Change the day game starting times.

by Matt Allison on Oct 25, 2006 2:18 AM CDT Comment 28 comments

If you want the Cubs to win a WS.

No other team puts it's players body clock on such a yo-yo schedule- almost half night, half day. It puts needless duress on the player and handicaps them every year before the season has even started.

Wrigleyville and the city need to address this issue this offseason. Day games should begin at 2:05, and there absolutely need to be more night games. Also, BP should be voluntary during day home games and bullpen pitchers should be in the clubhouse until they're needed, not out cooking slowly in the sun.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Red herring.

The Cubs play about half their schedule during the day. Most other teams play about 100 night games. That's 20 dates' difference -- irrelevant.

The only thing 2:05 starts will mean is more shadows over the hitters in the late innings. You really think 45 minutes makes that much difference?

Get good players, and they could play at 6 am and it wouldn't matter. This is an excuse, nothing more.

by Al on Oct 25, 2006 3:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Go tell that to the players.

You're wrong.

oh, and 20+ games are irrelevant????

Chambliss!

by Matt Allison on Oct 25, 2006 4:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm wrong?

So the 2003 Cubs missed the WS because they played too many day games?

Ridiculous. I'll repeat: Get better players, and it won't matter what time of day the games are played.

And again, 45 minutes later is going to make a difference? That's just silly.

Further, they cannot play more night games. They are limited by city ordinance, and it's not going to be changed. Give it up.

by Al on Oct 25, 2006 4:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ordinance

Al,

Why do you post this as an absolute? We all know that the number of Cub night games has been increased over the years. More likely than not, at some point over the next few years, the Cubs' owners will negotiate with the city once again to increase the number of night games.

The Cubs will offer to pay for some or all of the costs of traffic control and for neighborhood cleanup. Maybe they'll offer to donate some money to some beloved charity. And then a new ordinance will be written to replace the old one with more night games being permitted.

I think that the Cubs' strange schedule does have a deleterious effect on the team but probably only for one or two losses a year. That is something that a better roster would be able to overcome.

by FrankSereno on Oct 25, 2006 5:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The problem is this...

Wrigley Field lies smack dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood. THe residents there have fought tooth and nail against additional night games. ANd you cannot ignore the politics of the matter. The alderman for the ward that Wrigley lies in has to be re-elected from that ward. If he proposes letting the Cubs play more night games, his chances for re-election goes down. Yes, you might want more night games, but the neighborhood does not. I sit with a couple who live 3 blocks away from the park. They were against JIm Murphys "neighborhood" organization that yelled the loudest about additional night games and additional seats. WHile they are very much pro Cubs, they believe that 30 night games is the limit that the neighborhood will accept. Additional night games at Wrigley just will not happen. THe only way the Cubs will get more night games at home is to move out of the neighborhood.

Kasey

by kaseyi on Oct 25, 2006 7:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It took at least five years...

... to get the increase to 30 dates, as they have now. They didn't even use all 30 in 2006 -- only 27 were scheduled, although I suspect that was because they wanted to leave dates open for potential games to be switched to ESPN night games, which didn't happen because the Cubs weren't a desirable team to feature on ESPN, obviously.

I can't see this being revisited for at least another decade.

by Al on Oct 25, 2006 8:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Night Games

Al - I think you need to check your numbers - I believe that the Cubs scheduled 3 night games in April, 5 in May, 4 in June, 5 in July, 5 in August and 6 in Sept for a total of 28 games. They also lost one night game for the Buffett concert from 2005. This left one game for a make up day night doubleheader or something like that. They could only be on ESPN twice last year at Wrigley which they accomplished in early april and mid july. I thought I remember someone from the Cubs at the Cubs Convention saying something about holding one for this type of situation.

As far as more games - I think there is a problem with everyone getting too far in front of their ski's. There is no way anyone in Wrigleyville will let the Cubs play night games on Friday or Saturday nights. They can only play 3 games (new ESPN deal) on Sunday nights. Opening day should always be a day game and you can assume that the Cubs will be home on two holiday's a year playing during the day.

So what does that leave.... They play 13 weekends at home for a total of 39 games. 36 of them during the day. Add opening day, holidays, etc - that means 39 mandatory day games.

Then MLB rules requires them to play day games on travel days for road teams if that road team is heading home or something like that. Assume that there are 6 of those during the season.

We are now at 45 day games.
Leaving 36 possible games that could be played at night.

Since they get to schedule 27 of them (less the three ESPN) - They will have 9 day games which aren't on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Opening Day, Holiday or Travel Day.

by Tallone on Oct 25, 2006 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Technically...

... the 5:05 game on July 16 vs. the Mets was not a night game -- a night game is one that starts after 6 pm local time. That's why I counted only 27.

by Al on Oct 25, 2006 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Technically...

While you might not consider it a night game - the city of chicago does.

SECTION 3. Game-Related Matters Concerning Chicago National League Ball Club, Inc. and Wrigley Field.

(A) Regular Season Night Games. Subject to the terms of Section 4-156-430 of the MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO and this Subsection A, the Cubs may schedule, in each baseball season, regular season home baseball games at Wrigley Field, 1060 West Addison Street, Chicago, Illinois ("Wrigley Field" or "the park"), as Night Games, that is, baseball games scheduled to begin after 4:10 p.m. ("Night Game(s)").

by Tallone on Oct 25, 2006 4:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting.

OK, I'll buy that. That's obviously the way the count is handled for terms of the ordinance, anyway.

I would expect 28 scheduled night games again in 2007, so that they can leave availability for ESPN again.

by Al on Oct 25, 2006 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmmm...

I'm guessing that they will release a schedule with 25 dates + 3 TBD's for the ESPN.

