Cincinnati Reds to experiment with new start time for some games this season

Perhaps lost in the holiday hustle and bustle was news the Cincinnati Reds are going to try something new with the start time of some games in 2018.

MLB.com reported 15 Reds home games will start at 6:40 p.m. next season.

That is 30 minutes earlier than what's been the usual start time for a while, a change team COO Phil Castellini said was made with families in mind.

Castellini noted the times were "an experiment." A total of 15 of the team's 81 home games will have the 6:40 start -- most of them in April and September while schools are in session. 

The Reds are not the first team to try this type of thing.

The Indians began such an experiment (actually starting another 30 minutes earlier at 6:10) in 2015 and must be fairly satisfied with the results as they plan to continue it this season with 11 games to start at 6:10 p.m. in April and May.

That includes the Reds’ visits on May 24 and 25.

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