It Was Supposed to Be a Happy Rumble Pony Opener

The Eastern League has it listed as Akron at Binghamton tonight at NYSEG Stadium. First pitch was scheduled for 6:35.  It was supposed to be a Thirsty Thursday.  Then COVID-19 struck.  And first pitches, opening day/night celebrations, hot dogs, burgers, beer and soda all gone.  In the scheme of things the delay of professional baseball schedules is a small thing in comparison to the death and illness that has effected the nation and the world.  But to baseball fans it is no small thing.  Hope for a new season is strong.

Baseball season is delayed til further notice.  The Major Leagues are talking about playing games beginning next month in Arizona...no fans just television and perhaps radio broadcasts.  What that means for the Minor Leagues remains to be seen.

Games in April are often in jeopardy.  But that is due to weather in the Northeast and not a pandemic.  Last season the Rumble Ponies opened in New Hampshire and after splitting a four-game series Binghamton had weather-related postponements for three straight in Portland, Maine and then returned home to defeat Erie on April 11 before getting two more games postponed.

Lots of questions remain.  The answers we hope will be coming soon. But right now the words "Play Ball!" seem like a distant memory.