\n\tSpring training 2020 was three weeks old when it was ordered shut down due to the COVID-19 virus that first sprang up in North America in late January. While the rest of the world was trying to figure out how the virus started and how to combat it, MLB was trying to cobble together a schedule for the rest of the baseball season.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThe virus, which has killed slightly over 7.1 million people worldwide, wreaked havoc on everything, even sports. On a personal note, I lost two close friends and my father-in-law, who was a healthy 89-year-old who went into the hospital on a Wednesday and died four days later. Sometimes, traumatic events hit far too close to home.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThe MLB honchos were trying to figure out the best way to start the season with equal input from the MLBPA. After nearly five weeks of negotiations, the owners voted unanimously to impose a 60-game plan, just hours after the players had rejected that same schedule. The schedule had the teams playing 10 games against each of their divisional opponents and playing 20 interleague games. The season started on July 23.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThat day, it was announced that the playoffs for the year would include 16 teams total, eight in each league. The top two teams in each division would make the cut, along with the remaining two best records in each league. Despite outbreaks on two teams and positive tests for players on several other squads, only two games were not played. Detroit and St. Louis were the only two teams not to play 60 games.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tTwo dozen players, including Milwaukee’s Lorenzo Cain<\/a>, opted not to play during the season, although the outfielder played the first five games of the year before opting out for the rest of the season. Cain did not comment, but in a statement to the press, general manager David Stearns said, “We fully support Lorenzo’s decision and will miss his talents on the field and leadership in the clubhouse.” Isan D\u00edaz of Miami and Nick Markakis<\/a> of Atlanta opted out initially, but elected to rejoin their respective teams. Brewers pitcher Shelby Miller<\/a> opted out before the season began.\n<\/p>\n \n\tIn order to make the stadium experience more ‘normal,’ cardboard cutouts of fans were placed in the seats, and simulated crowd noise was also played at the venues. Several teams allowed fans to buy cutouts of themselves. ESPN bought pics of Chipper Jones and his son, Shea, and placed the counterfeit Chipper and his bogus boy at Citi Field in New York during a Braves-Mets contest.\n<\/p>\n \n\tDespite a subpar 29-31 record, the Brewers nabbed the eighth and final seed in the National League but were promptly dispatched in two games by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who boasted the best record in baseball with 43 wins. The Dodgers defeated the number two seed Atlanta in seven games in the NLCS at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, while top-seeded Tampa Bay (40 wins) edged Houston in seven contests for the American League pennant at Petco Park in San Diego. For the first time all season, a limited number of fans were allowed to attend the NLCS games.\n<\/p>\n \n\tThe Dodgers beat Tampa Bay in the World Series, played at Globe Life Field, in six games, claiming the team’s seventh World Series championship. A limited number of fans, numbering about 11,000 each contest, were allowed in the stadium for the games.\n<\/p>\n \n\tNotably for the Brewers during the season, pitcher Devin Williams<\/a> was named the National League Rookie of the Year and to the second team All-MLB squad after his fine 0.86 FIP and 1,375 ERA+ (that is not a typo). Closer Josh Hader<\/a> led the NL with 13 saves and set a major league record when he pitched in 12 straight games (11 2\/3 innings) without giving up a hit. He then gave up seven hits in his next five outings.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n