(When) Will the Season Start?

Le Bastonois

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Jun 16, 2019
81
Both Massachusetts and New York State have declared states of emergency. We all see the number climbing in the news.
Will the season start at all? Or will play go in with only television coverage?
 

Le Bastonois

New Member
Jun 16, 2019
81
12.5 miles from Flushing, New York, martial law has been imposed on New Rochelle. Nobody can get in or out. The Governor has sent in the New York National Guard to "contain" the area (with M-16's).
 

DJnVa

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Dec 16, 2010
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12.5 miles from Flushing, New York, martial law has been imposed on New Rochelle. Nobody can get in or out. The Governor has sent in the New York National Guard to "contain" the area (with M-16's).
That's not what it is. It's just banning large gatherings.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/10/814099444/new-york-creates-containment-area-around-cluster-in-new-rochelle
Residents would still be allowed to move around — but the new policy effectively blocks any large public gatherings in the area, to prevent further transmission of the virus.
You're making it sound like the movie Outbreak.

The Guard is there to disinfect schools, public areas, and deliver food.

View: https://twitter.com/ABCNewsLive/status/1237515767903432704
 

CarolinaBeerGuy

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Mar 14, 2006
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12.5 miles from Flushing, New York, martial law has been imposed on New Rochelle. Nobody can get in or out. The Governor has sent in the New York National Guard to "contain" the area (with M-16's).
This is total bullshit and not at all what is going on. At least provide some links if you’re going to spew nonsense.
 

Ale Xander

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Oct 31, 2013
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They won't be empty in Boston or New York, too much $.

Maybe in Tampa or Miami or Baltimore perhaps?
 

ernieshore

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Aug 24, 2006
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Seattle is reportedly about to ban gathering of over 250 people.
View: https://twitter.com/EmmaKinery/status/1237576470794399745


I was planning to drive up for the Red Sox game on Friday April 10, but had been lazy about getting tickets. I'm not sure I want to at this point. If the game is closed I'll get a voucher, but I have no interest in any other M's games later in the year.
Yeah - I already have tickets for the Saturday game, and was going to get them for Friday also. Also have an Amtrak ticket.
 

jon abbey

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Jul 15, 2005
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Here is a strange question that someone might know the answer to:

If they do start the season in empty stadiums, would that affect how the ball moves at all? I feel like I have heard tennis players talking about this, how warming up on a side court is different because the ball moves differently with no crowd, or maybe I’m just confused.
 

Tokyo Sox

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If cases, deaths, and school/biz closures continue at the rate I expect them to, I don't see how the season won't open with empty stadiums. I think MLB will need to decide by the end of this week to either delay the start of the season by 7-10 days, or to start on time but with no fans. Business as usual seems like a total non-starter.
 

Lose Remerswaal

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Wouldn't be surprised if they cancel the first week or two of the season. Figure out which teams have harder schedules early and figure they might outperform expectations.

Chris Sale could pitch Opening Day!
 

mauf

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The standard MLB contract contains language saying that it is “subject ... to the right of the Commissioner to suspend the operation of this contract during any national emergency during which Major League Baseball is not played.”

https://d39ba378-ae47-4003-86d3-147e4fa6e51b.filesusr.com/ugd/b0a4c2_95883690627349e0a5203f61b93715b5.pdf
We’ll see where we are in two weeks. I can’t imagine that paying players to play early-season baseball while forgoing the bulk of their stadium revenues makes economic sense for owners.
 

tonyandpals

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If I go to the Marlins opener, I'm pretty sure I don't have to worry about finding a seat at least 3 seats away from the next attendee.
There will always be that one guy that sits next to someone when he doesn't have to. Same guy that uses the urinal next to you when there are others available.
 

Philip Jeff Frye

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Oct 23, 2001
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WSJ is reporting that MLB is looking into moving games in badly impacted areas (Seattle, for one) to other sites for some period of time and possibly using their spring training venues for their games in April.
 

bsj

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Dec 6, 2003
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WSJ is reporting that MLB is looking into moving games in badly impacted areas (Seattle, for one) to other sites for some period of time and possibly using their spring training venues for their games in April.
How are there so many naive people in the world? The NBA is saying this too. This virus is EVERYWHERE in the country, and a plan to move the games to a different city is not a long term solution (meaning, its like a 1-2 week solution). And to you want Mariners fans flying to this other place to watch the games? If not the games will be played mostly empty anyway, so why bother? The only answers are either a) play in empty stadiums for the short term or b) postpone everything.
 

TheDivision

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Jun 21, 2019
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WSJ is reporting that MLB is looking into moving games in badly impacted areas (Seattle, for one) to other sites for some period of time and possibly using their spring training venues for their games in April.
With no fans, it probably doesn't matter where they play.
 

loshjott

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Dec 30, 2004
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I do too, but I’ll be shocked if that game is played as scheduled with fans in the stadium.
I'm resigning myself to that fact, minor in the grand scheme of things. I'm sure they will delay all the ceremonies until fans are back.

