Forfeiting the week.

[Mex17]

I'm seriously asking this. . .what are the consequences if the Mets make an organizational decision not to endanger their players and just flat out refuse to take the field this week in Colorado (where the HIGH tempatures are going to be in the 20's and possibly as low as NINE DEGREES)? Do they just take four consecutive 9-0 defeats with no more questions asked, or would it get too many knickers in a fit to be that easy? What role does the player's union have in this?

Does anyone have insight on this (I mean actual knowledge of what options exist outside of King Selig decreeing what happens)?

Edited April 14, 2013 by Guest

[Guest vtmet]

oh where oh where did Al Gore's Global Warming go...oh where, oh where did you go...

[Gwreck]

The union could file an emergency grievance that work conditions were unacceptable.

Yes, the Mets could forefeit the games but would run into some difficulty if they did so. They would certinaly be sanctioned by MLB if they did so, primarily due to lost revenue by the Rockies.

The various legal agreements between member clubs and MLB aren't publicly available (as the basic agreement with the players union is) but there is likely a provision for MLB to also sanction the Mets
on anticompetitive grounds.

Finally, if the Mets' record due to the forfeits would result in a more advantageous draft pick, there would probably be litigation on that issue as well.

In short, it would probably be easier to have a doctor diagnose "food poisoning" for the entire team which might result in a postponement rather than forefeit.

[Edgy MD]

Fly both teams to Hawaii, play the series there, and sort out the revenue issues later the way rich folks do.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm sure that the Rockies are as reluctant to have their players play in 9-degree weather as the Mets are.

I like the Hawaii idea. Puerto Rico would work too.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Moving the series to Phoenix seems like the most feasible solution. Indoor park, Dbaggs not home, etc etc.

[Guest vtmet]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Moving the series to Phoenix seems like the most feasible solution. Indoor park, Dbaggs not home, etc etc.

I like that idea...the Mets offense used to come alive when they played in the "BOB"...although, they haven't fared as well once they started to call it Chase Field...

[Guest The Second Spitter]

Frank Robinson never missed a game of baseball because of snow, so neither should this mob.

vtmet wrote: oh where oh where did Al Gore's Global Warming go...oh where, oh where did you go...

Not sure if serious.

[ashie62]

Just get Ike Davis an ice cold beer and all will be well.

[Edgy MD]

Mmm...

[Frayed Knot]

That's what the fans in Denver are going to have lots of this week: frozen heineys

[Guest Kong76]

Put on your thermals, and play ball!

[metirish]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Moving the series to Phoenix seems like the most feasible solution. Indoor park, Dbaggs not home, etc etc.

It's far too logical, Bud will never think of it.

[dinosaur jesus]

The forecasts I'm seeing are a little less appalling--thirties and forties in the day, going down into the teens and twenties at night. So why can't they just make them day games?

If I were playing, I'd put one of those chemical hand warmers in my glove, maybe a couple more in my shoes. And I'd sit next to Duda on the bench. He seems like someone who puts out a lot of body heat.

[Benjamin Grimm]

dinosaur jesus wrote: So why can't they just make them day games?

I was thinking the same thing. The "ticket contract" already states that the game time is subject to change.

[Guest The Second Spitter]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I'm sure that the Rockies are as reluctant to have their players play in 9-degree weather as the Mets are. I like the Hawaii idea. Puerto Rico would work too.

Bring 'em here. ANZ Stadium is free and I've already sprinkled some of Johan's no-hit mound dirt on the field.

On a related note, does anybody know a good exorcist in Sydney?

[Ceetar]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: dinosaur jesus wrote: So why can't they just make them day games? I was thinking the same thing. The "ticket contract" already states that the game time is subject to change.

These teams should probably make most early April games during the day just for that reason. Don't the Rangers play most of their Sunday games at night for opposite reasons?

[Gwreck]

Ceetar wrote: These teams should probably make most early April games during the day just for that reason. Don't the Rangers play most of their Sunday games at night for opposite reasons?

Yes, there is a special provision in the Basic Agreement to allow the Rangers to play Sunday night games in the summer.

Day games make less money (and in particular, get lower TV ratings), so there is no incentive to make an exception the other way.

[Frayed Knot]

Ceetar wrote: These teams should probably make most early April games during the day just for that reason. Don't the Rangers play most of their Sunday games at night for opposite reasons?

It used to be (like a few decades ago) that the Red Sox didn't schedule night games until after May 1st.
Then, at some point, MLB passed some rule requiring a certain amount of night games during the week, a rule which seemed designed specifically to force the BoSox out of their all-April day-game habit (one which really only involved maybe ten dates at most what with the later start to the seasons in yesteryear as well as having half your games on the road). Anyway, Boston counteracted that by going with the unique start time of 6:05 for the first month (in an era when night games typically didn't start until 8 PM) arguing that 6 PM was when 'night' started.

The problem, of course, is TV. SNY, YES, and all their nationwide counterparts know they'll get more eyeballs for night games than for day and are probably scheming for ways to do away with those pesky afternoon affairs on 'get-away' days. Most teams have even taken to night games on Saturdays even in April and even in northern cities; Philly for years has scheduled their first Saturday game at night. The Yankees are the only team I know of that strictly avoids Saturday night games (unless forced into it by FOX). The Mets at least wait until the warmer weather and still retain a good amount of day contests.

[metirish]

Jay Horwitz ?@Jay_HorwitzPR
Because we only come to Colorado once, MLB has given the Mets and Rockies the go-ahead to play a triple header this week.11,4 and 8 times

wow

[Guest The Second Spitter]

Let Harvey start all three.

[Frayed Knot]

John Buck will set a one-day RBI mark with like 27

[metirish]

Would you believe folks on twatter were all a twitter with Jay over this?

[Gwreck]

Yes, I can believe that, because people on the internet (present company excluded) are idiots.

[MFS62]

Well, at least the players' muscles will get loose by the fifth inning of the third game.

Later