Weather permitting
Major League Baseball has an inarestin' dilemma on its hands today. The Yankees/Angel game is scheduled for 8PM. The National Weather Service is saying right now that rain from the remnants of Tropical Storm Tammy will likely hit the New York City area around 9 or 9:30. Heavy, tropical rain is expected, and is expected to last all night.
A press conference is scheduled for 3:30. Do they just call the game then? ESPN, who has tonight's game, having paid millions for the rights, doesn't really have any other programming to fall back on. Or do they have everyone come out to the park? And if they do that, and it's still dry at 8PM, do they start the game knowing that the window is not large enough to get 9 innings in? If they start the game, and one team leads the other after 4-1/2, would they call it a game? That would be unconscionable in a post-season matchup.
If they start the game and, as expected, it starts to rain hard after three innings and a long rain delay ensues, that would finish the two starting pitchers; a disaster for the Yankees since Randy Johnson is going for them, while Paul Byrd is going for the Angels -- the Angels probably wouldn't mind his missing a start.
UPDATE at 3:37. My bad. MLB isn't having a press conference at 3:30. The 3:30 reference was to Mike and the Mad Dog talking to a meteorologist. Anyway, he's saying light (probably playable) rain tonight, with the heavier stuff holding off until 11 or 12 tonight (although he's not guaranteeing the monsoon won't begin by the 7th inning). I'm betting Selig's thinking, "Play ball!"
Heavy rain all night, 50/50 chance for tomorrow's 4PM start.
A press conference is scheduled for 3:30. Do they just call the game then? ESPN, who has tonight's game, having paid millions for the rights, doesn't really have any other programming to fall back on. Or do they have everyone come out to the park? And if they do that, and it's still dry at 8PM, do they start the game knowing that the window is not large enough to get 9 innings in? If they start the game, and one team leads the other after 4-1/2, would they call it a game? That would be unconscionable in a post-season matchup.
If they start the game and, as expected, it starts to rain hard after three innings and a long rain delay ensues, that would finish the two starting pitchers; a disaster for the Yankees since Randy Johnson is going for them, while Paul Byrd is going for the Angels -- the Angels probably wouldn't mind his missing a start.
UPDATE at 3:37. My bad. MLB isn't having a press conference at 3:30. The 3:30 reference was to Mike and the Mad Dog talking to a meteorologist. Anyway, he's saying light (probably playable) rain tonight, with the heavier stuff holding off until 11 or 12 tonight (although he's not guaranteeing the monsoon won't begin by the 7th inning). I'm betting Selig's thinking, "Play ball!"
Heavy rain all night, 50/50 chance for tomorrow's 4PM start.
posted by John at 1:29 PM
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