Hooray! Have to start studying for my fantasy league. Play Ball: MLB announces 2020 regular season FAQ: All you need to know about 2020 season
Looks like it's the Yankees vs the Nationals to open the MLB season...if it actually gets open. Astros announced their 60 man roster. It's going to be weird since there is no minor league baseball going on right now, the MLB teams will have that 60 man roster to draw from to replace players who test positive and have to isolate. But what about the coaching staff?
One good thing about the shortened season starting later is that nobody will be out of the race on July 4th!!
Read an interesting article yesterday about how many times at the 60 game mark teams that would have made the playoffs if the season ended then that actually ended with losing records. The whole thing could get interesting.
Well it's official, there will be no minor league baseball this summer. The minor league teams are going to be really hurt financially and it's a big question how many of them can survive.
I just signed a $50,000 / year advertising deal with our local single A club in February. So far, not a good return. Thank god I don't have a Board to answer to.
Guess the major league teams will start training soon. Several players have opted out for the season.
Astros are already struggling with just getting training. Yesterday the pitchers couldn't workout, earlier they missed a day due to delays in the test results. Makes we wonder if we can get through even the shortened season.
Kenley Jansen and his entire family had Covid-19. He got it from his 4 year-old son. They're recovering now.
Astros are missing 2 big players and nobody knows why, of course we can assume it's Covid-19 related but the Astros can't talk about it. Yordan Alvarez has not been in camp, and neither has Jose Urquidy who was counted on to be the 4th starter. When asked if they will be ready for opening day, you don't get any information.
Astros named Justin Verlander as their opening day pitcher. The interesting thing is that he wouldn't have been given the ball back in April when he was still on the mend from off season groin surgery. There was an article in the Chronicle about him and saying that he spent the offseason reworking his delivery, that what he'd been doing was causing the problem and that it wouldn't allow him to pitch as long as he wants to pitch, which is into his 40's. So it will certainly be interesting to see if whatever changes he made are effective and he's still the great pitcher he's been his whole career. From the Chronicle article. “I changed a lot of stuff that some people would think was unnecessary. But I thought it was necessary, especially if I want to play eight or 10 more years,” Verlander said. “I don’t think last year’s mechanics, even though they were very effective, were sustainable health-wise over a long period of time.” Mechanical overhaul has Astros' Justin Verlander in fine form
Watched a few of the scrimmages that teams are playing right now. It's strange to watch the game with no fans in the stands. The ones I watched all had canned noise/cheers which seemed odd as well. Astros opening day starter, Justin Verlander, did 5 innings over the weekend and had a good outing. There is still no word on Astros rookie of the year, Yordan Alvarez, he's not with the team and nobody is saying why he's not with the team. Assumption is that it's a medical issue, likely the virus, but it's a bit surprising that it's been this long. It leaves you to wonder if he's got a bad case and can not get a negative test he needs to return to the Astros.
Here we go. Political grandstanding by some SF Giants in front of a handful of cardboard fans. Major League Baseball Defends Anthem Kneeling, Supports Black Lives Matter
Tribe tried to find a way to support social justice while not disrespecting the flag; Cleveland Indians stand together Saturday in support of change and racial justice
Yankee's, Twins and Astros are the AL division favorites, with the Yankees being the AL Champion Braves, Reds and Dodgers are the NL division favorites with the Dodgers being the NL Champion. NL Central the most wide open division. Play Ball!
The Reds have even more kneelers and wear BLM logo stuff with their uniforms. My season may begin and end on Thursday.
I see that Canada will not allow the Blue Jays to play at their home park. They have rules in place now regarding Covid-19 that make it impossible. So the Blue Jays will now be the Pittsburgh Blue Jays . Hard not to notice the bean ball war on the Astros started last night. Royals pitcher hit Altuve and Bregman back to back. Didn't plunk them in the noggin brushed them back inside, the ump never said a thing. I hope the umps don't tolerate this and take action to prevent things from getting out of hand.