The Milwaukee Brewers held a workout at Tropicana Field on Sunday, and part of that workout was practicing catching pop-ups.
Big leaguers don't really need to work on catching pop-ups often, but Tropicana Field presents a unique challenge. The color of the roof makes it challenging to find the ball, so the Brewers, like other teams, are spending extra time getting used to their environment.
"Whoever decided to make the roof the same (expletive) color as the baseball is a (expletive) idiot,” Brewers closer Trevor Megill reportedly said while walking by reporters on Sunday, per WISN 12 News' Dario Melendez.
Megill has never held back while talking to reporters and usually says exactly what he's thinking. He has been great for the Brewers in the postseason and all year, really, but he knows the challenge the roof presents to the defense behind him.
The roof at Tropicana Field also has unique rules when it comes to the catwalks, which also add to the adventure of catching balls hit high.
Per the official ground rules, a "batted ball that strikes either of the lower two catwalks (known as the 'C-Ring' and the 'D-Ring'), including any lights or suspended objects attached to either of those catwalks as well as any angled support rods that connect the 'C-Ring' to the masts that support the 'D-Ring' in fair territory" is a home run.
However, a "batted ball that strikes either of the upper catwalks (known as the 'A-Ring' and the 'B-Ring'), including the masts that support each of those catwalks as well as any angled support rods that connect the 'B-Ring' to the masts that support the 'C-Ring' in fair territory" is in play.
The Rays also have to deal with the roof, but they have much more practice with it. For the Brewers, it's another challenge they have to deal with as they look to go up 3-0.