MLB shouldn’t consider Florida a viable site for games

MLB is desperately looking for a plan that they can sell to the masses to start their 2020 season. But the most viable plans include playing games in Florida. But MLB needs a new site.

We all want the Mariners to start playing as soon as possible and under the latest proposals by MLB baseball, they would be stationed in Arizona or Texas. But at least 10 or so teams will be asked to play in Florida and even though Seattle would not be one of them, the decision can still impact the game as a whole, and therefore, our favorite team.

We try desperately to stay away from politics on our website but there are very few states, if any, that have had a worse plan of attack to defeat COVID-19 than Florida. The reckless disregard for the well being of people should not be rewarded with a miniature town of professional athletes basically showing up for a 5-month stretch.

Florida has done next to nothing to show they are taking the virus seriously, making me wonder if any MLB players would actually risk playing and living there for the next 5 months? In addition to the isolation from their family, players would rightly be concerned with staying healthy while playing in the epicenter of the virus.

In addition, any resources that MLB would surely require in Florida for 5 months could potentially put a strain on the residents of the state.

Yes, Florida has two domed stadiums, a major plus for MLB who, if they can, in fact, split the game into 3 leagues, would have access to 5 domed stadiums, helping mitigate the concerns about playing summer baseball outdoors. But without any kind of concern being placed on the health of its residents by the Florida state government, what is the upside to MLB players agreeing to play in that state?

Obviously, a lot can change, and seemingly does daily, and there are a lot of moving parts in all of MLBs proposals. And no plan is viable without a universally available test that proves to be accurate and fast. But as things stand right now, players should have no interest in playing in Florida and I hope MLB wouldn’t either.

But if there is one thing we can typically agree on, it’s that MLB greed will put all plans, even the especially bad ones, on the table.