Once a start date becomes clearer, an additional, shortened Spring Training might be necessarygetty images
MLB officials were "unsure on Thursday whether opening the season as early as April 9 would be feasible, instead deciding to leave the official start of the season an open question," according to Tyler Kepner of the N.Y. TIMES. If the season "resumes in April, some teams could still be affected by restrictions from local governments." Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said that he "wanted all major sporting events to be canceled -- or played without fans -- until May 1" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/13). In Minneapolis, La Velle Neal III notes players have been asked to "remain at their spring training residences for the next few days as MLB works with the players association to structure the next few weeks." One issue that "must be worked out is if players will be paid if they agree to remain in camps during the dormant period." The fallout from the league’s decision to delay the season will be "wide-reaching, affecting multiple levels within every organization." Now ballparks will be "empty on Opening Day, on March 26, with game day operations staff idle and concession workers without jobs" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/13). Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak said that once a start date is "clearer an additional, shortened spring training might be necessary" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 3/13). In New Jersey, Justin Toscano writes the start of the regular season is delayed two weeks, and "don't be surprised if it's longer" (Bergen RECORD, 3/13). SI.com's Tom Verducci wrote there is "no blueprint from which to reference." However, the "guiding principle must be this alone: whatever is best for public health and safety." Economics, logistics and traditions "must not drive decisions" (SI.com, 3/12).
LAYING OUT POSSIBILITIES: Giants President & CEO Larry Baer acknowledged that the two-week delay for Opening Day "might have to be extended." He said, "That’s the first cut. We can always adjust. It won’t be less than two weeks" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/13). D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall said that a "'strong option' could be for teams to pick up the original schedule once games resume, with the first two weeks of games -- or however many are missed -- tacked on at the end." Hall: "We hope to not skip any games or miss any games" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/13). In Toronto, Gregor Chisholm writes MLB owners will "do whatever they can to preserve a 162-game season, and there are ways to make up for lost time." A weekly doubleheader "could be scheduled with expanded rosters, the all-star break could be shortened and the league could even explore the possibility of moving post-season games to neutral warm-weather locations or domed stadiums to extend the year" (TORONTO STAR, 3/13).
NO OTHER CHOICE: On Long Island, David Lennon writes MLB "did what it had to do." It was the "only action MLB could take." A month is "going to seem like an eternity." Lennon: "But the feeling here is that we’ll wait longer than that, because coming back too soon would be a catastrophe" (NEWSDAY, 3/13). In N.Y., Kevin Kernan writes it is "good that baseball has canceled the rest of its spring training games and is delaying the start of the regular season." Kernan: "Until we know what we are dealing with, camps should be shuttered, too." Let the players "stay away from each other for a bit" (N.Y. POST, 3/13). In DC, Thomas Boswell writes MLB "probably needed the example and perhaps the societal pressure of watching many sports take decisive action to slow down the coronavirus Wednesday, including the NBA, which suspended its season indefinitely." Even if MLB was a "beat slow, it made the right call." But "don’t bother giving the sport too much credit." MLB is the "only sport that could miss a month or two of games and barely be the worse for it -- except in the wallet" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/13). YAHOO SPORTS' Hannah Keyser wrote while MLB made the "right call; if anything, it is unnecessarily, dangerously belated" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/12).
WHAT WAS THE POINT? In St. Louis, Ben Frederickson notes the Cardinals and Marlins on Thursday took the Roger Dean Stadium field for a "meaningless exhibition game." The Cardinals' Mozeliak said, "I can understand there was some frustration with that." Frederickson writes MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred "must be be called out for baseball’s pace of play problem during a health crisis that has caused 40 U.S. deaths and nearly 5,000 worldwide." Frederickson: "Better late than never. That’s the most positive thing that can be said about MLB’s delayed response" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 3/13).
BAD LOOK: USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale notes MLBers and club officials "had only one question: What took so long?" The decision was "inevitable, and when the NBA suspended the season Wednesday evening, everyone in baseball knew this was coming" (USA TODAY, 3/13). In Boston, Jason Mastrodonato wonders why it "took so long" to postpone Spring Training games. Why was MLB the "last to act when the league is still in the preseason portion of the schedule?" Why did the NBA, NHL and MLS "have to go first, suspending real games that count in the standings before MLB made a move?" (BOSTON HERALD, 3/13). In N.Y., Bradford William Davis notes 10 MLB teams played Thursday, in front of crowds public health officials "believe should not have been present." As usual, though, MLB "waited as long as possible to do the right thing." The league "could not have possibly shown more contempt for expert wisdom by allowing the games to persist as long as they did." MLB "put its most loyal fans at greatest risk" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/13).