Just read DC is advising against large gatherings through end of March, so far. Opening Day is April 2.
 

jackno

New Member
Jul 18, 2005
78
RI
12.5 miles from Flushing, New York, martial law has been imposed on New Rochelle. Nobody can get in or out. The Governor has sent in the New York National Guard to "contain" the area (with M-16's).
I also heard that the Guard has standing orders to shoot Sox fans on site. Sorry, I don't have a link.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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Jan 2, 2006
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12.5 miles from Flushing, New York, martial law has been imposed on New Rochelle. Nobody can get in or out. The Governor has sent in the New York National Guard to "contain" the area (with M-16's).
This is not accurate. I have extended family who live there. And they are commuting to NYC every day for work.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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There is zero reason to play in empty stadiums. Unless you are also stopping all mail, all amazon deliveries, shutting all grocery stores, closing all airports, buses, trains, hotels, etc, etc. as well.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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Mariners are changing their first 2 home series to an alternate location. Possibly their ST stadium in Peoria.
 

Sad Sam Jones

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The schedules are designed to minimize or at least streamline travel, which doesn't really correlate to spring training homes. You'd end up with a lot of cross country travel unless you blow up the entire season's schedule.
 

mauf

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There is zero reason to play in empty stadiums. Unless you are also stopping all mail, all amazon deliveries, shutting all grocery stores, closing all airports, buses, trains, hotels, etc, etc. as well.
Pretty sure public health officials wouldn’t agree that these activities pose comparable risk of transmission. Also, grocery stores are essential in a way that sporting events aren’t.
 

TheDivision

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Jun 21, 2019
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The schedules are designed to minimize or at least streamline travel, which doesn't really correlate to spring training homes. You'd end up with a lot of cross country travel unless you blow up the entire season's schedule.
Blow it up or they can all play in Florida (or all in Arizona). If there's not enough spring training stadiums, then they can use college stadiums. It's not like they'll be used with students being asked to go home.
 

bankshot1

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Feb 12, 2003
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The schedules are designed to minimize or at least streamline travel, which doesn't really correlate to spring training homes. You'd end up with a lot of cross country travel unless you blow up the entire season's schedule.
With all the teams already in FL/AZ re-scheduling flights (probably team charters) between those states would not be difficult. And if the season can resume normally at some point, there would probably be some scheduling inequities re home and away games or IL games. Maybe they could tinker a bit. But it seems there will be growing pressure to play no-fan games to stop the spread of corona.

IMO MLB/NBA can't complain about that eventuality. Its not a good look to tell your fans to drop dead.
 

Sampo Gida

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Aug 7, 2010
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Looking at areas most affected globally, it seems the virus likes the colder weather. A chinese study reported the optimum temperature for transmission was 8 deg C ( 46 deg F) with decreasing transmission at higher temperatures.

Just play the games down south and let northern teams be the home team half the games. Come May this will all blow over I think

I watch on TV so don't care
 

thestardawg

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Jul 30, 2005
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I cant imagine that the MLB or any league is going to allow fans within a couple days. Why take on possible liability. Honestly MLB should move the start of the season to June 1 and make it a 108 game season. It's going to be a dumpster fire for April at least.
 

Melrose Diner

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Feb 11, 2020
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The problem with Arizona is a lot of teams share facilities. Seattle/San Diego, Cleveland/Cincy, Texas/KC, CWS/Dodgers, and Arizona/Colorado all share (although that last one isn't an issue with Chase Field). ASU doesn't have a baseball field on campus anymore, they use the old Oakland facility. LAA, OAK, CHC, SF, MIL are the only standalone, and something tells me SF might be booked here soon.
 

Lose Remerswaal

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Looking at areas most affected globally, it seems the virus likes the colder weather. A chinese study reported the optimum temperature for transmission was 8 deg C ( 46 deg F) with decreasing transmission at higher temperatures.

Just play the games down south and let northern teams be the home team half the games. Come May this will all blow over I think

I watch on TV so don't care
It's been in the 80s in Iran.
 

Sad Sam Jones

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May 5, 2017
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Shared facilities can be worked around. When you remove fans from the equation, you (1) don't have to worry about start times and (2) seriously speed up pace of play (at least that was the case when Baltimore kept out fans during a riot a few years ago). You can have one game start at 4:00pm and play another on the same field by at least 7:30pm. The bigger issue is still finding an area where you play the schedule that already exists. I can't see players agreeing to fly from Florida to Arizona or vice versa for a 3-game road trip, but you also can't schedule 162 games for 30 teams on the fly. The simplest answer would be to send all teams to one small region of the country, whether that be Arizona, Florida or somewhere else (the appeal of Arizona would be less rain). Cancel the start of one of the minor leagues season if facilities are needed.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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So when do they shut down Vegas and AC (and other casinos)? If it’s so dangerous to watch a sporting event, handling all those chips, slots, etc - got to be far worse no?
 

loshjott

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Dec 30, 2004
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Looking at areas most affected globally, it seems the virus likes the colder weather. A chinese study reported the optimum temperature for transmission was 8 deg C ( 46 deg F) with decreasing transmission at higher temperatures.

Just play the games down south and let northern teams be the home team half the games. Come May this will all blow over I think

I watch on TV so don't care
Sign this guy up for Trump’s task force.
 

nattysez

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Sep 30, 2010
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They could easily do the whole slate in AZ if they mix in a few more day games than usual so they can have doubleheaders at some of the stadiums. The combination of spring stadiums and nearby college stadiums should be more than sufficient if they put any thought at all into it.
 

YTF

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Cross posting from the main board.

I'm guessing the season starts at whatever point they're at in the schedule. For example let's use the round number of 120. Say a few teams have the fewest games left on the regular schedule at 120 and the team(s) with the most games remaining are at 123. The season would start for each team at the point where they would have 120 games left.