Detroit Tigers: Reacting to Jeff Passan’s Latest Update

The weather is warming up in Michigan which means working on the lawn, spring cleaning, and Detroit Tigers baseball on in the background. While the airing of past games continues, we want the real thing back. Still, the lack of a clear date of when baseball will return is still up in the air.

The Detroit Tigers recently announced they will continue to pay their employees through the end of May and beyond. It makes total sense as in Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extended the stay home orders by another 28 days. So for now, the idea of games being played in an empty Comerica Park still reminds off the table, even if MLB could have logistics set in place quickly. The latest from Jeff Passan of ESPN provided a clue on what could be coming soon.

The ideas to start the season in Florida or Arizona were discussed and most recently, Texas was thrown in the mix as another hub to host baseball games.  Jeff Passan suggests that baseball still has to sort through the details but a three-hub plan with 100 games with the season starting in July sounding the most realistic.

The tension between MLBPA and MLB is growing by the day. According to Buster Olney’s recent article, that you can find on ESPN Insider (subscription needed), the aftermath of teams and the players not coming to a common ground to resolve issues of potential pay cuts and no games being played could be catastrophic.

"“If games are not played because of the fight over money, the wreckage from that failure might dwarf the financial impact of the coronavirus. At a time when baseball is trying to find ways to connect with the youngest generation of fans, it would risk losing generations of fans, many of whom would never forgive them. Never.”"

Olney’s experience from covering the baseball strike should be considered. He saw the game changed. The power surge of the late ’90s helped bring baseball back but I would agree, not sure if that this time would be enough.

With all that being said, there is the issue of testing for COVID-19 and how to accommodate support staff. Food prep workers, transportation, and even hotel staff have to be considered. Jeff Passan’s article highlights how a playoff system would work and I think that could be feasible. For now, all we can do is continue to sit and wait for more information to come out.  Hopefully soon, there will be baseball again.