MLB's efforts to keep players safe and healthy

MLB's efforts to keep players safe and healthy
According to an article in The Athletic, Major League Baseball has presented the players with a 67-page document detailing health protocals for the 2020 season. A season they hope can begin sometime in early July. One that will apparently consist of only 82 games and begin, at least at the outset, without fans in the stands. This includes plans for players to practice social distancing when not on the field, to avoid high fives and shaking hands after wins, no pregame exchange of lineup cards...

Can owners, players agree on parameters of 2020 season?

Can owners, players agree on parameters of 2020 season?
Major League Baseball owners reportedly agreed Monday to a proposal for a 2020 season, one that would include an abbreviated second round of spring training in June, then a regular season of roughly 80 games that would run from July through September, then an expanded postseason that includes two more wild card teams in each league but could still be wrapped up around Halloween. Sounds great, right? Our long national nightmare is almost over! The only thing the league needs now is approval of...

How many games are needed for a legitimate season?

How many games are needed for a legitimate season?
We still don't know when - or if - the 2020 Major League Baseball season will begin. We do know it won't be a full, 162-game season, though. Even in a best-case scenario, there's just not enough time to play all 162, not without extending the regular season deep into December and the World Series beyond New Year's Day. That's not happening. So if they play in 2020, it's going to be a shortened season. Which is not unprecedented in MLB history, given past labor disputes. But how many games...

Reading the tea leaves about various MLB season proposals

Reading the tea leaves about various MLB season proposals
It's still impossible to say with any semblance of certainty when, where or how the 2020 Major League Baseball season will begin. But it doesn't take a lot of reading between the lines in recent days to recognize the powers that be in this sport strongly believe there will be a 2020 baseball season. The length, format and other particulars of a potential season remain very much uncertain. But as various proposals get tossed around, it does seem like everyone involved fully expects something...

Rizzo on employee payments, season prep and Nats charities

Rizzo on employee payments, season prep and Nats charities
In addition to paying all full-time employees' salaries through at least the end of May, the Nationals have not yet discussed asking for the organization's highest-paid employees to reduce their salaries while baseball is shut down during the coronavirus pandemic. General manager Mike Rizzo, during his regular conference call with reporters today, confirmed the Lerner family's recent commitment to pay all full-time employees full salary and benefits through May, following a trend established...

Nats commit to pay full-time employees through at least May 31

Nats commit to pay full-time employees through at least May 31
The Nationals informed full-time employees they will continue to receive full pay and benefits through at least the end of May, a source familiar with the decision confirmed. Following the lead of nearly every other major league organization in recent days, Nationals ownership sent an email out to all full-time employees Thursday with news they will continue to be paid through May 31. The club previously had committed to paying full salaries through the end of April. A decision on payments...

Zimmerman willing to play in empty parks, but has other concerns

Zimmerman willing to play in empty parks, but has other concerns
As various proposals to play an abridged and altered Major League Baseball season get leaked, and the sporting public debates the practicalities and merits of them all, we must remind ourselves of the following key point: Eventually, MLB is going to have to make an official proposal for the 2020 season. And then the players are going to have to agree to it. And the second part of that equation is essential to any plan actually becoming reality. Players and owners haven't exactly seen eye to...

Schedule design could have big effect on eventual season

Schedule design could have big effect on eventual season
We don't talk about the schedule much in baseball, because it really doesn't matter all that much under normal circumstances. During the course of a 162-game season, every team in the majors is going to play every other team in its division 19 times, every team in its league's two other divisions six or seven times and then 20 interleague games. Sure, teams in tougher divisions - and those that play the toughest division in interleague play - have a little bit of a disadvantage. But rarely...

What matters to you: More games or fewer changes?

What matters to you: More games or fewer changes?
I feel like I've already said this countless times over the last three weeks, but let's state it again for the record: As much as we all want to project when the baseball season (or any other sport's season) will begin, it's pointless right now. There's simply no way to know with any certainty when the world will be safe enough for sporting events and the mass gatherings they draw. That hasn't stopped a lot of folks from trying to figure this out. Some insist it can happen by June. Some...

Reports: MLB, union agree to salary, service time, draft changes

Reports: MLB, union agree to salary, service time, draft changes
For those wondering about the postseason re-watch articles, we'll get back to that tomorrow, with four straight days of the National League Championship Series. But first, there was some baseball news late last night, with Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association agreeing to a bunch of new provisions to account for the disrupted 2020 season. Multiple outlets reported that player representatives from all 30 clubs agreed to a deal that will become official today once owners sign off...

