Tuesday and Wednesday games moved to 4:10

[Gwreck]

The Tuesday 4/7 and Wednesday 4/8 games have been both moved up to 4:10 starts because of expected cold temperatures.

I can’t recall this ever happening before for April games.

[metirish]

Low 40s with wind , seems odd

[Gwreck]

The White Sox and Guardians also moved up the start times of their games on Tuesday.  Boston, Pittsburgh, and Washington have not (yet) done so. And, this is one of the odd weeks where the Yankees are also home at the same time as the Mets and haven’t made any change.

[Frayed Knot]

25 minutes ago, Gwreck said:

I can’t recall this ever happening before for April games.

I can't either but it's a smart move and now, I see, an increasingly popular one this week. One could argue that NE/midwest teams shouldn't be scheduling ANY April games at night but TV money suggests otherwise.

otoh, the Twins scheduled a Saturday (6:10 local time) night game this past Saturday (which is borderline insanity if you ask me) and got 39 degrees with wind and flurries. And even the Yanx, who along with the BoSox were one of the stalwarts of Not playing at night on Saturdays unless forced to by network TV (which happens often for those two), also scheduled a night game on the same day which I never thought I'd see in the Bronx in April. the Sawx at least went with 4:10

[Gwreck]

It’s not just TV money, it’s also attendance.  Move all the weeknight games to afternoon and people with jobs aren’t going to come.  

The first weeknight series of the year is usually the lowest-selling series but there’s still a lot of people being inconvenienced with a last-minute change (and no, refunds will not be offered).

As for Minnesota, I’ve never been quite able to understand why they willingly went back to a fully-outdoor stadium.

[Frayed Knot]

20 minutes ago, Gwreck said:

It’s not just TV money, it’s also attendance.  Move all the weeknight games to afternoon and people with jobs aren’t going to come.  
The first weeknight series of the year is usually the lowest-selling series but there’s still a lot of people being inconvenienced with a last-minute change (and no, refunds will not be offered).

Of course they're going to schedule midweek games at night as they should (at least most of them). But with earlier starts to the season they're occasionally going to get burned (Froze?)  by it and they have to be prepared to pivot if necessary. Good on them that they have.

It's the Saturday ones which perplex me especially seeing the Yanx, who used to play ALL Saturday games in the daytime unless forced to do otherwise by network contracts, suddenly going all S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT! -- IN THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SEASON -- as well as the Twins who seem to not realize that they play in the coldest big city in the lower 48. and it's April freakin' fourth!

 

Quote

As for Minnesota, I’ve never been quite able to understand why they willingly went back to a fully-outdoor stadium.

Probably couldn't get enough public money for a dome. The old one (which, of course, sucked) was a multi-purpose stadium which netted the city a Super Bowl or two.

[Gwreck]

I was being somewhat facetious.  I of course know why Carl Pohlad (net worth of >$3B in 2009) didn’t want to spend the money for a retractable roof. 

[Lefty Specialist]

[Fman99]

The Syracuse Mets had this planned a bit better - their first homestand of the season, last week, included all games at either 1:05 PM (Wed, Sat/Sun) or 4:05 PM (Tues, Thurs/Fri). 

When they're home again, next week, they move to their more standard 6:30 PM starts for the Tues/Thurs/Fri/Sat games.

[whippoorwill]

18 hours ago, Gwreck said:

The Tuesday 4/7 and Wednesday 4/8 games have been both moved up to 4:10 starts because of expected cold temperatures.

I can’t recall this ever happening before for April games.

 they

a) started later in the spring back in the old days

b) were smart enough to realize it cools off when the sun goes down back in the old days 

I remember a couple of snow outs

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, the 2026 Mets have already had 10 games and two days off.  In 1977, April 7 was opening day.

Also, in 1977, the first nine games were day games.

[metirish]

What was the thought process to moving the season to March back when they started doing that ? 

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm sure it's because of the extra rounds of playoffs. The regular season starts earlier than it used to, and the post season ends later than it once did. November World Series games used to be unheard of.

[metirish]

Yeah figured that, less scheduled double headers too 

[duan]

good for those of us five hours ahead :) 

[Ceetar]

39 minutes ago, metirish said:

What was the thought process to moving the season to March back when they started doing that ? 

I think it was two CBAs ago the players also negotiated 4 more days off. 

 

 

 

It seems odd for to move what's seemingly pretty standard April temps. Just schedule them for 4 to start with then. It's already a low attendance type of game, and maybe people can make a 4pm game if they know to plan ahead. I guess ratings would be lower, but your contract is already in place for that, so whatever. 

Over here on the other side of the river, and presumably many places, softball/baseball season has started. The 10 year olds are playing 6-8 outside.