WEST SACRAMENTO — As the Giants made their way into the first-base dugout at Sutter Health Park on Friday evening, a remnant from the previous night remained hung on the wall near the helmet rack: The lineup card of the Triple-A Reno Aces, who had just played the Sacramento River Cats.
It was one of many reminders that the Giants and Athletics were playing a major league game in a minor-league stadium — that the Battle of the Bay was relegated to the past.
“It felt a little different coming here today,” said manager Bob Melvin, who managed the Oakland A’s from 2011-21. “At our park, it kind of felt the same. Certainly last year in Oakland, the rivalry is pretty significant. Once we get on the field, I don’t think it will feel any differently. But just driving up and seeing the signs and not being in Oakland, it felt a little different.”
“I feel like a lot of people wish (the A’s) were still in Oakland,” said Hayden Birdsong, who is scheduled to start on Sunday. “It’s a fun Oakland, Bay Area rivalry. Everybody wishes that, but I understand how it works. It’s business, and people have to make money. That’s what happens.”
This isn’t the first time that the Giants and A’s have met this season, the former sweeping the latter when they met in mid-May. That first series was at Oracle Park — a true big-league ballpark. This weekend’s three-game set, by contrast, will take place at a minor-league stadium masquerading as a major-league venue, one that’s also home to the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate.
Sutter Health Park cannot replicate the feel and vibe of the Oakland Coliseum, but several Giants were impressed with the improved amenities to accomodate the Athletics, as well as a playing surface that’s held up despite hosting the A’s and River Cats.
“It looked different when we came here for the scrimmage at the beginning of the season,” said starter Landen Roupp, who pitched in three games for the River Cats at Sutter Health Park last season. “I don’t know if it’s the new batter’s eye. The bullpen’s are obviously different. I can’t put my finger on it. It just feels different. … It really feels like a big-league spring training field.”
Said infielder Tyler Fitzgerald, who has played 126 games with the River Cats: “I was here last week and the infield plays pretty nice. They’ve done a lot of renovation with that. The scoreboard’s nice. There’s a couple key upgrades that I think have helped a lot.”
While most of San Francisco’s active roster has spent time with the River Cats, most Giants found it difficult to escape the oddity of the ordeal.
“It’s kind of crazy,” Roupp said. “Everything’s kind of switched around. Even though I’ve been here, we were in the (River Cats) clubhouse. So, having to walk out and walk around and get to everything is pretty crazy.”
Those who have played at Sutter Health Park are plenty familiar with the ballpark’s reputation for favoring offense, especially compared to the pitcher-friendly Oakland Coliseum. For the Athletics’ pitchers, the offensive environment has made for pretty stark home/road splits.
Luis Severino, who signed the richest contract in franchise history this offseason, publicly bashed the experience of pitching at Sutter Health Field, telling reporters it “feels like a spring training kind of game every time I pitch.” On the road, Severino has a 3.04 ERA. At home, Severino’s ERA balloons to 6.79.
JP Sears, who’s slated to start the first game of the series, has a 4.14 ERA over 10 starts on the road but a 6.68 ERA at home entering Friday. For Jeffrey Springs, who is not scheduled to start this series, the story is the same: 4.73 ERA at home, 3.61 ERA on the road.
“There’s no third deck to kind of knock the wind down,” Melvin said. “It feels a little sunken where I don’t know that you feel the wind as much on the field as once it gets up in the air. But we have plenty of guys that have played here and talked about the condition.”
As far as the fan environment, Sutter Health Park’s seats and berm should be packed over the next three days, especially with this series falling on Fourth of July weekend. Given the River Cats, a Giants affiliate, have been here far longer than the A’s, it wouldn’t be shocking if there was a takeover of orange and black.
“I would expect a lot of Giants fans regardless,” Fitzgerald said. “I don’t know if it’s going to be 50-50 or if Giants fans are going to overpower them a little bit. I don’t know what to expect. I just know that the River Cats have been here for so long that there’s going to be a good amount of Giants fans, for sure.”
Chapman, Schmitt both on cusp of returning
Third baseman Matt Chapman (right hand inflammation) started in a rehab game with Triple-A Sacramento on Friday night, and the Giants anticipate him playing in Saturday’s game if everything goes well.
“He lobbied for (tonight) to be his first game, but obviously, after being (out for) a month, it’s good to get him some at-bats before he gets back in here,” Melvin said of Chapman, who hasn’t played since June 8.
Along with Chapman, infielder Casey Schmitt (left hand inflammation) took batting practice on the field prior to Friday night’s game. Schmitt could play on Saturday and Sunday with the River Cats in Reno before returning on Monday, the first day he’s eligible to come off the injured list.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( ‘It felt a little different’: SF Giants share thoughts ahead of first game at Sutter Health Park )
Also on site :
- Will Chicago have Fourth of July fireworks? What to know about Navy Pier schedule
- Judge blocks immigrants’ deportation to South Sudan one day after Supreme Court clears the way
- Legendary Hard Rock Band Teases Big Event With ‘Probably the Greatest Photo in Rock/ Metal History’