Spring training to have a different feel this year

Colorado Rockies infielder Ryan McMahon figures players can find plenty to do with any extra time they could get at the end of days if spring training games don’t go nine innings.

“Maybe slide out for some golf. If not, head home, hit the couch and watch some basketball right now,” McMahon said.

Or maybe even some extra batting practice.

“It could be, right? Depending on the day and depending on how things went, there’s a lot of different ways that you could go with it,” McMahon said. “The days are different every day, that’s for sure.”

Things certainly could look different when spring training games begin Sunday, with managers allowed to mutually determine in advance how many innings their teams need or want to play.

“What we’re finding is it’s going to provide some flexibility,” Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “I think teams are viewing this differently. My early read on it is we’ll have some different game lengths daily, based on teams’ available pitching.”

Some games may not even make it to a seventh-inning stretch, since they can be as few as five innings through March 13. Even after that, until the end of spring training, games can be scheduled for only seven innings.

The potentially shorter spring training games, and the ability to end innings before three outs, come on the heels of 2020, when teams had to alter workouts and the season was shortened to 60 games because of the coronavirus pandemic that is still ongoing. COVID-19 health and safety protocols remain in place while Major League Baseball prepares for what it hopes will be a full 162-game regular season this year.

Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell said he had already been in touch with Cleveland’s Terry Francona by midweek about their spring training opener Sunday. Teams have to confirm with MLB the previous day on how many innings they intend to play.

“It’s just going to be communication between the managers. It’s all new to us but it should be pretty seamless once we get into it,” Bell said.

Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly expects his team’s first three games to go seven innings.

“After that, we’re good for nine,” Mattingly said.

While the number of innings have to declared in advance, all of those innings don’t initially have to be three outs.

Through March 13, defensive managers can end an inning before three outs following any completed plate appearance, provided the pitcher has thrown at least 20 pitches.

“Fans may not like it in the beginning,” Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “You’ve got two outs and the bases loaded and you yell over there ‘Last hitter. We’re rolling him.’ But in the long run I think it’s a smart move to help, especially now as we’ll be trying to stretch pitchers out.”

Padres slugger Manny Machado said he had offseason laser eye surgery to deal with the lights.

“I hope it helps me hit better. I was dealing with some stuff last year with the lights, just night games. I still have the same vision,” he said. “We’ll just see when the lights turn on in San Diego, make that little adjustment there, if it helps me out or not. Vision’s fine, same thing, nothing major, nothing different, but hopefully it helps me see the ball a little better and I can hit .320, .330.”

Before the surgery, Machado hit .304 with 16 home runs in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and was third in NL MVP balloting.

The Atlanta Braves have extended the contract of manager Brian Snitker through the 2023 season. ... Three players were positive for COVID-19 among 900 intake samples among those arriving at spring training during the second week of workouts . ... The Chicago White Sox and Cuban pitching prospect Norge Vera have agreed to a minor-league contract that includes a $1.5 million signing bonus . ... The Colorado Rockies say they’ve been approved to allow 12,500 fans per game at Coors Field this season.