Shortened season means players might not get slowed by the grind
It could be like … the Olympics. We could see the Milwaukee Brewers at their very best. If there’s one thing to look forward to in a 60-game season, after hoping that everyone stays safe and healthy, it’s that the Brewers could be in top form two and a half months from now, and not exhausted – naturally – from a typical 162-season.
With the coronavirus pandemic erasing the first 102 games of the 2020 baseball season, the resumption of the season now in mid-July presents an opportunity for the Brewers – and all of Major League Baseball, of
course – to see how much of their offseason training, strength and conditioning they can hold onto for the playoffs.
And that could factor into coaching decisions, matchups and strategies with players who are not as worn down as usual.
“There's no doubt,” Brewers hitting coach Andy Haines said during a video conference call with reporters Tuesday. “You see position players in August, September – they're on fumes. They're just going on determination because of what the season has demanded of them, mentally, physically.”
Christian Yelich, for example, said two years ago, that he worked really hard on his offseason training. He worked out at the same fitness facility in California as Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews III.
He would show up for spring training strong. But as the season wore on, it would be impossible to keep up those strength training demands. And he'd inevitably lose some.
Not that it affected the NL MVP's game.
But maybe – just maybe – playing a third of a normal season could reap rewards in speed, strength and endurance for Yelich – and everyone who is so accustomed to playing so much. At the very least, it's something to observe as the season progresses.
Once it became clear that baseball would resume this season, Yelich said he went to his semi-regular offseason program, after devoting most of his first offseason to rehabilitation.
“I got a better routine coming to this summer camp or, whatever you want to call it – second spring training,” said Yelich. “I feel more comfortable coming here than I actually did the original spring training, preparedness wise.”
He just isn't sure yet if that could yield great results in the fall.
“I feel like it's going to be tougher than 162 for different reasons,” said Yelich.
“Not necessarily from the physical standpoint, but just because you have to deal with so many other things and it's so much different.
“I don't really have a great answer for you because I've never gone through this before. Like many other things this season, we're just going to take them as they come.”
But manager Craig Counsell said he's interested to see how the players will respond to the truncated season. For now, he's focused on the first stage.
“Our goal with position players is to get them in the first couple days and try to really make them sore – you know really push them a little bit the first couple days, then let them recover a little bit this week,” said Counsell.
“And then, as we start playing a game every day, a short game that's similar to what they would do in spring training schedule."
After that, Counsell said he'll be watching his team closely. Rest days could be real recovery days, and not purely for survival.
“Once we get guys to what we feel like is a pretty good place, I think we can – I don't want to say guys – but, I do think this is the shorter season. The finish line not as far away," said Counsell.
“That will factor in our decisions for sure.”
Baseball purists may not like the circumstances, and there's a solid argument for the admiration of the athlete who can endure a February to October stretch.
But athletes always try to take any competitive advantage that might present itself. And this year they'll get to see how their legs feel, how fast their swings remain, how sharp their focus is in the fall. Why not make the most of it?
“For sure, it's, it's a different animal from that standpoint,” said Haines. “I love the 162… it's like a sacred thing.
“This is different. When you get into September now, physically, mentally, players will be in a much different shape.”