Who Will Benefit from the MLB Layoff as the Season Starts?
Downside: After a roster purge and a last-place finish, the Mariners, who have not made the playoffs since 2001, could have used a full schedule this year to learn more about which players could be long-term answers.
Texas Rangers
Upside: The veteran outfielder Shin-Soo Choo set a powerful example during the pandemic by giving $1,000 to every Rangers minor leaguer (around $200,000 in all).
Downside: The Rangers, who have furloughed more than 10 percent of their full-time employees, will finally open Globe Life Field on July 24 against Colorado — with the stands empty. You might call that raining on their parade, but the new park has a retractable roof.
National League East
Atlanta Braves
Upside: Kudos to Freddie Freeman, the star first baseman, for sharing his experience with Covid-19 and sending a powerful message to his fellow players of how serious the virus can be. “I said a little prayer that night because I’ve never been that hot before,” Freeman told reporters, referring to the worst moment of his illness. “My body was really, really hot, so I said, ‘Please don’t take me.’ I wasn’t ready.”
Downside: Freeman has returned, but his experience helped convince the veteran outfielder Nick Markakis to opt out and avoid the risk. Also, starter Cole Hamels recently aggravated the triceps injury that bothered him in spring training and does not seem close to returning.
Miami Marlins
Upside: Playing home games before empty seats will be nothing new for the Marlins, who have had the lowest attendance in the National League in 13 of the last 14 seasons.
Downside: The Marlins — with chief executive Derek Jeter and Manager Don Mattingly — finish their schedule with a three-game series in the Bronx from Sept. 25 to 27. It would be a perfect setting for the fans to salute two former Yankee captains (if Jeter travels), but barring a change in policy, the stands will be empty.
Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/22/sports/baseball/mlb-season-preview.html