The 2008 World Series has turned into the series full of surprises.
The Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series? Yeah right.
The Philadelphia Phillies, the losingest team in pro sports history, in the World Series? Yeah right.
World Series umpires making a bevy of bad calls? Not in the World Series, right?
Now, Game Five was suspended due to rain. With the score tied 2-2, the Rays and the Phillies must wait until the rain subsides before resuming play. Keep in mind, the rain may not stop until Wednesday.
I, along with many fans, have issues with the way this transpired.
We live in a world where technology can provide readings of where rain is traveling, what time it will be there, the approximate amount, etc. So, if rain was predicted, why not postpone the game? Okay, so maybe technology was wrong and provided wrong information.
So then, my questions shift to decisions made during the game. Why wasn’t the game suspended when the rain began to fall? At that point, there must have been some indication that the conditions were only going to get worse. There was no reason to have the players risk injury and have the fans endure miserable conditions.
As I watched players on both sides attempt to stay warm by blowing into their hands, I knew that MLB was doing these athletes a disservice. As Cole Hamels stood on base, his warm breath was visible in the chilly air.
One couldn’t help but think of the risk these ballplayers were being asked to make by playing in those conditions. It’s not just a game for them; it’s their livelihood. What would have happened if, because of the inclement weather, one of the players got injured? What do you say to them when they were giving it their all, it is the World Series, after all, and bad judgment ended their season—or worse, their career?
The other issue I have with the timing of the decision to suspend the game is the score.
While the Phillies held the lead, they were forced to play on. The rain was already beating down on the players and puddles had been established and were increasing with every at-bat. Yet, the game was still on.
Is it a coincidence that minutes after the Ray’s Carlos Pena hits a single to score B.J. Upton and tie the game, the game was suspended?
Fine, even if one believes it was a coincidence, the decision to have the players play and the freezing fans sit in those horrible conditions was unfair and embarrassing for baseball.
There was no reason to have everyone suffer for that long.
The chief of the umpiring crew, Tim Welke, said that if the weather didn’t affect the pitcher’s mound or the area around the plate, they would continue.
Really? I’m sorry, I thought that taking some time to dig the mud out of one’s cleats would fall under that category. Apparently, pools of water in the batter’s box wouldn’t affect the batter. Oh, and it seems the pellets of water falling from the sky didn’t affect the pitcher, catcher, or the hitter.
Oops, my bad. I thought that the rainstorm, plus the 30-degree weather, was enough to suspend a game a few innings earlier. What was I thinking?
It angers me when I see the Phillies’ Gold Glove shortstop Jimmy Rollins dance around the infield trying to fight the wind and the rain to try to catch a pop up. It further infuriates me when he is charged with an error, as if the weather had no affect on the play.
The elements should never affect the integrity of the game and its players.
It’s a sad day when the game is compromised by selfish reasons. Whether it be television schedules, possibility of extending the series, or arrogance, Game Five of the 2008 World Series will be remembered for its ridiculousness.
10 games down, one to go.
Non-baseball Baseball Notes
Hats off the fans: I’m fuming, but kudos to all the fans in Philadelphia who sat in the freezing temperatures and the chilling rain to cheer for their team.
Hats off the ear flaps: I'm a sucker, I fall for it all the time. I see the ballplayers wear the hats with the flaps, now I like it. Ugh.
25 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment
Mike McGovern 8 months ago
The Commissioner should be ashamed that he did not call a rain delay. Any reasonable umpire would have, so clearly the umpires were looking to the Commish for guidance.
And why would they not have a rain delay? This rule (4.12a):
Weather and similar conditions—Rules 4.12(a)(1) through 4.12(a)(5)—shall take precedence in determining whether a called game shall be a suspended game. If a game is halted by weather, and subsequent light failure or an intervening curfew or time limit prevents its resumption, the game shall not be a suspended game.
In other words, the Commish saw the weather report, and knew that any rain delay would mean the game was over and the Phillies would win.
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Claire Reclosado 8 months ago
Eactly, Mike. Thanks for sharing the rule.
It's such a shame when thing like that take precedence over everything else. I'm sure the Phillies wouldn't want to win in that fashion, but to have them keep playing—freakin' horrible..
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Claire Reclosado 8 months ago
*Exactly. Sorry, I can't stand typos.
