FORT MYERS, Fla. – When the Boston Red Sox make the short drive down Daniels Parkway to face the Twins at the start of spring training, the two teams will only play seven innings, a mutually agreed decision.
Since the teams only have 75 players in camp, the spring training at the beginning of the schedule will include shortened games – and some rule changes. Games through March 13 can be shortened to five or seven innings if both managers agree. From March 14th through the end of spring, teams can change their schedule to games with seven innings.
Manager Rocco Baldelli said this would be something they would have talks about with Boston, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Baltimore – the only teams they play against this spring – to see what they are working with before finalizing a decision the day before.
“It can be helpful in some ways. On certain days, we may not even have the position players to play a full nine-inning game all spring, ”said Baldelli. “On the pitching side, we could end up in some situations where we have people working on the backcourt. Or throw live BPs because we only have seven instead of nine. It requires constant readiness to adapt, but is currently part of the business. «
During the first part of spring, managers can also finish an inning before three outs if a pitcher has at least 20 pitches at the end of a record performance.
The three-stroke minimum rule is applied in the second half of spring training. Throughout spring, a pitcher who has been removed from a game can return.
“There will be a lot of bizarre things going on. Maybe the scorecard and lineups and things like that aren’t getting that much attention, ”said Baldelli. « I think all teams in major league baseball are concerned that we can prepare and the players can prepare, rather than that we obey all the rules that we normally play by. »
The twins hope that Starter J.A. Happ will be able to return soon after testing positive for COVID-19 following the intake test. Baldelli said Happ will begin the next step in the protocol early next week – presumably on Monday.
« He will come in and start testing, the next hurdle we have to overcome, » said Baldelli. « But he’s fine. (Trainer) Michael Salazar has been in contact with him and has everything lined up. »
Baldelli said they are still hopeful that Happ will come to camp in the first week of the season and prepare for the pitching as he will still be able to move his arm and stay in good throwing shape, although you will need to get him to camp and personally rate him before you have anything set in stone.
« Whether J.A. is fully up by the end of camp or it’s an extra week, I don’t think that’s a very big deal one way or another, ”Baldelli said. « These are the cards that have been dealt and we will make the best of the situation and have him ready soon enough. »
Top prospect Royce Lewis had a successful right ACL reconstruction surgery Friday afternoon at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. The operation was carried out by team doctor Dr. Chris Camp performed. Lewis is scheduled to stay in Minnesota for a short period of time before returning to Fort Myers, where he will begin his rehab process.
« It went very well. After the operation and everything that happens over the next few days, we just want to get him to a good place where he can regain his strength and get him back to Fort Myers and back on the work goes, « said Baldelli. » That is the goal. But it was very good to hear that the operation went as planned. « Related articles
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