TAMPA, Fla. — As concern builds over the COVID-19 outbreak, the Toronto Blue Jays implemented new policies Tuesday intended to keep players and staff safe. Some of these changes, such as closing the clubhouse to media on a temporary basis, were handed down from MLB. In other instances, the club is contemplating changes of its own.
“It’s obviously not a situation we want to be in,” GM Ross Atkins said at Steinbrenner Field before Tuesday’s exhibition game against the Yankees. “It’s become a baseball issue, but in our minds it’s much more of a public health issue. We’re following the lead of Major League Baseball, which has worked closely with public health officials to determine this is one measure that we can take and one that we certainly deem to be temporary. We’re following their lead.”
Working in conjunction with the NHL, NBA and MLS, baseball announced Monday that media access to clubhouses would stop “on a temporary basis.” Players and coaches will still be available to media, but those interactions will no longer take place in the same place.
Underneath the stadium, the Yankees set up a roped-off area from which their players will conduct interviews going forward. On the visiting side, Blue Jays players conducted one-on-one interviews in the visiting dugout Tuesday, while manager Charlie Montoyo held his daily pre-game scrum on the field.
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As for fans, Atkins said the Blue Jays have yet to impose restrictions on the interactions players have. In a team meeting Sunday, the players discussed the option of pre-signing some balls and baseball cards for fans. That possibility remains a consideration, and if nothing else the club will provide players with their own Sharpies for signing autographs.
One way or another, Atkins hopes Blue Jays fans don’t have to stop interacting with the team’s players.
“I certainly hope not,” he said. “We are talking about contingency plans for everything. If the situation worsens then we have to be prepared for that. As we get more information every day, we’re learning more and more. We do have contingency plans for the potential of those things happening.”
Since the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends limiting interactions, the Blue Jays are working behind the scenes to limit unnecessary contact with the dozens of team staff and service providers who pass through the clubhouse daily.
“There are vendors. Our own scouts that are coming and going. It’s not just media that’s being limited,” Atkins said. “We have made the decision for people that are coming and going from our environment, but for the people who are working here every day, we are still working through how we will limit that and limit our exposure.”
Speaking to the media after Sunday’s team meeting, Blue Jays player representative Matt Shoemaker said he believed a common-sense approach to COVID-19 could be effective.
“It’s a terrible thing,” Shoemaker said. “Everybody: stay clean, wash your hands, (do) common sense stuff. I don’t want to speak too much on it since I’m not a doctor, but I’ve done some research on it because there’s a lot of fear out there. My personal opinion is that there doesn’t need to be that much fear.”
Since then, the pro sports landscape has changed rapidly with limited access in some cases and games played in empty stadiums across Europe. At this point, MLB games are progressing as usual and the Blue Jays aren’t expecting to have to play in an empty ballpark when their season begins at Rogers Centre on March 26.
Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua is set to make his season debut Thursday after missing time for cancer treatment.
Head coach Rick Tocchet says Joshua will slot into the lineup Thursday when Vancouver (8-3-3) hosts the New York Islanders.
The 28-year-old from Dearborn, Mich., was diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer and underwent surgery in early September.
He spoke earlier this month about his recovery, saying it had been “very hard to go through” and that he was thankful for support from his friends, family, teammates and fans.
“That was a scary time but I am very thankful and just happy to be in this position still and be able to go out there and play,,” Joshua said following Thursday’s morning skate.
The cancer diagnosis followed a career season where Joshua contributed 18 goals and 14 assists across 63 regular-season games, then added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.
Now, he’s ready to focus on contributing again.
“I expect to be good, I don’t expect a grace period. I’ve been putting the work in so I expect to come out there and make an impact as soon as possible,” he said.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be perfect right from the get-go, but it’s about putting your best foot forward and working your way to a point of perfection.”
The six-foot-three, 206-pound Joshua signed a four-year, US$13-million contract extension at the end of June.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
