Will there be a baseball season?
The New York Yankees and all of MLB are beginning to wonder if there actually will be a baseball season this year. With the uncontrolled spread of the COVID-19 virus, also called coronavirus, this is now a big question mark as to if baseball activities will resume at all.
Adding to the mystery, the New York area where Yankee Stadium is located is now the area where the virus is exploding in it’s spread. Whether there will be a season or whether a delayed season will start, all depends on the life of the virus. So little is known about the illness; it’s hard to tell how long the present delay will last. Initially, MBL delayed the season for two weeks, but with recent CDC guidelines, that delay has expanded to eight weeks.
If there is a season, it will likely be a shortened one, one that might be only 120 games. Once the delay causes it to be reduced to less than that, MLB will have to decide if a season could take place at all. No matter how many games are played, the season will always have an asterisk after it, as in the 1994-95 seasons that were strike-shortened.
Who is left training at Steinbrenner Field?
When the remaining spring training games were canceled by MLB, the New York Yankees were told by the front office that they could stay or go home or wherever they were most comfortable.  However, the entire team voted and decided to remain at Steinbrenner Field, and continue to train. Since then, with even greater restrictions imposed by the CDC relating to the size of gatherings, many Yankee players have left the Tampa training complex and have gone home.
We do know that some players have decided to remain. Slugger Aaron Judge, recovering from a fractured rib and partially collapsed lung, is one of them. Judge when asked about the delay and his rehab, he had this to say:
“That is the silver lining in all this,’’ Judge said. “Just having the ability to not rush to get back for a certain date, since we don’t have a date. Just let it heal and don’t try to rush it.’’
When asked about if he would be staying at the New York Yankee training camp, he said he would be as its a distraction from all that’s going on and that he is happy to be there.
“The great thing is they have this open so we can come here and do some baseball activity and stay ready,’’ Judge said. “You still kind of feel like we are in baseball mode, but it is kind of when you go home. … I have some stuff to do around the house, put some stuff on the wall and cleaning. But I think after I get all the stuff done in my apartment I think I will kind of going crazy.’’
Others that have decided to stay at camp for at least awhile include Giancarlo Stanton, who is recovering from a grade one calf strain and has resumed some baseball activities as he rehabs.   Gary Sanchez is still there nursing a sore back, although not much has been released as to his progress. DJ LeMahieu, Luke Voit, and Tyler Wade also remain at the training facility.
“He looks great,†Wade said inside the players’ parking lot. (referring to Aaron Judge) “You know how he is. He doesn’t say much. It’s probably a blessing in disguise with all this stuff going on we get everybody back healthy.’’
New York Yankee manager Aaron Boone has returned to his home in Greenwich, CT, to be with his four kids as they start online classes. General manager Brian Cashman says he will remain at the Tampa facility.
“I’m not going anywhere,†Cashman said, standing outside of Steinbrenner Field. “The only way I’m leaving is if things are OK. If they’re not OK, I’m not going anywhere.â€
It should be noted that the media is not allowed inside Steinbrenner Field, all interviews are conducted outside the complex and from behind a chain-link fence as the Yankee players keep in mind social distancing.
If the CDC issues new guidelines that further restrict a start to the baseball season, the Yankee spring training complex may close down entirely.  If baseball can resume, teams will most likely have a mini-spring training to get players ready for whatever the baseball season will look like.