Open or Closed?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The new World Series controversy now centers around the opening or closing of MMP's roof.

 

The Astros want it closed. The Astros win more when it's closed and the park can be deafening when it is closed. During the postseason, the Astros are 4-1 with it closed.

 

On the other hand, MLB wants it opened. Apparently, Grand Poohbah fof Life Selig has to dip his hands into this as well, and has said he alone will decide if the roof is open or closed.

 

What's interesting is that during the season, the decision is left entirely up to the discretion of the home team. Why is MLB meddling in that decision now?

 

They've already helped the White Sox by upholding some of the most horrendous umpiring I've ever witnessed. Shouldn't the Astros be allowed to do whatever the hell they want with their own roof?

 

Personally, I think Grand Pohbah for Life Selig should just defer to the Astros. But we all know that he can't resist getting involved. I also don't know why he wants it open anyway. Just look at the man. He's obviously not spent much time outdoors.

 

If I'm the Astros, I close it early in the day, and have some unnamed employee spray some kind of adhesive in the gears and make it impossible for it to be opened. What would they do then?

[CuseCubFan69]

Do as $elig commands or feel his wrath.

[jtownie]

But if the roof is closed I won't be able to watch because it won't be as aestetically wonderful to view. OH wait, the camera rarely even shows the roof let alone anything else other than the field. Seriously, why does Selig care?

 

Quick sidenote: would the advantage be because the park becomes more pitcher-friendly with the roof closed?

[K-Town]

But if the roof is closed I won't be able to watch because it won't be as aestetically wonderful to view. OH wait, the camera rarely even shows the roof let alone anything else other than the field. Seriously, why does Selig care?

 

Quick sidenote: would the advantage be because the park becomes more pitcher-friendly with the roof closed?

 

 

I'm not sure that "pitcher friendly" would be an advantage to the Astros. They have enough trouble scoring runs, as it is.

 

 

This is my favorite line:

 

"Bud just wants to make sure there's a standard of practice involved," Courtney said, "so that what we've done in the past is done now and we're not breaking new ground."

 

 

Where was Bud during the Cards/Astros series, when the roof was closed for every game?

Edited October 25, 2005 by K-Town

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think the noise factor is primarily the reason the Astros want the roof closed. That place can get really loud when it is.

 

I think that balls tend to die more when it is closed and that they fly out to left more when it is open.

[Derwood]

My guess would be a blimp of some sort with advertising that would not be seen with the roof closed. It's all about the $$$$$$$$$

[Jimy is a misspell]

Yeah, it's b/c of the noise.

 

Why is noise a home field advantage that should be mitigated, but rain and 40 degree weather is not?

[goonys evil twin]

Selig is embarrassed by this world series and wants it over as soon as possible. You have to applaud him.

[goonys evil twin]

, but rain and 40 degree weather is not?

 

I'm not sure rain and 40 degree weather is a home field advantage. By and large the White Sox play their games in the heat all year long. It was pretty nice in Chicago earlier in the playoffs, these last couple games were the first really bad ones. I don't see any team having an advantage in that situation. In football cold weather teams play most of their season in cold weather, and have an advantage over domed or warm weather teams because those teams may not be used to the weather, or built to play in that weather. But there is no real style for hitting a homerun in 40 degree weather.

[mul21]

From what I've heard, the standard in place is to close the roof above 80 degrees and open it if it's below that. Whether or not this was applied during the Cards series who knows, but in my humble opinion Bud should get the hell out of the way and quit screwing things up more than he already has.

[CuseCubFan69]

Selig is embarrassed by this world series and wants it over as soon as possible. You have to applaud him.

 

The sooner it's over the sooner the Cubs can re-sign Burnitz, Perez and Macias.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

From what I've heard, the standard in place is to close the roof above 80 degrees and open it if it's below that. Whether or not this was applied during the Cards series who knows, but in my humble opinion Bud should get the hell out of the way and quit screwing things up more than he already has.

 

The roof has been closed all through the playoffs. Grand Poohbah didn't step in during the Braves or Cardinals series. He needs to get out of the way now as well.

[TheDude]

, but rain and 40 degree weather is not?

 

I'm not sure rain and 40 degree weather is a home field advantage. By and large the White Sox play their games in the heat all year long. It was pretty nice in Chicago earlier in the playoffs, these last couple games were the first really bad ones. I don't see any team having an advantage in that situation. In football cold weather teams play most of their season in cold weather, and have an advantage over domed or warm weather teams because those teams may not be used to the weather, or built to play in that weather. But there is no real style for hitting a homerun in 40 degree weather.

It's an advantage for sure. The club plays ball in April and May and has experience in those conditions. Houston rarely sees those conditions, unless on the road for a short series.

 

My bottom line: Home field advantage is perceived as critical by the franchises themselves. Let them make their own decisions for their home games.

[goonys evil twin]

, but rain and 40 degree weather is not?

 

I'm not sure rain and 40 degree weather is a home field advantage. By and large the White Sox play their games in the heat all year long. It was pretty nice in Chicago earlier in the playoffs, these last couple games were the first really bad ones. I don't see any team having an advantage in that situation. In football cold weather teams play most of their season in cold weather, and have an advantage over domed or warm weather teams because those teams may not be used to the weather, or built to play in that weather. But there is no real style for hitting a homerun in 40 degree weather.

It's an advantage for sure. The club plays ball in April and May and has experience in those conditions. Houston rarely sees those conditions, unless on the road for a short series.

 

My bottom line: Home field advantage is perceived as critical by the franchises themselves. Let them make their own decisions for their home games.

