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This is not intended to minimize the Corona Virus crisis in any way, BUT just more information for those concerned about summer collegiate leagues: 

IF, summer ball can be played, and that's a wait and see thing like  everything else, it will have an interesting element: the Seniors, now having another year of eligibility (although mom and dad might not write that big check for school just for another season), can play wooden bat league this summer, and the teams I've spoken to in our league (Valley) are buried with calls from coaches and now-eligible-seniors. Our GM said he received 10 calls or e-mails just before noon today.  As far as we know, no leagues have expanded their rosters or changed their schedules yet....because we don't know what the future holds, so most leagues seem to be in a "wait and see" mode for the next few weeks.  Teams that signed more than the allowed roster size (like us)..... anticipating we would lose a few to injuries, grades, and girls as happens every year...now find there may not be natural attrition sooooo unpopular phone calls could be made. Teams are also experiencing former studs, crowd favorites, are now eligible again, D-1 weekend starters will be looking for mounds, but there is no room at the Roster Inn.     Of course, the NCAA could decide NCAA players can't play this summer, or coaches might hold back players out of fear that if they get sick with the virus, the "L" word ("Liability") pops up.   It is all a big mish mash of the unknown times 10 so truly "wait and see" is the order of the day. IF we get to play, we will have players report earlier than normal to get some practice time in, something that is normally not much  needed.   Players need to be working out as much as possible to keep in shape, and pitchers need to be throwing. And lots of prayers for those suffering from the Corona virus.

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This is a timely thread.   We got an email from my son's new travel team, the summer before he goes to play at college.  He is not playing in any of the bigger leagues which I think is going to help them play sooner as its less structured with no host families, etc.   The coach says since the college kids are home they are going to start working out as a team as soon as CT opens back up for biz and if HS season cancels, still hope it doesn't, he will work the graduating seniors in right away. They will look to start early.   I do not think this is overly optimistic, I think it's realistic.    I do think there will be bigger issues for the bigger leagues like politics, hosting, scheduling etc.

Last edited by Gunner Mack Jr.

The whole reason that the high school and college seasons have been cancelled is to break chains of virus transmission.  If summer teams start practicing, that will completely undermine and make a mockery of all of the sacrifices that have already been made.

There is NO NEED for baseball team practices.  Sure the players will probably be fine even if they get it, but they will carry it back to their families.  The whole point of the 10-person ban that the White House has recommended is to reduce the rate of transmission. 

anotherparent - my state is shut down and when it opens they will start.  This isn't coaches jumping the gun its coaches getting ready to run and start early if the situation is possible.   As I wrote as soon as CT opens they will start.   

I am also in the camp that high schools should not cancel seasons but should roll decisions forward every two weeks as facts on the ground change.   No one knows what will happen in 4 weeks or 8 weeks or 12 weeks but everyone should keep planning to get back to normal and not make rash decisions based on worst-case scenarios.  I am not saying that is your point of view just giving my opinion.  

NECBL has said they will be expanding their rosters, to give more kids an opportunity to play.

2 months from now, will be mid-May.  Let's hope the curve has collapsed by then, boys can start practicing, and getting ready for games to begin in early June (can't believe I've succumbed to the Oxford Comma!)

I'm back to being optimistic!!

anotherparent posted:

The whole reason that the high school and college seasons have been cancelled is to break chains of virus transmission.  If summer teams start practicing, that will completely undermine and make a mockery of all of the sacrifices that have already been made.

There is NO NEED for baseball team practices.  Sure the players will probably be fine even if they get it, but they will carry it back to their families.  The whole point of the 10-person ban that the White House has recommended is to reduce the rate of transmission. 

