SAFETY PROTOCOLS ABOUND.
Provided it can prevent a massive spread of the coronavirus, baseball will be played this summer — looking absolutely nothing like the sport so many have come to revere. A 60-game sprint replaces a 162-game marathon. Fans won’t be inside a majority of ballparks. Restrictions for players are almost innumerable, all in an effort to keep the league afloat amid a global pandemic.
Major League Baseball constructed a comprehensive, 101-page manual that promised suspensions for violating social distancing, banned spitting and allowed pitchers a pathway to moisten their hands without saliva.
The health and safety protocols started as a 67page document. By the time owners and the players association approved it Tuesday night, the manual had ballooned to 101 pages. It’s thoroughness is admirable, covering everything from testing protocols to protection of a player’s family members to moistening a pitcher’s throwing hand.
If the 2020 regular season begins, here are six of the alterations most noticeable to fans:
Pitcher’s rag
Pitchers will be permitted to carry a wet rag in their back pocket “in lieu of licking their fingers.”
Often, some pitchers will either blow into their hands or lick their fingers to help their grip of the baseball. The Astros’ Zack Greinke did it 16 times during his 6⅓ innings in Game 7 of the 2019 World Series.
Now, to avoid contaminating a baseball that could be sent into the field of play, a wet rag must do.
Water is the only substance allowed on the rag, according to the league’s manual, and umpires reserve the right to check the towel.
Pitchers can only utilize it while they’re on the rubber and must clearly wipe their hand dry before delivering the pitch. Similar rules are in place for pitchers who lick their fingers.
Spitting stops
Spitting is prohibited anywhere at the team facility. To assist in the endeavor, the league manual specifically outlawed sunflower seeds, chewing tobacco and peanut shells.
Chewing gum, however, is allowed.
Masks mandated
All non-playing personnel must wear face coverings in both the dugout and bullpen. All who aren’t “must make every effort to avoid touching their face with their hands,” meaning giving signs could get dicey.
Extra inning, extra runner
In regular-season games that require extra innings, each new half-inning will begin with a runner on second base.
The rule was adopted in the minor leagues before the 2018 season. The runner who takes second base to start the extra inning is the last hitter to have appeared in the ninth. So, for example, if the cleanup hitter ended the ninth inning, the five-hole hitter begins the 10th with the cleanup man standing on second.
Teams can insert a pinch runner for that player, should they choose, but the man who is substituted out is not allowed to return to the game.
These extra-inning rules do not apply to postseason games.
Arguing into a suspension
Social distancing will apparently be strictly enforced. Players are prohibited from fraternizing with teammates or opponents before games. They are discouraged from making physical contact during games, too, but policing that may be a tad more difficult.
Premeditated violations of social distancing will not be tolerated.
“Players or managers who leave their positions to argue with umpires, come within 6 feet of an umpire or opposing player or manager for the purpose of argument, or engage in altercations on the field are subject to immediate ejection and discipline, including fines and suspensions,” the league’s manuel red.
Digital lineup exchange
Gone are the pregame home-plate huddles between the two managers and four umpires. Teams must digitally enter lineups and wait for umpires to print the lineup card 15 minutes prior to first pitch.
There will still apparently be a meeting at home plate, but with both managers standing 6 feet apart from the home plate umpire to simply confirm their lineup.