Major League Baseball in 2021

[ScottT]

The Phoenix Suns have announced they are going to allow fans.

[mvslugger]

18 hours ago, ScottT said:

I guess it means I won't get accused by some senile old af "security" dude at the Tempe Diablo Stadium practice fields of allegedly running onto the field to get a baseball.  I was not a kid when this alleged incident took place.  I was not even a young adult.   It was hilarious. 

25% capacity Tempe Diablo Stadium sounds awesome..

Ha - I was chastised for grabbing a HR ball off the LF grass after a workout.  Can't imagine the tongue lashing for "allegedly" running onto the field!

[Lhalo]

On 1/31/2021 at 6:24 PM, Angels 1961 said:

This will all be explained in your morning edition of the LA Times

Did this happen?

[Chuck]

Dumb. 

Professional contact sports (NBA, NFL, NHL) are good, but MLB isn't good to start on time? WTF

[tdawg87]

What is a month going to do, exactly?

[Taylor]

26 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

What is a month going to do, exactly?

Provide more time for more people to be vaccinated, is my guess.

[ScottT]

Even more time for things to calm down.  Make it safer for fans to attend.

MLB should have proposed it months ago.  No way it was going to fly at the last minute with guys already in AZ and FL.

[ScottT]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30821842/what-know-know-start-mlb-spring-training-regular-season-rule-changes

Spring training is expected to start with limited fans throughout Florida and Arizona, pending local approval. The Boston Red Sox announced plans to have 24% capacity at their games in Fort Myers, the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals have spring training tickets on sale now, and the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals are among teams that have announced plans to start spring with limited fans in attendance.

[Inside Pitch]

1 hour ago, ScottT said:

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30821842/what-know-know-start-mlb-spring-training-regular-season-rule-changes

Spring training is expected to start with limited fans throughout Florida and Arizona, pending local approval. The Boston Red Sox announced plans to have 24% capacity at their games in Fort Myers, the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals have spring training tickets on sale now, and the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals are among teams that have announced plans to start spring with limited fans in attendance.

Marlins could announce a regular season max capacity of 24% and still see their attendance spike.

[ScottT]

https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/salt-river-fields-at-talking-stick-will-operate-at-17-capacity-due-to-covid-19/75-54cb2022-febf-46b6-844c-b52c5077c243

Salt River Fields will be operating only at 17% capacity which means at most there will be around 2200 fans per game.

[beatlesrule]

8 hours ago, Chuckster70 said:

Dumb. 

Professional contact sports (NBA, NFL, NHL) are good, but MLB isn't good to start on time? WTF

I agree and don't understand this. Baseball is all outside except for some stadiums with domes. You are far less likely to catch covid-19 outside. How many players tested positive last year for covid-19? I see no reason why the season shouldn't start on time.

[Inside Pitch]

Freedman calling out more reporting BS....

[Vlad27Trout27]

I may have missed this, what when do Catchers and Pitchers report? the 12th of this month?

[jsnpritchett]

1 minute ago, Vlad27Trout27 said:

I may have missed this, what when do Catchers and Pitchers report? the 12th of this month?

Looks like the 17th for the Angels:

https://www.springtrainingonline.com/reporting-dates/

[Stradling]

 

[rafibomb]

 

[rafibomb]

 

 

[rafibomb]

 

Since it's Boob looks like there won't be Universal DH.

[Lhalo]

29 minutes ago, rafibomb said:

 

Gay, gay and gay. 

[Taylor]

2 hours ago, rafibomb said:

 

So they keep the two things that suck and lose the one that doesn't. Thanks, Obama!

[Lou]

28 minutes ago, Taylor said:

So they keep the two things that suck and lose the one that doesn't. Thanks, Obama!

perv

[HaloBronco]

1 hour ago, Taylor said:

So they keep the two things that suck and lose the one that doesn't. Thanks, Obama!

LOL! Love it!!

Agree with on this.  

[Taylor]

1 hour ago, Lou said:

perv

[Angel Oracle]

Blame the owners for the loss of the universal DH.

They apparently told the union that if no expanded playoffs, no universal DH.

[Junkballer]

19 hours ago, rafibomb said:

 

7-inning doubleheaders is a good thing.   Saves a lot of wear and tear on bullpens and allows for a shortened season.

The man on 2nd is  a huge departure from tradition, however, I think MLB wanted to limit regular season extra innings no matter what and the alternative might have been to introduce the tie (perhaps after the 10th).  Pure speculation but it makes sense that they look for any way to save money (the cost of paying park staff with little or no additional revenue from concessions or TV).  As long as it isnt introduced into the playoffs its a meh for me.

Universal DH is a negotiating chip for the next CBA. so not ideal, but there are a lot of NL fans happy about its absence.  I wont stress about it unless and until the Angels are in the World Series.