Baseball may begin in July, but other obstacles could still doom season’s completion
More than 250 days have passed since the St. Louis Cardinals took the field in a baseball game of any consequence.
Now, after an exchange of what seemed like nearly that many proposals between Major League Baseball and the Players Union for the resumption of play, a framework has been established to allow teams to belatedly begin a 2020 season cut short by the coronavirus pandemic and a concurrent labor dispute.
After union representatives voted on Monday evening to reject the league’s most recent proposal of terms, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred proceeded with his rights under the March 26th agreement drafted at the pause of spring training to set the number of games in and the timing of the season.
Despite earlier suggestions that the league would mandate the playing of as few as 48 games, MLB instead opted to set a 60 game schedule to begin on or around July 24, keeping the length it most recently proposed to the players.
Changes in play
That schedule will not feature an expanded postseason or any permanent alteration to the rules of play, though there will be some changes under the health and safety agreement presented to by the union.
Most notably, the National League will use the designated hitter in the 2020 season, games which go to extra innings will begin those innings with a runner on second base, and expanded rosters will be implemented.
The Cardinals are preparing to resume their training for the season at Busch Stadium as early as July 1.
President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak confirmed several weeks ago that the team would not seek to return to its spring training complex, a decision seems prescient in light of a recent uptick in covid-19 infections in Florida.
Taxi squads
The team has also received permission from MLB to base its “taxi squad” of players who will be kept prepared while not on the active roster in Springfield, Missouri, using the facilities of the Double-A Springfield Cardinals.
Though MLB instructed teams to find sites no more than 100 miles from their home stadium for taxi squads, the Cardinals received an exemption in part because they own the Springfield franchise and will be able to maintain complete control over its facilities.
As yet unannounced but expected is the cancellation of the 2020 season for all minor league affiliates.
Aside from the obvious detriment to the development of Major League prospects, the lack of access to game-ready replacements for injured or poor-performing players poses a challenge for teams forced to sprint to the finish in a short season.
The taxi squad is designed to provide those replacements while also attempting to continue a development curve for a team’s most valued prospects.
Cardinals nearly full strength
At the close of spring training in Jupiter, the Cardinals were dealing with injuries which seemed primed to test their pitching depth. Now, three and a half months later, the team is nearly at full strength.
Miles Mikolas, who missed much of spring with a strained flexor tendon in his throwing elbow, is expected to be ready to join the rotation when the season opens. Andrew Miller, who struggled with command issues, is also expected to be at full strength.
Perhaps most intriguing is the possible availability of fireballer Jordan Hicks, who was expected to rejoin the club around the originally scheduled All-Star break after losing much of the 2019 season to Tommy John surgery. That would coincide roughly with our current place in the calendar, though Hicks faces some obstacles in that comeback.
Without exposure to in-game work, it may be difficult for Hicks to simulate conditions that allow him to have confidence in his arm strength and his repertoire. Hicks also suffers from Type-1 diabetes, and that condition may make him more susceptible to serious complications should he contract covid-19.
Covid concerns
That concern ultimately awaits as the backdrop to the efforts to resume baseball.
After a week which saw dozens of players across both professional and college sports test positive while returning to team facilities, limiting the spread of the virus ultimately remains uncertain. Increased frequency of testing may lead to an uptick in detected cases, but the necessary close quarters of a professional sports season, even under social distancing guidelines, pose a unique threat.
Maintaining strict quarantine procedures will be essential; the Orlando Pride soccer club was forced to withdraw from the National Women’s Soccer League’s restart after team members allegedly contracted the virus while visiting a nightclub. Tennis star Novak Djokovic and his wife Jelena both tested positive after hosting an invitational tournament at which distancing procedures were not followed.
Isolated incidents will allow for mitigation. Wide spread will require cessation. Given the work and the ugliness required to bring baseball to this point, another forced stop would likely doom a season which already carries countless undue burdens.
