When Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred imposed a 60-game season, it invariably gave the Los Angeles Dodgers renewed hope they would get to see Mookie Betts take the field for them.
Although Betts, the Dodgers and MLB as a whole are progressing through Spring Training 2.0, concerns related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continue to hover over the sport. Particularly since some teams experienced issues with testing results over the weekend.
MLB does have new health and safety protocols in place as part of a 113-page document full of guidelines. “I can’t say I’m that confident because I haven’t been shown yet,” Betts said of the health rules.
“That’s kind of tough to be confident in something that hasn’t proved to be fool proof. So there’s not a whole lot really I can do. It’s kind of out of my control, but it’s in somebody’s control and whoever’s control it’s in just has to find a way to make it work or this whole operation may not be able to work.”
Recent developments have led to more players questioning the reality of playing a regular season — even one shortened to 60 games — and provided further evidence for those who already had their doubts.
“We’ve got camps being shut down, people going three or four days without tests where you just don’t know what’s going on,” Betts said. “I know it’s hard, I’m not blaming or saying anything about them, I know it’s hard but somebody’s got to do it and we’ve just got to figure out the right way to do it.”
Betts reiterated he is looking forward to wearing a Dodger uniform in the regular season, but added, “I still have my doubts just based off of what’s going on. I’m definitely preparing the same way, fully expecting to play. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t doubts that kind of go on with the facts that are in front of you.
“But yeah, I’m definitely super excited to play and looking forward to it. Obviously it’s going to be an amazing thing just to be able to put on a Dodger uniform, really to put on a uniform in general, I’m happy. This is basically a new home for me so I’m super excited and got 60 games to get in the playoffs and we got to bring home a ring.”
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