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Saturday, May 16, 2020

MLB's plan to open up baseball.



Let's see some of what MLB is talking about to restart the league.

From the NY POST.

Spring Training.
Upon arriving at spring training, all players and support staff must undergo a screening 48-72 hours prior to the report date. Temperatures will be taken with a contactless thermometer, either a saliva or nasal swab test will be administered and so will a blood test. The MLB plan then calls for those tested to self-quarantine for the 24-48 hours until results are generated.

A negative test will allow a player to join spring training. A positive test would lead to the person being forbidden from club facilities and being placed in self-isolation.
For the entirety of the 2020 season, the plan calls for players to have their temperatures taken twice daily and screening for the virus multiple times a week.
Any individual with a temperature more than 100 degrees or symptoms of the virus will be subject to immediate screening for COVID-19.
Further items include:

Testing/Medical Protocols
— Each club must maintain a dedicated testing site outside of the home or visiting clubhouses in spring training and its major league facility for testing.
— Each club must maintain an isolation area as far from clubhouses as possible for any individual showing symptoms or who has registered a positive test.
— MLB will provide free diagnostics for those who live in the household of individuals with ballpark access, plus health care workers and first responders in the team’s home city as a public service.
— Players will be provided thermometers to use each morning twice consecutively and then have to register the results in a database.
— MLB will not formally restrict off-field activities, but will encourage those who are part of the game to avoid areas such as crowded bars, clubs and restaurants and other activities that increase the risk of contracting the virus. Who Has Access In Spring/Regular Season
— There will be three tiers for each team
Tier 1: players (maximum 50), manager, coaches (8 maximum), bullpen catchers (2 maximum), trainers (2 maximum), team physicians (2 maximum), strength/condition coach (1 maximum),
Tier 1 has access to restricted areas such as clubhouses. Lockers in the home and visiting clubhouses must be arranged to have six feet between them and/or use other areas to build temporary lockers to afford the spacing. Showering in the clubhouse is discouraged as is use of indoor hitting cages when outdoor batting practice is available. Those throwing batting practice must wear masks.
Only active players and those likely to be used should sit in dugouts during games with spacing. Those not active will have designated areas, including sitting in the stands. Buffet-style meals are prohibited. The use of all saunas, steam rooms, hydrotherapy pools and cryotherapy chambers are prohibited.
Tier 2: Is non-playing personnel who can maintain distance from Tier 1 and wear protective items while performing their jobs. This includes clubhouse staff, additional coaches, strength and conditioning staff and medical staff, traveling secretary, ownership, baseball operations staff, media relations, translators, video/replay personnel, head groundskeeper and security. Teams may have no more than 35 individuals in Tier 2 at any time.
Tier 3: Includes broadcasters, transportation providers and additional security who do not need contact with Tier 1 personnel. There may be up to 150 Tier 3 individuals at one time.

During Games
— When the ball is out of play or in between pitches, fielders are encouraged to retreat several steps away from the baserunner.
— First and third base coaches must remain in or behind the coach’s box and shall not approach a baserunner, fielder or umpire on-field.
— Players on opposite teams should not socialize, fraternize, or come within six feet of each other before the game, during warm-ups, in-between innings or after the game.
— Pitchers should bring their own rosin bag to the mound, and batters should have their own pine tar and batting donuts that they bring with them to and from the on-deck circle.
— All non-playing personnel must wear masks at all times in the dugout and all personnel must make all efforts to avoid touching their face with their hands (including to give signs), wiping away sweat with their hands, licking their fingers, whistling with their fingers, etc. Spitting is prohibited (including but not limited to, saliva, sunflower seeds, or tobacco) at all times in club facilities.
— Any baseball that is put in play and touched by multiple players shall be removed and exchanged for a new baseball. After an out, players are strongly discouraged from throwing the ball around the infield.
Read more here.

This is very, very interesting. Is it even worth playing? I miss baseball but we have already gotten through a couple of months without it.


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