MLB Start up
Violet Maccherone '24 Staff Writer
Nobody knows what the sports season will bring this year because of COVID. However, we do know that the fans' and players' opinions matter. The 2021 MLB season will start in early April. The MLB will enact changes as new opinions are formed on the teams and players, in hopes to make the experience fun for the fans.
Predictions on The Effect Of Covid 19 The MLB will have to make adjustments due to the coronavirus. Grace Nanni, a 9th grade Howard student who is involved in baseball and softball, stated her opinion on rules and regulations that the MLB created because of COVID. She explained that “the pitchers normally spit on the ball or in their glove (to have better grip on the ball) but they started using water from their back pocket. MLB started this so they wouldn't spread germs and stick to COVID terms. However, this could spark problems in the MLB. Grace stated that “they should check things so the pitcher is not using any illegal substances,” which is a great point because pitchers can use this new regulation as a way to cheat and win an easier game. There are a lot of new rules for the upcoming season. For example, the players are not allowed to be in contact with anyone outside of the team’s traveling party. Grace believes that this is a good idea. She thinks if the team quarantines like NCAA college basketball did, it will create a safer environment although it would be harder to enact because the players have families. Also, Spring training games are being cut to 5 or 7-inning games instead of 9. They are doing this to spend less time in the stadiums. According to New York Times, “Rosters will be smaller than last year — 26 active players, with 28 in September, vs. as many as 30 last year.” There are many other rules and regulations added, however those seemed to be most important. |
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA JULY 22 2020 - Justin Turner of the Dodgers prepares for the opener that occurred on July 24th. ETIENNE LAURENT/EPA
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Views On Teams And Which Ones Will Rise To The Occasion
A lot of people want the team they are rooting for to win, but as we know that's not what usually happens. Personally, I would want the Orioles to win, but I believe that there is a very small chance of that happening with the team they have this year. Grace's favorite teams are the Yankees, Dodgers and Orioles. She wants both the Dodgers and Yankees to be in great situations to make it to the playoffs. However, Cody Bellinger, a Dodgers player, is currently injured. This could make a big difference for their team. Grace would love to see the Yankees play the Dodgers. Statistically, the top teams from each division to make it to the playoffs are the Yankees, White Sox, Astros, Mets, Brewers and the Dodgers. On the other hand, there are many teams whose probabilities of making it to the playoffs are low: their percentages fall between 1.5-0 %. It would be nice to see a comeback from the Orioles, the Tigers, the Rangers, the Marlins, the Pirates and the Rockies. Overall, we can predict what might happen in this upcoming season. Opinions on The Orioles Orioles Having a 0.0 Chance Of Making It to The Playoffs There are many opinions on the subjects. According to Grace, “the Orioles definitely need some work… they really haven't had that team dynamic yet because of so many new people every year unfortunately because they’re not that good at the moment.” She also believes that “they need to work together, especially during spring training, to become a team.” Overall, she believes that if they learn to work together and create a better team environment, they could have potential.” |
However, many fans are disappointed in the team because of how great it once was. In the past, the team contained many star players, including Manny Machado, Adam Jones, JJ Hardy and Chris Davis. It is hard for Baltimore fans to watch the team's skills decrease. In my opinion, the Orioles need time to create a better environment where the team can trust and build better relationships together. Baseball is more than just a physical game; it requires the trust of your team and strong relationships that allow you to rely on each other.
Views On The Astros and What Do You Believe That The Other Team Response Will Be First let's start with Grace’s view, “I don't like the Astros” She stated how the Astros took away opportunities and titles from other teams as a result of them cheating. I asked if she believed the Astros will try to rebrand themselves by restarting and creating a new team. She doesn’t think that they're going to restart from scratch, but she also believes that who would even want to be on that type of team. And how would they rebrand their team because personally she believes that not alot of people would want to play for them because of the amount of dislike that grew for that team. She also stated that “they should be stripped of their rings and the title.” Along with Grace, many teams and players within the MLB were very disappointed and upset with the Astros. The Astros took opportunities away from other teams and individual players. At this time, it is hard to measure the impact of this situation on the Astros. The situation has called into question what actions the MLB should take to discipline the team. Overall, the predictions and views for the upcoming MLB season are very similar amongst many fans. Of course fans would love to see their team win, however this will not go as planned for the fans of the Orioles. This MLB season is going to be a new one in the sense that no one knows what will happen. This year, sports will be a mystery. |