Jays getting used to COVID chaos
‘We’re going to continue to battle no matter the circumstances,’ shortstop Bichette says
As the battle against the coronavirus claims victories around Major League Baseball, the Toronto Blue Jays are doing their best not to let the fallout get in the way of their business.
Bad enough that they are the only MLB team not to play out of their home stadium in this 60-game season and that they are now among those displaced by COVID -19 postponements.
But seven games into the season, the young Jays vow they are still rolling with it.
“We’ve been put through the wringer. We’ve been in limbo ever since spring training was cancelled,” Jays shortstop Bo Bichette said on a Zoom news conference before a Sunday afternoon workout in Washington, where the team has been for a week.
“We’re still in limbo. But we’re going to continue to battle no matter the circumstances.”
After completing four games against the Nationals last Thursday, the Jays have been in limbo ever since after a weekend series in Philadelphia got postponed due to COVID precautions around the Phillies. The Jays were scheduled to fly to Atlanta on Sunday night where they will bring their 3-4 record back into play with a threegame series against the Braves scheduled to begin on Tuesday.
As positive tests for the virus are wreaking havoc around the league — particularly with the Florida Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals — Bichette said Jays players have remained diligent to stay healthy and safe.
“For us there’s no thought of what (other teams are) doing,” Bichette said. “We’re just focused on what we can do. We’re just going to do our best to stay healthy and whatever happens, happens.
“We’ve done a really good job. Nobody’s done anything out of the ordinary as far as I know. Obviously we’ve been pretty healthy and no positive (tests) since the season started. I’m definitely happy with the way we’ve handled this.”
For the most part, the Jays say they’ve been living close to a quarantine life while on the road, rarely straying from the hotel-to ballpark-to hotel routine. It’s led to tedium at times, but after getting indoctrinated into the strictest of protocols during summer camp in Toronto, pitching coach Pete Walker says the Jays travelling party has been adjusting.
“I think we’re used to it, as crazy as it sounds,” Walker said during his turn on the Sunday Zoom scrum. “Initially when we started this whole process you heard a little more complaining and guys not really knowing what it entails. But after we’ve done it, it’s different.
“It’s not ideal. You don’t have the freedom to go out and do certain things you’ve done in the past, but it hasn’t affected us. We’ve kept the guys focused and we’ve kept them working. It hasn’t affected my approach or the players’ approach so far.
“I know we’re still in for the long haul. I think the team that says healthy and stays focused and takes this seriously is going to prevail.”
Though the Jays have a 3-4 record it could easily be 5-2, a recognition that has helped keep the young team buoyed. Two extra-inning losses and a couple of late collapses have been frustrating, but they’ve played the World Series champion Nats four times and a good Tampa Bay Rays squad for three games.
“The feeling around the clubhouse is that we outplayed the other team in all but probably one of the games,” Bichette said. “We are definitely very confident. We had the opportunity to put teams away as an offence and we didn’t. But the first week brought our confidence up.”
LONG ROAD FOR GILES
Closer Ken Giles rejoined the team in Washington after undergoing treatment elsewhere on a forearm injury he suffered the previous Sunday in a game against Tampa Bay.
The right-handed reliever won’t be returning to the mound any time soon, however.
“He is back, walking around the clubhouse and getting treatment,” Walker said.
“As he said, he’s (proving) moral support for everyone right now. He’ll be re-evaluated in a couple of weeks.
“Just talking to him, he feels confident that he’ll be pitching for us again (before the season is over) so that’s a good sign.”
AROUND THE BASES
Bichette said that having his father Dante join the team’s coaching staff for the season was something he essentially signed off on. Both management and Dante himself wanted to make sure the second-year infielder was fine with the move. “A lot of players told me they really wanted him here and really wanted him around the clubhouse,” Bo Bichette said. “It was pretty much my decision. (Dante) was definitely very wary of the possibility of it being awkward.” ... Walker confirmed that when the team gets back in action on Tuesday, Matt Shoemaker will be on the mound for his second start of the season. The veteran pitching coach isn’t willing to offer details beyond that, but Nate Pearson’s second outing isn’t expected to be far behind ... Starter Chase Anderson is nearing a return after being sidelined with an oblique injury prior to the start of the season. Anderson threw a live batting practice session on Sunday and is expected to be activated at some point during the series in Atlanta ... The Jays had planned a bus tour of the historic sites of D.C. for Saturday but with the quarantine rules in affect for the city, it was scrapped.
We’re just focused on what we can do. We’re just going to do our best to stay healthy and whatever happens, happens.