MLB

MLB players react to reports of all teams potentially starting regular season play in Arizona Major League Baseball made headlines Tuesday after reports circulated that professional baseball could potentially continue in Arizona quite soon. The catch? Teams would be sequestered, there'd be no fans and games would get played multiple times a day on minor league fields outside in the brutal Arizona heat throughout the dog days of summer. Understandably, some of the game's biggest names were asked about, and commented on, this potentially huge move that would bring live sports back by the middle of May. Here is what some of them had to say. Chris Sale, for example, seemed not too fond of the plan given the distance it would put between himself and his family. It's also worth noting that the implication of such a plan is that there'd probably be limited contact with people outside of this quarantined sports league. Chris Sale on AZ plan: "I don't know if I cou..

Angels' Shohei Ohtani will 'soon' start throwing from mound with Tommy John rehab nearly completeOhtani is progressing from playing long toss to being back on the bump Before the Major League Baseball season was halted by the spread of the novel coronavirus, one of the calendar's most anticipated events was Shohei Ohtani's return to the mound. Ohtani, the Los Angeles Angels' brilliant two-way star, hasn't pitched in a regular season game since 2018 after tearing his ulnar collateral ligament and undergoing Tommy John surgery. While Ohtani won't be starting a regular season game anytime soon -- same as everyone else in baseball, as it turns out -- he will be checking off an important achievement. Ohtani, who is already throwing long toss, will "soon" transition from flat ground to the bump, according to what Angels pitching coach Mickey Callaway told Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. Had the season started as planned, Ohtani would ha..

Five logistical hurdles MLB would need to clear before using Arizona plan to end coronavirus shutdownMLB's plan is more complicated than it might appear This week, it was reported that Major League Baseball and the Players Association have discussed starting the 2020 season entirely in Arizona as the league tries to reopen after its coronavirus shutdown. In that scenario, all essential personnel would be "sequestered at local hotels," where they would essentially live in isolation. Some of the other proposed measures prioritize social distancing -- such as using robot umpires and having players sit apart in the stands, rather than together in a dugout, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. It's clear that MLB is trying its best to have a 2020 season. It's even more clear, however, that the all-Arizona proposal is a work-in-progress. To prove as much, we wanted to shine the light on five major logistical issues that the league needs to figure out if this is to become a reality. ..

Samson: Why MLB won't be able to start the season in Arizona next monthDavid Samson weighs in on MLB's potential plan to have all the teams play in Arizona Major League Baseball hasn't been able to begin the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, on Monday, reports came out suggesting that MLB was discussing potentially starting the season in Arizona in early May. During Tuesday's installment of "Nothing Personal with David Samson," Samson detailed that it isn't a plausible plan because there aren't going to be enough COVID-19 tests for players. "In order to have baseball in Arizona, you need every player to be tested every day," Samson said. "In order for every player to be tested every day, you need to have tests available. How many people do you know that have been tested? Now picture a world that no matter where you look, those people have been tested. You have a scratchy throat, you've got yourself a test. You have the sniffles, ..

MLB free agent Jose Bautista shows off his pitching form in continued attempt to come back as two-way player Six-time MLB All-Star and free agent Jose Bautista hasn't appeared in a major-league game since 2018, but he may return with an added dimension to his game. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Bautista spent the winter working out as a pitcher and there's now a video showing his progress. Marcus Stroman, Bautista's Toronto Blue Jays teammate from 2014-17, posted a video to Twitter of Bautista tossing a slider in his front yard. In the caption, Stroman wrote Bautista could "easily" pitch in a major-league bullpen, adding his sinker, slider and changeup are "MLB ready." Since y’all thought I wasn’t being serious when I said it the first time...my bro @JoeyBats19 could EASILY pitch in a big league bullpen. Easily. Sinker, slider, and changeup are MLB ready! pic.twitter.com/L533VFKp2e — Marcus Stroman (@STR0) April 7, 2020 Bautista's hoping to become one of t..

