After hours of rain and a foreboding weather forecast known for days, MLB postponed the ALCS Game 4 between the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays.
The game was expected to start at 8 PM on Friday. Indecision and a lack of information were prevalent until minutes before first pitch was expected.
Fans were in the stadium, some for hours, waiting out the rain. Local reporters and TBS, the national broadcaster of the game, were also in the dark about what was going on.
MORE: Rays vs Guardians weather delay: When will ALCS Game 4 start?
MLB mismanaged the weather situation for the second straight day
ALCS Game 3 was moved up from Thursday night to 1 PM. The reason was a rainy forecast. Rain was never an issue on Thursday, but angry fans were.
With little notice, many had to change their plans or miss the game.
Friday’s forecast was always perceived to be a bigger problem, but MLB did not make the prudent decision to postpone the game earlier in the day.
MORE: Cleveland’s rainy weather forecast could be a bigger problem for Friday’s ALCS Game 4
Not a good way to engage fans
The biggest problem was a lack of information on Friday. MLB is in charge of these types of decisions in the postseason. However, the organization has shown poor judgement.
Fans want to see October baseball. Many are painfully aware that a lockout is looming and want to enjoy this season for as long as possible.
A ticketing fiasco is expected as fans with tickets for Friday’s Game 4 will now be able to use them for Sunday’s makeup game which is really Game 5. Game 5 ticketholders for Saturday’s game will be irked because they are in reality seeing Game 4 and not a potential series-clinching game.
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