TODAY: The league’s proposal will include use of a designated hitter for both NL and AL lineups, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Earlier this week, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden wrote that the universal DH concept was “at least being discussed and considered” by league officials.
SATURDAY: Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic has the details on MLB’s newest proposal for a 2020 season. Rosenthal notes that nothing he describes is set in stone and could very well change upon scrutinization from the Players’ Union or medical professionals. Read his full write-up for all the details.
That said, the bones of the proposal are as follows: MLB would look to play a 78- or 82-game season beginning in early July, where teams would compete only with opponents in their geographic region (i.e., AL West teams would play only division rivals and NL West teams). Ideally, those games would take place in clubs’ normal home parks, but teams in cities where that isn’t feasible could temporarily relocate to their spring training cites or other MLB parks.
A 14-team postseason structure continues to be floated as part of this newest proposal. As previously described, each league would send 7 teams into the playoffs instead of the current 5. The best record in each league would hold a premium place in the postseason as the only team to get a bye for the first round. Of course, until we hear differently, any and all news of a playing schedule should be taken with a grain of salt.
Player pay continues to be a key question with any proposal (beyond health concerns and logistics, of course). There is no timetable for when fans would be allowed to return to stadiums, making it likely that players would be asked to accept a further reduction in pay. As Rosenthal lays out, however, they would potentially be compensated through a single-season revenue-sharing agreement.
The ramifications of this schedule proposal spread far and wide, though the priority remains on figuring out the safest and best way to return to baseball. Still, a season half the length of normal could result in suped-up playoff races.
Beyond the ramifications on the 2020 season, a wonky schedule could add another wrinkle to upcoming drafts. A short season means less margin for error and more room for potential cinderella runs or surprising collapses. Limiting the draft to just 5 rounds, meanwhile, means that a great number of potentially very good major league players will go unselected. It also likely means a stronger draft class in 2021 and beyond, as players with remaining eligibility will be inclined to return to school for another go-round. Factoring in a short season that could send some very competitive clubs to the top of the draft order, and MLB is facing a very particular couple of (draft) seasons in the short term. From a financial standpoint, clubs will have the opportunity to sign some very high-potential undrafted players for a mere $20K signing bonus. The competition and eventual distribution of those players will be an interesting case study to track over the next 10+ years.
Of course, the first step remains the approval of the proposed structure. If the owners approve of the deal on their scheduled call with the league office, Rosenthal suggests that the proposal could be sent to the Players’ Union for approval as early as Tuesday.
Its a start…
Is this a joke? 79 or 82 games. If teams cannot play 100 games at least, then the season should be cancelled. Calling a team champions brings prestige for that organization. If the season begins in July 1st a minimum of 100 games should be played. A trophy is supposed to represent success and hard work unless it’s like the team that won in 2017. If you know what I mean.
if they all play the same amount of games, why does it matter? what does 100 games prove any more than 82? just because you think 100 sounds more “offical”?
because people like visually appealing numbers for some reason.
162 isn’t the most appealing number in the world though lol
Because he thinks Cardinal fans know everything
I registered for this site specifically so that I could give your comment a like.
What if the league were divided up into 3 divisions. AL & NL East, AL & NL Central, AL & NL West. You play 9 opponents a 5 game home and a five game away series. Reduce travel to regions. Opponents have to face all 5 starting pitchers, use the DH. Some series would require doubleheaders. Playoffs should be expanded to more teams. Rank playoff teams by record, with a re-rank each round.
It’s a crazy year, do something crazy…World Series with Cubs-Cards, Yanks-Red Sox, Dodgers-Padres!
Another 22 games (from 78 to 100) is a huge difference. The cream rises to the top. The less games played the more likely lesser teams can prevail.
Another 22 games is not exactly a full month but many teams can rise and fall in that time.
If you are playing leas than half of the games cancel the season. It is meaningless.
How many teams that lead divisions at the all star break still win?
The Nationals would not even have been in the playoffs last year (even if expanded to 7 teams per league) after 78 games
Because larger sample size equals more meaningful results. With a 78 or 82 age scheduler’s you could have one or more fluke ,400 seasons. Where if they played 120 or more the likelihood of an illegitimate .400 season is out the window, Same applies with measuring team strength….with such a short schedule a slow staring team that might be one of the 3 most talented teams in baseball might not make the playoffs. And conversely a mediocre poor team that hits a hot stretch could finish high in the standings or even get the league bye.
We don’t.
“Calling a team champions brings prestige for that organization”
*COUGH*ASTROS*COUGH*
the amount of games played is an arbitrary number for the most part. obviously were not going to jump right into SUDDEN DEATH championship but playing at least half a season is statistically significant.
Wrong. How many times do teams look like decent contenders half way through but by September they are a 3rd or 4th place team. Lots. 82 isn’t enough. Do lots of double headers to get to 100 if you have to
The same would happen if they played 250 games. The teams leading after 162 would not be the same teams leading after 250. We could go on and on like this. The fact is this season is different. It’s different for all of us. No matter what happens, the “champion” is always going to have an asterisk by their name in regard to this season.
Dude old news.
But who would want their team to be the one that has the Asterik title. With my teams luck this will be the year they finally stop choking
why not play 300 game seasons, then the team whose in 3rd place can battle back to 1st. it’s completely arbritrary. seems to work for basketball
That’s exactly why I think a typical bottom-dweller actually has a chance. Think about how many times each year during the first 2 months get hot: a lowly team surprising everyone out of the gate then lose steam. WSH started out 19-31 into mid-May, then miraculously turned it around to win it all.
Of course, this doesn’t outweigh the long term effects of allowing only 5 draft rounds, then having rich teams sign the cream of the crop for reduced 20k contracts (hopefully they won’t sign and defer to JuCo, college, etc. & have better terms next year).
Cough cough? If you read his comment he said but for the 2017 “champions” you could not figure out that he meant the Astros.
So it means more if .500 is 50-50 instead of 41-41?
Lmao okay bud
Can we cancel your ability to comment instead?
I agree with this.
You’re logic and outlook is flawed. You should get a horse and go live up in the mountains.
