While the global coronavirus pandemic has brought a stop to the sports world, there is some growing optimism in MLB circles that the season can be saved sooner rather than later.
According to a report from USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale, MLB is considering a plan that would have the season start by July 2 at the latest and include at least 100 regular-season games. Teams would also play these games — at least eventually — at their home ballparks without fans, moving away from the proposed Arizona/Florida/Texas biodome idea.
To pull this wildly audacious plan off, there would need to be a dramatic increase in nationwide testing. But to make the scheduling work, MLB would reorganize the entire league in three divisions: East, West and Central.
That’s where it gets interesting because anyone who has followed this baseball offseason knows that the Houston Astros cheating scandal dominated the headlines. And Dodgers players — having lost the 2017 World Series to Houston — have been the most vocal critics of the Astros and MLB.
Well, let’s take a gander at the potential divisions:
EAST
New York Yankees and Mets, Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins
WEST
Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels, San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners
CENTRAL
Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers
The Dodgers and Astros went from not being scheduled to meet in the 2020 season to, uh, BEING IN THE SAME DIVISION. Yes, please.
We already expected the on-field fallout from the Astros scandal to make this one of the more dramatic MLB seasons, and we had to put those plans on hold. But if this realignment and return idea actually happens, every Dodgers-Astros meeting will be appointment television.
Just the idea of the Astros and Dodgers in the same division had MLB fans excited about the possibilities.
ok I just read about the MLB plan to re-align and start the season in July. This is obviously a galaxy brain plan that can’t exist during a raging pandemic but…oooooh boy it would put the Astros and Dodgers in the same division. 😳😳😳
— Molly Knight (@molly_knight) April 28, 2020
Live look at the Dodgers pitching staff when they find out they get to bean the Astros all season pic.twitter.com/3q8fX7cKnG
— THEDODGERSWILLWIN (@Pancakings1) April 28, 2020
Astros/Dodgers in the same division would be lit tho!! And opening day on the 4th of July would be something special too😤
— Non-EssentialMatt🌴🌮 (@ChiTownVillain2) April 28, 2020
The Dodgers would be playing in the same division as the Astros https://t.co/8KiIpCAmYn
— J.A. Adande (@jadande) April 28, 2020
I am extremely on board with a one season temporary realignment that forces the Astros into the same division as the Dodgers lmao https://t.co/5be2q3BjFP
— Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) April 28, 2020
Dodgers are about to wipe the floor with the Astros this season
— Bellinger’s world 8/24 (@bellingersworId) April 28, 2020
Could you imagine a scenario where the Astros and Dodgers are in the same division? That will go over well
— Dillard Barnhart (@BarnHasSpoken) April 28, 2020
Astros & Dodgers in the same division? Must-see tv. https://t.co/bQtY17Fsm3 pic.twitter.com/YAFE1M6uzD
— Gabrielle (@gfstarr1) April 28, 2020
I don’t think any of these plans will happen, but the Dodgers and Astros in the same division sounds awesome https://t.co/UF66wgMXN8
— Alex Krutchik (@AlexKrutchikFS) April 28, 2020
Even if this plan seems unlikely, it needs to happen for that reason alone. Find a (safe and responsible) way, MLB.
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