Coronavirus Impact on Major League Baseball
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Mar 10) – The coronavirus impact has now been felt in spring training camps. Major League Baseball’s temporary clubhouse limitations went into effect Tuesday morning, as “only players and essential personnel may enter locker rooms and clubhouses at MLB facilities,” to quote Monday night’s press release.
There was a strange feeling at the Arizona Diamondbacks camp. Before Tuesday, several writers would have been in the Diamondbacks clubhouse in the earlier hours, striking up casual conversations or having formal interviews with the players. Tuesday morning, however, a group of six stood outside the weight room as a media relations employee brought relief pitcher Archie Bradley to them for an interview.
A Weird Feeling
Bradley spoke right away about how the clubhouse felt Tuesday morning. “It’s a little weird. Less crowded, for sure,” he joked. In seriousness, though, he said that “it’s one of those weird things, where some of us are just now growing up to realize what’s happening.” Writers tend to be older than players, and Bradley pointed out that those who are have seen several other outbreaks before in their adult lives. He continued that “all of us are trying to figure out as much info as we can and make sure we’re taken care of.”
Kids aren’t in the clubhouse, either, though. Visiting VIPs do not get to sit in or walk through. Close friends or family members also don’t get to visit. This has contributed to the weird feeling, according to Bradley. “Part of what makes baseball so great is the access you’re allowed to have. To bring your family down, to bring your friends down…playing in front of the fans. So, to think that we could get to a point where we may have to play without people in the stands, it’s a weird thing.” Players are so used to playing in front of crowds that anything else would be nothing short of bizarre. Bradley recalled watching the 2015 game between the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles that was closed to the public. “That was so foreign and weird to see. That’s not what you want for the game or anyone.”
Keeping Coronavirus Impact Concerns in Perspective
When the policy change became public knowledge Monday night, the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) voiced concern that the lack of access would become a permanent change. Bradley does not feel that the change will be permanent, however. “With the access (writers) are given – how good it is for the game, the stories (they) write, the information (they) put out there – good or bad – it keeps people informed. To limit that is not good for the game or for (writers) in general.”
There is also no concern about fears of an outbreak negatively affecting play on the field. “As long as this doesn’t progress and start to get worse, (we’re thinking) that this is gonna blow over, and we’ll get back to doing things normally. I think there is a little bit of fear that this could progress and become something bigger than what they’re saying. But, at the end of the day, we have to trust what we’re being told and follow the guidelines we’re being told to stay healthy and protect ourselves.”
The players’ ultimate fear would be playing before an empty house, although that does not presently seem like a likely scenario. “I keep up with (former Diamondbacks outfielder) Adam Jones, seeing his videos and pictures of them playing over in Japan with empty stadiums. That’s ultimately the biggest fear.”
Doing What They Can Do but Not Panicking
The main cautionary steps that the players are taking have to do with hygiene. A doctor visited them Monday night and went over what the players need to do to be cautious. “We’re all policing each other to wash our hands and be more clean. Little stuff – guys are more aware, when they sneeze, to cover their mouths. These are little things that you might get lazy doing that we’re putting more of an emphasis on now.”
Bradley stopped short of saying who needed the most policing on handwashing. “There may be (a player’s) wife out there who says, ‘My husband doesn’t wash his hands?’ so I’m gonna leave that one nameless.”
Above all, the players aren’t panicking and are trying not to let fear overwhelm them. “We’re trying to keep it in perspective (and) not panic. That’s the biggest thing, (to) not freak out. I know we’re taking precautions, but right now we’re just trying to perform and get ready for the season like we normally would.” Part of not panicking is not shaving his trademark beard unless he has to. “For the greater good of humanity, I would probably do it if that’s what it took, but I’m gonna try to keep this on the face as long as I can,” he said with a smile.
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