Have questions about the Texas Rangers and 2020 MLB season? We have some answers
Baseball will be played this season like never before, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.
The long-held rules of the game are the same — nine players on the field; 60 feet, 6 inches from the pitching rubber to home plate; 90 feet between bases.
You get the idea.
But MLB continues to work with the health of the players and other club personnel as the top priority. To that end, MLB and the MLB Players Association have agreed to a 113-page operations manual that takes into account just about everything they could possibly imagine.
The basic structure of the 2020 MLB season has been announced. Teams will play 60 games against geographically aligned opponents to cut down on travel.
The Texas Rangers expect to have their schedule no later than Saturday.
The season will begin July 23 or July 24. Players must report to spring training by July 1. They must first test negative for COVID-19 before they can hold their first full-squad workout July 3.
There are a lot other questions, including some that don’t yet have answers.
Here are 13:
What will the schedule look like? The Rangers haven’t even seen a draft, but they know they will play 40 games against the other four American League West teams and 20 games against the five National League West clubs. Of those 20, six will be against their interleague “natural rivals.” The Colorado Rockies were the Rangers’ NL rivals on the original 2020 schedule.
The Rangers aren’t catching any breaks with the scheduling. They will still have to make multiple West Coast trips, the shortest flight being three hours. On the field, the Los Angeles Dodgers are again considered a favorite to win the World Series, and the Houston Astros will still be good despite not having Gerrit Cole.
How will the Rangers conduct spring training? General manager Jon Daniels said that all 60 players on the roster will begin workouts together at Globe Life Field, using three clubhouses and two weight rooms. A third weight room at Globe Life Park will be used. Once the roster is trimmed, those who don’t make the Opening Day roster will continue workouts at either Globe Life Park or Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco.
The Rangers will stagger workouts throughout the day to keep players as socially distanced as possible. They will begin playing intrasquad games around two weeks into spring training 2.0. MLB would permit teams to play other clubs at the end of camp.
What will the roster sizes be during the season? The season with open with 30-man rosters, which will be reduced to 28 players on the 15th day of the season and then to 26 on the 19th day. Teams will be allowed to travel with a three-man taxi squad, one of whom must be a catcher. The players can work out daily with the team but can’t be in uniform or in the dugout. The catcher, though, can serve as a bullpen catcher.
What happens when a player is injured? The injured list for all players will be 10 days, and the 60-day IL is now 45 days. An injured player can be replaced on the roster by a player from the player pool, and those players are subject to the normal baseball transactions (optional assignment, designated for assignment, etc.).
Who has to wear masks during games? All non-playing personnel — so managers, coaches, athletic trainers and anyone else. That will be the case during games, and when working with players in spring training and before games. Players will have to wear masks while entering the ballpark, if they are not engaged in an activity while at the ballpark and when traveling. All personnel must wear gloves when traveling.
Media members are also required to wear masks at all times when inside a ballpark.
What is being done to avoid crowding in the dugout? A lot. For one, only players who are in the lineup can be in the dugout. Any player who will not play, for instance the next game’s starting pitcher, won’t be in there. Teams can just let him go home. The same for injured players after they have completed their rehab for the day. Players who aren’t in the game but might be used will be located in auxiliary dugouts or in the stands. The Rangers are considering using field-level dugout suites as their auxiliary dugouts.
Leaning against the dugout railing is discouraged but can be done with a towel on the rail. The seats in the bullpen will be distanced.
Will MLB really use that awful extra-innings rule? Yes! For all subsequent tied innings after the ninth, the offensive team will start with a runner at second base. The rule has been used in the minor leagues. The goal of the rule is to keep teams from gassing their bullpens and opening the door to windows, but to also keep players from staying at the ballpark for too long. The rule will be in effect for only the regular season.
Aren’t the balls a potential health hazard? MLB thinks so, and to that end pitchers will have their own set of balls for bullpen sessions. Pitchers can’t share the same rosin bag, and must use a small, wet towel in their pants pocket to moisten their fingers rather than licking them. Teams must wait five days before using the same set of batting practice balls.
Come on. Did MLB really ban spitting? It sure did, along with sunflower seeds and smokeless tobacco. Enforcing that ban is another thing. Players are creatures of habit, and many of them have been spitting for years. Also, what is the harm if the right fielder, all by his lonesome, spits? Common sense needs to prevail here.
And high-fives and hand shakes, too? And hugs. Teams must post signs discouraging them. But as former Rangers outfielder Jared Hoying, who now plays in Korea said, players are going to have a hard time not congratulating their teammates after a big hit or a great pitching effort.
Will fans be allowed at Globe Life Field? Gov. Greg Abbott sure thinks they should be, saying on Tuesday, “I feel confident we will find safe ways to open up the stadiums and have fans in the stands to watch Major League Baseball.” The Rangers are working to prove him right, beginning with their first home game. Fans would be spread across all levels. Season ticket holders would receive first priority.
What will the in-game experience be like? Well, concessions will be available, though only permanent stands to avoid too much congregating on concourses. No word yet on if fans can bring their own water. And don’t worry about roasting in the summer heat. The roof will be allowed to be closed.
How will teams keep sick fans from entering? There was nothing in the MLB operations manual, but fans who take ballpark tours, which will continue to be allowed, must wear face masks and have their temperatures taken by security guards before entering the ballpark.
Fans needs to be responsible, too. Keep your distance from other fans, and if you have symptoms of COVID-19, stay home.
This story was originally published June 25, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
