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What Half of an MLB Season Means

Many professional leagues have their fair share of issues ahead in attempts to return. It didn’t shorten the regular season by much in the NBA or NHL. However, the best-case scenario for the MLB is to play half of the regular season. There is still plenty of debating left to do with the MLB and the Players’ Association in order to get players back on the field, but if they do, there will be plenty of things to consider with only half of a season to play.

Records

Sports fans have brought up that the MLB season is too long before. 162 games make for a long season, but that’s how it has always been. One of the most important things in baseball is the history.

This will hurt certain players on long term goals. There are all-time greats in the league, such as Mike Trout, that are chasing numbers created by Hall of Famers. A shortened season, or shortened seasons as the norm, would hurt players’ quest for those records.

On season goals, it could help. This could create chances for players to hit above their normal average, or pitchers to throw below their average ERA. A shortened season would mean less rest for players and create more drama. If they have a bad season, this could also be another negative.

Fantasy Baseball

The shortened season will be something to keep in mind for those who are drafting their fantasy team, but the best will remain the best. As ESPN senior baseball writer Eric Karabell says, “History tells us it is hardly a given that the best baseball players in past full seasons are going to be the best ones during a future half-season. There is constant and often unpredictable volatility regardless of position, but that does not necessarily mean we should rip up our original rankings, either.”

The possibility of seeing a player hit above .400 also rises with a 3-month season. It’s a rare occurrence for a full 6-month season, but the shortened schedule creates a better chance.

Starting pitchers are not going to have the number of wins as they usually do. In a full season, it might not be the end of the world for a guy to throw only 4 or 5 innings in April. But that will change.

Middle relievers will have a larger opportunity for success and gain wins in the shortened season format. Every game must have a winning pitcher, so this could be the year to pay attention to middle inning bullpen arms a little more.

What’s Left before Play?

Many players still continue to press for a larger portion of a profit. They have not seemed to budge on many of the owners’ ideas of revenue distribution.

If fans are going to be able to draft their MLB fantasy teams this season, they need to come to an agreement soon. Half of the season being suspended was because of the coronavirus, while the other half is going to be about money.

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