Players express concerns about SARS

NEW YORK (AP) -- One player's wife left Toronto. Another sought advice from his father, a doctor. A third said he would avoid signing autographs.

Major league players expressed fears Wednesday about the SARS scare in Toronto that caused the World Health Organization to advise travelers to avoid the Canadian city.

"I think everybody's a little concerned," Toronto pitcher Cory Lidle said as the Blue Jays were winding up a road trip in Tampa. "My wife has gone home and is not coming back."

Toronto opens a nine-game homestand against Kansas City on Friday night. Major league baseball will hold conference calls with the trainers of each of the 10 teams who will play the Blue Jays before the All-Star break.

"I think it's on everyone's minds, but I also think we've got a pretty smart team here and everybody is going to take precautions necessary to stay away from it," Lidle said. "We're not going to be doing public appearances, signing autographs. We're not going to hospitals. That's understood. I don't think the public's going to be upset that we're not going to do that.

Lidle recently had a firsthand experience of the situation when he took his son to a hospital emergency room for an earache.

"They made me sign in, show ID and put a mask on. There was no one in the hospital. It was just weird.

"It's just the reality of how it is in Toronto right now. Hopefully it won't affect our baseball season and we'll get a handle on this thing soon."

Toronto pitcher Tanyon Sturtze said he was being cautious.

"I try not to think about it," he said. "I try to be careful on things I do and places I go. ... It is scary. It's scary seeing people walk down the street wearing masks. It's scary hearing about hospitals being quarantined. It's not an everyday event for us here in the United States. It is a little bit unnerving."

Sturtze said he would avoid giving autographs and making hospital visits or other public appearances.

"I don't think while this is going on we should be doing that," he said. "That's kind of putting us in harm's way. I think right now we have to back off a little bit and make sure everybody stays safe until they find out what's going on.

"I think (fans) should understand what's going on because people are dying from this thing. It's not like people are just sick. People have died."

Carlos Delgado said he was not worried about returning to Toronto.

"We're aware of what's going on," he said. "We talked to our doctor and trainer and they tell you it's blown out of proportion a little bit. It's probably not as bad as they're making it sound. We do have to play it safe. We haven't been home in 10 days. We're looking forward to it. Once we get there, we'll have a better idea of what the situation is up there."

Royals pitcher Kyle Snyder, who will make his first major league start Friday night, consulted with his father, a cardiovascular surgeon in Sarasota, Fla.

"My dad called me this morning and he just wanted me to be aware of some things," Snyder said in Kansas City. "He told me to be sure to take some disinfectant up there and some special hand soap. He told me to get my hands as clean as possible."

Snyder's father also advised him to wear a mask in crowds.

Royals trainer Nick Swartz said the team planned to keep the players together in a controlled situation.

"We talked two weeks ago about the players staying away from malls, restaurants, where you're not familiar with who might be in there.

"Down on the field ... this is a pretty safe area. But yes, you have the fans. It's probably not as much a problem that the ball or the pen is handed you for an autograph. It's the person standing there. If they've been exposed, you get a cough, you get droplets land on you. that's how airborne transmission takes place.

"We're not quarantining the team. They're grown men. They want what's best for them.

The Chicago Cubs will be in Toronto for three games in June. Player representative Mark Prior said safety was the most important thing and baseball is just looking out for the interests of the players.

"If we're in any kind of danger or risk for getting the disease, I'm sure they'll definitely get involved," he said. "It's the first I've heard about it. But I'm sure everybody will take the appropriate precautions and steps to make sure we're all right."

 

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