Opener postponed until tomorrow
Due to a forecast of heavy rain in the Boston area, today's Red Sox-Rays season opener at Fenway Park has been postponed to tomorrow at 4:05 p.m.
"All of the festivities surrounding Opening Day will take place tomorrow," Red Sox president Larry Lucchino confirmed a little before 10 a.m. on sports radio WEEI. "And instead of the game being played today it will be played at 4:05 p.m. tomorrow, and the gates will open at 2:05 p.m. tomorrow."
The decision to postpone the game so soon -- more than four hours before the scheduled first pitch -- was somewhat surprising, but Lucchino said the club saw little hope in the weather forecast, which indicates that downpours, strong winds and possible thunderstorms will begin during the early afternoon hours and continue throughout the evening.
"It's unusual for us to postpone a game when there isn't hard evidence, that is rain or immediate weather present at Fenway Park given the volatility of weather around here, but we have two factors here," Lucchino said. "There's a consistency among all the weather people, private weather services as well as the six network and media weather services we consult as well, and the probabilities of rain are nearly 100 percent and we're talking about some severe weather with possible thundershowers and heavy gusts."
Lucchino noted that Tuesday's scheduled open date was by design in case of circumstances like today's. He added that the 4:05 p.m. start tomorrow is designed to give fans who had tickets for today a little bit of flexibility in rescheduling.
"A lot of people planned to take the day off and maybe they can come tomorrow as well if the game's a little later in the day, school kids can watch it tomorrow, if they were planning on coming today and taking the day off at least they can watch it on television tomorrow," Lucchino said. "So we tried to make some accommodations based on this open date that we preserve for such an occasion."
It marks the first Red Sox' first postponement of a home opener since 2003, when the game was called because of rain. Lucchino was asked why this year's opener was scheduled to be played in Boston rather than Tampa Bay.
"That's a very good question," Lucchino replied. "We prefer to open on the road for a couple of reasons. One, of course, is the weather. The other is we're annually engaged in offseason renovations and having the extra week or 10 days or so is helpful to us.
"But baseball generally accommodates us on this. This is the first time in several years [since 2002] where we have opened at home, but I can assure you the request will be put in even more strenuously that we should open on the road."
Seal was to sing the National Anthem today, but will not be able to do so tomorrow because of a previous commitment. Maestro Keith Lockhart and members of the Boston Pops along with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus will instead perform the Anthem, as well as "God Bless America" and "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was reportedly going to be on hand to deliver the ceremonial first pitch today. It is uncertain whether he will be able to attend tomorrow.
"We just made the decision at 9:30 a.m., so it's a little hard to tell if everyone can reschedule to be here," Lucchino said regarding the Opening Day festivities. "But we're hoping that we have essentially the same lineup intact, but we won't know that for a couple of hours at least."
The Red Sox players haven't let the postponement deter them from getting in some work -- they were taking batting practice on the field shortly after the announcement.
Both of today's scheduled pitchers will start tomorrow, Josh Beckett for the Sox and James Shields for the Rays.
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That's pretty lame, the rain hasn't even started.
Nice of them to make the decision before people got up early to drive down from VT, NH, and ME. Oh wait...
Time to turn the car around.
What!!! We all knew that it was going to RAIN all day and the Red Sox mgmt...or should I say Master Larry waits until 9:00AM to call the game! He could have done is on Sunday evening so we all would not have to take 2 days off from work!! WTF!!! Larry boy, get with the program and have some consideration for your fans this year................
Bravo to the Sox for cancelling early, rather than making everyone come down today and pay for parking, concessions, etc., only to have a long rain delay and cancel the game later in the afternoon.
They haven't always done this in the past; it'll be nice if they continue doing this when rain is obvious!
Unfortunately, the only decision that could be made.
Let's go Sox -- on Tuesday.
Arrgghhh!! The agony! I have my Blackberry with MLB Gameday Radio all ready to hear the Sox because I live so far away. Now I have to wait another day. The cruel irony!
But it will be sweet once the first pitch is thrown and the Red Sox begin the season.
Good on them for doing the right thing. Of course, they could have made the same decision last nite when the same forecast was made....
