Just as every good leader should, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Saturday evening that although delayed and despite increasing evidence to the contrary, he is “still hopeful” that there will be a 2020 baseball season.

“For fans and families and all of us participating as far as part of the organization, media, everyone looked forward to this and it’s the start of Spring and baseball is ahead and a lot of exciting times, so [for] that not to take place is a little bit disappointing,” Roberts said via video chat on SportsNet LA’s Access Dodgers on Saturday. “But I’m still hopeful that we’re going to have baseball in ’20 at some point.”

Roberts added that in spite of the countrywide shutdown, he has remained in contact with a number of his players and coaches.

“It’s a daily thing and there’s a handful of guys that I reach out by way of text or call or facetime and just to catch up on them, their families and making sure they’re not going too bonkers just being kind of isolated,” Roberts said. “But they’re hanging in there but they’re trying to kind of stay active, keep their minds sharp. But again, it’s spending time with the people that they love and we’re all still optimistic.”

When asked by show host John Hartung if he has any concerns about maybe not seeing baseball begin until a little bit later, Roberts reiterated his optimism.

“I’m hopeful that we are going to have it, in what capacity and to what extent, that remains to be seen,” Roberts answered, acknowledging the federally-imposed restrictions currently in place. “It’s one of those things that I think we want something so bad, but we still need to be responsible, because what we don’t want to happen is some outbreak again once we get the green light. So we gotta be extra cautious, make sure everyone is going to be protected.”

If and when that green light does happen, what will it take to get his team up to speed and game-ready?

“As far as Spring Training, where, whether it’s back in the respective Florida, Arizona and their camps and kind of go about that, or everyone go to their home cities and use the facility, the ballpark, and inter-squad, and if there’s a team close by, you kind of make that work for a little bit,” Roberts said. “But I think as far as length, I think in talking with our players, our pitchers namely, two weeks is enough time. It’s not ideal, these are not ideal times, and so we all got to be nimble, be flexible, and so two weeks should be enough for us.”

Hopefully.

Stay tuned…

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