What Major League Baseball ultimately decides how it will handle the the indefinitely delayed 2020 season of course remains a complete unknown. A recent rumor, though, appears to be picking up some steam given how Philadelphia Phillies manager Joe Girardi apparently has been hearing the same thing.
Former MLB player Trevor Plouffe relayed Monday how he’s heard that a planned July 1 start date — with spring training resuming on June 10 — is in the works.
Want some good baseball news??
— Trevor Plouffe (@trevorplouffe) May 4, 2020
I just heard from multiple sources that on June 10th, Spring Training 2 will start. July 1st will be Opening Day and all teams will be playing at their home ballparks.
We’ll be discussing it in full on the next @TalkinBaseball_
While it’s unclear how Plouffe came upon this information, not to mention whether it came from a reputable sources, is obviously unknown. That being said, Girardi indicated during an interview Tuesday with Angelo Cataldi on Philly sports talk 94WIP’s morning show that he’s “heard some chatter about that as well.”
Girardi, however, pointed out that a lot things would have to fall into place for such an eventuality to occur.
“I still think it really comes down to, Angelo, we’re at the mercy of our federal and state government. I mean that’s what we’re at the mercy of,” Girardi noted. “We have to make sure states are open and we have to make sure that there are plenty of tests and we’re not endangering anyone, and once we figure those things out I think we’ll be back. But, God, that would be great if we could be back by then, wouldn’t it?”
As things stand, top MLB executives are believed to be “increasingly confident” that baseball will resume at some point this year. Still, there are myriad logistical loopholes and considerations MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and the league would have to resolve for the rumored plan to come to fruition.
Still, even the chance, however slim, that Major League Baseball could return in less than two months certainly gives baseball fans some glimmer of hope in this live sports-starved climate.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!