For the first time since the Los Angeles Dodgers began playing intrasquad games during Summer Camp at Dodger Stadium, they tested out what piped-in crowd noise sounded like on Wednesday night.
With fans not expected to be permitted for at least the early portion of the 2020 season, the Dodgers and other teams will feature the fake crowd noise as well as cardboard cutouts of fans in the stands to make it feel like a normal game environment.
“I tend to be pretty loud, so I like the fact that everybody can hear me when I talk on the field,” Kiké Hernandez said before Wednesday’s game, which is team won.
“I think it’s kind of an advantage when you’re playing defense and you actually get to get a clear sound of the crack of the bat, especially when you’re playing outfield to know where the bat is hitting the ball, if they’re getting jammed or hitting it off the end.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts added some context on where the noise is coming from. “I think it’s a service or company that MLB teams are individually making the decision on,” he explained.
“There’s a couple out there, and I think we have the autonomy to make the decision. There was some testing a few weeks ago. It will be interesting to see how it sounds and how players react.”
Here is a sample of what the crowd noise sounded like, via Jorge Castillo of the L.A. Times:
Another snippet of the crowd noise. pic.twitter.com/adUIUrqcmJ
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) July 16, 2020
The Dodgers are even going as far as playing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” during the seventh-inning stretch with organist Dieter Ruehle and DJ Severe in attendance, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Get up off the couch. It’s the 7th inning stretch pic.twitter.com/xmR1Iyq450
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 16, 2020
Hernandez may not have been in favor of it, but Roberts likes what the crowd noise adds to the game. “I think it’s necessary in the sense that it’s closer to reality,” he said.
“I mean, we’ve got cutouts of fans that are going to be in the stands this year. So to pipe in some chatter, the buzz, and cheers on nice plays, at least to make it as normal as possible for the guys, is helpful.”
Dodgers’ clubbie selling t-shirts to benefit Justin Turner Foundation
The story of not only Dodgers Summer Camp, but all of baseball so far has been clubhouse attendant Francisco “Chico” Herrera playing left field and showing off his glove and arm on a nightly basis during these scrimmages.
Hernandez has played catch with Chico before, so he saw it coming. “I can say it’s really impressive because it actually is,” he said. “Not just making the routine ones but making the acrobatic ones as well.
“But at the same time, I’ve played catch with Chico enough times to know what type of arm he has and also seeing Chico power shag a lot during BP, so I also know he can take some good routes and has some good reads off the bat. We get to see it all the time in BP so I don’t think any of us thought it was going to be a different case when he’s inserted into the game but he’s definitely impressed everybody. It’s been a lot of fun to watch.”
Chico has continued to take the attention in stride and now has put it to charitable use. A special t-shirt was created in his honor, and Chico arranged for a portion of the proceeds to benefit the Justin Turner Foundation.
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