MLB announcement officially ends Biscuits, Minor League 2020 season
Riverwalk Stadium will remain empty for the remainder of the 2020 season as MiLB announced that the games have been officially cancelled. (Staff Photo)
By GRAHAM DUNN
What minor league baseball fans have feared the last several weeks has become to reality.
What minor league baseball fans have feared the last several weeks has become to reality.
There will be no minor league baseball in 2020. Hence, there will be no Biscuits baseball at Riverwalk Stadium.
And no “Year of the Chicken,” at least this summer.
The news became official on Tuesday when teams were told by Major League Baseball to announce the end of the season in each of the local markets. MLB stated it will not provide players making this the first time in the history of the game that no minor league contests are played during a summer.
“These are unprecedented times for our country and our organization as this is the first time in our history that we’ve had a summer without minor league baseball played,” stated minor league president and CEO Pat O’Conner. “While this is a sad day for many, this announcement removes the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season and allows our teams to begin planning for an exciting 2021 season of affordable family entertainment.”
Biscuits general manager Michael Murphy said he and the team staff were not surprised by Tuesday’s announcement and got an indication when the parent clubs announced they would carry 60 players on a “pool roster” earlier in the week.
“It made it harder and harder to envision a minor league season once we heard that,” Murphy said. “Having that 60-man roster when 36 would normally be at Double A or Triple A level, it made you realize it wasn’t to be.”
Several former Biscuits were included in the 60-player pool announced by Tampa Bay. While not official, a few of the players on the list were expected to start the season in Montgomery.
The issues created by the COVID-19 pandemic caused other problems since different minor league communities are dealing with a range of complications.
“Trying to plan for 160 markets where all communities are going through COVID-19 process it made it logistically problematic,” Murphy said . “We were holding out hope but more of the challenge that we are facing is operation within the regulations with guidelines and restrictions. We want to make sure we are following those. That’s been more of the challenge right now. Along with events and community gatherings, things we would like to do but not safe at this point.”
The MLB season was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic followed by a public disagreement between the owners and MLBPA over compensation for a shortened season as well as the number of games to be played during the regular season.
The players association refused to accept any of the proposals offered by the commissioner’s office which imposed the 60-game schedule with other changes such as universal use of the designated hitter. The season is scheduled to begin on July 23 or 24.
This left minor league baseball hanging in the balance but with teams not providing players, there was no possible solution to the season getting underway.
The Biscuits and the Southern League were originally scheduled to begin April 8 with the first home game schedule for April 14. This was supposed to be the year of the debut of the new Rocket City Trash Pandas club (Angels) out of Madison.
Last year was the “Year of Bacon” at Riverwalk. This season, the Biscuits had planned a chicken theme with a new mascot – the Rally Chicken and the Baker - with several food items and special events planned around the motif.
Murphy said plans are to keep many of the events scheduled next season if the calendar aligns properly.
“There will be things that will carry over,” he said. “Some had been carried and put on hold. Some will be tweaked.”
The team has attempted to offset financial losses with events at Riverwalk. This weekend, the Biscuits are offering BBQ sales for the 4th of July.
The Biscuits would like to incorporate more activities in the coming weeks but the current state of the Coronavirus might inhibit those plans.
“We’d like to have movie nights and fans can sit in outfield grass and watch but we are in a city facility and we are following city guidelines,” Murphy said. “We have discussed doing happy hour or possibly converting the field into a top golf facility for an event. Possibly have a bark in the park event or food truck events. There is a long list we are working on that hopefully we can get started in July.”