Imagine this: the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, and... snowflakes gently falling at Wrigley Field in late March. Sounds like a baseball fan's nightmare, right? Well, that's exactly what the Chicago Cubs and their fans might face this season.
The 2024 Cubs schedule kicks off with a bold move – a six-game homestand at Wrigley starting March 26th, meaning five games in the unpredictable Chicago spring. While the rest of April looks manageable, with a road trip and a mix of home series, those first six games are a head-scratcher. And here's where it gets controversial: they're hosting the Nationals and Angels, teams that only visit Wrigley once a year.
Major League Baseball's scheduling here feels like a gamble. Why bring a West Coast team like the Angels to Chicago for their only visit during this chilly period? Postponements due to weather could mean travel chaos and logistical nightmares. Sure, the Nats and Angels will be back in Chicago later to play the White Sox, but that doesn't solve the March madness at Wrigley.
Now, I get it – warm-weather and dome teams aren't exactly clamoring for early April games. Kids are in school, vacations haven't started, and attendance might suffer. But if MLB insists on starting the season so early, shouldn't these teams bite the bullet and host those games themselves?
Looking at the rest of the early-season schedule, it's a mixed bag. Some teams, like the Giants, Cardinals, and Blue Jays, are in more favorable climates. But others, like the Athletics (playing in Toronto), Rangers (in Philadelphia), and Diamondbacks (visiting the Dodgers), seem to be drawing the short straw.
So, what's the deal with this March homestand? On one hand, there's a slim chance for unseasonably warm weather. Remember March 2012, when Chicago saw nine straight days in the 70s and 80s? But let's be real, that's an anomaly. More likely, we're looking at temperatures hovering around 50 degrees – not ideal for baseball, especially when you factor in the ever-present threat of rain or even snow. Remember the frigid April of 2018? Multiple postponements due to snow and cold likely contributed to the Cubs' late-season struggles that year.
Part of me hopes for rain, snow, and all the delays imaginable during those Nats and Angels games. Maybe, just maybe, the chaos will teach MLB a lesson: early March baseball in Chicago is a recipe for disaster. But for now, if you're planning to attend the home opener, bundle up – it's only 50 days away, and you'll need those layers!
