When Major League Baseball cancelled remaining Spring Training games and delayed the start of the 2020 season due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it was with the initial hope of staging Opening Day on April 9.
That best-case scenario never manifested, as the spread of the coronavirus further impacted MLB and the United States economy as a whole. When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended gatherings of 50 or more people be cancelled at least through May 10, MLB pushed back Opening Day a second time.
With the season’s original start date passing Thursday, it amounted to more of a pressing need for MLB and the MLB Players Association to reach an agreement on salary, service time issues and the 2020 Draft, among other issues. The players approved a deal Thursday night, and owners unanimously ratified it Friday.
Beyond pay and service time, the agreement additionally set requirements in order for MLB to begin the 2020 season, one of which being the league and union preferring to avoid a scenario of playing without fans in attendance, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan:
The players and league agreed the 2020 MLB season won't begin until:
– There are no bans on mass gatherings that limit the ability to play in front of fans*
– There are no travel restrictions
– Medical experts determine games will not pose a risk to health of teams and fans— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 27, 2020
* The caveat agreed to by the players and league is that they will consider playing games at neutral sites instead of home ballparks — and will consider the feasibility of playing in empty stadiums and just how proper a solution it may be for both sides and especially fans.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 27, 2020
In light of it still remaining unclear when MLB could so much as have players start a second Spring Training, commissioner Rob Manfred ruled out playing a 162-game season this year. That’s even with all parties involved committed to playing as many games as possible and being amenable to doubleheaders and pushing the season into October and possibly November.
As for playing without fans in attendance, that may be required in order for the season to begin, even if it’s not the desired preference. “It does sound very funny,” Ross Stripling told DodgerBlue.com of the possibility.
“Obviously, we’re in the entertainment business and fans, that’s what we get up for. That’s what we’re excited about. A lot of times your body hurts and you’re struggling, and then you got outside and see 40,000 Dodger fans in the stadium and you don’t feel any pain anymore. Your adrenaline takes over and you’re excited.
“It would be very, very different. Obviously not what we want to do, but at the end of the day we do want to get on the field and play baseball. If that’s the only way to do it, then obviously we’re open to it.”
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