MLB proposes delaying start of spring training one month
Major League Baseball has proposed a one-month delay in starting spring training due to the coronavirus pandemic and pushing back Opening Day to April 28, two people familiar with the plan told The Associated Press.
Under the plan presented to the players’ union on Friday, the regular season would be cut from 162 games to 154.
Also, the playoffs would be expanded from 10 teams to 14, the designated hitter would extend to the National League for the second consecutive season and MLB would keep the experimental rules for seven-inning doubleheaders and beginning extra innings with a runner on second base.
All players would report for spring training on March 22, back from the current calendar that calls a voluntary reporting date of Feb. 17 for pitchers, catchers and injured players, and Feb. 22 for others.
Opening Day would be pushed back 27 days from its currently scheduled April 1 and the regular season would end Oct. 10 instead of Oct. 3. The postseason would extend into November.
The reasoning behind the delay would be to gain time for more vaccinations and better assess the health situation.
Players previously rejected a proposal teams made Jan. 5 for expanded playoffs in exchange for extending the DH to the National League.
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ETC.
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Pitbull will serve as the Grand Marshal for the
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Soccer: Borja Iglesias ● scored a 79th-minute winner for Real Betis to beat Osasuna 1-0 and move closer to European qualification spots in the Spanish league.
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● former Longhorns quarterback Vince Young as a special assistant in the athletic department, bringing the College Football Hall of Famer back to the program after he was fired in 2019.