Ideal Situation for a 2020 MLB Season

5.28.20

The MLB was supposed to begin in March this year, but has been postponed due to COVID-19. Though we are not completely certain of when the game will pick back up again, and what that may look like, the MLB has taken steps in the right direction to begin making some decisions. There is hope that Spring Training will begin in June, and that the regular season will begin in early July. This should depend on if the Player’s Union approves the proposal recently passed by the MLB Owners.

This plan suggests a shortened season of 82 regular season games. If this sounds like plenty of games, just be sure that this is actually half of a baseball season. A full baseball season is 162 games. Though, this scenario would allow playoffs to continue to be held in October, and the idea is for them to be played on the team’s home fields. However, there would be no fans at these ballparks. There has been discussions of television networks adding soundbites to make it feel and sound like there are fans in attendance at the parks. In my opinion, I think this is more important for the players than the fans watching at home. Do not get me wrong, there is definitely something about the background noise. When watching UFC today, it is a bit weird and goofy when the fighters are yelling and getting all hyped up, then it’s pure silence. However, everyone knows the situation and I think if there are money issues at hand, the fans are not the ones who need these fake sound effects.

Money becomes the issue, because with this new proposed season, the Owners want to go 50-50 with the players, regarding their incomes. Without fans in attendance at the games, there is no selling tickets, no buying beer, popcorn, hot dogs, anything. Therefore, the MLB will not be bringing in any money. Though 50-50 may seem fair given the circumstances, many of the players already negotiated lowering their salaries, and are seemingly not having this 50-50 concept. It is really a bummer, and holding up the process of having a 2020 MLB season.

However, Bryce Harper wants to get back on the field. Just two days ago, Harper took to Instagram sharing his thoughts on how a successful 2020 MLB season could play out. Here are the details:

East/West like NBA (No American League vs. National League)⠀
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July 31 days⠀
August 31 days ⠀
September 30 days ⠀
October 31 days ⠀
November 15 days ⠀
135 games. ⠀

Off day every 2 weeks on a Monday and Sunday double header 7 innings. ⠀
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30 players. 6 man rotation. Save arms. IF pitchers wanted this. If not no big deal. DH and any other ideas possible.⠀
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Playoffs ⠀
2 week World Series. Like Super bowl week. ⠀
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10 teams round robin format College World Series kinda style at the new Texas Stadium or whatever stadium/stadiums are best. 3 game series. You win the series you move on. You lose you play the other loser in a 1 game wildcard. Winner of that moves on. Other team is out. ⠀
Or you could play it in Vegas so you have the Strip Hotels and could use one hotel for all the guys and contain possibly? ⠀
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2 teams left 7 game World Series. They get 2 days off before the series. With those 2 days off you do a All Star Game and homerun derby. Could do the MLB awards as well at that time. ⠀
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Open this up on all platforms. No blackouts. Open it for everybody to watch. ⠀

Then you back up season the next 2 years. May 1st 2021. April 1st 2022.

Say what you want about Bryce Harper, but the guy is a great player, and just wants to get back on the field. While safety and health is important, this is not a bad idea to maximize a shortened season, using as little resources as possible, while keeping the players and the fans entertained. It also shows he is thinking and wants to help his teammates and his fans to get this show on the road.

There are many things within this plan that need to be taken into consideration. Like, where are the teams playing? Does the East and the West each have one stadium they house the games at? Or are they traveling to different parks every single day with one off day every other week? Are the teams happy with the East and West situation? Will the teams be able to manage a cohesive pitching plan? Are these guys ever going to decide on the money aspect of the game?

Harper’s idea is interesting. If these logistical ideas are managed and taken into account, it sounds like it could work out. It would be America’s Greatest Past Time, trying out something new, and seeing what people like and do not like about it. However, I am sure that with this new proposal of an 82 game season, The League already has their plan, and just needs to align on the money and venues. I hope that this doesn’t mean that America takes a liking to an 82 game seasons, and keeps the future seasons shortened (again, this is literally half a season). But let us see what happens. Just bring baseball back to our television screens.