Dodger Stadium was supposed to host the Major League Baseball All-Star game for the first time in 40 years on Tuesday. The attention of the American sports world would have shifted to Los Angeles. It would have been a celebration.
Instead, the only game in town was a dispute inside an empty and quiet stadium as the Dodgers continued their training camp in preparation for their 60-game season amid a pandemic. Organizing the season successfully remains an uncertainty with COVID-19 cases and increasing hospitalizations in states across the country. Obstacles will arise at every step for each team.
For the Dodgers, an additional hurdle complicates matters.
Los Angeles County law states that people who come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 must be quarantined for 14 days, even if they don’t test positive or show symptoms.
MLB and the Dodgers have entered into talks with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health about the team receiving a waiver, but the team has not received it, according to people with knowledge of the situation.
MLB spokespersons and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health declined to comment.
The Washington Nationals, which are organizing a training camp in the National Park in the District of Columbia, are the only ones out of the other 29 clubs that deal with a similar rule applied by a local government entity.
The MLB Operations Manual for the season states that decisions made by government agencies will take priority in regulating people after they come into close contact with people who test positive for the coronavirus. Different regional settings have different rules, which can create differences in staff availability depending on where teams play.
The Dodgers did not disclose details, but the team has caused players to waste time from training camp due to the county’s mandate. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged he is concerned that the rule may also leave the Dodgers at a disadvantage during the regular season.
“A little bit,” Roberts said in a video conference call with journalists Tuesday. “We’re trying not to make a big deal out of it, but it’s from county to county, from state to state as to what the expectations are with follow-up contacts and what you need to do to protect the person you’re in contact with. and others around.
“But I think for Los Angeles County, I think we are more on the conservative side, which I think is a good thing. But obviously we are talking about competitive advantage when our boys could be a little longer than the players of another team, without a doubt. But I think the most important thing is the health of the players and we will do it regardless of what we face. ”
On Monday, 10 days before the Dodgers open the season against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium, Governor Gavin Newsom withdrew the California reopening plan and ordered the closure of several businesses across the state.
Roberts said the restrictions have not affected the Dodgers and that the organization has not contemplated the implementation of contingency plans.
“Our thinking is to continue business as usual,” said Roberts, “to take the necessary precautions.”
Those precautions left the Dodgers without 10 players at one point during training camp. The number has dropped to four in the past week. On Monday, relievers Pedro Báez and Scott Alexander appeared at the camp. Outfielder AJ Pollock reported Tuesday. Keibert Ruiz is the only Dodger on the 40-man roster who is not in camp.
Roberts said Baez threw flat ground while Alexander threw a bullpen session on Monday. Pollock batted before scrimmage Tuesday. Roberts said he hopes Pollock will face live pitching in the coming days.
Time is running out. Opening day is just around the corner and questions persist.
Buehler ‘a little late’
Walker Buehler, the only projected starting pitcher who has yet to appear in a scrimmage, pitched an inning in a live batting practice session on Sunday. He is slated to launch a two-inning session again before appearing in a scrimmage or exhibition game.
Roberts said Buehler is “a little behind” the other starters after he “took time off” during the league shutdown. Roberts insisted that Buehler did not suffer an injury. The manager added that he anticipates Buehler has three or four innings in his first start to the season.
Short jumps
Max Muncy was two of three with a double in Tuesday’s scrimmage, but he did not play on the field and has not thrown balls since he injured his left ring finger on July 5. Roberts reiterated that Muncy will be ready to start on the first opening day of the base. … Kenley Jansen made his first scrimmage appearance from training camp on Tuesday. The closer needed eight pitches to secure four outs, including a Corey Seager strikeout. Jansen reported to the camp Sunday after testing positive for the coronavirus. … The days of bench coach Bob Geren as a home plate umpire seem to be over. The Dodgers had two major league umpires working Tuesday’s scrimmage for the first time since they began holding games within the squad. Roberts said the two-man crew will also work in the Dodgers’ final three games. … Roberts said the club will begin playing artificial noise scrimmages later this week. It will be the same noise that the organization will use for regular season games at Dodger Stadium.
