Sheryl Ring – Beyond the Box Score: Major League Baseball is an organization that needs to change with the times. MLB loves to trot out Jackie Robinson as a symbol of their progressive leanings, but they have turned Robinson into nothing more than eyewash. The reality of the organization is that they remain deeply racist with racist team names, mascots, logos, and more. MLB isn’t interested in change though, that would affect profits after all.
Craig Goldstein – Baseball Prospectus ($): MLB is on its way back, plans are finally in place for the start of the 2020 season. Baseball fans are generally happy about this announcement. I don’t blame them for that, I wish I could be happy as well. Unfortunately, MLB mainly plays in America, and America’s response to COVID-19 has been laughably bad. In no way are we ready for the return of live baseball, especially when MLB owners are already talking about trying to get fans in the stands.
J.J. Cooper – Baseball America ($): Minor League Baseball will not have a 2020 season and when it’s various leagues resume play in 2021 it will look much different. Some teams will be gone, while there are persistent rumors that a handful of independent clubs are set to join the affiliated ranks. The MLB owners got what they wanted and have started the process of gutting MiLB and slowly removing baseball from rural areas.
Lead photo courtesy of Unknown – The Jackie Robinson Foundation
