“That’s hell” is how one Met described what could be ahead for players if a plan MLB has mulled to play all of its games in Arizona is enacted.
“I mean we’re talking 120 degrees every day and playing weekly doubleheaders and 20 days straight,” the Met said on the condition of anonymity, making reference to a way baseball could make up for lost games after Opening Day was pushed back because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Doubleheaders and days of consecutive games may not have been specifically addressed in the plan being discussed by MLB, but on Monday, league officials relayed an idea to the Players Association. It entailed games without fans to reduce the risk of spreading the virus, and players potentially being away from their families for months.
There are still many hurdles to overcome.
The Post’s Joel Sherman and Mike Puma surveyed players across the league to see where they stood on the matter, and some were more optimistic than others, though none quite as effusive as Royals reliever Trevor Rosenthal.
“I am in support of the plan,” Rosenthal said. “I think it’s in the best interest of the nation for MLB to go through with this plan as quickly as possible. It will provide us an opportunity to inspire and set an example for everyone. By us adhering to strict new guidelines, we will display a model for isolation and function for businesses across the nation. We are at war and this is what we can do to help fight for our country. Provide the hope and discipline needed to get through this difficult time.
“Baseball players are the most resilient of all athletes to answer this call. The ups and downs, failures and successes, the unknowns, are all constant in our profession. This is our chance to work for the good of our people and set our country out in front of the rest.”
The Post reported Tuesday that federal officials and national organizations have suggested that a baseball return could set the appropriate standard for how other businesses get back on their feet amid the virus.
For Yankees reliever Adam Ottavino, he just wants to play.
“I’ve seen [the Arizona idea],” Ottavino said. “I don’t have any good insight, but I would be in the camp of supporting the idea. I’m sure a lot would have to go right for it to actually happen but I’m hoping it can work because I want to play.”
Ottavino and the rest of baseball haven’t been able to play competitively since the league shut down spring training March 12, following other professional sports leagues in going on hiatus because of the pandemic.
Arizona could be a logical landing spot for baseball’s potential return, as it has the Diamondbacks stadium and 10 spring training facilities, not to mention college venues across the state. As of Tuesday, the state had 2,700 confirmed cases of coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins, which ranks in the middle of the pack of states hit hardest by the virus (New York, the state affected the most, has exceeded 130,000 cases).
“Being where I’m at in my career but also taking into account the safety of my wife and son, I’m all in favor of games playing in Arizona televised with no fans assuming they can house the players in some sort of quarantine village where we know our exposure is to a minimum,” 29-year-old White Sox reliever Evan Marshall told The Post. “Owners want revenue and players want salary and the opportunity to compete, but common sense has to prevail. We have to make sure the ins and outs of the plan have been covered and hopefully this is just for May or May and June and then we can return to the South Side [of Chicago] to see our fans.”
MLB and the Players Association reached an agreement last week that has the owners making a $170 million payment to 40-man rosters until May, and nothing more if the season ends up canceled.
“I do know guys will want to get paid though, so finances trump a lot of issues that could arise,” said an American League slugger. “But from what I read there are a lot of changes and I personally think a lot of those changes are unrealistic to get a full buy-in from everyone involved. But I am open to the idea of it.”
Of course the lack of fans, even with the possibility of a major TV deal to air the games, would likely further put a dent in everyone’s wallet.
“It sounds hard to do, but I’ll take it,” said another Met of the plan, adding his main concern would be going so much time without seeing his family.