2 of the last 3 champions are tainted by punishments handed down by the leauge. A shoter schedule means nothing when all teams have to deal with it.
It’s a $ grab, asterisk, and gimmicky desperation
I think they should play 79 games and 37 be 7 inning games. Then make 17 games double headers with the second game a 7 inning game. Those numbers all have significant meanings not sure what but they mean something to someone I am sure.
The above comment was sarcasm because some people can’t read and understand that something so dumb is sarcasm I thought I would help. I am sure francy had an aneurysm before he got to this part. Sorry Bud it is a game not life and death. You know like they pandemic that is going around.
I swear I just don’t understand people sometimes.
“Calling a team champions brings prestige for that organization.”
Prestige went out the window when Manfred let the Astros and the Red Sox off the hook for cheating.
Through roughly 80 games last season 5 of the 6 division leaders won their division after 162. The only one that changed was the NL central.
Wild card hunt though is definitely not the same after 81 compared to 162, there’s several teams that either get hot and separate or go the opposite direction and become below .500 teams. And not every season is the same as far as the division races go, last year it was 5 of the 6 teams but some seasons the cream doesn’t rise to the top in 81 games. If 2020 is one of those seasons then you’re going to have some unworthy playoff teams
Who decides who is an “unworthy” playoff team? College World Series teams don’t play anywhere near the number of games the MLB does, but the winner is still the NCAA champion. Yes, I understand it’s a completely different level, but, after what we’ve suffered this year, we deserve to have an MLB season in some form this year and the winner (including its fans) deserves to call itself the champion.
Mariners gonna win it all this year
The higher-ups, television people, media members, advertisers, and everyone else don’t care as much about “prestige” and “doing it the right way” as fans do. We invest emotionally, but they’re jobs correlate to making money.
Sports are an entertainment business. They sell all that “legacy” and “honor” stuff because people buy it. I love it and want it to come back. They will never decide to not play a season and lose hundreds of millions of dollars because it wouldn’t be as “prestigious” as a full 162 or 100.
Why?
Really? As a fan of the 83 win “world champion” of 2006 you’re arguing this?
@nj—-best comment yet!!! Heck, football plays 16 games in a season and it seems to be OK. The number of games is irrelevant if everyone plays the same. They will know the rules before the start.
I love baseball and I will enjoy watching (provided it doesn’t cost $60 a month to view) but the cheating, the joke of a commissioner (see the documentary “Screwball”) and the “everyone gets in” play-offs are a joke.
Yes it’s a joke since baseball has yet to strip any championships from 96 on. 96,98,99,00,09 Yanks used PEDs(Clemens,Arod,Andy,Chucky etc) and haven’t been stripped. 01 Dbacks with Luis Gonzalez,02 Angels(Glaus),04,07,13(Ortiz),06,11Cards(Pujols), Royals and Astros using cameras in CF to aid their championships. Let me know when those teams get punished to the fullest extent of the law for cheating but don’t talk about how 100 games is the joke. The joke is baseball has been entertainment more than a sport for nearly 25 years
Pujols was never on PEDs. I doubt Glaus was too.
Glaus was named in the Mitchell Report.
Yeah ok Pujols wasn’t on them sure. He was only one of the best players during the steroid era while completely clean yeah right
Glaus was juicer what this has to do with anything is beyond
Agree. And Pujols’s manager then was Tony Larusso, the godfather of PED managers!
Yeah except evidence about a trainer came out saying he shot him up. You think Canseco and McGuire two of La Russia’s boys were clean LMAO
That makes no sense.
You enjoy your lawn and those of us who enjoy baseball more than the sound of our own voice will enjoy baseball. The Astros shade is hilarious coming from a fan of an org that employed Chris Correa. Pot meet kettle.
Hi I’m a cranky sob I hate everything.
You’re an idiot
I just want baseball. If their proposal is 82 games then so be it. There is an extra layer of playoffs. Is that ok?
I agree 100 %. 100 games would be the way. Start season last week in June and add several doubleheaders for teams which would have the rare next day off. Of course no All Star break. I like 100 over 82 ….just gives a team a better chance to come back after a losing streak. Good teams will have losing streaks ( albeit shorter ones ) and 18 games more will give them a better chance to come back. I believe it is doable.
as for the designated hitter rule I have always been against it ( although it could mean the loss of some jobs). Putting up the pitcher should be part of the game .
To all the so called fans who want a 162 game schedule. So you’d sacrifice SP and RP arms just so you can play 162 games with 40% of the games doubleheaders, LOL. Never going to happen these players are gold money makers and to risk their careers is not going to happen by injury and or TJ surgery..
Much prefer 100 games but I’ll take anything
facts
yep
Revenue sharing would require team owners to open their books up more than they’d like. I do not see that happening. I love baseball, but this is nothing more that a prolonged exhibition series. Games not played before a crowd? The 2020 season is over. There would be not real world series champion. Might as well bring back Home Run derby (which I loved) at the old Wrigley Field in LA.
games are games. you dont need to watch if you don’t want.
I’ll join the dark side lol
Dark side is a shill
what, because i don’t agree with you? yall need to chill on these comments.
For whom is Dark Side a shill?
You’re the poster boy Doggie Downer Syndrome.
I bet you’re a hoot during the holidays.
Keep dreaming… 2021 maybe
Let’s make a wager on it. Since you seem to know the future Nostradamus.
Season needs to at least be 80-100 games…
If only 82 fit into “80-100”
Woah
True that, commonsense——-but if it falls at 78 poor yanks02026 is going to be upset………….
as much as its hard not to take this with many grains of salt, 78 games is 77 games more than i need. Once its safe i dont care how many games are played. if they can only fit in 5 its a 5 game season then.
+1
After the first mlb player, umpire, or manager dies from the covid 19 will mlb admit they rushed this? Fortunately baseball has to get this by the players union. Why is it always about money and not lives?
Surprised they wouldn’t try for at least 100 games, figure they could extend the season by a month.
I think they want 2021 to be normal as possible, playing into deep november could hurt that.
Can you imagine the Astrisks and Dodgers in the same division! Haha bring it on !
