MLB, players union eye plan for May restart in Arizona: report

Major League Baseball and its players union are showing interest in a plan that could allow the season to start in May at several stadiums in Arizona, ESPN reported Tuesday.

The idea, unnamed sources told the US sports network's website, has the support of top federal public health officials who think all 30 clubs could operate safely despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The plan would have teams play at empty outdoor stadiums in the Phoenix area where several teams conduct pre-season spring training and Chase Field, the retractable-roof home stadium for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Players, managers and coaches, umpires and others would be sequestered at area hotels, living in relative isolation with travel only to and from the stadium, essentially in a bubble to be kept from the public.

"I think there would be an adjustment but we would follow suit," retired MLB star and television commentator Alex Rodriguez told ESPN.

"Players want to play and fans want to watch." The MLB season of 162 games per club was to have opened on March 26.

MLB stars such as Bryce Harper and Mike Trout potentially would be forced to play an entire campaign away from families and friends while the Washington Nationals would try to defend their World Series crown in empty ballparks on the other side of the country.

"It's a completely different experience," Rodriguez said of empty stadiums.

"Communication as an infielder would be a lot better. I think it would be fine for television but on the field it would be like a spring training game."
- Extreme Arizona heat -
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