The 2020 season was unlike any other in MLB history due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, as Opening Day did not take place until late July and teams’ schedules were reduced to 60 games as a result of commissioner Rob Manfred exercising his unilateral power.
Despite some hurdles, MLB managed to complete the 2020 campaign on what wound up being a regular timeline, with the Los Angeles Dodgers being crowned World Series champions when it was all said and done.
As the focus shifts to the 2021 season, there are more questions than answers at this point. It remains uncertain if Spring Training will start in mid-February, as MLB is waiting for more clarity on the mass availability of a coronavirus vaccine.
While there is some pause on the league’s side, the union has made it clear players are anticipating reporting to camp on time with the expectation of playing a full 162-game season, via Evan Drellich of The Athletic:
“We’ve seen anonymous quotes attributed to club sources casting doubt on the start date and length of the season,” Bruce Meyer, the MLBPA’s senior director of collective bargaining and legal, said in a statement Tuesday. “To be clear, and as we’ve made clear to the league, players are planning on showing up for spring training on time for a full 162-game season as set forth in the collective bargaining agreement and the league’s previously issued schedule.”
MLB team owners likely prefer delaying the start of the regular season until May, when more people will have an opportunity to get the vaccine. This would go a long way toward ballparks welcoming back fans, whether it be all at once or in a limited capacity.
Pushing back the start of the regular season, however, would mean that players presumably don’t receive full salaries for a second consecutive year. This was the biggest issue for both sides while the league was on hiatus.
Teams argued that they couldn’t justify giving players their full salaries unless fans were allowed to attend games. An agreement was never reached, prompting MLB Manfred to unilaterally impose a 60-game season, of which players earned prorated salaries.
Dr. Anthony Fauci hopeful for full stadiums by ‘end of summer’ 2021
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading infectious disease expert, is optimistic that sporting events will return to normal by the end of next summer.
However, he cautioned the likelihood of that happening will depend on the number of people who get vaccinated in the months ahead.
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