It was an eerie feeling walking into Globe Life Field Tuesday night. I walked in expecting to watch a Rangers game showcasing the new park to their opponents for about twenty games. I walked in, and the Texas Rangers weren’t there. MLB announced a month ago that Globe Life Field was a hosting site for the NLDS. Also, it becomes the first MLB stadium to host fans when the NLCS and World Series begin later this month.

Two teams took the field, both with some history in 2020 with the Rangers organization. First, they both played the Rangers at Globe Life Field. Texas finished a combined 1-5 against the Dodgers and Padres, including some good, but mostly not so good moments. First, the Fernando Tatis Jr. Grand Slam ruckus happened at Globe Life Field. Second, two of the four straight Grand Slams for “Slam” Diego happened in Arlington. Finally, the Dodgers set the record for most home runs in a month during their final game of the series and last game in August, which happened at Globe Life Field.

The @Padres and Dodgers are about to start the NLDS at Globe Life Field in Arlington. You MIGHT remember what happened when San Diego visited earlier this season 👀 pic.twitter.com/x2JKQQMA4F

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 7, 2020

Tuesday night was the Padres’ first NLDS game since 2006, where they lost in four to the St. Louis Cardinals. It was also a trip to the postseason for first-year manager and former Rangers personnel, Jayce Tingler. Plus, former Rangers’ Jurickson Profar and Mitch Moreland took the field for San Diego. If you recall, Moreland hit the first home run in Rangers’ World Series history in 2010. Meanwhile, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and Chris Woodward go back to Woody’s three years as third-base coach in the Dodgers’ organization. It was a homecoming for two Dodgers as Clayton Kershaw and Max Muncy both grew up thirty minutes away from Arlington and got their home cooking taste of the 2020 postseason.

#Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on sitting in #Rangers skipper Chris Woodward's chair

"I feel like George Jefferson. I've moved on up. This office is unbelievable."

Chris Woodward left Roberts a nice note that said good luck and some of Dave's family photos. #NLDS #MLBPlayoffs

— Alex Plinck (@aplinckTX) October 4, 2020

While it’s a coincidence that Tingler’s first postseason game comes in Arlington as a Padres’ manager, it didn’t have that twist of fate feel to it. “If it was at the old ballpark where I’ve been used to, the truth is, I’ve been in here only for two games, just as many as all of our players have. That’s probably a little bit different,” Tingler told the media Sunday.

As an individual who attended Rangers games in bulk the past two years, it was easy to spot the music skills of Michael Gruber and the public address announcements of Chuck Morgan. However, it was a strange feeling to it. It felt like in a video game where you rig it to fit the team you want to play. It started with Chuck Morgan’s introductions. I heard him say, “Its baseball time in Texas!” like he always does, but hearing him say Vin Scully’s catchphrase along with the “Your Los Angeles Dodgers,” had a bizarre sound to it. To Chuck’s credit, it needed to sound like a Dodgers’ home game, and from the reaction to Dodgers media, it did.

They used @DieterRuehle’s rendition of the National Anthem, as they should. They’re treating it as much as a home game as they can. Same Jumbotron graphics, music, etc.

— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) October 7, 2020

The in-game music sounded similar to watching Dodgers’ home games on television. The teams brought their families to Globe Life Field and the San Diego group; you could hear them get loud throughout the night. For the first time, I heard live cheering rather than digital cheering. It was an intriguing experience from a neutral party, though the game felt a little too familiar for the 2020 Rangers. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out when fans enter during the NLCS.

While there's no paid attendance for the NLDS. Both teams have their families in the park (#Padres on the 3rd base suite near left field and the #Dodgers on the first base side suite near right field).

It's the first real cheering sections ever at Globe Life Field.

— Alex Plinck (@aplinckTX) October 7, 2020