MLB announced on Thursday that it was pushing Opening Day back for at least two weeks. Restricting contact with fans and eliminating autographs wasn’t going to be enough with the coronavirus spreading daily.
The World Baseball Classic qualifying games are also postponed and that’s a tremendous blow to the countries who look forward to participating in the international Olympics of MLB tournaments.
Who knows how MLB will rearrange that tournament — if they have it at all.
MLB was scheduled to begin on March 26. The players are reportedly worried. “It’s a little alarming and a weird feeling, but the proper precautionary measures were made, said Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, who could use the extra time to nurse injuries that have plagued him since last season.
Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts told reporters, “I think it’s responsible in light of everything that’s going on… we’re all excited about getting the season going but for the players and MLB to understand the gravity of this is good…a lot of it is about the unknown.”
MLB writer Jeff Passan said MLB’s quick decision was based on “what happened in the NBA the night before with Rudy Gobert in Oklahoma. “And I think,” Passan added, “MLB saw that and the cancellations going on (throughout sports) and realized we can’t be the only ones who are not canceling our events, especially with so many games going on at spring training.”
Is April 9 a realistic date for MLB to return?
“From everybody that I speak to,” said Passan, “players, execs, officials, the union, the answer is no. If there is baseball on April 9th, something went really, really well across the country. The expectation at this point among almost everybody is that we are not going to see baseball until May.”
We have discussed the cancellations of the NCAA tournament and all Spring college sports. We have also talked about the major sports like baseball and the NBA getting blasted with the coronavirus pandemic and having to delay operations.
Other suspended sporting activities include:
NHL season is suspended
The PGA Tour decided to cancel THE PLAYERS Championship after the first round as well as other events, including its money event, where Tiger Woods would be trying to inch closer to Jack Nicklaus’ major record, the Masters.
ATP: Suspended for next 6 weeks
MLS: Suspended for 30 days
NASCAR: 2 race weekends without fans
Top Rank: Canceled two fight cards
UEFA: Suspended UCL and UEL
UFC: UFC Fight Night closed to public
XFL: Canceled rest of the regular season
