hogan873

If the NBA and possibly NHL come back and MLB doesn't, it'll look bad. And you're right that many fans wouldn't come back. I lost interest after the strike season (I was a Pirate fan at the time, so I had added reason to lose interest), and i didn't start following baseball again until 1999 when I moved here. There's a way to play, whether it's at spring training sites or at home parks, and whether it's with or without fans. If the season is cancelled ultimately because of money, that'll look really bad, and people will remember.

I'm one of the more optimistic, I think. It's hard to stay optimistic when you read or watch the news, but I keep reminding myself that it's mid-April. A lot can transpire over the next 3-6 weeks. I think MLB will do just about anything to have some sort of season. If they get the green light from health officials, I think they move forward. As optimistic as I am, I think the best case scenario is teams playing at spring training sites with no fans all season.

With the curve being bent/flattened and at least a dim light being seen at the end of this tunnel, and as more chatter about a potential 2020 season bubbles up, let's discuss what we THINK will happen.

I think that's the key. I was reading an article (lord knows there's a shit ton out there) about how do restaurants and bars open. It mentioned limited occupancy and actually removing/blocking off tables to provide adequate social distancing. I think this is pretty reasonable, especially if we're to see restaurants start to open in May. To your point, though, it will take a while before people are comfortable about going out.

With states now talking about how to get things going again, I'm starting to feel better about seeing baseball in some form this year. It will be very different, but it will be baseball. I think we can forget about fans in the stands. I find it interesting that MLB has volunteered to be involved in the antibody testing. I wonder if this is part of their plan to return to the field.

Yes. It's mid-April, and some lightening of restrictions by mid-May is expected...at least in some areas. Baseball could still start as late as early July and squeeze in 90+ games without going too far into October. I'd love to see baseball with fans eventually this year, but that's probably wishful thinking. The next 2-4 weeks will be crucial.

There has to be some consideration of what happens if teams could go back to their home fields (with or without crowds) at some point. I'm sure what MLB would ultimately like to do is have teams play at regular stadiums, but if they want to get something going sooner rather than later, they'd almost certainly have to go with some variation of the spring training sites plans. I would think that if they make the decision to play at spring training sites, they may just stick with it for the season. Hopefully we will all have a better idea of what's going on over the next few weeks.

This is a cool idea. It would be a nice change for a season. Maybe, if this happens, it will spur some discussion about realignment and rule changes going forward.

Latest models show fewer cases in Illinois, the curve is flattening in NY and Louisiana. Seems as if the social distancing is working. Still a ways to go, but we could be seeing the light at the end of a long tunnel. This could allow for the season to start, in some fashion, by early summer.

Don't read any of Nightengale's posts on Twitter. He's the biggest naysayer out there. Reading some other articles by other writers, it seems like MLB wants to start up as soon as possible (without safety and health risks), and playing at in regular stadiums, even without fans, is the most desirable. Heyman mentioned that the league is pretty much resigned to at least starting the season without fans, whether it's at home parks or in AZ. I think they'll get it done, one way or another. It's only early April. the next 4-6 weeks will be crucial to getting back to "normal", whatever that looks like.

You have to make plans. I'd bet that the AZ plan is just one of several depending on what happens over the next few weeks. The national social distancing "order" will be either relaxed or extended at the end of the month. The CDC recommended social distancing through May 15. A lot can happen between now and then. If the curve is flattening and health officials give some sort of green light, MLB and other sports will have to make a decision fast. If they wait to get a green light to make plans, they'd be weeks to months away from making anything happen.

As cold as that sounds, you're correct. If the "curve" isn't flattened and there are still a bunch of people dying every day, they won't push forward with any plan to play baseball. But if it's basically under control and there is rapid testing available, they will do what they can to play.

Latest statement from MLB is saying this is one of the plans they are considering, but no plan (including this one) is anything more than an idea. No formal discussions have taken place. No agreements are in place. However, they have to have multiple plans ready to go if (when) health officials state it's okay to start moving forward.

