Cubs, Nationals postponed; makeup game Thursday

After waiting three hours from the scheduled game time, Major League Baseball finally announced that the Cubs and Nationals had been postponed:

This means that the Cubs will now play on 30 consecutive days without an off day. Don’t consider today an “off day” just because they didn’t play; players still had to report to the ballpark and sit around until about the time the game would have ended. They could have called this game off at 9 a.m. and let the Cubs get out of Washington and home earlier.

Beyond that, this now means the Cubs have to fly out of Chicago after Wednesday’s night game against the Brewers, play in midafternoon Thursday in Washington, then fly back to Chicago for an afternoon game Friday.

Here’s why all of this is a really bad idea:

So... MLB is asking the Cubs to fly into the brunt of a possible major hurricane, which could wash out not only the game on Thursday, but any chance that the Cubs might be able to fly out of Washington Thursday evening. It’s quite possible Washington-area airports might be closed late Thursday. That puts at risk the entire weekend series against the Reds at Wrigley Field, if the Cubs do fly to D.C. and then can’t get back.

Does no one in Major League Baseball have any common sense? It was suggested by some that perhaps they could play the game at a neutral site and the revenue given to the Nats. Miller Park is available — that would mean the Cubs would only have a bus ride to Milwaukee. Yes, that would mean a flight for the Nats... they’re headed to Atlanta, which could also be affected by the hurricane. There’s no easy answer here, unfortunately.

But I don’t see any way this doesn’t result in disastrous consequences to the Cubs’ season. I’m angry. I’m pretty sure the Cubs are angry about this, and they have every right to be. I’ll gather some thoughts about this entire weekend and have more to say tomorrow morning.

They’ll play the Brewers at Wrigley Field Monday evening. As of now, it’s supposed to be Jon Lester facing Wade Miley at 7:05 p.m. CT, with TV coverage on NBC Sports Chicago.

And the weather forecast for Chicago this week is supposed to be great — clear skies, temperatures in the 70s. The Cubs, I am certain, will be happy to see that.