And the MLB 2020 season negotiations begin

[thehef]

Originally Posted by Westheim

For something else entirely, I'm watching the Wandering Jays - Nationals game and Joe West came out in the first inning after being hit by Bichette's bat.

Which makes me wonder - what is the fewest number of umps you need for a baseball game to go on? One? Two? Three?

If an MLB game is missing more than one ump, they should go the route that the NHL does when one of the teams is down both of their goalies: Pull a beer-leaguer out of the stands.

[CONN CHRIS]

Originally Posted by Westheim

For something else entirely, I'm watching the Wandering Jays - Nationals game and Joe West came out in the first inning after being hit by Bichette's bat.

Which makes me wonder - what is the fewest number of umps you need for a baseball game to go on? One? Two? Three?

I don't know what MLB policy is but as a former umpire, we and I have to assume these umpires are trained in the positioning and movement required for 4,3,2 and 1 umpire scenarios. I would think that at the speed things develop at this level, 1 umpire would be woefully inadequate but two can cover a game surprisingly well with proper movement and trade-off between them.

[CBeisbol]

7 inning double headers

[TheMaus2]

so the league and the PA just decided to do 7 inning doubleheaders starting august 1st.

very disappointing that the season had to end up like this but honestly with the way that it has been going now seems like a good time to experiment with pace of play

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by thehef

If an MLB game is missing more than one ump, they should go the route that the NHL does when one of the teams is down both of their goalies: Pull a beer-leaguer out of the stands.

Now, that might have worked pre-2020 ......

[thehef]

Originally Posted by Westheim

Now, that might have worked pre-2020 ......

Good point!

[Syd Thrift]

The Cardinals-Brewers series has been postponed after multiple Cardinals tested positive for COVID-19.

https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/07/31/br...ronavirus-test

[BBGiovanni]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

I don't know what MLB policy is but as a former umpire, we and I have to assume these umpires are trained in the positioning and movement required for 4,3,2 and 1 umpire scenarios. I would think that at the speed things develop at this level, 1 umpire would be woefully inadequate but two can cover a game surprisingly well with proper movement and trade-off between them.

The California League uses two umpires. It works ok except that some of the umpires are really terrible. But they generally do a good job, and cover what they need to cover pretty well.

[cephasjames]

I wonder how many teams need to have outbreaks and/or how many series need to be postponed before they say enough is enough?

[cephasjames]

Do the players get paid for 60 games no matter what happens to the season or do they only get paid for the games that get played should the season be cut short?

[TheMaus2]

they should get the full 60 game pay at least

[BBGiovanni]

Originally Posted by cephasjames

I wonder how many teams need to have outbreaks and/or how many series need to be postponed before they say enough is enough?

Shouldn't we find out right quick? If two out of three regions have to cancel games because of infections that seems to answer the question. If the headline I saw is right 20% of the teams have had postponements to a schedule that didn't have any space already.

[rudel.dietrich]

This has been an absolute **** show.
Miami, out of the 33 players and staff in Philadelphia, 18 have tested positive and the team is having to rent out sleeper buses to get them back to Miami.

[CBeisbol]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

This has been an absolute **** show.
Miami, out of the 33 players and staff in Philadelphia, 18 have tested positive and the team is having to rent out sleeper buses to get them back to Miami.

Are you not entertained!!!!!, though?

[rudel.dietrich]

Originally Posted by CBeisbol

Are you not entertained!!!!!, though?

There are ways like the NBA and UFC to pull this off while balancing enertainment with safety.

Then you have the MLB and NFL who's plans seem to be 'everything is normal except we will not have fans and wipe down stuff more'

[BBGiovanni]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

Then you have the MLB and NFL who's plans seem to be 'everything is normal except we will not have fans and wipe down stuff more'

Oh, the MLB couldn't even manage that. They DOUBLED rosters, because hey some guys might die and stuff. Then all the goofball/needless rule changes. Then a too-short "summer camp" that left pitchers and players unprepared to play professional baseball, and finally a plan to traipse through 28 cities in 60 days with basically no plan for rescheduling/postponement. They had an emergency meeting to deal with postponements, and their answer was 7 inning games.


They might have done less badly had they actually tried to make a bad plan that could never work.

[RchW]

Originally Posted by Westheim

Now, that might have worked pre-2020 ......

A cardboard cutout might do as well as some. 😝

[thehef]

Originally Posted by BBGiovanni

The California League uses two umpires. It works ok except that some of the umpires are really terrible. But they generally do a good job, and cover what they need to cover pretty well.

Yep, I've seen a few Calif Lg games over the past few years and I can't recall anything other than the usual-but-rare disputes over a call. I mean, bang-bang calls are somewhat rare, and the ones that really need to be made very close to the play - as opposed to wherever the two umpires are stationed - are even more rare.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by RchW

A cardboard cutout might do as well as some. 😝

I have no doubt the cardboard cutout of Jeff McNeil's dog would have a better pitching line than Boom-Boom Diaz.

[CBeisbol]

Phillies, Blue Jays, Marlins, Nationals, Cardinals and Brewers not playing due to COVID.