Finally! Thank you for giving advance notice. It's terrible when it's certain there will be rain, they wait for everyone to pay for parking, enter the ballpark, spend money on food beer, ponchos, THEN postpone the inevitable. Fans will appreciate advance notice ALL the time!!
OK - I commented on a previous story about "thanking" John and Larry thinking about the fans. While the best case would have been to have a decision made yesterday (before taking a day off from work and arranging to take the kids out of school early), I can see the rationale for waiting to make sure that the weather will do what we think. So this time I really do thank John and Larry for making the decision now and avoiding a very uncomfortable and costly trip to the park.
Looking forward to tomorrow!
Nice that they called it this early.
I dont even like Hockey
Kudos to the Red Sox Organization for cancelling this before everybody hauled themselves into the city. I know folks had already missed school and work -- but (my family), but at least some will be able to attend the later start tomorrow -- since we didn't already battle traffic, pay for parking etc.
crap, that sucks! home sick today, would have loved to catch the game.
Classy move by the Red Sox not to make the fans come all the way to the ballpark to pay obscene parking rates and overpriced food just to find out they have to turn around and go home again...bravo!
How does this affect the rotation for the ALCS
Finally! A reasonable decision. Usually they make you sit through a two hour rain delay so that they can sell concessions, and then send everyone home.
BUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Excellent Call by Larry. I remember, not too long ago, when the forecast was identical to this one for a 2:00pm game and they did not postpone until 2:10pm. So folks had already taken time off from work, paid for parking, had a hot dog and beer, got wet, only to be told the game will be re-scheduled. It left a bitter taste in most Sox fans in attendance.
This postponement should not be a one off applicable to opening day only, it should be standard policy.
Bummer!!!!
Finally the Sox postpone a game they know will not be played BEFORE having fans get to the park, pay for parking, pay for food and drink while they wait in a several hour rain delay only to have the game called.
Why in the hell does MLB open in Boston, when you could open
in Saint Pete, FL???
It's all George Bush's fault....
When will MLB figure it out that it's best to open the season in the southern and western locales?
this suckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
I'm truly shocked since they always seem so reluctant. Credit to them for making a wise choice and hopefully the later time means folks with tickets will still be able to make it tomorrow. GO SOX!!!
This is the same storm system that hit us in Nashville just this past thursday. It was the same storm that produced tornadoes here.
Big ups to Sox brass for doing this early so people aren't coming into the city for nothing and/or putting the fans through the rain delay stuff they always do!
A good call to delay the game early instead of making people trek all the way in to Fenway to stand around for a couple of hours and then get sent home.
Wonderful start to the season.
without hard evidence? are you nuts lucky--it's my b-day.
The Red Sox did the right thing postponing the game early.
Bad weather, what a surprise!?!? That is why MLB should schedule the opening day games in warmer climates. This game should be at the Trop! The Rays won the pennant and deserve to open at home. MLB is ridiculous!
Bummer, but kudos for calling it early.
Hopefully the poor fans camped out on Landsdowne brought their laptops-ticket prices are going to drop now. Alot of people took today off and won't be able to get tomorrow as well. They can probably find good tix cheap on Craigslist. (if they're willing to pay) It seems like sometimes the people who camp out can be cheap...
Thanks to the Sox for doing this. I was fully expecting business as usual, when they drag everyone in, sell as many beers/sausages/hot dogs as possible, then send us all home to do it all over again the next day. Good to see the club demonstrating some understanding to the fans.
This is early boys and girls. Usually you drive in, pay for parking, pay extra for food, beer, etc while it's raining, and around 8PM they call the game. Wish they did this for normal games.
Calm it down people...the game's tomorrow. it's not the end of the world...I drove down and I'll have to drive tomorrow....it sucks..but it would suck worse to be sitting in a puddle while rain pours down and the RS wait in the dugout while they go back and forth on rain delay.
GO SOX! See ya tomorrow!
i feel that the redsox orginization made the right call to cancel the game.sure its a nice treat to have celebrities participate on opening day,we as redsox nation are not gonna be to disapointed if the pregame stuff dont happen as it should have.it would be more disapointing to get to the park see the pre game stuff then have to leave due to rain. thank-you for thinking of the fan,,,,,go sox....
