# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2020, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/81 "2020-07-19T17:25:52Z")
Toronto has two obvious options: 1. Play in Buffalo. It’s their AAA affiliate and so in many ways is a major league facility, but in some it’s not; I have heard the lighting is second rate (you’d think a AAA team would have decent lighting, but whatever.) It would need some effort, but it’s doable. 2. Play in Dunedin, FL, at the team’s spring training facility. The Dunedin stadium is newly renovated lovely, but it’s also in Florida, which is a COVID-19 disaster zone. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2020, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/82 "2020-07-19T18:07:30Z")
1. All games road games 2. Alternate with another team sharing the stadium. Staying North East would be best. The Buffalo option seems like a really good choice though. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2020, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/83 "2020-07-20T05:21:29Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Alternate with another team sharing the stadium. Staying North East would be best. It appears that this is one of the three options most strongly being considered – specifically, [sharing PNC Park with the Pirates](https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/07/19/blue-jays-looking-major-league-ballpark-coronavirus). ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/84 "2020-07-20T11:29:21Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Toronto has two obvious options: > > 1. Play in Buffalo. It’s their AAA affiliate and so in many ways is a major league facility, but in some it’s not; I have heard the lighting is second rate (you’d think a AAA team would have decent lighting, but whatever.) It would need some effort, but it’s doable. From an article I read (but can’t link to unfortunately), there are three issues with Buffalo: 1. The lights (as you mentioned). 2. No replay review system in place. 3. Inadequate broadcast facilities. 4. Small clubhouse (inhibits social distancing). All of which would require upgrades with no time to do them and no real anticipation of an ROI (except the lights, I guess). ---
**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:** [July 20, 2020, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/85 "2020-07-20T15:48:33Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > I have T-Mobile but I don’t see how to get the MLBtv subscription - can someone help > please? Looks like the offer starts tomorrow. Check your Tuesday deals in the app. You also get a free year subscription to The Athletic. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2020, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/86 "2020-07-20T15:50:45Z")
Thank you!! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/87 "2020-07-20T18:24:16Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Well, it’s not a normal season. I don’t think anyone now or 100 years from now will view it as a normal season. I think we can all agree on that. So why shouldn’t it count, since we are all aware of how weird and non-normal it is? We acknowledge the Dodgers’ title in 1981, when the team with the most regular season wins didn’t even make the postseason, don’t we? Funny you should say that. Just over a century ago, the 1918 season was only 130 games, but it’s viewed as a normal season. It still counts. No one ever said that the Curse of the Bambino dated from 1916. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/88 "2020-07-22T16:08:52Z")
It appears that the Blue Jays will be playing most of their home games at PNC Park in Pittsburgh; the exception will be a small number of games which are scheduled for the same dates that the Pirates are also scheduled to be playing at home. [https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/07/22/toronto-blue-jays-play-majority-home-games-pnc-park](https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/07/22/toronto-blue-jays-play-majority-home-games-pnc-park) ---
**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:** [July 22, 2020, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/89 "2020-07-22T16:18:57Z")
So what happens if the Blue Jays make the World Series? Also, it’s remarkable that the two teams had so few conflicting dates. Just one series prior to September 9! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/90 "2020-07-22T19:21:03Z")
The Canadian government has said they’ll re-evaluate their position in time to allow the Blue Jays to play postseason games at home if that seems like a possibility. (Given that the season is only sixty games long, any team could make it.) If it’s ruled out, I guess they’ll just keep playing at PNC. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/91 "2020-07-22T19:32:35Z")
