Baseball is Back, Well Kinda

Just like that baseball is back, pandemic style. With only 60 regular season games and an Opening Day schedule tentatively announced for Friday, July 24, the 2020 season is undoubtedly one for the history books. This upcoming Wednesday is both the start of a new month and that of the shortest baseball season since 1868 commencing with what will be known as spring training 2.0 as teams meet for limited pre-regular season games.

Many had feared the season was not meant to be as the Major League Baseball Players Association could not come to terms with commissioner Rob Manfred and the overall health and safety codes for the league. All those issues went with the wind, as the group released a statement Tuesday evening June 23 clearing the way for the long-awaited games.

One major shake-up would be the implementation of a universal designated hitter in the hopes of keeping pitchers safe from COVID-19. Before the contagion shuttered sports, the commissioner instituted a three-batter minimum for all pitchers and this concept will continue with the new season. Pitchers will also be allowed to have a dampened rag by the mound limiting the need to moisten their fingertips with saliva. Another regulation stems from the minor leagues, where regular season extra innings will begin with a runner on second base.

Of course, the questions still linger for those players still undecided about participating, especially for those who are considered high-risk or just plain fed-up with how the negotiations dawdled. A typical season numbers 102 more games than the schedule currently offers. With a mere 37% of a regular playing time this baseball season will the grandest sporting cutback ever.

New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo revealed the New York teams will bring spring training to the State. “I think New York now is especially attractive, compared to the other states, because we have such a low transmission rate, and this is a state that is ready, willing and able to partner with sports teams so that they can play.” The Yankees have chosen to bring the spring training to their Bronx Yankee Stadium and the Mets to Citi Field, despite the 60-players required. All 30 MLB training camps in the states of Arizona and Florida have closed shop as coronavirus continues to ravage those areas.

The New York Mets added five players — most notably, veteran outfielder 35-year old Melky Cabrera, who began his career on the other side of New York with the Yankees 17 seasons ago, his first year was spent with the Pittsburgh Pirates. All hope he continues to rebuild his reputation as a clean, dependable contact hitter as he sustained a 50-game suspension in the 2012 season after failing a performance-enhancing drug test.

First-year Mets manager Luis Rojas has his hands full and there is also a new pair of arms in town –Erasmo Ramirez and Hunter Strickland. Veteran infielder Gordon Beckham and Mets minor leaguer Ryan Cordell also received invites to the Mets camp in Queens.

The New York Yankees are expected to take advantage of infielder Tyler Wade and lefty-swinging first baseman Mike Ford, with Wade as a utility player. As for 28-year-old Aaron Judge, he has landed in New York, but all is uncertain as he continues to recover from a stress fracture in his first right rib. Thankfully, Judge had just begun to swing off a tee prior to the closing of the Florida training field, so we will remain optimistic.

Without access to lucrative media rights and no fans to support ticket sales or local sponsorships, Minor League Baseball was forced to cancel the 2020 season as a deal could not be reached with the MLB to get players in place. This will be the first summer in history without Minor League Baseball in play.

 By Shabsie Saphirstein