Opening Day 2020

Well - it's about three months later than originally planned and no one (sadly not me) will be sitting in the stands for the game - but it's the Opening Day of the 2020 season of Major League Baseball! 

The 2020 season was originally planned to open on April 2nd, 2020 and I had tickets to be in the stands at Nationals Park to watch the game and see the World Series Champion banner and pennant be raised in Nationals Park. Alas - as is the story for almost any plans that have been ruined in 2020 - the Coronavirus raised it's head and threw everyone's plans into the absolute maelstrom that has been 2020.

I've seen dialogue back and forth on Twitter, Instagram... all the social media platforms that insinuate (or say outright) that for a person to be glad to see baseball on their TV again given the uncertain times we are living in makes you a terrible human. I do wonder about the safety of it all but then again, my opinion on the 2020 season and whether or not it should happen was never going to sway that decision anyway - so I've decided not to feel bad about being excited to see my Nationals in action again.

This season will certainly be a unique one - there are only 60 games in the "regular" season (there are normally 162) so it will be a race to the finish from the very start and every game will matter. There are some rules changes - the DH in both leagues, starting extra innings with a runner on second - to name a few and the fact that these games will be played in empty stadiums - it all makes for a very singular baseball season. 

The Nationals will play their inter-league rivals (the Braves, Marlins, Mets and Phillies) for most of their games and add in games with teams along the East Coast to fill in the rest (the Orioles, Red Sox, Yankees, Rays and Blue Jays) - like I said - extremely unique. It will certainly be a historic season, in more ways than one.

And I'll be watching and enjoying seeing my World Series Nationals defend their title, stomp the mound, make diving catches and smash home runs... in empty stadiums with face masks instead of fans. I'll be watching and looking forward to the 2021 season with hope in my heart.