Following the devastation of Hurricane Irma across most of Florida, the Marlins made the late decision last week that Marlins Park would be unable to host the Brewers in Miami. Although Marlins Park itself was well prepared for the storm (large sections of the roof were actually tied down) and did not suffer significant damage, the team made the wise decision to not overly tax the city's resources just to play some baseball games that would more than likely be even worse attended than usual. It's not uncommon for teams to move a series because of inclement weather or natural disaster - in fact, Hurricane Harvey relocated the Astros to Tampa just a couple weeks prior. What was unusual about this circumstance is that the road team stadium was chosen as host instead of a neutral site. No doubt in large part due to (A) short notice and (B) having a retractable roof, Miller Park and the city of Milwaukee opened its arms to the homeless Marlins for the weekend.
I wasn't able to attend any of the games this past weekend, but from what I read, the Brewers went all out. They dressed up the park with palm trees, played walk-up songs for the Marlins players, and even batted first and played as the "away" team despite being in their own park. They also donated a significant portion of the proceeds from the weekend to the Hurricane Irma disaster relief efforts. The Brewers were under no obligation to do any of this and it got a lot of great press for the city and the organization, and helped save face from teams like the Cubs, Cardinals, and Rockies who were understandably upset about the Brewers essentially getting 3 extra home games on their schedule during a critical point in the season.
This isn't the first time the Brewers have done something like this either. They hosted an Indians series in April 2007 that was snowed out, and a rather famous Astros-Cubs game moved due to Hurricane Ike in which Carlos Zambrano threw a no-hitter. I don't have many regrets in my life, but not going to that game is still one of them. Because of the stadium roof, this certainly won't be the last time the Brewers do something like this either. It's one of the few perks of being a baseball fan in Wisconsin - guaranteed 81 home games and maybe even some bonus baseball, whether or not they go to the playoffs.
STANDINGS AND UPCOMING SERIES AS OF 09.18:
Brewers 79-70, -4.0, -2.5 WC (3 @ Pirates, 4 v. Cubs)
Reds 66-84, -17.5, eliminated (3 v. Cardinals, 3 v. Red Sox)
Twins 78-71, -14.5, +2.0 WC (3 @ Yankees, 4 @ Tigers)
2017 GAMES ATTENDED:
Erik - 13 (+33 worked)
Peter - 34
touch with baseball when his childhood heroes Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, and Jim Gantner retired but the Great Home Run Chase of 1998 reignited his passion. As a student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Erik became involved with the campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity. With this group Erik traveled to Portland, OR and Baltimore, MD to work on construction projects and help the group raise $25,000 to partially sponsor a house in Milwaukee. Also at UWM, Erik met Peter Nagel. The two attended their first Brewers game together during Opening Weekend 2003. Despite their failure to ignite the coals at their first tailgate, the two had a blast and were soon making weekly trips to the ballpark. Erik has gone on to several colleges and changed careers several times, and has moved all the way out to New Hampshire, but has always stayed true to his baseball roots by holding part-time stadium usher jobs. To this day he looks back fondly on his incredible cross-country journey.
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