Major League Baseball Proposes an 82-Game Season

Baseball fans in the US embraced the news of Major League Baseball returning to grounds in early July with open arms. Being kept away from all sports during the gaming season of America is turning out to be very harsh on the people. Hence, all games will be fully acknowledged. 

Amidst the news of bringing back MLB, sources have also reportedly told that the season will be reduced to 82 games. That is almost half of a normal season. But the ongoing crisis in the world demands out of the box measures, and reducing the number of games is the primary call. 

The Usual MLB Season

At the beginning of MLB, back in the twentieth century, there was no upper limit on the number of games a team could play. There were only a minimum number of games specified for the teams. We can only imagine the dreary and long seasons of baseball they would’ve been. 

All of this is now history. However, this changed later on as every team was made to play 70 games. But MLB switched to a 162 game format in 1998. Every team played 81 matches in their homes, and the other 81 as a visiting team. 

Each of the 30 teams played 162 matches, which amounted to a total of 2430 in the entire season. These were played over six months. Beginning usually in the summer of March, and ending in the fall of September. 

These games kept the entire country engaged as the baseball fanatics immersed in a routine of scoreboard tracking and predictions. The games were hardly canceled and almost always rescheduled during unprecedented circumstances. 

This involved rain or bad weather. Before 2013, a total of 252 interleague games were played between the American and the National League. Since 2013, the pattern has changed. Every team had to play 20 interleague matches, 16 of which were determined by the divisions. Since 2018, the season's length has been fixed to 187 days including 4 off-days for every team. 

The Sunday before the All-Stars game is no longer reserved for Sunday Night Baseball. This is to give rest to those participating in the Home Run Derby. 

Original Schedule Of The 2020 Season

The first sad news of games being canceled came on 12 March when the remaining summer practice games were scrapped. Even then only a two-week delay in the opening game was predicted. This opening match was to be played on March 26. 

The season would then be unveiled in full vigor as games proceeded. But the condition worsened in North America and no one could predict the course of events. Hence, four days later, on March 16, the 2020 season was postponed indefinitely until the conditions got back to normal. 

The normal is still a long way to go, but MLB is all set to return now. Already having waited two months, the government has also planned to open the sports facilities and given a green signal to no contact training. 

MLB has taken advantage of this situation and proposed its return in July. Originally it would have ended in late September. The closing game was scheduled for September 27. The plan of postseason games was also laid out in entirety. 

They were to begin on September 29 ending with Game 7 season on October 28. But, none of these plans remain feasible. The games have to be reduced to meet a suitable closing time before winters arrive. 

What Does An 82-Game Season Mean?

Baseball fans might be a little upset about seeing less sport this time. Nonetheless, everyone is generally excited to see America playing again. Sports make up the spirit of the country. Bringing MLB back with a shorter season is the perfect decision, which will serve both the citizens and the players. 

No sportsperson can stay off grounds, and every one of them needs a reason to play. Fans are the biggest one of those reasons! Even though there will be a lesser number of games, the competition would increase manifold. 

Indeed, some teams might not have a very fair chance. But anyone in the right spirits would see this as an opportunity to improve and prove. Whatever the case be, it would serve only fierce battles for the audience. The reduction from a 162-game to an 82-game season will make every match get double of its actual worth. 

The players have to be extra cautious and can't take any match lightly. The season is about to get a lot tougher as there will be no second chances. The teams can't sustain an ideology of revival in later stages of the league. In these uncertain times, only entertainment for the audience is guaranteed. Keep your eyes on the new schedule and hope that no more delays happen!