MLB Provides Refreshment and Peculiarity in Return

[Nash Walker]

The fans were in cutout form, the pre-game intros were mostly mute, and each of the two games Thursday represented 2.7 times more importance than usual. Baseball is back in the weirdest way.There hadn’t been a real MLB game in 266 days. The long layoff created mounds of anticipation, excitement, and anxiety. How was it going to look? Would the players be ready to perform at a high level?

 

Will it feel the same?

 

It didn’t, and that’s okay. Nothing about this year has been rudimentary. Professional sports haven’t been any different. That MLB just made it to opening day is a massive feat. Now we’ll continue to cross our fingers that the league can sustain itself for 66 days and an expanded postseason.

 

Despite the abnormality of no fans, a 60-game season, and playing amid a global pandemic, baseball was live. There was a feeling of relief, refreshment and content. Those are the feelings we have yearned for. Just hearing “what time is the game tonight?” is revitalizing. We always knew it might be the small things; filling out a scorecard, tracking pitch counts, etc. Those simple and beautiful things are back.

 

We get to watch Mike Trout, one of the greatest ever, play baseball. We are treated to seeing Josh Donaldson as a Twin, a man who has more career MVP vote shares than Paul Molitor, Eddie Matthews, and Wade Boggs at third base. 2019 breakouts Luis Arráez, Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco are back for an encore. There is tangible excitement for what’s to come.

 

It’s okay to feel apprehensive about baseball returning. It does seem out of place. Some may even feel like MLB should pack it up until 2021; that’s fine too. There is no wrong way to view this season. We are living through an unprecedented tragedy, repeating every day.

 

Simply: this season is historic. We will look back on the 2020 MLB campaign as an unbelievable event. If you lived under a rock for the last 6 months and then turned on your TV to a game with no fans, what would your explanation be? Why in the world would there be no fans at games? Why would coaches be wearing masks? Why would there only be 60 games? I definitely would not have answered with “oh, must be a global pandemic.” Sometimes there are no words to describe the last four-plus months.

 

We are naturally going to compare this baseball season to the past. We will scope the 2020 Twins in comparison to the 2019 Twins. We’ll compare the World Series champion to years prior. It’s a built-in caveat of any season. Sports are all about comparison, but this year is like no other.

 

Embrace the conflicting feelings.

 

Embrace the 60 games.

 

Embrace the runner-on-2nd in extras rule.

 

Embrace the expanded postseason.

 

Embrace baseball.

 

Let’s go!

 

SEE ALSO

Minnesota Twins Opening Day Roster

20 Twins Predictions for the 2020 Season

Swinging Sixty: Minnesota Twins 2020 Season Preview

The 2020 Preseason All-AL Central Team

Who Are the Twins Best 60 Game Sprinters?

Ranking Minnesota’s Top-5 Indispensable Players

 

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[jimbo92107]

I felt bad for Fauci. Didn't anybody play catch with him, even for a few minutes, before he threw that ball? Fauci when young was a very good athlete. It looked like the first time he'd thrown a ball in several decades. 

 

I guess he grew up early.

[Brandon]

I am offended baseball is letting politics get into the game. I do not watch baseball for the politics. I watch it when I want to get away from reality for a bit.