While the World Series is always played in fall and we expect moderate weather, the weather can vary … [+]
With the World Series kicking off tonight at Minute Maid Park, the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies begin the quest for the Commissioner’s Trophy. While the championship series is always played in fall and we expect moderate weather, the weather can vary greatly this time of year and play a role in the games. The geographic locations of each team certainly can have impact on the potential weather and while the short-term weather forecast looks mild for right now in Houston and Philadelphia, weather is always a consideration, both for public safety and operations strategies.
Looking at the weather for tonight’s game, there is a high threat of widespread heavy rains and storms, maybe even a few stronger storms through the day, lessening chances throughout that evening. It’s expected to dry out for game two, but we’ll see cooling temperatures below 64 degrees Fahrenheit. When the series heads to Philadelphia, isolated to widely scattered showers are expected to be possible during the afternoon and through the evening and overnight hours. Light rainfall is mostly expected, but some pockets of briefly moderate rain is possible at times.
The current forecast for the next week is moderate, which is good, as weather can be a major consideration in these World Series games. Who can forget the infamous Snow Globe game in the 1997 World Series between Cleveland and the Florida Marlins? While all the games in Cleveland were cold during that series, game four was brutal with temperatures dropping to 38 degrees and a wind chill of just 18 degrees. Heavy snow fell before the game and there were still light flurries as the game started. Twenty years later, we saw the hottest game ever in World Series history, with game one of the Dodgers, Astros series reaching a game-time temperature of 103 degrees.
Weather insights are obviously critical for identifying rain and other severe weather that threatens public safety at stadium events, but those insights can help inform many other related business decisions. Of course, tonight the weather insights will inform the decision on whether to open or close the retractable roof at Minute Maid field. Tomorrow night, those same roof discussions will be happening but will be focused on the temperature. In Philadelphia where there’s an open-air stadium, weather insights will inform decisions on whether to start the games on time, postpone, or even potentially move game times.
Beyond game operations, weather can also affect many other things at a baseball game. Weather variables such as temperatures, wind, and humidity are always a factor. With the right weather system, there could be dozens of different employees accessing real-time weather information across an organization. Those employees could include front-office executives like GM’s, ballpark operation leaders, catering teams groundskeepers, umpire staff and groundskeepers. Athlete performance and team and stadium operations, for example, are a few aspects of the game that benefit from using weather insights to make decisions.
For a team’s grounds crew, having access to weather insights can help make decisions about having a fully staffed grounds crew in place and ready to make field repairs or even to pull the tarp for a possible rain delay. Conversely, if the forecast is no precipitation, there might be opportunities to reduce staff to save money and other cost-saving potential.
On the field, a baseball manager can use the weather to understand competition conditions. High heat, humidity and wind direction play a big factor on how far baseballs will travel, and there is data showing that hitting home runs happen at higher levels during summer heat. Conversely, in the early and late season, the colder, more dense air makes it more difficult to hit the ball farther. Wind data can be used in game strategy, specifically for setting batting strategies and placement of outfielders, depending on wind strength and direction. Most stadiums are built so that a south wind favors the wind blowing out and enhancing the likelihood of homeruns. In the fall, north winds become more common and the strategy for managers adjusts to manufacturing runs through bunts, sacrifices, and strategic offense as opposed to relying on power. Many skippers also look closely to determine if there is a chance of a rain delay during the game while making starting pitching decisions with the insights on how many innings the starter may be able to pitch before a potential delay.
Ultimately, weather insights will ensure that the World Series can be held safely and comfortably through well-informed preparation. Spectator and athlete safety is of the utmost importance, and with weather-informed decision making, the series can be managed efficiently and effectively, benefitting the stadium management, the competitors and spectators alike.
