Inspired by the 30 continuous days of rain the Tampa Bay area has received recently, I wanted to explore the amount of rain outs, cancellations, and moved games that have affected area teams since 2007.
This post looks at the Tampa Yankees, Clearwater Threshers, Dunedin Blue Jays, and Bradenton Marauders. Despite the flaws and drawbacks of Tropicana Field, the Rays have not been forced to play a doubleheader at the Trop in at least the last 8 years.
From 2007 to August 2, 2015, rain has caused 106 doubleheaders, cancelled 28 games, and forced 5 Tampa Bay area Minor League games to be relocated. That is an average of 3 doubleheaders and 1 cancellation per team per year.
Total area doubleheaders per year since 2007:
- 2007: 11
- 2008: 13
- 2009: 13
- 2010: 16
- 2011: 9
- 2012: 10
- 2013: 10
- 2014: 10
- 2015 (to date): 14
With most of the month of August remaining, 2015 has a chance to catch the 2010 season for the most doubleheaders since 2007.
Total cancellations per year since 2007:
- 2007: 1
- 2008: 1
- 2009: 8
- 2010: 3
- 2011: 0
- 2012: 6
- 2013: 8
- 2014: 0
- 2015 (to date): 1
I would be very surprised if 7 games were cancelled in August 2015. Unless that happens, there is no way 2015 will catch 2009 and 2013 as the season when the most local games were cancelled.
By team, the Tampa Yankees have played the most doubleheaders and had the most games cancelled by rain since 2007:
Doubleheaders by team since 2007:
- Tampa Yankees: 41
- Dunedin Blue Jays: 28
- Clearwater Threshers: 19
- Bradenton Marauders: 18 (since 2010)
Most doubleheaders per year since 2007:
- 2008 Tampa Yankees: 9
- 2009 Tampa Yankees: 8
- 2010 Dunedin Blue Jays: 6
- 2015 Tampa Yankees: 6
- Three other teams tied with 5
Cancellations by team since 2007:
- Tampa Yankees: 10
- Dunedin Blue Jays: 9
- Bradenton Marauders: 6 (since 2010)
- Clearwater Threshers: 3
Most games cancelled per year since 2007:
- 2009 Dunedin Blue Jays: 6
- 2012 Tampa Yankees: 3
- 2013 Bradenton Marauders: 3
- Four other teams tied with 2
Games relocated since 2007:
- Bradenton Marauders: 4
- Clearwater Threshers: 1
Rain is accepted part of living in Florida. Whether the occasional evening storm, rare hurricane, or stationary front, the people and teams of the Tampa Bay area have learned to live with the natural phenomenon. After exploring the effect rain has on baseball, there should be no doubt the Tampa Bay Rays should always look to playing under either a permanent or retractable roof, no matter where they end up in the Tampa Bay area. The low-profit Florida State League can afford the rescheduled games or cancellations. Major League Baseball cannot.
(Picture of Bright House Field in 2012 during Tropical Storm Debby.)