When it rains it pours...at least I can catch most of the game tomorrow now. Thank you rain!
You know, Boston in April is usually not very pretty when it comes to weather. I say, the earlier you call 'em off, the better. I'm OK with not wearing my Youk T-shirt until tomorrow, and not paying twice to park in the Fens. That saugage sandwich I've been drooling over in my dreams will taste much better tomorrow when it isn't soaking wet.
Baseball season's way too long anyway. Start in May, end in September, and you'll avoid weather problems for the northern teams.
I TOLD you Lucy would pull the football away.
Grrr, I called in sick today for this game!!
I am suprised and pleased that the Sox cancelled the game early. Agree with many of you that MLB should have learned by now to start the season in warmer climates and/or domed stadiums. It could easily be done.
How can we miss Ted K when he won't go away?
The usual poor scheduling courtesy of the Commissioners Office. Seattle plays the Twins and both team play in domed stadiums. The Rays playing here while their domed stadium remains vacant.
All teams play 81 home games and 81 road games so it all evens out except causing disruption with pitching staffs.
Will Selig ever learn ?
The same folks complaining they didn't do it earlier would be whining even louder if the forecast is wrong and the rain doesn't come.
In a no win situation, the Sox did the right thing.
Count us in on the "Thank You Red Sox" for postponing the game until Tuesday. Those fortunate enough to attend the home opener would have endured a miserable day at the park due to the weather. As to the timing of the announcement, it was perfect. It was made early enough for people to get the news and change the plans but late enough to make certain the weather really would prevent the game from starting and finishing. There will always be 2nd guessers no matter when the announcement was made. Great Job Boston Red Sox. Looking forward to enjoying the festivities tomorrow.
Question:
If a new and improved Fenway frank was already boiling this morning, does the vendor have to change the water in the pot or just reheat tomorrow at 4:05?
Great call. They should call these types of game this early all the time.
Oh, nnooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Blame Al Gore. After all, he invented the internet.
Oh, nnooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Blame Al Gore. After all, he invented the internet.
This is comical to the point where it illustrates why fans like me are getting less and less interested in baseball each year. Starting the season by having a team from Tampa that plays in a dome, come up to Boston to play outside. This game is washed and the games all week will be played with wind chills in the lov 40's.
Greed is now the national pastime.
Start the season in warmer climates or start it later in the month and have every team play one double-header per month.
MLB should definitely consider opening days at indoor stadiums and those in the South and West for the first 2 weeks of the season. In fact, Opening Day in Boston should always be on Patriots Day. Start the festivities at 10 to allow for Opening Day rituals. A lot of businesses are closed preventing those "sick" days resulting in better work productivity.
Day late and the fans are a vacation/sick day shorter....having said that - no ones talking about the risk of trying to play the game today and having Beckett work on a slippery mound (didn't we have an issue with that last year?)
They should never start the baseball season AT FENWAY. Start on the road and come back no sooner than mid-April.
Yes they should have done this Sunday night. I mean they knew it was coming, Tuesday was open and looking great.
But THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK you Boston.com for reporting this so fast and having a great mobile website. I had only driven 100 miles from Vermont and had time to make arrangements to get to the game tomorrow!
I love the early call today, but moving it to 7:05PM tomorrow would have made the rescheduling for people much easier...no longer another day off from work and school.
Opening day: May 1
April in Boston is mostly miserable.
Thanks nothing! It's not even raining. All you praising the Sox for calling it early are sadly mistaken. This is why we don't call games this early..CAUSE ITS NOT RAINING!
Thanks to Larry for cancelling early. We were at GameOn having the "opening day" breakfast nachos when we got word. Still got a half day of work in after the
"breakfast of champions." Question: Why can't they have opening day on the weekend? It would seem to make more sense (not to mention, make more money for fenway/surrounding vendors). Just curious....
GO SOX.
What about the people who camped out? Do they have to camp out again tonight?
LOL at #15. Nicely played Whitey.
If Teddy Kennedy can't throw out the first pitch, will they call in Schill?
Good for you Larry I tkink you did the right thing. I am looking out side its raining
cats & dogs the time is 3:20. Good call!!!!!
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