Cape League conversation: Eric Zmuda/league commissioner
Matt Goisman
Eric Zmuda's latest season as the Cape Cod Baseball League's commissioner was far more complicated than his first. Zmuda, a former general manager and board member for the Falmouth Commodores, took over for Paul Galop as commissioner in 2019, then had to cancel the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The pandemic then forced the league to create new health and safety regulations in order to enable a 2021 season. The league played four fewer games in the regular season, didn't allow for extra innings or rain make-ups, and didn't have an All-Star game or any Sunday doubleheaders.
The Cape League playoffs starting today gave Zmuda a chance to reflect on the regular season.
How do you think the teams did with compliance with the new COVID-19 health and safety rules?
Everybody did a very good job. You had vaccination requirements for all Tier 1 personnel, with exemptions that had valid medical reasons or religious exemptions. There were a handful of those throughout the league, and if you were vaccinated, we did still do testing every other week for you. And if you weren't vaccinated, you were tested every week and had to follow the usual COVID-19 protocols of wearing a mask in the dugout and locker room.
Were there any positive test results this summer?
We did have a couple of positive cases that were identified very quickly. A couple of those cases were in (youth) clinics that were not part of our Tier 1 personnel, but in contact with (them). So following the protocols helped us isolate and keep track and do contact tracing when necessary, and it was all handled very well by our organizations and medical staff.
Any players test positive?
There was one player on a team that did test positive. They had to of course start the quarantine process, and for that particular player being a pitcher in this case, that position isn't an everyday player. The player quarantined for a bit and then was able to drive home and finish their quarantine there. It did end their season, unfortunately, but it was for the safety of everybody, and well done by that team and that player.
Considering how many players are in the league, do you consider just one positive test a success?
Absolutely, a fantastic job done by everybody. Not only the players and the coaches, but our trainers, our volunteers, our umpires, our bus drivers, everybody that had daily contact is in the few hundreds. It was very nice to see everybody, in my mind, watch out for each other and watch out for the community.
Do any rules that you put in place over the winter now seem unnecessary, given how state regulations for outdoor events changed during the spring and early summer?
Not unnecessary, no. I would say if I were to have some wish list fulfilled, it would be to have had our season start on time instead of having to delay it. … We didn't know until after May 29 that we were able to have some of these things eased, relaxed or eliminated for restrictions, and by then everybody had their plans solidified.
What did you make of the crowd turnout this summer?
I was very enthused, and it was very gratifying to see the turnout that we had from Day 1. From Game 1, I think it's just that people were very excited to have baseball back on the Cape, and also very excited just to be able to get out and have some freedom, as it were, and to come enjoy themselves at the ballpark.
Did it seem like local sponsors returned to support the league?
That's a question for Bill Bussiere, our corporate development officer. But from what I understand, a lot of people re-engaged very closely with the Cape League for sponsors, and we were happy to see them all return.
Do you think planning out the 2021 season will make it easier should the pandemic continue to impact the league for 2022?
Once you gain a little bit of experience, you also gain a little bit of confidence and preparedness. If we have any semblance of this happening for next year, first, I'll be very disappointed. Second, we'll be a little bit more prepared as a group, as a franchise for all 10 of our teams, and as an organization for the league.
Contact Matt Goisman at mgoisman@capecodonline.com