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.”
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