I have talked about it before. Baseball needs a bubble in the playoffs to make sure there are no outbreaks of COVID-19. It is now happening, we are just waiting on the finalizing of the plan. This is the best thing the MLB has done this season. Also, now there will be no alcohol celebrations after playoff wins. I will get into my feelings about this later. Lastly a couple milestones happened this past week were reached. Read on to see what they were!

MAJOR HEADLINES

Baseball Bubble

Baseball's bubble plan is set. Now all baseball needs is an agreement on how to integrate families.

News at ESPN on all the playoff locations, what the hold-ups are and why there is growing confidence that a deal to codify it could be struck next week: https://t.co/hZ2Y4GPAkt pic.twitter.com/cWqDwildFT

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 12, 2020

So it is not 100% done yet, but it is very close. This would mean less travel for each team during the playoffs. We have seen how well the NHL and NBA bubbles have worked so far. There have been very few if any cases in each after the players quarantined. I think this is the best thing the MLB has done for the players so far.

To explain why American League teams are playing in National League parks and vice versa is easy. Even though there are not fans in the stands, there should not be a home field advantage. That way every team has to stand in hotels and gets the same treatment.

I love every second of this. Now there should not be any outbreaks during the playoffs. I cannot wait to watch the playoffs. There are some surprise teams that should be able to make a run at the World Series. This is will be a fun postseason.

No Alcohol

https://t.co/y6T2PXzTT5 MLB will ask teams/players to have clinching celebrations that are dry — in alcohol and tenor.

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) September 14, 2020

This one is a bummer for me. Ever since I was a little kid I wanted to be part of a celebration like this. As a coach I have has gatorade and water dumped on me for winning championships. But, I have never had beer poured on me. This is year with COVID there will be none of that. Now I get why but players spend all there time close to their teammates.

This is probably the best thing for the players. This will help outbreaks from happening. During the celebrations players probably swap beer cans and bottles without knowing it. They get spit on each other. But what fan does not love watching these celebrations. We get movements like this one with Jon Lester from the alcohol:

Without alcohol, we would never have had the iconic Drunk Jon Lester… 🍻🍺🍻

"It's not always gonna be Peaches and Roses…or however the saying goes." https://t.co/EGSNwUTI6s pic.twitter.com/3Y1wRBsxkR

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 14, 2020

MILESTONES

Albert Pujols

On Sunday Albert Pujols hit his 660th career homerun. That tied him with the great Willie Mays for 5th all time. This is a huge milestone in Pujols’ career. I have always been a huge Pujols guy ever since his Cardinals days. I played a lot of 1st base and wanted to hit like him.

With only 60 games this year I think getting to 700 homers will be even harder. I felt if he could have had 2-3 years left he would have gotten him there. But now I think he might not get 40 more bombs. I think the best he can get in a full 162 game season is 20, 25 at the most. so that is at least 2 seasons to get there.

Alec Mills

Another big thing to happen on Sunday was the 2nd no-hitter of the MLB season. This was was on the other side of Chicago for the Cubs. It was by Alec Mills in his 15th career start. This guy has a great story behind him. He was a walk-on in college and spent parts of 8 years in the minors. There is a cool article on everything about him in this article.

I love stories like this. It helps me with kids I coach. I can tell them that anyone can make it and do big things. Looking at someone who grinned to make it shows what people can do when they work hard. I hope he continues to make an impact with the Cubs.

WEEKLY RECAP (9/7 – 9/13)

AL East

Orioles: 1-5 Split a 2 game set at the Mets then got swept in a 4 game series at the Yankees.

Red Sox: 3-3 Split a doubleheader at the Phillies then split a 4 game series on the road at the Rays.

Yankees: 5-2 Lost 2 of 3 at the Blue Jays then swept the Orioles at home in 4 games.

Rays: 2-4 Dropped both at the Nationals then split a 4 game home set verse the Red Sox.

Blue Jays: 4-2 Won 2 of 3 against the Yankees then won 2 of 3 verse the Mets.

AL Central

White Sox: 4-1 Split a 2 game series at the Pirates then swept the Tigers at home.

Indians: 1-6 Lost 3 of 4 verse the Royals then got swept at the Twins.

Tigers: 2-6 Lost the last game at the Twins then split a 2 game series against the Brewers then split a doubleheader at the Cardinals then ended the week getting swept by the White Sox.

Royals: 6-1 Won 3 of 4 at the Indians then swept the Pirates.

Twins: 5-1 Won the last game verse the Tigers then split a doubleheader at the Cardinals then swept the Indians.

AL West

Astros: 2-5 Lost 4 of 5 against the A’s then split a 2 game series at the Dodgers.

Angels: 3-3 Lost 2 of 3 at the Rangers then won 2 of 3 at the Rockies.

Athletics: 6-3 Won 4 of 5 verse the Astros then split 4 games at the Rangers.

Mariners: 3-3 Won the last game at Rangers then swept in a 2 game set at the Giants then won 2 of 3 at the D-Backs.

Rangers: 4-4 Lost last game at the Mariners then won 2 of 3 against the Angels then split a 4 game series verse the A’s.

NL East

Braves: 4-3 Lost 2 of 3 verse the Marlins then won 3 of 4 at the Nationals.

Marlins: 6-3 Won 2 of 3 at the Braves then won 4 of the first 6 against the Phillies in a weird 7 game regular season series.

Mets: 2-4 Lost last game against the Phillies then split a 2 game series verse the Orioles then lost 2 of 3 at the Blue Jays.

Phillies: 4-5 Won the last game at the Mets then split a doubleheader verse the Red Sox then lost 4 of the first 6 at the Marlins.

Nationals: 3-3 Swept the Rays in a 2 game series then lost 3 of 4 against the Braves.

NL Central

Cubs: 5-2 Won the last game verse the Cardinals then won 2 of 3 against the Reds then won 2 of 3 at the Brewers.

Reds: 3-3 Lost 2 of 3 at the Cubs then won 2 of 3 at the Cardinals.

Brewers: 2-3 Split a 2 game set at the Tigers then lost 2 of 3 against the Cubs.

Pirates: 1-4 Split 2 games against the White Sox then got swept by the Royals.

Cardinals: 3-5 Lost the last game at the Cubs then split a doubleheader verse the Twins then split another doubleheader against the Tigers then lost 2 of 3 verse the Reds.

NL West

Diamondbacks: 2-5 Lost the last game at the Giants then lost 2 of 3 against the Dodgers then lost 2 of 3 verse the Mariners.

Rockies: 1-5 Swept by the Padres then lost 2 of 3 verse the Angels.

Dodgers: 3-2 Won 2 of 3 at the Diamondbacks then split a 2 game set verse the Astros.

Padres: 6-0 Swept both the Rockies and the Giants.

Giants: 3-3 Won the last game against the D-backs then swept the Mariners then got swept at the Padres.

Wrap Up

The MLB did the best thing so far by creating a playoff bubble. This will help with COVID breakouts. But now players cannot have alcohol celebrations. Also Albert Pujols hit career homerun 660 tying him with Willie Mays. Alec Mills threw the second no-no of 2020.

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