Is There Going To Be Baseball This Year?
Contents
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the question on everyone’s mind is “is there going to be baseball this year?” While we don’t have a definite answer yet, here’s what we know so far.
Introduction
It’s a question that has been on the minds of baseball fans for months: is there going to be a baseball season this year?
The COVID-19 pandemic has put a lot of uncertainty surrounding the 2020 Major League Baseball season. Numerous teams have already had to postpone or cancel games due to positive COVID-19 tests among players and staff.
As the situation continues to evolve, it’s hard to say what’s going to happen with the baseball season. However, there are some reports that suggest that the league is planning to move forward with a shortened season.
Whether or not there will be a baseball season this year, one thing is for sure: the health and safety of everyone involved is the top priority.
The 2020 Season
The 2020 baseball season is in jeopardy due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. As of now, it is unclear if there will be a season at all. However, if there is a season, it is likely that it will be shortened and played without fans in attendance.
Cancellation of the Season
On August 12, 2020, after weeks of negotiation between team owners and the Players Association, Commissioner Robert Manfred announced that the 2020 Major League Baseball (MLB) season would be canceled. This is only the second time in MLB history that a season has been canceled; the first was in 1904. The announcement followed the cancellation of the entire Minor League Baseball (MiLB) season earlier in the day.
The cancellation of the season was a result of numerous factors, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to numerous health and safety concerns for players, staff, and fans alike. In addition, several key issues were unable to be resolved during negotiations, including player compensation and the structure of the playoffs. As a result, both sides were unable to come to an agreement on how to proceed with the 2020 season.
This is a disappointing end to what was shaping up to be an exciting season. Although there will be no official MLB games played this year, there are still many ways for fans to enjoy baseball. For example, MLB The Show 20, a video game developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, is currently available for purchase and offers players a realistic baseball simulation experience. In addition, there are several independent professional baseball leagues around the country that will be playing their seasons as scheduled.
Postponement of the Season
The novel coronavirus pandemic hashad a significant impact on all levels of baseball, postponing or cancelling games, seasons, and tournaments worldwide.
On March 12, 2020, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that spring training games would be suspended and the start of the regular season delayed by at least two weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On March 16, MLB announced that the regular season would be further delayed indefinitely due to the ongoing pandemic; Opening Day was eventually set for July 23 or 24. On June 23, MLB and the MLB Players Association reached an agreement on health and safety protocols for the 2020 season.
On July 6, after multiple players tested positive for COVID-19, the Miami Marlins’ home opener against Baltimore was postponed. The St. Louis Cardinals also had multiple positive tests amongst their players and staff, causing their series against the Milwaukee Brewers to be postponed.
As a result of these postponements, MLB issued a memo to all 30 teams stating that any team with an outbreak will have their operations shut down for at least two weeks.
The 2021 Season
Baseball fans across the country are wondering if there will be a 2021 season. With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging on, it is uncertain if baseball will be able to have a season this year. However, there are some positive signs that there might be baseball this year. Let’s take a look at the situation.
MLB’s Plan
In August of 2020, MLB owners and the MLB Players Association came to an agreement on a plan to start the 2021 season. The season was originally supposed to start on April 1st, but it was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new start date is April 6th. The regular season will end on October 3rd, and the postseason will begin on October 6th.
The 2021 Major League Baseball season will be 60 games long. Each team will play ten games against each of their four division rivals and six games against each of the other ten teams in their league.
There are a few things that are different about this season compared to previous seasons. One thing is that there will be universal designated hitters this year. This means that there will be a designated hitter for both the National League and American League teams, instead of just the American League teams like in years past. Another thing is that there will be expanded playoffs this year. In previous years, only five teams from each league made the playoffs. But this year, there will be eight teams from each league that make it to the playoffs.
The 2021 Major League Baseball season is going to look a little different than what we’re used to, but it’s still going to be a great season nonetheless!
The Players’ Association’s Plan
With the COVID-19 pandemic raging across the country, it’s hard to imagine that baseball will be played this year. But the players’ association has come up with a plan that would allow for a shortened season.
The plan calls for a 60-game season, which would start in early July and end in early October. The games would be played in team’s home stadiums, with no fans in attendance. Players would also be tested for COVID-19 every other day, and anyone who tests positive would have to quarantine for at least 10 days.
The players’ association has presented this plan to Major League Baseball, but it’s unclear if the league will agree to it. Some owners are reportedly opposed to the idea of playing games without fans, as they stand to lose a lot of money in ticket and concession sales. It remains to be seen if baseball will be played this year, but the players’ association seems determined to make it happen.
Conclusion
After a long and difficult negotiation process, it seems that Major League Baseball and the players’ union have finally come to an agreement on a plan to start the 2020 season. Although there are still some details to be worked out, it appears that baseball will indeed be played this year.
This is good news for baseball fans all over the world, who were beginning to lose hope that there would be any sort of season at all. It is also a relief for the many businesses and individuals who rely on baseball for their livelihoods. Finally, it is a victory for common sense and cooperation over partisanship and greed.
Of course, the 2020 season will not be without its challenges. The shortened schedule means that every game will be even more important, and there will be little margin for error. Teams will also have to deal with playing in empty stadiums, which will create a unique atmosphere.
But despite all of these challenges, it is still exciting to know that baseball will be back this year. After months of uncertainty, we can finally look forward to enjoying America’s favorite pastime once again.