Friday, April 10, 2020

On the Grapefruit and Cactus League Realignment Proposal


                Screw it, I can’t stop writing commentaries on these proposed ideas for trying to restart this baseball season. Have no hope whatsoever that the season will actually take place but baseball is nothing without the projections and what ifs.

                Latest proposal, probably one of many in addition to the Only Arizona plan from earlier this week, is to have teams play in their spring training facilities, both Arizona and Florida (sigh), divisions split into the Cactus and Grapefruit League setups. American and National League done for the time being.

                I’d assume among all the other proposals in front of Manfred this is the “there’s no way we can have games anywhere else” plan. If by some miracle things get better enough to play in other cities, it won’t be feasible to keep this setup together (see below for what the splits would be if it’s strictly the spring training breakdown). If you’re the Sox you’re going to Cleveland, coming back for a series against Cincinnati, before heading to Los Angeles. This is a plan that stays in the respective states until the Series, which means absolutely no baseball anywhere else this year, a shoulder shrug, and “well, something’s better than nothing”.  I guess I’d be for this weird setup if it meant any baseball?

                Let’s play hypothetical, since it’s a Friday and who cares. If the setup really is…





                … that is a TOUGH break for the White Sox. A last place finish among that group wouldn’t surprise me at all. Dodgers might be the best team in baseball, Cleveland can still definitely hit us around, and Cincinnati and LAA could both definitely do some damage. Aside from maybe the East in the Grapefruit league that might be the toughest division.

                I’d assume the whole seven inning doubleheaders, social distancing, etc. would stay here too so much need to comment again on that.

                I guess for the new reality and to get any baseball on that isn’t a replay of some random 2005 game this iteration would make the most sense. Doesn’t make it any less a bastardized version and feels a lot less hopeful than the Arizona for now idea. But that’s just how it goes now I guess.

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