COVID-19, commonly known as the Coronavirus, has ceased everything in the world of sports especially MLB.
From the conclusion of the NBA’s regular season to the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan.
Sadly, somebody needs to check on the baseball fans for the baseball fans, who have keenly surveyed all the major off-season moves within the MLB.
Imagine marking a date on your calendar, expecting that to be a special day in the park with a special person. Then, that person cancels on you. That special person is Opening Day for baseball fans.
March 26th, 2020 was supposed to be a day where all 30 Major League Baseball teams across the nation played a full Opening Day of baseball. It would have only been the second time since 1968 that all teams played on the first day of the season.
The day would have started with the New York. Mets taking on the defending champions, Washington Nationals, at 1:10 p.m. EST in Queens, NY and ended with the Arizona Diamondbacks squaring off against the Atlanta Braves at 10:10 p.m. EST game in Phoenix.
Other than all 30 teams playing today, this Opening Day also had a different feel compared to years past because there has been so much hype built up since November.
How could you not be anticipating Opening Day 2020? With off-season moves like, Mookie Betts and David Price getting shipped out of Boston to the Los Angeles Dodgers or when the Phillies signed Zack Wheeler & Didi Gregorious. Or, even being intrigued to see what will happen in the Houston Astros first season following the sign-stealing scandal? (It will be the biggest dark cloud to hang over a MLB team since the steroids investigation in 2005.)
Even just the experience of going to the games.
The sound of the ball off the bat or the umpire yelling out “STRIKE THREEEE!” The smell of the freshly cut grass and the freshly brewed beer or the sight of watching a homerun go over the fence. It was a lot to look forward to.
However, baseball fans do not feel too discouraged!
The MLB Network will be airing memorable games all day today. Starting with Derek Jeter’s Opening Day homerun in 1996 vs. the Cleveland Indians at 1 p.m. EST. Also, ESPN2 will be airing a Home Run Derby marathon this evening at 6 p.m. EST.