Wednesday, June 20th, 2012

Baseball 101: Wrap-around Series

It's been too long since I added a blog to my Baseball 101 series. Today, we'll discuss a less common term: a wrap-around series.

For the most part, Major League Baseball consists of several 3-game series. For example, the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox are concluding a 3-game series that started on Monday night. The two teams faced each other Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The Milwaukee Brewers will be heading to the south side to play the White Sox on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Occasionally, a brief 2-game series will take place. Teams even play the occasional 4-game series. That's where the term "wrap-around series" becomes relevant.

A wrap-around series does not refer to every 4-game series. In order for a series to be given this moniker, it must be a 4-game series that begins on Friday and concludes the following Monday. It's a full weekend series with an additional game on Monday.

The Cubs have three 4-game series at Wrigley Field later this summer. When the Cincinnati Reds come to Chicago on August 9-12, that won't classify as a wrap-around series. Same thing when the Brewers come to town on August 27-30. Both are 4-game series, but neither will fit the definition.

But wait. The Pittsburgh Pirates will travel to Chicago just before a few days before my birthday on Sept. 14-17. Yes, that will be a wrap-around series.