There Just Won't Be Much Baseball Played Until the Weekend at Target Field

[Matthew Trueblood]

Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

The Twins and Guardians made multiple attempts to fit ballgames in between torrents of rain Monday night at Target Field. The result was a forgettable three and a half innings of baseball, with the Twins holding a 2-1 lead in a game that will be resumed (in theory) at 5:10 PM Tuesday night. After the two teams finish that contest (if, indeed, they do), they'll play a late-night second game.

Except, here's the thing: no, they won't. It has rained almost nonstop since 7 PM Monday in the Twin Cities, and the forecasts all call for that to continue through Tuesday night. It does look as though the skies will finally have emptied themselves by Wednesday afternoon, when the two teams are scheduled for the final game of this three-game series. They won't want to play a doubleheader then, though, because the Guardians have to be in Detroit for the start of a four-game weekender Thursday evening. At least one game will be washed out, here. They might try to complete the suspended one Tuesday, or just bump that to Wednesday and play a not-quite twin bill Wednesday. They might not even be able to do that; there could be 14 innings of baseball to make up when Cleveland's plane takes off Wednesday evening.

The good news, of course, is that the Guardians come back to Minnesota—albeit just once, rather than the two other times a division rival would have visited under the old schedule format. These teams are scheduled to play at Target Field again on Sept. 19-21, and one of those dates now looks very likely to be a doubleheader. Alternatively (or additionally), they could make up a game on Sept. 22, when the teams have a mutual off day. The Cleveland series will be the last set of a nine-game Twins homestand, but before playing in Texas on the following Tuesday, Minnesota has a travel day scheduled. So do the Guardians, who will have a home series against Detroit right after playing the Twins.

Neither team wants to push off a makeup game that far, of course. If the weather is bad again in September (always a possibility), needing to fit four games into three days or giving up a travel day to fit in a contest could become truly miserable. It could become an utterly unmanageable mess. Looking at the radar, though, it's hard to see that there will be any choice in the matter. There are 23 innings (or more) of baseball left to play in this series, and nowhere near room for them in the windows between showers.

Weather has poked the league in the eye quite a bit already this year. It looks like one of those years when the league will play a good 35 or 40 doubleheaders, and the Twins figure to be overrepresented in that sample. It's frustrating, because it feels like Mother Nature is the only opponent the Twins can't beat right now. On the other hand, as Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa sit on the shelf with concussions and Willi Castro hobbles around the field with a knee contusion causing him obvious discomfort, maybe this isn't the worst time for some days on the calendar to be wiped blank.

There's no way to make up these games that won't mess with the Twins' pitching schedules, but the Guardians will face an even more acute version of the same problem. As we wait to see whether the sky will clear at any juncture in the next 30 hours, both sides can merely gather and try to come up with ways to stay ready and minimize the impact of this inconvenience. For fans, it's not so bad. An occasional rainout is a miniature blessing, even amid a hot stretch for the team. It's extra time to think; to get something else done; to rest. The stress, for fans and for players, will come whenever the bill comes due for these lost games—when the schedule gets crowded and grueling late in a pennant race. The stress for executives and coaches comes right now.

UPDATE: As we guessed they might, the Twins announced that there will be no baseball Tuesday night. The Twins and Guardians will make up the remainder of Monday night's game Wednesday afternoon, and then play the regularly-scheduled game. Tuesday night's contest will, indeed, become part of a doubleheader on Sept. 20. Here's hoping the weather will permit all the required innings Wednesday, so the September slate doesn't get any more jammed.

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[Ski U Mah Gopher]

If there is ever a good time for a bunch of rainouts, it's while Buxton & Correa are on the IL. Plus, the 3+ innings pitched by Ober might not be wasted, it might be his turn in the rotation when the suspended game continues in September😀

[LA Vikes Fan]

Might be a short term blessing in disguise for the starting pitching. Paddack gets moved back to Thursday so the starters for the KC series are Ryan, Lopez, and then its Ober's 5th day. Matthews can be skipped until next Tuesday in Tampa and everyone gets another extra day before the next turn because we're off next Thursday. That allows us to pitch our best 3 starters in a divisional series against a contender.

It also matters on how much we have to pitch Matthews, only twice while SWR has to be in St. Paul. Festa may also be ready by next Tuesday although I would give Matthews one more shot. A second start like the first says he isn't quite ready yet and we move on to another plan. 

[Chris Hove]

😭😭😭😭😭

[Patzky]

24 minutes ago, Ski U Mah Gopher said:

If there is ever a good time for a bunch of rainouts, it's while Buxton & Correa are on the IL. Plus, the 3+ innings pitched by Ober might not be wasted, it might be his turn in the rotation when the suspended game continues in September😀

If Ober can avoid the Royals when they visit, it was worth it!

[Patzky]

23 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

Might be a short term blessing in disguise for the starting pitching. Paddack gets moved back to Thursday so the starters for the KC series are Ryan, Lopez, and then its Ober's 5th day. Matthews can be skipped until next Tuesday in Tampa and everyone gets another extra day before the next turn because we're off next Thursday. That allows us to pitch our best 3 starters in a divisional series against a contender.

