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  6. article_body => "<p>A\u2019s starting pitcher&nbsp;Chris Bassitt, like a lot of MLB players, is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/giants\/ex-giant-mac-williamson-recalls-kbo-stint-america-watches-league\" target=\"_blank\">keeping close tabs on the<\/a> Korean Baseball (KBO) league, which began its season&nbsp;earlier this week.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFirst and foremost, we should all be hoping their health goes right,\u201d Bassitt told NBC Sports California&nbsp;on Tuesday&nbsp;via FaceTime.<\/p>\n<p>Not only in a sense of human interest, but also for what MLB can gain from South Korean teams returning to action first.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf their health-wise goes right, it kind of opens the doors everyone else to tip toe back into normalcy a little bit,\u201d Bassitt said.<\/p>\n<p>But that is the unenviable challenge, a margin for error that is extremely minimal. Any mis-steps in procedure, or just flat out bad luck could cause a domino effect for sports leagues around the world.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/C_Bass419?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@C_bass419<\/a> talks to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BrodieNBCS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@BrodieNBCS<\/a> about what he hopes comes out of the KBO League playing live games during this time.<br><br>Watch the full interview here: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/0J7Zqh5lfr\">https:\/\/t.co\/0J7Zqh5lfr<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xMTjQ4iQcE\">pic.twitter.com\/xMTjQ4iQcE<\/a><\/p>&mdash; A&#39;s on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBCSAthletics\/status\/1258890682774757377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 8, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p>\u201cObviously, that\u2019s going to hurt our chances of doing anything,\u201d Bassitt noted.<\/p>\n<p>Outside of spectating for curiosity, it\u2019s also been hard to miss how flashier baseball seems in Asia.<\/p>\n<p>Bassitt thinks North America should take notice.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s kind of how you stay relevant,\u201d Bassitt said. \u201cSome old timers may think that\u2019s wrong, and I understand that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>[<strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/athletics\/kbo-three-former-players-watch-right-now-mlb-season-paused\" target=\"_blank\">Former A's to watch in KBO<\/a>]<\/p>\n<p>The pitcher says he largely associates with a traditional approach to the game, but sees plenty of room for emotion and personality, for players, teams and venues.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat we do at the Coliseum is probably the most non-old school stuff as it is,\u201d Bassitt said. \u201cWith the drums and all that stuff. I think we need a lot more of it, to be honest with you.\u201d<\/p>\n"
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Athletics

Athletics

A’s starting pitcher Chris Bassitt, like a lot of MLB players, is keeping close tabs on the Korean Baseball (KBO) league, which began its season earlier this week. 

“First and foremost, we should all be hoping their health goes right,” Bassitt told NBC Sports California on Tuesday via FaceTime.

Not only in a sense of human interest, but also for what MLB can gain from South Korean teams returning to action first.

“If their health-wise goes right, it kind of opens the doors everyone else to tip toe back into normalcy a little bit,” Bassitt said.

But that is the unenviable challenge, a margin for error that is extremely minimal. Any mis-steps in procedure, or just flat out bad luck could cause a domino effect for sports leagues around the world.

“Obviously, that’s going to hurt our chances of doing anything,” Bassitt noted.

Outside of spectating for curiosity, it’s also been hard to miss how flashier baseball seems in Asia.

Bassitt thinks North America should take notice.

“That’s kind of how you stay relevant,” Bassitt said. “Some old timers may think that’s wrong, and I understand that.”

[RELATED: Former A's to watch in KBO]

The pitcher says he largely associates with a traditional approach to the game, but sees plenty of room for emotion and personality, for players, teams and venues.

 

“What we do at the Coliseum is probably the most non-old school stuff as it is,” Bassitt said. “With the drums and all that stuff. I think we need a lot more of it, to be honest with you.”