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What’s going on with the roof at the Diamondbacks’ stadium for the World Series?

The roof has its safety issues but will be operational for the World Series.

The World Series moves to Arizona for the next three games this week after the Diamondbacks and Rangers split the two games in Arlington. And baseball fans will probably notice a similar atmosphere to what they saw at Texas’ Globe Life Field (a retractable roof stadium) — with one exception.

Notably, Chase Field has a retractable roof that the team can no longer open or close when fans are present, which forces the stadium operators to make a decision about the roof before each game. Basically, the cable system is compromised, and there is concern that a cable could snap and endanger fans.

For the World Series, the Diamondbacks waited to publicize their decision on the roof, but team CEO Derrick Hall told reporters that MLB has the final say on whether it is open or closed. While triple-digit temperatures in Phoenix forced the D-backs to close the roof for their three NLCS games, this week’s forecast calls for highs in the low 80s. The team and league did decide Monday to open the roof for Game 3.

As for that broken roof, the D-backs still don’t have immediate plans to fix it and are prioritizing other issues with the aging stadium instead. Via azcentral:

“That was going to be priority No. 1, but since we know we’re going to be here at least three or four more years, we probably need to do the (LED) sports lights right now,” Hall said, adding the current lights were close to not being “at standard” for Major League Baseball.

He added that upgrading the video boards and sound system were high-priority items, as well, both above the roof, which can still open and close, just not when fans are present due to safety concerns.

You can find the roof schedule here.

Why MLB’s best umpire Pat Hoberg isn’t working the 2023 World Series

MLB’s best umpire won’t be working the World Series.

Every year, MLB should make it a goal to have the best umpires working the World Series. After all, these are the biggest games, and blown calls could impact who lifts the Commissioner’s Trophy.

But when MLB released its umpiring assignments for the World Series between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks, one name was notably missing: Pat Hoberg.

There’s a reason for that, though.

You may remember that Hoberg made history last year with a perfect game in the World Series. He was the first umpire to call a game perfectly since umpire tracking started. And he followed that up with a strong 2023. He was the second-best umpire in all of baseball this season, according to Umpire Scorecards. And since 2020, he has been MLB’s most accurate umpire. Simply put, he’s an umpire who should be working the World Series.

Yet, according to MLB rules, umpires are not allowed to work the World Series in consecutive years.

That policy dates back to at least 2018, which prevents umpires from working the World Series consecutively.

Though that policy keeps MLB’s best umpire away from MLB’s biggest games in 2023, it explains why Hoberg won’t be working any of the games in Arizona and Texas.

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Why Joe Buck isn’t calling the Rangers – Diamondbacks World Series on Fox

Don’t forget, there’s a pretty good reason for this.

It’s World Series time, and if you’re here, you’re probably wondering why broadcasting legend Joe Buck isn’t on the call for Fox for the Fall Classic matchup between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Well, the short answer is because Buck no longer works for Fox, so he’s obviously not part of the network’s World Series broadcasts anymore. Throughout his career, Buck called 24 World Series, but he’s now at ESPN — he has been since March 2022 — and calling Monday Night Football.

For the 2023 World Series, you’ll be hearing Joe Davis doing the play-by-play with John Smoltz analyzing, along with Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci reporting.

Last year, Buck noted that it was the first time since he was 18 years old that he wasn’t on the call for baseball. Via Awful Announcing:

“This is the first time since I was 18-years-old, and I’m 53, that I’m not doing a baseball game. And that’s really weird to me, but I walk away really proud of what I and we did. It’s time for somebody else, it’s time for somebody else to put their voice to it, and I’m glad to get out of the way for Joe and watch him do it because he’ll be great.”

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Who is singing the national anthem for Rangers-Diamondbacks in Game 1 of the World Series?

The Texas Rangers are hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday for Game 1 of the World Series.

The Texas Rangers are hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday for Game 1 of the World Series, where the Diamondbacks are playing for their first Commissioner’s Trophy since 2001 while the Rangers are going for their first ever.

But before the National League and American League champions face off in Game 1 at Globe Life Field, H.E.R. will perform the national anthem, per Major League Baseball.

The 26-year-old singer and song writer — whose given name is Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson and whose stage name is an acronym for “Having Everything Revealed” — is a Grammy Award and Academy Award winner, and she previously has performed at major events, including Super Bowl LV.

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When was the last time the Arizona Diamondbacks played in the World Series?

It’s been… a while for the Diamondbacks.

