Sticking to a plan can be challenging enough during a regular baseball season. During a health pandemic, it's not just challenging, but nearly impossible.
Each day brings forth a new set of obstacles that force one to readjust. At least that has been the mentality for Pirates catcher Jacob Stallings.
Entering Tuesday, the Pirates had played just two of their seven most recently scheduled contests. Some of those games were postponed within 24 hours of when the first pitch was scheduled.
Stallings says that unexpected time off can bring forth problems of numerous forms.
"It's challenging from both a mental and physical standpoint. It's good because you feel like you should be fresh after all these off days but you don't want to lose game shape either," Stallings said before Tuesday's game against the Indians. "Just kind of a catch-22 scenario. I would say it's probably more challenging mentally though. It's been obviously a very weird season and continues to be a weird season so I think those challenges mentally for me are at least the ones I'm trying to stay on top of more so than the physical challenges."
On top of the baseball related stress from the pandemic, Stallings mentioned that off the field worries also play a factor.
"I would say for me, the more challenging part is just the big picture part of it," he said. "Obviously, MLB and the teams and the players want to get the season in, but just with the outbreaks, it’s just concerning, not only from a baseball, playing games standpoint, but just from a health and safety. We don’t know much about the virus in the grand scheme of things, and I was right next to a lot of their players for a couple days, so there was anxiety for me, just, ‘What if? What if? What if?’
"Thankfully, all of us are testing negative and all that, but I think moreso that is my thought process, I guess."
All Pirates players and staff tested negative for the virus last weekend, allowing for their return to action on Tuesday evening against the Indians.
Tasked with mapping out a game plan each day for whoever is starting on the mound, Stallings has been forced back to the drawing board quite often this season.
While frustrating, the Pirates backstop admits that, at times, the days off have given him a bit of an advantage strategically.
“We’ve had so many off days that I get an extra day of preparation to get ready for that," Stallings said. "It's not that big of a deal for me. I would say it's probably more difficult for the pitchers, just with different schedules."
Every pitcher in the Pirates starting rotation has had their start day altered at least once this season due to COVID related schedule changes. However, postponed contests haven't been the only major challenge that has caused problems for the pitching staff. Nearly half (six) of the pitchers on the Pirates opening day roster are currently on the injured list.
This too has caught Stallings by surprise.
"With all the virus concerns aside, [injuries were] my main concern coming into the year," Stallings said. "I can't say that I expected it quite as much with pitchers as it has been. I was worried for everybody in general, with a shortened spring training and the shortened tune-up [in July]. It's just different. We're creatures of habit and our bodies are just as used to the routine as our minds are, so it's obviously been a challenge around the league and for us and I try to tell guys to be smarter about it, if something pops up so it doesn't turn into something more serious."
Manager Derek Shelton echoed Stallings' frustrations prior to Tuesday's contest, saying the continuous injuries have created more work for everyone.
The postponements have created an altered schedule where the Pirates will play their final 42 games of the season over 41 days.
"We talk about a game of adjustments, we’re definitely going to get to see some guys play," Shelton said. "Because when you play that many games, that’s where health really comes into play. It’s probably not going to be as scripted out as it is normally just because of that and being aware of guys’ bodies and moving forward. That is definitely going to be a challenge for our group.”
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