Not going to debate whether the feds/state are handling the problem appropriately.  Purpose is to decrease and minimize the transmission and avoid hospitalizations and worse.  I'm sure there will be leagues that will start sooner than recommended, "secret" practices/games that one can find or participate in.  In a way one can find any medical diagnosis to support what you want to hear instead of the majority of docs (it's just a muscle strain vs tear).  Just be careful and make a wise decision.  It's easier to read about those that unfortunately passed away due to complications from the virus than to have it hit closer to home (a parent, grandparent, neighbor) who MAY have been exposed to the virus from your son who was exposed to the virus from a player from Team ZZZ.  JMO

If anyone subscribes to D1 baseball, there is a suggestion in an article about a plan to implement  baseball in the fall to make up for the lost season and provide an opportunity for seniors to play in the fall.  This is in conjunction with changing the draft at some point, which is basically what the article was about.  This obviously would require players to arrive back at school sometime in the summer.

Then in the spring after the break, the regular season would be played, without returning seniors, incorporating freshman.

Of course this would take a lot of people working to make this happen, but I actually thought it sounded pretty good compared to other options and unfortunately, this could  hurt the college summer season.

This of course, would mean if we could get over this virus sooner than later.

TPM posted:

If anyone subscribes to D1 baseball, there is a suggestion in an article about a plan to implement  baseball in the fall to make up for the lost season and provide an opportunity for seniors to play in the fall.  This is in conjunction with changing the draft at some point, which is basically what the article was about.  This obviously would require players to arrive back at school sometime in the summer.

Then in the spring after the break, the regular season would be played, without returning seniors, incorporating freshman.

Of course this would take a lot of people working to make this happen, but I actually thought it sounded pretty good compared to other options and unfortunately, this could  hurt the college summer season.

This of course, would mean if we could get over this virus sooner than later.

I figured this idea would pop up sometime. Until the MLB figures out what their plans are for the draft it will still be an issue. Beyond the draft there are still budget issues. Scholarships were paid out for the 2019-2020 school year. Tuition will reset for the following semester. Then the issue of travel and paying for it. Also the cold weather schools who will need to play road games exclusively starting in mid October. 

Then there is the issue of guys who were not academically eligible for the spring 2020 season, redshirts, etc. Summer leagues would have to shut down as pitchers can't realistically pitch 3 "seasons" in a row. Coaches who were not going to be returning to new school. 

In theory it's a nice idea, but there is no outcome that doesn't result in at least one group of players (seniors, freshmen, high schoolers, etc) getting screwed. 

keewart posted:

To add.....another issue will be players that need to take a larger load of classes in the fall and classes with labs, so they can take a reduced load in the spring. 

To build on this point:  My school initially tried to continue holding classes that had an unavoidable in-person component (labs, engineering workshops, architecture, sculpture...).  That proved impossible.  (Duh--"History majors need to practice social distancing, but those of you in STEM fields can come to campus part-time" didn't fly.)  I don't think college administrators around the country have a clear idea how to handle giving credit for interrupted coursework that requires in-person components.  The class I teach has no lab-type element.  The rest of this spring is going to be a lot less productive than a typical semester, IMO; but my students can complete enough work that no one is going to seriously question giving them three credit hours.  That may be a lot less clear for other courses.

I'm not advocating penalizing students for circumstances beyond anyone's control.  And in the end, I think schools will just award credit--if only to avoid any question of having to make tuition refunds.  But some profs or schools may disagree, and if you are taking a course with a strict sequence (say, Physics 102, which is a prerequisite for all upper level Physics classes), they could have a point:  Students may miss out on crucial topics/skills.

My guess is most profs will essentially treat the second half of the semester as "pass/fail" because each student faces a different array of disruptions.  (I have students with elementary school-aged kids who are now home while mom or dad try to take online classes.  Others will lose their hourly jobs and have no income.  The list of issues is endless.)  There are a lot of unknowns, and there will be ripple effects in academics as well as baseball.

TPM posted:

If anyone subscribes to D1 baseball, there is a suggestion in an article about a plan to implement  baseball in the fall to make up for the lost season and provide an opportunity for seniors to play in the fall.  This is in conjunction with changing the draft at some point, which is basically what the article was about.  This obviously would require players to arrive back at school sometime in the summer.

