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  3. article_body => "<p>SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. \u2014 If Pedro Strop\u2019s violation of baseball\u2019s COVID-19 protocols was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/cubs\/cubs-pedro-strop-unmasks-how-fragile-mlbs-covid-19-safety-measures-are\">a reminder of the ongoing pandemic<\/a> (and how seriously MLB is taking it), it was also a reminder of how much greater the challenge might be for baseball to pull off this season without interruption than even last year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Cubs president Jed Hoyer said before spring training began that the steep increase in players and staff on site as well as COVID-19 rates in Arizona <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/cubs\/cubs-jed-hoyer-added-covid-19-challenge-spring-its-concern\">\u201cabsolutely\u201d <\/a>make the task greater this time around.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>What he didn\u2019t mention is the human nature to let down guards in familiar surroundings after lengthy stretches of success.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>He also didn\u2019t mention the increasing availability of vaccines as a reason for vigilance. In other words, the irony that the biggest factor suggesting something close to normalcy by late summer could create another false sense of security for a demographic that might not be able <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/cubs\/how-new-johnson-johnson-covid-19-vaccine-affects-cubs-mlb\">to get vaccinations <\/a>until May.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s one of those, \u2018if you don\u2019t know by now\u2026,\u2019 \u201c manager David Ross said. \u201cThat\u2019s why the reminder, right? We talked it to death last year. It was really just a constant. I don\u2019t feel that same stress this year as I did last year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\u201cBut that doesn\u2019t mean that we\u2019re taking it any lighter.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The success of that shortened 2020 season (the Cubs were the only team without a player testing positive) and the subsequent abilities of the NFL, NBA and NHL to resume full schedules during the height of the pandemic have naturally added a high level of optimism to the 2021 effort.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>And naturally reduced stress levels.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>And, in turn, created the potential for that to become its own new challenge for baseball.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\u201cI think the challenge is that we\u2019re going to have to abide by the protocols for not only 60 games but 162,\u201d said Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta after pitching two innings in his spring debut Sunday. \u201cBut being familiar with the protocols and traveling like we did last year, I feel like we\u2019re going to be able to handle it very well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\u201cBut it\u2019s going to be tough. Of course, it\u2019s going to be tough.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Strop, who was originally acquired by the Cubs in the 2013 trade with the Orioles that also landed Arrieta, has been restricted from Cubs camp after violating safety protocols when he socialized with Cleveland\u2019s Franmil Reyes and others after Friday\u2019s game \u2014 apparently breaking the MLB ban on indoor restaurant dining.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\u201cNone of us are going to be mad at Pedro. It\u2019s just a little slip-up,\u201d said Arrieta, who learned of Strop's status before Sunday's game. \u201cIt\u2019s a moment for us to realize that we need to take the protocols seriously and keep everybody as safe as possible so we can play all 162 this year.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>It\u2019s unclear how long Strop will be held out of camp or how that missed time will impact his ability to earn a roster spot after signing with the club as a minor-league free agent after camp started.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate,\u201d Arrieta said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to take it upon ourselves to continue to be diligent with this, follow the protocols. Everyone understands that it is tough to be in the situation that we\u2019re in, but there\u2019s not much we can do about it. The most important thing is to keep everybody safe, and make sure that we don\u2019t have to put guys on the COVID restriction list to where they miss time or they\u2019re set back to where they can\u2019t get ready for the season.\u201d<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nOr even worse, if outbreaks were to arise in multiple camps.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\u201cThe way I look at it,\u201d said Arrieta, \u201cis that if I were to get it, the last thing I would ever want to do is give it to somebody with pre-existing conditions or who is elderly, and then it gets really bad for them.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/podcasts#CubsTalk\"><em><strong>Click here to subscribe to the Cubs Talk Podcast for free.<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/cubs-talk-podcast\/embed?playlist_type=latest\"><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n<drupal-entity data-embed-button=\"app_promo_embed\" data-entity-embed-display=\"view_mode:block_content.full\" data-entity-type=\"block_content\" data-entity-uuid=\"84a634bd-85a1-4e39-9e2a-7d404e5646e3\" data-langcode=\"en\"><\/drupal-entity>\r\n"
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Cubs Insider

Cubs Insider

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — If Pedro Strop’s violation of baseball’s COVID-19 protocols was a reminder of the ongoing pandemic (and how seriously MLB is taking it), it was also a reminder of how much greater the challenge might be for baseball to pull off this season without interruption than even last year.

Cubs president Jed Hoyer said before spring training began that the steep increase in players and staff on site as well as COVID-19 rates in Arizona “absolutely” make the task greater this time around.

What he didn’t mention is the human nature to let down guards in familiar surroundings after lengthy stretches of success.

He also didn’t mention the increasing availability of vaccines as a reason for vigilance. In other words, the irony that the biggest factor suggesting something close to normalcy by late summer could create another false sense of security for a demographic that might not be able to get vaccinations until May.

“It’s one of those, ‘if you don’t know by now…,’ “ manager David Ross said. “That’s why the reminder, right? We talked it to death last year. It was really just a constant. I don’t feel that same stress this year as I did last year.

“But that doesn’t mean that we’re taking it any lighter.”

 

The success of that shortened 2020 season (the Cubs were the only team without a player testing positive) and the subsequent abilities of the NFL, NBA and NHL to resume full schedules during the height of the pandemic have naturally added a high level of optimism to the 2021 effort.

And naturally reduced stress levels.

And, in turn, created the potential for that to become its own new challenge for baseball.

“I think the challenge is that we’re going to have to abide by the protocols for not only 60 games but 162,” said Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta after pitching two innings in his spring debut Sunday. “But being familiar with the protocols and traveling like we did last year, I feel like we’re going to be able to handle it very well.

“But it’s going to be tough. Of course, it’s going to be tough.”

Strop, who was originally acquired by the Cubs in the 2013 trade with the Orioles that also landed Arrieta, has been restricted from Cubs camp after violating safety protocols when he socialized with Cleveland’s Franmil Reyes and others after Friday’s game — apparently breaking the MLB ban on indoor restaurant dining.

“None of us are going to be mad at Pedro. It’s just a little slip-up,” said Arrieta, who learned of Strop's status before Sunday's game. “It’s a moment for us to realize that we need to take the protocols seriously and keep everybody as safe as possible so we can play all 162 this year.”

It’s unclear how long Strop will be held out of camp or how that missed time will impact his ability to earn a roster spot after signing with the club as a minor-league free agent after camp started.

“It’s unfortunate,” Arrieta said. “We’ve got to take it upon ourselves to continue to be diligent with this, follow the protocols. Everyone understands that it is tough to be in the situation that we’re in, but there’s not much we can do about it. The most important thing is to keep everybody safe, and make sure that we don’t have to put guys on the COVID restriction list to where they miss time or they’re set back to where they can’t get ready for the season.”

Or even worse, if outbreaks were to arise in multiple camps.

“The way I look at it,” said Arrieta, “is that if I were to get it, the last thing I would ever want to do is give it to somebody with pre-existing conditions or who is elderly, and then it gets really bad for them.”

Click here to subscribe to the Cubs Talk Podcast for free.

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