They will then leave two extra's -- maybe one for that day night scenario and i know that i heard a rumor about another concert so maybe they are holding one in exchange for the concert.

by Tallone on Oct 25, 2006 5:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's entirely possible, too.

However, they are already allowed to have a day/night DH if they have a night game rained out. This has occurred twice.

by Al on Oct 25, 2006 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Save

the strawman for someone else. And if you had a hard time understanding my logic above, I repeated it for someone else below.

But I'm sure you're right Al. As you were about Dusty being re-upped, protests not working, Maddux not being traded, Rich Hill stinking, Girardi being better than Piniella, A-Rod coming to the Cubs last summer, etc.

Chambliss!

by Matt Allison on Oct 25, 2006 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm tired of...

... hearing the "strawman" crap.

Let's take apart your comments:

I never said Dusty WOULD be re-signed.
Protests DON'T work. Show me proof that one has.
Yes, I was wrong about Maddux.
Hill DID stink. He figured out a way to NOT stink.
Girardi better than Piniella? That's a subjective judgment. Your opinion may differ from mine. And I am entitled to change my mind, unless you think that a position taken should be immutable forever, which is ridiculous.
I never said A-Rod was definitely coming to the Cubs. Period. Read the original post again.

God, I hate when my words are twisted.

by Al on Oct 25, 2006 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm tired of lame excuses.

There is no doubt that the amount of day games has been a SLIGHT disadvantage for the Cubs. But here are a few things to consider...

Both teams play at 1:20, not just the Cubs.
Day games are part of why Wrigley is so special. Night games are just not the same. Take away more day games and we may as well build a new park.
The only games that should be a real problem are the ones where they come home from a road trip after a night game the night before.
Batting practice optional? I think not. Don't we baby major league players enough??? These guys make millions of dollars and get half the year off!
Al is right, get the right players and game time won't matter.

by nevadadave on Oct 25, 2006 7:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

If anything, it should be an advantage for the Cubs, who should be used to the day games while the opposing players are all bleary eyed from their big night on Rush street.
Speaking of which, does anyone know if any teams out there still impose a curfew the night before a day game? It seems that would help as much as having more night games, if the day games are a problem for particular players.

by jamie on Oct 25, 2006 9:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It isn't about

the fact that the other team has to play at one-twenty that day also. It's about the cumulative effect of the Cubs playing way more days in the sun than anybody else and the fact that a yo-yo schedule immediately puts the players at a disadvantage before the season even begins.

Chambliss!

by Matt Allison on Oct 25, 2006 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Way more"?

It's TWENTY GAMES, for heaven's sake. It's not a "yo-yo" schedule -- look at the schedule after April, the ONLY difference between the Cub schedule and most other teams is that the Cubs don't play Friday nights.

Give this up. The schedule is NOT the reason they don't win. It wasn't the reason they didn't make it to the WS in 2003, or in 1984, was it?

Get better players.

by Al on Oct 25, 2006 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jesus.....

I actually agree with you again.....

The day games do not kill the Cubs. Crappy players do.

As a resident of the neighborhood, I personally would like more night games. I could then park in front of my home. As of now, there are no daytime parking restrictions.....

he hath no fury like a cubs fan scorned

by timeforachange on Oct 25, 2006 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

hehe

ever follow a tow truck during a night game waiting for them to take away a non-resident so you can have the spot

yeah, me neither

by flyball on Oct 25, 2006 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No.....

but my neighbor sits out on their porch and warns drivers that they are parking in a tow zone. If they decide they still want to park, she calls the police and has the car towed. I have seen 30+ cars rolled out.

he hath no fury like a cubs fan scorned

by timeforachange on Oct 25, 2006 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

start times

there is a reason Friday games this year were moved up from the usual 3:05 start time, it was the concession they had to give the neighborhood for a few additional night games

after having lived in the neighborhood before the residents absolutely do have a reason to want to restrict night games, and like kasey said they will continue to do so

by flyball on Oct 25, 2006 8:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Correction

Friday games were 2:20 starts, not 3:05, but you are correct about the reason they were changed.

by Al on Oct 25, 2006 8:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

oops

sorry, I just remember the people coming out of those games made it very difficult to get off the L after work

by flyball on Oct 25, 2006 8:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would add

that it's not screwing up the players body clock an extra 20 times as much as it is giving players an extra 20 nights on the town. Some players actually understand that a day game the next day means getting extra rest and turning in early the night before. Others....well.....don't. If you've ever been out drinking and seen Kyle Farnsworth walk in, you know what I'm talking about.

When Al refers to "Better players" hopefully that implies "more disciplined players" too.

"I can't be held responsible for what I personally tell my goons to do...."- C. Montgomery Burns

by yahoodi on Oct 25, 2006 9:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well...

... that goes without saying.

It also should be pointed out that when good clubhouse leaders Eric Karros and Damian Miller were on the club, Farnsworth had a far better year.

Same thing in 2001 when Matt Stairs and Ron Coomer were clubhouse leaders.

The importance of having such players on a team cannot be underestimated.

by Al on Oct 25, 2006 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Day Games

Shouldn't it be somewhat to the Cubs advantage because they are more used to playing day games than their opponents.

by Mercury on Oct 25, 2006 9:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

In theory, yes.

Actually, if you toss out the last couple of years and 1994 (remember when we went 0-for-April at home?) the Cubs traditionally would win at home, but could not win consistently on the road. The West Coast and the Astrodome were always torture. I agree that although you can't say day games are THE reason the Cubs don't win, I think it is definitely a disadvantage. I said this same thing the other day on another diary and got hammered for it. But everything that has been said about the city ordinance is true, unfortunately, and I just don't see it changing any time soon. And Al is right...with the right mix of players, we'll win. The 1984 won the division and did not play a single night game at home.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Oct 25, 2006 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs