MILWAUKEE — The Pirates lost something on Friday, although this time, nobody was too upset about it. In fact, they were thrilled.
Having reached the Major League Baseball-mandated 85% threshold to relax some COVID-19 protocols, the Pirates were no longer required to wear masks in the dugout for the start of a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field.
While other protocols remain in place, having 85% of Tier 1 individuals fully vaccinated means there can be more interaction inside the clubhouse, and families can join players on the road. Here and elsewhere, players have grown frustrated with the reduced family time, especially when they’re vaccinated and living with these people in Pittsburgh.
Players can also use things like saunas and game rooms to relax and recover, and it affords them more mobility to go out and do things on the road. But the most noticeable change will be watching games and seeing no more masks.
“I’m excited,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “And I’m appreciative of all the hard work that everybody has put in.”
Getting vaccinated had been a regular topic of conversation among players, Jacob Stallings said. Nobody pressured anyone to get vaccinated, trying to respect individual wishes, but at the same time, reaching 85% and losing the masks allowed many to breathe easier in multiple ways.
“It’s everyone’s own decision,” Stallings said. “Certainly respect everyone who makes the decision to or not to. I’m not going to try and pressure anyone. But selfishly, I’m very happy.”
Stallings said his wife and two kids will meet up with the club early next week in Washington.
“My son’s old enough now that he understands,” Stallings said. “He’s excited to see Josh Bell. It’ll be good.”
Alford impressing
Might be about time that Anthony Alford gets another shot with the big club. After a wretched start to the season, during which the athletic outfielder hit just .083 with no extra-base hits and 16 strikeouts in 29 plate appearances, Alford has found a groove with Class AAA Indianapolis.
Over his past 11 games entering Friday, Alford was hitting .375 with a double, three home runs, 10 RBIs and six runs scored. He has struck out 13 times in 40 plate appearances (32.5%), although it’s hard to complain about the rest of the production.
Especially when you consider how little the Pirates have gotten from some of their other outfielders.
“Very positive [reports] from our group down there,” Shelton said. “He’s making adjustments. I think it was one of the things we talked about when we sent him out. There were specific things we wanted him to do, and sometimes in the spotlight of the big leagues, it’s hard to make those adjustments.
“It’s a credit to Anthony and it’s a credit to our Class AAA staff that he’s making those adjustments and swinging the bat better.”
Nice gesture 1.0
Pirates Charities joined Latrobe Little League Friday for an unveiling of improvements at Legion Keener Field after someone set fire to an equipment shed back in April, destroying it and everyone inside.
The philanthropic arm of the organization worked with the league and provided a donation to purchase a new unit, replace all lost equipment and also support field updates so the season could start on time.
Friday marked the formal unveiling of the 10-by-14-foot composite shelter, as well as new benches and an updated infield surface. The donation was part of the Fields for Kids program that has issued 374 individual grants since its inception in 2009. An additional 46 have been given out in Bradenton, Fla.
“I drive past this field often, and it broke my heart to think something like this could happen with the season about to begin,” Pirates owner Bob Nutting said in a statement. “We are honored to work with the Latrobe community to help ensure these kids have a safe place to play and that the parents and community members need not stress about the lost equipment and building. This type of community impact represents everything that our Fields for Kids program is all about.”
Nice gesture 2.0
During batting practice on Friday, Adam Frazier noticed something was wrong with one of his bats. It was waterlogged from the Pirates’ rain-soaked game Thursday against the Dodgers at PNC Park. At the same time, he also spotted a fan behind the Pirates dugout wearing his jersey.
So between rounds in the cage, Frazier ran over to the fan, slid his bat along the roof of the dugout, sprinted into the clubhouse to grab a new one and made it back in time for his next turn.
“I saw the jersey about the same time I noticed the bat was waterlogged,” Frazier said. “Guess he got lucky.”
Around the horn
Bryan Reynolds and Stallings got the night off. … Colin Moran, who was hit on the right hand Wednesday, took part in pregame infield and hitting work and was available off the bench, Shelton said. … Jared Oliva, out since spring training with an oblique injury, rejoined Class AAA Indianapolis on Friday.
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.
First Published: June 11, 2021, 10:23 p.m.
Updated: June 12, 2021, 12:13 a.m.
