I think it would have been hard to do TV in a minor league stadium bubble, as well as housing and dining. Had to be major league cities/stadiums. But could have been done - even in Florida or Arizona. Would just have had to be a true bubble, not teams criss-crossing the state (or city, mostly, in AZ's case).
The problem is nothing was mandated at the league level, just suggested. I'm sure MLBPA does bear some responsibility in that they wouldn't have agreed to actual lockdowns/curfews put in writing.
MLBâs 113-page operations manual dedicated one paragraph to it, writing individuals âmust exercise care,â adding that they should avoid restaurants, bars and other crowded areas. MLB left each team to craft and enforce its own policy. Four players, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to freely discuss a sensitive topic, said this is MLBâs way of avoiding responsibility should an outbreak occur.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/06/24/will-mlbs-health-safety-plan-hold-up-once-baseball-returns-itll-be-tough-task/
But âConduct Outside of Club Facilities,â covered in one paragraph of section 2.6, feels vague and potentially problematic, according to multiple public health experts who reviewed the manual. It urges players, coaches and other team personnel to âexercise careâ while away from the ballpark, then leaves each individual club to form an off-field code âto ensure they all act responsibly.â
Section 2.6 states that players, coaches and team personnel must âavoid situations in which high risk of contracting the virus is elevated.â That includes âlarge groups or indoor activities in which people are in close proximity to another.â
But under the logic of our own governments, restaurants and bars, where opened, don't meet that definition. Unless they aren't following the regulations. It seems obviously baseball players still shouldn't go anywhere or do anything, at home or on the road. But it's not the rule.
