DON'T play ball!

photo by Mark F. Gleason

Open letter to Major League Baseball: 

No one loves the game more than I do. I made it a second career, that’s how much I love it. I’m a fan of all major sports, but baseball is the only one I miss during its offseason. The only reason I look forward to February is because that’s when pitchers and catchers report. When I used to announce games people would say, “How could you sit through 162 baseball games every season?” And I’d say, “It’s more like 182 with spring training, and I’m always bummed out on closing day.” So this is coming from a fan who has craved baseball since late October or Christmas (whenever the World Series ended).

DON’T DO THIS.

Stop this ridiculous charade of a 2020 season now while you can.

I watched some of the “exhibition” games this past weekend and it was just a joke. Empty stadiums. Some stadiums had cut outs of people in some of the front row seats (something Ed Wood would do), and otherwise 40,000 empty chairs. Some players were wearing a mask, others weren’t.

And the games moved like molasses. Baseball is not known for it’s lightening pace anyway, but this was just paint drying with artificial crowd noise pumped in.

I put “exhibition” in quotes because here’s the truth: These regular season games MEAN NOTHING.

One-time only divisions. Sixty-game seasons. Expanded playoffs. No separation between the National and American League. Some of the premier players are opting out (when you have $50 million already, what can’t you buy?). And in all likelihood the season will be called off at some point.

Why? Because players and managers and others involved will contract the virus and perhaps face serious health issues or even die. And they’ll spread the virus to other players, who will spread it to family members, etc.

So you ask, why are they doing this? Canada won’t permit the Blue Jays to play in Toronto. They’ll have to play in either Buffalo, New York or Florida (like that’s the safest place to go). Why risk players’ health and the very integrity of the game for a possible three months of a diluted and bastardized product? Is it because the public needs its baseball? Is it for the comfort that the game and its healing effect has on hard times? Is it a statement that America rises above everything? No. They’re doing it because of….

MONEY.

Players want to be paid. Owners want broadcast and merchandising revenue. There’s no other reason.

Let’s look at the “safety” precautions. Players were given a hundred page booklet with the guidelines. How many players do you think are going to read it? Or even the first five pages? A friend said that on page 50 they could give a phone number and say anyone who calls this number will get a million dollars and they wouldn’t give away a single cent. He's right.  You could put the phone number on page 11 and get the same result.  Or maybe even 2. 

The players will be tested often. That’s a lot of players, a lot of tests – might those tests be better used in communities to help lower the spike? Players will seemingly be in a bubble. On the road they’ll be in blocked-off sections in hotels on lower floors. They’re instructed not to take elevators. I guess most meals will be room service. Forgetting how that arrangement is far from impenetrable, at home they’ll be with their families. Who knows who family members have been with? Who knows how many wives and girlfriends and live-in uncles wear masks or go to bars in states where they’re open? Good luck to Marlin and Ray players. 

Oh… and support staff, stadium personnel, announcers, ground crew, media members – they’re not entitled to the vigilant testing. They’re on their own. And everybody has to sign waivers freeing MLB and the teams from any responsibility or damage should they come down with the virus. And you KNOW some will.  It's just a matter of how many and how serious? 

I’m guessing fans will watch the first few games of the season out of curiosity. Then the novelty will wear off and ratings will be through the floor. Announcers won't travel so they'll be calling road games off the television feed.   That should be interesting.   You're the Giants announcer calling a game from Colorado.  You're taking the Colorado feed.  All of a sudden the camera goes to the Rockies bullpen and stays there for two minutes because the Rockies announcers are talking about the bullpen.  But if you're the Giants announcer, you're stuck looking at the other team's bullpen for no reason.  Like I said -- a joke. 

And the only suspense will be who gets out of this alive? Even, if by some miracle, the season and post-season is played out, no one is going to take the World Series champion seriously. With no importance, no excitement, and no fan involvement why do this? And the answer is:

DON’T.