I’d love to see them play each other in LA, personally. I know Dodgers fans had already basically bought out the entire HOU-LAA series in Anaheim but those games obviously never happened.
Seeing Houston and LA in LA would be hilariously good TV.
Not with no fans it wouldn’t be good tv because the Dodgers are spineless and never stand up for themselves. It would just be a regular game
Haha!!! Yes!! Now you’re talkin rivalry!!!
please bring sports back
Cry baby
Pot, meet kettle.
Boomer jokes are funny
He’s just pointing out your obvious hypocrisy.
I think you’re trying to convince yourself that I’m crying because you are. I’m laughing at how pathetic and desperate you’re all acting because you can’t watch baseball for a year
Again, the only one crying here is you. Childish name calling doesn’t help your argument either.
All I see is a bunch of triggered old fart.s crying at my mere presence
Only one crying is you. Don’t you have anything better to do than troll?
I’m making a petition that isn’t real but whatever, reply to sign
Great, they’re shortening an already very short season even more for the playoffs. I’m sure the 16 teams that don’t get in will love that…
162 games is a very short season? Ok
What are you talking about? I’m obviously saying that because of the expanded playoffs this yr instead of getting 100 games in the regular season they’ll now only get 80. Obviously…
When were we getting 100 games?
Your literally bit$%%ing about something that never existed- Welcome to 2020 folks
It’s pretty simple math. An extended postseason will make the regular season shorter. There’s only a certain amount of time MLB can play. So all I’m saying is that a longer postseason tournament will make this season which is extremely short already even shorter. Geez… I can’t understand why that’s so complicated to you?
JD, you obviously haven’t paid attention to all of the proposals
The proposals that never existed?
No, I didnt pay them attention in my response and Im not using them as a reference point today to whine like a little girl bc Im not getting what I want
You Jokers remind me of Louie Ck “The Miracle of Flight”……….. Anyone wants a laugh read above then watch this tell me its not these clowns……..
Louis C.K. – The Miracle of Flight – Louis C.K.: Hilarious (Video …
youtube.com/watch?v=kBLkX2VaQs4
You are an idiot. I’m not whining at all moron. I’m simply saying that an expanded playoffs for this season is going to make the regular season even shorter. Hearing you go off about something that’s not even being said is like watching someone slam their head against a wall over and over.
bush121 hours ago
“Great, they’re shortening an already very short season even more for the playoffs. I’m sure the 16 teams that don’t get in will love that”…
And next your going to take your ball and go home right? Poor you. How fragile of a man must you be to type that
So creative. It’s been proven repeatedly you never understood the original point so you keep acting like someone is upset about something when they are not.
You may be one of the dumber people I’ve seen on here, and that’s a strong prize considering some of the things that occur on here. I’m done responding to your just flat ignorant responses. Your beyond clueless. Just a moron. Good lucks with that.
As a fan I wouldn’t even be happy if my team won the world series. It would feel like it didn’t count and it was tainted. Might as well just make the Astros the world series champs. We know they don’t care about tainted championships.
I don’t understand this logic. Even if it’s a shortened season, every team is playing by these new rules. The best team in 2020 is still going to deserve the title. Now of course it will be a season that stands out from most. And if you don’t give the 2020 champ as much street cred as you give the 2019 champ, so be it, But 80ish games is still plenty for the cream of the crop to compete against each other.
Im with you Von, I think its a younger mind state tbh-
Everything has to be a GOAT or an asterisk or it doesnt exist
It’s the divisions that are the issue. The postseason would be a joke with AL and NL teams playing each other and the possibility of an all NL or all AL World Series. It looks stupid, but besides that, 82 isn’t necessarily enough. There’s lots of teams that are in contention in late June who end up finishing in 3rd or 4th
A joke would be not playing at all just because they can’t play a certain number of games.
So cancel baseball bc it looks stupid ?
Do us a favor then and just cancel coming here till 2021 then…. you know….bc you look stupid talking about something you dont even care about or want right?
Covid 19 canceled baseball. This is just a rush job because of money. The fans need to stop crying about their sports waaaaah waaaaah I have to go a year without baseball boo hoo be a man
You don’t have to watch. Stay in your home the rest of your life, crybaby.
Or, be a man.
Honestly bro, you are the one crying
Covid didn’t cancel anything. Moronic, sheep, fear mongerers that believe corrupt government agencies and bow down to unconstitutional actions are the ones cancelling things.
That’s your opinion, but most of us here feel it’s not stupid at all. It looks like what might happen is a return to pre-interleague baseball that takes it a step further. In a normal 162-game season, teams play their division opponents 19 games apiece. That could still happen. They could increase that to 20 or add one “home and home” interleague series totaling four games for traditional rivals.
The northeast has been hit the hardest by COVID-19, so it’s likely all of its teams will play in Spring Training facilities in Florida. The other divisions may play in home parks.
It is what it is NODH! Do your best to keep up.
@NODH——-there is nothing in the article that implies that AL or NL teams could play each other in the World Series. It simply says team will be playing games against its own division and against the geographic division and then seven teams, instead of five, from each league will go into the new playoff format.
There is pretty much the implication that the leagues and divisions will remain the same and the schedule will be created to reduce travel.
Not really sure where you see that there is any mention (here) of what you are saying.
It appears the divisions and leagues will stay the same.
Apparently you haven’t seen the divisions. It’s regional now which means AL west and NL west in the same division NL central AL central etc which means it’s all mixed up making it possible for an AL team to play an AL team In the fall classic or vice versa
if one player had the virus he could spread the virus in one day through the clubhouse to 10 or 15 players. Then all players and teams would shut down but hopefully before players died from the virus.
happily have your team forfeit then. better chance for the rest of us who dont need to complain
I agree that an 80 game season doesn’t necessarily reward the best team, but that already happens plenty with all of the playoff expansion over the years so I would still count any champion as legitimate as long as they don’t get caught cheating
As long as we get to watch ballgames this year, I don’t care if they play 70, 80 or 100 games. 9 months without baseball is way too long !!
Getting baseball at all is a win right now. 2020 is screwed, so make the best with what you can get.