It also matters on how much we have to pitch Matthews, only twice while SWR has to be in St. Paul. Festa may also be ready by next Tuesday although I would give Matthews one more shot. A second start like the first says he isn't quite ready yet and we move on to another plan. 

I saw they started McCaughan in St Paul last week. Found that odd.

[bean5302]

Sorry, this is my fault. Have tickets tomorrow to Dugout Box and Friday for Club Level with a friend flying in from out of town. This was pretty much a guaranteed outcome.

[Patzky]

Maybe we get a 45 minute window to finish the suspended game and make it  'official' tonight. 😉

[JD-TWINS]

24 minutes ago, Patzky said:

Maybe we get a 45 minute window to finish the suspended game and make it  'official' tonight. 😉

Later tonight looks possible to get in 6 innings at 8:00 or later? ……….Maybe Wednesday for 1 game? ……..I thought they may play  2 on Thursday starting at Noon but Guardians are scheduled in Detroit Thursday - bummer!!

[Sjoski]

Just asking...

Is it completely out of the question to play in US Bank stadium.  The Gophers have played game there I believe. Why not the Twins? 

[chinmusic]

58 minutes ago, Patzky said:

Maybe we get a 45 minute window to finish the suspended game and make it  'official' tonight. 😉

In a perfect world. Here's hoping!

10 minutes ago, Sjoski said:

Just asking...

Is it completely out of the question to play in US Bank stadium.  The Gophers have played game there I believe. Why not the Twins? 

 

[Western SD Fan]

34 minutes ago, Sjoski said:

Just asking...

Is it completely out of the question to play in US Bank stadium.  The Gophers have played game there I believe. Why not the Twins? 

I think a more likely scenario had the opportunity been available would have been to play the series in Milwaukee.  Both Cleveland and the Twins were in Milwaukee last week and there has been precedent for it before, albeit when Cleveland was trying to play a series in a blizzard!

[Doctor Gast]

CLE & KC series are important, I feel better about the postponement.

[bean5302]

51 minutes ago, Sjoski said:

Just asking...

Is it completely out of the question to play in US Bank stadium.  The Gophers have played game there I believe. Why not the Twins? 

Yes, it would be completely insane to move a game or two of Minnesota Twins baseball to U.S Bank Stadium with no notice.

Concessions and event management are totally different companies from U.S. Bank Stadium to Target Field. How do you determine the new seating chart? Schedules for U.S Bank Stadium workers are already out and Delaware North Staff can't just take over.

Post Malone is playing U.S. Bank Stadium tonight. How do you propose the late night concert to be cleaned, the stadium prepped for fans and completely converted to a baseball field for an MLB event with no notice?

[CRF]

I think it'll be a miracle if they get anything in today. I'm 20 miles south of the cities and I've got 2.5" in my rain gauge right now at noon. The weather terrorists are saying the rain won't stop until sometime this evening. They'll play the game tomorrow, but the first two will have to be rescheduled. 

[bean5302]

25 minutes ago, Western SD Fan said:

I think a more likely scenario had the opportunity been available would have been to play the series in Milwaukee.  Both Cleveland and the Twins were in Milwaukee last week and there has been precedent for it before, albeit when Cleveland was trying to play a series in a blizzard!

You can add that was 18 years ago, late in the season (August) and from Cleveland's 4th straight postponement game.

[thelanges5]

They’ve been on a roll. Baseball is a game of routine and I’d like to keep them playing, grinding, and winning. Hopefully this plays dividends on the health front. 

[Patzky]

1 hour ago, JD-TWINS said:

Later tonight looks possible to get in 6 innings at 8:00 or later? ……….Maybe Wednesday for 1 game? ……..I thought they may play  2 on Thursday starting at Noon but Guardians are scheduled in Detroit Thursday - bummer!!

I guess if they can finish, or at least make official Tuesdays game that's something. All we need is six outs 🤣

[Original_JB]

They couldn't call the game at 5 innings then turn around and start the 2nd game, could they?

[DJL44]

25 minutes ago, Original_JB said:

They couldn't call the game at 5 innings then turn around and start the 2nd game, could they?

I don't think so. If the weather allows them to start the 2nd game then it allows them to finish the first game.

[Doc Lenz]

Building the stadium without a retractable roof was dumb in the first place.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

With the Twins being a regional team and drawing loyal fans  from the Dakotas and Wisconsin and other places far from downtown Minneapolis, there was good reason for Minnesota to have built a domed stadium with a retractable roof. I was guaranteed there would be games played when the Twins played at the Metro Dome and I flew from North Carolina to see the games. In addition, while the fans can bundle up during cold spring and September/October games,  playing in really cold weather is not conducive to optimum performances by players, especially pitchers. Playing in warm  sunshine is really nice, but getting unusable rain checks, after having traveled great distances by driving or flying,  and after having booked hotel rooms, is so uncertain that I am reluctant to take that chance. Many of you reading this may think, "Well my taxes helped pay for beautiful Target Field and I don't want the added expense of a retractable roof, and I don't think it is an inconvenience for me and my family" ...you have a valid point. But I'm just saying that fans who must travel great distances to Twins games, are more likely to spend a thousand, or more, dollars for travel, hotels food and tickets, if they know the games will be played. 