Red Sox ace Chris Sale wonders if spring training illness was coronavirus instead of pneumoniaSale, who recently underwent Tommy John surgery, spoke with reporters Tuesday Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale suffered a mild case of pneumonia that delayed the start of his spring training back in February. Now, the left-hander, who had Tommy John surgery last month, is wondering if the illness could have been the novel coronavirus, which has caused a global pandemic and the shutdown of all major sports, including Major League Baseball. Given the symptomatic similarities between Sale's pneumonia and the coronavirus, Sale couldn't help but wonder on a Tuesday conference call. "I don't think there's a test now, but I think they're working on a test now to see if you have antibodies for it, meaning you've had it," Sale told reporters, including John Tomase of NBC Sports Boston. "It's craziness to look at my symptoms and look at the symptoms of people who have ..

10 baseball games to play in at-home quarantine while waiting for MLB to returnRunning out of indoor entertainment ideas? We got you covered Major League Baseball, like every major sports league in the world, is currently on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic. While we are supposed to be nearly two weeks into a new season, fans and players alike are stuck at home wondering if and when (and where) the 2020 season might begin. So what are we to do? If there are no games, where will fans get their baseball fixes? Look no further. We have compiled a list of 10 indoor baseball games that should help fill the time before Opening Day. Each of these options are quarantine-friendly, can be played indoors, and do not require leaving the household in any capacity (online shopping could be required for some). In return, all we ask is you invite us to your next sock ball tournament whenever it becomes safe again to travel. Without further adieu, here are 10 indoor baseball games you can pla..

Rakuten Monkeys will have robot mannequins dressed as fans when 2020 season beginsWith no fans allowed to attend games, the baseball team took matters into its own hands to simulate a crowd Professional sports around the world have been put on hold as the COVID-19 virus continues to spread. Even when sports do return, fans likely won't be allowed to attend sporting events. With the concept of playing in front of zero fans in mind, the Rakuten Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League are taking matters into their own hands. When their season begins on April 11, the Rakuten Monkeys will have robot mannequins in the stands to simulate the appearance of fans at their games. With the 2020 #CPBL season starting on April 11 behind closed doors. The Rakuten Monkeys announced that they will have robot mannequins in the stands dressed up as fans. 🤖 pic.twitter.com/miT6JkFoM0 — CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) April 7, 2020 It's certainly going to be strange to see professional game..

Coronavirus: MLB, MLBPA discuss starting 2020 season as soon as May with all games in Arizona, per reportsMLB is still looking for creative ways to get the season underway It's not certain when the 2020 MLB season will get underway because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Although it remains possible that no 2020 season will be played, the hope remains that some kind of abbreviated campaign will be possible once we're past the peak of the virus in the U.S. and Canada. It's a fluid situation, and as such MLB and the players' union (MLBPA) are remaining fluid in their discussions. According to Ronald Blum of the Associated Press, one idea that emerged in recent discussions is to play all games in Arizona -- the Phoenix area in particular -- at least for the start of the season. Blum writes: "Ideas are still in the early stage, and the Arizona option would have many obstacles to overcome," the people familiar with the discussions said. In addition to having a numbe..

Coronavirus: MLB, MLBPA discuss starting 2020 season with all games in Arizona, per reportMLB is still looking for creative ways to get the season underway It's not certain when the 2020 MLB season will get underway because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Although it remains possible that no 2020 season will be played, the hope remains that some kind of abbreviated campaign will be possible once we're past the peak of the virus in the U.S. and Canada. It's a fluid situation, and as such MLB and the players' union (MLBPA) are remaining fluid in their discussions. According to Ronald Blum of the Associated Press, one idea that emerged in recent discussions is to play all games in Arizona -- the Phoenix area in particular -- at least for the start of the season. Blum writes: "Ideas are still in the early stage, and the Arizona option would have many obstacles to overcome," the people familiar with the discussions said. In addition to having a number of major leagu..