Auxiliary dugouts and bullpens. Suites doubling as extra clubhouse space. Batting cages constructed in concourses.
These unconventional changes could be coming to Fenway Park as the Red Sox prepare to begin Spring Training 2.0 on July 1.
Boston will utilize its home ballpark leading into Opening Day, which is set for July 23 or July 24. Major League Baseball is still finalizing a 60-game schedule for each club, the shortest regular season in the game since 1878. Up to 60 [...]
Auxiliary dugouts and bullpens. Suites doubling as extra clubhouse space. Batting cages constructed in concourses.
These unconventional changes could be coming to Fenway Park as the Red Sox prepare to begin Spring Training 2.0 on July 1.
Boston will utilize its home ballpark leading into Opening Day, which is set for July 23 or July 24. Major League Baseball is still finalizing a 60-game schedule for each club, the shortest regular season in the game since 1878. Up to 60 players from the Red Sox organization will earn invitations, and 30 will break camp with the club following the three-week preparation period.
"Needless to say, there are going to be things once we start doing this that we’re going to learn," Boston chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said on a Wednesday conference call. "Not everything is going to be perfect right off the bat, but we feel we’re going to have a very good setup."
The acrimonious discussions between MLB owners and the MLB Players Association dragged the game’s public perception through the mud for the better part of 12 weeks. The season will be held under the terms of a March 26 agreement that pays players their full prorated salaries.
"I hope that people who have been turned off or frustrated – including my parents – can move beyond these discussions," said Sam Kennedy, Red Sox president and CEO. "It was unfortunate that they played out publicly."
Health and safety protocols to combat the spread of the coronavirus took center stage at the close of the negotiations. Each player reporting to camp will be tested at a site outside the ballpark and immediately put into isolation for 48 hours. A positive test would require a 14-day quarantine, multiple negative tests and medical approval to be cleared for a return.
"To think that we’re not going to have any positives given the state of this is probably too optimistic, so we need to be ready," Bloom said. "The good news is the protocols are really well set up to care for an individual who tests positive and also make sure we give ourselves every chance for it not to turn into a widespread outbreak."
Boston had a minor leaguer test positive in March at its spring training facility in Fort Myers, Fla. Bloom confirmed the Red Sox had one additional positive in recent weeks, a 40-man roster member who was in his hometown. Bloom declined to name the player in question.
"He’s been asymptomatic and that’s resolving," Bloom said. "We’ve been fortunate in that regard. That’s the only other positive test that we’ve had."
Why should MLB try to return with coronavirus numbers spiking in several states? Kennedy still holds a traditionalist’s view of the game, one that helped distract the nation from the horrors of World War II and played a part in healing New York after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The hundreds of millions of dollars available in television revenue were undoubtedly a driving factor for owners and players as well.
"I couldn’t imagine summertime without baseball, and specifically without baseball at Fenway Park," Kennedy said. "Hopefully it can provide some small sense of distraction and joy and fun and relief for people who have been locked in their homes and dealing with this really difficult situation."
Unlike the NBA’s plan to isolate players throughout their time resuming their season at Walt Disney World, MLB will not adopt a defined bubble for players and staff members. The commissioner’s office has pledged travel help when required for players returning to the United States from abroad. Bloom said none of Boston’s players are expected to exercise their right to opt out of the upcoming season.
"I think it’s incredibly important, when it’s safe, to start to try to get back to some sense of normalcy," Kennedy said. "I know for me that has always been going to baseball games."
Florida, Texas and Arizona have all reported new records for daily positive coronavirus tests this week. Massachusetts and the surrounding region are on the decline thanks to proactive steps taken by state and local governments. Kennedy said that could lead to the Red Sox making a formal request to welcome a limited number of fans to the ballpark as the season progresses.
"It’s probably a little bit of me personally just projecting my own hope that fans will be back at Fenway Park," Kennedy said. "I just anticipate it being extremely odd when we get going playing Major League Baseball games in front of no fans."
Bloom anticipates some difficult choices in terms of building the roster, which will be cut to 28 and then eventually to 26. Initial impressions made at JetBlue Park will be difficult to trust three months later. Boston could also be ready to debut outfielder Alex Verdugo (back) and right-handed pitcher Collin McHugh (right elbow).
"I think, big picture, we don’t want to run away from anything that we thought as we were going through this in a much more normal fashion," Bloom said. "Just because we’ve missed this time we don’t want to change our assessment of anybody too drastically."
The Red Sox are in discussions with Boston College to utilize its campus as a secondary spring training site. Boston has also been in contact with its Triple-A affiliate in Pawtucket and plans to have its minor leaguers work out at McCoy Stadium. Kennedy said the Red Sox were not among what was reportedly up to eight teams who would have preferred not to play a 2020 season.
"As an organization I can tell you we were 100% and are 100% committed to playing," Kennedy said. "We wanted to play and get back on the field as soon as possible."
bkoch@providencejournal.com
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