If ever Ryan Howard was going to hit a 600-foot home run, today would be the day. Philadelphia is currently under a wind advisory until midnight tonight, with speeds sustained at 25-30 mph, and gusts around 45 mph.
Forecast For Rockies-Phillies Game: Windy
David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News is on the scene, and gives his take as amateur meteorologist.
A scene from my walk into the ballpark this morning that should tell you all you need to know about how hard the wind is blowing here: In the distance, a gentleman has a baseball cap pulled low over his face when suddenly a gust not only blows it off of his head, but sends it airborne skimming across the ground where, 50 yards away, a good samaritan fields it like a ground ball. The wind isn’t just blowing hard - there is some Wizard of Oz stuff going on at the ballpark today. The flags in centerfield are blowing straight toward the right field foul pole. Charlie Manuel realized it when he walked out of his house this morning and saw a big tree limb down on his street.
“It got my attention right when I walked out of my house this morning,” Manuel said. “I’ve been down in the dugout. I walked around the field. When the wind blows as hard as it was this morning, it definitely can affect the ball, of course.”
The Phillies and Rockies both have some heavy-duty left-handed hitters, so it will be interesting to see how the wind affects the way the ball carries to right field.
The 2008 Championship Pennant is wrapped around the flag pole right now.
No, I will not make any Windy City jokes involving Chicago and/or the Cubs. Carry on.
See More:
