By: Brandon Apter, contributor 
Thursday is the start of the 2016 season for minor league teams across the country, but the Phillies Triple-A affiliate will have to wait until Monday to start. According to the Ironpigs on Twitter, their four-game series in Syracuse has been postponed due to poor field conditions. CNY Entertainment has some photos as to why the games will not be played.
Syracuse Chiefs postpone Opening Day until Monday | https://t.co/nAq9XPdby5 pic.twitter.com/FSQWWm83r3
— CNY Entertainment (@cnyscene) April 6, 2016
The Chiefs, Triple-A affiliate of the Nationals, released the following statement on their website about the postponements.
"The last thing we want to do is put our fans and our players in danger", said Chiefs general manager Jason Smorol. "Over the past few days, our grounds crew and I have been closely monitoring the field and playing surfaces. Because of the heavy snow this past week, and with rain, snow and freezing temperatures in the forecast, we've determined that the weather has made playing unsuitable through Sunday.
Late Wednesday evening, the Ironpigs announced that two of the four games slated for the weekend will take place at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, but will not be open to the public due to the last minute changes.
The IronPigs and Chiefs will open their 2016 with a doubleheader slated for Friday, April 8 at 11:05 a.m. although because of the last-minute switch, the games are not open to the public and no fans are permitted to attend these games. The two other postponed games from the opening series will be made up at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse (dates TBD).
"On behalf of the International League, we'd like to thank the Lehigh Valley IronPigs for hosting these two games at Coca-Cola Park on extremely short notice," remarked International League PresidentRandy Mobley. "These were unforeseen circumstances but it's extremely beneficial to both teams along with their parent clubs to get the season underway this weekend."
The remainder of the Phillies minor league teams begin play on Thursday. Reading hosts Portland at 7:05, Clearwater is at Dunedin at 6:30 and Lakewood takes on Lexington on the road at 7:05.
