The 2020 Cleveland Indians

[B Mac]

Any word yet on where games will be played? I've seen people assume they will be home ball parks and others assuming they will be in AZ/FL/etc..

 

[Derek]

Any word yet on where games will be played? I've seen people assume they will be home ball parks and others assuming they will be in AZ/FL/etc..

Pretty sure they've said they are planning to play in the home ballparks, which is why the schedule is structured as it is.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Where the line is drawn who knows. But players not participating sitting in the stands - looks like they will be masked bandits. Hard to eat seeds that way.

I think that's just dumb. In the game or not, they're athletes who could be called upon to be in the game at any time, and making their breathing take more effort is simply stupid. Double the distancing if you must, but let the guys breathe without wearing a freaking StayFree on their face.

ETA; And I'm NOT trying to turn this into yet another debate about wearing masks in society in general, which does not belong outside the political threads. Being one of maybe 100 people or so inside an empty baseball stadium that normally seats 40,000 is a very unusual situation that presents options for distancing that aren't normally present. I'm just saying that if there aren't any fans in stands, you could let guys spread out 20 feet apart rather than wear masks.

Think of the heat. Keeping mask on your face for 3-4 hours in the sun, breathing your own stale air in and out, would be pure misery. They don't have the option to really "not go", as you do in civilian life.

 

[LL3]

Pretty sure they've said they are planning to play in the home ballparks, which is why the schedule is structured as it is.

Yes -- this appears to be the plan. There may be some issue with Toronto (border crossing/Covid) etc. ...last I read they were considering playing in Buffalo.

 

[LL3]

I think that's just dumb. In the game or not, they're athletes who could be called upon to be in the game at any time, and making their breathing take more effort is simply stupid. Double the distancing if you must, but let the guys breathe without wearing a freaking StayFree on their face.

ETA; And I'm NOT trying to turn this into yet another debate about wearing masks in society in general. Being on one of maybe 100 people or so inside an empty baseball stadium that normally seats 40,000 is a very unusual situation that presents options for distancing that aren't normally present. I'm just saying that if there aren't any fans in stands, you could let guys spread out 20 feet apart rather than wear masks.

Think of the heat. Keeping mask on your face for 3-4 hours in the sun, breathing your own stale air in and out, would be pure misery. They don't have the option to really "not go", as you do in civilian life.

If properly and/or significantly distanced, the mask makes less difference, to be sure. That said, professional Soccer playing subs are wearing masks when they are sitting in the stands, as well as when they are warming up on the sidelines (some leagues mandating, others not...some "masking" of their own volition). It has not represented too much of a problem for these high performing, cardio heavy athletes. As to the sun/heat, I would hope that they will get these guys some proper cover, etc., mask or no mask ...not like they will be blocking the view of people behind them. Strange times indeed...

 

[Huber.]

Yes -- this appears to be the plan. There may be some issue with Toronto (border crossing/Covid) etc. ...last I read they were considering playing in Buffalo.

They already gave permission to the NHL teams.

 

[LL3]

They already gave permission to the NHL teams.

As to your point -- Apparently a plan was submitted yesterday....

MLB submits plan to Canadian government to play in Toronto

The Canadian government says Major League Baseball has submitted a plan to play in Toronto and health authorities are examining it

abcnews.go.com

...thinking if they submit a similar plan as NHL it will be approved,, but some are raising alarms because of US spikes.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

If properly and/or significantly distanced, the mask makes less difference, to be sure. That said, professional Soccer playing subs are wearing masks when they are sitting in the stands....

Where is that happening? Most recent thing I found was that players in the Premier League were not being required to do it.

Why Premier League players and managers are not wearing masks - and other questions answered

There are extensive protocols in place to make sure players and staff are not at risk of contracting coronavirus

inews.co.uk

....It has not represented too much of a problem for these high performing, cardio heavy athletes.

I think that might depend on who you ask. Also, U.S. soccer teams play what, maybe 6-7 games per month? Those baseball guys are going to be wearing those masks in the heat for hours every single day. I'd honestly be shocked if more than 50% of them kept it up until mid-August. Guys will just walk, or it will be changed. The facial zits alone would be a nightmare.

As to the sun/heat, I would hope that they will get these guys some proper cover, etc., mask or no mask ...not like they will be blocking the view of people behind them. Strange times indeed...

Not going to help when it's a cloudy 88 and humid as hell.

 

[LL3]

Where is that happening? Most recent thing I found was that players in the Premier League were not being required to do it.

