49 thoughts on “Cup of Coffee, Emeritus Edition: April 7, 2020”

  1. Twins lose to first place Cleveland, fall to 4-7. In other news, the idea of a season starting in May in Arizona is being floated. Robot umps! Empty stadia! Players sitting in stands six feet apart! Maybe the announcers will sit in the bleachers like Harry Carry did every once in a while.

    Also, what sounds like more fun than playing double headers every day in Phoenix in the summer!

    1. We chatted a little on our video call about the future of this season. Whatever they try to do, one positive test and it all folds up again. I'm not sure we'll see a 2020 season.

    2. You left out the part about everyone being sequestered in hotels while the season goes on and only allowed out to go to games. Not having a season is better than this proposal.

      1. I realize that the league is in a tough position, but this is a bad idea. Endorsed by the NIH and CDC!

        Forbidden SelectShow
          1. Also, on that note, I mailed my ballot in last week and my wife got hers in the mail yesterday. ch, I hope you and Mrs. Hayes were able to do the same.

    3. I don't hate the idea of an extremely limited Arizona Fall League type of approach - the fewer players/teams you have, the better. Combine players from various MLB/MiLB teams to make fewer teams overall. Obviously only volunteer players, and lots of social distancing measures. Not an actual baseball season, nor should that really be contemplated.

      But I think the principle of sporting entertainment being available is a good one. First, for morale (and baseball as probably the most naturally distancing sport (all others require more frequent close proximity, right?) would have a chance to reclaim primacy as America's pastime, and I like that too). In this regard, a national sporting event is particularly helpful. Second, I suspect the availability of some sport would help some people fight the temptation to abandon social distancing. The more distractions available, the better, right? Especially for sports junkies who have lost pretty much all of that.

            1. Seriously though, I take your point. Golf offers another option for distancing. But I'm thinking specifically of team sports, which seem to capture a wider appeal.

  2. I've been hooked on Jelle's Marble Racing on YouTube. They just finished the first season of Marbula One last weekend and I actually found myself rooting for certain marbles

    1. We've been working through the 2019 Marblelympics with the kids, watching an event or two every evening. I think it was AMR who had also mentioned doing that with his kids. It was a good suggestion.

    2. My 5-year old REALLY got into the couple videos we watched recently, they are fun to watch.

    1. I would also like to say I've met some of KG's associates and I think he has plenty of snakes around him.

  3. I really miss baseball, but I don’t want any players risking death for my entertainment. That just seems too gladiatorial for my taste. As a nation, we just need to suck it up and find our amusement elsewhere. It’s not like we don’t have a ton of other options. And we have to get used to higher level of disappointment and loss, because life its ownself is doubling down on that right now.

    1. I get what you are saying, but I counter with only during this crisis would my family subject itself to watching every episode of Tiger King. All kidding aside, I agree with your comments. I tell you what, I am emotionally and mentally fatigued after the past 3+ weeks. Completely transitioning our business, the craziness of applying for the Payroll Protection Program (there are so many moving parts for restaurants to figure out), answering staff questions, dealing with guests who look at me like a dead man walking, and on top of that trying to get a handle on what COVID-19 will do to my family, our community and frankly the world. I count my blessing, as so many people have it far worse than us. However, I am just spent. Might be time for another brisk 5 mile walk after work tonight.

      1. I know what you mean, there's an awful lot to deal with. I try to keep some perspective through studying history. As bad as this is, past generations have had it much harder. That makes it easier for me to count my blessings and flip my hardships the flying fickle finger of fate. The job interviews I had two weeks ago went really well, I got a reply to my thank you emails that I interpreted as extremely promising, only to learn yesterday that they now have a hiring freeze in place for the foreseeable future. But all you can do is all you can do.

    2. Are they really risking their lives anymore than anybody else that will be going back to work? If anything, I think they'll be at lower risk than most of the public.

      1. If they make the choice to play I will not say them nay and I'll probably watch, but I'm not expecting or asking them to take that risk on my account.

  4. So, I hope everybody here has watched or is watching Ozark because it's the wildest ride on TV.

    1. Our local nursing home has so far managed to keep it out. I'm not allowed to go in and visit any more, but they do let me do a couple of services a week, with appropriate social distancing. Today, for the first time, I was asked to wear a mask, as are all employees while they're there. I discovered that it is possible to sing with a mask on. Plus, it probably made me look better.

        1. Traditional hymns. Ones that a lot of them know at least part of, and so can sing along. Normally they would hand out songbooks to people, but they're not doing that now.

          1. I used to lead some services in a nursing home and if your experience is anything like mine, everyone wearing a mask might improve the quality of the singing

            1. There is one person in particular--a lovely soul, loves to sing, sings with gusto, and is always off-key. But you can't help but love her for it.

          2. I'm thinking:
            Amazing Grace
            Bringing in the Sheaves
            Our God in Ages Past
            Rock of Ages
            Old Time Religion
            Old Rugged Cross
            How Great Thou Art
            Bohemian Rhapsody

            Am I'm off?

    2. I am really worried about congregate care facilities in general. Particularly in states that have been slow to adopt stay at home orders and other measures. But everywhere. Those places are like stationary cruise ships, without the buffet and water slide.

      1. South Dakota still does not have a stay-at-home order. But all nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and independent living facilities have been under lockdown for several weeks now.

        1. Low population density states and areas may be behind the infection curve, but it's coming. And congregate care facilities only need one or two mistakes to go off like a rocket. It is a frightening situation.

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