Right about now, as COVID-19 rages across the country, MLB is making plans for a 162 game season. How many of those games will be played in empty stadiums remains to be seen, but It might be less than we think. The Indiana Pacers will begin allowing fans into Bankers Life Fieldhouse on January 19th.
Sales will be limited to 1,000 tickets per game through Jan. 25 and gradually increase. Attendance is limited to 4,500 fans or 25% capacity for the 2020-21 season in accordance with the Marion County Health Department regulations. I won’t be one of those fans! Here are the requirements to get into a game:
- Cashless experience: Cash will not be accepted inside the fieldhouse. Cash-to-card machines will be located around the arena.
- Concessions: Plexiglass dividers will be in place and staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment. All food items will be individually packaged.
- Face masks: Fans will be required to wear face masks at all times except for when they are actively eating or drinking. Bandanas, masks with valves or vents, and neck gaiters will not be permitted.
- Health screenings: Before coming to Bankers Life Fieldhouse, fans will be required to complete an Ascension St. Vincent “Screen & Go” online health screening prior to arrival. Confirmation will be requested at the entrance. Adults may be asked to answer the questions for young children.
- Physical distancing: Six-foot distancing is required at security entrances, concession lines, in the seating bowl, and all other fieldhouse locations. Signs will be posted and staff will remind patrons as they move through the fieldhouse.
- Mobile ticketing: All ticketing will be completely mobile to reduce contact.
- Pod seating: Fans must sit in their assigned seats. Tickets will be grouped away from others not in their party.
- Security: Expect lower-contact security. Bags will be x-rayed. There will be “express” lines for guests without bags.
Additionally, Banker’s Life Fieldhouse is doing the following:
- Cleaning and disinfection: A team will continually clean high-traffic areas throughout the fieldhouse.
- Communications: Safety signage will be posted throughout the fieldhouse along with public announcements and video board messages throughout the contest.
- Hand-sanitizing stations: There will be more than 300 hand sanitizer dispensers located throughout the fieldhouse.
- HVAC & air filtration: UV-C technology to enhance ventilation and safe airflow, as well as MERV-13 air filters, have been installed to more effectively capture and filter airborne viruses.
- Restrooms: Restrooms have automated faucets, soap dispensers and other touch-free fixtures.
- Training: All staff has been trained in health and safety protocols.
However, basketball is played inside a building. Baseball is played outside, in most cases. I could see fans being allowed into baseball games as early as April. Mind you, it will be a limited crowd, but I think it will happen. This all happened amid reports that the new, mutated, more contagious strain of COVID-19 has been found in Indiana.
Our COO (at US Water Systems) and I toured Victory Field in Indianapolis yesterday and very likely will be getting a suite for a 37 game package. A full package is 74 games but the only suites they have available is for a half-season. You can bring twelve people a game and get free parking passes, so it is a great perk for employees. For $20 Grand, it is the best ticket in town! It offers seating for up to 16 people, inside or outside.
Additionally, it now includes the use of the new Elements Club (pictured below). We have about 60 employees and we feel that many with families will really appreciate getting a few tickets with food and drink included for a family night out at Victory Field.
We did have a very interesting conversation (off the record) about what is happening with MLB and the MiLB teams. Essentially, the Indians were sent a 150-page document that they have to sign and agree not to sue so that MLB can come back and tell them the rest of the story. They are not happy with the uncertainty but are moving ahead. They also have no plans to change their name from the Indians… after all, they are from Indiana. Get it? Indians? Never mind…
Maybe someday, I can do an interview with the Indianapolis Indians on the record, but right about now, they feel they have no choice but to play ball with MLB… and that is probably true. I look forward to having a baseball season this year… even with less than a full house!
Victory Field is now 25 years old and was recently renovated, but they told me that it still does not meet MLB’s requirements for the “batter’s eye” and the visitor’s clubhouse. They have until 2024 to fix it. Most of these teams are run by independent businessmen who are used to calling the shots. This should prove to be very interesting and MLB takes control of MiLB.
Player Movement
- The White Sox signed Liam Hendriks to a three-year contract that may include a fourth year in the mid-$50 Million Range. Friedman was not even tempted in the slightest. I do not think this drives up Brad Hands’ market as I think lots of teams see him as a great candidate for regression.
- I hate to say it, but at 36-years-old Justin Turner is also headed South. He is asking for a four-year deal, which I don’t believe he will get. I have heard that he’s asking for four years in the $80 Million range. I do not this AF will go over 2-years unless it is with a “mutual option.” It would be ideal to have him back for two years, but not at any cost.
