By Charlotte Calick
Major League Baseball made the decision to follow the lead of the NBA and the NHL and hold the divisional series of its playoffs in a “bubble”.
Instead of the customary travel between teams’ home ballparks, games will be played at a designated location. To limit travel in the wildcard round, all of the best of three games series were played at the higher seeded team’s stadium.
The American League held its divisional series games in two stadiums in California, while the National League played in two stadiums in Texas. This will culminate in all World Series games being played at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
From the onset of the restart of their seasons, the NBA and NHL went with the “bubble” option which resulted in no game cancellations. MLB, however, had their teams travel, which led to several regular season game cancellations and COVID-19 outbreaks amongst the St. Louis Cardinals, Miami Marlins, and New York Mets.
As the only local team to make the postseason, the New York Yankees began playing all of their wildcard games at Progressive Field in Ohio against the Cleveland Indians. After eliminating the Indians in two games, Yankee players, coaches, staff, and immediate family members headed to the California bubble to take on the Tampa Bay Rays.
While in the bubble, teams were subject to strict rules and guidelines to limit their movement. After an impressive game one win behind the stellar pitching of Gerritt Cole, the Pinstripes were unable to continue their run and fell to the Rays in six games.
The Major League Baseball bubble has resulted in zero reported cases and no game cancellations. Focus is now shifting towards the NFL who have already had several team outbreaks and several games rescheduled. There is talk amongst league brass that the NFL playoffs may need to be played in a bubble as well. Assuming they can get there.
