2020 Around the MLB Thread

[LL3]

This sort of Covid/baseball news is likely to be a regular feature....I am increasingly feeling MLB will need to be flexible, adaptable and lucky to see this through.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I agree with this, but that suspension is just way out of line. He was not even thrown out of the game.

He should have been thrown out, though. Just because the umps made the wrong call in the game doesn't mean MLB should overlook what he did. And I get why he did it. But with all the concerns about player health in sports -- not just Covid but with things like CTE in football -- I think MLB has decided to finally put a stop to deliberately throwing at players. I know it's tradition...but I get it.

 

[CATS44]

IF proper procedures were used , esp sanitizing the visiting facilities after the Cards left, the Tribe should be okay.

Should be....

 

[TxBuckeye]

Kelly couldn't locate his fastball that entire inning.

I think there's a legit chance he threw the breaking ball at Correa because he felt he could actually hit him with it.

I also think an 8 game suspension is excessive, but it's clear the commish wants to shut down any anti-Astro retaliation right now. Can't blame him, but as a peasant watching the gladiators, I want my entertainment. I hope teams start banging a garbage can lid every time there's a strike against an Astro. Swing and miss? BANG! An ump calls a questionable strike that you think is off the plate? BANG!

If Manfred was that concerned he should have handed out some real punishment to the Astros.

 

[LL3]

If Manfred was that concerned he should have handed out some real punishment to the Astros.

That was going to be a web of grievances and lawsuits...not that this makes the situation at all good or reasonable, but Manfred's hands were, to a great degree, tied.

 

[LL3]

Due To Positive Covid-19 Tests
By Steve Adams | July 31, 2020 at 10:32am CDT

10:32am: The league announced that tonight’s game has been postponed. They’ll attempt to make it up as part of a doubleheader Sunday. MLB’s statements reads as follows:

Today’s scheduled game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park has been rescheduled as part of a traditional doubleheader on Sunday, August 2nd at 1:10 p.m. (CT). The rescheduling as a result of two positive COVID-19 tests in the Cardinals’ organization is consistent with protocols to allow enough time for additional testing and contact tracing to be conducted.

That statement seems to represent a departure from the protocols of just one week ago, when the Marlins/Phillies series was played to completion despite as many as seven known positive cases by Sunday. It’s surely frustrating for some fans to see, but it’s also in the best interest of completing a 2020 season to update protocols based on the efficacy of the standing regulations.
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FYI -- change of protocols

 

[LL3]

MLB, MLBPA Reach Doubleheader Agreement For 2020
By Connor Byrne | July 30, 2020 at 7:01pm CDT

7:01pm: An agreement has been reached, per Jeff Passan of ESPN. Seven-inning doubleheaders will take effect Aug. 1.
6:12pm: Major League Baseball and the union are moving toward an agreement on 2020 doubleheaders, Ken Rosenthal and Jayson Stark of The Athletic reports. If the two sides reach a deal, doubleheaders would consist of a pair of seven-inning games, but it would only be for this year, according to Rosenthal and Stark.
The idea behind this would be for teams to preserve their pitchers, per Rosenthal and Stark, and it could give every team a better chance of finishing its 60-game schedule during a pandemic-shortened season.
Teams such as the Marlins, Phillies, Yankees and Blue Jays have already seen their scheduled heavily altered just a week into the season because of coronavirus concerns. Neither Miami nor Philadelphia has played at all this week, and neither will take the field again until Tuesday at the earliest. As a result, they’ll have plenty of ground to make up over the next several weeks. Seven-inning doubleheaders could make it easier for them to catch up.
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Not sure if this was mentioned earlier, but we are now on to 7 inning games in double headers. On its face I dislike it, but in reality, whatever gets us to the end in some reasonable fashion is good. It may even favor the Tribe a bit, but I doubt we'll see too many DH in any case.

 

[Huber.]

This sort of Covid/baseball news is likely to be a regular feature....I am increasingly feeling MLB will need to be flexible, adaptable and lucky to see this through.

Are any of these guys actually sick?

 

[ncinthenext3]

MLB, MLBPA Reach Doubleheader Agreement For 2020
By Connor Byrne | July 30, 2020 at 7:01pm CDT

7:01pm: An agreement has been reached, per Jeff Passan of ESPN. Seven-inning doubleheaders will take effect Aug. 1.
6:12pm: Major League Baseball and the union are moving toward an agreement on 2020 doubleheaders, Ken Rosenthal and Jayson Stark of The Athletic reports. If the two sides reach a deal, doubleheaders would consist of a pair of seven-inning games, but it would only be for this year, according to Rosenthal and Stark.
The idea behind this would be for teams to preserve their pitchers, per Rosenthal and Stark, and it could give every team a better chance of finishing its 60-game schedule during a pandemic-shortened season.
Teams such as the Marlins, Phillies, Yankees and Blue Jays have already seen their scheduled heavily altered just a week into the season because of coronavirus concerns. Neither Miami nor Philadelphia has played at all this week, and neither will take the field again until Tuesday at the earliest. As a result, they’ll have plenty of ground to make up over the next several weeks. Seven-inning doubleheaders could make it easier for them to catch up.
_________________

Not sure if this was mentioned earlier, but we are now on to 7 inning games in double headers. On its face I dislike it, but in reality, whatever gets us to the end in some reasonable fashion is good. It may even favor the Tribe a bit, but I doubt we'll see too many DH in any case.

Clev was right. It's not travel baseball. However, it's starting to look more and more like it!

 

[DCTribefan]

Are any of these guys actually sick?

Doesn’t matter. Are you familiar at all with community spread?

 

[Gson]

Are any of these guys actually sick?

There has been a general comment that it appears that the "virus" has mutated for the better as all of these cases are mild or asymptomatic.. This coming from the director of the CDC.. If you believe him.. okay.. if not.. meh...

 

[DCTribefan]

That was going to be a web of grievances and lawsuits...not that this makes the situation at all good or reasonable, but Manfred's hands were, to a great degree, tied.

Disagree. It’s not like Manfred was going to make relations with MLBPA any worse.

 

[LL3]

Disagree. It’s not like Manfred was going to make relations with MLBPA any worse.


It was not a "relations" issue -- it had more to do with a current agreement. There have been some articles on this...if I get a chance later I will try to track down and post.

Edit: -- Here is one -- https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2020/1/23/21077653/rob-manfred-astros-players-sign-stealing-scandal

 

[LL3]

There has been a general comment that it appears that the "virus" has mutated for the better as all of these cases are mild or asymptomatic.. This coming from the director of the CDC.. If you believe him.. okay.. if not.. meh...

I would like to read this if you have a link or date, etc
Thanks

 

[Otsego Mar]

This sort of Covid/baseball news is likely to be a regular feature....I am increasingly feeling MLB will need to be flexible, adaptable and lucky to see this through.

Unless teams want to play double headers every other day, they are going to have to play through this as best as possible or else maybe some of these teams should just bow out.

I don't want to see a good start by the Tribe turn into a forfeited season.