CHATHAM — Every Cape Cod Baseball League team has been rained out – and some fogged out – already a few times this summer, but CCBL Commissioner Paul Galop insists the full slate of scheduled games will be completed by the season’s end.

The abundance of postponed games means that for the first time since 2004, teams will play nine-inning double headers, including the Chatham A’s, which will host a twin bill against the Falmouth Commodores on July 9 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

“We talked about it, and not one person on the board of directors or executive committee has any interest in playing less than nine inning games,” said Galop, who explained the reasoning behind that idea is to ensure a fairness and balance with regard to playoff consideration, as well as individual statistics and accolades. 

“If somebody is winning the batting title by one or two points and doesn’t have to play the last game, they could back into the title, which is unfair to another player who may also be close,” said Galop. Similarly, he said, each team must be given a chance to acquire as many points (two are awarded per victory) as all the others.

But there are some, like Chatham A’s Field Manager John Schiffner, who are worried about the players’ mental and physical fatigue, and question whether back-to-back full-frame games are really necessary. 

“If the league is going to continue with a 44-game, 52-day schedule, I agree we need to play double headers,” said Schiffner. “But the idea that we need to play nine innings in both games because of statistics is a lousy excuse. What’s the difference between playing a seven-inning double header, or if the game is called after seven innings in Cotuit due to darkness? 

“A baseball game is official after the bottom of the fifth. So if the league is saying we can’t play seven-inning double headers, then that should mean every time we have a game in which we don’t play nine innings, like at Cotuit, Brewster, Y-D and Bourne, we’d have to call it a suspended game and make it up.”

Schiffner, fearful for his players’ health and safety, said playing nine-inning double headers wouldn’t be so bad if teams were given an automatic day off following a twin bill – just as they are during the college season. 

“These kids are not accustomed to playing nine-inning double headers and then turning around and playing the next day,” Schiffner said. “If we continue to do this, we’re going to hurt them, especially if we’re playing 20 days in a row. We don’t have an 18-man pitching staff that college teams carry, we have 12-13. We can’t put someone on the DL and call up a fresh pitcher. In college baseball they play seven-inning double header games, so why can’t we play seven innings too? It’s that simple.”

Nevertheless, the nine inning double headers will remain. The league also has no plans to reduce the amount of games either. 

“I think you’ll see predetermined double headers before you’ll see a shortened schedule,” said Galop, who said he’s “cautiously optimistic” the regular season will be completed in time to start the playoffs, which – according to NCAA regulations – must be finalized by the summer-league cutoff date Aug. 11. 

“We’re trying our best to stay ahead,” said Galop, “because making up games in the last week of July is like playing with fire.” 

by Eric Adler
Eric Adler