‘It felt a little different’: SF Giants share thoughts ahead of first game at Sutter Health Park

WEST SACRAMENTO As the Giants made their way into the first-base dugout at Sutter Vitality Park on Friday evening a remnant from the previous night remained hung on the wall near the helmet rack The lineup card of the Triple-A Reno Aces who had just played the Sacramento River Cats It was one of various reminders that the Giants and Athletics were playing a major league championship in a minor-league stadium that the Battle of the Bay was relegated to the past It felt a little different coming here at present noted manager Bob Melvin who managed the Oakland A s from - At our park it kind of felt the same Certainly last year in Oakland the rivalry is pretty major Once we get on the field I don t think it will feel any differently But just driving up and seeing the signs and not being in Oakland it felt a little different I feel like a lot of people wish the A s were still in Oakland noted Hayden Birdsong who is scheduled to start on Sunday It s a fun Oakland Bay Area rivalry Everybody wishes that but I understand how it works It s business and people have to make money That s what happens This isn t the first time that the Giants and A s have met this season the former sweeping the latter when they met in mid-May That first series was at Oracle Park a true big-league ballpark This weekend s three-game set by contrast will take place at a minor-league stadium masquerading as a major-league venue one that s also home to the Giants Triple-A affiliate Sutter Medical Park cannot replicate the feel and vibe of the Oakland Coliseum but several Giants were impressed with the improved amenities to accomodate the Athletics as well as a playing surface that s held up despite hosting the A s and River Cats It looked different when we came here for the scrimmage at the beginning of the season explained starter Landen Roupp who pitched in three games for the River Cats at Sutter Vitality Park last season I don t know if it s the new batter s eye The bullpen s are obviously different I can t put my finger on it It just feels different It really feels like a big-league spring training field Noted infielder Tyler Fitzgerald who has played games with the River Cats I was here last week and the infield plays pretty nice They ve done a lot of renovation with that The scoreboard s nice There s a couple key upgrades that I think have helped a lot While largest part of San Francisco s progressing roster has spent time with the River Cats the greater part Giants discovered it complex to escape the oddity of the ordeal It s kind of crazy Roupp disclosed Everything s kind of switched around Even though I ve been here we were in the River Cats clubhouse So having to walk out and walk around and get to everything is pretty crazy Those who have played at Sutter Fitness Park are plenty familiar with the ballpark s reputation for favoring offense especially compared to the pitcher-friendly Oakland Coliseum For the Athletics pitchers the offensive milieu has made for pretty stark home road splits Luis Severino who signed the richest contract in franchise history this offseason publicly bashed the experience of pitching at Sutter Medical Field telling reporters it feels like a spring training kind of encounter every time I pitch On the road Severino has a ERA At home Severino s ERA balloons to JP Sears who s slated to start the first championship of the series has a ERA over starts on the road but a ERA at home entering Friday For Jeffrey Springs who is not scheduled to start this series the story is the same ERA at home ERA on the road There s no third deck to kind of knock the wind down Melvin commented It feels a little sunken where I don t know that you feel the wind as much on the field as once it gets up in the air But we have plenty of guys that have played here and talked about the condition As far as the fan conditions Sutter Wellness Park s seats and berm should be packed over the next three days especially with this series falling on Fourth of July weekend Given the River Cats a Giants affiliate have been here far longer than the A s it wouldn t be shocking if there was a takeover of orange and black I would expect a lot of Giants fans regardless Fitzgerald explained I don t know if it s going to be - or if Giants fans are going to overpower them a little bit I don t know what to expect I just know that the River Cats have been here for so long that there s going to be a good amount of Giants fans for sure Chapman Schmitt both on cusp of returning Third baseman Matt Chapman right hand inflammation started in a rehab match with Triple-A Sacramento on Friday night and the Giants anticipate him playing in Saturday s battle if everything goes well He lobbied for tonight to be his first match but obviously after being out for a month it s good to get him a few at-bats before he gets back in here Melvin announced of Chapman who hasn t played since June Along with Chapman infielder Casey Schmitt left hand inflammation took batting practice on the field prior to Friday night s challenge Schmitt could play on Saturday and Sunday with the River Cats in Reno before returning on Monday the first day he s eligible to come off the injured list