‘It felt a little bit totally different’: SF Giants share ideas forward of first sport at Sutter Well being Park - The Mercury Information

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WEST SACRAMENTO — Because the Giants made their means into the first-base dugout at Sutter Well being Park on Friday night, a remnant from the earlier night time remained held on the wall close to the helmet rack: The lineup card of the Triple-A Reno Aces, who had simply performed the Sacramento River Cats.
It was one in all many reminders that the Giants and Athletics had been taking part in a serious league sport in a minor-league stadium — that the Battle of the Bay was relegated to the previous.
“It felt a little bit totally different coming right here at present,” mentioned supervisor Bob Melvin, who managed the Oakland A’s from 2011-21. “At our park, it type of felt the identical. Definitely final yr in Oakland, the rivalry is fairly important. As soon as we get on the sphere, I don’t suppose it would really feel any in another way. However simply driving up and seeing the indicators and never being in Oakland, it felt a little bit totally different.”
“I really feel like lots of people want (the A’s) had been nonetheless in Oakland,” mentioned Hayden Birdsong, who’s scheduled to begin on Sunday. “It’s a enjoyable Oakland, Bay Space rivalry. Everyone needs that, however I perceive the way it works. It’s enterprise, and other people must earn a living. That’s what occurs.”
This isn’t the primary time that the Giants and A’s have met this season, the former sweeping the latter after they met in mid-Could. That first collection was at Oracle Park — a real big-league ballpark. This weekend’s three-game set, in contrast, will happen at a minor-league stadium masquerading as a major-league venue, one which’s additionally residence to the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate.
Sutter Well being Park can’t replicate the texture and vibe of the Oakland Coliseum, however a number of Giants had been impressed with the improved facilities to accomodate the Athletics, in addition to a taking part in floor that’s held up regardless of internet hosting the A’s and River Cats.
“It seemed totally different after we got here right here for the scrimmage at the start of the season,” mentioned starter Landen Roupp, who pitched in three video games for the River Cats at Sutter Well being Park final season. “I don’t know if it’s the brand new batter’s eye. The bullpen’s are clearly totally different. I can’t put my finger on it. It simply feels totally different. … It actually seems like a big-league spring coaching subject.”
Stated infielder Tyler Fitzgerald, who has performed 126 video games with the River Cats: “I used to be right here final week and the infield performs fairly good. They’ve executed a variety of renovation with that. The scoreboard’s good. There’s a pair key upgrades that I believe have helped rather a lot.”
Whereas most of San Francisco’s lively roster has frolicked with the River Cats, most Giants discovered it tough to flee the oddity of the ordeal.
“It’s type of loopy,” Roupp mentioned. “The whole lot’s type of switched round. Despite the fact that I’ve been right here, we had been within the (River Cats) clubhouse. So, having to stroll out and stroll round and get to every part is fairly loopy.”
Those that have performed at Sutter Well being Park are loads acquainted with the ballpark’s reputation for favoring offense, particularly in comparison with the pitcher-friendly Oakland Coliseum. For the Athletics’ pitchers, the offensive surroundings has made for fairly stark residence/street splits.
Luis Severino, who signed the richest contract in franchise historical past this offseason, publicly bashed the expertise of pitching at Sutter Well being Subject, telling reporters it “feels like a spring training kind of game each time I pitch.” On the street, Severino has a 3.04 ERA. At residence, Severino’s ERA balloons to six.79.
JP Sears, who’s slated to begin the primary sport of the collection, has a 4.14 ERA over 10 begins on the street however a 6.68 ERA at residence getting into Friday. For Jeffrey Springs, who is just not scheduled to begin this collection, the story is similar: 4.73 ERA at residence, 3.61 ERA on the street.
“There’s no third deck to type of knock the wind down,” Melvin mentioned. “It feels a little bit sunken the place I don’t know that you just really feel the wind as a lot on the sphere as as soon as it will get up within the air. However we’ve loads of guys which have performed right here and talked concerning the situation.”
So far as the fan surroundings, Sutter Well being Park’s seats and berm needs to be packed over the following three days, particularly with this collection falling on Fourth of July weekend. Given the River Cats, a Giants affiliate, have been right here far longer than the A’s, it wouldn’t be stunning if there was a takeover of orange and black.
“I’d anticipate a variety of Giants followers regardless,” Fitzgerald mentioned. “I don’t know if it’s going to be 50-50 or if Giants followers are going to overpower them a little bit bit. I don’t know what to anticipate. I simply know that the River Cats have been right here for thus lengthy that there’s going to be quantity of Giants followers, for certain.”
Chapman, Schmitt each on cusp of returning
Third baseman Matt Chapman (proper hand irritation) began in a rehab sport with Triple-A Sacramento on Friday night time, and the Giants anticipate him taking part in in Saturday’s sport if every part goes properly.
“He lobbied for (tonight) to be his first sport, however clearly, after being (out for) a month, it’s good to get him some at-bats earlier than he will get again in right here,” Melvin mentioned of Chapman, who hasn’t performed since June 8.
Together with Chapman, infielder Casey Schmitt (left hand irritation) took batting observe on the sphere previous to Friday night time’s sport. Schmitt might play on Saturday and Sunday with the River Cats in Reno earlier than returning on Monday, the primary day he’s eligible to return off the injured record.
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‘It felt a little bit totally different’: SF Giants share ideas forward of first sport at Sutter Well being Park – The Mercury Information

‘It felt somewhat totally different’: SF Giants share ideas forward of first recreation at Sutter Well being Park – The Mercury Information

‘It felt a little bit totally different’: SF Giants share ideas forward of first recreation at Sutter Well being Park – The Mercury Information

‘It felt a little bit totally different’: SF Giants share ideas forward of first recreation at Sutter Well being Park - The Mercury Information

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