OK...it's a legal game now- Philly up 2-1

[mellytu74]

appa --

They played the tape of Bud's press conference on the radio this morning.

He definitely said that, had conditions been unplayable and the Phillies were still winning, he would have called a rain delay.

I think what has everyone livid right now is Selig said he suspended it because of his concern for the players.

I say this as a Phillies fan, but I saw damn little concern for Rays' pitcher Scott Kazmir in the fifth, when his shoes were so caked with mud on the mound that he had no traction. He was wild all night so I don't know how much it contributed to the back to back walks to Howard and Burrell. But he could have gotten hurt.

You knew when the umpires did not call the infield fly rule, that the conditions weren't good. In fact, it was unplayable.

So, the game should have been suspended after the fifth inning.

Or not started at all.

Kathy Orr, a local weather forecaster, said on the radio this morning that, in the afternoon, the forecast was still drizzles. The front in the Carolinas moved up -- unexpectedly -- and by 5 p.m., she knew it wouldn't be good.

[nitrah55]

Clearly, Selig was making this up as he went along.

Clearly, the rules should be changed so that any postseason or playoff game has to go 9. And everyone should know the rule.

On the other hand, the suspended game has the salutary effect of getting us to bed earlier- 2 hours one night, 2 hours the next. With an 8:30 start, we're all tucked in by 11. Maybe they should change the rule so that all WS games are suspended after the 5th, to be continued the following evening.

[gsabc]

Flipped over to the game in one of the myriad commercials during Heroes.

Called over to GW that it was pouring.

She came in, looked at the screen, and asked why they were playing in that weather.

Right then, there was a break in the game and an ad came on.

"You're looking at the reason," I said.

[silverscreenselect]

Since the game is now tied they are saying it might be suspended if they cannot resume tonight. I am pretty sure that would be a first for a World Series game in my memory. This, along with the umpiring in the Series, is not Bud Selig's finest hour, not that he has had many fine hours as the Commissioner.

It would have been worse had the game ended with a Phillies' Series victory on the strength of a 5-1/2 inning game.

And if the Phillies lose this game, there are going to be some PISSED OFF Phillies' fans that this game was started.

If the Phillies had still been up, Selig would have kept things going until dawn if need be.

I don't think fans around the country would have stood for declaring a World Series champion based on a rain-shortened one-run game with the losing team having three more at-bats to go. If they got mad at Selig over the All Star game, which is complete silliness, imagine what they would feel now.

Prediction... during the offseason MLB adopts the NCAA rule which says that once a tournament game starts, it goes until the end. That also means that games don't get "rained out" with one team up a bunch of runs after two or three innings. It gets suspended until it can be resumed.

[megaaddict]

Two things I would change in sports if I could:

• Eliminate "commercials, kickoff, commercials"
  Reduce MLB's regular season to the original 154 games, so the series can be over by mid-October.

As it stands, if the Cubs stumble upon enough luck to get back to the World Series, it almost certainly won't be enough luck to avoid having at least one game snowed out.

But seriously, most fans wait a long time to see their teams in the series. Is it too much to expect that the games be scheduled at a time where conditions are expected to be conducive to the game?

[littlebeast13]

Two things I would change in sports if I could:

• Eliminate "commercials, kickoff, commercials"
  Reduce MLB's regular season to the original 154 games, so the series can be over by mid-October.

As it stands, if the Cubs stumble upon enough luck to get back to the World Series, it almost certainly won't be enough luck to avoid having at least one game snowed out.

But seriously, most fans wait a long time to see their teams in the series. Is it too much to expect that the games be scheduled at a time where conditions are expected to be conducive to the game?

As someone who's only experience at Wrigley Field was in a constant drizzle with wind chills in the upper 20's........ IN THE MIDDLE OF FREAKING MAY, I don't think it would much matter when they play the games up there.....

Late October is pretty much the same as early April cllimatalogically. In fact, I'm sure there are more April snowstorms than there are October snowstorms due to seasonal lag.

154 was a nice number when there were only 8 teams in each league. I like 162.....

lb13

[kayrharris]

Two things I would change in sports if I could:

• Eliminate "commercials, kickoff, commercials"
  Reduce MLB's regular season to the original 154 games, so the series can be over by mid-October.