An attempt to answer some pressing questions

An attempt to answer some pressing questions
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - These are strange times. Strange times with no real road maps to consult. Major League Baseball has dealt with work stoppages before, but those were strikes or lockouts or a one-week hiatus following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. This is quite different. It's tempting right now to try to project what's going to happen in two weeks or two months. But the truth is, we have no idea what's going to happen in two days. Let's try to take a rational look at the...

Though free to leave, many Nats plan to stay and work out

Though free to leave, many Nats plan to stay and work out
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Though Major League Baseball officially announced the immediate suspension of all spring training operations this evening, many Nationals players intend to remain here and conduct informal workouts during baseball's coronavirus-induced hiatus. MLB and the MLB Players Association, after meeting earlier today, jointly informed clubs that players are being encouraged to travel to either the team's home city or their own hometowns, though anyone who wants to stay in their...

Spring games called, season delayed at least two weeks (updated)

Spring games called, season delayed at least two weeks (updated)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals and Yankees are underway, with the first sellout crowd of the spring packed into FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches to watch this exhibition game. How long this game continues, though, is very much in question. As sporting events around the country are canceled due to the coronavirus, Major League Baseball reportedly is on the verge of suspending spring training. Commissioner Rob Manfred was on a conference call with club owners this afternoon, according...

Coronavirus prompts change to autograph signings

Coronavirus prompts change to autograph signings
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Though there haven't been any confirmed coronavirus cases in the immediate vicinity yet, the Nationals are taking their first precautionary steps toward helping prevent the virus from spreading at their spring training facility. The club announced this morning changes to the way players and coaches approach autographs and fan interactions at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches and other spring training stadiums. All Nationals personnel have been advised to avoid...

In cheating scandal, there were no penalties for players

In cheating scandal, there were no penalties for players
It has been quite a week in Major League Baseball. The cheating scandal took down one general manager and three managers. Franchises are tarnished. Houston got hit hard and Boston could be next. But the players involved were not fined or suspended, and none got fired. I'm OK with that. It would be hard to know exactly which players took part and how often. Cheating once is too much, but were I handing out the discipline I would not treat every player equally. In a sense, all the players on the...

Astros fire Luhnow and Hinch after MLB levies penalties in sign-stealing case

Astros fire Luhnow and Hinch after MLB levies penalties in sign-stealing case
Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch were suspended by Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred Monday for allowing the team's uniformed personnel to steal signs electronically during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Luhnow and Hinch were suspended through the 2020 World Series. The Astros also were fined $5 million - the maximum allowed under MLB rules - and they'll have to forfeit first- and second-round draft picks in 2020 and 2021. About an hour the initial report...

Frederick listed among teams that could lose MLB affiliations

Frederick listed among teams that could lose MLB affiliations
If you are an Orioles fan that follows the minors and have been to games at Single-A Frederick, you've probably seen a team that consistently draws well and is an organization that, by almost any standard, is very well run. So that made it pretty surprising when the New York Times published a list of 42 minor league teams (subscription required) that could lose their Major League Baseball affiliations at the end of next season and Frederick was on the list. The Professional Baseball Agreement...

Nationals left confused by ruling on play at plate

Nationals left confused by ruling on play at plate
The focus should have been on Adam Eaton, whose 11-pitch at-bat with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh Friday night might well have been his best of the season. After fouling off five straight pitches from Cy Young Award contender Hyun-Jin Ryu, the Nationals' scrappy No. 2 hitter lined a base hit over the shortstop's head, bringing the tying run home as a crowd of 37,491 roared with approval. But the focus instead wound up on what happened at the end of the dramatic play during...

Victor Robles and Carter Kieboom highlight Nats' top 30 prospects

Victor Robles and Carter Kieboom highlight Nats' top 30 prospects
MLBPipeline.com released its version of the Nationals' top 30 prospects list this week. The No. 1 prospect on this list is no surprise, and could very well be the starting center fielder this season with the big league club. Victor Robles has 34 games combined in two seasons with the Nats. This will be a huge season for him, especially with the likely departure of Bryce Harper. Juan Soto and Robles will be the future for the Nats outfield. If Robles can get his hitting to match every other...

Report: Nats under consideration for 2020 series in London

Report: Nats under consideration for 2020 series in London
Could the Nationals be headed across the pond for one summer series in 2020? It appears to be a legitimate possibility. Major League Baseball is considering two potential matchups for its planned London Series in June 2020, either the Nationals vs. the Mets or the Cubs vs. the Cardinals, according to the Associated Press. The report, citing two people familiar with the discussions, suggested an announcement on the final matchup is expected after opening day this year. In its attempt to spread...