Spring games bring sense of reassurance
Nolan Arenado in his new Cardinal red, Mookie Betts back in Dodger blue. October breakout star Randy Arozarena with a hit in his first February at-bat, Buster Posey returning from an opt-out year.
And a socially distanced standing ovation for Trey Mancini.
All over spring training, baseball enjoyed a bevy of reassuring signs Sunday on the opening day of Grapefruit and Cactus league play.
Including people in the seats, albeit in numbers limited by COVID-19 protocols.
The Toronto-yankees game at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, drew 2,637, close to its permitted maximum of 2,800 in a park that holds over 10,000. A little farther south in Bradenton, the Baltimore-pittsburgh opener crowd of 1,705 was officially listed as a sellout.
“I’m glad we got some of the fans back,” Yankees slugger Luke Voit said.
Many top names were in play, too.
World Series MVP Corey Seager drove in the first run for Los Angeles, 22-year-old Fernando Tatis Jr. played for the first time since signing his $330 million, 14-year contract, and All-stars DJ Lemahieu, Jose Altuve and Joey Votto took swings.
A change easily noticeable: shortened games. Major League Baseball is letting teams cut these early exhibitions down to five innings if they want, coming after a season in which the coronavirus forced clubs to alter workouts and play only 60 times.
By far, the most touching scene involved Mancini.
After producing 35 home runs and 97 RBIS for the Orioles in 2019, he seemed primed for even bigger things. But after playing just five exhibitions last year, he needed to end his season to have surgery for colon cancer.
When Mancini came up in the first inning against Pittsburgh, he drew a nice round of applause as he approached the batter’s box and waved to the crowd. The cheers kept growing, with pitcher Chad Kuhl stepping off the mound and umpire Will Little cleaning the plate to prolong the salute.
Mancini took off his helmet to acknowledge a standing ovation that included the fans, the Orioles and the Pirates.
“It was amazing,” he said. “I almost teared up a little bit, I’m not going to lie.”
Moments later, the slugging first baseman, who turns 29 in a few weeks, lined a single to center field.
ROYALS 3, RANGERS 2 (6)
Newcomer Ervin Santana, hoping to earn a spot in the Kansas City rotation, allowed two runs on a hit and a walk, over two innings. Former Royals closer Wade Davis, back with the team for the first time since
2016, allowed one hit in two scoreless innings.joey Gallo had a two-run home run off Santana in the first for Texas.
MARLINS 6, ASTROS 1 (7)
Chisholm’s homer got Miami going, Garrett Cooper doubled in a run and Lewis Brinson hit a
two-run shot as the Marlins scored four times in the first. Myles Straw, expected to take over in center field after Houston mainstay George Springer signed with Toronto in the offseason, had a pair of singles from the leadoff spot in two trips.