Rick Zamperin: We are one step closer to hearing ‘play ball’ — or are we?

Major League Baseball has unveiled a plan to throw out the opening pitch to its COVID-19 shortened season just before Independence Day.

But should the players play ball?

The league proposes to play about half-a-season’s worth of games starting around the Fourth of July weekend in ballparks without fans, and spring training will restart in early-to-mid June.

MLB‘s plan would also expand the use of the designated hitter in the National League for the first time ever for the 2020 season and the number of playoff teams would grow from 10 to 14 by doubling the number of wild card spots in each league from two to four.

And if government and public health officials don’t allow teams to play in their home stadiums, spring training facilities or neutral sites would be used.

It all sounds good, but there are some road blocks ahead.

[ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates ]

The current Canada-U.S. border closure to all non-essential travel is set to expire May 21 but it has already been extended once and America’s bulging COVID-19 case count may prompt federal officials in our country to opt for another extension.

Source: Read Full Article