Major League baseball is entering the third weekend of the 2020 schedule and already seeing the challenges of playing through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two of the three regional divisions’ schedules have been affected by positive tests of multiple players on two individual teams. The positive tests of Miami Marlins during the first week and St. Louis Cardinals the following week caused postponements that have an hurt the schedules of several opponents in their divisions.
These concerns are leading to serious discussion by Major League Baseball to consider utilizing strategies both the National Hockey League and National Basketball Association have to protect health and safety of players, coaches, and officials.
According to a report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the idea of playing baseball’s post-season in one or two stadiums in the proverbial “bubble”’is a concept that Major League Baseball is currently exploring for their upcoming expanded 16-team playoff series beginning in October.
The concept is new to Major League Baseball but not completely unprecedented to the sport. MLB’s partnership with the International Baseball Federation launched the World Baseball Classic in 2006. These tournaments have consisted of regional rounds that have been played in MLB stadiums that could be utilized as blueprint for potential 2020 MLB playoff scenarios.
MLB currently has two retractable-roof stadiums in the state of Texas in Arlington’s new Globe Life Park and Houston’s Minute Maid Park. Florida also offers two indoor stadiums in Miami’s Marlins Park and St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field. Other options could lie in three outdoor venues in the usually weather-friendly cities of San Diego’s PETCO Park, Anaheim’s Angel Stadium, and Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium.
Having the 16 postseason teams play their eight first-round series in two or more of these locations could help MLB prevent the coronavirus from entering safe zones. Players and personnel would be required to remain together with regularly-tested and virus-free individuals within these stadium areas.
The absence of fans from this season’s games makes this option realistic in comparison to traditional seasons in which crowds would play provide a more obvious home-field advantage. Baseball is different than basketball and hockey in one particular manner that could create home-field advantage.
Every baseball park has different dimensions, wall sizes, and potential weather conditions that could pose argument for advantage for home teams that earn playoff spots and benefit from playing series in a home ballpark. Most would consider this the slightest of advantage and something that should not prevent the proposed bubble from becoming a reality. After all, the visiting team won all seven games of last year’s World Series in front of sold-out stadiums.
The idea of playing the events in one or two locations is very different for baseball tradition but under the circumstances, one that makes a lot of sense. Sharing ballparks would allow for multiple back-to-back games played at ballparks in the first round that would obviously reduce in quantity as playoff rounds progress. Games being hosted in a single location would also allow for easier media coverage and could have the potential to generate more interest as a set-site event similar to college bowl games or Super Bowl.
Major League Baseball will be one-third of the way through the regular season this weekend and will need to make a decision soon. Any plan to create a bubble for the postseason will require much preparation in order to be successful and determined with enough time to secure hotels and facilities for month of post-season games.
2020 continues to provide sports unprecedented conditions and baseball’s Fall Classic will be no exception.
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