CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – For the first time this year, baseball was played at Progressive Field between opposing teams.
To say it was an oddly unique experience would be an understatement.
Monday night’s 11-7 exhibition victory for the Indians over the Pirates was a dress rehearsal for Friday night’s opener against the Kansas City Royals.
In the age of living with the risks associated with COVID-19, the reminders of a pandemic in progress were everywhere, as if an empty ballpark wasn’t enough of one.
Here’s what covering the first professional game in Cleveland since March was like.
After entering the media gate Monday afternoon, a temperature check, series of questions and security check followed.
With that completed, a relaxing stroll up the Ontario street ramp to the press box where a small bottle of hand sanitizer, game notes and a lineup scoresheet awaited reporters at their respective seats. The press box, which can seat nearly 125 media members now seats a fraction of that to accommodate social distancing.
Major League games this year are strictly BYOFB – bring your own food and beverage – for reporters. There’s no complaint here. The pandemic has made having any food service or beverage station unsafe, and the priority of safety within Progressive Field could be seen everywhere you looked.
The field and service level were understandably off limits to everyone but players, coaches, and select team officials.
Sections of seats were roped off with yellow caution tape, especially around the dugout areas to maintain distance from where players congregate on the field. The third base box seats were available for roving reporters and photographers to watch or capture the proceedings, socially distant of course.
Prior to and after the game we visited with manager Terry Francona – virtually via Zoom from the press conference room outside the Indians clubhouse. Mike Clevinger jumped on after throwing five innings as did Jordan Luplow, who hit a homer in the win.
The inability to host fans is devastating economically, especially for a team like the Indians but the club has done what they could to make up for some of the lost revenue.
The outfield walls look like the yellow pages – that’s a Harry Doyle and phone book reference – and there are tarps with ads covering the bleachers and both corners of seats next to the foul poles. There are even sponsors painted in white in foul territory on the first and third base line. Every camera pit and dugout railing pad has ads as well and a miniature billboard wall was built on top of the dugouts for additional sponsor placement – all viewable for television.
The Indians sign above the scoreboard is fully lit – the ring of bulbs around it has been replaced – just in time to take it down, presumably to make way for a new name.
Minus actual fans in the ballpark, the game presentation was as normal as it could be.
The pregame hype video boasted the high value production it always does. It’s just too bad no one got to see it other than a few reporters, photographers, players and staff.
The national anthem was played. Fireworks followed.
PA announcer Bob Tayek introduced the lineups before the first pitch, players as they came to the plate, new pitchers and defensive changes as if there were 35,000 delirious spectators in the house.
Crowd noise was piped in, including audio of John Adams banging on his drum, Jose chants for Jose Ramirez and the usual musical and other interludes typically heard at the ballpark.
Francisco Lindor set off the fireworks atop the parking garage in the fourth inning with a three-run homer to right. Jordan Luplow, Mike Freeman and Jake Bauers set them off too by sending baseballs sailing over the wall and into the sea of green seats.
Grunts from the pitchers, clapping from the dugouts, communication between fielders and other commentary on the field could be heard from the press box. Even players sliding into bases.
The atmosphere was reminiscent of the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium – nary a soul in the stands while the sweet crack of the bat and baseballs clanking off empty chairs echoed all night.
It was an eerie preview of how this season will be played.
But, at least they’re able to play.
Safely.
