Without a regular season to begin on March 26, MLB will "actually have time to get to two issues that have been put to the side with the overwhelming day-by-day priority of reacting to coronavirus," according to Joel Sherman of the N.Y POST. The first will be MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's ruling on the alleged "sign stealing" by the '18 Red Sox. The second task will be "coming to an agreement" with the MLBPA on "how to handle in-game technology" for this season (N.Y. POST, 3/13). In Boston, Sean McAdam wrote MLB's stoppage "comes at a time when distrust between" the league and union is at its "highest since the strike" of '94-95. This "would seem to be an opportunity for the two sides to narrow their differences and work together to find solutions." This is a "time when both the PA and owners should have the health and well-being of both the players and fans first and foremost in their minds" (BOSTONSPORTSJOURNAL.com, 3/12).
THINKING POSITIVE: USA TODAY's Gabe Lacques writes MLB will "benefit from a public-relations rush when players finally take the field," as the "fan appetite should be significant." Still, MLB "should consider the danger of being out of sight, out of mind for too long, and that its news cycle can always be blunted by external forces." With that "in mind, the league, already shifting toward more flexible access points in the face of declining attendance, should redouble its fan inclusion efforts." Welcome the fans in, be it "through cheaper price points or a greater feeling of connection with players." There are "few upsides to this delay." One of them is the "chance to pause and reconsider how the game might reposition itself" (USA TODAY, 3/13).
