Warning: mysqli_query(): (HY000/1030): Got error 28 from storage engine in /home/sportsun/public_html/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 1942

The Florida Marlins were scheduled to host the Seattle Mariners in a three-game weekend series in June, but all three games will now be played in Seattle because it apparently takes more than 72 hours to set up a stadium for a U2 concert. Seriously, the concert is scheduled for June 29 — a Wednesday night — and the final game of the series would be played on June 26, a Sunday afternoon.

The band canceled its 2010 world tour, pushing concert dates back to 2011, leaving the Marlins no choice but to play as the home team in their opponent’s stadium.

Marlins president David Samson attempted to explain the situation to MLB.com:

What happened was U2 had to reschedule for a year later, and the baseball schedule was such that there was no other way to have us at home that series. We obviously couldn’t play at home, because we don’t control the stadium. For one final season, we are tenants. So we worked closely with baseball for an alternate venue. The best and only solution was to play the games in Seattle.

The Marlins will play in a brand-new stadium in 2012, but are thus left with playing only 78 games at their home stadium in 2011 instead of the usual 81. While Seattle will bat first and technically be the road team for the series against the Marlins, the Mariners get to play 84 games in their home park.

How will this international incident affect the 2011 baseball season? Probably not much. The Mariners had the worst record in the American League last year at 61-101, and are currently at 80/1 odds to win the 2011 World Series. The Marlins finished 80-82 and a distant third in the National League East. The Fish are at 40/1 to win the 2011 World Series.