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View Full Version : [si.com] Cubs-Astros shifted to Milwaukee




magnetik
09-13-2008, 11:49 PM
talk about a crappy decision... The brewer fans are obviously going to be against the Stro's.. and milwaukee is too close to Chicago. I smell something bad. Go Stro's.. don't lose the fire.

if it's been posted please lock it up. thx.

Link (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/09/13/cubs.astros.ap/index.html)

CHICAGO (AP) -- Two games between the Chicago Cubs and Astros that were postponed this weekend in Houston because of Hurricane Ike will now be played in Milwaukee.

The Cubs and Astros will play at 7:05 p.m. CDT on Sunday and 1:05 p.m. on Monday at Miller Park, with Houston being the home team. If the third game of the series is needed, it will be Sept. 29 at Houston.

Chicago leads the NL Central and Houston is in the wild-card race. The three-game set that was scheduled to begin Friday night in Houston was called off as the hurricane approached the Texas coast.

"Our preference would be that the tragedy never happened to the state of Texas and we could've played the games on schedule, but once the storm came there didn't seem to be any alternative, and I think the Astros and the commissioner's office worked hand in hand to come up with the best short-term solution they could with all the weather problems we're having all over the country," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said Saturday.

The Milwaukee Brewers play at Philadelphia on Sunday and are off Monday, making their ballpark available.

In April 2007, the Brewers hosted a series between the Indians and Angels that was moved because of inclement weather.

"Major League Baseball made the decision to move these games to Miller Park and given the lack of other viable options, we will be ready to serve as hosts," Brewers executive vice president Rick Schlesinger said.

The Cubs could have a decided home-field advantage in the Brewers' home park that is only 90 miles away. When they play Milwaukee on the road, the Cubs are often cheered by thousands of their own fans.

Tickets for the rescheduled game will range from $25 to $60. Only seats in the lower deck and loge levels will be available -- there are no tickets for the upper deck and bleachers.

Houston had hoped to play the games at home, especially after going on a 38-16 run that pulled the Astros within 2 1/2 games of Milwaukee in the wild-card race.

The Cubs hold a six-game lead over Milwaukee in the NL Central.

The Cubs, who had an outdoor workout at Wrigley Field washed out by rain Saturday, played well at Miller Park in their last appearance in late July. That's when they swept four games from the Brewers, helping Chicago build its cushion in the NL Central.

The Astros came to Wrigley Field earlier this month and swept a three-game series from the Cubs.

The official announcement that the first two games would be moved came from the commissioner's office Saturday night.

Hendry said earlier, before the announcement, that the Cubs were ready for any eventuality.

"I told our guys today to come to Wrigley tomorrow morning and be ready to go tomorrow night," Hendry said.

"I certainly didn't have a destination for them, but that's what I told them at 3 o'clock today -- that they had to be prepared to be ready and be on a bus and be bussed to the airport, or bussed to play elsewhere, and be ready to play. That's how I had to approach it."

DFW_Rockets_Fan
09-14-2008, 07:13 AM
I wonder if they considered the Rangers ballpark. The Rangers are on the road.

msn
09-14-2008, 07:37 AM
traveshamockery.

Gene the PIG
09-14-2008, 07:52 AM
Selig is sticking it to the 'Stros again, as he did during the '05 WS with the mandatory open roof issue.

He's a total dip****.

Deuce Rings
09-14-2008, 09:18 AM
Pardon the conspiracy theorist in me, but I think we're seeing a good reason why a league commisioner should not be able to have vested interest in a team while acting as commisioner. And please do not refer to Milwaukee as a "Neutral Site" again. Milwaukee is the home of the team the Astros trail by 2.5 games in the wild card and is a short hour and a half drive from Chicago.

Then again, this decision could be simply a revenue decision on the parts of both the Astros and the Cubs. Playing the game anywhere other than Milwaukee, Houston, or Chicago would lead to significantly less tickets purchased. It just stinks that the financial repercussions of 2 out of 162 games outweighs the need to provide a fair playing field for a team in a playoff race late in the season.

magnetik
09-14-2008, 10:58 AM
I hope we sweep it up.. it will be easier to forget about this mess.

Shroopy2
09-14-2008, 07:04 PM
Of course the commish born in Milwaukee, thats a former owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, would want a "neutral" game played in Milwaukee.

The Indians did play their season opener in Milwaukee last year due to snow, but still...

Scientific1
09-14-2008, 08:57 PM
Selig screwed us. I cant believe they have the nerve to call it a neutral site. Granted there is something bigger than baseball going on, but I think the fairest thing to do could have just let them play in Arlington or any other city in the West that wasn't having a home game.

DaDakota
09-14-2008, 09:08 PM
Selig screwed us. I cant believe they have the nerve to call it a neutral site. Granted there is something bigger than baseball going on, but I think the fairest thing to do could have just let them play in Arlington or any other city in the West that wasn't having a home game.
Round Rock.

DD

BrooksBall
09-14-2008, 10:16 PM
Pardon the conspiracy theorist in me, but I think we're seeing a good reason why a league commisioner should not be able to have vested interest in a team while acting as commisioner. And please do not refer to Milwaukee as a "Neutral Site" again. Milwaukee is the home of the team the Astros trail by 2.5 games in the wild card and is a short hour and a half drive from Chicago.

Then again, this decision could be simply a revenue decision on the parts of both the Astros and the Cubs. Playing the game anywhere other than Milwaukee, Houston, or Chicago would lead to significantly less tickets purchased. It just stinks that the financial repercussions of 2 out of 162 games outweighs the need to provide a fair playing field for a team in a playoff race late in the season.

I think this is one the best expressed summaries of what has taken place. Great assessment, Deuce.