As the Atlanta Braves officially began preparations for the 2020 regular season on Friday, they will be dealing with a truncated schedule and a difficult path that is set before them. For Brian Snitker, it is about getting as much accomplished during the three week summer camp as possible before the regular season gets underway.
“We had a group of pitchers out at 9 a.m. that weren’t going to throw live BP,” Snitker responded about the first day of camp. “I think the last group comes in at 5 p.m.. So we [The coaching staff] will be going from, guys got in here at 7:30 a.m. and we will be going to probably 6:30 p.m.”
The Braves are getting right to work with both Mike Soroka and Max Fried throwing a live BP session on the first day. That is something that wouldn’t have happened in a normal spring training setting.
“Soroka and Fried are getting ready to throw a live BP right now and we are kind of looking at that as their first game,” Snitker said. “They are going to do like an up, down two inning stint today in order to prepare for that. We are going to do a lot. It is going to be a lot quicker than it was. We are going to amp them up sooner.”
The coaching staff will also be evaluating all of the pitchers on the staff. While everyone has been throwing and working out, each pitcher is likely at a different point in their preparation.
“The good thing is all of these guys have been throwing, they have been working out,” said Snitker. “They tell us they have but until you actually see where they are, you want to put your eyes on them first. There is going to be a lot and we are going to play and I think we have intersquads maybe as early as July 8. There is going to be live batting practice probably every day. We don’t have time to stretch them out in six weeks like we did before. There is five or six guys that are throwing sim games today as we speak.”
Some of the pertinent roster questions that the Braves entered spring training with back in February will be answered due to an expanded roster. Some though, like the third base position battle between Austin Riley and Johan Camargo, might take a little bit longer to flesh out.
“We are just going to have to make them,” Snitker answered when being asked about roster and lineup decisions without the benefit of a preseason schedule. “It is pretty much how I felt when we left. I kind of had a pretty good idea. I think now we are just going to have to go with it and use the season a little bit. There is only so much you can do here. We will play intersquad games but there is nothing to judge right now. We will have to go and try to spread it around and see what happens.”
Another concern for the organization is that Snitker and several of his coaches fall into high-risk categories for Covid-19 due to their age. However, that is a concern that they are taking in stride. Third base coach Ron Washington was on the field Friday leading Atlanta infielders through drills. The rest of the staff was also busy and as Snitker put it, they feel safer in what is now more of a controlled situation.
“I kind of feel more safe in this environment right here than going to the grocery store and getting a gallon of milk,” Snitker said. “Everybody has been tested. There is going to be risks, there is risk everywhere, especially when we travel. I think that if you take care of business and you are aware of the fact that this is a real thing, that this virus is real.”
Snitker was asked whether it would be the manager’s job to police things and ensure that players were following all of the rules when it comes to the new medical protocols which include a ban on high-fives, hugging and spitting sunflower seeds.
“Some of that stuff is just going to happen,” said Snitker. “We can try all we want. When those guys go out there they are going to do some baseball things and not even realize they are doing it. We are all going to try and help out, especially in here I think is the biggest thing. If we are outside it is the place to be. I know they want us to try and do as much as we can outside. We can keep guys spread apart and there are still going to be risks. We aren’t going to be able to try and control the environment 100 percent. There is going to be some risk involved and we are going to do the best that we can in a tough situation.”
The major takeaway from Snitker on Friday was how fluid of a situation all of this really is. Players and coaches alike are trying to get a handle of the new procedures and Snitker pointed out that schedules will be tweaked along the way. For now though, one of the hardest steps has been taken. The players have been tested and are back on the field and quickly trying to get ready for a regular season that will be here before they know it.
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