Philadelphia Phillies and MLB 2020 season days lost to the COVID-19 pandemic: 16.
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Bob Nightengale at USA Today reports on a number of radical ideas for MLB should the 2020 regular season open, including possible realignment:
“The plan would have all 30 teams returning to their spring training sites in Florida and Arizona, playing regular-season games only in those two states and without fans in an effort to reduce travel and minimize risks in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The divisions would be realigned based on the geography of their spring training homes.”
Tyler Kepner at the New York Times wrote on the current experiences of former MLB players who now perform overseas in the Korean Baseball Organization:
“The K.B.O. plans to resume its exhibition schedule on April 21, but for now its teams are staging intrasquad games that are streamed online. Some players wear masks on the field.”
Former Phillies second base great Chase Utley made Hall of Fame writer Jayson Stark‘s “All-Winner” team in a discussion on that topic with MLB Network’s Brian Kenny:
Now for the latest Philadelphia Phillies news from local and national resources:
Evan Macy at The Philly Voice wrote on the possible benefit to the Phillies should baseball follow through with a proposal to realign for a 2020 season:
“…the Phillies would move from a division in which they are slated to finish either 3rd or 4th, with three other teams coming off of winning records in 2019 into a grouping of teams with just one winner — albeit the very talented Yankees.”
Corey Seidman at NBC Sports Philadelphia wrote on the annual release of sports franchise values by Forbes:
“The valuation of the Phillies franchise is up to $2 billion, according to Forbes. It’s an 8 percent increase from last year. The only teams in the majors to experience a higher percentage year-over-year increase than the Phillies are the Yankees, the World Champion Nationals and the Orioles.”
Seidman also wrote on hopes for Scott Kingery to take another step forward once play finally gets underway:
“The Phillies are not relying on Kingery to be their offensive centerpiece or even their sixth-best hitter. However, they’d be so much stronger as a lineup if Kingery could maneuver his way closer to the top of the order and produce.”
Ryan Lawrence for The Sun Newspapers wrote on local product Greg Brodzinski, who was drafted by the Phillies and now is set to join Joe Girardi‘s coaching staff:
“Getting drafted by the Phillies was probably the greatest day of my life, being around my family, growing up 15 minutes from the stadium and loving the Phillies my whole life,” Brodzinski said per Lawrence. “My room was (covered) wall to wall with Phillies memorabilia and news clippings.”
First baseman Rhys Hoskins will represent the Phillies in a special MLB The Show “Player’s League” with games beginning on Friday night. Fans will be able to follow and watch at a number of different locations:
Matt Breen at The Inquirer wrote on the 1966 random draw from a hat between three teams including the Phillies for the services of pitching prospect Tom Seaver:
“The Phillies came within a lucky draw of landing Seaver, who was one of the best pitchers of his generation. The righthander won three Cy Young Awards with the Mets and posted a 2.86 ERA over 20 major-league seasons.”
Meghan Montemurro at The Athletic did a Phillies topical mailbag based on fan questions, one of which raised the possibility of a four-man starting rotation:
“It’s an interesting setup to consider, especially since it would optimize Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler, getting them as many starts as possible. But a compressed schedule could mean fewer off days and/or more doubleheaders. Taxing the starting pitchers would be a concern with a four-man rotation, even if the Phillies could call on two or three long relievers.”
Scott Lauber at The Inquirer took a look at former Phillies pitchers Ben Lively and David Buchanan, both now getting set to play in Korea during the 2020 season:
“Five years removed from his last major-league start and half a world away from home, David Buchanan laughs at the idea that he’s back at the center of the baseball universe — if he ever occupied a seat there in the first place. “I’m not sure what kind of reputation I left in Philly,” the right-hander said by phone Wednesday. “I probably have a better reputation in Allentown than I do in Philly.””
I was a guest of host Rich Baxter on the “Phillies Talk” podcast on Wednesday, talking a lot about the possible return of baseball in late May or early June. Joined also by baseball legal expert and SABR award winning author Lou Schiff, we discussed some of those issues as well as Philadelphia baseball history…with a touch of Marlins history since Lou is a Fish fan and season ticket holder:
Philadelphia area coronavirus updates continue to be provided via The Inquirer live news ticker on the pandemic. Also, the City of Philadelphia is currently under a Business Activity and Stay at Home Order. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the NIH (National Institutes of Health have tremendous resources on updates and the national response.
You can view the archives for these Lunch Bell reports at any time. They are released every day all year-round barring some unusual circumstance. Each report highlights important updates on the Phillies and MLB, including articles curated from around the web, social media posts, and video. During the pandemic we will include any relevant updates in that regard as well.
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FINAL NOTE: This date in 1971 the Phillies played their first-ever game at Veteran’s Stadium. The club defeated the Montreal Expos by a 4-1 score behind Hall of Fame and Wall of Fame pitcher Jim Bunning. The first hit at the new ballpark came off the bat of Phillies Wall of Famer Larry Bowa, who promptly stole the first base. Later in that game, Don Money blasted the first home run at the glistening all-purpose facility in South Philly.
MATT VEASEY 