MLB weather rules

[briancurtin]

This doesn't exactly answer the question, but maybe it does: Kids playing baseball with aluminum bats out in an open field is slightly different than anything going on in a stadium in an urban setting where the opponents travelled 2,300 miles to get there.

Also, typical park district liability and ThorGuard.

[johnnyg08]

The MLB crews likely have the assistance of professional meteorologists to help them make decisions. We simply err on the side of safety every time.

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by briancurtin

This doesn't exactly answer the question, but maybe it does: Kids playing baseball with aluminum bats out in an open field is slightly different than anything going on in a stadium in an urban setting where the opponents travelled 2,300 miles to get there.

Also, typical park district liability and ThorGuard.

Umm, you think that an aluminum bat is a greater conductor than the 100 light posts, score boards, monitors, etc. with miles and miles of wires running under the stadium?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

Umm, you think that an aluminum bat is a greater conductor than the 100 light posts, score boards, monitors, etc. with miles and miles of wires running under the stadium?

A) He didn't say that...

B) You didn't read the entire post.

I've played football games with lightning in the sky when I would never have continued a baseball or softball game - solely due to information from Thorguard, which would not have been present at your typical baseball game.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

A) He didn't say that...

B) You didn't read the entire post.

I've played football games with lightning in the sky when I would never have continued a baseball or softball game - solely due to information from Thorguard, which would not have been present at your typical baseball game.

Even with Thorguard (and similar), if I see or hear lightning I stop the baseball game. If the alarm goes off, I stop the game (even if I dont' see / hear the lightning). Either one is sufficient.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Even with Thorguard (and similar), if I see or hear lightning I stop the baseball game. If the alarm goes off, I stop the game (even if I dont' see / hear the lightning). Either one is sufficient.

You can hear lightning? Amazing!!!

You can see lightning that's 30 miles away.

[chapmaja]

We use ThorGuard at two parks I umpire at. Our policy is simple. If you see lightning, hear thunder, or the the system goes off, you are DONE for a minimum 30 minutes from the last time it is seen or heard. We also say from when the system deactivates as an extra precaution.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

You can hear lightning? Amazing!!!

If lightning causes the sound aren't you thus hearing lightning?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

If lightning causes the sound aren't you thus hearing lightning?

But lightning doesn't cause thunder.

Electrical discharge causes both lightning (visual) and thunder (audible) - the two occur simultaneously.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

You can hear lightning? Amazing!!!

You can see lightning that's 30 miles away.

You can hear the effects of it, which is obviously what I meant. If you have a better point to make, please do so.

Otherwise, I stand by my comment. Feel free to do it differently in your games.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

You can hear the effects of it, which is obviously what I meant. If you have a better point to make, please do so.

Otherwise, I stand by my comment. Feel free to do it differently in your games.

The first part was humor.
The second, however... if you have the machine, use the machine --- it will detect potential issues sooner than you might if you only have visual and audible evidence to go by ... and it will also tell you lightning you may have seen 30 miles from it's source may or may not be an issue.

If you don't have the machine - I wholely agree with the strategy of waiting 30 minutes after the last visible discharge.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

Umm, you think that an aluminum bat is a greater conductor than the 100 light posts, score boards, monitors, etc. with miles and miles of wires running under the stadium?

Nope - but no one is holding the light posts. And they're grounded and prepared for a strike.

[DG]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Nope - but no one is holding the light posts. And they're grounded and prepared for a strike.

Grounding a light post means nothing for lightning safety. If you are touching, or near when lighting strikes you are subject to injury or death. Thus fences are bad to be near as well, if in the dugout with a fence in front during a delay, stay away from the fence.