White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper doesn’t have a seat at the negotiating table as MLB owners and the players union try to come to an agreement on a baseball season during the coronavirus pandemic, but from his chair at his home in Nashville, Tenn., he sees only one solution.
There has to be baseball in 2020, one way or another.
Not just for the players and the owners, but for the fans who are missing the game and need it.
“Understanding and realizing how it’s such a big part of so many other people’s lives that they’re missing this, that they’re not able to get it," Cooper said on the White Sox Talk Podcast, "I almost think it’s a must that at some point, we do something to play ball to give them some sort of escape and enjoyment in the midst of a tough time.
“Baseball has never been stopped. World wars didn’t stop it.”
Other than labor strikes over the years, Cooper is correct. He’s also feeling optimistic that the two sides will come to an agreement.
“I do believe we’re going to play," he said. "I just don’t know the start date of the restart of spring training and the start of the season. Again, I believe we’re going to play.”
MLB
If baseball does return this year, the game will look and feel a whole lot different. Besides playing games without fans, MLB’s 67-page health and safety protocol presented to the players union reportedly includes no high-fives, no sunflower seeds or tobacco, and possibly not even showers allowed in the clubhouse after games.
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Other adjustments will have to be made as well. For instance, would the 64-year-old pitching coach be required to wearing a mask in the dugout?
“If they asked me to do it, I’d do it. If they said I had to do it, I’d do it," Cooper said. "I’ll play by the rules. My answer to that question, would I wear a mask is yes, if necessary."
During the pandemic, Cooper has stayed in touch with several of his pitchers. He spoke with Lucas Giolito a few days ago.
“We’re guiding them along as best we can and keeping them where they need to be and climbing a little bit as we go," he said. "If guys have the availability to throw to hitters they can. It’s fine if they can do that and do that safely.”
Coop doesn’t want to give away any secrets, but he says the White Sox have a plan in place that could give their pitching staff an advantage at the beginning of the season.
“I’d rather not get into what we’re doing; I don’t want to educate any opponents,” he said. “We’re doing our due diligence to where when the restart date is given to us, we may be able to hit the ground running a little bit, which may add into an edge for us when we start and that edge is [able] to help us win more games.”
In the meantime, he’s just waiting for that phone call, telling him that the baseball season is on for 2020.
“Got a bag packed," he said. "You call me in ten minutes, I’ll be where you need me to be in four hours.”
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