The Washington Nationals were on national TV for a second straight game. After ESPN aired their season opener on Thursday, FOX took the reigns for game two, and the game experience was very different.
FOX this season is airing all their Major League Baseball games with fake crowd noise.
No fans? Not on FOX Sports.
Thousands of virtual fans will attend FOX’s MLB games this Saturday. pic.twitter.com/z9oQU0rYuC
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 23, 2020
So when Nationals’ 23-year-old outfielder Víctor Robles went yard off the foul pole in the bottom of the fourth inning, he got a rousing ovation from the tens of thousands of Nats fans who were totally not in attendance.
Hey we've seen this one!@Nationals with a big home run off of the foul pole. pic.twitter.com/gLxkk5TtuG
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 26, 2020
This is strange… but I kinda like it?
Here are a few more examples. Robles, who went three-for-four with four RBI’s, got a loud roar after doubling in the second inning. (He finished a triple short of the cycle along with Asdrúbal Cabrera.)
The @Nationals jump on the Yankees early as Víctor Robles comes up with the 2-run double! pic.twitter.com/XbFwjMGVm9
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 25, 2020
Though there should have been way more booing during Giancarlo Stanton’s INSANE 483 foot home run to center field.
Stanton is looking like a MONSTER to start this season.
Another no doubt home run! pic.twitter.com/XTvXO6DmpV
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 26, 2020
Fox was also planning on having a virtual crowd but that appears to not be ready for prime time yet.
What do you think of the pumped-in crowd noise?
Screenshot courtesy of @MLBONFOX
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