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No autographs, spitting or daily coronavirus blood tests under MLB proposal
Vinnie Duber, NBC Sports Chicago
The league submitted to the players' union a document covering health and safety that's between 80 and 100 pages long, according to Nightengale. Among the recommendations, players will be strongly discouraged from using ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft, players will be encouraged not to sign autographs or pose for pictures with fans, and high-fives and spitting will be forbidden.
Surprisingly, though, Nightengale reported that the league is not recommending daily blood tests for COVID-19 as part of its proposal to start the season but instead is recommending daily temperature checks.
I mean, first, it’s Bob Nightengale. But to be fair, he’s reported the coronavirus return stories pretty accurately and non-sensationally. Vinnie runs down a basic, initial framework for baseball’s return. Among all the potholes that will be stepped in between now and a possible eventual Opening Day, foremost may be the apparent lack of blood testing (!) on a daily basis for players who comprise tens and hundreds of millions of dollars in investment for every major league team. That seems like ... a reckless oversight.
Blake Snell on playing baseball in 2020: “it’s just not worth it”
Danny Russell, DRaysBay
Snell became one of the first players to speak out at length against playing baseball in 2020, particularly when pay cuts have been proposed by MLB, perhaps as a precursor to revenue sharing in future seasons.
The leader of our sensational sister site DRB transcribed all of Blake Snell’s comments on returning to the playing field (on Twitch!) and, let’s just say they don’t inspire hope. (And incidentally, Snell is speaking 100% truth.)
2020 OOTP sim: Another heartbreaker
Brett Ballantini, South Side Hit Pen at Sports Illustrated
But in a season where every break is seemingly falling their way, the Padres snatched victory from defeat by tying up the White Sox in the ninth and using a two-out Manny Machado single in the 10th to notch win No. 32.
What a shame, for a starter Lucas Giolito, who's had just one healthy start all season (Opening Day) and simply dominated San Diego this afternoon. Giolito blended a four-pitch walk among three strikeouts in the first inning, and basically never looked back.
Can you believe San Diego entered sim play 31-11? And that 31-11 was only good for a tie for first place with the Dodgers in the NL West? Anyway, the White Sox muster three hits and give another away to the juggernaut Padres.
Ranking the 10 Most Unique Pitching Motions in Recent MLB History
Jacob Shafer, Bleacher Report
We'll meet submariners, high leg-kickers, double leg-kickers, shimmiers, leapers and one guy who throws with both hands (though not at the same time). In the end, they all have two things in common: They've toed a big league rubber (with varying degrees of success), and they've done it with unorthodox flair.
Methinks it’s theme week at B-R. But one former White Sox (and a current SSHP sim White Sox) shows up in the rankings.
10 questions with Steve Cishek, White Sox pitcher
Chuck Garfien, NBC Sports Chicago
While everyone is staying home and social distancing, we're checking in with how your favorite athletes are doing. This week we talk to White Sox pitcher Steve Cishek.
Chuck Chuck goes head-to-head with the sidewinder. Spoiler alert: He likes ribs.
J.B. Pritzker Apologizes For Criticizing MLB Players
670 The Score
A day after criticizing MLB players for bargaining for higher salaries in labor talks with owners as baseball tries to reach an agreement on a return-to-play framework in 2020, Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday apologized for his comments.
The governor walked back his comments about players holding out for more money. A legit mea culpa is always a smart move.
The legacy of SportsVision
Mark Liptak, South Side Hit Pen at Sports Illustrated
As you read this you’ll be getting a history of televised baseball in Chicago through the years, the development of the cable and satellite industries, the changing landscape of how sports is delivered into your home, and the friction and egos that came out in full force between the White Sox owners and main broadcaster Harry Caray.
Wednesday was the 38th anniversary of SportsVision’s first broadcast date, so SSHP ran Lip’s exhaustive history, exhaustively quoting Harry Caray (indirectly) and original SV host Mike Leiderman. HIGHLY recommended read.
Where Were They Then? Part Three
John Gorlewski, South Side Hit Pen at Sports Illustrated
As we walk through the Top 10 list of White Sox prospects in the 1958-59 offseason, today's installment focuses on a couple of rash personnel decisions named Jack Kralick and John Romano.
Old friend (wait, current friend) alert, again, as this is part three of five, and as the week goes on, the prospects get more and more impressive.
Morning Music
OK, let’s get weird.
First of all, what the hell is this video? Robert Plant’s first foray outside of his group, a first music video, and this is the product. Well, it was the ’80s.
So, I chose this because I just got around to watching one of Dan Rather’s awkward interviews with all his pop culture heroes (Ringo Starr, John Mellencamp, et. al), and Plant was far more thoughtful, even sweet, than I expected. It’s a good thing he’s still making music and challenging himself.
That unmistakable drum sound on this track? Phil Collins. True story: Plant was going to quit music after Led Zeppelin and start teaching. He, like, applied for his certificate. Phil Collins was the one who said, hey Rob, that might not be the best idea you’ve had this year.
Another true story. I saw Robert Plant a few times. One time at Poplar Creek, I bought a concert tee, ‘cause you know that’s just what you did, yeah. After one wash, the front-shirt image had somehow slid under the armpit. Now that was a quality $20.