It wouldn’t be the 2020 MLB season without something else changing dramatically that you hadn’t previously thought about.
With masks and social distancing and health and safety protocols all the necessary rage, it makes sense that those playoff clinching celebrations you’ve come to expect are going to have to change, too.
Joel Sherman has the dry scoop:
https://t.co/y6T2PXzTT5 MLB will ask teams/players to have clinching celebrations that are dry — in alcohol and tenor.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) September 14, 2020
According to Sherman’s read of a forthcoming league memo, those special clinching and winning celebrations are to be conducted this year out on the field, rather than in the clubhouse, and observing as much of the COVID protocols as possible.
… can MLB actually stop players from jumping on each other in celebration? Not really. Look at the Alec Mills no-hitter yesterday. These are people, going through this moment together – it’s probably even HARDER this year to keep them apart when there’s something huge to celebrate.
But MLB can control the booze, at a minimum, so that part will be a no-go this season. No champagne or booze showers. No hammered Jon Lester. No wondering if Kris Bryant snuck a sip.
That has me wondering if any teams will dare come up with celebratory substitutes in advance, and risk the jinx of the baseball gods. Supersoakers, perhaps? Water balloons? A portable karaoke machine? A piñata filled with Baby Ruth, anybody?