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St. Louis Cardinals: Playing games without fans would be just fine

ByMatt Graves|
JUPITER, FLORIDA - MARCH 12: A general view of the stadium after the spring training game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on March 12, 2020 in Jupiter, Florida. Major League Baseball is suspending Spring Training and the first two weeks of the regular season due to the ongoing threat of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
JUPITER, FLORIDA - MARCH 12: A general view of the stadium after the spring training game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on March 12, 2020 in Jupiter, Florida. Major League Baseball is suspending Spring Training and the first two weeks of the regular season due to the ongoing threat of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

The St. Louis Cardinals may be lucky to have games in 2020. With the current delays being extended, playing games without fans is becoming a good option.

If you’re anything like me, you’re going a little mad without sports in your life. Chief among those missing are the jubilant sounds of the St. Louis Cardinals playing. With baseball likely to remain postponed into June, the end is nowhere near.

However, the MLB is discussing many ways to safely return the sport to everyday lives and one thought they have considered is playing games without fans. While some athletes like LeBron James would not like to play in front of empty stadiums, I don’t believe that is the most popular take.

Certainly, the longer this hiatus goes no, the more desperate we will all get for games. Where I’m at right now, I would be all in for games with no fans. The report came from Joel Sherman and if it gets baseball back in our lives quicker, it should definitely be considered.

There has been one game played in MLB history without any fans in attendance. Back on April 29, 2015, the White Sox and the Orioles played without any fans due to civil unrest in Baltimore.

MLB.com actually has the entire game on YouTube here, but that game led to the following call by Gary Thorne which can only be described as making the best of a bad situation.

According to record, “Reporters covering the game said conversations from the field could be heard in the press box, and likewise television and radio commentators could be heard on each other’s broadcasts.”

Players weren’t a fan, and I don’t think fans were either at the time. However, given the circumstances, you take this every day of the week right now. Am I crazy?

In Korea, games have been going on undelayed without fans, they brought us this highlight by former MLB-vet Gerardo Parra.

They seem to be having a fine time without fans.

In fact, the KBO and the NPB (Japan) are the only two leagues still going. The MLB should look to the “numerous restrictions and safety measures” that these leagues put in to figure out the best path forward for the MLB.

Simulations and video games with baseball are great, but there’s no substitute for St. Louis Cardinals baseball. Ideally, June 1 is the start date for the season, but still two months away, we won’t know until we get closer. If it means starting on June 1, I’d be just fine with no fans in the stands.

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