Last night’s World Series Game 2 in Cleveland was able to finish after the start time was moved up an hour to 7:08pm ET. But the slow pace of the game, a 5-1 Cubs win that lasted four hours and four minutes, required the final inning and a half to be played after a light band of rain started. Heavier rain started soon after the game ended. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said the decision to move the game up arrived very quickly: “We had an impromptu meeting in the middle (of Tuesday). Fox, to its credit, indicated they were flexible on the start of the game. Once we knew we had that flexibility from our broadcast partner, we spoke to both teams. We thought the key decision was to either make (the shift) during the game (Tuesday) or just go at 8:08. We talked to both clubs. Everybody thought that given what the forecast looked like then, that it was best to go with 7:08. ... From the first word spoken to the decision being announced, it was about 17 minutes, which is pretty good.”
Manfred also indicated again he intends to meet with Indians Chair & CEO Paul Dolan after the season to discuss the club’s Chief Wahoo logo. “I know that particular logo is offensive to some people, and all of us at Major League Baseball understand why,” Manfred said. “Logos are, however, primarily a local matter. ... Fans get attached to logos. They become a part of a team’s history. So it’s not as easy as coming to the conclusion and realizing that the logo is offensive to some segment.”
