Is it safe for MLB players to play when the temp. is close to freezing??

keets

With the length of the season and the playoffs it is unavoidable, but is it safe?? It seems cramps and arm injuries are inevitable. Several years ago a game in Cleveland was cancelled and rescheduled in Minnesota(I think) because of snow. They routinely have games in the spring where the temp. is in the mid-high 30's and the game yesterday started at a balmy 32 degrees!!!

Is it any wonder that against KC the scores over the weekend were 3-2, 1-0 and 3-1???

What was really silly was the Home Plate Umpire strictly enforcing the new between innings time limit on Saturday with Trevor Bauer at the start of an inning. Bauer promptly gave up an HR on the first pitch for the game's only run.

The playoffs up North tend to be played when things are cold, also, the difference being that the players have had six months of playing time so they are better able to avoid things that happen early in the season. Cleveland has just had their first player go down and I suspect the cold weather as a factor.

Al H.

LarkinCollector

It's got to be more safe than playing football when the temps are below freezing.

Justacommeman

The Tigers have already played in three 1-0 games this year in the frozen tundra

mark

keets

It's got to be more safe than playing football when the temps are below freezing.

I would disagree.

Football players are by nature in much better shape and they are typically in constant motion, at least to a much higher degree than MLB players. some outfielders do nothing all game, maybe they strike out or fly out a few times, and might not field anything for 5-6 innings. then all of a sudden they have to sprint 60-70 feet and jump outstretched to crash into a fence!! before that the only exercise they had for 1-2 hours was running back and forth to the dugout where they can sit and rest.

keets

watching Boston vs. New York on ESPN and a MLB injury report scrolled across the bottom of the screen. lots and lots of leg injuries that I can't help but think are tied to the cold weather.

--- Mookie Betts just cleared the bases with a Grand Salami to put Boston up 14-1!!!

Coinstartled

97 in the desert today. heat will always be the bigger threat.

keets

heat will always be the bigger threat.

not likely. while cramps are possible it isn't very often that we hear of players leaving the game for that reason. the main problem with playing in heat is the need to hydrate. doing so alleviates the probability of cramping. playing at close to freezing affects most every aspect of the game in a negative way. cold muscles just don't respond well, the ball is hard to grab and throw and the cold air tends to cause the ball to not carry well. add to that the probability of having a "handful of bees" at the plate.

logically, the best games are played in the heat of the summer so your reasoning is flawed.

Coinstartled

@keets said:
heat will always be the bigger threat.

not likely. while cramps are possible it isn't very often that we hear of players leaving the game for that reason. the main problem with playing in heat is the need to hydrate. doing so alleviates the probability of cramping. playing at close to freezing affects most every aspect of the game in a negative way. cold muscles just don't respond well, the ball is hard to grab and throw and the cold air tends to cause the ball to not carry well. add to that the probability of having a "handful of bees" at the plate.

logically, the best games are played in the heat of the summer so your reasoning is flawed.

If Phoenix didn't have a retractable dome you would have a couple heat related deaths a year.

This is not the bread basket and temps reach 120. Learn how to adapt real quick out here or pay dearly.

grote15

@keets said:
It's got to be more safe than playing football when the temps are below freezing.

I would disagree.

Football players are by nature in much better shape and they are typically in constant motion, at least to a much higher degree than MLB players. some outfielders do nothing all game, maybe they strike out or fly out a few times, and might not field anything for 5-6 innings. then all of a sudden they have to sprint 60-70 feet and jump outstretched to crash into a fence!! before that the only exercise they had for 1-2 hours was running back and forth to the dugout where they can sit and rest.

Football players by nature are in better shape? Larger in sizer, yes, but I would not say in better shape when you compare a lineman with the average baseball player, Pablo Sandoval notwithstanding.

grote15

@Coinstartled said:
97 in the desert today. heat will always be the bigger threat.

This is true. Does anyone remember the Vikings lineman who collapsed and died from heat stroke during practice during the heat? I've never heard of anyone collapsing and dying due to playing in the cold.

dennis07

Can't speak for major leaguers but back in my college days played many games as low as the low 40's. It was miserable. My elbow was always sore which is not good for a SS. Arm stopped hurting as the weather warmed.

Tabe

Baseball is way worse than football for cold weather. Somebody once told me there's no place on earth colder than the stands at a high school baseball game in the early spring. They were right. I remember coaching football games in Colorado where we had to plow a foot of snow off the field, with temps in the teens or 20s, and I'd be on the sideline in a short sleeve shirt because I was so warm. Players were the same way. Baseball? Not a chance.

Justacommeman

Nothing worse then the sting of a ball off of the handle of a wood bat in Michigan in the month of March. Two a days in the summer for football sucked big time as well. We relished cold days for football.

m

Coinstartled

@Justacommeman said:
Nothing worse then the sting of a ball off of the handle of a wood bat in Michigan in the month of March. Two a days in the summer for football sucked big time as well. We relished cold days for football.

m

Distance runner in Michigan. 30-40 degrees was perfect.

keets

in real life for me, it is easier to get warm when I'm cold than it is for me to stay cool when it's hot. the trick is that when it's cold it is hard to do anything due to what's required to stay warm. the same goes for these MLB players, they have to wear extra clothing which restricts movement and impedes their play.

for me, again, even though the heat is tough(the high 80's and 90's in NE Ohio) it is easier to manage. I either wear a minimum of clothing inside or soak with the hose outside and keep hydrated. I prefer the heat.

what I will agree with is during the summer with the two-a-day NFL and College practice schedule. those are brutal and can be dangerous.

stevek

@Justacommeman said:
Nothing worse then the sting of a ball off of the handle of a wood bat in Michigan in the month of March. Two a days in the summer for football sucked big time as well. We relished cold days for football.

m

Couldn't agree with ya more because I've done all that - LOL

Funny...at work a few years back I'm quickly chatting with the UPS driver, and we're talking how we both played HS football, and I say how almost every football player hated those two a days in the summer and practice in general...and the UPS driver says words to the effect, not me i liked those two a days and practice. And I say to him, you played middle linebacker didn't you? He says, how did you know that?

LOL

Tabe

@Coinstartled said:

@Justacommeman said:
Nothing worse then the sting of a ball off of the handle of a wood bat in Michigan in the month of March. Two a days in the summer for football sucked big time as well. We relished cold days for football.

m

Distance runner in Michigan. 30-40 degrees was perfect.

I played tennis in Michigan. It freaking snowed during one of our meets.

pocketpiececommems

I Think that the Gaterade splash afterwards would be worse especially on a pitcher

ADG

April baseball in Milwaukee?? Thank goodness for the roof.

Estil

@Justacommeman said:
The Tigers have already played in three 1-0 games this year in the frozen tundra

mark

They play baseball at Lambeau Field now?