No shops. No dining. No bars. Texas Rangers to get taste of MLB’s COVID-19 road rules
The first week of the Texas Rangers’ season included an injury to a member of the starting rotation, Corey Kluber, and a key member of the bullpen, closer Jose Leclerc, and the stark realization that Globe Life Field is not a hitter’s park.
The offense needed four games, nearly five, to let that sink in before putting things together Wednesday with a five-run eighth inning that helped them snap a three-game losing streak.
Next up is the challenge of learning what life will be like on the road, where team personnel is all but banned from leaving their hotel when not traveling to and from the ballpark.
No shopping. No restaurants. No bars. No golf.
The aim, of course, is no COVID-19 and not contributing to the cancellation of the MLB season, which seems to be more of a possibility after 17 Miami Marlins players and two coaches tested positive.
Their outbreak started in Philadelphia, where the Phillies’ weekend series with Toronto was postponed because a Phillies coach and clubhouse attendant also tested positive.
The situation has served as a reminder to clubs to not slip, no matter how tempting it might be to go out on the town this weekend and early next week while playing at San Francisco and Oakland.
“We really have to do it,” first baseman Todd Frazier said. “I think the guys understand that. We’ve had a meeting about it. If we’re going to see somebody outside, you bet your behind we’re going to get on them. I think everybody understands they’re going to be in their room.”
The Rangers have established their own protocol on road trips that extends beyond the MLB operations manual. Players will face fines for violations of the protocol, and the only known exception for leaving the hotel is to acquire essential items.
A ballroom at their hotel will be used as a place to escape their rooms, though the Rangers weren’t sure if a ping-pong table or other games of the ilk would be permitted under the bolstered protocols MLB has put in place after the Marlins’ outbreak.
“We have a room set up where we can all meet, keep our social distance,” Frazier said. “Maybe there’s a UFC fight on after a game. Guys don’t sleep until later. Guys play video games. I don’t know, roll some dice? Whatever it is. We can be like the Jersey Boys on the street corner trying to play dice or whatever lucky game you want to play. We’ll figure it out. Let’s pretend we’re kids and have a little fun.”
Joey Gallo, whose two-run homer Wednesday in the eighth helped the Rangers rally past Arizona, said that for the most part the Rangers’ position players are homebodies on the road.
Having too much social life and a resulting hangover make life tough on everyday players. Gallo doesn’t see the new road rules causing a massive disruption to a player’s past road routine.
“It’s really not too tough,” he said. “I don’t think it’s going to be because we have video games now, so that helps out a lot. During the season, at least position-player wise, we’re playing every day so we’re not out touring the town and going to bars every night. You go home from the field and you play video games, you go to sleep and you go to the field the next day.”
The Rangers will also use the ballroom to conduct their COVID-19 testing and to offer players an early meal many usually get at the ballpark, general manager Jon Daniels said. The hope is that the ballroom will be available after games.
Daniels will be the team executive on the trip so that he can get a feel for how travel will work this season.
“We would like to have the space postgame, if the guys want to watch something on TV or unwind a bit before going to our own rooms,” he said. “That would have to be with the same mask and distancing requirements we have everywhere else.”
Left-hander Mike Minor, who is scheduled to start the opener of the six-game road trip, said the Rangers will do their best to make life on the road as tolerable and easy as possible.
Like Gallo, Minor doesn’t foresee many issues. It’s also the best way for players to stay healthy and keep their families and teammates healthy.
“I feel like if you follow the protocols as much as possible, that’s the safest thing you can do,” Minor said.