- To me, Kris Bryant trade makes the most sense. The Mets gave up four players to get Lindor and Carrasco. The Padres got Darvish and Caratini for one starter (Davis) and four prospects. I think Bryant could be had for two or three prospects…. all out of the Top 10. I think Kris Bryant is primed for a monster year and would slot nicely between Corey Seager and Max Muncy. On the other hand, if Turner would sign a two-year $38 Million Dollar Deal, the Farm System stays intact.
- The Dodgers will not give DJLM a 5-year deal unless it is some type of creative option. DJLM wants to stay in NYC. I would be surprised if DJ comes to LA… but never say never!
- Tweet from Vin Scully: “I want to express my gratitude for all your kind messages about my beloved Sandi. And with the loss of my dear friend Tommy, it’s been quite a lot to bear.” — But you are going to be just fine, Vin. We are with you!
NIGHT SHIFT
Discussion (77)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Strengths of the Dodgers farm system:
1. Overall depth: lots of future major leaguers with outstanding tools.
2. Catcher: Smith is established but there’s still Ruiz, Cartaya and now Galiz.
3. High velocity recent draftees: Miller, Beeter, Knack all show promise. Can add Pepiot, Lewis, Williams to the mix.
4. Infield versatility: Hoese, Busch, Mann, Amaya, Brandon Lewis, McKinstry all figure to move around a bit on the diamond.
5. Toolsy lottery tickets in Pages, L-Rod, De Jesus, Wilman Diaz.
I read this a few days ago in a chat, is this the problem for DH in the National League?
I hope someone can answer, I am not very aware of the situation, but I want to understand
”The NL owners are not a fan of the DH because it would add $5 million to the payroll of each team on average.
Right after the WS the owners offered to add the DH if the players would allow expanded playoffs like there was in 2020, but with no additional pay for the players even though the owners would get an additional $500 million just for the TV rights to expanded playoffs plus all the other local revenue. Players are typically not paid for the playoffs except a bonus for the teams that make it to the CS and WS. The players said no to that.
I am sure a compromise can be made, but probably not until the 2022 season.
On a side note, both the MLBPA and the Umpires union have approved the use of automated ball and strike calling. When do you think that is implemented? 2021 or 2022?”
Mark, you mentioned above that Turner is looking for $80MM for four years. That can’t be possibly true. In this financial environment there is no way someone is going to give JT four years. And, let alone for $80MM. And to think AF would consider a two year $38MM contract doesn’t make any sense. For a 36 year old who’s legs can’t hold up and who’s skills are declining? There’s been little FA activity so far for position players, so I don’t see the demand that Turner needs to generate a contract like the one he desires. And, if there’s no DH in 2021 then I don’t see any reason to sign him at any amount of money. Mark, I thought that you had mentioned weeks ago that you AF would sign JT for $16-20MM for two years. Why the huge increase in your estimate? To save a couple of mid level prospects required to obtain Bryant by signing JT at 2yr/ $38MM doesn’t make sense to me either. I guess I haven’t kept up with the drastic increase in what the FA market is generating. Anyway, we’ll see what happens.
Interesting that they believe Ruiz will be the better major league player over Cartaya.
We need a new LH pitching prospect to wish on. Robinson Ortiz might be our top one right now.
What they said about the Dodgers Farm System:
The top of the Dodgers system isn’t as strong but it’s for the right reasons – they graduated their top four prospects last year to the majors, which is the point of all this. The strength of the system this year is its depth. You go all the way down to the late 20s and you’re looking at players who might be top 10 in some other systems. It’s a really good system still with a lot of good players. As for the Top 100, I think we’ll see the top three in there, but that’s my opinion and my colleagues may or may not agree. We’ll see how the final list shakes out once everyone’s input is gathered and front office officials provide their feedback.
Are there any players that didn’t crack the top 10 that have breakout potential?
Kyle Glaser: Lots. Lots and lots and lots. Heck, there are some players who didn’t crack the Top 30 who have breakout potential. Alex De Jesus, Kendall Williams, Jimmy Lewis, Leonel Valera, Landon Knack, Jerming Rosario, Yeiner Fernandez, Nick Robertson…all are breakout candidates who could shoot up in the next year. (Some of those guys are in the top 30, some aren’t.) Those are just the main candidates. This system is insanely deep in quality players who could break out in a big way.
