TTL nailed it. Drayton McClane could have agreed to relocate earlier and may have very well cost his team the wildcard.

 

The Astros didn't leave Houston until Sunday morning because McClane still felt like the games could be played. No wonder Zambrano threw a no-hitter. Several of the players lobbied to go ahead and scheduled the neutral site Thursday so they could leave town early and arrive, and McClane held out for Houston.

 

As far as Milwaukee goes, is there a stadium in the midwest or east where 20,000 Cubs fans aren't going to show up? St. Louis and KC were out because of the storm system that passed through Sunday. Atlanta and Tampa were possibilites but needed more than 24 hours notice because of concession/parking issues.

 

I agree with TTL. If there is human blame, it goes to Drayton McClane for being stubborn and looking at the bottom line and not the playoff picture.

 

There are plenty of other stadiums available. Why should the search for a "new" stadium to play this game have been limited to the midwest & the east? Last time I checked, Houston wasn't exactly in either (midwestern, maybe).

 

Milwaukee is far from a neutral place. If nothing else, at least make it a game where Houston has to travel less than Chicago. After all, they were intended to be home games for the Astros.

 

The logic here does not make any sense, until you realize that Selig has a vested interest in Milwaukee & Miller Park.

There are plenty of other stadiums available. Why should the search for a "new" stadium to play this game have been limited to the midwest & the east? Last time I checked, Houston wasn't exactly in either (midwestern, maybe).

 

Milwaukee is far from a neutral place. If nothing else, at least make it a game where Houston has to travel less than Chicago. After all, they were intended to be home games for the Astros.

 

The logic here does not make any sense, until you realize that Selig has a vested interest in Milwaukee & Miller Park.

Again, Tampa was the only other roofed stadium and they needed more notice to be ready to play a game there.

 

Like I said, it doesn't matter where they play, there would have been 20,000 Cubs fans there.

Again, Tampa was the only other roofed stadium and they needed more notice to be ready to play a game there.

 

Like I said, it doesn't matter where they play, there would have been 20,000 Cubs fans there.

 

Minnesota, Toronto & Seattle do not have roofs? The 1st two would give the Cubs the same advantage as Milwaukee, though.

 

What was wrong with the ballpark in Arlington? No roof, but the Rangers are scheduled to play there tonight, so I'm assuming it isn't threatened by the Hurricane (although the weather conditions may not be perfect.)

If McClane had told MLB to relocate on Thursday, there would have been many more options. But he waited until Saturday when the options were fewer all because he wanted to wait out the weather.

 

McLane defended his decision, saying he and Selig had “gone round and round” over where to play the game.

 

He said the Astros tried Minneapolis, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, etc. Every location was ruled out, either because there was a conflicting event or a poor weather forecast.

 

“We even suggested Round Rock,” McLane said. “We were told that wasn’t a major league stadium.”

I too wonder why Arlington wasn't an option

I too wonder why Arlington wasn't an option

 

What bothers me the most is Selig's association with Milwaukee.

 

It does not bother me that there were so many Cubs fans there. In all honesty, I couldn't care less. But to make the Astros travel that far & the Cubbies that little, to play a game that was intended to be in Houston, so that Selig's family could reap the benefits is wrong.

If McClane hadn't been so stubborn he would have had more options, the Stros have no one to blame but themselves, I'm sure the location is what caused Big Z to throw a no hitter. 10 strikeouts in Milwaukee is the same as 10 strikeout in Houston, last time I check the mound distance was the same

What bothers me the most is Selig's association with Milwaukee.

 

It does not bother me that there were so many Cubs fans there. In all honesty, I couldn't care less. But to make the Astros travel that far & the Cubbies that little, to play a game that was intended to be in Houston, so that Selig's family could reap the benefits is wrong.

 

Are you reading anything Scribe is posting?

What bothers me the most is Selig's association with Milwaukee.

 

It does not bother me that there were so many Cubs fans there. In all honesty, I couldn't care less. But to make the Astros travel that far & the Cubbies that little, to play a game that was intended to be in Houston, so that Selig's family could reap the benefits is wrong.

I can't argue that at all. It doesn't pass the smell test. Although the only reason I have found for having it there was the roof. The players union lobbied for Turner Field.

I completely understand the roof thing and the Stros frustration but they held out wanting it their way, the gamble didnt pay off and they got the short end, it happens. I hope they have to play the Cubs at home the last game to get in and the Cubs knock em out just to shut them up

Are you reading anything Scribe is posting?

 

Yeah, I have read and comprehended everything that he's posting.

 

Are you reading what I have posted, or just being a biased fan?

I'm sure the location is what caused Big Z to throw a no hitter. 10 strikeouts in Milwaukee is the same as 10 strikeout in Houston, last time I check the mound distance was the same

 

Nobody is making excuses for the Astros. Truth be told, I don't think the Astros can get into the playoffs ahead of the Cubs & Brewers anyway.

 

Put your loyalty aside for a few and think objectively.

I'm being completely objective, they can't take the risk of a rain out because there simply aren't enough days left to make up the games. They HAVE to be played in a dome, and the Stros gambled and waited to see if they could play at home, gamble didn't pay off and now they are paying for it, sucks to be them but options were limited to begin with. No matter where they played neutrally, Cubs fans were going to outnumber stros fans by 20-1

Couldn't they have waited and played a double header the day after the season was over if the games still meant anything?

Couldn't they have waited and played a double header the day after the season was over if the games still meant anything?

 

What about the 3rd game?