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Good morning, Athletics Nation!
One of the many oddities of the upcoming 2020 MLB season is that fans won’t be allowed to attend the games, due to social distancing measures amid the coronavirus pandemic. That will make for eerily quiet ballparks, offering a strange game environment that will take some getting used to for players and viewers alike. Imagine a clutch home run, with a dramatic bat flip, and ... crickets.
Back in April on Athletics Nation, Nico suggested that teams should recreate crowd noise over their stadiums’ speakers in order to fill this audio void, and apparently he’s not the only one who thinks that’s a good idea. The A’s will indeed pump crowd noise into the Coliseum during games, reports John Hickey of Sports Illustrated.
There are no specifics on this matter yet, but manager Bob Melvin said the team is working on it, and that he predicts all 30 clubs will eventually do some version of it.
The players have certainly noticed the empty parks already, with first baseman Matt Olson calling it “pretty tough” during an A’s simulated game this weekend. Khris Davis said the following, per Hickey: “We are missing something without the fans. It’s more exciting when you have them out there. But there are bigger things going on now.”
This isn’t the A’s first effort toward generating a virtual version of normalcy during an unusual time. They are also selling the opportunity for fans buy cardboard cutouts bearing their photos, to be placed in the Coliseum stands during games. Now the cutouts won’t have to sit silently.
A’s Coverage:
- Hickey: Athletics Adding Piped-In Crowd Noise with Fans Unable to be at Coliseum Games
- Hickey: Athletics’ Khris Davis Looks as if the Spark has Returned in Time for 2020
- Hickey: It’s the Same Game as Athletics’ Montas Tries to Balance Baseball, Parenthood
- Hickey: Puk’s Long Hair and Arm Troubles Both Are Gone, and Athletics’ LHP Ready for Big Things
- Hickey: Germaphobe Athletics Manager Melvin Trying to get Comfortable with COVID-19 Realities
- Hickey: Some Athletics’ Cardboard Cutouts in 2020 Will go to Boost Piscotty ALS foundation
- Hickey: From Miggy to Marcus: Athletics’ Success Begins with a Star Shortstop in the Lineup Every Day
- Hickey: On a Healthy Athletics’ Roster, Playing Time Might be Tough to Come by for Chad Pinder
- Gallegos: Pinder preparing for more reps at 2B
- Gallegos: Puk’s new haircut fools teammates at A’s camp
- Castrovince: 5 reasons why the A’s are really dangerous
- MLB: Piscotty ‘looks 100% healthy’ after shutdown
- Rubin: A’s summer camp takeaways: Here’s your Opening Day starter
- Slusser podcast: A’s training camp, and baseball during a pandemic
- Kawahara: A’s Frankie Montas looks ‘driven’ in training camp ($)
- Kawahara: New-look A.J. Puk excited for A’s 60-game ‘sprint’ ($)
- Lockard: Armed with same plus stuff and a new look, A.J. Puk excited for rookie season ($$$)
- Brown: A’s slugger Khris Davis feels healthy again. Can he get back to his .247 ways? ($$$)
- Nico: An A’s 60-game Season? Been There, Won That
- Hall: AL West 2020 preview: Texas Rangers lurk on fringes of contention
- Hall: AL West 2020 preview: Houston Astros are still the favorites
- Hall: Buster Posey latest MLB star to opt out of 2020 season
- A’s trivia: Hall of Famers
MLB News, & Interest:
- AP: Rangers slugger Joey Gallo still isn’t sure he had coronavirus
- Lauber: Phillies’ Scott Kingery finally in camp after chilling battle with COVID-19
- Hoch: Clint Frazier plans to wear mask during Yanks’ games
- Castrovince: Here are the top 10 lineups in baseball
- Castrovince: Indians have 5 potential options with Lindor
- Simon: 7 returning players who missed all of 2019
- Today in Baseball History
Summer Camp video
Enjoy some batting practice from Saturday’s workout at the Coliseum!
Bonus Pinder!
A little #PinderPower for your Saturday night #CampColiseum pic.twitter.com/chnIMRnsFX
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) July 12, 2020
Best of Twitter:
A’s officially announce San Jose’s Excite Ballpark as their alternate training camp, with ironic help from the Giants
Oakland A’s to use Excite Ballpark in San Jose as alternative training site for the 2020 season: pic.twitter.com/QdM8EwB7xf
— AthleticsPR (@AthleticsPR) July 10, 2020
Final results from the intake testing (66 positive out of 3.748 tested, 0.7% rate)
Testing results under MLB's COVID-19 Health Monitoring & Testing Plan were jointly announced today by @MLB and the @MLB_PLAYERS. pic.twitter.com/3xwXFXC2Bm
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) July 10, 2020
Pham, Gallo, and Kingery had tested positive but are all now back in camp with their teams
Tommy Pham, who tested positive for the coronavirus during intake screening, has received two negative tests and gotten full clearance from doctors. He is eligible to join Padres camp.
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) July 10, 2020
Spring has finally arrived!
#Athletics will have a 5 1/2-inning simulated game today. Pitchers will be Chris Bassitt, Daniel Mengden, Burch Smith, Jordan Weems and Lou Trivino.
— John Hickey (@JHickey3) July 12, 2020
Defensive switch for one of the top young hitting stars in the game
Major development for Blue Jays: Vlad Guerrero Jr. will now focus on first base this spring per Charlie Montoyo
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) July 10, 2020
"He's going to focus on 1B and DH." Third will be an option, but not his main position anymore.
Can Puig finally find a team for 2020?
The Orioles are interested in signing Yasiel Puig and have made at least one offer, according to a source.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 11, 2020
Yo knows comebacks
Yoenis Cespedes says he will definitely be ready for #Mets season opener
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 11, 2020
Keeping an eye on the 2B market
The #Padres have granted INF Brian Dozier his release.
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 11, 2020