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SPORTS Tuesday 17 March 2020

MLB delays opening day to mid-May at earliest due to virus

By RONALD BLUM to four weeks of additional
NEW YORK (AP) — Major spring training will be need-
League Baseball pushed ed before the regular sea-
back opening day un- son begins.
til mid-May at the earliest "I'm just treating this as Jan-
on Monday because of uary of the winter time,"
the new coronavirus after Arizona catcher Stephen
the federal government Vogt said in a text to The
recommended restricting Associated Press. "I am
events of more than 50 working out with the antici-
people for the next eight pation of baseball activities
weeks. ramping up over the next
Baseball Commissioner Rob month. But my mentality is
Manfred made the an- back to preparing for the
nouncement following a season."
conference call with exec- Under an agreement last
utives of the 30 teams. week, between MLB and
"The clubs remain com- the players' association,
mitted to playing as many players are allowed to de-
games as possible when cide whether to stay at
the season begins," the spring training or go home,
commissioner's office said but some teams have ig-
in a statement. nored that deal and told
The Centers for Disease players to leave.
Control and Prevention rec- "There should be no or-
ommended Sunday that ganized activities in the An empty practice field is seen at the Miami Marlins spring training baseball facility, Monday,
gatherings of 50 people or camps," Manfred told the March 16, 2020, in Jupiter, Fla.
more be canceled or post- Post-Dispatch. "We did Associated Press
poned across the country agree with the MLBPA that
for the next eight weeks. spring training sites would dates for players with opt- MLB if they wanted assis- The 1918 season was cut
"The opening of the 2020 remain open, but the out clauses in their deals, tance with credit lines, a short because of World
regular season will be thought there is with a skel- and the sides are likely to person familiar with Man- War I. Provost Marshal
pushed back in accor- eton crew, really to give agree on a roster freeze. fred's call said, speaking on Gen. Enoch Crowder an-
dance with that guidance," players some place to use They are discussing the pos- condition of anonymity be- nounced a regulation on
Manfred said. a gym, as opposed to be- sibility of payments to major cause that detail was not May 23 that men not in-
No telling at this point when ing forced out into a pub- league players who have announced. volved in useful occupa-
games will start. The All-Star lic gym and the like. And not reached the point of MLB had not had a mass tions appear before the
Game at Dodger Stadium we're really encouraging big-money deals to make postponement of openers draft board. The War De-
in Los Angeles on July 14 players to make a decision up for paychecks they since 1995, when the sea- partment initially did not
could be in jeopardy. as to where they want to won't be getting in April son was shortened from rule baseball was non-es-
"We're not going to an- be over an extended pe- and May. 162 games to 144 following sential under the "work or
nounce an alternate open- riod of time and get to that This year marked the earli- a 7 1/2-month players' strike fight" order but Secretary
ing day at this point. We're location as soon as pos- est opening day other than that also wiped out the of War Newton D. Baker
going to have to see how sible." for international games. 1994 World Series. Opening announced on July 26 that
things develop," Manfred The players' association As it stood, Game 7 of the day was pushed back from baseball had to comply by
told the St. Louis Post-Dis- sent an email to agents World Series would have April 2 to April 26 and play- Sept. 1. After some nego-
patch at Cardinals camp on Monday saying that for been Oct. 28, and teams er salaries were reduced by tiation, the regular season
in Jupiter, Florida. He didn't players who went home and players could push the 11.1% because the games ended Sept. 2 with teams
want to speculate about or to their team's regular- postseason into November. were lost due to a strike. playing 123-131 games,
the possibility of playing season city it would pay Any change to the 162- After a 32-day spring train- and the Boston Red Sox
in empty stadiums, saying $1,100 allowances through game schedule would ne- ing lockout in 1990 caused beat the Chicago Cubs in
part of that decision would April 9 to players on 40-man cessitate bargaining over opening day to be delayed a World Series played from
depend on timing. rosters as of March 13. That an array of issues, including a week until April 9, the sea- Sept. 5-11.
MLB called off the rest of amount also would go to when and how much play- son was extended by three Also Monday, MLB and
the spring training sched- players with minor league ers get paid and how much days to allow each team a the union announced a
ule on Thursday and said contracts at big league major league service they full 162-game schedule. joint donation of $1 million
opening day, which had spring training who were on are credited for. Service Baseball's first strike lasted to Feeding America and
been scheduled for March 40-man rosters at the end time determines eligibility from April 1-13 in 1972, and Meals on Wheels America,
26, was postponed for at of last season. for free agency and salary the season started April aimed at fighting hunger
least two weeks. Teams The union is negotiating arbitration. 15. Teams played 153-156 resulted from school clo-
and players agree that two with MLB over resetting the Clubs also were told to call games. sures and quarantines.q