[Vanimal46]

39 minutes ago, Doc Lenz said:

Building the stadium without a retractable roof was dumb in the first place.

It would have been a travesty to put a roof on Target Field. 

[The Great Hambino]

18 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

It would have been a travesty to put a roof on Target Field. 

It also never was going to happen.  The bill to fund the stadium barely passed without the roof.  There was no way it would've passed with $200MM+ added to the price tag.

The choice wasn't roof or no roof.  The choice was no roof or no Twins.

Also, every stadium with a retractable roof looks dumb.  They still haven't really figured that out.

[Vanimal46]

Just now, The Great Hambino said:

It also never was going to happen.  The bill to fund the stadium barely passed without the roof.  There was no way it would've passed with $200MM+ added to the price tag.

The choice wasn't roof or no roof.  The choice was no roof or no Twins.

Also, every stadium with a retractable roof looks dumb.  They still haven't really figured that out.

$200 million upfront plus countless millions down the road to fix and maintain the dumb thing. 

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

With the Twins being a regional team and drawing loyal fans  from the Dakotas and Wisconsin and other places far from downtown Minneapolis, there was good reason for Minnesota to have built a domed stadium with a retractable roof. I was guaranteed there would be games played when the Twins played at the Metro Dome and I flew from North Carolina to see the games. In addition, while the fans can bundle up during cold spring and September/October games,  playing in really cold weather is not conducive to optimum performances by players, especially pitchers. Playing in warm  sunshine is really nice, but getting unusable rain checks, after having traveled great distances by driving or flying,  and after having booked hotel rooms, is so uncertain that I am reluctant to take that chance. Many of you reading this may think, "Well my taxes helped pay for beautiful Target Field and I don't want the added expense of a retractable roof, and I don't think it is an inconvenience for me and my family" ...you have a valid point. But I'm just saying that fans who must travel great distances to Twins games, are more likely to spend a thousand, or more, dollars for travel, hotels food and tickets, if they know the games will be played. 

Sorry, this is one rare time where I think you're WAY off base.

Baseball should be played outside. Teams and baseball fans have been doing just fine for 150 years.

Target Field is a gem. A roof would be a crime against humanity. People make the trip all the time.

And for everyone else...we're talking about a couple days of potential rain. Geez. Relax. I guarantee this isn't the first time it's rained in Minneapolis, nor will it be the last.  MLB and the Twins will survive.

[T.O.]

It's called the weather forecast because it says whether or not a game can be played.

 

[tony&rodney]

The problems were twofold: money and a site with enough space. The city, state, and population did not have an appetite for the outlay for a dome and a more expensive site. The current site where Target Field sits is way too small to include a dome. 

A dome could be engineered that retracted significantly in order to give views similar to Target Field, but that costs much more. The Metrodome was built on budget, was totally a soulless space, but was spiced up enough and used often. The HHH Dome made money in the final report. My own take is that a futuristic dome that fully retracted out of sight could have been a real boon to the area and used year around. My only beef would have been a desire to have natural turf, which may have been problematic. 

Target Field is fantastic but rain, snow, and cold weather are alays going to be a thing. From my experiences it seems worse for the players than the fans.

But, yah ... it is cold and very wet today.

[Patzky]

2 hours ago, CRF said:

I think it'll be a miracle if they get anything in today. I'm 20 miles south of the cities and I've got 2.5" in my rain gauge right now at noon. The weather terrorists are saying the rain won't stop until sometime this evening. They'll play the game tomorrow, but the first two will have to be rescheduled. 

Per MLB game is postponed. Yesterdays game resumes tomorrow @ 12;1O pm 

[Vanimal46]

5 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

The problems were twofold: money and a site with enough space. The city, state, and population did not have an appetite for the outlay for a dome and a more expensive site. The current site where Target Field sits is way too small to include a dome. 

A dome could be engineered that retracted significantly in order to give views similar to Target Field, but that costs much more. The Metrodome was built on budget, was totally a soulless space, but was spiced up enough and used often. The HHH Dome made money in the final report. My own take is that a futuristic dome that fully retracted out of sight could have been a real boon to the area and used year around. My only beef would have been a desire to have natural turf, which may have been problematic. 

Target Field is fantastic but rain, snow, and cold weather are alays going to be a thing. From my experiences it seems worse for the players than the fans.

But, yah ... it is cold and very wet today.

A vast majority of the population was tired of watching indoor baseball in July when it was a beautiful day outside. In the end, they made the right choice constructing a gorgeous outdoor park in the spot they did. North Loop is the hottest neighborhood in the city. 

The area around the old Metrodome, now US Bank Stadium, is still lifeless. There’s barely any restaurants/retail within walking distance of the stadium.