During the Twins' intrasquad game, the club's PA system buzzed nonstop with white noise GETTY IMAGES
MLB this week distributed iPads with the new fake crowd noise program to each of its 30 clubs, and "encouraged experimentation with the game atmosphere," according to Phil Miller of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. During the Twins' intrasquad game at Target Field yesterday, the club's PA system "buzzed nonstop with white noise that succeeded in sanding off the sharp silence of such a large and empty venue." The program features "actual cheering for big hits, great defense or critical strikeouts." Music clips and standard ballpark fare also were "employed to add a touch of normalcy to the proceedings, perhaps a little too aggressively." The scoreboards were "employed as if to inform a weeknight crowd of the game stats, each player was introduced as he walked to the plate, and a couple of commercials aired between innings." Twins P Zack Littell said of the effects, "It might be a little cheesy at first, but guys will get used to it pretty quick. They play music and stuff during the live (batting practices) already. Everybody keeps asking if it's going to be weird without fans, but for a lot of us, coming up in the minor leagues, we played in some places without fans" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/16).
BREAK THE SILENCE: In Tampa, Marc Topkin notes the Rays today during their intrasquad game will "get their first sample of the piped-in crowd sounds" the league is providing. The base track is "somewhat white noise, but can be turned up in response to a good play, and be adjusted by each team." Several clubs have been "trying it out this week, with the expected mixed reviews." The Rays also will "play around with mixing in some music (to try to energize the players) and scoreboard effects (like the home run horn)" at Tropicana Field (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 7/16).
FIND A BALANCE: In New Jersey, Justin Toscano notes the Mets during yesterday's intrasquad game experimented with the artificial crowd noise. Once it came "after an inning ended," and another time, it "blared after a run scored." One time after that, it "played for about 15 seconds -- going from a roar to murmurs -- during a run-scoring play." Toscano writes it "sounds most fake when it's turned up to a roar," but when the fake crowd noise settles to a murmur, it "sounds somewhat real" (Bergen RECORD, 7/16). MLB Network’s Bill Ripken said the piped in crowd noise is just “background noise” and will not effect the play on the field too much. Ripken: “We should be able to hear almost everything that goes on during these games” (“MLB Tonight,” MLB Network, 7/15).
