How MLB Can Avoid Another Astro-Gate

The re-location of the Cubs/Astros series from Houston to Milwaukee took so many convoluted twists and turns that it was enough to make one feel like they were riding a roller coaster.

Major League Baseball dragged its feet on trying to find a suitable alternative to play the series at, and the Astros poo-pooed a lot of ideas, due to concerns about gate receipts and home-field advantage.

While the blame can be put on both entity's shoulders, there is a bigger issue that needs to be addressed in all of this. Why didn't MLB have a defined contingency plan for something like this?

I know it is extremely difficult to prepare a stadium for several thousand fans, but why couldn't a plan have been in place before Ike struck Houston?

Several variables need to be taken into account.

First off, most storms that can cause the kind of disruption that would warrant a venue change form early enough that there is plenty of lead time before it hits. This includes hurricanes AND blizzards. This should provide ample time for the sides to come to some sort of an agreement.

The second variable is the details of moving the team. Should a team be forced to leave in the face of a possibly devastating storm? Should families be allowed to travel with the players if they live in the affected areas? Which uniforms should be packed?

The third and final variable is the ability of a team to prepare its park to host games in the event of a natural disaster. Will the team be able to properly execute a security and safety strategy that will go off without a hitch?

My solution?

Let's outline a hypothetical disaster.

A hurricane is brewing in the Atlantic Ocean on a Monday. Meteorologists are saying that it could make landfall anywhere from Florida to the Gulf Coast. There is also a possibility that it could miss the U.S. completely and veer south toward Mexico.

A two-person panel appointed by the president of each league will meet via teleconference that Monday afternoon. They will discuss which teams could possibly be impacted by the storm, and prepare a list of possible sites that games could be played at if necessary.

They will present this list to the commissioner's office and to the ownership groups of the affected teams.

On Tuesday night, the storm track is detailed enough to reveal that it will sweep across the Florida peninsula sometime overnight on Thursday into Friday. The Marlins are beginning a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves, and the site of the series is now in doubt because of the storm.

The panel and the commissioner will teleconference with the ownership group of the Marlins to determine the proper course of action. All contingencies will be discussed, including arranging charter airfare for the players and their families, etc.

After poring over the reports, it is decided that the best course of action is for the game to be played in Washington DC, where the weather is supposed to be good over the weekend. The Braves and Marlins are notified of the final decision reached by the commissioner, and the panel and transportation is arranged and they are on their way.

After the storm passes, the player's from the Marlins will naturally be concerned about their homes in the Miami area. MLB will dispatch employees (or hire contractors) to survey the damage to the residences and report it back to them. Repairs will be arranged through the league office, and the players and families will be at ease knowing that everything is being taken care of while they go about the business of playing baseball.

Major League Baseball is a big enough business that it can afford measures such as these. Natural disasters are never an easy thing to plan for, but with enough advanced warning, the schedule shouldn't be jeopardized, and at least the league will be pro-active in finding solutions that are far better than what was displayed during Ike. Hopefully they will learn their lesson this time and not repeat their mistakes in the future.