With the White House and CDC extending social distancing restrictions on gatherings of 50 people or more to April 30, a Major League Baseball season can’t begin until June at the earliest.
A shortened season is a near-certainty, which left MLB and the players’ union to work out many logistics in terms what players will be paid and the conditions games would be played under. On Monday’s WISE Sports Radio baseball segment, Pat Ryan and I went over the big points of the new agreement.
UNC Asheville coach Mike Morrell guest-hosted with Pat Ryan for Thursday’s WISE Guys show on WISE Sports Radio. So we got some coaching and roster-building insight for our NFL segment. (UNCA is really lucky to have Coach Morrell and women’s coach Brenda Kirkpatrick Brown on campus and in town. Both great coaches and great people.)
We discussed Cam Newton’s chances of catching on with another NFL team after the Carolina Panthers released him this week, the approach new coach Matt Rhule is taking with the roster, and how much the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might improve with Tom Brady.
It was bound to happen one of these days. I had my computer ready to record my WISE Sports Radio baseball segment about 15 minutes before I was on. Then I brewed a cup of coffee, added to my notes, and the phone rang from the station. Forgot to get back to my computer to hit record! Oops.
We discussed Boston Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale needing season-ending (if baseball season ever begins) reconstructive elbow surgery, the possibility of MLB playing more doubleheaders this season, and a new advocacy group for minor leaguers trying to get those players a better salary, along with keeping them housed and paid while the sport is on hold due to COVID-19.
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While sports are on hiatus due to the coronavirus crisis, there was one big development that still held some drama and suspense: Would Tom Brady leave the New England Patriots and end his NFL career with another team?Now we know. Brady will be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterback next season.
Of course, that led Thursday’s WISE Sports Radio NFL segment. Pat Ryan, Mike Gore, and I discussed other big free agent signings and trades that have happened this week, including Teddy Bridgewater signing with the Carolina Panthers, Philip Rivers going to the Indianapolis Colts, and a bizarre allegation toward Houston Texans coach and general manager Bill O’Brien.
Like all sports that would be played right now, baseball is on hold due to the coronavirus crisis. So there’s not a whole lot to talk about from MLB. But there are some questions, which Pat Ryan and I covered on Wednesday’s WISE Sports Radio segment.
When could the MLB season begin? Have any players tested positive for COVID-19? And will MLB take care of the stadium employees who won’t get paid during this postponement? Also, we’ll be talking about the current best player at each position over the next few weeks.
Thanks to WISE Sports Radio for allowing me to post this on my site, along with Mars Hill University (which sponsors the stream), host Pat Ryan, and Vistanet for sponsoring my MLB segment.
Ian Casselberry 