Weather during the April 5-15 home stand

[Loosey]

I would like to see more scheduled double headers.  Maybe add 7 with rival teams (for example, Twins have a home and home double header with Milwaukee and one with each division opponent) that would allow the season to either start a week later or end a week earlier.  They are not going to reduce the number of games, too much money to be made or lost.  

[Mr. Brooks]

There would be only a little more travel but it would be broken into smaller segments. Think of it this way--a weekend getaway is an easy travel experience. A two-week trip to various locations around the country is an ordeal.

Shorter, 6 game road trips would result in 41 flights per season, versus 34 flights with 12 game road trips.

That is 20% more, I think that's substantial.

 

And these guys don't travel like regular people do.

I don't really understand what would wear them down.

They don't stand in lines at the airport, they don't have to drive to/ from airports and hotels.

They are in 5 star hotels, and most of them aren't from their home team city, so they are living in a hotel even when the team is home.

So the only difference between home stand and road trip is a 1-3 hour flight, on a chartered jet, every 3 or 4 days.

[yarnivek1972]

The 1961 season didn’t start until April 10th.

 

And that’s the real problem, I think. The season continues to stretch outward and baseball is a seasonal game.

Exactamundo. Opening Day was March 29. That’s insane for anywhere except southern California, Atlanta, Arizona, Texas or Florida.

 

They should be able to get 162 games scheduled with adequate days off in the 183 days that comprise April, May, June, July, August and September.

[jimmer]

 

Exactamundo. Opening Day was March 29. That’s insane for anywhere except southern California, Atlanta, Arizona, Texas or Florida.

They should be able to get 162 games scheduled with adequate days off in the 183 days that comprise April, May, June, July, August and September.

Could drop the amount of games played by each team to 154 and schedule some true doubleheaders in there.  Show they care a bit about the fans.

[yarnivek1972]

Could drop the amount of games played by each team to 154 and schedule some true doubleheaders in there. Show they care a bit about the fans.

Exactly. Just scheduling 3 home double headers in June, July and August. All teams would play 6 total. That works out to one every other week during the summer months. And going to 154 games would essentially eliminate 7 midweek home dates. 2 in April, 2 in May, 3 in September. Those months always have a hard time drawing midweek because kids are still in school.

 

Bob Costas was a big supporter of shortening up the schedule and double headers. If you ever read his book he talks about his ideas (Fair Ball I think). Maybe he should have been made commisioner all those years ago...

[USAFChief]

 

Exactly. Just scheduling 3 home double headers in June, July and August. All teams would play 6 total. That works out to one every other week during the summer months. And going to 154 games would essentially eliminate 7 midweek home dates. 2 in April, 2 in May, 3 in September. Those months always have a hard time drawing midweek because kids are still in school.

Bob Costas was a big supporter of shortening up the schedule and double headers. If you ever read his book he talks about his ideas (Fair Ball I think). Maybe he should have been made commisioner all those years ago...

Are owners willing to give up 8 games of income? Players association willing to rewrite all contracts to lop off 8 games worth of pay, and lower the MLB minimum by the same? TV contracts in existence rewritten?

 

Money is at the root of this problem. Coupled with a players union that zealously argues simultaneously  against both DHers, and for more time off for players during the season.

[alskntwnsfn]

I’m scheduled to attend opening day with a group on Thursday. Haven’t heard any news, but there is no way they are playing right? Anybody know what the recourse is for ticket holders? I think this is a stubhub situation.

[yarnivek1972]

Are owners willing to give up 8 games of income? Players association willing to rewrite all contracts to lop off 8 games worth of pay, and lower the MLB minimum by the same? TV contracts in existence rewritten?

 

Money is at the root of this problem. Coupled with a players union that zealously argues simultaneously against both DHers, and for more time off for players during the season.

First of all, it would be 4 home games eliminated, not 8. Second, as I said the games to eliminate are the ones midweek while school is in session because those games already draw poorly.