As it stands, if the Cubs stumble upon enough luck to get back to the World Series, it almost certainly won't be enough luck to avoid having at least one game snowed out.

But seriously, most fans wait a long time to see their teams in the series. Is it too much to expect that the games be scheduled at a time where conditions are expected to be conducive to the game?

As someone who's only experience at Wrigley Field was in a constant drizzle with wind chills in the upper 20's........ IN THE MIDDLE OF FREAKING MAY, I don't think it would much matter when they play the games up there.....

Late October is pretty much the same as early April cllimatalogically. In fact, I'm sure there are more April snowstorms than there are October snowstorms due to seasonal lag.

154 was a nice number when there were only 8 teams in each league. I like 162.....

lb13

Dang, you're using awfully big words this morning, LB.

[mellytu74]

I don't think fans around the country would have stood for declaring a World Series champion based on a rain-shortened one-run game with the losing team having three more at-bats to go. If they got mad at Selig over the All Star game, which is complete silliness, imagine what they would feel now.

Prediction... during the offseason MLB adopts the NCAA rule which says that once a tournament game starts, it goes until the end. That also means that games don't get "rained out" with one team up a bunch of runs after two or three innings. It gets suspended until it can be resumed.

I agree about the rain-shortened game and I certainly wouldn't have cared if they suspended it after five innings with the Phillies leading 2-1, to resume the game whenever possible.

My problem is the conditions and the timing.

It certainly wasn't going to get any better from the bottom of the fifth to the top of the sixth.

Call it at the end of the fifth inning. Period. The conditions were bad for both clubs in the fifth.

The Rays batted in the sixth. A pitcher can't use his out pitch because he can't grip the wet ball. A routine grounder wasn't one, a runner couldn't be held on, a catcher had no chance to throw to second and the play at the play was close but would have been closer under better conditions.

This isn't to say the Rays wouldn't have scored in good conditions. Upton could run out an infield single, stole second and scored on a single. But Pat Burrell, who had a dozen outfield assists (and IIRC 18 last year) has a much better chance to throw him out with a dry(er) ball.

The bottom of the same inning will be played in vastly different conditions.

Note: I would feel the same way about it had the situation been reversed --- although for that to be the case, the Phillies would have to be playing someone other than the Rays and their dome. But you know what I mean.

I said earlier that the thread. For all of Bud's mouthing the right thing, there was little concern shown for the players.

[littlebeast13]

Two things I would change in sports if I could:

• Eliminate "commercials, kickoff, commercials"
  Reduce MLB's regular season to the original 154 games, so the series can be over by mid-October.

As it stands, if the Cubs stumble upon enough luck to get back to the World Series, it almost certainly won't be enough luck to avoid having at least one game snowed out.

But seriously, most fans wait a long time to see their teams in the series. Is it too much to expect that the games be scheduled at a time where conditions are expected to be conducive to the game?

As someone who's only experience at Wrigley Field was in a constant drizzle with wind chills in the upper 20's........ IN THE MIDDLE OF FREAKING MAY, I don't think it would much matter when they play the games up there.....

Late October is pretty much the same as early April cllimatalogically. In fact, I'm sure there are more April snowstorms than there are October snowstorms due to seasonal lag.

154 was a nice number when there were only 8 teams in each league. I like 162.....

lb13

Dang, you're using awfully big words this morning, LB.

Yeah, but I'm pretty sure I spelled climatalogically wrong.

And you know what....... I don't give a damn!

lb13

[Hello, Mini!]

Yeah, but I'm pretty sure I spelled climatalogically wrong.

And you know what....... I don't give a damn!

lb13

Looks good from here! Maybe folks don't know what you studied in college and get surprised.

Our 10% chance of rain turned into a full-on coastal storm. My yard is a swamp because it was aerated last week. The game probably shouldn't have started in the first place, and it definitely went on too long. It could have been called earlier with the same result.

I'm glad Local Boy BJ got a chance to run/swim/skid and tie the game, but the risk of injury with those field conditions just wasn't worth it............

