Baseball Is Looking to Outlaw Spitting, Hugging and Mascots?

Major League Baseball is continuing to put together a plan for a return, and the latest rules will present a BIG challenge. The players won’t be able to SPIT on the field.

ESPN says that there’s a new draft of the league’s health-and-safety manual, and there’s talk of processing upward of 10,000 COVID-19 tests per week, overhauling stadiums and in-game settings to encourage social distancing, prohibiting high-fives, fist bumps, and hugs along with spitting, tobacco use and chewing sunflower seeds.

Fielders will be, quote, “encouraged to retreat several steps away from the baserunner” between pitches. Coaches won’t be allowed to approach baserunners or umpires, and players will be told not to socialize with opponents.

Mascots are also on the chopping block for 2020. It’s a proposal not everyone is happy about.  Philly radio personality Angelo Cataldi complained that the Phanatic has “made my kids big sports fans” and is “more responsible for our love of sports” than any athlete. (come on…)

Also each ball will be thrown away after it is touched by multiple players, and along those lines, throwing the ball around the infield will be discouraged.

The player’s union is set to respond sometime this week.

Here’s a great deep dive into MLB’s proposal from the AP.

Major League Baseball’s proposed safety protocols call for no finger licking; no spitting; no mascots; no bat boys/girls; no swapping of lineup cards; no high-fives, fist bumps; no restaurants for road teams; and showers at the ballpark are discouraged. https://t.co/AVFCzgibbv

— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) May 17, 2020