Then in the spring after the break, the regular season would be played, without returning seniors, incorporating freshman.

Of course this would take a lot of people working to make this happen, but I actually thought it sounded pretty good compared to other options and unfortunately, this could  hurt the college summer season.

This of course, would mean if we could get over this virus sooner than later.

Not a bad idea. Canadian schools, with the exception of UBC(NAIA) all play a fall schedule. The milder weather to the south would make it even more doable.

Last edited by 57special
Iowamom23 posted:

Not sure if maybe this should be a separate thread, but — what is your son doing to stay in shape with the shut down of gyms, throwing facilities, etc? Is your son still maintaining a throwing regimen and if so what steps is he taking to avoid infection with his throwing partners?

So very difficult. Ours found online workouts. Probably not ideal. He also elected to stay at school with his house mate, who also plays baseball. They are working together to prepare for summer. Once the weather breaks a bit, they plan to find an outdoor cage. Can he throw to someone that lives with him?  Buy catchers gear?  I wish I had more suggestions. Pm me and I’ll let ya know which workout he bought and if it’s worth it. 

It's probably best not to throw with a partner, unless you are fine with either infecting, or being infected, by them.  This virus exists on surfaces for hours. Use a net instead.

If you are lucky enough to have a gym at home then you can lift there. Hitting off a tee is always good. 

My eldest is still away at college. He is a weight room devotee, so he doesn't know what to do with himself. He isn't even allowed to use the cages.

Youngest son (HS) can't work out except at home. Right now I am hitting him Fungos and BP, and he throws into a Bownet. We have decided to stay away from friends as practice partners. 

Pretty good article about the current state of collegiate summer leagues. (Unfortunately, it's behind a paywall.) Kind of amazing how much ingenuity people are bringing to this problem. It also mentions some of the local leagues that have popped up all over the country to fill the void. We have one in my area. Lots of local college kids playing under less than ideal circumstances. Constantly changing rules and field availability. One of the state's guidelines is for the catcher to stay 6' from the batter. How?

https://www.baseballamerica.co...unprecedented-season

My son was going to play in one of the pop up league games yesterday but two kids on the opposing team tested positive for COVID so they cancelled the game. At my younger daughter's school, the football and basketball players returned for "voluntary" work outs and they've had several cases already as well. My son has also participated in a couple of events that put rules in place to enhance social distancing (e.g. limiting spectators, no more than 6 kids in the dugout, etc.) and then you see kids positing pictures on Instagram of those six kids piled together, just happy to be playing again and seeing their friends. It's super hard for kids to social distance. It is going to be interesting how this all rolls out....  

Pretty good article about the current state of collegiate summer leagues. (Unfortunately, it's behind a paywall.) Kind of amazing how much ingenuity people are bringing to this problem. It also mentions some of the local leagues that have popped up all over the country to fill the void. We have one in my area. Lots of local college kids playing under less than ideal circumstances. Constantly changing rules and field availability. One of the state's guidelines is for the catcher to stay 6' from the batter. How?

https://www.baseballamerica.co...unprecedented-season

1. Paywalls are good things — the one on my web site is feeding my family. It was a good article.

2. We have a league here in Des Moines with two teams playing weekend doubleheaders. It's been a nice experience in a minor league park and felt very secure for spectators, although maybe less so for players (teenagers don't get social distancing). They also are hosting high school games during the week, our varsity is slated to play there tomorrow. Usually that's an experience that only teams playing in the state tournament get, so it's pretty cool for a lot of our small schools.

3. Son is getting his COVID test today so he can go play with the Northwoods. Sounds like they will have to have a negative test within a period of time in order to travel to other communities. Speaking as one who has been tested, if kids are willing to have someone drive a swab into their brains to play baseball, they really want to play!

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