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"The one thing I know for sure is baseball will
be back," Manfred said. "Whenever it's safe to play, we'll be
back. Our fans will be back. Our players will be back. And we
will be part of the recovery, the healing in this country, from
this particular pandemic.
"Look, my optimistic outlook is that at some point in May, we'll
be gearing back up. We'll have to make a determination,
depending what the precise date is, as to how much of a
preparation period we need, whether that preparation period is
going to be done in the clubs' home cities or back in Florida
and Arizona. Again, I think the goal would be to get as many
regular-season games as possible and think creatively about how
we can accomplish that goal."
The 2020 season was scheduled to begin Thursday. While Manfred
said there is nothing off the table yet in terms of the length
and format of the season should baseball return, he said it's
unlikely a typical 162-game season can be played.
Options are being discussed between MLB and its players on how
to return to action once a panel of infectious-disease experts
gives Manfred the all clear.
Spring training was shuttered on March 16 and Manfred said there
is a faction of baseball that is pushing for a three- or
four-week buildup to the season to take place in the home
markets of all 30 teams. For example, the Milwaukee Brewers
could play exhibitions in their home park against the Minnesota
Twins or Chicago White Sox. The New York Yankees could host the
Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals and New York Mets.
"I think it will mark a real milestone in the return to
normalcy," Manfred said. "I think you saw it after 9/11, in
terms of the resumption of play. I was there in Shea Stadium
that night we began playing. It was one of the most memorable
games I've ever attended. It's an honor for our sport to be
regarded in a way that we have been part of our country coming
back from some horrific events, and we hope that we can play a
similar role with respect to this one."
Manfred didn't shoot down the idea of playing doubleheaders and
even shortening those games to seven innings. The historically
traditionalist approach to the game is part of Manfred's fiber
as a commissioner but he said it's time for baseball to think
outside the box.
"I have said publicly before that there's some numbers in
baseball you can't change. Nine innings is one of them," Manfred
said. "When I said that, I wasn't thinking about this particular
crisis. So I'm sure it's something that will get some
discussion."
"Nothing's off the table for us right now. I think we are open,
and we've had some really positive conversations with our
players' association about relaxing some of the rules that
govern our schedule. They're very focused on returning to play
and playing as many games as possible. And when you have that
kind of positive dialog, it creates an opportunity to do things
that are a little different."
--Field Level Media
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