MLB Bullets is just trying to hang in there

Well, we are hunkering down for a long absence from baseball, but nevertheless, there is baseball news to report to you, and today I am your designated reporter.

We’ll start with the minor leagues.

• Josh Norris writes about how tough it is for many minor league clubs, including team broadcasters, some of whom work without a contract.
• Could some minor-league teams fold as a result of the stoppage of baseball? Here are some financial facts about the state of the minors. Here’s just how difficult things are:

• This is good, though:

• So is this: Emma Baccellieri writes about the “Adopt A Minor Leaguer” program begun by Michael Rivers, a fan in Minnesota. That’s a great thing.
• This, concerning the independent leagues, isn’t:

• But this is a good way for an indy league to help out in the community:

• FiveThirtyEight has details on what the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak might be on sports.

Regarding the possibility of a shortened season...

• Dan Szymborski shows how the odds of making the postseason for 2020 change depending on whether it’s a 162-game, 140-game, 110-game or 81-game season. (Spoiler alert: The Cubs make it in all the scenarios.)
• Jeff Passan has six creative ways the league could make the best of this difficult situation, including the possibility of playing baseball in warm-weather cities into December (!).
• Bobby Nightengale (the son, not the father, both are sportswriters) tackles the same concept; one of his ideas is to allow pre-arb players to receive full 2020 salaries.
• More schedule scenarios from Matt Snyder of CBS Sports.
• Craig Edwards of Fangraphs looks at how many games MLB could realistically play, and reviews other shortened seasons as an example.
• Tom Verducci shares his ideas on what the effects of a shortened season might be.
• Players aren’t sure what to do with training camps sort-of open. Derrick Goold talked to some Cardinals players about how they’re going to try to stay in shape.
• Tommy Pham was interviewed by Bob Nightengale (the father, not the son) about how all this is affecting him and his Padres teammates. (Yes, Pham’s a Padre now, in case you missed it.)
• Some Cubs players were in camp working out Tuesday:

• Though MLB has halted all scouting for now, there will be a draft this year, sometime. Keith Law lists his Top 30 draft prospects. (The Athletic subscription required)
• Justin Verlander was injured just before spring play was halted. He had groin surgery Tuesday and will miss six weeks. But that might not be a big deal with no games, right?
• A story about a tone-deaf team: The Cleveland Indians were, at least earlier this week, still charging season-ticket holders who were on payment plans. Matt Lyons of our SB Nation Indians site Let’s Go Tribe has details.
• Now, on to more pleasant baseball pursuits. Craig Calcaterra writes about a baseball game he attended when he was at a crossroads in his personal life that helped him realize “even when you’re not the best anymore, you can still do your best.” Greg Maddux is involved.
• Former Cub Edwin Jackson was in Diamondbacks camp this spring. Zach Buchanan has the story of “baseball’s ultimate nomad” and confirms what we always heard when Jackson was a Cub, that he was a standup guy and great teammate. (The Athletic subscription required)
• Can you top the greatest starting lineup ever? Marc Carig started this on Twitter the other day and it became a thing. The Athletic subscription required, but if you don’t have a subscription, here’s what started it all:

Who would you choose? Maybe try this in the comments with all-time players from across baseball, then maybe a team of Cubs.

• Another fun game from Tyler Kepner:

• Lastly, in this age of COVID-19, photos from a KBO intrasquad game:

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