Only if it’s just for fun like an exhibition season and no playoffs. Otherwise it’s a joke and not a legit season or postseason
This logic is crazy. It’s still competitive baseball. It’s nowhere close to an exhibition. 80 games is still a challenge. It’ll be a unique season and not quite what we want, but nothing can be done about that. This will be competitive, watchable baseball. Ths AL and NL labels are useless for 2020.
The objective is to make them useless forever.
Just so we know.
NoDH, You have the absolute worst response to everything. You’re either a sad troll or the dumbest individual on the planet.
I love triggering you old fart.s it’s so easy
Go eat some more tide pods and snort a few condoms while you’re at it. oK bOoMeR
And right on cue you got the most triggered. Go inject some cleaner I’m hearing it cleanses the lungs
Stop projecting. You’re a sad sad little boy.
You b00mers would like a corny baseball movie from the 90’s
Why are you here? Besides showing everyone how ignorant you are?
There’s no reason Spring Training shouldn’t kick into high gear by May 15th with the season kicking off first week in June
Only thing preventing this is MLB’s lack of preparedness and fear over an illness that’s inevitable for the vast majority of the population with or without social distancing.
The point of distancing was to slow the spread to allow medical intervention. Sadly, medical intervention (aka ventilators) ended up relatively ineffective. Studies have shown 80-90% of individuals who need ventilators die anyway.
So the fear we need to slow it so we could treat it has become irrelevant as painful as it may be to hear.
It was always going to spread. In fact models predict even with strict social distancing measures in place indefinitely 70% of the population would still contract the disease by the arrival of a vaccine (12-18 months).
If there was no cost to slowing down the spread then it’d be perfectly logical to continue intense efforts to slow it as much as possible in hopes some kind of effective medical intervention could be discovered while we wait for the vaccine.
Unfortunately there is a cost to sowing the spread. A hefty economic cost. At some point you have to face reality and open back up. This includes baseball and sports.
No one wants to see lives lost but this is the harsh truth of he situation. Many people will remain in denial thinking social distancing is making things better. But at this stage it’s the equivalent of ripping off the bandaid or slowly peeling it back. The bandaid will come off either way. How painful do you want to make it for how long is the only question left.
Except, you know, the CDC…
I hate to break this to you, but public health officials are experts on public health. They’re not trained to make trade offs for economic stability and public health.
If there’s a risk of deaths period, the CDC and other public health officials are going to tell people to take all precautions until that threat is entirely mitigated.
So like I said, if there was no cost to distancing then yes slowing it in hopes some form of effective medical intervention will be discovered prior to the vaccine is the way to go.
But like I also said, we don’t live in a fairy tale where there aren’t consequences for choices.
They’re experts on public health and public health only.
Listening to public health officials on economic repercussions makes no sense.
Would you hire a public health official to do your taxes for you? Why not? Apparently some of you think they’re experts on everything.
And for the record I wasn’t against the shut down at the start. It absolutely made sense to take a real shot at doing something about it. It was a good plan. Slow so hospitals could keep up to treat it.
But I’m also not naive enough to think we actually treated it. We slowed it in some respects. 90% dead who required the medical equipment that was in short supply isn’t a success by any stretch.
Some of you are mindless sheep incapable of looking at things objectively when it stares you straight in the face.
The fact all some of you can muster is “but but but CDC” says it all.
hefty economic costs indeed . However, consumerism only works with active consumers. Basically and simply put : You can’t spend money if you’re DEAD
Around .5% have died, not exactly a reason for panic and shutting everything down. The fallout from all of this is the result of people believing bought and paid for government agencies that are pawns in the power struggle. We lost, they got richer.
Nope, I can muster 100 years of baseball tradition that when lightening strikes you clear the field
Its called player safety
And its not CDC mandated, but its embedded in the rules of the game, at every level, including softball, and recreational ball
Its um common sense
For player safety reasons
if you see or hear lightening you um clear the field
And playing baseball in the middle of pandemic with a highly contagious virus that is both infectious and deadly, without first greatly reducing the numbers of infected in the regions where baseball is played and without a unique health and safety plan which includes quarantines, restricted travel, and just ignoring the reality of the situation, while folks argue nonsensically about the number of games, as if the players safety is disposable
Is kind like playing a full 9 innings in severe lightening
Just saying….
Shut up! This is no time to be spouting off your common sense morality talk. We’re talking sports and money here! Take your logical thinking brain somewhere else.
The issue is the lack of testing. One positive case runs the risk of shutting the league down. I don’t know how they can monitor it unless they test daily, which would be an insane amount of tests.
Correct!
Are all players required to participate? It would seem during a padamedic risking a players life and or family is an optional choice?
Players with diabetes, immune system problems, cancer treatments etc will NOT play.
0.5% is not a risk but if a player is to weak to play, they shouldn’t be paid.
The rate is over 5%, not .5%.
Both figures are incorrect.
I
Just
Want
Major
League
Baseball
Even Pirates fans wants baseball this years!! COME ON MLB MAKE IT HAPPEN!
That was funny AND true.
We have an advantage this year we are used to playing in empty stadiums
Dude, it’s not going to help if they keep talking about it smh, just get it done.
Manfred has ruined baseball
I think a season of 80 games or so would be interesting.
Here’s some PREDICTIONS:
AL Batting Champ: D.J. LeMahieu NYY (.378)
NL Batting Champ: Bryan Reynolds PIT (.403)
AL Home Run Champ: Matt Olson OAK (31)
NL Home Run Champ: Cody Bellinger LAD (28)
AL RBI Champ: Franmil Reyes CLE (81)
NL RBI Champ: Fernando Tatis Jr. SD (78)
AL Wins Leader: Gerrit Cole NYY (10)
NL Wins Leader: Chris Paddack SD (9)
AL ERA Leader: Lucas Giolito CWS (2.01)
NL ERA Leader: Jacob DeGrom NYM (1.24)
AL Strikeout Leader: Shane Bieber CLE (127)
NL Strikeout Leader: Robbie Ray ARI (124)
ALCS: Cleveland Indians over Oakland Athletics (4-2)
NLCS: New York Mets over Cincinnati Reds (4-3)
World Series: New York Mets over Cleveland Indians (4-3)
This was fun. You guys should try it.
in a shortened season i dont see anyone hitting .400, especially given the disruption to normal routines.
