Geoffrey Lakings writes:
As everybody is aware Ike just blew through Houston bringing massive devastation and forcing both the Astros & Texans to re-arrange their schedules.
However, I was shocked and appalled to discover that the only ‘neutral’ site available for the Astros to move this weekends Cubs series to was Milwaukee – a team they are chasing by three in the NL Wildcard. How is this considered neutral?? Not only will the Astros have to contend with hostile Milwaukee fans, Milwaukee is also an easy drive up from Chicago for Cub fans. Here are the Astros, winners of 14 of 15 (closing within 3 of MIlwaukee in the Wild Card race) with fortunately a weekend home series to continue this momentum. Then Ike derailed not only this series but wreaked massive havoc around the Gulf states; Galveston, Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange and of course Houston.
First the Astros make the World Series in 2005 and Bud Selig demands the Astros keep their roof open for their home games destroying much of their home field advantage. Now Bud Selig forces the Astros to play their home games in Milwaukee a team he once owned. Possibly some collusion here. The Rangers have an open date on Sunday so the Astros could play a game there, and in the article below their minor league team in Round Rock(the Express) offered to make their stadium available. Both of these sites would keep the Astros in Texas and make the games a little more like home games.
I cannot fathom how this horrid atrocity came to pass. Is Major League Baseball really about money and what Bud Selig wants rather than the teams who put the product on the field.
Some people thought the Cubs were given an easy schedule this year, as they didn’t need to face New York and Boston in interleague play. The Cubs winning the World Series this year would certainly be a good story line.
Much as I like to rip Bud, there’s probably a very good reason for this. The I’ve heard is that Milwaukee having a dome, they don’t need to worry about weather. The DBacks are at home, Tampa is at home tomorrow, and they probably want to keep it in an NL park, which leaves out Seattle, Toronto and Minnesota.
Cleveland had to play some home games in Milwaukee a couple of years ago because they kept getting snowed out. So there is precedent for using the Brewers’ stadium.
Hold on about the easy interleague schedule for the Cubs. They did play Tampa Bay and Toronto, and then on their off day stop to play the Hall of Fame game. Plus they face White Sox twice(as they do every year)….that is hardly easy. So take a step back.
Houston is having a tough time for sure, but that is not the fault of the Cubs. The Astros wanted the Cub players to hunker down in Houston through a hurricane, without regard to their safety, or well being, hoping all would be fine. A careless request by any team. Because they only worry about their own Wild Card run.
What about the Cubs run…? They have been in 1st for months, not merely looking to get there. MBL has to be fair about that as well.
There were many sites talked about last week, but the Houston owner did not want to consider anything other then Houston. The games could have been played in other places had he just been more reasonable, and made a decision without being forced to.
This “neutral” site is ridiculous. Arlington, Round Rock, San Francisco, or LA Dodgers would all have been more appropriate as either substitute “home” games for the Astros or actual “neutral” games for both teams. What Bud is pulling here is nothing short of pandering to the Cubs and hosing the Astros. What’s even more is that after all of the stupidity of these non-neutral games, the Astros have to up and fly out to Florida for a series against the Marlins starting Tuesday while the Cubs get to sit tight and start their series against the Brewers right there in Milwaukee on Tuesday. Everything is in the Cubs favor on this and everything is against the Astros. I really hope the Astros destroy the Cubs in these two games and ruin all of Bud’s scheming.
Stay classy, Amie.