PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Joe Girardi watched his players play in front of empty seats and cardboard cutouts last season. Fortunately, it will be a bit of a different scene at Citizens Bank Park for Opening Day.
The Phillies will open their season at home against the Braves Thursday afternoon. Although the ballpark won’t be sold out like in years past, 8,800 fans will be allowed to attend.
Girardi has always been excited for Opening Day as a player and a manager, but the Phillies’ skipper said there is a different vibe to this year’s opener.
“I feel like this one is different because we didn’t have fans last year,” he said. “It just has a completely different feeling, and I’m really, really looking forward to it, and I’m really (hoping) … as the season progresses, we’re allowed more and more fans.”
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Any type of fan support is welcomed by Girardi and his players. The Phillies got a taste of some of it in spring training, where a limited amount of people were allowed to attend games.
For Girardi, it represents another step toward an end to the coronavirus.
“It’s just going to feel like we’re getting our lives back somewhat,” he said. “I’m actually really looking forward to it. To see fans at spring training was really, really nice.”
As far as matters on the field, Girardi knows his bullpen must improve after a disastrous performance in 2020. There were questions as to how the bullpen would line up this year. Girardi decided to keep Hector Neris in the closer role despite some rocky moments on the mound last year.
“Hector’s closed,” said Girardi. “He’s closed here. For the most part last year, I thought he threw the ball pretty well, and I like the way he threw the ball this spring.”
Now all the Phillies need is some better weather for Thursday. The forecast calls for a chilly and windy day — a far cry from six weeks in Florida. It will be another adjustment Girardi’s players will have to make when they take the field for their first regular-season game.
“You ask ballplayers what they hate more than anything,” Girardi said. “It’s probably wind, when it’s cold. It can be 40 degrees and sunny and players are like, ‘Oh, this isn’t bad, right?’ because they’re moving around. But the wind makes it tough.”
The first pitch at Citizens Bank Park is set for 3:05 p.m.