The disruption of routine could make the likelihood of a .400 season even greater. Some players might struggle to get above the Mendoza line, some might do their best Ted Williams impression. The disruptions, of any kind, will be on both sides of the ball. You could see some weird ERAs, too.
Will someone hit .400 this year, probably not.
But can’t we dream a little?
It would be a lot easier to hit 400 in a shortened season
Yeah Bellinger almost made it to the halfway point with a .400 average last year
Players have been over .400 a couple months or so into the season before. Could happen. Especially considering the starting pitchers will be behind. Plus the season will start in the hot weather months that benefit hitters. It’ll be a bit strange seeing a player set the modern single season BA mark with barely 200 AB’s though.
Anything less than 502 plate appearances wouldnt be deemed ‘Real”- Thats the standard mark
Tony Gwynn hit .392 in a shortened season and more than likely would have hit .400 in that season with 162 games.
The Mets lmfao
Nobody is thinking! Play 162 you goats. It can be done and it’s not like you gotta do this strenuous effort again. Sac one year with double headers and play tell Jan. Some parts of the country have weather conditions but get alternative parks for those regions. I say suck it up and work hard this year and get it in or cancel the season
You always have such horrible takes on virtually every topic. Might wanna think about changing your username.
You’re not thinking, double headers will put a great strain on SP and RP who had little time to work into this season. Its already projected by the top TJ surgeon TJ surgery will increase by 30% of last year.
Mets are a below 500 type of club this year. World series? Hahahaha
Nice way to change the discussion (thumbs up emoji)
If Nats can win last year Mets could this year.
Indians have had a rough year and their schedule is tougher than you might think. Thanks for talkin baseball vs politics. There are other places for that.
I don’t care if they play 100 or 120. Just play baseball.
AGREED!!! MLB Baseball in 2020 is a BIG WIN! I don;t really want this going into Deep November or even December as I rather have 2021 season be close to normal as possible.
Obviously weird and very unbalanced schedules are better than nothing, but the NL Central teams do get a massive leg up by getting to play games vs. the AL Central.
Definitely need expanded playoffs to offset the schedule imbalance.
to be fair their entire division is hard, so adding the AL Central would probably balance it all out.
I’ll take 80 games. Hell, I’ll take 50 if that’s all they can do. Do it safe, do it right, let’s get fired up for some crazy outliers in batting average and ERA and some weird playoff teams.
Fu*k yeah, Dave.
Agreed!
I’m in!
The Players Association has not agreed to any start date or method of testing especially contact tracking.
82 games is better than nothing. 18 more games to get to 100 to make the numbers “more appealing” is semantics.
Games 81-100 are when the cream rises to the top if it hasn’t happened already. Many seasons a team like the Dodgers have been mediocre through June and got hot in July and proved that whoever was leading the west was doing so by default and not worthy
The cream rises to the top in whatever format is presented to them. These guys are professional athletes. How many times have you seen players with clutch performances in a best of 7 playoff series? The number of games is completely arbitrary. We will see teams have ebbs and flows in any season; whether 80 games or 300. You’re attached to the 162 game format because you’ve been watching it for years. I get that, but we absolutely cannot have that in 2020. So why not accept a shortened season for 1 year (hopefully. this virus may go well in 2021 btw) if it’s possible?
THE Union and MLBPA will determine when the season is to start not the owners or the players. However if the season is not safe to start by August then cancel the season altogether. All players will need to be tested daily for temps and if they have a fever they go into a 14 day quarantine. If a player is sick or has a severe cold they go into quarantine 14 days. There will be major guidelines if they play with or without fans.
Nobody is thinking! Play 162 you goats. It can be done and it’s not like you gotta do this strenuous effort again. Sac one year with double headers and play tell Jan. Some parts of the country have weather conditions but get alternative parks for those regions. I say suck it up and work hard this year and get it in or cancel the season
I agree. Play double hitters(maybe 7 inning games) increase rosters. Start June 1st obvislously need a few weeks of training.
Covid is BS
MEDIA IS ALL LIE THIS IS ALL POLITICS !!!
WAKE UP AMERICA ITS TIME WE TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY.
Zachary, Zachary, Zachary. There are no words fit for your ears to hear.
Zachary, Until you get the virus then you’ll probably stop talking smack, your the one who needs to wake up. I dare you to go to a hospital where there’s virus patients and work there for a month, then come back and tell us the real story.
Iknowbaseball, REALLy!! So you’d sacrifice SP and RP arms just so you can play 162 games with 40% of the games doubleheaders, LOL. Never going to happen these players are gold money makers and to risk their careers is not going to happen.
This is the worst idea I’ve heard on this entire board. Play to Jan.2021 are you kidding.. Something has gone hey wire in your thinking.
81-games is little more than an exhibition. How about aiming for a season that matters. Start July 1st and play 117 games to at-least equal the 1994 strike-season. End the regular season Nov 1st, play a shorter post-season and crown a champion by mid-Nov.
Not bad. Surprised the snowflakes haven’t thrown a fit under your comment
What ever team wins the World Series in 2020 will receive no credit from other cities fan bases.
I can see it now…. The Indians will win their first World Series since 1948, and everyone who’s not an Indians fan will then claim that the title means nothing because it wasn’t a full season.
Nah.. it counts except if it’s a the Yankees.
Sadly I agree. I wouldn’t want my team winning it especially not knowing if that’s the last one they’ll ever win. You could never see them win a legit one
Anyone who discredits this season is an idiot, period. Everyone faces the same circumstances and inconveniences.
Absolutely DTD. It’s like someone throwing out a ten-dollar bill because it isn’t a twenty-dollar bill. Idiotic. Professional teams playing competitive ball is going to be exciting whether 80 or 162 games.
