If you needed some baseball context to appreciate just how bad the wildfires are out west, and what they’re doing to the air quality, look no further than tonight’s Mariners-A’s doubleheader, being played in Seattle.
The game highlights are all well and good for the excellent plays, but I share them because they look like someone turned the exposure on the camera far too high. They didn’t. It’s just the smoke in the air:
https://twitter.com/Mariners/status/1305664515699142657
We wouldn't believe it either if it wasn't Ramón #RootedInOakland pic.twitter.com/albQjN8yTv
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) September 14, 2020
When I heard about the air quality considerations impacting outdoors games today, I didn’t think it would be this visible. I don’t know enough about this topic to say what the risk is to the players, but it sure doesn’t look good.
Note that weather services in the area have warned about how dangerous the air quality levels are right now:
Early morning air quality readings. Most places very unhealthy or hazardous. Not posting latest smoke model run with model underestimating current smoke in the region. System offshore weakening today. Lesser chances for showers and lighter winds = little smoke improvement. #wawx pic.twitter.com/1s6OPmozaa
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) September 14, 2020
The air quality is so bad that it is reportedly now already well past the level where the NFL considers a game cancellable. By contrast, MLB does not have a level set in place.