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1/On the 2d weekend of this MLB season, 20 percent of the teams are not playing. Manfred told Clark/PA that game could shut down if rampant cases do not stop. MLB faces 3 problems: 1) it might not be able to keep the virus from overwhelming teams. 2) competitive integrity already
2/an issue in a 60-game season becomes more so when teams have their number of games impacted, which players they have available and prep time to be ready to play once they return. 3) Injuries, especially for pitchers, already are worrisome. To continue to have clubs stop and
3/start only makes it riskier for health beyond the virus. MLB is trying to learn in real time how to best handle the virus. And the Manfred call to Clark included to point out areas and groups for which reinforcing the protocol messages were necessary. This is why MLB wants to
4/try to give time to keep playing to see if they can learn, improve and keep going. Is it possible the best last try is to shut the game down for a 3-7 days this upcoming week, allow those clubs that need it to begin to get healthy, keep those that are healthy working out and
5/make one last-ditch effort with renewed commitment and new knowledge to see if they can get to the finish line? In talking to Scott Boras yesterday, he suggested a period to help pitchers build up, then extend the season to get the games in with the arms in better shape.
6/So far MLB has shown no appetite to go much into November because of concerns the virus will be worse in cooler weather and concerns with TV partners about being able to have slots to broadcast the games. But MLB clearly is at a crossroads, a crisis moment on what to do next.
