The COVID-19 pandemic has the sports world on hold. We have no idea when and *if* there will be professional sports in 2020. The MLB season was supposed to begin last Thursday, and there’s no way they will be able to play close to 162 games with the way things are going.
At this rate, a best-case scenario would seem to involve the MLB season starting in late June or early July, and having roughly 100 games (keep in mind a ramp-up period/second spring training that will be needed too; it’s not like things clear up with COVID-19 and the regular-season MLB games can immediately start).
Well, 670 The Score’s Matt Spiegel reports that, according to “a well informed source that does business with multiple MLB execs,” MLB is discussing the idea of a 100-game season that would feature a neutral-site World Series at Dodger Stadium. The 2020 All-Star Game was to be held at Dodger Stadium, but it’s extremely unlikely that there’s time for an exhibition game in the middle of a shortened season that will already have enough scheduling concerns. So, while they will (almost surely) not host an All-Star Game, Los Angeles would at least host the World Series “as compensation.”
From a well informed source that does business with multiple MLB execs: The 100 game season being discussed would include eliminating the All Star game in Los Angeles, but would deliver a neutral field warm-weather World Series at Dodger Stadium as compensation. (1/2)
— M@ (@MattSpiegel670) April 1, 2020
Spiegel adds that the 100-game season would begin July 1, and conclude October 15. The regular season finishing more than two weeks later than originally planned (currently scheduled to end Sept. 27) is why a warm-weather location would be good for the World Series; the Fall Classic would go well into November.
But what if the Dodgers made the World Series (which they’re the clear favorites to do out of the NL)? That would be an unfair advantage to have a seven-game series all at home. Spiegel says that “road games” for the Dodgers would take place in Anaheim (Angel Stadium) and San Diego (Petco Park).
The 100 game season being discussed would begin July 1, eventually pick up the post All-Star game schedule, & conclude October 15th. If the Dodgers made the WS, “road games” would take place in Anaheim or San Diego. Obviously, many questions remain, & talks are fluid. (2/2)
— M@ (@MattSpiegel670) April 1, 2020
This all very interesting, and actually makes a lot of sense. Anything over an 81-game season (this feels like a fair over/under) should be viewed as a big victory for MLB at this point, all things considered.
Obviously, having a World Series at a neutral-site wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining, but MLB understandably wants to extend the regular season as long as they can. After all, baseball is supposed to be a marathon, not a sprint. More games would also be a huge thing for stadium employees and regional sports networks.
So, if placing the World Series at a warm-weather neutral site allows for a 100-game season (and allows the rest of the postseason series to be played in the teams’ ballparks), it’s an idea that has to be very appealing for MLB.
