NEWSLETTER
If you are willing to accept any small bits of positivity right now, let me offer that the last three days of testing in the US were each higher than any of the previous 17 days. Testing volume/availability had seemed to plateau for weeks, so I’m hoping this means some additional capacity/resources came online (and also, we know that significant additional funding is coming).
NBA Runway
Although there are not yet any firm plans in place for the NBA to return to finish its season (only the NHL appears to be making those plans public right now), I do find it interesting to think about how much runway they’re going to need to relaunch, much like baseball will require a Spring Training Part Two.
To that end, OKC guard and Players Association President Chris Paul says players are going to need a lot more time than I think most are thinking.
“I’m just letting you know – and I don’t think the league would do it anyway – but if they were like, ‘Hey, you got two weeks, and then we’re going,’ that’s not going to happen,” Paul said during a conference call this week, per ESPN. “That’s not going to happen. Whatever the amount of time is, just know that players will have the input, the say-so, because we’re the ones playing. That comes first. We don’t ever want to put guys in a situation where their injury risk is higher than ever before.”
At least three or four weeks of a ramp-up period will be necessary, according to Paul, given the disparity in players’ ability to stay sharp (and thus ward off future injury) during the shutdown.
The league had about a months’ worth of regular season games remaining when things shut down, to be followed by the two-month playoffs. Even in a world where the NBA could kick off its runway at some point in May (no one is publicly expecting that at the moment), you wouldn’t see the season ending until well into September if you played things out “normally.” I’m just speculating, but that seems a pretty unlikely plan unless the 2020-21 season is going to be pushed back significantly (then again, there were already calls to do that as part of a long-term schedule change, so maybe).
More Baseball Player Perspective
Good interview here from Jesse Rogers with Phillies righty Aaron Nola:
'Wherever they want to play, I'll play': Phillies ace Aaron Nola on MLB shutdown life, baseball's return and more https://t.co/L0I41o6g7I— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) April 24, 2020
Safety from COVID-19 is the big thing, obviously, but a pitcher like Nola is obviously also thinking very much about if and how he will ramp back up. He describes his current situation as staying in shape in a pre-Spring Training way, and if most pitchers are like that – how could they do much more right now? – you cannot expect them to get into game action too quickly. Even if you presume expanded rosters and only a few innings at a time for “starters,” real game situations are just different – guys push a little more, and if they aren’t properly stretched and warmed and ready, you’re going to a spike in injuries.
To that end, here’s what Nola said when asked how long he’d need to ramp up:
“Word on the street is we’re not going to have a month to get ready – maybe a couple of weeks. Right now, we have a pretty good plan going with all our pitchers, sending texts out and staying in contact with our trainers and pitching coach. Part of it is on the player. We have to know what we need to do to get ready. Obviously, no one has experienced this type of deal at the beginning of the season, but we know what we have to do to keep our arm in shape, whether it’s two or three weeks or whatever.”
Here’s hoping all teams have a good plan and process in place for keeping pitchers’ arms ready to ramp up, and then safely guiding them through that process.
Various League Plans
The Cape Cod League – home of wood bats and college players looking to showcase for scouts – will not take place this year:
“The primary concern was always safety for our beloved Cape, players, coaches, batboys, host families, volunteers, merchants, sponsors, employers, suppliers and residents.”
Read Paul Galop’s behind the scenes look into the difficult decision here: https://t.co/sWS4gZ3U60 pic.twitter.com/NIQqSGhiNd— Cape League (@Official_CCBL) April 25, 2020
Meanwhile, Major League Soccer is not going to be back for a while:
MLS extends team training moratorium through May 15. Previously the league had said no matches until June 8 at the earliest, which is wishful thinking. Think July-August, if ever this year.— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) April 23, 2020
But women’s pro soccer is apparently planning to start ramping up soon:
https://twitter.com/SoccerInsider/status/1253784764970086401
