Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates GM Ben Cherington 'impressed' by covid-19 testing

When it comes to covid-19 testing, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington is impressed with how MLB has implemented the health and safety protocols in training camp.

That’s especially true for those tested most frequently: Players and coaches. Cherington credited the league for being proactive with adjustments to the system based on the feedback it has received.

“In terms of how it’s gone, I really feel it’s going well,” Cherington said. “I know there’s been some discussion out there publicly related to the testing. I guess I looked at it like, if you think about what’s been required to set this system up — from how the tests are done, the number of people involved, the frequency, setting up the lab space to get results back as soon as possible and the hundreds of people involved in that; from the league, from the PA, from teams, from the lab itself — (it has required a) massive amount of communication, logistics.

“To me, it’s just really impressive that we’re at this point. Does it mean every test gets back exactly when you hope? No. But I think we’d also be surprised if that were the case. It would be hard to imagine doing something like this in a way where there was zero hiccups at all. I’m quite impressed with what the league and the PA and the teams are doing collectively around this to give players a chance to play safely. It is an everyday thing. It’s on our minds every single day.”

The Pirates have praised one person in particular, director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk, for his meticulous attention to detail in every aspect of the health and safety protocols since the sport was shut down.

“It’s kind of all he thinks about for 24 hours a day, probably all he will think about until this season is over,” Cherington said. “Hopefully, he won’t have to think about it as much in 2021 and beyond.”

Cherington is optimistic MLB will be able to pull off its regular season, despite having no control over the coronavirus pandemic, because of the cooperation between the league and Players Association in handling the testing procedures and following health and safety protocols such as wearing masks and practicing social distancing.

“You’re right. There are factors outside of that that we don’t fully control,” Cherington said. “We have to take that really seriously. We have to be extremely disciplined. Our players need to be really disciplined. Everybody needs to be really disciplined if we’re going to get to games, pull this off, play successfully, get through a season.

“As a league, we will have to remain really disciplined to do that. It sure feels like everyone is taking that seriously. You’re right. We can’t control everything outside that. And that means we can’t be certain. We gotta do our best every day to be disciplined. I remain confident that we will and therefore hopeful that we’ll get to games and get through the season.”

While Twitter was down we ran on the field and took a pic because Twitter was down.

now we share it with you because we love you. ? pic.twitter.com/v9xFo9cjjo

— Pirates (@Pirates) July 16, 2020

1. Where’s Polanco?: Pirates manager Derek Shelton confirmed Wednesday night that right fielder Gregory Polanco was missing from workouts the past two days.

Other than that, Shelton wasn’t saying much.

“We’ve just kept him away for the last couple days,” Shelton said. “Nothing I’m going to discuss.”

MLB teams aren’t permitted to discuss whether players have tested positive, unless the player gives consent. Both outfielder Socrates Brito and reliever Blake Cederlind allowed the Pirates to confirm that they tested positive, and Brito is back to playing.

The Pirates, however, have not explained the absences of closer Keone Kela and their top position prospect, third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes.

We see you, Guillermo! ? pic.twitter.com/COm6HwKZbU

— Pirates (@Pirates) July 15, 2020

2. Who’s in right?: Guillermo Heredia, who signed a one-year deal in the offseason, played right field in Wednesday night’s intrasquad scrimmage.

Heredia has played mostly in center but is capable of playing all three outfield positions. In his four-year major league career, he has started 177 games in center, 122 in left and 31 in right.

“When we acquired him, we knew he could play all three,” Shelton said. “The fact that he can go to center is a bonus. He’s shown us in all his drill work and anything we talked to people about when he came in. He can play all three, no problems. It’s just moving him around.”

Watching the @Pirates on @MLBTV outside of #Philly. I did not realize how much I missed @gbrowniepoints . #RaiseIt

— Rocco (@MikeRoccoK12) July 16, 2020

3. Who’s the closer?: If Kela isn’t ready for the start of the season, which the Pirates aren’t ruling out, there are two likely candidates to serve as the closer in his absence.

Kyle Crick threw off the mound for the second time, in what Shelton referred to as a four-out inning because of an error in center field by a front-office assistant.

“Cricky was good,” Shelton said. “Slider was sharp. (Jarrod) Dyson had a really good at-bat off him there at the end, got him into a little bit of a battle, which was nice to see because he fouled off some pitches and laid off some pitches. Kyle executed the way he wanted to, so it was good to see. I liked the sharpness.”

Oh. OK, Phil.

That'll work. pic.twitter.com/JVk6Fr8YMB

— Pirates (@Pirates) July 16, 2020

4. Quick hook: The other high-leverage reliever who could be a closer, Richard Rodriguez, had a two-pitch inning.

Rodriguez started the third and got Philip Evans to fly out to right. Then Shelton replaced him with Michael Feliz, and the manager’s demonstrative walk to the mound was for show.

“We’re ramping certain guys up to pitch back-to-back so many times in so many days,” Shelton said. “I think you’ll see those guys multiple times. They’re on the mound, off day, back on the mound. I don’t know they’re back out there tomorrow or the next day, but it’s just kind of ramping up their volume to get them closer to a regular-season situation. I think Richie only threw three pitches, but it’s basically just getting him a touch point out there.”

The Pirates have set up green tents behind home plate to allow for social distancing for players, coaches and front-office personnel. They play host to Cleveland at 7 pm Saturday. pic.twitter.com/12xz2AyH2y

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) July 15, 2020

5. From a distance: If you see green canopy tents in the seats at PNC Park, it’s not because the Pirates are having a cookout.

There are 28 pop-up tents — 16 located behind home plate and a dozen in left field, near the North Side Notch — for a specific purpose.

It’s to allow players to practice social distancing in the dugouts and bullpen by having auxiliary seating available for players, coaches and front-office personnel in preparation of Saturday’s exhibition opener against Cleveland.