It’s been a while since the Texas Rangers played in the World Series, but it’s been even longer for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who beat the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Championship Series and advanced to the 2023 World Series.

It’s the first time the Diamondbacks been in the World Series since the 2001 season, which was also the one and only time they won. Twenty-two years ago, they topped the New York Yankees, winning the World Series, 4-3, and this year, they’re going for their second Commissioner’s Trophy.

To get here, the Diamondbacks beat the Milwaukee Brewers in the Wild Card Series and then the NL Division Series before downing the Phillies.

Game 1 of the 2023 World Series will be in Arlington, Texas and is set for Friday, Oct. 27 at 8:03 p.m. ET on Fox.

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When was the last time the Texas Rangers played in the World Series?

The Rangers are still looking for their first World Series victory.

While it’s been almost a quarter century since the Arizona Diamondbacks have played in the World Series, it’s really only been about a decade for the Texas Rangers, who are going for their first Commissioner’s Trophy.

The Rangers — after topping the Houston Astros in the American League Division Series — will take on Arizona in the World Series, making their first appearance since 2011. That season, they took on the St. Louis Cardinals, but fell short of a championship, losing the series, 4-3.

Texas also went to the World Series in 2010 — those are its only two appearances before this season — but lost that one too to the San Francisco Giants, 4-1.

To return to the World Series, the Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card Series and the Baltimore Orioles in the AL Division Series before sending the Astros home.

Game 1 of the 2023 World Series will be in Arlington, Texas and is set for Friday, Oct. 27 at 8:03 p.m. ET on Fox.

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The last time every MLB team played in and won the World Series

A look back at the last time every team has made — and won — the World Series

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2022 and has been updated.

We’re getting close to crowning a World Series champion with the 2023 MLB postseason.

You may be wondering: When is the last time your favorite team — who may or may not be left in this year’s postseason — appeared in the Fall Classic?

We have the answers! We’ll run through every MLB team and tell you the last time they played in the World Series, along with when they last won it. Sadly, this is where we’ll doubly remind you that there are certain franchises that have never won it all… and one that’s never made it to the World Series at all.

Let’s dive in:

What’s going on with the roof at the Diamondbacks’ stadium?

The roof has its safety issues but will be operational for the NLCS.

The National League Championship Series moves to Arizona after the Phillies took Game 1 and 2 at home. And baseball fans will certainly notice a different scene at the Diamondbacks’ home park of Chase Field.

Notably, Chase Field has a retractable roof that the team can no longer open or close when fans are present, which forces the stadium operators to make a decision about the roof before each game. Basically, the cable system is compromised, and there is concern that a cable could snap and endanger fans.

For the NLCS, the Diamondbacks plan to have the roof closed for Thursday’s Game 3 given the 103-degree forecast and open for Game 4 and Game 5 (if necessary).

As for that broken roof, the D-backs still don’t have immediate plans to fix it and are prioritizing other issues with the aging stadium instead. Via azcentral:

“That was going to be priority No. 1, but since we know we’re going to be here at least three or four more years, we probably need to do the (LED) sports lights right now,” Hall said, adding the current lights were close to not being “at standard” for Major League Baseball.

He added that upgrading the video boards and sound system were high-priority items, as well, both above the roof, which can still open and close, just not when fans are present due to safety concerns.

You can find the roof schedule here.

The NHL’s digital board ads and why hockey fans hate them, explained

The NHL’s digital board ads are back for the 2023-24 season, but not everyone is happy.

Welcome to FTW Explains, a guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. Are you wondering why the advertisements on the boards during NHL games keep distracting you? If so, we’re here to help.

Fall is here and that means hockey season is officially back in full swing. The 2023-24 NHL season promises to be filled with exciting games, captivating stories, and some darn good hockey to boot.

While a lot of the talk this season will be centered on the action on the ice, you can be sure that NHL fans will once again be complaining about one thing in particular: the league’s digital board advertisements. So, what are these digital board ads and why do hockey fans hate them with a fiery passion? Let’s dive in.

MLB playoffs: The umpires for the 2023 American League and National League wild card

A look at the umpiring crews for the wild card.

The MLB regular season is officially over. And while we already know that 18 teams saw their seasons come to an end on Sunday. Dozens of umpires will also head into an offseason.

Given the stakes of the MLB playoffs, the league looks to assign the best-performing umpires to work postseason games. The on-field crews are also expanded with umpires positioned in right field and left field.

On Monday, MLB announced its umpiring rosters for the wild card series in the National League and American League. And the result was four experienced crews with a combined experience of 18 World Series between them.