My Idea for a Shortened Season 3/27/20

Hey baseball fans!

With the MLB officially starting late as of yesterday, it's time for the league, the fans, and anyone else who cares about America's pastime to come up with alternative scenarios regarding how the season should play out. So, here's mine. Note: I am assuming that the 2020 season will happen, and am keeping information in mind regarding the recent MLB-MLBPA agreement.

Even if it's without fans, it looks like the MLB season could start as early as June, but I'm going to say that it starts on July 1st. I think it's a terrible idea to do scheduled double-headers in this day and age, unlike in years past (I'm talking before WW2). I mean, you thought the Yankees were so injured before? Just wait until they have to start playing 14 games in seven days. However, I do think that a four-month season is acceptable and adaptable to service time, contracts, and any other time-related factors that go into a baseball season. Why do I say four months, you ask? Well, the 1981 MLB strike caused a stoppage of play, shortening the season to, you guessed it, four months. Obviously, this stoppage is much different than the one now, but we've seen a four-month MLB season in the past, and at the current moment with the information we have, I think it makes the most sense.

So, July 1st to October 31st would be the MLB regular season. The All Star Game would be moved to late August and the trade deadline to mid-September. The postseason would stay in the exact same format, but with less off-days if the matchups allow for it. A Yankees-Red Sox playoff series can be played across seven days, but a Mariners-Rays series might take nine or ten days (barring both series going to seven games). If the weather is closer to winter weather than Thanksgiving weather by late November, the World Series would be held at a neutral site, whether that site be domed (like Miller Park in Milwaukee) or in a hot location (like Dodger Stadium in LA).

I don't think it's a secret that this upcoming season is going to be one for the history books for all the wrong reasons, but it shouldn't be delegitimized, if it's played. The Dodgers' 1981 World Series championship over the Yankees is completely valid, as are the 1994 MVPs won by Frank Thomas and Jeff Bagwell, even without the '94 playoffs (and Albert Belle's 50 homers in 1995 are just iconic). It's just up to us to make the best of it. Stay strong and safe, baseball fans.

Thanks for reading this post and I hope you enjoyed it. Check back soon for more of "all the buzz on what wuzz."