[littlebeast13]

Yeah, but I'm pretty sure I spelled climatalogically wrong.

And you know what....... I don't give a damn!

lb13

Looks good from here!

I think the second A should be an O.

Where's Al Gore when we need him......

lb13

[megaaddict]

Late October is pretty much the same as early April cllimatalogically. In fact, I'm sure there are more April snowstorms than there are October snowstorms due to seasonal lag.

That's my point. Who cares if a couple games in the early season are postponed or just miserable to sit through? Shouldn't the series be played under more friendly conditions?

154 was a nice number when there were only 8 teams in each league. I like 162.....

1232 games a year then, 2430 now. You couldn't live with 2310?

Truth be told, I don't much care for the shorter season either, but I haven't seen a better solution. I would definitely not want to see more domes (sorry Mr, Selig), especially with catwalks and cowbells, but eventually I think it may come down to that.

[littlebeast13]

Late October is pretty much the same as early April cllimatalogically. In fact, I'm sure there are more April snowstorms than there are October snowstorms due to seasonal lag.

That's my point. Who cares if a couple games in the early season are postponed or just miserable to sit through? Shouldn't the series be played under more friendly conditions?

154 was a nice number when there were only 8 teams in each league. I like 162.....

1232 games a year then, 2430 now. You couldn't live with 2310?

Truth be told, I don't much care for the shorter season either, but I haven't seen a better solution. I would definitely not want to see more domes (sorry Mr, Selig), especially with catwalks and cowbells, but eventually I think it may come down to that.

It's not the overall quantity of games I care about...... it's the fact that each team plays 162. It is a nice number. Nicer than 154, which as I said, worked fine when there were 8 teams in each league. It could even work perfectly with the current 30 team setup if Dumbass Selig would get rid of his ridiculous natural rivalry crap and do interleague play right.....

As for the conditions of the games themselves, I think we are merely focusing in on a few bad experiences lately (Namely this year and 2006). Most World Series go off without a hitch. Sure it's likely to be chilly, but you can't play the Series in August. Then again, the NFL doesn't play the Super Bowl in ideal football conditions either, which has always been another major pet peeve of mine (Especially when idiots like Woody Paige suggest that MLB go to a neutral site WS, which is ridiculous)......

lb13

[kayrharris]

Yeah, but I'm pretty sure I spelled climatalogically wrong.

And you know what....... I don't give a damn!

lb13

Looks good from here!

I think the second A should be an O.

Where's Al Gore when we need him......

lb13

You're correct - it should be an "o". At least we know
you know......like you care if we know you know. But you know what I mean.

[Hello, Mini!]

Looks good from here!

I think the second A should be an O.

Where's Al Gore when we need him......

lb13

You're correct - it should be an "o". At least we know
you know......like you care if we know you know. But you know what I mean.

Yeah--we were pretty sure that double l at the beginning was wrong. But, who cares? You had to post as Ronnnnnnnnnnn yesterday, and old habits die hard..............

[Jeemie]

Since the game is now tied they are saying it might be suspended if they cannot resume tonight. I am pretty sure that would be a first for a World Series game in my memory. This, along with the umpiring in the Series, is not Bud Selig's finest hour, not that he has had many fine hours as the Commissioner.

It would have been worse had the game ended with a Phillies' Series victory on the strength of a 5-1/2 inning game.

And if the Phillies lose this game, there are going to be some PISSED OFF Phillies' fans that this game was started.

If the Phillies had still been up, Selig would have kept things going until dawn if need be.

I don't think fans around the country would have stood for declaring a World Series champion based on a rain-shortened one-run game with the losing team having three more at-bats to go. If they got mad at Selig over the All Star game, which is complete silliness, imagine what they would feel now.

Prediction... during the offseason MLB adopts the NCAA rule which says that once a tournament game starts, it goes until the end. That also means that games don't get "rained out" with one team up a bunch of runs after two or three innings. It gets suspended until it can be resumed.

He said he was going to ignore the rules and just never call the game...so it would technically be a rain delay that went on for a day or two.

They already changed the rules once (under the old rules, the top of the 6th wouldn't have counted).

Now I'm certain they're going to change them again to say that all post-season games have to go 9 (or more).

