Baseball could face this season, SNY's Andy Martino made an interesting discovery Friday." data-reactid="16">To make the most of every possible scenario that Major League Baseball could face this season, Andy Martino of SNY made an interesting discovery on Friday.
If an outbreak of COVID-19 cases forces one or more of the 30 MLB teams to drop out in the middle of the season, the league need not necessarily suspend or end the season.
According to a newly revealed passage in the agreement between MLB and the players’ union, Commissioner Rob Manfred will decide whether and when it is appropriate to suspend or cancel a single game or the entire season. His decision will be based on several factors, including the game’s “competitive integrity”.
From SNY:
The agreement of March 26 is now updated to include this passage that SNY has received:
The Commissioner reserves the right to suspend or cancel the 2020 championship season or the postseason, or the games included therein, if (i) travel restrictions are imposed in the United States; (ii) There is a significant change in circumstances so that after consulting with recognized medical experts and the Players Association, the Commissioner finds that it is an undue health and safety risk for players or staff to host these games without fans present; ; or (III) The number of players who are not available to provide services due to COVID-19 is so large that the competitive integrity of the season is compromised.
Martino’s sources tell him that the first two points in the above passage were agreed in March. The third point, which covers positive testing and competitive integrity, was added on Tuesday.
Then there is this extract from Martino:
Burned into the changed language is the confirmation that an outbreak within a team can decimate it or lead to the cancellation of games. That would not automatically mean the end of the season.
The report does not clarify MLB’s definition of “competitive integrity” or the number of COVID-19 cases that Manfred would need to consider hiring or stopping operations, nor does it explain how one Team that takes a break or fails, would change the schedule or the leaderboard.
The league is determined to play 60 games in 66 days. So there is literally no scope to rework trips and reschedule a block of games that could be canceled. Would teams be rewarded only for their ability to show themselves? Would you cope with fewer games? None of this is clarified.
baseball landscape, no scenario, even the worst of the worst cases, should be reasonably ruled out." data-reactid="28">It is clear that the MLB league is confident that this scenario will not occur. However, since COVID-19 cases occur across the country and in the baseball landscape, no scenario, even the worst of the worst cases, should be reasonably excluded.
Commissioner Rob Manfred could continue the MLB season even if one or more teams have to drop out. (Photo by Alex Trautwig / MLB Photos via Getty Images)
