CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Indians are about to ditch their masks in the dugout.
Manager Terry Francona confirmed that the team will hit MLB’s mandated 85% vaccination threshold on Wednesday and thus be able to relax some COVID protocols.
“As of [Wednesday] we will qualify,” Francona said prior to Tuesday’s series opener with the Cubs
“There’s a number of easements – that’s probably a realty term – but you get my point there’s a number of things that [will be] eased.”
Some of those eased restrictions include not having to wear masks in the dugout, players can play cards on the team plane provided they are wearing a mask and indoor dining will be permitted again.
“It’s helpful to guys getting some sense of normalcy back,” Francona said.
Catching up – Roberto Perez being sidelined 8-10 weeks with a surgically repaired broken finger has opened the door for Austin Hedges.
“I’ve been so pleased with the way he’s run the game, even before Roberto [Perez] got hurt when he’d get a chance to catch,” Francona said. “Now that he’s been in there, like two out of three [games], his energy, his paying attention to detail is really, really good.
“He really cares about getting his pitchers through the inning and through the game.”
In 12 games, Hedges has thrown out two of five would-be base stealers and recorded eight assists behind the plate. He has made 44 official plate appearances with two homers, four RBI, three walks and four runs scored.
Perez will not travel with the team to the west coast and Francona isn’t sure how involved or around the team Perez will be allowed to be under the league’s protocols.
“The rules are a little ambiguous on what you can do,” Francona said. “And now that it’s changing a little bit for vaccinated people, we’re checking into that to see what we’re allowed to do.”
Slight shift – Monday’s off day won’t shake up the rotation much prior to their trip west, which begins Thursday.
“It doesn’t move Hentges back too much,” Francona said. “It gives everybody an extra day. It doesn’t give everybody too many extra days, but it buys Tristan [McKenzie] extra as we’re trying to work that into his schedule anyway.”
All-Star advice – Francona was asked what advice he’d give to new All-Star game managers when it comes to picking players.
“It’s changed so much,” Francona said. “The days when Joe Torre took the whole Yankee team and then when we won [in Boston] I actually had to have a meeting with our guys because the rules had changed, and you couldn’t do that. The manager was kind of there in name more than anything else but you kind of had to deliver bad news to people. Now I think it’s even less.
“I don’t know how much [responsibility] the manager has to choose [players] anymore. One phone call to each team doesn’t kill you and I think it sends a great message that shows teams that you respect the guys that are doing well and may not make it.”
Makeup set – Sunday’s rainout with the Reds has officially be rescheduled for Aug. 9 – a mutual day off for both clubs – with a 6:10 first pitch.
Up next – The brief two-game series concludes Wednesday afternoon at 1:10, LHP Sam Hentges vs. RHP Zach Davies.
