The conditions of this baseball season have limited the capacity for surprise.
A scenario that would have once seemed unthinkable—short season, empty ballparks, dozens of pages of health regulations—quickly became thinkable and soon after became real. The rule changes that had previously inspired fierce debate were accepted with little fuss. (Remember arguing over the universal DH?) The result is baseball that is far from “normal.” But it’s proven surprisingly—perhaps even disturbingly—easy to watch. After six weeks of play, baseball discourse is no longer stuck on how any of this should work, and instead is largely, well, baseball.