Just baseball today.
Of the players still in the MLB playoffs, who has the most career post season dingers – too easy?
Having a closed roof at The Yard during Games 3 and 4 of the 2005 World Serious would have changed the outcomes of the games. I know. We lost Game 3 in 14 innings 7-5 and Game 4 1-0. I argue we would have won both. It is called the home field advantage. As I recall, San Luis skipper Tony La Russa had complained to the media that the crowd cheering in a closed roof gave the ‘Stros an unfair advantage. Then Commissioner Bud Selig stepped in an ordered the roof open. One game started at 61 degrees and the other at 65 degrees and it got colder throughout the night. Heck, at one of the games I took my jacket and it was pretty cold. That’s why Bud Selig has arsehole status among a ton of ‘Stros fans. Deservedly so, may I add.
Having a closed roof guarantees fan comfort – period. If that gives us an advantage, so be it. If our opponents object, they can go add a roof to their crib.
I guess this is a first. Pretty cool.
Brian McTaggartVerified account @brianmctaggart 8h8 hours ago
America’s four largest cities are represented in the NLCS & ALCS. 1. New York 2. Los Angeles 3. Chicago 4. Houston
Also from Tags:
HOUSTON — The Astros said Thursday the retractable roof at Minute Maid Park would be closed for Friday’s Game 1 and Saturday’s Game 2 of the American League Championship Series presented by Camping World against the Yankees. The roof was closed for both home games of the AL Division Series presented by Doosan against Red Sox — both of which were day games — and for all but 14 regular-season games.
The Astros’ policy is to close the roof if there’s a threat of rain, a threat of excessive wind (above 30 mph), a heat index of about 88 degrees for a night game or if the temperature is below 65 degrees. It takes two to three hours to cool the ballpark once the roof is closed, which plays into the decision.
Major League Baseball has the final say over the roof during the postseason, and the Astros got the approval Thursday to close the roof based on the policy they’ve had in place. High temperatures in Houston are expected to be in the lower 90s on Friday and Saturday.
Section 11.7 of the MLB postseason manual states the Commissioner or a designated representative shall determine whether a ballpark’s retractable roof shall remain open or closed before and during any postseason game.
“The environment’s going to be crazy,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “The people here are hungry for baseball. They have been passionate about this team. This is an easy team to fall in love with. It’s been that way since the beginning of the season. Roof closed can be pretty hot — that’s a nice temperature outside to where you can close this roof and get pretty loud. So bring your earplugs. Be ready. It’s a pretty loud environment.”
Let’s hope we continue to have unseasonably warmer weather at least while we are hosting the games.
Our own Carlos Beltran of course leads all current MLB playoff players with 16 career post season dingers. He hit 8 of them with us in the 2004 NLDS and NLCS.
My advice to those attending Games 1 and 2, figure out how to take the Metro Rail.
Go Astros!
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