Outside The Confines: Fans in person? No thanks.

Of all the things MLB has proposed that are deeply questionable — including the season itself — quite possibly the most foolish idea yet was to have fans attend in person for the NLCS and World Series.

As reported by Evan Drellich of The Athletic (subscription required), MLB is still trying to come up with a plan to make it work.

Talk about a truly stupid idea. Cases of COVID are on the rise across the USA, and just when people should be more careful than ever, MLB wants to put them in a stadium and risk the so-called bubble they’ve tried to build.

Maybe the extra money is worth it for owners since the season is almost over.

• David Laurila has a conversation with Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas.
• The Braves and Marlins rivalry is heating up, according to Tom Verducci.
• ESPN takes a look at the biggest moments and key happenings of Tuesday’s busy division series.
• Dodgers fans have no particular interest in seeing the Houston Astros play at Dodger Stadium, writes Michael McKnight.
• Jay Jaffe writes about Freddie Freeman (and the Hall of Fame).
• According to Sam Miller the postseason is comprised of precisely six times of game. Which ones have you seen so far?
• Ken Rosenthal is known for his charity bow ties, and the one he wore yesterday was especially relevant to a recent story.

• That story, which Rosenthal wrote with Katie Strang — and I must impress, is the most important thing you might read this week — spotlights the alleged abuse of Alexis Blackburn by her ex, MLB pitcher Sam Dyson. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Brandon Warne looks at what it might hypothetically cost for the Twins to retain some of their big-ticket free agents.
• Brain-drain is a very real, very relevant problem in baseball’s front offices right now, writes R.J. Anderson.
• AL rivalries are taking center stage in the division series, according to Michael Baumann.
• ESPN has a complete guide to the MLB postseason parks.
• Marc Carig and Andy McCullough look at just how upset each team who missed the postseason should be. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Choo choo, all aboard the Sixto Sanchez hype train. Story by Claire McNear.
• Alden Gonzalez shows us how the Astros and Carlos Correa specifically are relishing their time as the villains of the postseason.
• Ken Rosenthal shares the story of Padres coach Bobby Dickerson’s heart trouble scare. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Tyler Glasnow describes how he had to adjust his pitches.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.