It was reported earlier today that the MLB is planning to work closely with the Players Association (MLBPA) later this week to discuss a proposal to resume baseball in July.
The plan that MLB would be proposing to the MLBPA would be to see how a June Spring Training 2.0 and a season start in July would actually look like. Currently, the biggest hurdle is to get the green light from health officials as well as each team’s local city authority figures to move forward.
One of the ideas that MLB had was to have each of MLB’s 30 teams to restart their spring training at their home stadiums then continue the season (however that plays out) with no fans in attendance.
Before all this wishful thinking of the 2020 season starting up there has to be a plan of attack. Teams must have a “set in stone” blueprint on how to get the logistics of the game going in their respectful stadiums. Meaning, they would have to find a way to house each player and staff member, have travel plans that can safely be done and have all this monitored for COVID-19 safety guidelines and do all of this while the country is still shutdown.
On top of that, the MLB has many more issues to address if this gets off the ground that directly effects the players. These issues pretty much are to make sure the players are happy and kept that way.
PAY
How they get paid and what they get paid is a factor seeing as many players have contracts that indicate certain bonuses for milestones during the season. Some can’t reach these bonus milestones if the season isn’t a full 162 games right? Maybe, maybe not.
SAFETY
There has to be a guarantee that teams will protect their players healthwise. What measures can all 30 teams take to make sure no one gets contracted with the virus as well as taking care of each player when an injury strikes. Team doctors and trainers need to be hands-on in certain cases.
CONFIDENCE
MLB has to combine the previous issues above in a firmly tightened shaker cup and pour the drinks in a fashionable style to boost the morale of these players in order to return to the field. No player will step on the field or lace them cleats up if they are unhappy and unsure of the way the game can be played the way it has been proposed.
What Does This Mean For The Dodgers?
More and more waiting. Literally. Players have already spoken about returning to the game and are eager. The Los Angeles Dodgers, as we previously mentioned in a past article, have to most to lose if the season is not restarted. The acquisition of Mookie Betts and David Price was like striking gold for Los Angeles. The team (and fans) already had high hopes of returning to the World Series, now they wait for the season to even begin.
