Hard to imagine games in MLB’s wild scenario
Farfetched ideas as sport looks for a way forward
Imagine Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow broadcasting the Giants’ 2020 season opener at Scottsdale Stadium — while watching monitors from their respective homes.
Kuiper: “Cueto shimmies … first pitch to Betts … he takes a fastball … it bounces to Posey in the grass behind the plate … call from the roboump … strike.”
Krukow: “Get used to it, folks.”
Major League Baseball wants it both ways: It wants to get back to playing games as soon as possible, yet it wants to look out for the health and safety of its players amid the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s wonderful to think both could happen, but it seems unrealistic, farfetched and maybe even inappropriate. Not to mention a logistical nightmare.
The latest news reports suggest MLB is considering a plan to open as early as May, play all games in Arizona and sequester players, coaches and staff at hotels for 41⁄2 months. They couldn’t come in contact with anyone outside the team — including their families.
Imagine manager Gabe Kapler sending this text to Darin Ruf, a powerhitting first baseman/outfielder who returned from South Korea (where he hit 86 homers the past three seasons) to be with his pregnant wife:
“Darin, I want to congratulate you for making the Opening Day roster. One thing. You can’t see your newborn until November.”
The ESPN and Associated Press reports detailed how all 30 teams would play the season at Arizona spring training facilities along with Chase Field, home of the Diamondbacks. With zero fans. With an electronic strike zone so no umpire would be too close to a player.
With no mound visits because huddling no longer is a thing.
With players sitting in the stands behind the dugout. All spread out, of course.
I must admit: When I read these reports, I thought I was reading the Onion. Or Scott Ostler. But no satire was intended. This is real stuff being considered by real baseball people in real time.
Kuiper: “Betts hits a popup behind second base … Crawford back … Dubon over … Yastrzemski in … everyone defers … and the ball drops.”
Krukow: “Smart play by the defense. Social distancing, after all.”
MLB released a statement Tuesday confirming it’s considering various contingency plans, including playing ball in one region, “once the public health situation has improved to the point that it is safe to do so.”
But MLB also said it hasn’t settled on any options and has no detailed plan. Nor has it sought approval from federal agencies or the players’ union despite the AP reporting the framework was discussed Monday by MLB and the union and ESPN reporting it was “embraced” by both sides.
“The health and safety of our employees, players, fans and the public at large are paramount,” MLB said in its statement, “and we are not ready at this time to endorse any particular format for staging games in light of the rapidly changing public health situation caused by the coronavirus.”
So, yeah, baseball isn’t exactly right around the corner. It would bring joy to areas that desperately need it. But it’s not an option when the curve hasn’t been flattened. When so many people continue to die of an infectious disease that has no vaccine.
The health of players and the Arizona community supersede any financial benefit from baseball returning. The union hasn’t offered a comment. Certainly, many players would reject this idea.
Longtime A’s pitcher Brett Anderson, who signed with Milwaukee in December, tweeted a passage from the ESPN report and highlighted the part about players being separated from their families for the entire season.
“It begins and ends right here,” Anderson tweeted.
Baseball will play a role in society returning to normal, but it can’t be rushed.
Kuiper: “Betts with a big lead off first … Cueto throws over there … ball gets away … no one’s covering … Belt is 6 feet from the bag.”
Krukow: “Just how they drew it up.”
Last week, I proposed a scenario in which regularseason games would be played in Arizona and Florida in August and September with a playoff format involving all 30 teams.
This would be possible only if the world was healthy enough to give baseball the green light. It was an optimistic suggestion. Does anyone believe the OK would come in May? Or even June?
I keep going back to what Buster Posey said on the Giants’ final day of spring training: “Figure the important stuff out first, then figure out baseball.”
Kuiper: “Grounder to short. … Betts runs in front of Crawford … not the proper distancing … the call is interference ... Betts is ruled out.”
Krukow: “Grab some plastic, meat.”