Blown call
So did anyone see the storm hit Consol Energy Park between 7 and 8 p.m. last night? I must have missed it. Surely, it was a doozy because the Wild Things' game against the Kalamazoo Kings was postponed at 8 p.m., approximately one hour after an announcement was made over the P.A. system that the game would start at 8:05.
So what happened in that hour between 7 and 8 that caused the game to be postponed? It had to be a storm, right?
But did it rain? No.
Was the tarp pulled and the water dumped in the outfield, making it unplayable? Sure, the outfield was it was unplayable, but the tarp was pulled before the announcement that the game would start at 8:05.
Did the umpires look at the outfield and give their opinion on whether the game should be played or not? Yes, but it's not the umpire's call to start or stop a game until the first pitch is thrown. The decision to postpone was in the hands of the Wild Things, and they dropped the ball on this one. It was a no-brainer to cancel ... at 5 p.m.
Anyone who was outside, or anywhere near a window, at 5 p.m. Wednesday could have told you that the Wild Things should postpone the game. When a storm rips through town, topples trees and knocks out stoplights only two hours before game, it time should be an indication to postpone a baseball game. When the storm rips four signs off the right-field wall and leaves three others flapping in the wind, it's a good indication that the game should be postponed. If you've seen how Consol Energy Park's field drains (or doesn't), then you had to know the game should have been postponed.
I feel bad for anyone who had to fight rush-hour traffic on the interstates, through countless construction zones, just to get to the ballpark by 7 p.m., then bought food and beverages when told the game would start at 8:05, then found their seats just in time to be informed the the game was postponed -- something that should have been done three hours earlier.
So what happened in that hour between 7 and 8 that caused the game to be postponed? It had to be a storm, right?
But did it rain? No.
Was the tarp pulled and the water dumped in the outfield, making it unplayable? Sure, the outfield was it was unplayable, but the tarp was pulled before the announcement that the game would start at 8:05.
Did the umpires look at the outfield and give their opinion on whether the game should be played or not? Yes, but it's not the umpire's call to start or stop a game until the first pitch is thrown. The decision to postpone was in the hands of the Wild Things, and they dropped the ball on this one. It was a no-brainer to cancel ... at 5 p.m.
Anyone who was outside, or anywhere near a window, at 5 p.m. Wednesday could have told you that the Wild Things should postpone the game. When a storm rips through town, topples trees and knocks out stoplights only two hours before game, it time should be an indication to postpone a baseball game. When the storm rips four signs off the right-field wall and leaves three others flapping in the wind, it's a good indication that the game should be postponed. If you've seen how Consol Energy Park's field drains (or doesn't), then you had to know the game should have been postponed.
I feel bad for anyone who had to fight rush-hour traffic on the interstates, through countless construction zones, just to get to the ballpark by 7 p.m., then bought food and beverages when told the game would start at 8:05, then found their seats just in time to be informed the the game was postponed -- something that should have been done three hours earlier.
posted by Chris Dugan at
5:32 PM
14 Comments:
Chris,
Isn't the call made by the head groundskeeper whether the field is playable or unfit to play on? It's a good thing the Wild Things are getting turf next year because it's obvious that this guy has no idea what he's doing. The grass in my yard looks better than the grass at Consol Energy Park, and I don't have a sprinkler system or use any chemicals, ( whatever else they use to treat the grass) that the Wild Things use. Maybe the Wild Things will see this as another area the can 'cut the fat' within the organization.
Zack
I think the General Manager makes the call, not the groundskeeper.
No, the call is made by the person in charge for the Wild Things. On this night, it was Todd Marlin. At about 7:30 p.m., Marlin, Washington manager Darin Everson, Kalamazoo player/manager Matt Maloney and umpires Tony Maners and Ron Whiting gathered in right centerfield. It was shortly after this meeting that the game was finally postponed.
Todd Marlin/GM same difference isn't it???
By the time I typed my response to the first comment, you had posted your response. Thus, it looks as if I'm responding to your comment. I should learn to not be so long-winded.
I went to my first game in 3 yrs tonight. I agree that the field is not professionally kept. Most of the grass is dead or is dying. I want the groundskeepers job. How tough is it to maintain brown grass and puddles? Washington people know its only a matter of time before the turf gets damaged and not replaced. How long until the place is an empty pile of rust with worn carpet? Soon I say.
You people are crazy. The field is bad but not because of the groundskeeper. The building of the field was cheap to begin with. Cutting corners wherever possible like the rest of the organization for the past two years.
I brought my son to last nights game and completely agree with Mr. Dugan. My son wants to watch baseball but instead watched as countless people in the staium had no clue whether the game would be played, including staff, fans, everybody. Making a decision should not take five hours.
The cheap building of the field has very little to do with the color(s) of the dying grass and the craters on the warning track. These features exhibit a lack of respect for the teams and the game of baseball.
Will
I'm sorry Will, but I disagree...
the substandard build of the field has everything to do the color of the grass and the holes in the warning track.
I am no grass expert, but I think it's safe to say that the discoloration of the grass is due to a few factors, of which all of them can be traced back to the field being built on the "cheap". The details of which have been discussed here and there for quite a few years.
The wet outfield due to the lack of drainage causes disease and that makes the grass look as if it is dead or dying. It's got to be tough to treat this disease when the outfield is always underwater.
The fact that there is very little topsoil causes a whole new group of problems. During the times when it doesn't rain for a few weeks, I bet they water that field all the time, but when there's little to no topsoil it's difficult to grow a healthy plant. Go try to grow your veggies out on your sidewalk and let us know how it turns out!
The warning track, to the best that I can see is a combination of limestone dust and gravel. Anyone know what concrete is made of??? That warning track drains about as good as the outfield and that's why you get large potholes...just like any interstate in PA. Again, if that warning track had been made from a material that drains, like any other minor league ballpark or high school field for that matter then I doubt you would see the large potholes.
I know it's easy to sit at your computer and take pot shots at people, but for goodness sake, do some research before you peck away at your computer. It's as simple as typing google.com!
And before you start accusing me of being a Wild Things employee, let me say this...I am not nor was I ever an employee of the organization!
You know a lot about the topsoil content of the field to not be a Wild Things employee. You must be responsible for building it "on the cheap" as you say. The warning track does look like a Pennsylvania road. The difference is that PENNDOT fills in the potholes eventually. It is no surprise the team is bad because nobody wants to play on an unsafe field in a ballpark that is aging at an alarming rate. I do not need to research that as I saw it with my own eyes at the game last night!!!
Will
Or should I say the game that wasn't last night!!!
the details about how the field was built, or should I say what was not built is common knowledge. You don't have to be an employee to know what was and wasn't done up there.
and the groundscrew will eventually fill in the holes on their warning track, just like PennDot does.
If you want a real indication of the work done by the grounds crew, just look at the infield. The infield is probably the best infield in the league, although the outfield is the worst...
There were so many corners cut in the building of the ballpark that it should be called Circular Field.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home