By Ron Wynn
There’s a lot of doubt regarding not when, but if, there will be a baseball season in 2020 at both the major and minor league levels. But in the meantime, while awaiting news about a starting date, the Nashville Sounds last week began a series of virtual baseball games to replicate the experience of at least seeing the sport for those fans willing and anxious to get any kind of sporting presentation. The campaign is being called “Safe and Sounds At Home,” and it’s going to continue until actual baseball returns to First Horizon Park.
“During this extremely difficult time for people around the world, we want to do our part to encourage everybody to stay home if at all possible,” Sounds General Manager Adam Nuse said in a press release. “Safe and Sounds at Home gives our fans the feeling of being at First Horizon Park as much as possible until we get started. We want to encourage our fans to interact as much as possible and help make the best out of this unfortunate situation.”
The Sounds will be part of MLB The Show, participating in simulations that contain both highlight reels and Player of the Week awards. Such events as the First Horizon Country Legends Race, the First Horizon Kids Run The Bases, and Fox 17 News Friday Fireworks shows are included, as well as Tito’s Tail Waggin’ Tuesdays and Pepsi’s Winning Wednesdays.
While nothing had been announced at press time, stories in the past week on both the ESPN and Sports Illustrated websites have detailed tentative plans for starting the MLB season in July. Presumably the season for minor league teams could begin later that month, or even simultaneously.