Major League Baseball is no different than any other sport when it comes to dealing with the issues provided by COVID-19. They too had to postpone their season, despite being one of the few sports that had actually not officially begun before statewide lockdowns, stay-at-home orders, and strict social distancing rules for citizens were implemented. MLB Opening Day was scheduled for March 26th. The state of Illinois’ stay-at-home order began on March 21st. Both dates have come and gone.
However, the MLB has developed a number of different contingencies in order to have an altered 2020 season, most likely without the presence of fans. The newest development is a proposal where teams would stay in their designated spring training facilities in Florida and Arizona to play their seasons. In doing so, rather than maintaining the standard American and National Leagues, the thirty teams would be divided up by the Grapefruit League and Cactus League.
The breakdown of leagues and divisions are as follows:
CACTUS LEAGUE
- NORTHEAST: Cubs, Giants, Diamondbacks, Rockies, A’s
- WEST: Dodgers, White Sox, Reds, Indians, Angels
- NORTHWEST: Royals, Brewers, Padres, Mariners, Rangers
GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE
- NORTH: Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays, Pirates, Tigers
- SOUTH: Red Sox, Twins, Braves, Orioles
- EAST: Nationals, Astros, Mets, Cardinals, Marlins
What this could mean for the White Sox
The White Sox are arguably the most improved team in baseball due to their notable offseason acquisitions. On top of that, they already had a foundation that boasts a solid ace and multiple dependable hitters in guys like Lucas Giolito, Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada, and Eloy Jimenez. However, this proposed division would make the road to October (or maybe November?) much more challenging than previously anticipated. The White Sox are not too far behind the teams not named the Dodgers, but it will be an uphill battle for a Chicago squad that still has plenty of question marks.
Why it helps
The Sox won’t have to deal with spring weather in Chicago! There’s a start, considering it felt like everyday in May through about mid-June last year had rain. In addition, the South Siders haven’t played horrendously against the Indians and Angels in the past. In 2019, Ricky’s Boys went a combined 13-13 against the squads. Keep in mind with a revamped lineup and additional weapons on the pitching side, there should be better results from the South Siders. Speaking of pitching, the squads from each team in the division, besides the Dodgers, are not all that impressive. The Sox offense should be trusted to perform against most of these staffs.
Why it hurts
The Los Angeles Dodgers may now have the most potent lineup in baseball. Already having bats like Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson, Corey Seager, and Justin Turner, they threw in Mookie Betts thanks to their blockbuster trade with Boston. In addition, a pitching staff featuring the impressive Clayton Kershaw, also received David Price in the deal. But, the Dodgers aren’t the only team the Sox have to go through. There’s the Angels, who have some guy named Mike Trout, ever heard of him? Not to mention other notables like Shohei Ohtani, David Fletcher, Anthony Rendon, and a new manager in Joe Maddon. The Indians are a complete team, and so are the Reds. It’s a drastic change from a division that should feature the rebuilding Royals and Tigers at the bottom, instead.
Parting thoughts
Logistically, this proposal makes sense. If you do the math, it’s about a four-hour flight between Phoenix and Tampa Bay, which would be a lot of travel during turbulent times should the divisions remain unchanged. However, with these new divisions, the primary concern shifts to the advantages that certain teams will gain. Specifically, the Yankees would dominate their “North” division, and Houston would likely stay hot with the reigning world champion Washington Nationals being the only big obstacle in their way. Most importantly, though, the goal here is to protect the health of baseball fans and players. Less travel means less spreading of COVID-19, and less risk of exposure for the players. Staying in Arizona and Florida until it is safe to play in front of fans at home stadiums is the safest way for there to both be baseball, while keeping everyone safe.
Let’s just hope we have some form of a season in the not too distant future.
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