Jim Deshaies, Bruce Levine and WGN’s Pete McMurray joined host Cole Wright on Cubs 360 Daily to discuss MLB commissioner Rob Manfred’s statement on the timeline of when baseball will return in 2020.

Manfred told FOX Business:

“The only decision we have made, the only real plan that we have, is that baseball is not going to return until the public health situation is improved to the point that we’re comfortable that we can play games in a manner that is safe for our players, our employees, our fans and in a way that will not impact the public health situation adversely.”

Does that statement give Deshaies more or less confidence baseball will be back soon?

“Probably neither more or less confidence, but it gives me confidence in the commissioner and the message that’s coming out of centralized baseball,” Deshaies said. “Rob is making the point that they really want to get back, that baseball can provide a very nice appointment for the country. A return to play, a return to normalcy of some sort. A nice diversion for people that are trapped in their homes.

“But my biggest takeaway from that is the fact that we’re not gonna do anything until public health officials and all the government officials involved — whether it’s Arizona, Florida or both sign off on it. ‘Safety first’ is his message, obviously with the idea all along the way that baseball wants to get back to provide some entertainment to the fans. I think the big issue is the four-month quarantine that players might be faced with. I just don’t see players buying into that without their families. It may come to pass, but hopefully there’s a solution a little less severe than that.”

They talked about the confidence from Manfred to try and bring baseball back as early as May. They also discussed the possibility that there could be empty stadiums this whole season or baseball coming back as late as July. 

Catch Cubs 360 Daily at 6 p.m. Monday through Friday on Marquee Sports Network.