Exactly chiefwahoo. Some say they don’t like playing it to 162 tell Jan. Ok then cancel season because people here think a short season is fine with them but that’s ridiculous. They just want to see baseball regardless of the circus that will go on. chiefwahoo people here love the idea playing 10, 40, 56, or whatever amount just give a game because they can’t handle no baseball……! Give them their way and we may be seeing the Pittsburgh Pirates win the world series because they got hot. Weak ideas with no logic but fans gobbling it up because they are desperate to see a game hahahaha, that’s what I call it
Ok this is a little outside of the box, but what about a single elimination tournament as the entire season. To make it last longer you could add all teams from Little League (they obviously wouldn’t beat an MLB team, to the top HS programs to College, minors and MLB?
Jessamodesto great idea I think the fans here will love it. And also after the tournament change the name from world champion to super duper world champions of 2020.
If teams would play only teams in their own divisions and teams in same division in the other league, then why propose a goofball postseason format, when they could just as easily keep the one we’ve had for years?
The answer is: MLB would like very much to eliminate the leagues because the leagues cost them money. If they can get the elimination of the leagues out of this they will consider it to be some gain out of the big loss. They want to find out the fans will go for it. They want to see if we will accept the loss of the World Series as we’ve known it for over 100 years. So, will we?
I vote no.
Kind of reminds me of what our rulers are doing with this covid thing. Trying to see what they can get away with
Until you get the virus then you won’t be talking smack
MLB isn’t trying to eliminate the leagues. They are just trying to cut down the traveling as much as possible in a shorter season. Teams will play 12 games against each team in their own division and six games each against the other league (east vs east, central vs central west vs west)
This will keep baseball interesting by playing your rivals as much as possible, I’d rather see the Yankees play more against Boston and the Mets than travel 3000 miles to play a series against Seattle
Sure they are. As I said, playing a shortened schedule with less travel simply does not require eliminating the divisions and the leagues, but this is the scheme they are considering just the same. The proposal to eliminate the leagues was on the table several years ago, so this is not coming totally out of left field. If the owners can reduce travel costs this year they aren’t going to want to give that gain back.
So be sure if the fans go along with this format, we can kiss the leagues and the World Series as we know it goodbye. I realize I probably can’t convince you of any of this now. Just don’t be shocked when it happens, and remember where you heard it first.
It’ll never happen. Another horrible take on something you know nothing about. Shocker.
And when it does, I’m sure you’ll admit you were wrong. In our dreams.
Now go look up the Selig plan and the Ringolsby reporting on the realignment plans MLB was considering just a few years ago, and tell us what you know.
Nothing.
Ditto, hypocrite.
I’d be happy be wrong, but I know what’s been discussed by MLB in the past, and I can also follow the money.
Personally I’d like to see a schedule where top 16 from last season both leagues play only themselves and bottom 14 play only themselves. Gives us Tigers fans a chance to YUK it up if our records better than the Red Sox or Yankers. And if we win it all, he’ll give us an asterisk lol
It’s time for Manfred to show some gumption and push forward with a plan. Don’t be like that cuck Silver and be in hiding beholden to the Players Association.
Half of 162 is 81.
It is obvious that 81 is the number of games to play.
Statistics are important, and if everything is half, then there is logic involved.
80ish games is just fine with me. If any team has a chance to win and weird things happen, why is that a bad thing? Being the main source of entertainment this summer in pretty much anyway could bring younger fans into the game. Families can huddle around the tv together and watch games as a family. The champion will still be a champion and would be celebrated as a happy moment among a lot of darkness and sadness that has overcome the country and world. I think half a season is fine! You can’t push too far into November and later due to the fact it could hinder 2021. All teams have an equal playing field in 2020, and that makes a season to me. Everyone will know they don’t have the ability to have the worst bullpen in the league and a terrible record for two months and still win the World Series. It will be full throttle from opening day on. That’s exciting to me. Not a bad thing. It’s baseball. True fans of the sport just want to see it. See their teams. See their players. See trout. See degrom. See the oddities that occur daily. See the no hitter. See the grand slam. It’s the national pastime for a reason. It helped nyc and the country find happiness after 9/11. Why not let it help us all find happiness during this time of uncertainty. Nothing is perfect this year (or ever). Just embrace positives that are out their and available to us when you can.
Snowflake
Easily triggered emotionally unstable troll.
As all of you get emotional over every comment I make. Stay triggered.
You repeat the same school yard insults over and over. Is that all you’ve got?
Yes. He seems to be proud of being a troll.
Why can’t they just play in weather friendly areas and set up a longer season that plays into December. And do a normal playoff.
Because a normal off-season is necessary to recover and prepare for next yr.
Exactly DTD——and that should be the real focus of this thing. Any baseball this year is a bonus at this point. They have to make it normal in 2021.
Having some kind of baseball in 2020 may be essential to figuring out the 2021 season. This virus will still be here next year. Waiting a year may just mean we’re debating the same proposals next year.
80 games is fine. Allow stadium workers media crews and others to go back to work. So the season will have asterisks all over the place. It’s something. If the cream doesn’t rise to the top so be it.
Make sure it’s safe for everyone and lets play ball.
YazTC1967: voice of reason. Seems to be missing elsewhere here. Thank you!
Personally, I’d rather have a longer regular season and a shorter post-season. The baseball playoffs take long enough as it is. Adding more teams just makes that process longer, and takes up valuable calendar space.
MLB should provide an offer to MLPA that allows teams to break even for a 2020 season. That might include up to a 70% pay cut. If MLPA won’t accept, cancel the MLB season and go to a better option anyway: A minor league season with one 40-man roster per team. I think fans would love to watch each organization’s top prospects play an abbreviated season.
Since MLB refuses to open their books how do you know when they break even?
Bravesj10 has the answer.
Can play in your own stadiums until it gets cold
14 team playoff? So now we can see a team under .500 as champion.
@bush1 who has made a handful of comments on this thread that ALL MAKE SENSE. Thank you! There are no good options for THIS season so the most rational, especially with the “expanded” playoff option–is the END the regular ON TIME—October 1st, playing as many games as safety and logic would provide.
Players will still need some days off, pitchers will need normal rest, etc.
One of the driving forces behind playing this year HAS TO BE MAKING THE 2021 NORMAL.
