Mar 26, 2020

Baseball executives, managers looking at creative ways to save season

Posted Mar 26, 2020 2:29 PM

Blue Jays GM tosses up idea of shorter games, doubleheaders

(AP) Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins is pitching an idea to help big league teams squeeze in more games once the season resumes. Atkins is floating the prospect of playing seven-inning doubleheaders, allowing MLB to add more games in a condensed season without exhausting pitching staffs. Seven-inning twinbills have long been a staple of minor league baseball.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone say seven-inning doubleheaders could add more games in a condensed season without exhausting pitching staffs. The regular season had been scheduled to begin Thursday before being delayed by the virus.

No Opening Day 2020, classic games hope to fill fans' void

Major League Baseball will air 30 games across its digital platforms on Thursday, giving fans plenty of hardball to choose from on an opening day postponed by the coronavirus pandemic. With its season delayed until at least mid-May, MLB will air one memorable game for each franchise on its YouTube, Twitter and Facebook pages.

Free agents would not lose year if season is canceled

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts and all the players set to be free agents after the 2020 season would still get that chance if there is no baseball this year. That’s part of a broad deal being negotiated by the commissioner's office and the players' association. A person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press the agreement would credit major leaguers with the same service time this year that they earned in 2019 if there's no season because of the new coronavirus.