I like my corn flakes and orange juice in the morning. When I’m really feeling adventurous, I’ll drink apple juice.
I like my major league baseball in its traditional wrapper. Originally, I was against the designated hitter, though I’ve come to accept it. But I still don’t like interleague play, and I don’t think I’ll ever accept instant replay.
Fuddy-duddies like me, however, could warm up to the shortened 2020 season fairly quickly. Every now and then, change can be exhilarating. And after several months of being held in place by coronavirus, maybe now the time is right for what figures to be a wild, woolly, weird and abbreviated MLB schedule.
A 60-game season is better than no season, however unusual it might be. Look at it this way, and be honest: If you watch any normal NBA or NHL season you’re really just going through the motions until the playoffs begin. Because you know the players are going through the motions, too. Half the time, you’ve wondered if they realize that a game is going on, because they look like they’re waiting for a bus.
One of the best things about baseball is that the season is lengthy. We know it’ll always be there throughout the summer. Except that this year that is not the case. But in a 60-game season every game will count. It’s like the playoffs have arrived, right from the start.
That means that managers will approach games more aggressively. Losing is magnified. Slumps are magnified.
In a 162-game season, teams can recover from an eight-game slump without much difficulty. But prolonged losing streaks this year can be deadly.
In a traditional season, your superstar can miss a week or two with a strained calf muscle and still be all right. This year, however, that might not be the case. And what if two or three (or a half dozen) of your starters come down with COVID-19? That could mean the end.
We’re all hoping that the season begins as planned and there are no unwelcome surprises in store. That unwelcome surprises can happen -- and probably will -- give us more reason to follow along.
There are rule changes this year. Some of them are necessary simply due to the coronavirus, but others are less so.
For instance, the DH will be in play for both leagues. The “three batter” rule will be implemented, meaning pitchers must face at least three hitters or get the last out of the inning before they can be replaced. And, in a nod to men’s fast-pitch softball rules that I remember from my weekend tournaments, all innings after the ninth will begin with a runner straddling second base.
In fast-pitch tournaments where teams waited in line to play after your game, it was important not to have 16-inning games. Why that’s so much more important for MLB this summer is debatable. But at least it should add drama.
All of the weirdness, of course, comes courtesy of coronavirus. They say that any ball touched by more than one player will be tossed out in favor of a new ball. There is a no spitting rule (good luck in enforcing that one). And when possible, players are to remain six feet apart (so how is the pitcher-catcher mound visit supposed to work?). Pitchers will be asked not to lick their fingers, so they’ll be allowed to carry a small wet rag in their back pocket to moisten their fingers on.
And NO brawls. Any on-field brawl in the age of COVID-19 will be severely punished, the league says. Fans who like a little fighting with their baseball will be disappointed for sure, but the sign-stealing Houston Astros must be absolutely delighted with it.
So the remainder of the summer will be fun for baseball fans.
Well, at least it will be interesting.
A side notation here: A few days ago I watched my grandson play a Little League game in Lakefield, and a slew of predictable coronavirus-inspired regulations were enforced. I chuckled to myself when the game ended, however. Instead of the traditional handshakes, players stood in front of their dugouts and waved their caps at the other team.
Cute.
I don’t think we’ll see that one on major league fields, though.
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July 02, 2020 at 11:00PM
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Doug Wolter: Every game is magnified in short MLB season | The Globe - The Globe
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