WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Fans in West Sacramento are savoring the novelty of watching Major League Baseball in a city that has never hosted it before. With lush trees providing a scenic backdrop beyond right field, supporters gathered with lawn chairs to enjoy the action. The unique environment includes visiting players entering the stadium from center field, harking back to simpler baseball days.
Despite the quaint charm, the modern realities of baseball as a multi-billion-dollar industry remain. Some players have hefty contracts, like Zack Wheeler, who is the highest-paid pitcher in the league at $42 million this year. After a 4-3 victory for the Philadelphia Phillies over the Oakland Athletics, Wheeler expressed frustration over the state of the mound, saying, “The mound was terrible.” He noted he felt great physically, but the pitcher’s mound presented a significant challenge.
The Phillies are currently on an impressive winning streak, having secured eight victories in a row for the first time since June 2022 under manager Rob Thomson. Wheeler has extended his scoreless innings streak to 22 2/3, marking his longest since 2018. With a record of 33-18, the Phillies boast the best performance in the majors.
Shortstop Trea Turner highlighted the team’s resilience, remarking, “Sometimes we slug it out. Sometimes we win games like this. Really, our pitching has just kept us in so many games.” However, concerns about the quality of the minor-league facilities are mounting, as other pitchers have echoed Wheeler’s complaints about the mound conditions. Luis Severino of the Athletics, for instance, has posted vastly different ERA figures between road games and those played at Sutter Health Park, struggling on home turf.
Wheeler’s approach to pitching amid these challenging conditions involved adjustment, forcing him to rely heavily on his arm due to the poor footing. Even so, he achieved impressive numbers, utilizing a fastball averaging 96.6 mph, a testament to his adaptability and skill.
Overall, the Phillies’ pitching staff has excelled during their winning streak, accumulating an admirable 1.82 ERA. Thomson expressed satisfaction with the rotation, acknowledging the need to maintain their health as the season progresses. As the A’s settle in for a three-year stint in West Sacramento, the hope is to improve the conditions for players while delivering an exciting experience for fans in this new baseball landscape.
This situation illustrates baseball’s inherent challenges and victories, much like life itself, where adaptation is key. There is optimism surrounding the potential of overcoming these hurdles to foster a viable MLB experience in this vibrant new location.