For the last four weeks, Major League Baseball and the Players Association have been negotiating for baseball to return this season. The problem is, neither sides have agreed to the other parties’ demands, nor are they backing down from one another.
While other sports leagues are getting back to playing like motorsports, golf, and international sports, MLB is running out of time if they have intentions of having a 2020 season. With the uncertainty of an MLB season, what other baseball leagues can step up to the plate? Look no further than Independent baseball.
There are currently seven independent baseball leagues across the United States and Canada. These leagues are mainly regional in certain parts of the states. Here in the northeast, three of the seven leagues have teams here. They are the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, the Frontier League, that recently absorbed teams from the Can-Am league that features a couple of teams in New Jersey, and the Empire Professional Baseball League.
Recently, players from the Independent leagues have begun practicing in preparing for the 2020 season. Once the leagues are given the green light to start the season, they will be ready to start. If there is no MLB season this year, should sports networks like ESPN, and FOX Sports, who have broadcasting agreements along with TBS for MLB games, go after Independent baseball leagues to air games. Earlier this year, ESPN signed a deal to air the Korean Baseball Organization season. Would ESPN do the same thing for Independent baseball? They had called Independent baseball games before for the Sugar Land Skeeters when Roger Clements played there.
Sports networks are scrambling to find content to show to the fans. Fans are eager for all sports to return and at this point, and they don’t care what is on as long as it is sports. If there is no MLB season this year, you can be sure that Independent baseball leagues will fill a void for hardcore baseball fans. The beautiful thing about these baseball leagues is they are local and play right in your backyard.
This could be the biggest year in Independent baseball history. Once fans are allowed to attend live sporting games again, along with the guidelines of how many fans are allowed to attend, Independent baseball could reach new heights. MLB is one strike away from heading back to the bench, and Independent baseball is waiting in the dugout and ready to step up to the plate.
Comments