then coronavirus happened, 2020 baseball

So will I. It was weird seeing Fauci being comfortable with people in stadiums this summer, as long as they were at 1/2 or 1/3 capacity. Dude must be really jonesing for some baseball too

MLB offer includes universal DH for not just 2020, but 2021 too. It also includes on top of 100 pct prorated salary for 60 games, a $25M postseason pool.

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) June 17, 2020

NL fans aren't even gonna have a chance to say goodbye to pitchers hitting, it's already dead

while i think pitchers hitting is extremely stupid it's basically the last of the leagues being distinct in the only sport where the leagues are still distinct and i will hate to see it go

arbitrary leagues, 16 team postseasons.... we're NBA now

*last remnant of

https://twitter.com/trevorplouffe/status/127341783497918873

oops

One thing that “the purists” are gonna hate:

The owners have proposed being able to sell commercial advertisements on uniforms for 2020 and 2021.

Again, it’s in the proposal, which as many have reported is not a done deal.

— Trevor Plouffe (@trevorplouffe) June 18, 2020

Gross

sucks cuz the Brewers consistently have decent hitting pitchers

Wow, Fauci is a huge baseball fan! Could this guy be any cooler? Shame about the Yankees though.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/01/sports/baseball/coronavirus-fauci-baseball-running.html

Teams don't have to use the DH, the option to let the pitcher hit has always been there!

I personally don't like the idea of advertising on uniforms, but I can bite my tongue and accept it. It's the norm in other sports and baseball has far more important problems to deal with.

I hate it so much

other sports?

ESPN is now paying Mark Teixeira for "analysis," and he's very amped for a fluke world champion.

The advertising's been creeping in for as long as I can remember. It seems to come in waves. Here's the Green Monster in the 1940s:

https://coololdphotos.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/05/2560947551_4f0c88c5a2_o-945x1024.jpg

In the 70s:
http://collectiblestadiumseats.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/oldmonster.jpg

And recently:
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7136/7617019132_3590bc2640_b.jpg

once it starts on the uniforms it's never coming off :(

yeah unis are sacred compared to signage

at least it'll sully Stankee pinstripes

do you have a shortcut key for these

boo to ads on uniforms

guys, the industry isn't very profitable -- they need the ads

I keep forgetting

maybe the players could do a gofundme for the owners so they can meet ends meet?

I don’t mind the logos on basketball uniform, but I hate their existence because I know they’re just leading the way towards full on fucking McDonalds costumes or something

BREAKING: Coronavirus outbreak at Phillies camp -- 8 positive tests. Story herehttps://t.co/YhBRXdgksX

— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyNBCS) June 19, 2020

welp

yeah that'll do it

what a bunch of delusional babies in this country, trying to wish this virus into oblivion

who could think this would not happen?

There goes the season?

i was told that coronavirus is not a big deal

at least we have this

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29334063/twins-remove-statue-ex-owner-calvin-griffith-comments

expecting season to be cancelled
not sure if I will be too

― brooklyn suicide cult (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, March 11, 2020

actually, next week

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/mlbpa-to-vote-on-mlbs-60-game-proposal-this-weekend.html

In letter to Tony Clark today, Rob Manfred said, “I really believe we are fighting over an impossibility on games.” Says given need to relocated teams from Florida, earliest players could report is June 29, leaving 66 days to play 60 games.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 21, 2020

Players previously had signed off on Manfred having right to terminate 2020 season at any point after consulting with medical experts and union. But they later raised concerns that if season was shortened they would be giving away 2021 postseason and getting too little in return. https://t.co/pu8Wb1kXRx

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 21, 2020

Players cut union meeting short after Clark received letter from Manfred, sources tell me and @JaysonSt. Unclear whether things will progress from here.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 21, 2020

officially burnt out on this stupid story just cancel the season

Confirming Jim’s report. Also: MLB unwilling to provide additional funds for players in either 2020 or 21 playoff pool. MLB proposal was to forgive $33M of $170M advance, only for players on split contracts. Both sides also can agree to eliminate DH/expanded playoffs for ‘21 now. https://t.co/G6KvKRBRiZ

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 22, 2020

Wish they'd just pull the plug on this--it's embarrassing.

they should just go ahead and do the 2021/2 labor dispute, do a strike now and get it out of the way

Or a one-game, sudden-death elimination tournament, all 30 teams, sign-stealing and PEDs allowed, to declare the best Coronavirus Team 2020 on the planet.

covid19 league - you're only allowed to play if you've already had it

and thinking about whether or not you can get it a second time is banned, or penalized by an automatic out

Sources tell @JeffPassan and I players have voted against the league's latest proposal to play 60 games. The vote was 33-5 against.

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) June 22, 2020

And the dominoes are now likely set to tumble:
1. Implementation of a short season by MLB
2. Some players choosing not to play.
3. PA grievance
4. Upcoming free agents get destroyed in market
5. All major labor issues merely deferred to next spring.
Mutually assured destruction.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) June 22, 2020

all those things were going to happen anyway

true nuff

inevitable dominoes

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/mlb-to-impose-60-game-season-after-talks-stall/

There has not yet been an official declaration that there will be a season. In addition to being contingent on a final health protocol agreement, there’s the matter of a second spring training. MLB has asked the players to report by July 1. The MLBPA seems very likely to comply with this request, however, which means that a followup announcement with an exact season schedule should follow soon.

twitter seems to think that MLB will adopt the guy-on-second-in-extras for this regular season. you know, if it actually happens. not ecstatic about it, but it makes some sense for this weird season i guess

kinda thought that was something the union would have to approve, tho

its a really bad idea

it sucks but would fit into the less baseball = less risk health protocol

and given that the players don't get paid overtime i can see them going for it in 2021 too

who you got at DH, NL? (Jaffe)

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/a-look-at-some-nl-designated-hitter-candidates/