As Major League Baseball evaluates its options to potentially carry forward with the 2020 season in May, two possibilities have made the rounds over the past week.
One involves all 30 teams beginning the regular season in Arizona, where games would be played at Chase Field and upwards of 10 Spring Training facilities without fans being allowed to attend.
The Arizona plan has received early support not only within MLB, but the MLB Players Association and federal health officials as well. Of course, there are hurdles to overcome with that scenario. Some players, including Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, are against the idea due to having to leave their families for a long period of time.
Another proposal being discussed is keeping each team in their respective Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues. This would result in eliminating American and National Leagues, and divisions being realigned for the 2020 season.
While many ideas are being floated around, MLBPA executive director Tony Clark cautioned talks haven’t reached a serious stage yet and that players are going to have the final say on what is ultimately decided, via Bob Nightengale of USA Today:
“There have been a lot of ideas thrown out there, but not much to the depth of them. Once we find ourselves in discussions with the league in terms of options and variations, we in turn can present those ideas to the players, and the players can decide what makes most sense. But for now, there’s simply too many assumptions being made what it’s going to look like.”
Clark’s comments echo that of MLB, who reiterated a decision on how the league will proceed with resuming play isn’t close. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred previously made it clear that sport won’t return until the public health situation has improved.
However, he has shown a willingness to consider any idea that is presented to him. While a 162-game season has all but been ruled out, Manfred is open to the idea of scheduling an abundance of doubleheaders to make up as many games as possible.
The regular season, depending on whenever it starts, could also be extended into late October, with postseason play and the World Series taking place in November.
