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In some unspecified time in the future final week, a longtime good friend and long-ago co-worker texted me a sentiment that I’m fairly certain is shared by sports activities followers throughout the globe: “I simply want to look at one thing with out a predetermined ending.”
With the coronavirus wreaking havoc throughout the globe, choices are few, however growing. The Korean Baseball Group, the KBO, began its preseason on Monday, with no followers within the stands, and the common season is ready to start out in a few weeks.
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Journalist Daniel Kim covers the KBO. I reached out to him by way of Twitter DM to ask what the sensation is like in and round South Korea’s baseball group because the preseason will get began.
“I can let you know that the gamers at the moment are considerably getting accustomed to taking part in at empty stadiums as they’ve performed a number of intra squad video games already,” Kim wrote. “They’re simply keen to start out the season.”
We get that feeling. Right here’s the whole lot you should find out about what’s taking place with what is mostly thought-about the third-best baseball league on this planet (behind MLB and Japan’s NPB).
KBO schedule
Preseason: Video games began on Monday, April 20
Common season: Opening Day is Could 5; it was initially scheduled for March 28. The plan is for every of the 10 groups to play 144 common season video games, which is the conventional size for the common season. Every part’s simply pushed again. The video games are being performed with out followers within the stands. It’s unclear whether or not that’s the rule for your entire season, but it surely’s in impact for now.
Postseason format: The highest 5 qualify. This 12 months, all postseason video games will likely be performed in the identical ballpark, the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. The postseason is scheduled to start out on Nov. four and finish on Nov. 28.
KBO coronavirus precautions
Day by day laws: Right here’s Kim, on the every day laws: “Temp checks and masks have been a part of every day lives for all of us right here for a while now. Whether or not it is going into stadiums or simply strolling into workplace buildings, your temps are checked and it’s essential to put on masks. It has been a part of our every day routine right here so I believe the gamers have adjusted to it as effectively.”
Journalist Jeeho Yoo was in attendance for the primary preseason video games on Monday. This is part of what he wrote.
“Gamers needed to be checked for temperatures and report the outcomes to the league workplace. After a run was scored, they may solely do air high-fives, in order that they would not be touching naked palms of their teammates. Umpires needed to don masks and protecting gloves, and so did bat boys. Spitting is strictly prohibited. That features munching on sunflower seeds and spitting out shells.”
What if somebody will get sick? If any participant checks constructive for COVID-19, the league shuts down for 3 weeks. Every staff would lose 18 video games.
Former MLB gamers within the KBO
There’s a wealthy historical past of MLB gamers who struggled, for one purpose or one other, after which went to Korea to reboot their careers. Eric Thames, for instance, jump-started his profession with three nice years within the KBO, then got here again to MLB and hit 72 homers for the Brewers from 2017 to 2019. Josh Lindbloom’s MLB profession stalled, however after three wonderful KBO seasons, he signed a three-year, $9.125 million take care of Milwaukee this previous offseason.
Every staff is allowed three overseas gamers on its roster. Right here’s a link to the list.
As for names you would possibly know, Casey Kelly pitched for components of 4 seasons within the majors — 2012 and 2015 with the Padres, 2016 with the Braves and 2018 with the Giants. He pitched within the KBO final season and original a 2.55 ERA in 29 begins. Drew Rucinski pitched components of 4 years within the majors, too — 2014-15 with the Angels, 2017 with the Twins and 2018 with the Marlins. He turned in a three.05 ERA in 30 begins in South Korea final 12 months. Mel Rojas Jr. is the son of former MLB pitcher Mel Rojas, and after eight years within the minors with the Pirates and Braves organizations (he by no means fairly made his MLB debut), he’s grow to be a star in KBO motion. He has a .310 common and .940 OPS in three years within the league, and he has 67 homers with 218 RBIs prior to now two seasons.
How are you going to watch?
That’s not precisely sorted out but. Once more, from Kim: “TV rights are a really sophisticated problem right here so I’m not certain about int’l streaming plans. Will discover out in subsequent few days, I believe.”
There have been rumors last week about ESPN being possibly interested, and that is smart. ESPN is a community based on broadcasting stay sports activities, and there aren’t any stay sports activities in the US to broadcast. Perhaps that occurs. It’s a bit unprecedented. It’s not like there was huge U.S. curiosity in watching stay KBO baseball till now.
So, y’know, keep tuned. And you may keep tuned by following Daniel Kim, @myKBO, @Jeeho_1 and @BaseballBrit on Twitter and checking KBO’s English-language website.
