The working theory is that the return of baseball could help the nation heal, or at least distract it, in the way that the sport did during World War II and after 9/11. The working theory is that the resumption of Major League Baseball, even in empty ballparks, could feel like a step toward normalcy.
If the owners and MLB Players Association can agree on compensation, perhaps settling on a percentage payment of the players' prorated salary, and the safety protocols prove to be effective, there could be great moments -- those shards of time when we might briefly set aside the current daily turmoil. Mookie Betts stepping into the box for his first at-bat with the Dodgers. The joy of any Max Scherzer inning. The promise inherent in a Nate Pearson fastball. A Nolan Arenado throw. A Pete Alonso home run. A Francisco Lindor smile.
Generations of baseball fans need all that.
But you know who else could use a baseball reminder of all that once was good, and that could be again (to borrow the words uttered by James Earl Jones in "Field of Dreams")?
The people who work in baseball.
Because this is a crushing time in the business, a time when the lives of baseball lifers are being derailed, a time when dreams are being destroyed.
Imagine working in baseball operations for the Los Angeles Angels. The organization had a lot of payroll obligations on the books and a lousy farm system around the game's best player, Mike Trout. In recent years, they've added Shohei Ohtani; successfully stockpiled prospects like Jo Adell, who is on the cusp of the big leagues; and gotten their payroll under control. But owner Arte Moreno has decided to gut the front office and furlough many employees -- and it's very possible that because of either age or industry supply and demand, some of those people will never find jobs in baseball again. There will be others -- many, many scouts -- who will be in a similar position very soon, as the more draconian owners slash budgets in the face of financial losses.
Imagine being an accomplished college player who isn't necessarily viewed as a high draft pick. In past years, you might have gotten a decent chunk of change to sign, like the $95,000 that Jacob deGrom got to sign with the Mets as a ninth-round pick. But the union and MLB agreed to limit this year's draft to five rounds, with a maximum signing bonus of $20,000 for anyone who goes undrafted. Paul Hembekides sent this note along from the Elias Sports Bureau: There were 1,025 U.S. and Canadian players who appeared in at least one major league game in 2019, and of those, nearly half (484) were either picked in the sixth round or later or were undrafted (23).
It may well be that there are major-league-caliber players we never see -- those who, given a choice between a very modest offer to play professionally or move on and find other potentially more lucrative work in a devastated job market, may move on from baseball.
Think of the hundreds of minor leaguers still waiting to see if they will have a chance to play professional baseball. Many may have played their last baseball game, but don't know it yet.
Think of the journeyman veteran players who have banked enough major league time to reach arbitration and free agency this fall, and next fall. Five years ago, they might have expected to get a solid salary bump, to make most of their career earnings in the very short time they played in the big leagues.
Moving forward, however, this is the group that will be targeted first by teams looking to downsize their payrolls. The veteran starting pitcher who might have gotten a $3 million base salary may find himself with offers close to the minimum. Teams will probably be more likely to non-tender players -- cut them loose and let them enter free agency -- rather than go through the arbitration process with them. It's been harder and harder for players in their mid-30s to find offers, and it's probably about to get more difficult.
The potential earnings are a major lure for some in baseball, for sure, but for many -- the scouts, the marginal players, the folks who works on the business side -- money is not at the heart of why they chose to work in the game. Many picked the life because of the competition, the love of being on a team and the moments. Aaron Boone raising his arms after swinging at a knuckler. David Freese standing at third base joyfully, after tying a World Series game. Carlton Fisk waving at a long fly ball to stay fair. Javier Baez pointing homeward as he blindly applies a tag. Anthony Rizzo stuffing one of the game's most special baseballs into his back pocket as he rushed to celebrate with teammates. Two fist pumps from the limping Kirk Gibson. Howie Kendrick hitting the foul pole.
The recent high television ratings for the NFL draft and the Michael Jordan documentary "The Last Dance" are indicators of the opportunity for baseball -- for any sport -- if it can get back on the field, and the business considerations drive the negotiations between MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association.
But the people in the game desperately need those reminders of why they fell in love with the sport.
On the Baseball Tonight podcast
Friday: Orioles pitching coach Doug Brocail, on how he made the transition from old-school to a new-school advocate of analytics; Todd Radom's weekly quiz.
Thursday: Padres first-base coach Wayne Kirby talks about resolving positioning arguments with Adam Jones and his days as a teammate of Albert Belle and Manny Ramirez; Marly Rivera discusses Alex Bregman's decision to change agents.
Wednesday: Braves third-base coach Ron Washington talks about the hurt that lingers from the 2011 World Series, managing Josh Hamilton, coaching Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna Jr., and working with Marcus Semien; Paul Hembekides joins the show.
Tuesday: Dodgers third-base coach Dino Ebel on the best and worst sends in his time waving runners from third, the art of giving signs and working with Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Cody Bellinger; Illustrator and historian Anika Orrock talks about her new book.
Monday: In the conclusion of Broadcasters Week, the Mariners' Dave Sims talks about the etiquette of calling no-hitters (and he's had a few), Ken Griffey Jr. and the most polite runup to a brawl ever; Sarah Langs discusses the best signature home run calls.