In two separate stories, we hear from prominent people who believe there is a way forward for the MLB season in 2020, which means Atlanta Braves baseball.
As Atlanta Braves fans like myself continue to wait for the return of their beloved team, and of course wait for our country to heal from this virus, we have some more encouraging news on when MLB could return.
First, in an interview b Peter Hamby on SnapChat with Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the leading experts researching the coronavirus, on ESPN he said that the only way sports could resume this summer would be to have games with no fans and players quarantined in big hotels.
That’s essentially what ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported a week ago, stating MLB was considering a plan to do this in Arizona. But MLB responded by saying nothing was imminent.
But to have one of the leading doctors of the coronavirus essentially give his blessing, or at least say it could be done, has to be a huge positive for baseball fans.
Fauci does think the players should be tested weekly for the virus, which I personally think could be a bit too much, especially if that is taking tests away from “regular” citizens who need it more.
And that’s exactly what MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said recently in an interview with USA Today. There needs to be an available amount of testing for the players that doesn’t take away from public testing in order for them to consider a return to action.
Clark makes it sound like nothing is imminent as far as a return for MLB anytime soon and makes it sound like talks are pointless until the virus is under control.
However, he does remain optimistic that there will be a baseball season in 2020 even if fans aren’t allowed to return to stadiums.
And he said that when the time does come the players will be ready.
That’s all welcome news to my ears and gives me hope that we’ll have Braves baseball once again in 2020.
Obviously the most important thing is finding a vaccine for this virus and controlling the outbreak. As Clark said, once that happens we’ll have a much clearer path forward for baseball.
But it was encouraging to hear these two prominent people discussing the possibility of baseball coming back in 2020. For the sake of my sanity, let’s hope they’re right.