The season, however and, if ever played this year needs to end by November 1st (or so). Not only will the players need to return to normalcy, but the economic state of baseball and a lot of teams is going to be unknown. The amount of free agents, due to normal contracts and a higher than normal non-tenders is going to be difficult to navigate for all teams. It seems like most on this board just think the commish is going to say “July 1” and the players are going to agree to further reduced salaries and the owners are going to jump at lack of TV revenue, etc. That’s not going to happen, folks.
The plea to cram as many games in as possible and play the World Series at Christmas is just stupid. You can’t extend the regular season into November in places like Cleveland, Mnnesota, New York, Boston, Chicago……and you can’t come up with a plan to play the first 80 games in home cities and then travel south for the last month.
Start when you can—play to October 1. Set up a playoff system. Crown a champ. SET YOUR EYES ON MAKING 2021 REALISTIC. 2020 will never be “normal”.
Time to play some baseball. I’m looking forward to a $20 MLB.tv package.
I can’t believe a true baseball fan would rather have no season than a shortened season. There are a lot of those comments on this thread. If you’re not a baseball fan why are you on a site called “mlbtraderumors”?
No one cares that you’re Molly’s dad and no true fan would want a sham of a postseason and no crowd. People are too desperate it’s kind of sad
are you this daft in real life? most everyone commenting here is a baseball fan, not everyone is as desperate as you and willing to distort fundamental conditions for the sake of the almighty buck.
Reading comments from various players, it seems their heart is not into going back to play baseball this season…….others are talking about the “health safety” that MLB has to provide them to play !
I have to agree if one player had the virus he could spread the virus in one day through the clubhouse to 10 or 15 players. Then all players and teams would shut down but hopefully before players died from the virus.
78-82 games is ridiculous. All that has to happen is a team gets off to a decent-to-good start, get a few breaks and they squeeze into the post-season. And vice-versa for a team like the Yankees or Dodgers should they go through a down streak where they lose 8 of 12, etc. I, for one, would have zero interest in a Pittsburgh vs. Chicago White Sox World Series.
How about we start with game 1!
Dom D: thanks for the sanity.
Teams played between 102-109 games in 1981 due to the player’s strike. I don’t see an asterisk next to the Dodgers championship, so why are people saying this season should have an asterisk if they play a shortened season?
The 1981 season was self inflicted, the players weren’t forced to strike, this season teams don’t have a choice.
Thank you. I was just thinking this. The 1981 season was pretty bad. The Yankees, Phillies, Dodgers, and A’s were playing great and leading the division. Three of them played .500 or worse after the strike. It was like two different teams. I’ve never heard anyone suggest the 1981 season should have an asterisk and Dodger fans don’t complain.
The 1981 Reds didn’t complain because they had the best record in baseball and didn’t make the post-season.
If we can survive that, this is easy.
That’s a lot more than 81 games believe it or not and no crowd is not a postseason
Tricked up season is not worth having. Playing only your area is just plain silly. Who cares about tradition right? Not the owners and not the players. It’s all about the money.
I dont care how many games are played. If they are played in empty stadiums i want my money back now for season tickets i bought back in December 2019.
@osfan—-wow, it took me a whopping six seconds to type in orioles refund policy into google and see that you can either get 125% credit towards future tickets OR a full refund on impacted games. You’d probably have your money on the way back by now if you took as much of an effort to reach out to your team (I’m guessing they probably reached out to you—-i was contacted by the Cubs the day after MLB announced teams could make policies for season ticket holders) as you did posting something online.
I challenge anyone to post that a single team isn’t offering refunds by now.
Rangers aren’t offering refunds for Season Ticket Holders, Fact.
thanks tooold–I appreciate it. Very odd that they are handling their season ticket holders on a “case by case” basis and given full refunds to single game holders.
I do like the policy of Opening Day (first game in the ballpark) ticket holders are being asked to keep those for whenever it is.
Also for us STH’s, they are adding 5% to the annual cost of tickets, excluding reserved parking, in the form of Captains Cash. These are coupons to be used to buy food or Rangers merchandise. Historically we get $50.00 per seat credit each year to be used by the end of the season. I asked my rep, given the possibility of limited fan attendance if we will have to use all of it this year or would it roll into 2021. His reply was, TBD. If we can’t roll it into next season, then I guess we will have to stick up on Ranger Merchandise.
That’s crazy—I can’t imagine them not forming to the rest of baseball. I am appreciative of the way the Cubs ownership/leadership responds to and with the fans/season ticket base.
Next week, the ownership and executives are hosting a virtual forum with season ticket holders. It’s only an hour but we have been asked to submit questions for them to answer us directly. We have had in person sessions in the past and I look forward to next week’s meeting. Having the questions in advance I suspect that this will be a little more scripted than the face to face sessions, but appreciate the transparency they give to the season ticket holders.
Good luck –and be patient. I’m can’t imagine the refund option is too far away for all Rangers fans.
Who wants MLB back ?………..Baseball Fans, some players, stadium employees, vendors, local businesses, players wives, MLB Network, Scott Boras, Vegas Bookies, Beer companies…..
Who DO NOT want MLB back……….Owner’s accountants, some players, the guy who has to cleanup the players locker room, ALL Marlins, Pirates & Orioles fans, NFL, NHL, NBA, Korea Baseball TV people, big city politicians, Russian Table Tennis TV Watchers.
The other pro sports are probably waiting on baseball to be the lab rat in all this.
It needs to be a number that’s divisible by the number of teams that each team plays against. 82 is 41 times 2 and 41 is a prime number. Makes no sense. Come on MLB, this is not rocket science. It’s great to come up with 100 different scenarios unless 99 are stupid. Maybe if you split 41 into two compound numbers or three compound numbers the math works but it seems weak.
Three 10 team geographic divisions. Each team plays 72 gms. (9 — 4 gm sets at home and 9 away. Three 12 gm road trips and 3 — 12 gm home stands. That is enough to give you 14 legit playoff teams. 2 teams get bye. 1st rd 5gms. 2d & 3rd rd 7 gms. WS 9 gms. Any team that survives two 7 gm and one 9 gm playoff will be a legit WS Champ .
the Union will never accept your proposal nice try.
