Biscuits are working way back to the start of new season
Former Biscuit Kevin Padlo made his Tampa Bay Rays debut earlier this week. The Biscuits are expected to return to the field on May 4 for the 2021 season. (Tim Gayle)
By GRAHAM DUNN
If Michael Murphy had his way, the Montgomery Biscuits would open single-game ticket sales today.
But the team’s general manager was told by his “new” boss, Major League Baseball, to wait.
No problem, he said, as long as the 2021 season is still a go.
“We are excited about having a season and everybody is ready to do what we need to do,” he said.
“But we are dealing with changes nearly every day, hopefully for the better.”
As of 2021, all minor league affiliates are under control of MLB, which is the main reason the season has yet to begin at the lower level. Players not on major league rosters are either in Florida continuing workouts or located near the parent club in case of injury.
Once the MiLB season begins, most changes will be unnoticeable by fans.
“There isn’t too much difference but add COVID-19 to the equation and it gets a bit sticky in some ways,” Murphy said.
Murphy pointed out that minor league baseball was the only sports entity that did not get any sort of season in 2020. All spring sports in college and high school got their seasons underway before COVID-19 ended play.
Major League Baseball waited until June while other pro leagues eventually got in some sort of a season.
“We are the only ones starting over,” Murphy said.
There are still a few arrangements still needing ironed out. For instance, seating capacity is still up in the air. At first MLB said it would make the decision on how many fans would be allowed to attend games.
But that seems to be changing due to several states modifying or completely eliminating mask mandates.
Governor Kay Ivey was expected to relax the mask mandate in Alabama but earlier in the week, the Montgomery city council voted to extend the mandate at least another 30 days beyond the Alabama date.
“MLB will approve whatever mandates are laid down,” Murphy said. “We are still waiting to see how that works. Even when baseball made that decision, they were for May. When June comes, they are reevaluating. Same for July. So we will do the same.”
Murphy says the biggest goal is for fans to feel comfortable coming to the stadium. There will be guidelines including keeping distance from players and coaches.
Vaccines have not been made available or mandated for players or coaches but teams were asked to “consult legal counsel” before enacting vaccination requirements for fans or players and coaches.
Murphy said the Biscuits are considering the use of digital tickets but that too is a work in progress. He stated that some patrons “like to have a paper ticket in hand.”
The season is set to begin May 4 with the Biscuits opening on the road at Tennessee. The first home game is May 11 against Chattanooga, part of a six-game set. It is the only home series in the month of May.
Most of the traditional giveaways will be back including Thursday T-Shirt night and fireworks on weekends. The biggest difference is in the schedule where all teams will have every Monday off during the regular season.
Murphy is anticipating that tickets will go on sale next Friday, both online and at the booth adjacent to Riverwalk Stadium.