date in July, they'd better have a good idea for Spring Training as well.

 

You could not pay me @Ahsoka's Tano to go into a mall anywhere over the next year. Eventually will go shopping when it's safe but in an area with not a lot of foot traffic. That just seems like the worst idea ever though especially since summer is coming and well not only do teenagers work there but they also to hang out there. And since there won't be much organized things to do this summer, I think you will be seeing them hanging out there more then normal especially with offices opening up. A lot of parents will be at work all day again therefore they will have no supervision at all. It's one of the things we been talking as a staff since school ends in a few weeks. How do we keep the kids engaged somehow when classes are over with so they are not spending time making bad choices?

And it sounds like June will be Spring Training 2.0 but I really think a month not be enough to get everyone ready especially pitchers unless they plan on spending the first few weeks of the season only using starters a few innings.

 

Well you'd imagine at least pitchers (the ones with large wallets and fancy homes) can practice on their own in their backyards; even against a fence with a target like old school stickball. If/when the season begins, chances are good there won't be any significant offensive numbers throughout the league. Fielding might take a plunge as well.

 

Baseball has started up again in Korea and Taiwan. Japan is planning on a June start. German soccer league is starting up this weekend. And those are just the ones I know off the top of my head. There's no way sports don't come back here.

In 1995 after the strike they did a 2.5 week spring training. Given that most players complain that spring training is too long as it is, I would think three weeks will be plenty, especially since they're already planning on at least a 29 man roster for at least the first month of the season.

Amazing.

 

Even Dodgers get realigned to the AL?

 

You are right @AmazingB but those countries are doing a lot better against this then we are. I think that is what @KnightWriter is getting at. But again this nation is crazy so I think you are right. We are going to right thru the stop signs and hope technology can catch up with our stupidity.

 

I've highlighted a fundamental problem in your analysis-- you're citing countries with competent national governments. We have no such government at this time here, nor will we at any point this year (barring something unexpected).

 

As I've said repeatedly, I would very much like this thread to not turn political. So I will leave it at this. Baseball will be back soon. The virus will be gone soon.

You are all free to follow up on this in a couple of months.

Amazing.

 

B, everything is political, particularly where Covid-19 is concerned.

 

Without a DH? Sure!

 

I don't wanna underestimate the number of baseball players who are actually Trumpians (if not quite Bauer-level), which could impact the MLBPA accepting a return to play if there's something like a full vote (along with lower-paid players being more amenable the compensation changes holding it up, like we saw with the NFLPA in the most recent CBA).

I think we'll see baseball this year in some form.

I do not think the virus will be gone soon, unfortunately. BUT HAPPY TO BE WRONG ON THAT