When Major League Baseball first discussed a return from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it seemed that the most logical option was for all teams to play in a few specific locations to avoid travel.
Spring Training facilities in Arizona and Florida, as well as potentially Texas, were all discussed as options to host the 2020 season. As time has gone by and the country continues to work hard to get the virus under control, the prospect of teams playing at their home ballparks with no fans is becoming a possibility.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, that would be the case under MLB’s latest proposal, and teams that are unable to do so would play at their Spring Training facility or elsewhere:
Teams would open in as many home parks as possible, with even New York — the major-league city hardest hit by the coronavirus — potentially in play by early July.
Teams unable to open in their cities temporarily would relocate, either to their spring training sites or major-league parks in other parts of the country. The same would apply to spring training 2.0 if the league decides to use mostly home parks as opposed to returning to Florida and Arizona.
Nothing is set in stone yet, but as the reports become more specific, it seems that MLB is getting closer and closer to returning.
Some other details that seem likely at this time are that the divisions will be realigned into three as opposed to six to limit travel, with around an 80-game season beginning in July.
If that is the case then the Los Angeles Dodgers would be put in the same division as the Houston Astros, making for some interesting television in what would be a rematch of the infamous 2017 World Series.
The Dodgers are also set to host the 2020 MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium, although it’s still currently unknown if that will take place or be cancelled. Regardless, the prospect of games being played at Chavez Ravine, even with no fans in attendance, is exciting and seems to be a real possibility as time continues to pass.
L.A. returns an extremely talented team while also making a few key additions so will be considered one of the favorites to win the World Series no matter what format MLB decides to go with.
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