SURPRISE, Arizona -- So today, despite the forecast of nearly all-day rain, I drove the 40 miles from where I'm staying, to the Royals' new spring training complex, which I've actually been looking forward to seeing, since I've heard it's supposed to be the best training site ever.
I can tell you that from what I did see of it, it looks great. But I didn't see much, having sat in my car for about an hour; then, since it started raining much harder and began to get much darker, I decided to head home.
This is where my rant starts. At this writing, more than two and a half hours after game time, the game has not officially been called. I'm listening to the MLB audio link right now, the KC station, and they are running some sports talk show about the NCAA basketball tournament. So I don't know for sure if the game's been called, but --
Seriously, this is just about the most inconsiderate thing I can think of. It's been raining all day. It's going to rain into the early evening. It's cold (by AZ standards) -- 50 degrees. The field is partly under water. Why on EARTH wouldn't they call off the game early -- thus showing consideration not only for the players, but for the fans. Many people did what I did, sat in their cars in the parking lot; as I was leaving, about 45 minutes after the scheduled game time, there was a steady flow of people out of the ballpark to do the same.
Yes, I know it's all about money -- but how much more beer were they going to sell? And especially considering that this is an exhibition game, I think the prudent thing to do would have been to call the game at 11 am, thus allowing everyone to go their own way for the day.
Oh, and Surprise Stadium does allow umbrellas. So it's definitively not MLB policy, as the HoHoKams claimed.
Tomorrow's forecast is for sunshine, so we will return to baseball, at Peoria, vs. the Mariners. I plan to attend the Royals/Rangers game on Thursday night at Surprise Stadium, so will report here on the ballpark then.
I can tell you that from what I did see of it, it looks great. But I didn't see much, having sat in my car for about an hour; then, since it started raining much harder and began to get much darker, I decided to head home.
This is where my rant starts. At this writing, more than two and a half hours after game time, the game has not officially been called. I'm listening to the MLB audio link right now, the KC station, and they are running some sports talk show about the NCAA basketball tournament. So I don't know for sure if the game's been called, but --
Seriously, this is just about the most inconsiderate thing I can think of. It's been raining all day. It's going to rain into the early evening. It's cold (by AZ standards) -- 50 degrees. The field is partly under water. Why on EARTH wouldn't they call off the game early -- thus showing consideration not only for the players, but for the fans. Many people did what I did, sat in their cars in the parking lot; as I was leaving, about 45 minutes after the scheduled game time, there was a steady flow of people out of the ballpark to do the same.
Yes, I know it's all about money -- but how much more beer were they going to sell? And especially considering that this is an exhibition game, I think the prudent thing to do would have been to call the game at 11 am, thus allowing everyone to go their own way for the day.
Oh, and Surprise Stadium does allow umbrellas. So it's definitively not MLB policy, as the HoHoKams claimed.
Tomorrow's forecast is for sunshine, so we will return to baseball, at Peoria, vs. the Mariners. I plan to attend the Royals/Rangers game on Thursday night at Surprise Stadium, so will report here on the ballpark then.