The Toronto Blue Jays have never played under a closed Rogers Centre roof due to extreme heat, but that’s about to change.
Thursday’s temperature in Toronto is expected to reach a sweltering 38 C with a humidex of 48. And with a 12:37 p.m. ET start time, the Blue Jays announced late Wednesday they will be keeping the roof closed as a health and safety measure.
Typically, the Blue Jays do not announce the roof’s status until hours before game time.
Prior to the announcement, Blue Jays rookie skipper John Farrell openly campaigned to have the roof closed.
“I would rather (the roof) be closed tomorrow with the extremeness that we’re going to have,” said Farrell. “We’re talking about heat indexes of 110 (farenheit) or above and on this turf, in the middle of the day, the turf is going to add some degrees to it as well.”
In another non rain-related roof closing, on Aug. 27 1990 a pack of gnats descended on the then SkyDome forcing the lid shut.
On Monday night in Chicago, Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies was forced to exit his start against the Chicago Cubs in the fifth inning after experiencing dizziness in the humid 33 C heat at Wrigley Field.
On Wednesday, Toronto’s scheduled Thursday starter, Ricky Romero, said he had no preference whether the roof remained open or closed.
“I think either way, it’s going to be hot,” he explained. “I’m not worried about it. The weather’s the weather. I just have to go out there and pitch my game.”
Farrell pointed to teams such as the Texas Rangers who pump their starting pitchers with IV before their starts to ensure they remain hydrated. When asked if Toronto was considering similar treatment for Romero, Farrell said they hadn’t discussed it yet.
Romero, who pointed to a summer game in Texas during his rookie season as one of the hottest games he’s pitched in, says he isn’t against IV or any other assistance to help stay hydrated.
“If it’s something that helps and something we can do, I’ll think about it and consider it,” he said. “Right now, I’m just going to hydrate all night, hydrate all morning and just go out there and pitch.”
