2020 Blue Jays Season Thread

[JTech780]

As much as I want the Jays to play in Toronto, this is the right call.

It sounds like they want to play in Dunedin as there is better facilities there, but the high number of cases in Florida might force them to play in Buffalo.

Buffalo doesn't have the same facilities and the stadium isn't setup for TV broadcast. The TV lighting sounds like the biggest obstacle for Buffalo.

[jayswin]

The irony is that they'd have a better chance of a season by playing every game out of Ontario than playing in every MLB city BUT Toronto.

How the hell did they think "let's just play everyone in their home city" was going to work? It likely wasn't even going to work if the US was winning their battle with Covid, let alone now.

[Snuffleupagus]

If they acted like adults they would have had two hub city's for everyone.

American League - Toronto
National League - Montreal

USA shouldn't hold a chess tournament right now

[jroc]

That wouldn't work either as there'd be 7 games a day to play and only one stadium.

Surprised they didn't just create more of a bubble and play out of the spring training facilities.

[bluejays]

I don't know how the local tv contracts work, but I wonder if the owners wanted the revenue from local tv rights leading to the decision. That's all I can think about.


From the players standpoint they probably just want the freedom to do whatever they want. In times like this though, for health and continuity of the league, you can't have your cake and eat it too. It's almost a foregone conclusion that the season won't be completed. I'd give it a 75% chance it's cancelled.

[jayswin]

Are the Jays doing any more intrasquad games or was that it?

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Are the Jays doing any more intrasquad games or was that it?

None that being televised from what I can tell. They do have two exhibition games coming up this week against the Red Sox, on Tuesday and Wednesday, I would assume they would find a way to televise those games.

The season starts in Friday.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by fleury

Yeah, MLB certainly screwed this season up by taking the decentralized approach. Who in their right mind said that would be good for both parties? Clearly the MLBPA and MLB leadership have their heads up their rear. Puzzling to say the least.

I don’t follow baseball much, so this news completely shocked me because I assumed they’d were using the hub city approach. Morons.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by JTech780

None that being televised from what I can tell. They do have two exhibition games coming up this week against the Red Sox, on Tuesday and Wednesday, I would assume they would find a way to televise those games.

It sounds like they will be televised on NESN atleast.

[GreenLantern2814]

75,000 new Covid cases on Friday alone.

Meanwhile, Canada had 252.

America is self-immolating before our eyes, and they’re playing games.

This is straight out of Gladiator.

[JTech780]

I wonder how quickly either Turner Field in Atlanta or Globe Life Park in Arlington Texas can be re-configured back into baseball fields. Turner Field would make the most sense, as it would keep the Jays in the east and since they are only playing teams in the AL and NL east this season, travel would be easier. The stadium isnt that old, built in 1996. The Braves played there till 2017 so it should house baseball pretty easily. The issue would be configuring the fences for baseball, and placing cameras for broadcasts. The facilities should be at major League level which would make it more ideal than Buffalo or Dunedin.

Texas would be less than ideal location-wise but it is still a major League level park. It too would need to be re-configured back to baseball.

With a little over a week for home games, moving to one of those stadiums could be a nightmare logistically.

[KelVarnsen]

They are both football stadiums now.

They will probably be sharing a stadium or two with other teams

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

75,000 new Covid cases on Friday alone.

Meanwhile, Canada had 252.

America is self-immolating before our eyes, and they’re playing games.

This is straight out of Gladiator.

Well the good news is Trump has successfully ceased public info and reporting. All numbers will now go directly to the white house to be released to the public, so expect Covid19 to disappear over night and then we'll just have to figure out what to do with thousands of pneumonia deaths in the middle of summer.

[bluejays]

The Jays planning with what seems to be the inevitable (government denying their application), seems to be a bit odd. Latest rumor is playing in Pittsburgh, but what was wrong with Buffalo? It's an odd season, there's no party in any town so why not Buffalo? I'm somewhat surprised MLB hasn't planned to put them in an American test market for future look. Just very odd how they're left scrambling when this was pretty predictable.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by fleury

The Jays planning with what seems to be the inevitable (government denying their application), seems to be a bit odd. Latest rumor is playing in Pittsburgh, but what was wrong with Buffalo? It's an odd season, there's no party in any town so why not Buffalo? I'm somewhat surprised MLB hasn't planned to put them in an American test market for future look. Just very odd how they're left scrambling when this was pretty predictable.

What would the point be? There's like a 40% chance this season happens the way they've agreed upon and a statistical 0% chance there are fans at any point. So what benefit would a test market provide?

[KelVarnsen]

The stadium in Buffalo doesn't have great lighting, or a great setup for TV production. Plus the clubhouses are small which would make distancing hard.

The Jays probably would use Dunedin if you know it wasn't in Florida.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by jayswin

What would the point be? There's like a 40% chance this season happens the way they've agreed upon and a statistical 0% chance there are fans at any point. So what benefit would a test market provide?

True. I was thinking more gauging the hype in the local market however they measure that without gate revenue.

[KelVarnsen]

Looking more and more like we get to see the Pittsburgh Blue Jays.

[Crown Royal]

Originally Posted by jroc

That wouldn't work either as there'd be 7 games a day to play and only one stadium.

Surprised they didn't just create more of a bubble and play out of the spring training facilities.

The only way the MLB in a bubble works with their current schedule and 3 bubbles in cities with 2 stadiums.

Have Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium host the West Division games
Have Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field host the Central Division games
Have Yankee Stadium and Citi Field host the East Division games

But if they were smart, they'd have 6 hub cities/regions and no inter-division games, reduce series to 2 game series so no one has to sit for multiple days.

Have the 3 above as well as Dallas, if the old Rangers stadium is standing, The Bay Area with Oakland and SF and then Toronto/Montreal. The latter would have more travel but with how low cases are in Canada it would be safer than travel in the US. That would give them 12 stadiums, minimize travel and allow them to create bubbles

[KelVarnsen]

Guaranteed Rate Field has to be the stupidest name for a baseball stadium ever.