There was some talk a couple months back that the Jays might have to settle for playing in Lansing MI (Class A affiliate) but alas, that won’t come to pass. Apparently the stadium is not adequate for major league players. In other news, Aaron Judge is the career leader in home runs with 3 outs. (I know it’s only an exhibition but still). Phillies manager Joe Girardi wanted one of his pitchers to get more work so he kept them on the field after the third out and pitch to one more batter. The Yankees obliged and Judge hit a rare walk-off mid game home run. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2020, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/92 "2020-07-22T19:49:30Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > It appears that the Blue Jays will be playing most of their home games at PNC Park in Pittsburgh Just got nixed. > **[Gov. Wolf denies Blue Jays' pitch to play at PNC Park](https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2020/07/22/Pirates-Blue-Jays-PNC-Park-official-summer-Buffalo-home-games-Canada/stories/202007220078)** > > The Toronto Blue Jays will indeed play their home games at PNC Park this summer, sharing the facility with the Pirates. > The last remaining hurdle was approval from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, and a little after 3 p.m. Wednesday, he officially rejected the idea, ruling that the Blue Jays would not be allowed to play here because of the coronavirus pandemic. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/93 "2020-07-22T20:29:08Z")
What a weird decision. I guess they have to play in Buffalo. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/94 "2020-07-22T22:18:31Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > What a weird decision. It really is. > [@](#): > > “In recent weeks, we have seen a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in southwestern Pennsylvania,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said in a statement that was distributed to multiple media outlets. “To add travelers to this region for any reason, including for professional sports events, risks residents, visitors and members of both teams. > > “We know that this virus does not discriminate, and can even make professional athletes very sick. We are committed to protecting the health and well-being of all Pennsylvanians.” It’s apparently OK to have the Pirates and the teams they’re playing against fly in and out on a regular basis, but not the Blue Jays. Adding travelers for one team is OK, but not for a second team. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/95 "2020-07-22T22:37:29Z")
One also presumes the governor hasn’t shut down the airport. Anyone can fly in from places like Florida or Texas. You have to think this is frustrating for Blue Jays players, who haven’t a clue where to hang their hats. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2020, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/96 "2020-07-23T13:38:07Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > t’s apparently OK to have the Pirates and the teams they’re playing against fly in and out on a regular basis, but not the Blue Jays. Adding travelers for one team is OK, but not for a second team. I agree the Governor has done something silly. But it’s actually two extra teams: The Blue Jays and whoever’s their opponent _du jour_. IOW, allowing the Blue Jays into PIT doubles the local area’s risk from MLB from 2 teams to 4. For sure that’s still just a drop in the regional bucket of air travelers, long-haul truckers, etc. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/97 "2020-07-23T13:44:05Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > IOW, allowing the Blue Jays into PIT doubles the local area’s risk from MLB from 2 teams to 4. Right, but that’s precisely what I was saying. “Adding travelers for one team is OK, but not for a second team.” The number of travelers for any given team includes both the home team, and the visiting team. Anyway, as your second-to-last sentence suggests, Pennsylvania’s decision only really makes sense if you assume that MLB teams would constitute a significant proportion of travelers into and out of the Pittsburgh area. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/98 "2020-07-23T14:21:01Z")
Yeah, seems like a bit of political posturing to the, ‘How DARE they play baseball in the middle of a pandemic’ crowd without alienating Pirates fans. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/99 "2020-07-23T15:56:58Z")
Yankees @ Nats is on ESPN at 7:07pm EST. I just got my Directv back after almost 2 weeks. Cut it close. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2020, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771/100 "2020-07-23T17:32:56Z")
The Blue Jays are now looking at sharing Camden Yards with the Orioles, pending approval by Maryland authorities. [https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/07/23/orioles-allow-blue-jays-use-camden-yards-2020?fbclid=IwAR0i5EfY6wjXnbivT-gKnxpx5evg2rH8iGzwza0W3N6uOmFBLull9P24UJ4](https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/07/23/orioles-allow-blue-jays-use-camden-yards-2020?fbclid=IwAR0i5EfY6wjXnbivT-gKnxpx5evg2rH8iGzwza0W3N6uOmFBLull9P24UJ4) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-return-july-23-60-game-season-in-66-days/912771.md?page=6)