After a number of clubhouse outbreaks, MLB is considering some alternatives
The Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals provide a cautious tale for the rest of the sports landscape of what can happen if COVID-19 protocols are not taken seriously by even one single member of a professional organization. MLB has learned this all too well, and it brought them to the brink of canceling their season, despite already shortening the campaign to 60 games to begin with.
Should MLB reach the conclusion of its regular season, they are considering alternatives to their traditional postseason format, and might even be eyeing a bubble similar to that of the NBA and NHL. Both leagues have received glowing reviews so far, and perhaps most importantly, few if any positive COVID-19 tests.
MLB is willing to consider a bubble for its postseason, should it come to that
Per Jeff Passan, New York, southern California and Chicago make the most sense due to resources and having multiple MLB stadiums available, as to not be forced to play one playoff game at a time. The weather is a major issue for both New York and Chicago, however, as the postseason is expected to take place in late September and early October.
While MLB remains early in the process, one official went on the record with ESPN to state just how serious the league is taking every option at this moment: “If we want to make sure we get through October, we really need to get this right.”
That, in a nutshell, has been MLB’s problem thus far. The league assumed they could trust players to travel across the country and stay relatively secluded during and in between gamedays. Such a hope has not become reality, and instead it feels like there is a new COVID-19 scare almost daily.
As much as Rob Manfred wants to prove he’s not a “quitter,” if the league doesn’t right their wrongs soon, there won’t be a postseason to plan.