Game 1 of the NLCS on Monday marked the first time baseball has had fans in the stands this season, albeit at a limited capacity, and will continue to do so for the remainder of the series and World Series, but not everyone is thrilled to see fans back in the seats.
Houston Astros starter Zack Greinke actually enjoyed pitching in the year without fans.
“I mean, for me it’s nice not having fans in the stands,” he told reporters before Tuesday’s Game 3 against the Rays in the ALCS, which is fanless. “Because there’ no one trying to talk to you and ask for autographs and wanting to take pictures and all that stuff.
“I don’t like any of that stuff. Most people like it. I don’t like it.”
The brutally honest Greinke, who will start Game 4 on Thursday, also suffers from social anxiety disorder, which is perhaps a factor into why he feels the way he does without fans.
While he’s enjoyed being able to pitch and concentrate without fans on top of him, that does not mean he’s liked pitching in this 2020 season that has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic with protocols and testing the players must follow and endure every day.
“This season was easily the least fun season of my career,” he said.
Surely, he is not the only one who feels that way.
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