Pete Rose, with 4,256 career hits from 1963-86, said the empty seats will be an adjustment for Major League Baseball teams during this 60-game regular season.
"Players like fans," Rose told WCPO last week. "Players feel appreciated if there is fans in the stands, and it's going to be odd for them. But some of them will get through it, and some of them won't. Some of them will really excel, and some of them won't. It's just a matter of how you feel about the fans and not having any fans there."
The Hit King said he always has appreciated Cincinnati fans, but he also gathered motivation as a player from Crosley Field and Riverfront Stadium.
"I was one of those guys where I used to feed off the opposition because I got booed so much on the road," Rose said. "And the louder they boo you, the more you want to shut them up."
Rose believes the Reds could jump out to a successful start if the middle relief pitching is consistent during the first few weeks of the season.
"Well, first of all, if you look at their roster offensively they've got a good unit, and starting pitching-wise they have probably one of the best pitching staffs in the league," Rose said. "But you still got to go out and play the game."
Rose doesn't understand the change, which allows a runner to start at second base in the 10th inning.
"You know, to be honest with you, I'm tired of the last 10 years or so baseball changing the rules every year," Rose said. "You can't throw inside, you can't break up a double play, you can't collide with a catcher. I mean, you know what's next? They have a clock running. You got to throw the ball by the time the clock runs out. I'm just totally against changing any rules of baseball."
Rose said baseball is unique for the sport that it is and adding extra rules doesn't equal fan entertainment value.
"I thought the game was pretty good in 1869," Rose said. "I thought the game was pretty good in 1969. Why are we going to change all these rules?
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Originally Posted by Ron Madden
