Just one week after Punxsutawney Phil saddled us with his unwelcomed six-more-weeks-of-winter prognostication, the Williamsport Crosscutters provided us with a glimpse of spring with the release of the 2021 season schedule for the new MLB Draft League. The Cutters are joined in the six-team circuit by the State College Spikes, Trenton Thunder, Mahoning Valley Scrappers, West Virginia Black Bears, and the Frederick Keys. The 68-game season will run from May 24 to August 13.

The full schedule (available on the Crosscutters website crosscutters.com) presents a schedule unlike any seen at Historic Bowman Field in previous years. Of the 68 games, 27 (or 40%) will be played against neighboring State College, with another 21 (30%) to be played with Trenton. There will be 20 games with the league’s remaining three teams Mahoning Valley (8), Frederick (7), and West Virginia (5).

The schedule was developed by the people running the league, Prep Baseball Report, with overall input from the teams in the league regarding certain parameters that teams may have wanted or don’t want. The information was fed into a scheduling computer, taking these things into consideration.

“This is different than what we have been used to, but I don’t think it will make that much difference to the fans,” reasoned Gabe Sinicropi, the Cutters director of marketing & public relations. “Look around, at every sports league, the schedules are different this year. Teams are playing more games in their division, with geographic location playing a big part. The schedule was done to minimize travel and risk. We are in a different age, and the main reason that was done is due to the virus and wanting to reduce travel as much as possible.

“Financially, our costs will be more than what they were as a member of the NY-Penn League. We have a lot more things now put on our plate relating to expenses that were not expenses under the old Minor League system. MLB is not subsidizing us at all. We pay a fee to be in the league that is paid to Prep Baseball Report, which in turn is hired by MLB to run the league. None of the things we do are subject to reimbursement by MLB.

“While all the players in the leagues are not being paid, we never paid the players before. The Phillies took care of that cost. Our added costs will include 100% of the hotel cost while on the road and housing of all the players and coaches here at home. That cost could be considerably higher because, due to COVID, we’re looking at rentals rather than the host families that we have had in past seasons. Additionally, meals for the players will be on us. Previously, the Phillies took care of that cost.”

When the player stocking of the teams takes place, the Crosscutters, nor the other teams in the league, will be directly involved.

“We won’t have any say as to who is on our team,” Sinicropi explained. “All the players will be assigned by Prep Baseball Report. Being the first year of this league, I do not have all the answers to the player assignment process. That said, we will know the majority of our team roster much earlier than we did previously. It was common that we’d get names four days before the season or sometimes one day before they arrived in Williamsport.”

As for ticket prices, the team has planned no changes, Gabe added.

“There are absolutely no changes this year in our ticket prices. We still have the various options of bonus books, weekend plans, and full-season tickets in various locations throughout the stadium. For season ticket-holders, there are some extra food and beverage inclusions at no extra charge. All the ticket options are available to the public on crosscutters.com.

“I want to assure fans that from coming to the ballpark and watching the Cutters, there are zero changes. Our ownership is the same, our staffing is the same — what we do at our games — it’s all the same as before. The differences are we are not an affiliate of the Phillies. Instead, we are an affiliate of all thirty Major League teams. Instead of getting players after the annual MLB draft, we will now be getting them just before the draft. Really, the teams in the league will be six all-star teams comprised of the best draft-eligible players from across the country.

“That said, year one may not be exactly that because of the late start of putting the league together. Many draft-eligible players make their next summer commitments in the fall, so as a result, the league won’t have some of the high-caliber players that we’ll have in succeeding years. Still, I expect the level of play will be just as good — or better — than we had when just one MLB team was supplying Williamsport with players.”

While there still remains uncertainty regarding fans in the stands at sporting events, the Crosscutters, like all other teams and leagues, are moving forward with plans for the 2021 season.

“We’ve been given no specific guidelines as to what we might expect. The government will have a say in that — but, we’ve got to plan. First off, we are planning for things to be as normal. But there are other plans in place to deal with a reduced stadium capacity of fans being permitted to attend. It is not going to be easy for us or for fans. It is possible that once the season starts, there may be changes as we go forward. We request patience. We will do everything we can to make it a good experience under very strange and trying circumstances.”