Red Sox hold virtual Truck Day as uncertainty surrounds Spring Training
By Alex Barth, 985TheSportsHub.com
As the debate continues around how to hold Spring Training in a COVID environment, the Red Sox are operating for business as usual. On Monday, the team held ‘Truck Day,’ the annual unofficial start to their preseason.
Truck Day usually sees fans line Van Ness street as the Red Sox equipment truck is loaded up and departs for JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida. This year, the event was held via a live stream which included shots of the truck, and interviews from pitcher Matt Barnes and bench coach Will Venable.
What’s going down to the Fort?
— Red Sox (@RedSox) February 8, 2021
🔹 20,400 baseballs
🔹 1,100 bats
🔹 200 batting gloves
🔹 200 helmets
🔹 320 BP tops
🔹 160 jerseys
🔹 300 pairs of pants
🔹 400 t-shirts
🔹 400 pairs of socks
🔹 20 cases of bubble gum
🔹 60 cases of sunflower seeds#TruckDay | @JetBlue pic.twitter.com/vWdIdDz5hg
Currently, the Red Sox are expected to hold their first workout on February 17 – just nine days away. However, Major League Baseball has repeatedly proposed delaying the season, with the most recent proposal being rejected by the Players Association last week. Even the Biden Administration has attempted to step in, urging the players to agree to delay the season until there is a wider distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.
In the meantime, the league is doing what it can to keep personnel as safe as possible. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Florida’s Grapefruit League will be using a ‘pods’ format when it comes to scheduling, separating the 15 teams to their respective coasts. The Red Sox, with their facility on Florida’s west coast, will play 28 games against the nine other west coast teams, instead of playing all 14 teams as usual.
The Red Sox are currently scheduled to begin their Spring Training schedule on Saturday, Feb. 27 against the Pirates at JetBlue Park. Their annual games against Northeastern, which usually proceeds their official Spring Training schedule, was canceled last month.
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Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at Alexander.Barth@bbgi.com.
