Outside The Confines: Baseball is in trouble

Another week, another step towards (or away) from a baseball season.

As owners butt heads with the players and no one can come to terms with 50 games or 70 games, a much greater threat looms on the horizon for baseball, and that’s a potential second wave of COVID-19.

Many would suggest the first wave of the coronavirus itself isn’t over and many states are opening back to regular business too soon, the recent exposure of MLB players and staff to the virus has led to a decision to have spring training moved to team’s home stadiums instead of their spring training facilities.

Derrick Goold has a story about the virus as an interloper in the middle of the tense negotiations.

In short: the odds are stacking up against baseball happening, and we need to brace ourselves for the idea that we won’t have games this season.

• Joon Lee spoke to KBO players about the experience of playing in empty stadiums.
• Are the MLB so scared of grievances that they’ve rejected the player’s offers? Eugene Freedman thinks it’s possible.
• Chris Halicke shares the moving story of Jose Trevino’s father’s day walk off home run.
• Baseball Prospectus is sharing works by Black sportswriters, and in the first of the new series Demetrius Bell wrote about Jackie Robinson.
• Bill Shea has a story about how independent baseball leagues are gearing up to play again. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Chicago-area minor league clubs are hoping to salvage some part of a season, writes John Keilman.
• David Margolick has the story of a 63-year-old Yankees scandal.
• Ryan Zimmerman talks about baseball’s unlucky season.
• Joel Sherman has an opinion piece at the Post about the need for the silent majority to speak up if baseball is ever going to come to terms.
• The universal designated hitter may not be a short-term thing, in fact Jay Jaffe thinks it could be here to stay.
• Erica Scherzer shared some adorable photos of Max Scherzer with their daughters for Father’s Day.

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