Some really good stuff going on in the Baseball America Dodgers Top Prospects chat with Kyle Glazer. I will try to hit on a few of the more interesting takes as soon as it wraps up. I rely heavily on BA reports of the prospects, then MLB Pipeline and Fangraphs, as well as the other sites. Based on what was said after the instructs last year, I became a Michael Busch fan much more than a Kody Hoese. I stated then and continue to state, that what separates Busch from the others is his bat to ball ability with good power. I am not down on Hoese (and neither is Glazer), but Busch just stood out at both the alternate site and Arizona instructs. But just for a taste, Glazer (BA) said the following:
“Michael Busch honestly raised his stock probably more than any prospect in baseball at instructs. (Quinn Priester with the Pirates is the other player vying for that title.) He shot up in everyone’s eyes.”
Kyle went on to say: “Leonel Valera, Nick Robertson and James Outman are three others who improved their stock during instructs in the Dodgers eyes.”
Then: “Alex De Jesus and Jimmy Lewis are the two players in particular I could see jumping into the top five in the future, although all the standard caveats apply about aggressive teenage hitters and high school righthanders with past shoulder injuries.”
I particularly liked his De Jesus comments. I have been advocating for him as long as everyone was touting Diego Cartaya (for very good reason). They wee signed the same year, and I commented at the time, do not sleep on De Jesus. When he came to the US as a teenager, he opened a lot of eyes. Big reason why I brought him up yesterday. I hope he continues to improve his plate discipline, because his talent is there.
It turns out that there were 11 pitchers to win both:
Kershaw (2014)
Verlander (2011)
Eckersley (1992)
Clemens (1986)
Willie Hernandez (1984)
Fingers (1981)
Vida Blue (1971)
Denny McClain (1968)
Gibson (1968)
Koufax (1963)
Newk (1956)
Just read the article about Don Newcombe at Dodgers.com. The author contended that Newk and Justin Verlander were the only 2 pitchers to win the Cy Young and MVP in the same season.
This is the Dodgers’ website and they didn’t know that Sandy Koufax (1963) and Clayton Kershaw (2014) did the same thing?
I foresee, teams going under and/or being sold. I think a very real possibility will be teams being moved to more open states and fleeing the most closed down states, unless the vaccine is such a raging success, immediately, that teams will not be able to afford to stay where they are currently locked down. Teams are just like people, you got to go where you are allowed to live and earn a living.
I don’t think it is going to be just baseball teams either, we are going to see a lot of changes in professional sports. College sports could see a lot of changes as well, closed down states and counties could be seeing a lot of collegiate teams closing down, since many schools rely on the money made by the big sports at their schools, we may see a lot of giant changes as far as the whole collegiate scene.
“I wasn’t born in Idaho, but I moved here as quick as I could”
Dodger 3rd baseman on opening day
JDLM
Rosenthal in the Pen
21 for the DH
The BA article opens with this:
The Dodgers have long been lauded as baseball’s “model” organization. They draft and develop better than anyone, they turn retreads into stars seemingly annually and they win games at a rate on par with the best teams in major league history. And now they have a World Series trophy to show for it.
Even with all the prospects they’ve graduated and others they’ve traded, the Dodgers still have a deep well of homegrown talent to draw from.
They have a chat at 4 PM EDT
Baseball America Top Ten:
1. Ruiz
2. Gray
3. Busch
4. Hoese
5. Miller
6. Cartaya
7. Rios
8. Pepiot
9. Vargas
10. Pages
I love it. Only surprise is Pepiot over Beeter.
Mark, have you ever looked into the capability of running polls here?
You have hundreds of people who visit this site every day and although only relatively few of us comment on a regular basis, you would probably have a much greater response to polls.
We’re all very opinionated here and maybe I’m the exception, but I would be very interested to see how reader opinion breaks down on all kinds of Dodger/baseball related issues .
Who will be the Dodger third baseman on opening day?
Justin Turner
Edwin Rios
Kris Bryant
Nolan Arenado
Eugenio Suarez
Jose Ramirez
Other
Who will AF sign for the bullpen?
Hand
Rosenthal
Colome
Yates
Soria
None of the above
When will the DH be adopted for the NL?
2021
2022
2023 or after
Never
Am I the only one interested in this kind of stuff? Naturally I value my opinion above all others but that doesn’t mean I’m not interested in what others have to say and whether my opinions are in the majority or minority on any particular subject.
I haven’t talked much if any about position players because my concern is the bullpen. But I have been eyeballing Kris Bryant for awhile now. It would be a trade and I hate talking trades because you never know who you would have to give up in a trade.
Bryant in his 6 year career has an OPS above .900 in 3 of those years and an OPS above .800 in 2 of those years. His only down year was last year which was a shortened year that could distort a players stats if the guy went in a long enough slump.
He’s got a career .986 OPS against LHP which would help the Dodger team since recently their team OPS against LHP hasn’t been all that good. Even though Bryant had a down year last year he still put up an .821 OPS against LHP. His problem last year was against RHP.
