Cincinnati Reds lose another tradition to scheduling of MLB

The Cincinnati Reds open the season on a Thursday thanks to the monetization of all things sacred by MLB.

The Cincinnati Reds have had a Monday opening game for as long as any of us can remember, literally.  Yes, there was 1994 when the first Reds’ game was played on Easter Sunday night.  The Opening Day festivities were saved for Monday, prior to game two.

Anyone remember when the last time the Reds played on the road?  How about 1888?  Not 1988, 1888.

Every year, except for 1888, since 1876, the Reds have opened at home.  That is just eleven years after the Civil War..  The Reds have opened every game at home that long.

MLB is not taking away the home opener, but thanks in large part to the player’s association, they are doing something else.  In 2018 the first Reds’ game will be on Thursday, March 29.  The millionaires need more off days to travel in their jets to the next game in-season.

How does this make the MLB more money?  Well, with the season lasting longer that is more dates with games played on them.  To have a nationally televised game there need only be one game played that day.

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It also adds another weekend to the MLB calendar.  The Reds play the Washington Nationals Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Those Saturday and Sunday games are usually the best attended.

The Cincinnati Reds are faced with the difficult decision of when to hold their Opening Day celebrations.

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The highlight of the Opening Day festivities is the Findlay Market Parade.  2018 will be the 99th edition of the venerable tradition.  That puts the first parade before the Reds won their first World Series.

Aside from the traditional Monday day timing, there is another issue in Cincinnati for 2018.  March 29, 2018 is Holy Thursday for Roman Catholics.  While this may not mean much to most of MLB, it is a day of reflection and going without in Cincinnati.

Having an Opening Day celebration that weekend is akin to asking someone on a diet to take you to a buffet.  It just doesn’t feel right.  Waiting until Monday may make more sense.

There’s also a day off on Friday.  It made sense to have an off day when it was a Tuesday.  Now it is just confusing.

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The Reds have long had the tradition of having the most fan interactive Opening Day in MLB.  When baseball was still in its infancy professionally, the Reds carried the sport.  Now, they deserve to have their traditions and those of Cincinnati treated with more respect, especially given their young rotation in 2018.