[Rexer25]

CNN says no baseball tonight.

[Snaxx]

Spoiler

Congrats to the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies!

I will soon be working in the hometown of the series champs. I've been kind of used to it in NY

As Bob####s would say, the Rays are now toast. A long time after all the experts predicted.

[jarnon]

Everyone knew that there is no way that a World Series game, let alone the clinching game, is called before a full game is played.

I have heard that Selig will make it the official rule. In fact, I imagine that he will state that all playoff games must be played to their completion (no less than 9 innings).

The unofficial rule has become official.

Bud Selig announced a rule that playoff games can't be shortened

AFAIK, that's the rule in every other sport too.

[minimetoo26]

Everyone knew that there is no way that a World Series game, let alone the clinching game, is called before a full game is played.

I have heard that Selig will make it the official rule. In fact, I imagine that he will state that all playoff games must be played to their completion (no less than 9 innings).

The unofficial rule has become official.

Bud Selig announced a rule that playoff games can't be shortened

AFAIK, that's the rule in every other sport too.

The Commish is wise...

[Larry Bud Selig]

Everyone knew that there is no way that a World Series game, let alone the clinching game, is called before a full game is played.

I have heard that Selig will make it the official rule. In fact, I imagine that he will state that all playoff games must be played to their completion (no less than 9 innings).

The unofficial rule has become official.

Bud Selig announced a rule that playoff games can't be shortened

AFAIK, that's the rule in every other sport too.

The Commish is wise...

If I were really that wise, I'd have two hot chicks following me around at all times instead of Don Fehr....

[Bob78164]

Everyone knew that there is no way that a World Series game, let alone the clinching game, is called before a full game is played.

I have heard that Selig will make it the official rule. In fact, I imagine that he will state that all playoff games must be played to their completion (no less than 9 innings).

The unofficial rule has become official.

Bud Selig announced a rule that playoff games can't be shortened

AFAIK, that's the rule in every other sport too.

A minor nit -- the prospective rule change was announced in the future tense. It hasn't happened yet, though it undoubtedly will.

A more interesting question. What happens when one team has a big lead but the game isn't yet official? Can it still be rained out (and restarted from the beginning), or must it be suspended? --Bob

[silverscreenselect]

Everyone knew that there is no way that a World Series game, let alone the clinching game, is called before a full game is played.

I have heard that Selig will make it the official rule. In fact, I imagine that he will state that all playoff games must be played to their completion (no less than 9 innings).

The unofficial rule has become official.

Bud Selig announced a rule that playoff games can't be shortened

AFAIK, that's the rule in every other sport too.

A minor nit -- the prospective rule change was announced in the future tense. It hasn't happened yet, though it undoubtedly will.

A more interesting question. What happens when one team has a big lead but the game isn't yet official? Can it still be rained out (and restarted from the beginning), or must it be suspended? --Bob

The rule change must be approved by the Players Union, which is why it's not official yet.

The rule applies to the league playoffs, the World Series and any one-game end-of-season playoffs to determine a divisional champion or wild card (baseball has tie breakers but if the result of a tie breaker would be that one team does not go to the post-season, a playoff is required. However, there will no longer be a coin flip for those one-game playoffs; instead the team that would have won the tiebreaker is the home team).

It also applies to the All Star Game which could be a problem if the All Star Game is shortened because of rain. Last year some teams began play Wednesday after the All Star Game, and everyone starts play on Thursday. If there's heavy rain where the game is played, what happens if there's a rainout resulting in a shortened game and they can't play the next day? Do they hold up an entire slate of games until the All Star Game can be played?

[littlebeast13]

It also applies to the All Star Game which could be a problem if the All Star Game is shortened because of rain. Last year some teams began play Wednesday after the All Star Game, and everyone starts play on Thursday. If there's heavy rain where the game is played, what happens if there's a rainout resulting in a shortened game and they can't play the next day? Do they hold up an entire slate of games until the All Star Game can be played?

Substitute Thursday and Friday respectively, and you are correct.

No MLB games have been played the day after the All Star Game (Which is always played on a Tuesday) since the strike-shortened 1995 season.....

lb13