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And Now We Wait…

It seems rather pointless to go over the final 2020 Grapefruit League game—which the Nats lost, 6-3 to the Yankees—when there is so much uncertainty about the 2020 season.

MLB has said it will delay the regular season at least two weeks – from March to April 9, possibly (probably) longer. MiLB, which would have started on April 9th, has given no timeline.

The closest analog to what’s happening now may be the spring of 1995, except that Spring Training didn’t grind to a halt. During WW2, teams trained in the north, the midwest, and indoors. World War I saw the 1918 season ended, but 1919 was unaffected despite the deadliest outbreak since the Middle Ages

So this is brand-new territory for MLB. But unlike Le Grand Orange (NOT Rusty Staub), I won’t pretend (a) this is not serious (b) that I know what’s going to happen next.

All we can do is wait and see. And maybe pray, if you’re so inclined.

16 Commments

  1. Time to walk our dogs , love on them and soak up the short lives we have with them , Luke
    Something to consider. Healing time for Max and the whole org after a short winter of victory …..

    2. One has to wonder last summer if Rizzo took Hunter Strickland off Seattle’s books as a favor to ole chum , Jerry Di Poto ??

    3. Luke I am amazed in modern architecture / urban re design on east coast how much brick is used. Further evidence from Greenville picture

  2. Well said Luke. The next month looks to be rather joyless. March and April are usually so much fun, what with March Madness and the beginning of baseball.
    Best wishes to everybody!

  3. Leaving spring training today. There is discussion that season could be delayed as long as memorial day.

    1. That sounds about right. If we presume a six-to-eight-week downtime, they’ll probably come back to ST for 2-3 weeks and then start up in mid-to-late May. Unlike ’72 or ’81, there will be absolutely no excuse for an uneven schedule at any level. There will be time to draw up several different schedules based on differing start dates.

  4. Fresbo guys will start right in the dry heated late spring out west.
    Soaring majestic HRs and pitchers ERAS. Lol

  5. Just saw that Hunter Strickland was cut. The Nats will have paid him $400k for his spring training exploits (10+ ERA).

    1. Aaron Fletcher… I recall Norm Charlton for Wayne. Krenchiki by the Expos in early 80s….

  6. Strickland and David Hernandez released; McGowin, Braymer, Barrett, and Noll optioned to Fresno; Crowe, Snyder, Wilson, Gushue, Shuck, Bacus, and Bonnell assigned to minor-league camp. Nothing too surprising there, other than perhaps the Strickland release. As Mark noted, they only owe him 1/6th of his salary. Barrett may have had a way-way outside shot to make the bullpen, but not with an 11.25 ERA.

  7. A couple of brief, actual baseball notes from the last game, on Thursday. Yadiel Hernandez handled a swirling wind in RF pretty well despite not having too much MiLB experience on that side of the OF. I have no idea about his arm, though. He’s also barely hit in the spring.

    Garcia has hit, although goodness, he really butchered an easy chance at SS against the Yanks, right through is legs, just took his eye off it. It happens, but it’s a little disconcerting that it’s happening so often with our young INFs.

    1. Orlando Cabrera has the same youthful discretions as a lad with the leather and mechanics early but he whipped up into a fine infielder

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