 

MLB already let Houston make their decisions when building the park. They screwed that up so royally that it's impossible to justify giving them anymore leeway. Houston was notorious for cheating mid game, timing the opening and closing of a roof with their half inning at the plate.

 

It's that cold in Chicago for maybe one series a year in April. Then there are 5 months of different weather. That is not an advantage. It's absurd that you'd even suggest it to be.

[dalgreen]

I'm trying to figure this out. MLB can't make any more money or any less money if the roof is open or closed tonight. So, why does Selig care? Maybe with less noise with the roof opened, the umps can now hear whether a ball hits the bat or the wrist of a player.

[Jimy is a misspell]

Houston was notorious for cheating mid game, timing the opening and closing of a roof with their half inning at the plate.

 

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

What a crock. I attend at least 40 home games a year. You are so full of it.

[TheDude]

It's that cold in Chicago for maybe one series a year in April. Then there are 5 months of different weather. That is not an advantage. It's absurd that you'd even suggest it to be.

Unfortunately for you, historical data shows otherwise. April in Chicago averages low 50s, while May averages 60. There are days that are colder, and the first week of April is commonly in the 40s.

 

If you are from Houston, that's cold, because they enjoy 70's on average in April and May. And with a dome, Houston never worries about the rain.

[CuseCubFan69]

Didn't Houston start 15-30? Did that have anything to do with a schedule that had them playing in cold weather in the spring? If my players say they would rather have it closed then it's closed.

[Derwood]

I wouldn't call timing the roof opening as cheating. Now Minnesota turning their A/C on and off in the '91 WS (or was it '90? or '92?...the one vs. ATL), THAT was cheating.

[goonys evil twin]

It's that cold in Chicago for maybe one series a year in April. Then there are 5 months of different weather. That is not an advantage. It's absurd that you'd even suggest it to be.

Unfortunately for you, historical data shows otherwise. April in Chicago averages low 50s, while May averages 60. There are days that are colder, and the first week of April is commonly in the 40s.

 

If you are from Houston, that's cold, because they enjoy 70's on average in April and May. And with a dome, Houston never worries about the rain.

 

What do temps in the 50's and 60's have to do with playing in 42 degree weather (which ended in the 30's)?

 

Besides, those games are in April. They play 5 months in warm weather. Suggesting a cold weather baseball team has an advantage in October when they've played at least 5 months of warm baseball is absurd.

[goonys evil twin]

Houston was notorious for cheating mid game, timing the opening and closing of a roof with their half inning at the plate.

 

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

What a crock. I attend at least 40 home games a year. You are so full of it.

 

Full of what? I've watched it happen as the announcers narrate. They always talk about it. I forget which one is more hitter friendly, but they always time the open/close to their advantage.

[K-Town]

Houston was notorious for cheating mid game, timing the opening and closing of a roof with their half inning at the plate.

 

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

What a crock. I attend at least 40 home games a year. You are so full of it.

 

Full of what? I've watched it happen as the announcers narrate. They always talk about it. I forget which one is more hitter friendly, but they always time the open/close to their advantage.

 

I'm not calling you a liar, but it takes almost 20 minutes to open or close it, so it's hard to believe that they're doing it during half-innings.

[goonys evil twin]

Houston was notorious for cheating mid game, timing the opening and closing of a roof with their half inning at the plate.

 

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

What a crock. I attend at least 40 home games a year. You are so full of it.

 

Full of what? I've watched it happen as the announcers narrate. They always talk about it. I forget which one is more hitter friendly, but they always time the open/close to their advantage.

 

I'm not calling you a liar, but it takes almost 20 minutes to open or close it, so it's hard to believe that they're doing it during half-innings.

 

They show it start while the other team is at bat. By the time it's done the Astros are up again. I can't believe others haven't seen this happen. I've seen it during a couple Cubs games, as well as other Houston games. The announcers always make note of the timing, it's done so the Astros get an extra half inning of ideal conditions. Kind of like bringing in the fresh softball a little early to optimize your team's chances of hitting it hard. In any given game it probably doesn't make a difference. But over time you should have a slight advantage.

 

Frankly it's absurd that they would ever open or close a roof mid game. If it's nice out, keep it open. If there's a chance for bad weather, close it. And keep it that way all game.

 

As for this game, I don't care how they do it as long as they keep it the same all game.

[adamb0719]

Today on ESPN Radio they said the Sox asked Selig to make the roof stay open, and Selig agreed it was a good idea. However the 'Stros can appeal it and by the time all the appeals go through the series will be over, so it doesn't matter anyway.

 

 

To answer the original post I think Selig stepping in is crap. However I guess it was done in Arizona so there is a precedent. I just think it should always be applied, not just in the series.

[Jimy is a misspell]

gooney, you are straight out lying.

 

First of all, I would estimate the number of times a year that the roof starts out closed and is then opened at less than 5.

 

And here you go.

 

If the game begins with the roof closed:

(Toronto Only): It shall not be opened at any time during the game.

(Arizona, Houston, Milwaukee, Seattle): It may be opened when, in the opinion of the home club, the climatic environment has reached a level where fan comfort and enjoyment will be best served by opening the roof to the natural atmospheric conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following guidelines should be applied opening the roof during a game.

 

The roof may be opened only once during the game.

 

The Umpire Crew Chief will be notified at the commencement of the inning that the roof will be opened at the inning's conclusion.

 

The Umpire Crew Chief shall notify the visiting club, which may challenge the opening of the roof if it feels that a competitive imbalance will arise. In such an event, the Umpire Crew Chief shall make a final decision based on the merits of the challenge.

 

The opening of the roof shall only commence between innings.

Edited October 25, 2005 by Jimy is a misspell