Instant replay, pitch timer, robo-umps, warnings issued for beaning VS. Astros, playoff expansions and cramming in a half season amidst Covid19.
So desperate. So embarrassing.
This season will be used as a test bed to see what kinds of fundamental changes to the game the fans will accept. That’s more of a concern to me than playing a shortened season. I’d be surprised if baseball ever looked the same.
Let me know how that crow tastes this time next year.
Complete lack of argument noted.
As opposed to your argument based on speculation?
As opposed to my argument based on stated facts. Read my other posts.
These fanboys can’t handle the truth just look how they throw a fit at every comment I post. I love it here it’s even better than where I normally comment
You’re a troll and you brag about it. How utterly pathetic.
What are you, twelve years old?
re: Astros one, again, if its targeted enough eventually the players may sue. Manfred cant allow vigilante justice and injuries for guys who may or may not have even participated.
Start the games on July 4 no matter what. Wouldn’t that be great. We’d have the finest season ever. Teams don’t show it’s a forfeit. Teams have to figure out how to do this on their own and they better show up for the games. Come November, put the adults back in charge of the country and 2021 will be fine.
Teams don’t figure this out on their own, MLBPA and the UNION will be the ones who make the final decision. They set the guidelines, the dates the number of games played, not the owners.
its absolutly a cooperative effort. the players association does not have that much power over the owners.
81 games then multiple season stats by 2
Well sure. The use of the DH certainly decreases the chances of catching coronavirus.
As does eliminating the entire minor league system as is.
i dont see why universal DH is needed if they are playing at home. seems like a scam to get through the rule permanently.
Exactly. It’s much like how senators attach lucrative bills for themselves to more popular bills in order to get them passed. No one is going to complain about the “Meals for Orphans” bill even if a major pay raise for senators is attached. People are just so excited to get baseball, they are willing to corrupt the entire thing.
I am feeling like I am ready to walk away and never come back. The game I grew up with is pretty much dead and this new creation can be left to the next generation.
I guess pitchers batting increases the risk of getting the virus. Interesting…
The players should not have to sacrifice one penny to the owners. Why? A deal is a deal and no one forced the owners to sign the agreement.,but while health is a legitimate concern, it does not mean they should get more money then what was agreed to, just for playing ( they have to live up to their end of the deal as well). They also should realize that because of team’s will have lost revenue, so when free agency comes in November, the money will not be there like in 2019, and I do not want to hear one word about greedy owners and collusion.
It’s going to be a hard pass for me.
As much as I would love to see baseball, this season means nothing if you change the entire structure of the sport. It’s basically 80 Spring Training games with how they have things set up.
Maybe just forget the playoffs. Let players play, get paid, rack up some stats, progress, try out some changes to the game, and provide some entertainment. Most people won’t consider whoever wins a true champion anyway.
Good points Briffle. There is still so much unknown about Covid-19. It appears you can have the virus and be a systematic and still be very contagious. Most, if not all states aren’t going to allow stadium crowds. The danger to the general public is too great. If there is a season, it will be an aberration. It will be nothing more than a bunch of exhibition games. I think MLB should just gear up for a regular season in 2021.
What are the chances that there will be enough test kits available for daily testing for Covid-19. There also needs to be test kits for antibodies as well. Most states don’t have anywhere near enough kits, so where would MLB get that many test kits? These are all issues that MLB and MLBPA needs to work out before play can begin.
What virus? It’s nothing more than the flu.
stuff your Qanon theory – 80K deaths is not the flu. Permanent lung damage is not the flu.
trout – nice post. add to that if they play in home parks, self quarantine between games (with family locally?), and still have a few positive cases, does MLB shut it all down again?
Add to that the politics of testing you alluded to, of having MLB players/ staff get almost daily testing vs the general public testing?
Please. If they played even 50 games, you’d be watching every minute of it.
Hey moron, where did I say I wouldn’t watch the games of they were to play?
Take a trading comprehension course.
As long as it’s only for this year I’m fine with a DH in the NL
This is the best chance the Mariners have in snapping their no playoffs streak.
Just cancel already. Like anyone wants to go sit in a 30,000 seat Petrie dish
did you miss the part where they said there wouldnt be any fans?
Hey darkside, eaten any little children lately?
82 games is a damn joke!! I mean seriously??? These damn pansies would quit worrying about this stupid ass virus & man up.
poor baby can’t watch baseball this year? gonna have a meltdown?
Universal DH should have been announced prior to free agency.
This is the slippery slope MLB will use to force the DH on the NL. As. alluded to above, all 15 NL teams would have viewed their off season differently if they knew the DH would be imposed upon them..
I agree.
This seems like a bargaining chip offered to the players union…just too late.
Just like the left shoving their agenda,this is Manfrerds way of mandating the DH on the NL. I for one protest
Why are you even referencing “left” politics or “right” politics? You are just going to start an argument. I’m fighting the urge myself right now but I would like to keep it baseball.
78-82 games schedule is fine.
Adding DH to NL, well… OK
ELIMINATE:
Any starter or reliever must face three batters, or pitch until the inning is over, before coming out of the game. This will, for example, effect the usage of a left-handed specialist out of the bullpen, often brought in to face a left-handed batter before another pitching change.
I agree 100%. This rule is illogical…probably put in to save time.Kills the most interesting and fan loving strategies. Another rule ( I don’t like ) is that the pitcher that loses is the one who has left the game ( he has started and given the lead to the opposing team ) ..and then his team scores 20 more runs ( after he has left) but never catches up at any point in the game. Insane. The losing pitcher should be the pitcher that is responsible for giving up the go ahead and winning run for the opposing team.
100 games would be the way. Start season last week in June and add several doubleheaders for teams which would have the rare next day off. Of course no All Star break. I like 100 over 82 ….just gives a team a better chance to come back after a losing streak. Good teams will have losing streaks ( albeit shorter ones ) and 18 games more will give them a better chance to come back. I believe it is doable.
as for the designated hitter rule I have always been against it ( although it could mean the loss of some jobs). Putting up the pitcher should be part of the game .