Rays/MLB

Rainout may not be last

Game 4 is postponed, with rain in tonight's forecast as well.

By MARC TOPKIN
Published October 26, 2006

ST. LOUIS - The World Series was interrupted by rain Wednesday, and no one seems sure when it will resume.

Game 4 was officially postponed until tonight and Game 5 moved to Friday, which was supposed to be a travel day before Games 6 and 7 on Saturday and Sunday in Detroit. But MLB executive vice president Jimmie Lee Solomon said the forecast for tonight and Friday was "dicey," and it was possible they would have to wait until Saturday to play at all.

"That would be an unfortunate circumstance for us, but if we had to we probably would," Solomon said.

The Series had already been marked by near-freezing temperatures that left players joking when they weren't shivering.

"I thought there was global warming," Tigers closer Todd Jones said, "but apparently there isn't."

They weren't laughing, however, about the rain. Officials waited nearly two hours before calling off Wednesday's game at 10:18 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, hoping a front that dropped steady rain on St. Louis much of the day would move through.

Which team does the postponement help or hurt?

-It certainly can't further cool the Tigers' chilled bats.

Through the first three games, the Tigers have hit just .185, and that's actually impressive as three of their key batters - leadoff man Curtis Granderson, ALCS MVP Placido Polanco and veteran leader Ivan Rodriguez - are a combined 0-for-34.

Manager Jim Leyland had decided to make some changes - the biggest that he dropped Polanco from third to seventh - and said he would remain committed to the moves. "I'm not going to write out a new lineup card, I'm just going to change the date," he said.

-It could help the Cardinals realign their pitching rotation, if they choose.

The Cards were holding off on naming a Game 5 starter and now will have the opportunity to start veteran Jeff Weaver on regular rest rather than gamble that rookie Anthony Reyes could repeat his Game 1 success.

Depending on the outcome, they could then use Reyes in Game 6 (if they are up 3-2) and have Chris Carpenter available on full rest for a potential Game 7. Or if they are down 3-2, they could use Carpenter in Game 6 on short rest.

But the rainout also means that Jeff Suppan, who has been their best postseason pitcher, is likely limited to one start in the Series. Suppan will pitch Game 4 and, depending on when it is played and if there is an additional postponement, would not be available to pitch again.

-It could also create a most interesting scenario, with controversy-stained Kenny Rogers perhaps moved up to pitch in front of the St. Louis fans.

Leyland originally said he wouldn't change his rotation, but after Wednesday's postponement he seemed to back off sticking with the plan to have Rogers make his second start at home in Game 6.

Rogers would be on regular rest for a Game 5 on Friday, and if the Tigers were facing elimination it would be hard to not use a pitcher who has a 23-inning postseason scoreless streak, no matter how emotionally charged the environment might be.

Otherwise, they would pitch Jeremy Bonderman in Game 4, Justin Verlander in Game 5 and Rogers in a potential Game 6.

-It may send the Tigers to the mall since their trip has been extended.

"I'm like one shirt short," first baseman Sean Casey said. "Seriously. I'm going to have to go shopping."

It was the first Series postponement since the 1996 opener at Yankee Stadium was washed out. And it was 10 years for the last rainout before that, Game 7 of the 1986 Series at Shea Stadium. In between, of course, was the 10-day postponement of Game 3 of the 1989 Series due to the San Francisco earthquake. The 1975 Series had a three-day postponement before Game 6 could be played.

The teams, at the least, should be used to it. The Cardinals had two games in the National League Championship Series postponed, and the Tigers had Game 2 of their division series against the Yankees rained out.

[Last modified October 26, 2006, 02:38:39]