NFT - Stupid (to most of you probably) MBL Question

[damaticous]

I haven't watched baseball since the 88' (????) strike. I've been to a few Royal's game, but just for the free beer.

I've been wondering this question since about 90'.

Why don't they play games in the Rain?

I know all the sarcastic remarks about them not wanting to get wet, etc, etc. What is the REAL reason they don't play in the rain?

Thanks in advance.

[BigVE]

One thing I can help you with...since '88 they NOW call it MLB not MBL.

[damaticous]

Originally Posted by BigVE

One thing I can help you with...since '88 they NOW call it MLB not MBL.

lol. I'm on a laptop (small keyboard, not used to it) on my couch.

But yes MLB

[Fish]

They do play in the rain.

They just call the games when there's a chance somebody might get a lightning bolt to the brain.

It's public safety....

[kstater]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

They do play in the rain.

They just call the games when there's a chance somebody might get a lightning bolt to the brain.

It's public safety....

What's a few million volts? It's just a quick stinging sensation.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by damaticous

I haven't watched baseball since the 88' (????) strike. I've been to a few Royal's game, but just for the free beer.

I've been wondering this question since about 90'.

Why don't they play games in the Rain?

I know all the sarcastic remarks about them not wanting to get wet, etc, etc. What is the REAL reason they don't play in the rain?

Thanks in advance.

The last MLB strike was 1994. There was no strike in 1988.

[mdstu]

Originally Posted by damaticous

I haven't watched baseball since the 88' (????) strike. I've been to a few Royal's game, but just for the free beer.

What nights do they have free beer?
Nobody said anything to me.

[BigVE]

Originally Posted by kstater

What's a few million volts? It's just a quick stinging sensation.

Most lightning victims never feel a thing!

[Hydrae]

I am thinking they are worried about players slipping on the wet grass (although they don't cover the outfield so this may not be correct).

Also, a wet ball would be hard to pitch and get any controlled action on it. It could also make for some really screwy pitches as the ultimate spitballs.

Ok, I have no idea but those both sound like possibilities.

[damaticous]

Originally Posted by Hydrae

I am thinking they are worried about players slipping on the wet grass (although they don't cover the outfield so this may not be correct).

Also, a wet ball would be hard to pitch and get any controlled action on it. It could also make for some really screwy pitches as the ultimate spitballs.

Ok, I have no idea but those both sound like possibilities.

Best answer I've seen yet.

I understand they wouldn't play when it's lightning. NFL doest that too.

I get free beer cause I only go to Royals games if I'm invited into a suite...with free beer.

I've been flipping through channels and seen games being called due to RAIN and not LIGHTNING.

I'm just curious is all.

sorry for not knowing when the 80's (or 90's) strike was.

I don't like baseball. I don't care to watch it (too slow of a game for me). I had a simple question about it and thought that someone on this board might be able to give me the answer.

[mdstu]

Just having fun.

Are you from Chillicothe or are you a transplant?
I'm from Trenton, but live in Chicagoland now.

[alanm]

Originally Posted by damaticous

Best answer I've seen yet.

I understand they wouldn't play when it's lightning. NFL doest that too.

I get free beer cause I only go to Royals games if I'm invited into a suite...with free beer.

I've been flipping through channels and seen games being called due to RAIN and not LIGHTNING.

I'm just curious is all.

sorry for not knowing when the 80's (or 90's) strike was.

I don't like baseball. I don't care to watch it (too slow of a game for me). I had a simple question about it and thought that someone on this board might be able to give me the answer.

Personally I think they decide to call it when the infield gets too muddy. I don't believe the ultimate spit ball comes into play.

[Fish]

I'm changing my answer.... it's all about the ultimate spit ball.....

They just call it when the players can no longer hit the ultimate spit ball...

[huskerdooz]

Originally Posted by Hydrae

I am thinking they are worried about players slipping on the wet grass (although they don't cover the outfield so this may not be correct).

Also, a wet ball would be hard to pitch and get any controlled action on it. It could also make for some really screwy pitches as the ultimate spitballs.

Ok, I have no idea but those both sound like possibilities.

More than anything else it is the safety factor. It would be pretty hard to see that 95 mph fastball coming straight for your head if you were trying to play in a major downpour. Especially since the slick ball would be that much harder for the pitcher to control.

As for the ultimate spitball, since the entire ball is wet it probably wouldn't effect the ball the same as a traditional spitball. The reason a spitter or vaseline ball as well as a ball that has been scuffed or cut with a fingernail or a file or even sand paper behaves the way it does is because it effects the spin of the ball and usually breaks to the side the substance or alteration is on. Although when spitballs were legal prior to around 1920, 2 types of spitballs were thrown. The one I described earlier was thrown like a fastball with the substance or scuff mark on one side of the ball when thrown and as stated earlier, the ball would break unnaturally to the particular side that the alteration was on.

The other type behaved more like a modern day slit finger fastball. This was because the pitcher would use some type of slick lubricant on the ball and instead of gripping the ball by the seams he would grip the smooth part. When he would release the pitch instead of letting the ball roll off of his fingertips like normal, he would squeeze his fingers and thumb together causing the ball to squirt out of grip with less spin causing the ball to dive downward in an unnatural movement much like the modern day splitter where the ball is pushed or squirted out of the grip between the 2 split fingers by the thumb on the under side of the ball.