I just can't believe the number of people (not just on this board but on Twitter, etc.) that don't want something like this to happen. As of right now, this is the best option for us to actually see White Sox baseball this season. A season we were all so excited about, a season that will be very important to the development of this team into the perennial contender we think it can be. If the MLB, union, and players agree to this, and the public health officials give it the green light, why wouldn't we as fans want this? Will it be weird? Yeah. Will it suck not being able to see a game in person? Hell yes. But you what would really suck? No baseball for a fucking year.

I think we'll forever be changed. If things do start to open up in May, I think we'll see a slow return to restaurants and bars, movie theaters, etc. There will always be that percent of the population that will view themselves as invincible and will be the first to the bar to get hammered. But the majority of us will still practice some of the social distancing we're doing now. I know for sure that my hand-washing habits have changed and will remain changed. I believe we'll always be thinking about who might have touched a surface last and be suspicious of someone coughing. Until there's a vaccine, we'll be more vigilant about taking care of ourselves, especially considering elderly or at risk relatives. And once there's a vaccine, we'll probably see teh majority of the population opting to get it, unlike the flu vaccine.

Agreed. The health of the people of the country is #1, and before anything is decided upon we have to see what happens over the next few weeks. It sounds like the peak could be soon, and how long we're at the peak will be important. Access to rapid testing is also key. They're making a lot of progress here, and if the testing is available in early May as predicted, that will go a long way to getting things back to some sort of normal. But, yeah, let's see what happens before deciding that we'll be sheltered in place for 16 months.

It sounds like this could be a possibility, and that's exciting. A season without baseball in Chicago would be tough, but a season with no baseball at all would be much worse. I hope to hear more about the plan coming together over the next week or so. I would think players want to play and would be up for a plan like this. The separation from their families would be tough, and as a fan I'd recognize that sacrifice. We can all keep our fingers crossed that this plan happens and keep our toes crossed that maybe by late summer they can move back to playing at home parks. The next few weeks will be crucial to see what happens with the virus.

The Goose Island Sox Ale is pretty good. Drinking it makes me sad and hopeful at the same time. I hope I can enjoy one (or three) while watching a Sox game within the next few months.

I got hooked on All American, as well. I started it because it gave off a Friday Night Lights vibe. Turned out to be a pretty engaging show; I was surprised.

Locke & Key on Netflix was pretty good. I've read the first two graphic novels, and although the show is more fantasy than horror, it followed the source material for the most part. The Morning Show on Apple+ was really good. Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell were great in their roles. Carell plays such a shitbag so well that you forget it's the guy from The Office playing the part. As a family, we started watching Schitt's Creek a while ago. I had heard about the show, but I had no idea it was one of the funniest damn shows on TV. My wife and I started Hulu's Little Fires Everywhere last night. First episode was great...hoping it keeps it up.

It's not the vaccine that will be the decision maker. It's all about testing. Mass-testing has to be available...that and the social distancing needs to show that it's flattening the curve.

I think the end of June ban might be overkill, but no one knows what will happen over the next month. If things still look grim at the end of April, I'd be more apt to believe sports may not happen. I still think they will do everything in their power to have a season, shortened or not.

The next 30 days will be crucial. If we see the social distancing making a significant difference, and more testing is available, I could see baseball starting back up with closed spring training at home parks by mid-May. From everything I've read and seen, it's all about testing. The more testing available, the better chance we have at starting to return normal...or whatever the new normal will be.

I'm hopeful that the increase in testing makes a difference. I'm still being optimistic that we'll have baseball this year. They can still start as late as July and still play 80-90 games without going into October. The next 30 days will be very telling.

I do. The books are quick reads with great characters. I also like series of novels that take place in interesting locations. I haven't spent much time in Florida (where the books take place), but I grew up on the Outer Banks, and it sounds like a similar area. Also, love the CJ Box Joe Pickett series.