D-backs have big home disadvantage
PHOENIX — The guy screamed into the microphone before the start of the Arizona Diamondbacks-los Angeles Dodgers game last week, trying to get the subdued crowd riled up.
Finally, he stood in front of the crowd, and dramatically tore off his D-backs jersey, revealing the slogan on his chest. “BEAT LA!”
The hometown crowd vigorously booed him.
Welcome to Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who happen to have a distinct home-field disadvantage.
The D-backs may technically be the home team, but virtually every team that comes to town has a much larger fan base. It has become a home-awayfrom home for virtually every big market team in the National League, from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the San Francisco Giants to the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets.
“It’s definitely frustrating,” Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen told USA TODAY Sports. “But you kind of understand why, too. We haven’t played well the last few years, so I can see why fans aren’t coming out to support. You got to light the fire and put a little better product out there, and hopefully teams will take notice and start to show up.”
This is a team that lost 110 games last year, and after a wildly successful start with three playoff berths and a World Series championship in their first five years of the franchise, have reached the playoffs just three times since 2002 and once since 2011.
In return, they have had baseball’s sharpest attendance decline since 2019, a drop-off of more than one million fans from an average of 26,364 to just 12,877 last year. The Diamondbacks, 14-13 entering Saturday, have performed a bit better on the field this year, and are averaging 20,217 fans a game.
Still, the fans showing up are making it quite clear who they’re rooting for. The D-backs have yet to have more fans rooting for them in a series this year than their opponents with the Padres, Astros, Mets and Dodgers making early visits.
“It’s good to have fans out there,” Gallen says, “but it’s a little bit annoying when they’re wearing a different color. But it is what it is.”
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman was stunned last week when he was greeted with raucous chants of “Freddie! Freddie! Freddie!” in his first game at Chase Field with the Dodgers.
“It blew me away,” Freeman says. “I’m not expecting that on the road, so it’s a little different. But the Dodgers travel so well. Even when we went to Minnesota,
and it’s 20 degrees there, you saw them in the stands.”
Really, Phoenix has always been a Dodger town. The folks grew up listening to Vin Scully on the radio, too. The D-backs didn’t come to existence until 1998, so it’s understandable that East LA stretches out to Phoenix.
“It’s just how overwhelming it is with maybe a 70-30 split of Dodger fans to Diamondback fans,” says former Dodger All-star outfielder Andre Ethier, born and raised in Phoenix. “It’s a good feeling when you can go to different parks in your division and fans will be in your favor. But they love their Dodgers here. It’s a generational thing.”
Dodgers reliever Daniel Hudson, who spent six years of his career with the Dbacks, says the Dodgers fans always made themselves at home in Phoenix, and no matter where they go, they feel their energy, even in San Francisco.
“Every time the Dodgers came to town when I was here,” Hudson says, “there was a lot of blue in the stadium. It can be frustrating for a home team. It kind of gives you another obstacle to overcome.
“And when you’re on this side of it, it definitely helps. It just makes the road a bit easier.”
Says Gallen: “I understand that people here probably grew up Dodger fans, but when the New York Mets come to town, and you’re dealing with all of these Mets fans, it gets to be a little tough.”
Maybe in time it will change. Perhaps the D-backs’ first series victory over the Dodgers in three years will bring out more home fans the next time they come to town in May.
This is a bandwagon town filled with transplants. If you win, they’ll come. If not, get used to always being on the road, even when you’re at home.
“It is frustrating,” says D-backs manager Torey Lovullo, who’s from LA. “The Dodgers fans take over the stadium every time they’re in town. We know that. We’re conditioned to it. The Mets did the same thing. A lot of teams do that to be honest with you.
“We’re envious of that. We want that to be us. But we’ve got to earn that. We’re just hopeful that when we start to win baseball games, our fans will come out, and things will balance out.”
For now, well, they’ll simply settle for the sweet sound of silence.
“That’s the best feeling,” says Dbacks outfielder David Peralta, who hit a game-winning homer in the final game of their series. “I got nothing against the fans. Fans are going to cheer for their own team.
“But when you do something like that, and shut their fans up, it’s really satisfying.”
The D-backs, at least for now, will settle for silence.
“It kind of throws everyone off when it’s quiet,” Gallen says, “but that’s our home-field advantage. We’ll take it.”