March 16th, 2020 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka With each passing hour, it is becoming more and more apparent that the 2020 major league baseball season is at serious risk of being canceled in its entirety due to the COVID-19 virus.
This (verbatim) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday afternoon:
Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities. Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies. These events can be planned not only by organizations and communities but also by individuals.
Therefore, CDC, in accordance with its guidance for large events and mass gatherings, recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.
Events of any size should only be continued if they can be carried out with adherence to guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations, hand hygiene, and social distancing. When feasible, organizers could modify events to be virtual.
This recommendation does not apply to the day to day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses. This recommendation is made in an attempt to reduce introduction of the virus into new communities and to slow the spread of infection in communities already affected by the virus. This recommendation is not intended to supersede the advice of local public health officials.
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Eight weeks from today will be Monday, May 10. This will be exactly 10 weeks before the (originally scheduled) 2020 All-Star game at Dodger Stadium and 14 weeks before the actual midway point of the (originally scheduled) 162-game 2020 MLB season. However, even under a very optimistic best-case-scenario of an eight-week delay, it goes beyond all logic and reason to believe that the 2020 MLB season would come anywhere near 162 games without concluding sometime around Thanksgiving.
And then, late on Sunday evening, Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti imposed the following additional restrictions within the city limits which, of course, includes Dodger Stadium (again verbatim):
On March 15, Mayor Garcetti put in place temporary restrictions to stop large numbers of people from gathering and staying in close proximity. These new restrictions will be effective through March 31, 2020, unless they are extended.
These include the temporary closure to the public, within the City of Los Angeles, of the following:
- All bars and nightclubs that do not serve food;
- All movie theaters, live performance venues, bowling alleys, and arcades;
- All gyms and fitness centers;
- All private social clubs;
- In addition, all restaurants and retail food facilities will be prohibited from serving food to dine-in customers.
There are a few important notes and exceptions to the above order:
- Restaurants, as well as bars and nightclubs that serve food, may continue to prepare and offer food to customers via delivery service or take-out;
- Houses of worship are urged to limit large gatherings on their premises and to explore and implement ways to practice their respective faiths while observing social distancing practices;
- Cafeterias in hospitals, nursing homes, or similar facilities will be allowed to continue operations;
- Grocery stores, pharmacies, and food banks will also be allowed to continue operations;
Everything we do right now will determine the outcome of this crisis. By keeping a safe distance from one another at this time, we can help to slow the spread of COVID-19 and avoid putting a dangerous strain on our hospitals and healthcare workers.”
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Although no one wants to think or believe that the entire 2020 MLB season will be scrapped, the painfully brutally truth is that it is a very real possibility.
All prayers welcomed.
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I am hoping that the theory is correct that this virus is not robust and unable to withstand temperatures above 80 degrees; and, those states with high summer temperatures will soon be “safe” to resume normal activities. If not, I think MLB and the Players Association will agree upon a reduced regular season schedule, perhaps playing all games in Florida and Arizona with empty stadiums, but expanded television coverage without geographic restrictions. We might even see a college World Series type of playoff starting in September through October. There are very bright people in MLB, PA, and agents (like Scott Boras – regardless what you think of him as an agent, he is a very smart guy) who can think outside-of-the-box. Our country desperately needs some good news, and hope to replace its paranoia driven panic.
Paranoia driven panic? Seriously?
There are places in this country where shopping for food has become a life and death exercise on at least 3 levels, and more every hour. It’ll take years to recover from the economic damage done thus far, much less the months ahead.
Have you considered how this crisis has damaged normal medical care? People that were scheduled to have needed surgeries/procedures are being told they are indefinitely delayed because staff / resources / beds are being diverted to the emergency.
It’s best to have food in times of no money than money in times of no food, so what happens when food supplies become disrupted? If you’re a hoarder, you best have your guns loaded when your neighbors become desperate.
No one is more disappointed than I over the cancellation of basketball tourneys and MLB. If the population survives and recovers, which is still a possibility, there will be sports again. For now, surviving this plague is a far more pressing matter, both as individuals and as a nation.
Are you washing your hands more than normal? Keeping a ‘safe distance’ between you and others? Have you stopped shaking hands? If so, is it because you’ve become ‘paranoid’, or just taking precautions?
Serious damage has been done to our nation, and it’s barely started. Have you seen reports of conditions in Italy who are only days ahead of the U S in exposure to the pandemic? Why would you think what’s happened there cannot happen here? Spaniards are witnessing societal collapse.
I’ve been told nightly for 2 weeks that I represent the high risk component of the population – over 60 with hypertension and type 2 diabetes – those most likely to die should we contract Covid-19. Sorry for the rant. I guess I’ve become paranoid. 🙂
First, my very best wishes for you, your family, and others who are high risk as are my wife and I. But your points simply support my short comment about paranoia driven panic; how else do you explain people buying multiple packages of toilet paper, water, can goods, etc. not caring about the circumstances of their neighbors. By no means am I attempting to minimize the pandemic, it is real and people should be taking prudent precautions. If you re-read my comment you will see what scenarios I think MLB and the Players Association may play at some point this season. Notice I wrote playing in stadiums with no fans in attendance. I did not even imply that MLB and its fans should go ahead with schedule as normal which would be moronic. No, neither my wife nor I are washing are hands any more than we did in the past, we have always been careful with our personal hygiene — but I have stopped shaking hands, and hugs for close friends, out of reasonable precaution for my self, wife, and society. Stay healthy, safe, and may the Lord bless and keep you.
Same to you, amigo. Love the site.
It looks like some tough times ahead.
Baseball in 2020, doubtful, and at this time the last thing I’m thinking about.