After losing five consecutive games, the Red Sox decided to call a team meeting Friday afternoon in New York. But because health and safety protocols designed to stop the spread of COVID-19 make it virtually impossible for players to congregate at the ballpark, the team had to get creative.
Sitting at least six feet apart and wearing masks, the group met an outside area at the team hotel in Manhattan before Saturday’s game at Yankee Stadium. Though manager Ron Roenicke and his staff had met separately with the pitchers and the position players to address the club’s struggles, some of Boston’s leaders believed a full, player-led team meeting was necessary.
“As a group, we got together and talked about some things,” said outfielder Kevin Pillar. “Really just trying to make the best of a unique situation with the season. I know things aren’t going really well. We’ve still got a ton of games left. We’ve got to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and come out every day.”
Some members of the Red Sox were struck by how much the Rays seemed to enjoy their four wins at Fenway Park, noticing the energy in Tampa Bay’s dugout from across the field. The Rays, it seemed, weren’t letting all of the strange circumstances of the 2020 season get in the way of winning. To turn things around, Pillar said, Boston needs to embrace the same mentality.
“Let’s make this as normal as possible,” Pillar said. “Stop feeling bad for ourselves because we’ve got to wear masks. These are things that have to be done. It’s 2020. Get over it and let’s go out and play and try to have fun with it.”
A few Red Sox players addressed the group during the meeting, including some of the club’s most experienced veterans and some younger players who had thoughts to share. The idea, Pillar said, was to open the floor up to everyone and allow guys to voice their frustrations out loud.
“Not getting caught up in what’s happening across the league as far as COVID is concerned as far as if it’s going to get shut down or when it’s going to get shut down,” Pillar said. “Just really coming to terms that we’ve done a tremendous job as an organization not having any positive tests, but this season’s going to happen. Whether we want it to happen or not, we’ve got 30-40 some-odd games left. A lot could change. Not taking some of these bad losses that we’ve had into the next day. Really just start fresh and try to compete every single day.”
Because players are separated into luxury suites at Fenway Park and are not using the traditional home clubhouse, the Red Sox have had a hard time building camaraderie so far this season. Making things even more difficult is how 12 of the 28 players on Boston’s active roster are new to the organization in 2020.
Though much of the team has struggled as the Red Sox have gotten off to a 5-16 record, those who have performed well or achieved milestones haven’t been able to celebrate with teammates. Those who have struggled haven’t been able to receive support from fellow players or work closely with them on adjustments.
As part of the meeting, the Red Sox decided to spend a few minutes together after each game -- while following social distancing rules -- to discuss the positives and negatives from each win or loss.
“We’re our best teachers,” Pillar said. “When things go wrong, we lean on each other. It has been difficult to do that.”
Even though the Red Sox have lost both games since the meeting to extend their losing streak to seven, Roenicke believes it was a valuable exercise.
“Anytime you grab the team together, and I think if guys are speaking what’s on their mind, I think it’s good to get them together to do that,” he said. “Sometimes, right away it comes out where it really makes a difference. I’d say most of the time it probably doesn’t. I’f say most of the time it’s just — something clicks in the game that gives them energy and gives them a different feeling that you’re not just losing. You’re out there and you get a break and you win a game and then all of the sudden, things click a little more. I think anytime we get together and talk, I think that’s all good.”
As the Red Sox enter the second third of their shortened 60-game season, Pillar and the team’s other leaders are going to continue to drive home their message of eliminating distractions and trying to have more fun.
“Not allowing that stuff to creep into our minds and upset us further,” Pillar said. “Everyone’s doing it. It’s just the way it is and we’ve got to find ways to try to make this feel like a normal and real baseball season.
“We just need to find ways to stay together and find ways to make this fun,” he added. “It’s definitely unique. It’s hard. It’s even worse when you’re not playing well.”
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