Best part is that if you shake anyone’s hand, the cocktail in the title can be used as a disinfectant. So (with forty-six oh’s), we could have baseball. Just in Arizona and Florida. That was the news reports on Friday. By today that news will likely change. Tomorrow, we’ll hear something else. On Wednesday, well, on Wednesday, we’ll hear there’s one place Coronavirus still hasn’t affected. The MLB season can be played out in full. Allow me to set the scene: A manager comes out for a mound visit, “Just trust your stuff. Please. It’s freakin’ freezing,” as baseball plays out its 162-game season in Antartica. With the Florida/Arizona schedule the MLB has floated, the Mets will face the Astros, Nats, Cards and Marlins. El oh–oh, eff me and my Pete Alonso shares. “Hello, I’m Gary Cohen, and the Mets are coming off a 15-minute road trip to Ft. Lauderdale where they saw Scherzer, Strasburg and Patrick Corbin. Now they return home for two 7-inning doubleheaders vs. Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke, then it’s off to see the Cards and Jack Flaherty.” Luckily, I doubt it happens. I mean, maybe. Right now, everything’s on the table, which is a good sign that baseball will happen. But everyone in Florida and Arizona? I guess it’s not absolutely crackers, but I don’t see why playing there is any better than just playing in empty stadiums in their home cities. Is it more manageable because everyone’s in one place? Travel is not an issue for MLB teams with private jets. Long-term residences in Arizona or Florida is easier? I guess, maybe, but if teams have people come in to those residences to clean the rooms, are the maids tested? Are the Jersey Mike’s employees tested from where Mike Trout ordered his subs? Because you know homeboy loves the roast beef sub and calls himself Jersey Mike. My point is players will be at risk in Florida or Arizona. So, a Grapefruit/Cactus League season is interesting, but doesn’t solve all or really any issues. Though, I do wish I drafted German Marquez in one league with the thought he won’t have one game in Coors. Oh, and Nolan Arenado outside of Coors becomes like a 4th or 5th rounder. Anyway, here’s what else I saw for 2020 fantasy baseball:
Willie Calhoun – Says he’ll be ready for start of season, and has been spending his time riding a stationary bike. Not sure how they made a bicycle of greeting cards. He was moved back up in my 2020 fantasy baseball rankings.
Aaron Hicks – Began a throwing program. Ooh, I’ve been looking for new things to watch. What streaming service is the throwing program on? Aaron Hicks was added into the top 100 outfielders and my top 500.
Aaron Judge – His rib is still in the “healing phase.” His healing phase is longer than The Irishman.
Brendan McKay – Was reassigned to the minor league camp. As was Michael Kopech and Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac and an array of others. It means nothing. Like you and I, MLB teams don’t know when the season will begin. They’re covering their ass. MLB has said if there’s no season this year, players will accrue major league playing time, so, for unstints, if Mookie Betts doesn’t play a game for the Dodgers, because of no season, he will still be a free agent at the end of this season. So, if the season is washed like your hands, then suddenly someone like, say, Michael Kopech will have played a full year on the White Sox, if he wasn’t moved to the minor league camp. It’s irrelevant. If the season starts on July 4th, as I’m assuming, then none of these clubs need a fifth starter immediately, and can then make a move to call up Civale, Plesac, Kopech, or you name it. By the by, I’m not Johnny Patriotic, but how baseball would it be for baseball to start again on July 4th? It’s so baseball, you can’t even handle it.
Gordon Beckham – Released by the Padres. I called him a sleeper in 2012 and he’s been asleep ever since. Another point for Grey.
Mark Reynolds – Announced his retirement. He will always have a special place in my heart for that one super random year in 2009 when he went 44/24/.260 and I seemed to own him in every fantasy league. All brays to Mini Donkey.
Shohei Ohtani – Has been doing some long tossing. Without any toilet paper in my foreseeable future, I too am doing a bit of long tossing.
Zack Godley – Tigers released him. Godley prolly now feels silly about getting that Joe Exotic tattoo.
Chris Sale – Already out of his arm cast and hopes to do some rehab work at JetBlue Park. Hopefully he doesn’t have to pay too much for his baggage and wifi. It should really be included.
Jameson Taillon – Began throwing from 120 feet. Wow, he’s taking this social distancing thing serious.
