As time passes and society continues quarantining in hopes of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic passing, Major League Baseball is potentially getting closer to its 2020 regular season beginning.
The latest proposal includes teams splitting up between Arizona, Florida and Texas to play the season, which would allow for more games in stadiums with domes during the hot months of the summer.
There are no dates set in stone yet, but if everything continues how it is trending, the season starting up as soon as the beginning of June is considered a possibility. There would need to be some sort of Spring Training beforehand, likely for three weeks, for players to get back in game shape.
In an interview with SportsNet LA, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ross Stripling stated that the players he has spoken with are optimistic that the season will get started sooner rather than later and they are preparing as such:
“The consensus to me seems to be that most guys are very optimistic for a late May, early June season. So maybe starting to head back to Arizona or wherever Spring Training 2.0 might be — whether it’s in your home city, or Arizona or Florida. Guys are getting ready to go back there in early May and get ready to get back after it.”
The last thing MLB wants is to rush back and there ends up being another coronavirus outbreak, forcing them to once again shut everything down in the middle of the season.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has stated that they will continue following the advice of medical officials before putting any sort of plan in stone, which is certainly the best course of action right now.
It is good to see that Stripling and his teammates are itching to get back on the field though. The Dodgers were in the midst of a very productive Spring Training before everything got shut down and are considered the favorites by many to represent the National League in the World Series.
If the league goes through with reported plans such as playing multiple doubleheaders a week, then someone like Stripling who can both start and relieve becomes even more valuable for the Dodgers.
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