[ESPN] MLB suspends spring training, delays Opening Day at least two weeks

I hate Trevor

but he is right on the money here

 

Hate to agree with Trevor Bauer, but yep.

 

you are also assuming we know how many people actually are, or have been, positive for Covid, which we don’t

that the problem with all these numbers, no one knows the real number of cases. It’s obviously much larger than what is reported, which simple math means the death rate is much lower

but, everyone has a side to fight for like everything else in America 2020

I will say it’s shaping up to be another beautiful day here in Key West

 

Not disputing that at all. Just arguing that based on what we know, there is no way he can back up his claim that those under 55 only have a 1 in 10000 chance of dying.

 

CFR for South Koreans 30-50 is about 1 in 1,000 last I checked with not enough deaths below 30 to calculate a CFR. So while 1 in 10,000 is probably a decent guess with IFR, likely within an order of magnitude provided hospitals don't get over run. Unfortunately, hospitals are likely to be overrun because of idiots.

 

But seriously, Correa as an MVP candidate this season is a very good bet imho.

 

Wait so how are they going to do it? Like they do normally or in a bubble?

 

MLB has been talking with Nashville about having 2 teams there of unsigned players, sources say.

They would serve as an emergency pool and would make $400/week.

MLB teams would have to pay a fee to Nashville to sign one of those players.

There will be a trade deadline this season, sources say. It will be Aug. 31.

Here come more adjusted rules for 2020:
*Transactions freeze ends this Friday at noon ET
*Teams must submit 60-man player pool names by Sunday at 3 ET
*In-person scouting will be allowed.
*Teams can take up to 3 taxi squad players on road (but if 3, one must be a catcher)
*To be eligible for postseason, players must be added to big-league roster by 9/15
*Season will start with 30-man rosters. Down to 28 after 2 weeks, 26 after 4 weeks.
*Pitchers/catchers report to camp first, then position players.
*Teams can invite all 60 players to big-league spring training or can send up to 20 players (not on 40-man roster) to alternate site.
*Not all players on 40-man roster must be invited to big-league spring training (but if not must still be paid).

One more wrinkle that isn't finalized:

MLB still debating whether to let teams sign players to minor-league contracts

Those players wouldn't count against 40-man big-league rosters but would count against 60-player pools

This would cause massive opt-outs 5 days before openers!

While the regular injured list will be for 10 days in 2020, MLB is expected to institute a special COVID-19-related injured list for players who test positive, have confirmed exposure or are exhibiting symptoms. Players would not have a specific number of days to spend on it.

 

So by not agreeing to a deal, the players play the same schedule, lose out on a share of post-season revenue, lose $170MM in salary advances, and still have the draft-pick compensation for free agents next year. They give up having to play an extra handful of playoff games and now they don't have to wear microphones. Did they basically just reject the deal and cost themselves a bunch of money out of spite?

 

Yes, but they hope to win a grievance. Players only hope is that the owners force them to play or they will lose another 1.3-1.5 billion dollars. I will say that I would be hesitant to start the season if I was the owners without an agreement with players.

 

Each team will roster a really fast guy

 

Edit: nvm. They will play in their own ballparks but no crowds and each team will only visit an opposing city once in this season

 

I really like this for us. We’ll play our division along with the NL West. So we’ve got the DBacks, Giants, Padres, Rockies and Dodgers. Out of those teams the Dodgers are obviously elite, the DBacks could be a sneaky tough team and the Padres have a lot of potential. Don’t think the Rockies or Giants will be much this season.

When you consider some of the teams in the central and east divisions, I think it benefits us being in the west.

In the central you have the Cubs, Cards, Brewers, Reds, Indians, Twins and White Sox who should all be really competitive.

In the east the Yankees, Rays, Braves, Mets, Nats, Phillies and maybe the Red Sox should all be relatively competitive as well.

Personally I love ballparks like San Fran, Petco and Coors Field so that will be fun to watch. And then you consider that we’ll be playing against teams like the Angels, Rangers, Mariners, Rockies, Giants and Padres (all of whom have very good odds of finishing below .500) and I really like the way this plays out for us.

 

40-20 and the 1 seed for us.

Now the question... can we play the Yankees in the World Series? Or will AL and NL still be honored come playoff time?

 

I'm not really sure what their case for winning a grievance is. Each MLB proposal moved the needle, and the original called for further economic negotiations if there were no fans. I'm not sure the players' position of "that didn't include salaries" is tenable at all. And players were more stubborn than owners, so I'm not sure what the argument would even be. Even moreso given that the players actually asked MLB to then just schedule a season and they were ready to play under the March agreement. I think MLB has a better case for a grievance than the players.

And if they go to court and there's any evidence that the MLBPA were being stubborn in order to file a grievance, that undercuts their case that much more and basically proves MLB's case.