Unlike the NBA “bubble” in Florida, the resumption of the 2020 Major League Baseball (MLB) season during the COVID-19 pandemic involves teams playing in their regular cities and facilities. While MLB’s plan isn’t quite as restrictive as the NBA, they are still playing without fans.
Based on the sheer size of baseball stadiums, with most typically seating 40,000 or more fans, it would make for quite a cavernous backdrop for players and television viewers if those seats were all left empty. The NBA doesn’t have that problem to anywhere near the same extent, since the venues at Disney World are nowhere close to regular capacities.
To mitigate that effect, many baseball teams are turning to cardboard fan cutouts in seats to replicate the normal look. For the New York Mets, one of those fans happens to be Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey.
Morey grew up in Ohio as a Cleveland Indians fan. More recently, he has adopted the defending American League champion Astros during his time in Houston. The Mets are the preferred team of his wife, Ellen. But since the Mets play in the National League, there isn’t much of any conflict between supporting them and also backing the Astros.
So for those watching Mets games on television this season, take a look at the otherwise empty surroundings. Though Morey will personally be at the NBA bubble in Florida with the Rockets, he and his immediate family will also have a very visible presence in New York.
