Fears over the spread of coronavirus have swept the nation.
Major League Baseball has closed off all clubhouses to media as a precaution.
“It’s unfortunate for the media to not have that instant access- and that personal access- to the players right now,” Brewers broadcaster Jeff Levering tells WTMJ. “But you can understand the precautions that are being taken.”
Levering says the team is being proactive.
“We’ve had front office meetings, we’ve had team meetings. It’s a serious thing that people need to take seriously. And this is just step number one of trying to eradicate it.”
The team is currently in Arizona for spring training. Levering says the fear of coronavirus hasn’t stopped fans from showing up, but the interaction between fans and players has changed.
“There’s few handshakes and high fives. It’s more fist bumps and elbow pounds.”
Aside from limiting access to the clubhouse, no other changes have been made yet. But there is speculation that teams could soon be playing games in empty stadiums.
Levering says games with no fans “would be really weird.”
“You think about it, you hope it doesn’t happen. I know owners wouldn’t like seeing it happen. Players don’t want to play in front of no one either. But if that’s the smart thing to do, than that’s what they’re going to do.”
For the full interview with Levering on Wisconsin’s Morning News, click in the player above.
