Home Run Derby and AZ heat (safety, move, snakes)

[Finger Laker]

I could see that .... i've been in there when a storm has blown in as well and it shuts quick enough ot react as well in that circumstance

[observer53]

I would hope so, if only because it is SO much nicer from a number of standpoints with the roof open. However, they won't open it after first pitch.

With the roof closed, beautiful facility as it is, it feels a bit like playing baseball in an airplane hangar.

[Finger Laker]

heh - even with it open it still kind of feels like that - just with a hole punched in it

[observer53]

Originally Posted by Finger Laker

heh - even with it open it still kind of feels like that - just with a hole punched in it

With the panels open as well as the roof, it feels pretty open. That's when that park is at its best.

[Finger Laker]

I agree that's when it's at it's best ... completely disagree that it feel pretty open

but that is purely subjective

I definitely feel that I am still inside a box - but a lot of this IMO is due to having to close it up tight for AC .... not a place like seattle where the roof slides off to a side and most of the seats are uncovered and you wouldn't even know there was roof there

just my personal feelings though

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by GypsySunworshiper

I am not from phoenix obviously, but, isn't it too hot to be outside during summer? It seems it will quite uncomfortable to not only watch baseball, but, to play. Native residents please tell me why the festivities are being held in AZ. outdoors. Isn't it like over 100 degrees?

Chase Field has a closeable roof - and a 77 degree tempeture.

[pbenjamin]

Originally Posted by observer53

I would hope so, if only because it is SO much nicer from a number of standpoints with the roof open. However, they won't open it after first pitch.

With the roof closed, beautiful facility as it is, it feels a bit like playing baseball in an airplane hangar.

The plan is to have the roof closed for the Sunday (Futures Game and Celebrity Softball Game), Monday (Workout and Home Run Derby) and Tuesday (All Star Game) events. There has been a proposal to open the roof for the final round of the Home Run Derby. That will presumably depend upon the weather.

There is nothing in the rules that prevent the roof from being opened or closed during a game. The umpires have to approve the idea and it has to be between innings. There is no plan to do that, though. I believe in the past this was planned and done during some of the Saturday 5:00 pm games.

One thing that amazed me was the 7th game of the World Series in 2001. It started to rain in the late innings and the roof could (some say should) have been closed between the 8th and 9th innings, but it was not. The rain line was one row in front of us, so we were not bothered by it. Clearly Luis Gonzales was not trouble by it either.

[observer53]

Thanks for that info. I know there's been some flux in the roof policies over the years. There was a time when whatever it was at the beginning is where it stayed. If that's changed, I certainly would support that.

I remember the crazy weather during that last Series game.

[GypsySunworshiper]

Hey everyone thanks for the answers....I didn't know they had a retractable roof. I guess that answers my question.

[SnakeSafetyQuestions]

Overally, it was a generally uncommon move to have baseball be hosted here during the summer. Almost everywhere else in the country has better weather than here. There are rotation standards which I know come into play as well.