Dr. Fauci: MLB shouldn't play too deep into fall months, cites influenza overlap

The 2020 Major League Baseball season is in jeopardy due to the coronavirus pandemic and the inability between the league and players' union to strike a deal, but now it seems that they may be in even bigger trouble.

The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, warned about the potential dangers of the league playing too late into the fall months. 

"If the question is time, I would try to keep it in the core summer months and end it not with the way we play the World Series, until the end of October when it's cold," Fauci told The Los Angeles Times. "I would avoid that."

MLB has been adamant about the regular season ending in September, citing health concerns, though the MLBPA's latest proposal would have regular-season games stretching into October -- which Fauci isn't too keen on. 

Although coronavirus cases have been on the rise as states continue their reopening plans during the warm summer months, Fauci reiterated his stance while also bringing up other illnesses that could also affect people during the colder months. 

"This virus is one that keeps fooling us," Fauci said. "Under most circumstances -- but we don't know for sure here -- viruses do better when the weather starts to get colder and people start spending more time inside, as opposed to outside. The community has a greater chance of getting infected.

"The likelihood is that, if you stick to the core summer months, you are better off, even though there is no guarantee. ... If you look at the kinds of things that could happen, there's no guarantee of anything. You would want to do it at a time when there isn't the overlap between influenza and the possibility of a fall second wave."

Despite health concerns, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred now isn't even confident there will be a 2020 season -- driving a knife into the heart of baseball fans around the globe. 

The league and players' union were shooting for a second spring training to begin in July, but that seems unlikely with both sides continuing to refuse each other's proposals.

Unlike MLB, other professional leagues in the United States have made significant progress towards a return to their seasons. The NBA is set to resume at Walt Disney World next month, the NHL has agreed to a 24-team playoff format with games hopefully resuming this summer and Major League Soccer also is expected to resume this summer in Orlando.

If MLB wants to salvage its season, both sides are going to need to be a little more open to negotiations.