Stephen Piscotty launched a ball high and deep over the Oakland Coliseum wall early in Monday’s exhibition between the A’s and Giants…and the crowd went wild.
And we mean “crowd” in the loosest possible sense.
With our All Access Daily newsletter, stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams!
SIGN UP HERE True fans aren’t allowed to watch games in person, and fan cutouts positioned across the lower bowl don’t come with audio.
Screams emanated from Section 122’s nicest seats, which doubles as the A’s auxiliary dugout. Social distancing requirements prevent dugout crowding, so A’s reserves are chilling up in 122. Extra members of a huge relief corps have their own tented area behind the bullpen itself, which might be more comfortable that the folding chairs set aside for the major players.
While it might get more serious once these games count starting with Friday’s opener against the L.A. Angels, A’s reserves had some fun with this exhibition against the Giants.
[RELATED: A's starter A.J. Puk to open season on injured list]
Athletics
Find the latest Athletics news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.
Tuesday’s exhibition starter Mike Fiers even was seen clapping with the fan cutouts just above the auxiliary dugout.
The A’s are tinkering with crowd noise levels during this game, starting with eerie silence to sounds from A’s fans, even the infamous outfield drums are being pumped in.
Oakland's reserves haven’t missed an opportunity to enjoy the return of real baseball, acting at times like true fans. That was the case after the top of the first, when they all stood and begged for a ball to be thrown in the stands.
Third baseman Matt Chapman obliged, and sent an arching volley over the net to an excited teammate/”fan” who caught it and bragged to those around him.