Baseball is coming back folks!
The MLB owners and players finally agreed on a deal that will see the 60 game regular season begin July 23, with Spring Training getting underway.
Here’s what you need to know:
60 GAME REGULAR SEASON, STANDARD PLAYOFFS:
In the end, we didn’t get the potential 16 team playoffs, but that will make it all the more challenging for teams to get into the dance in this shortened season, where only 10 teams will advance to the second part of the season.
SPRING TRAINING, REGULAR SEASON IN OWN CITIES:
Instead of Florida or Arizona like usual , “Spring Training 2.0” will take place in their teams own ballparks, with regular season games to follow. No fans allowed.
SCHEDULE:
Spring Training will start July 1st, with the regular season will run from July 23-September 27, with the 23rd consisting of two “premier games” to begin the season before the 26 others kick off that follow long Friday.
As for the format, it will be “geography based”, with teams facing their division foes 10 times, with the other 20 games against the other geographic division on the other league. Let’s use the Yankees for example, they will face each of their AL East rivals; Rays, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Orioles 10 times, and since the inter-league schedule is based off 2018, since that was the season both Eastern, Central and Western teams faced off against each other, the Yankees will battle the Nationals and Marlins 4 times, while they will see the Braves and Phillies 3 times.
Another thing to note, is “City rivalries”, and since the Yankees have one in the Mets, they will face them 6 times this season. There’s your 60 games.
UNIVERSAL DH:
No more hitting for the pitchers, as the NL now has a DH.
SAFETY RULES:
•Players will sit 6 feet apart in stands
•no walk-off celebrations
•arguments between managers and umps, must take place with them being 6 feet apart from each other
•no spitting or rubbing of ball, but pitchers can use wet rag instead.
•catchers and pitchers must wear masks during mound visits.
•There will be a separate injured list for players who come down with the virus. They also won’t be able to return to the team , unless they test negative twice.
•players will get tested twice a day
•Only 35 in-person reporters allowed on field level, press conferences will be done over Zoom. Reporters also must leave the park within 90 minutes after the game is completed.
EXTRA INING RULES:
Extra innings will begin with an automatic runner on 2nd base, as opposed to a clean slate to start off the inning. However , this “runner” must be the last batter from the previous inning, putting the “intentional strikeout” in play, should that guy be a “speed demon” and isn’t known for hitting the ball out of the park if no men are aboard with 2 outs. In my opinion, I would still hit away but that’s going to add to the decision making of managers this year.
ROSTER RULES:
Players can carry 3 “Taxi squad” players, that will serve as injury reserves and will
not be on the team official roster. One of these 3 extra players, must be a catcher.
For the first 2 weeks of the season, teams can officially carry 30 players on their roster. That number will dwindle down to 28, before finally stopping at 26 one month into the season.
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