MLB Proposes 82-Game Season Beginning in Early July
MLB Proposes 82-Game Season
Beginning in Early July On May 11, Major League Baseball formalized its
plan to play an 82-game season,
the shortest season since the late 1870s. Games would be hosted without fans and involve teams
only playing against divisional rivals and teams in the corresponding geographic division to minimize travel. The plan would also include the implementation
of the designated hitter in order to lower injury
risk to pitchers since teams would be playing a
significant number of interleague games. In an increase from the usual 26 active players,
teams would also expand their rosters to up to
50 players with at least 30 available each game. In the postseason, two additional wild cards
would be added to each league and the playing
field expanded from 10 teams to 14. In terms of salary, the MLB’s plan calls for
teams to split revenues with athletes 50-50. That earned amount is expected to be significantly
smaller. The season will likely face a lack of
revenue from tickets, parking and concessions. In order to become a reality, the proposed season
must be approved by the players’ union and
testing protocols must be established.
Beginning in Early July On May 11, Major League Baseball formalized its
plan to play an 82-game season,
the shortest season since the late 1870s. Games would be hosted without fans and involve teams
only playing against divisional rivals and teams in the corresponding geographic division to minimize travel. The plan would also include the implementation
of the designated hitter in order to lower injury
risk to pitchers since teams would be playing a
significant number of interleague games. In an increase from the usual 26 active players,
teams would also expand their rosters to up to
50 players with at least 30 available each game. In the postseason, two additional wild cards
would be added to each league and the playing
field expanded from 10 teams to 14. In terms of salary, the MLB’s plan calls for
teams to split revenues with athletes 50-50. That earned amount is expected to be significantly
smaller. The season will likely face a lack of
revenue from tickets, parking and concessions. In order to become a reality, the proposed season
must be approved by the players’ union and
testing protocols must be established.