 

The lost revenue would probably be under $4 mil for teams that are making $300 mil or more in some cases. But, of course, your costs are lowered too. 4 fewer days to pay ushers, security, custodians and other “behind the scenes” gameday personnel. 4 fewer nights where the lights need to be on. 4 fewer days of flushed toilets.

[D. Hocking]

I am hoping we have a similar problem at the end of the season when they are worried about cold fall temps as we are playing deep into October.

[USAFChief]

 

First of all, it would be 4 home games eliminated, not 8. Second, as I said the games to eliminate are the ones midweek while school is in session because those games already draw poorly.

The lost revenue would probably be under $4 mil for teams that are making $300 mil or more in some cases. But, of course, your costs are lowered too. 4 fewer days to pay ushers, security, custodians and other “behind the scenes” gameday personnel. 4 fewer nights where the lights need to be on. 4 fewer days of flushed toilets.

8 games of income.  Teams get income from road games, too.

 

And while there would be lowered costs, those costs almost certainly do not equal the lost revenue.  Or else there would be no major league baseball.

 

The idea of dropping back to 154 games isn't new, and there are reasons it hasn't happened.  Those reasons are tied to money.  

 

So while it sounds like a good idea on the surface, I doubt we see any serious movement on it.

[yarnivek1972]

I’m scheduled to attend opening day with a group on Thursday. Haven’t heard any news, but there is no way they are playing right? Anybody know what the recourse is for ticket holders? I think this is a stubhub situation.

Most of the snow will melt before Thursday. Certainly it won’t be on the playing field. Removing it from the stands may prove more difficult. Ordinarily, they would just hose them down. It probably won’t be above freezing tomorrow in Minneapolis though, so that may not work.

[Craig Arko]

I’m scheduled to attend opening day with a group on Thursday. Haven’t heard any news, but there is no way they are playing right? Anybody know what the recourse is for ticket holders? I think this is a stubhub situation.

Friday forecast: high of 24, low of 5. Partly cloudy, 20% chance of precipitation.

 

I’d expect you’d get a rain check for the makeup game if they cancel, but I’ve never dealt with StubHub.

[Rosterman]

We just have to wait and see. Like Tuesday, when it was snowing, the temperature was quite wonderful and it was a great snow for kids to play (although a bit wet). Yes, it was snowing...so you really couldn't playball because of visibility, at times.

 

The factors that always come into play...keeping warm and healthy. How hard is the field. How slippery is the field, the ball. Dirt plays different than the grass.

 

 

Unlike football, you really can't rub the ball dry or change it out all the time.

 

How do the fingers work with the cold. How much moisture can the uniforms (and shoes) absorb.

 

We know the groundscrews and clubhouse guys will be keep really busy, that players will take Vita C, that the lights will hopefully give warmth.

 

There are some wind tunnels in the stands, especially up high, at Target Field. But there are places for fans to warm. Often the worst is the long walk to the car if you choose to park off-site.

i

My only thought for future schedulers, keep the early weeks of games between the divisions, so you can more easily make them up as the season happens. You can make some exceptions for teams in warmer climes (and also...NOT to play those team in Texas, let's say, in July, who can't schedule a makeup game).

 

You have to admire Target Field. They can hose down the stands with 110-degree water and it drains. The field (except the warning track) drains well. You have a lot of heat-generating lights (yes, they don't work if it is really really cold).

 

And the real secret to staying warm as the hometeam? Make you you don't spend a lot of time out on the field!

 

 

 

 

[Nine of twelve]

Keep in mind that the field has underground heating so the playing surface is not going to be the biggest issue. It's the air temperature, wind velocity, and precipitation.

[Mill1634]

So, what are the odds tomorrows game gets played

[Nine of twelve]

So, what are the odds tomorrows game gets played

My phone app says weather at game time tomorrow will be 35F, 29F wind chill, no precip. They will play.