MLB players are finding ways to adapt to playing in stadiums without fans, but Blake Snell’s attempt might be one of the funniest.
Snell started for the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night. New York fans are not known for their friendliness to opposing players, and Snell found that he missed the environment. In response, he had a simple way of giving himself what he called the “authentic” experience of pitching in New York.
#Rays Snell said to make sure he had the "authentic" feel of playing at Yankee Stadium he told himself he sucked when he was warming up since no fans were there to yell it at him
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) August 19, 2020
Snell’s tactic seems to have worked. He allowed three runs in five innings, but the Rays won 6-3.
The lack of fans is strange for players, who do feed off that energy. Some have resorted to having funny interactions with the cardboard fans that some teams have placed in the seats.
