The latest reports about how/when the MLB season will start include the possibility of playing in empty stadiums. This seems like the responsible thing to do. Perhaps the big question is what to do with the Blue Jays, as the city of Toronto has canceled city events thru June 30. Maybe expecting games to resume before then is optimistic. Yet I hold out hope that by playing in empty stadiums that Opening Day can come before the All-Star game. It’s good to have hope – sometimes that’s all you’ve got.

If you ever went to a September game at Shea in the late 70s-early 80s – you’ll have an idea of what a game with no fans might be like. It will be very curious to see what the TV numbers are like if fans are not allowed in. Will they go up because the 30,000 or so people who would normally be at the game are now watching on TV, instead? Or will fans have adjusted to life without daily games and choose to spend their time doing other things?

It seems either one could be true. One thing is for sure, though. You never want your customers realizing how they can live without your product. The quicker games can be played with reasonable safety — the better. Bring on the games in empty stadiums, for the good of the game. And my mental health.

12 comments on “Wednesday catch-all thread (4/1/20)

  • Pete

    I think trying to save as many lives as possible is more important than your mental health because of a lack of baseball. You need to redo your priorities in life. People are dying all around you and your concern is playing in empty stadiums?

    • José

      Since you had to state things in such terms, I think my mental health, which is being adversely affected by lack of work/income is more important than a supposed threat whose actual level of threat is unclear at best. A 2% mortality rate is commonly quoted for those who’ve actually contracted the illness. I’d hardly assess that as “people are dying all around”.

      I’m far far more concerned about the implications for this society on the whole. I am pretty sure that there are worse plagues lurking in the future which will make COVID-19 seem like a square dance. And yet this economy/society has all but shut down for this current virus.

      I think it’s best to not point fingers at one another and trivialize their concerns. The simple fact is that I had no real idea how bad the impact on society would be until the NBA halted their season

      Besides, I’m pretty sure I’ve already caught the beasty in January, and if so, twasn’t that bad

      • Eraff

        Based on Jose’s position, Vietman was pretty much just a bad flu year, with 58,000 deaths.

        (don’t touch it Brian../.It’s incredibly appropriate)

        Take that bad Flu year and the 2% death rate assumption—that’s about 500,000 to 1,000,000 or so Deaths!!!!… The Civil war claimed about 700,000

        Mneh…????? WTF Jose!!????

        Editor’s Note – Next time you capitalize words in your post, it will be deleted

        • Eraff

          2% death rate overlayed on 60-100 million “sicknesses” is 1.2-2 Million Deaths.

          Vietnam War…less than 100,000. Civil War, about 750,000. At least 6,000,000 Jews died in the Hollocost. Maybe that offers some perspective regarding the prospect and impact of “people dying all around”.

          This present 2019-2020 Flu Season has 38-54 million diagnosis by the CDC—- with a similar aquisition rate for CV, that would land us in the 750,000-1.1 million death area with 2% death rate.

          Im not predicting Death Rates—this is in response to a post that minimizes the impact of a prospective 2% Death Rate.

          I miss Baseball…and People

    • David Klein

      .. I mean this is a baseball blog nobody is disregarding the pain and suffering of people or anything and there’s nothing wrong with missing baseball and wishing it came back soon.

  • David Klein

    Anyway I don’t see there being a popsicles chance in hell of there being a season this year and that freaking sucks.

    Oh on a unrelated note for some reason my account isn’t being saved and I have to re-sign in every time.

    • Brian Joura

      I’m sorry about the sign-in. Nothing has changed on this end and I don’t know why you’re having this trouble. Not sure which browser you use but I’ve not had any problems with Firefox.

      • David Klein

        Working now changed internet explorers

  • José

    On a different note, while browsing BR, I found the following information about Oddibe McDowell’s drafting history:

    January 13, 1981: Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 4th round of the 1981 amateur draft (January), but did not sign.

    June 8, 1981: Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 2nd round of the 1981 amateur draft (June Secondary), but did not sign.

    January 12, 1982: Drafted by the New York Yankees in the 1st round (9th pick) of the 1982 amateur draft (January Secondary), but did not sign.

    June 7, 1982: Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 5th round of the 1982 amateur draft (June Secondary), but did not sign.

    June 6, 1983: Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round (1st pick) of the 1983 amateur draft (June Secondary), but did not sign.

    June 4, 1984: Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 1st round (12th pick) of the 1984 amateur draft.

    He was drafted 6 times total, 5th round or higher, including 3 times in the first round, twice by the Rangers, and was even chosen by the Twinkies with the very first pick of that entire draft! And yet, he didn’t actually sign until the 6th time.

    Why would an organization waste such high draft picks?

  • David Klein

    Works now thanks

  • John Fox

    On yet another note, I was scrolling thru my tv options last night when I saw ESPN was showing the famous 2001 game between the Braves and Mets right after the 9/11 terror attacks. Even though I knew that Mike Piazza moonshot was going to come late in the game, was still great to watch. One of the announcers said that homer was going to be one of the most important ever hit at Shea, and he was right. On the ESPN report right after the game they had both Chipper Jones and the ageless Bobby Valentine on, and Chipper said that game and the whole series were the most meaningful of all the games he played in his long career

  • TexasGusCC

    If there’s no baseball, can the Dodgers sue to get their players back that they gave up for Betts but he will become a free agent without ever getting a chance to play with them? Bloom ripped them off after he sent that pitcher back. If only our rookie GM sent a Diaz back… ah, whatever..

    If there’s no baseball, what service time does a player like Kilome get; does this count towards his being on the 40 man roster? If there’s no baseball, does Hinch need to sit out next year too? And what’s the story with Cora already? He better get the same thing… And lastly, if there’s no season what salary does Cespedes get since he never got to prove he was ready on opening day?

    No wonder I haven’t slept in three nights! Things that make me go hmmmmmm.

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