Why Premier League players and managers are not wearing masks - and other questions answered

There are extensive protocols in place to make sure players and staff are not at risk of contracting coronavirus

inews.co.uk

I think that might depend on who you ask. Also, U.S. soccer teams play what, maybe 6-7 games per month? Those baseball guys are going to be wearing those masks in the heat for hours every single day. I'd honestly be shocked if more than 50% of them kept it up until mid-August. Guys will just walk, or it will be changed.



Not going to help when it's a cloudy 88 and humid as hell.

There are many, many pro soccer leagues of course -- Premier League has NO requirement for reserve players, where others do. That said, watching a number of PL games this weekend there were quite a few reserves (some of which will enter the game) wearing masks in stands, as well as some while warming on sideline. Spain's La Liga is far more strict, as all players are wearing face coverings as they enter field (unlike PL), and reserves continue to wear them.

I would not disagree that there is a good degree of irritation with the masks for the soccer players (etc.), but the goal (forgive the pun) is to keep the players/staff healthy and keeping the league operational. To greater and lessor extents, they look at this as an aid to the overall effort.

As to the "cover" for players in the stands, I was reacting to your initial comment as to 3-4 hours in the sun...it would seem ridiculous to provide no cover for reserve players regardless of the mask situation.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

There are many, many pro soccer leagues of course -- Premier League has NO requirement for reserve players, where others do. That said, watching a number of PL games this weekend there were quite a few reserves (some of which will enter the game) wearing masks in stands, as well as some while warming on sideline. Spain's La Liga is far more strict, as all players are wearing face coverings as they enter field (unlike PL), and reserves continue to wear them.

I would not disagree that there is a good degree of irritation with the masks for the soccer players (etc.), but the goal (forgive the pun) is to keep the players/staff healthy and keeping the league operational. To greater and lessor extents, they look at this as an aid to the overall effort.

As to the "cover" for players in the stands, I was reacting to your initial comment as to 3-4 hours in the sun...it would seem ridiculous to provide no cover for reserve players regardless of the mask situation.

I understand. Of course, letting (most) players pick and choose when to wear them means that you have a built-in remedy for when it gets hotter/more humid. The issue is mandating it. Because there are going to be times when it is deeply unpleasant physically, and requiring players to wear them...I just don't see it continuing.

 

[MadThinker88]

Baseball needs to cut out the blackout for this season. Most people aren't going to be at games. Bauer did state before MLB tv needed to be fixed cause of all the blackouts since if you get MLB.tv and you live in the area of the team you wanna watch, you cannot even watch them.

I am also screwed even though I dont live in Cleveland since both Chicago teams, Detroit and Cincinnati are all blacked out in my area. So I won't get to see like any games live lol

Better option.... move to a different area...
BTW - where in the heck are you to have 5 different MLB franchises blacked out???

 

[Huber.]

Better option.... move to a different area...
BTW - where in the heck are you to have 5 different MLB franchises blacked out???

He said four (NE Indiana)... Iowa has 6

 

[LL3]

Just updating earlier convo....From Heyman:
Blue Jays are still hoping to have their spring and season in Toronto, local and national governments permitting. Another option is Dunedin, but with Florida Covid numbers rising, they might go to a different fallback option: That would be Buffalo.

 

[mrWalrus]

He said four (NE Indiana)... Iowa has 6

How dare people in Mississippi not drive to Atlanta to see every Brave's game. And all those Mariner Sinners in Montana.

What is even going on with this map? Did Someone spike my burrito with LSD? And yeah... I'm not even talking about the colors. There's a special hell for that person. This map is starting to make me not wonder why baseball is slowly dying. The people who have the most room to play your game you're preventing from seeing actual good baseball. And now you just neutered the minor leagues. Who the hell is running this stuff?

TLDR: This map is insane.

 

[ncinthenext3]

How dare people in Mississippi not drive to Atlanta to see every Brave's game. And all those Mariner Sinners in Montana.

What is even going on with this map? Did Someone spike my burrito with LSD? And yeah... I'm not even talking about the colors. There's a special hell for that person. This map is starting to make me not wonder why baseball is slowly dying. The people who have the most room to play your game you're preventing from seeing actual good baseball. And now you just neutered the minor leagues. Who the hell is running this stuff?

TLDR: This map is insane.

I looked at that map, all of the colors (which I don't see very well) with the slanted lines and gave up in about 5 seconds.