Greetings from Surprise Austin.
Under ordinary circumstances, Monday would be my first of several days in Arizona. In a few hours, Iād be pulling into Glendaleās Camelback Ranch to watch Texasās youngest minor leaguers take on the White Sox. Instead, Iām home, under circumstances that won’t be ordinary for a long time.
Barely over a week ago, I wasnāt especially worried about my own health or being a vector that could harm others. I travel to Arizona alone by car, usually off the beaten path, and I keep a relatively low profile on the back fields. But as last week transpired, I found myself prepared physically but not mentally, increasingly ill at ease. Time set aside for studying players was instead spent studying a virus and contemplating life-altering events. By Tuesday, I was drawing to the disappointing conclusion that for the first time since 2006, I wouldnāt be visiting Arizona. By Thursday, when MLB suspended spring training, Iād already overcome my disappointment. The announcement was a relief.
I already work from home, and my wife will be as of later today, but now we also have a homebound daughter for who knows how long, so our schedule will beā¦ I donāt know. Complicated, I guess. Goodness knows Iām not complaining. So many people (and perhaps some of yāall) have it much worse. On the whole, minor league ballplayers are in that group. They havenāt received a paycheck in months and donāt know when the next will come. The situation is already terrible, and weāre nowhere near the bottom.
Hopefully, weāll have some baseball later this year. If youāre old enough, you remember the emotional impact of baseball resuming after the September 11 attacks. Opening Day 2020 will be even more momentous, Iād wager.
As for the Newberg Report, Iāve got some ideas on how to fill the time between now and then, but I donāt want to promise anything specific yet.
I hope youāre getting by and able to care for those you love, even though ācare forā might mean āavoidā for the time being.Ā
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tantamount to cordial