# MLB (Baseball) Return July 23. 60 game season in 66 days **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [June 24, 2020, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771 "2020-06-24T16:23:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2020, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/222 "2020-08-04T17:14:34Z")
> **[MLB's 'Field of Dreams' game in Iowa postponed to 2021 because of coronavirus...](https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/03/us/mlb-field-of-dreams-iowa-game-postponed-to-2021-spt-trnd/index.html)** > > Major League Baseball's "Field of Dreams" game, which was to be played on August 13 in Dyersville, Iowa, has been postponed until 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a source familiar with the planning. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2020, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/223 "2020-08-04T18:01:14Z")
Is it correct that we’ve only had positive tests but no one with actual symptoms of COVID? I think it’ll take someone with the full blown illness before they cancel the season. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2020, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/224 "2020-08-04T20:26:16Z")
according to ths > **['Overall I think we can withstand this' | John Mozeliak talks after Cardinals...](https://www.ksdk.com/article/sports/mlb/stl-cardinals/overall-i-think-we-can-withstand-this-john-mozeliak-talks-after-cardinals-covid-19-case-count-rises-to-13/63-4ddd8b92-5001-4d1c-9832-0f270fed8055)** > > “It’s not like, ‘We got caught’ and 28 other teams haven’t,” Mozeliak said. “In fairness, you’re in a pandemic." some Cardinals players have experienced ‘mild’ symptoms ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2020, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/225 "2020-08-04T20:29:00Z")
As of today August 4th (day 11 of the new season?) the Miami Marlins have played three games. Not looking good, unfortunately ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2020, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/226 "2020-08-05T00:33:56Z")
So, if the Nats go 39-21, and the Marlins finish 2-1, the Marlins prevail? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2020, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/227 "2020-08-05T05:03:52Z")
Christian Yelich is having a particularly horrid start to this weird season. He went 0-3 with three strikeouts today, dropping his average to .088. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/228 "2020-08-06T06:01:00Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Is it correct that we’ve only had positive tests but no one with actual symptoms of COVID? Eduardo Rodriguez of the Red Sox was infected, and the illness caused cardiomyopathy. He had to end his season because of it. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/229 "2020-08-06T13:26:12Z")
Was the introduction of the DH to the NL a reaction to COVID 19, like some of the other rule changes? I haven’t heard any explanation of this change. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/230 "2020-08-06T16:57:06Z")
Supposedly, it’s because there will be so many interleague games during the shortened season and they want uniform rules. It seems like a pretext for something they’ve wanted to for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/231 "2020-08-06T17:00:23Z")
Yeah, I think that’s the primary point (increased interleague play), along with the fact that it’ll keep pitchers a little safer, when they were worried that pitchers were going to have a hard time staying healthy with the reduced spring training (they were right). ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/232 "2020-08-06T20:21:00Z")
From an MLB politics POV putting the DH into NL play during a year that will be one giant asterisk in the history books makes sense. If it’s a disaster it’ll quietly be dropped and said to have been an experiment. Oh well; win some lose some. And if, as many predict, it’ll be a non-event, it’ll quietly just be part of the overall weirdness of the 2020 season and by the time 2021 rolls around it’ll be yesterday’s news and none but the incorrigible curmudgeons will still be flapping their gums about it. How long until people stopped bitching about when they lowered the pitchers’ mounds in 1969? ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/233 "2020-08-06T21:43:57Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > How long until people stopped bitching about when they lowered the pitchers’ mounds in 1969? It’s a bit different, if it ends up being the testing ground for DH everywhere. For some it’s a complete change to how the game is played. So you may be hearing it for as long as people complain about Wild Card games - which is still being complained about. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/234 "2020-08-07T00:38:41Z")
I do think the NL DH as well as the geographic based opponents are two changes that MLB has wanted and will be here to stay. I’m ok with both of them. The runner on second stuff I think is gone after this season. I get not wanting to have some 17 inning marathon in such a compressed schedule. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/235 "2020-08-07T12:17:52Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > The runner on second stuff I think is gone after this season. Actually I think this one inherently has more legs than NL DH, not less. Why? Because RoS affects game length and that’s about broadcast time and therefore money. DH is mostly about very slightly increasing likely scoring and on-base action. By the end of this “season” we’ll have data on how much the RoS rule has shortened extra-innings games. ~60 games times ~30 teams = ~1800 total less the vagaries of what gets rained out, cancelled for COVID, etc. It won’t be a giant sample, but it will be a sample. If the answer turns out to be that RoS doesn’t really alter the duration distribution of extra innings games the traditionalists will win and it’ll be declared a failed experiment. If not, not. The RoS rule was in use for MiLB last year. I watch a lot more MLB on TV but attend a lot more MiLB in person. It wasn’t obvious heresy. By the time we’re in the 10th, everybody just wants to go home. Including the highly paid players who’d like to wrap this one up because tomorrow’s a workday too. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/236 "2020-08-07T12:57:06Z")
The DH is something that the players’ association wants. It’s very likely to stay. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/237 "2020-08-07T13:27:23Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > By the time we’re in the 10th, everybody just wants to go home. So play 12 innings and call it a tie. At least you will have played the same game for all 12 innings (which is better than changing the rules after 9). If everyone really wants to leave when extra innings start, why not just play 10 and then flip a coin? It makes just slightly less baseball sense than RoS. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mike\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_H)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/238 "2020-08-07T14:11:15Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > By the end of this “season” we’ll have data on how much the RoS rule has shortened extra-innings games. ~60 games times ~30 teams = ~1800 Nitpick - there will be ~900 games total this season- 60 games x 15 (each game has 2 teams ). ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/239 "2020-08-07T14:14:10Z")
[Eloy Jimenez](https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/mlb-world-reacts-to-eloy-jim%C3%A9nez-making-blunder-of-the-young-season/ar-BB17Ftrp?ocid=msedgntp) turns this pop-up into an inside-the-park home run for Christian Yelich. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/240 "2020-08-07T16:08:05Z")
LOL - and all I hear from my family in Milwaukee is “IN THE PARK HOMER BY YELICH!” ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/241 "2020-08-07T16:58:14Z")
> [@Mike\_H](#): > > Nitpick - there will be ~900 games total this season- 60 games x 15 (each game has 2 teams ). D’oh!! Thank you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771.md?page=13)