The Cubs will welcome fans to Wrigley Field again in 2021, the team announced today. They were approved by the city to fill the stadium up to 20 percent, from day one. “In collaboration with MLB, top health experts and local officials, we have developed a comprehensive plan that puts the health and safety of our players, staff and supporters at the forefront,” said Cubs Crane Kenney. “Our goal is to create a safe, clean and friendly environment for everyone to start Cubs’ baseball from day one.” The Cubs need masks for customers two years and older, while offering pod-style seating and using social distance.
On the other side of town, the White Sox are allowed up to 8,122 runners-up per game while taking social distances, according to Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times (via Twitter). The Southsiders home opener is on April 8th. This means that every team except the Blue Jays will have at least a limited number of fans in the seats this season, notes Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Now, the latest news schedule from Central …
- The Brewers are faced at the end of the bench. This is a side effect of the Jackie Bradley Jr. signed, writes Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Pablo Reyes and Derek Fisher driver impressed Craig Counsell so far, McCalvy says. Manny Pina and Avisail Garcia are locks to be a member of the bank, which probably leaves only two places behind. Assume Travis Shaw make the grid, which one of Shaw places, Orlando Arcia, en Luis Urias on the bench too. Daniel Robertson is considered a favorite to win last place on the bench, in part because the campaign can no longer get options. Daniel Vogelbach is also out of options and on the 40-man list. The great first baseman has a limited but valuable skill as a power bat off the bench. Of the players in the 40s, Fisher, Jace Pederson, and Billy McKinney There are also no options, which makes the Brewers think a lot as we get closer to April 1st.
- Milwaukee, however, has a little extra time to decide on the final standings. Lorenzo Cain has not played a week yet due to a quadruple problem, and there is a chance he will not be ready in time for the opening day, according to McCalvy (via Twitter). There is still hope that he will be ready from the jump, but if that is not the case, the Brewers could face Bradley Jr. in the middle and Garcia rolls right while taking the extra time to evaluate someone from their pool who does not have options.
- Pirates manager Derek Shelton will not spend much time thinking about who can play the narrower role until the last few days of camp, according to Rob Biertempfel of Athletic. Shelton said: ‘We have a man we know he can go to the back and do it in Richie (Rodríguez), who did it last year, so I really do not think about it.’ It definitely sounds like Richard Rodriguez has the inner lane at work. There will definitely be enough bodies to choose from, as the Pirates plan to camp with eight or nine reliefs, Biertempfel says. It is said that there are not many proven options for late turn to dismiss the role immediately from Rodríguez. Kyle Crick is the most obvious challenger, with Chris Stratton maybe hack an opportunity or two after hitting nearly 30 percent of the hits last season.