The 2020 Major League Baseball season has gotten off to a rocky start due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A widespread outbreak of the virus within the Miami Marlins organization has forced that team to suspend its season for at least a week.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies just recently saw their upcoming series against the Toronto Blue Jays postponed. That came after their four-game set against the New York Yankees was also postponed.
It’s going to lead to Major League Baseball having to come up with a plan for each team to still play 60 games during the truncated 2020 season. Here’s one idea.
MLB, MLBPA discussing possibility of doubleheaders with seven-inning games
Baseball purists who pushed back against the National League adding the designated hitter are not going to be happy with this. Though, it does make some sense.
MLB during the COVID-19 pandemic has always been questionable
Not playing in a bubble might have been the biggest mistake commissioner Rob Manfred and Co. made leading up to the start of the season. Now that this is not the case, the league needs to change its approach midstream.
Playing doubleheaders that include two seven-inning games could make sense in that it would help preserve pitchers during the truncated season. Remember, each team only has six off days.
Even then, a major change of this ilk is going to be met with criticism by fans around the MLB world. It might be seen as going too far.