JR Spox’s Daily Briefing – Baseball is Coming, The Great American PAST

The great American sport of baseball is starting soon. But it is being changed, maybe forever. The things we expect will be a thing of the PAST. Players and fans will have to adjust to the new normal.

Listed below are some of the things that I predict will change the game as we know it. Let’s take a look at some of the possible changes.

Player’s environment will change

Player seating will be in the stands, right behind the dugout. The bullpen players will be in the stands, also.

All pine tar and rosin must contain disinfectant.

No chewing and spitting of flower seeds.

Players must wear masks except when playing. Chin masks are not a substitute.

Bat and ball boys are at risk. This is being worked on. Players may have to do the job.

The Game itself

Mound visits will be by cellphone only. Limit to two calls an inning.

No physical umpires. Some will be working from home, some will umpire from the stands. It may improve the accuracy.

Rosin bags are being replaced with hand sanitizer. Some pitches had been putting solution on their hands for years.

Three at the plate at one time is considered possible overcrowding because of social distancing rules. Masks will be attached to batting helmets to protect all.

Baseball is looking at how first basemen hold runners on base and how close they stand to each other.  Work in Progress: They may limit the size of a runner’s lead from first base to six feet or less with the player standing at least six feet behind the runner.

Fans and Crowd

To start with, a limited number of fans are allowed in the stands. If you want to watch your favorite team or player, your best bet is TV.

The crowd will have to practice social distancing. There should be plenty of empty seats. Some team’s fans have been social distancing for years now.

Beer sales will stop at end of fifth rather than the 7^th. This will reduce the congestion in rest rooms in later innings.

Stadium changes

They are considering getting rid of manual scoreboards. The Cubs and Red Soxs are objecting, of course. Reason:  To many workers close together and the handling of the metal numbers.

Beer sales during the game will change. The fan will have to go to end of row for pickup. No more passing down the aisle.

Cub’s men bathroom has a unique situation. Along one wall is a 50 foot metal trough for the men. They have installed plastic dividers.  Other teams are providing paper cups at the door for overflow fans.

They are still working on the dugout trash issue.

Our Real Players

Our condolences to those who have lost love ones and to the patients and their family members that continue to fight COVID-19.

A big salute to our doctors and medical workers and our first responders.

A salute to Calvin Munerlyn, 43, a father of eight and a black security guard who was murdered doing his job.

And to black federal law enforcement officer, Dave Patrick Underwood, 53, who was shot and killed while providing security at the U.S. Courthouse in Oakland during a protest. He died from gunshot wounds sustained after someone fired shots from an unidentified vehicle.