While the Twitterverse believed MLB commissioner Rob Manfred mistakenly confessed Wednesday on the Dan Patrick Show that it was constantly MLBs intent to play a 60-game season, Manfred clarified Thursday what he meant.
” My point was that no matter what occurred with the union, the way things unfolded with the second spike,” Manfred informed USA TODAY Sports, “we would have wound up with only time for 60 games, anyway. As time went on, it became clearer and clearer that the course of the virus was going to determine how many video games we could play.”.
The two sides never could concern an arrangement, with Manfred exercising his rights under the March 26 arrangements, setting up a 60-game season.
” As it turned out, the reality was there was just time to play 60 games,” Manfred stated., we would have had individuals in Arizona and Florida the time the second spike hit.”.
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MLB, which had 40 gamers test positive in a week– consisting of eight gamers and team member of the Philadelphia Phillies– shut down all of their spring-training sites in Arizona and Florida on June 19. All the players and coaches might have been sent out home a second time if teams were in spring training camps at the time.
” We simply werent going to have the ability to play more than 60 video games at that point,” Manfred said, “with everything being closed down. The truth is that were going to be lucky if we 60 video games now provided the course of the infection.”.
The players union, which initially looked for to play 114 games, is anticipated to file a grievance against MLB in the next 2 months, accusing the owners of purposefully postponing negotiations to restrict the number of games. The union could potentially try to utilize Manfreds comments in his interview with Patrick as part of their complaint.
” The reality is we werent going to play more than 60 video games no matter how the negotiations with the players went, or any other element,” Manfred told Patrick. “Sixty video games is outside the envelope given the truths of the virus. I think this is the something that we return to each and every single day, were attempting to handle something that has actually shown to be unforeseeable and uncontrollable.
” I know it hasnt looked particularly pretty in areas, but having said that, if we can manage this 60-game season, I think it was the best we were going to do for our fans given the course of the infection.”.
Patrick followed up by asking Manfred, “even if the gamers accepted whatever you provided, there was no other way you were going to exceed 60 games?”.
” Its the calendar,” Manfred said. I dont see, given the truth of the health scenario over the past couple of weeks, how we were going to get going any faster than the calendar were on right now.
” As it turned out, the reality was there was only time to play 60 games,” Manfred stated.” The truth is we werent going to play more than 60 video games no matter how the negotiations with the gamers went, or any other element,” Manfred told Patrick.” Its the calendar,” Manfred said. I do not see, offered the truth of the health circumstance over the previous couple of weeks, how we were going to get going any faster than the calendar were on right now.
