The snow in Cleveland falls mainly on the stadium.

April 2, 2008 3:56 AM

When snow threatened the Cleveland Indians 2007 opening game, the stadium grounds crew was there to save the day. Watch them battle the forces of nature in this time-lapse video. Think you can handle this monumental task yourself? Play the game and find out.
posted by Faint of Butt (18 comments total)

Neat!
posted by HuronBob at 4:16 AM on April 2

If only every baseball game moved that fast.
posted by punkfloyd at 4:19 AM on April 2

How were they removing those light dustings? Hair dryers the size of leaf blowers?
posted by DU at 4:24 AM on April 2

Wow, even in the British summer snow don't usually stop the cricket
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 4:29 AM on April 2

sneaky fucking clouds.
posted by Dillonlikescookies at 4:33 AM on April 2

Now if only the PD spent more time reporting actual news.
posted by sciurus at 4:49 AM on April 2

Wow, even in the British summer snow don't usually stop the cricket

In baseball, wet balls and bats give a massive advantage to the pitcher.

Water reduces the friction on the ball surface allowing the pitcher to give it an unnatural motion (which is why the spit ball is illegal). If you're going to throw knuckleballs, you have to use your knuckles.

Even if the batter is able to make contact with wet ball with his wet bat, the reduction in contact friction and makes it harder for the batter to put the ball in play.

Snow on the playing field changes everything.
posted by three blind mice at 5:29 AM on April 2 [2 favorites]

That might be the worst flash game ever. And as much as I'd like to see some snowy baseball sometime, the change in the balance of the game and the high potential for injury (in guys who need to play so many games) would be unacceptable.

I am always amused by snow encroaching on baseball season, though. It starts so early and goes so late these days that you just might see snow on both ends.
posted by uncleozzy at 5:42 AM on April 2

We need more posts with the tarp tag yall, c'mon.
posted by cashman at 6:25 AM on April 2

Watching that, I imagined that God looked down, nudged somebody, and said "Hey, watch this. You see those guys? I am going to seriously fuck with those guys. Yes, dig faster, my little worker bees. Muahaha."
posted by middleclasstool at 6:35 AM on April 2 [2 favorites]

Didn't Cleveland's "opening day" in 2007 not actually happen in Cleveland?
posted by drezdn at 7:12 AM on April 2

Wow, even in the British summer snow don't usually stop the cricket

Why would it? They're already wearing the necessary camouflage.
posted by vbfg at 7:15 AM on April 2

Cleveland sports - only the strong will survive.
posted by fingers_of_fire at 8:24 AM on April 2

Awesome -- great find, thanks for posting it.
posted by Pantengliopoli at 8:30 AM on April 2

One fan ran out and created snow angels in the outfield. As often happens, fun was followed by arrest.
posted by Kabanos at 9:43 AM on April 2 [2 favorites]

Of course, part of the problem with getting this game in was Mariners manager Mike Hargrove successfully stalling for time in the snow and getting the game called.

And, of course, it led to one of the greatest Ichiro Suzuki quotes ever:

The Mariners were clearly not thrilled with the detour (to Cleveland to make up the snowed out game) before opening a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.

"To tell the truth, I'm not excited to go to Cleveland, but we have to," Ichiro said through an interpreter. "If I ever saw myself saying I'm excited going to Cleveland, I'd punch myself in the face, because I'm lying."

posted by dw at 10:26 AM on April 2

I love everything about this post.
posted by Foam Pants at 12:55 PM on April 2

How were they removing those light dustings? Hair dryers the size of leaf blowers?

Remarkably, it was leaf blowers the size of leaf blowers. You can see them in the video linked by Kabanos above. (Who knew?)
posted by strike3 at 11:17 PM on April 2