I would love to have Kris Bryant as a Dodger, but it would be a trade. So if Friedman could pull off a trade without giving up anyone I’m high on, that would be great.
Stay safe Watford. I think the commissioner firmly believes they will play a full season. As for bubbles, well, it was bad enough on the players over a 60 game schedule and playoff, 162 games? Guys are gonna crack. It is bad enough just not being able to do what one normally does. Limit access to family’s for more than half of a year? Not good. Do what the NBA did, limit travel, make sure there are no long trips. Play mostly in your own division and the AL’s version of your division like they did last year if you are worried about spreading the virus. It is time for some serious thinking about re alignment any way. Lots of ways you could do it regionally. Southern division would be like Miami, Tampa, Atlanta, Houston, and Texas. You want to change it up and create some new rivalry’s. North east, Boston, both New York teams, the Orioles and Nats. Lots of ways to do that. Just throwing stuff against the wall to see what sticks. Oh yeah, universal DH immediately.
Turner or Bryant and one more late inning bullpen piece. I like Yates. Is that enough of an off season for us? I respect your decision Bear but I’m getting my vaccine next week.
Morning guys – hope you’re all keeping safe.
For what it’s worth my thoughts on today’s theme.
There will be no full houses this season.
Here in the UK we have been approximately one month ahead of you on the Corona Curve. I remember mentioning on here around ST last year that we had a Virus here that was causing chaos- and so it played out.
I did think we would have a Baseball season, as we were already having a successful Soccer season – using “Bubbles”, and that the season would be enjoyable (unbelievably so in the Dodgers case).
This time I’m confident that we will get a Season but will be very surprised if it is 162 games, and certainly not in front of full stadiums.
I mentioned last week about the new variant strain that is 70% more transmissible wreaking havoc here.
This has resulted in the “Bubbles” being breached everywhere, and games being postponed to the point where teams are unable to fulfill fixtures and now there is much chatter about taking a break to let things calm down.
If and when this new strain reaches the US ( it has crept into many European countries now) – I’m afraid a 162 game season let alone playing in front of full houses will be highly unlikely.
We are in full Lockdown now, and that is not doing the job. The hospitals are at breaking point, and although we’ve been Vaccinating for a month now, it is yet to have much effect. I hope you don’t have this to deal with, but unfortunately I think it’s inevitable, and if it does, the way in which the players and teams were able to avoid contracting the Virus will probably not work to such an extent.
We are at the worst point currently – once the numbers vaccinated really start to have an effect, and importantly, the weather warms up, like last year, the virus will die down.
My guess is that the season will not start on time, but will begin in May/June time with a reduced schedule, in front of limited crowds, and will ultimately be successful.
As for the Dodgers – was pleased to see Treinan coming back, but I disagree that simply adding Turner will be enough.
Much depends on Lux. I like what he has to offer – he just needs time and we should give him every opposite to succeed.
I would certainly see if Bauer would be interested in 2 years with a mutual option on 3 – at a very high AVV, to play for his hometown team, and a perennial contender.
Beuhler, Bauer, Kershaw, Urias, Price, May and Gonsolin gives us plenty of options in the Post Season.
The Dodgers will need to improve again to overcome the best of the NL.
I sincerely hope everyone had a great day yesterday. I braved a chance at snow blindness and went to the Guitar Center in Pueblo. I decided to trade in my Peavey Vyper-1. Very complicated amplifier. Since I am not a nerd, I went for the much easier to use and program, Fender LT-25 Mustang. Light, compact and 25 watts, which for the venues I play is perfect. No need for Vox Super-Beatles here. While there I spotted a nice Squire Tele that was used, but looked new. So I got a new amp, gig bag and guitar. With my trade in and Veteran’s discount, I walked out with those babies for 310.00. Not bad. My Tele thinline set me back more than that. I also decided I needed to see my computer better and got a 32 inch TV to use as a monitor. Standing in the tall cotton boys. Sorry Cassidy, not getting the vaccine. Old enough to make my own choices and my choice is no. Lots of reasons and will not go into the details here. As for letting the people back in, well I hope it happens at some point. College football allowed a few people in. But Mark is right that with baseball being an outside game, the chances of interaction in a crowd that separated are minimal. I just want to see games. Best thing about yesterday was being alone and not having to listen to the news, or people spouting all sorts of garbage. I needed the peace and quiet.
Everybody over 65 to get the vaccine so at least all of us can go to some ballgames!
Sorry to point out the typo, but the Dodger’s next 3rd baseman is Kris Bryant.