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Patrick 8 months ago
Stop whining. Baseball players and most professional athletes make more money than anyone ever should for what they do. Its pathetic that you actually think its unreasonable for players to play through wind and cold weather.
"As I watched players on both sides attempt to stay warm by blowing into their hands, I knew that MLB was doing these athletes a disservice."
seriously?
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Claire Reclosado 8 months ago
Yes, seriously. If it were a game in May, it would have been suspended earlier. I understand the reasoning, no one wants to see the World Series end on that note, but the weather was too extreme to continue play. This isn't football where the athletes know and are used to playing in any type of weather.
The amount of money they make does not justify having them endure conditions that are not usually part of the game. So if a person earns minimum wage, should we place them in a four-star palace to sit and work in luxurious surroundings?
It's all about consistency.
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Joe Owens 8 months ago
The people who run Formula One GP racing have a simple dictum for adding "chance" to an event -- "Just add Water". If you want to review some stange decisions about stopping or continuing sporting events, review the FIA's history of dealing with rain. Last year's Japanese GP at Fuji should never have started... none of the drivers could see anything, yet they "raced", or rather, drove around for an hour and a half trying not to crash. It was a very bad, cruel, joke.
So now they have a three-and-a half-inning mini-game to possibly decide the Series?
Anyone not disturbed by how un-sporting this actually is?
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Lee Brenneman 8 months ago
"So, if rain was predicted, why not postpone the game? "
Claire, they didn't postpone the game because by the time they figured out the weather report, 45,000 charged-up Phillie fans had already arrived at the park for what they presumed would be a championship celebration. There would've been riot.
Mike, we appreciate the rule, but common sense dictates that those regular season go out the window in the World Series. You don't just hand out a WS trophy after 5 innings. A rain-shortened clincher would expose the "winning" team to ridicule for eternity. I guarantee the Phils and any true fan of the Fightin's wanted to win the series fair and square, with a full 9 inning game.
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Eric The Red 8 months ago
"So, if rain was predicted, why not postpone the game? "
Claire, they didn't postpone the game because by the time they figured out the weather report, 45,000 charged-up Phillie fans had already arrived at the park for what they presumed would be a championship celebration. There would've been riot.
Mike, we appreciate the rule, but common sense dictates that those regular season go out the window in the World Series. You don't just hand out a WS trophy after 5 innings. A rain-shortened clincher would expose the "winning" team to ridicule for eternity. I guarantee the Phils and any true fan of the Fightin's wanted to win the series fair and square, with a full 9 inning game.
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Claire Reclosado 8 months ago
Eric, excellent point about the fans. I totally overlooked that aspect. I wanted to see the game last 9 innings and I definitely didn't want to see the game called, but it should have been delayed earlier.
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Deric Markham 8 months ago
I understand your point, but part of me loved it. The elevated tension was apparent. With weather like that, nothing was routine anymore. Anything could happen. Even so, they should have made a decision a lot sooner than they did.
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Claire Reclosado 8 months ago
That's all I wanted, an earlier decision. The rain was and field conditions should have caused the game to be suspended earlier.
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C Maye 8 months ago
How about not starting the 6th??? In a situation that clearly favors the team on offense (hard to field, difficult to pitch breaking balls/changeups due to grip), it is baffling that the top of the 6th was allowed to begin. If MLB had decided that the game would be suspended, and resumed, why give one team the advantage of batting an extra turn in that slop???
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Claire Reclosado 8 months ago
I agree. Having the game stop in the middle of an inning may provide an advantage. If it wasn't raining, would the Phillies' defense and/or Cole Hamels have prevented the run? Once play resumes under better weather, will Philly get that extra inning to score?
No one wants to see the WS end because of rain, but I question the fairness, just like you pointed out.
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Christian Karcole 8 months ago
I respectively 100% disagree.
1. What other choice was there? Honestly, the forecast is so terrible for tonight and tomorrow, so how could you call it before it even started? And he got a prediction that said almost no rain. So they had to start the game. Once they started it, they had to go as far as they could. Yes, the fields were terrible in the fifth, but to suspend a World Series game with one team up by just one run is unfair. They were waiting for the Phillies to go up by two or for the Rays to tie it up. Once that happened it was over.
Also, when people say that one team had a disadvantage, I agree another 200% percent. It's not like the Rays had to play in it and the Phillies didn't. Joe Buck said that the conditions were terrible and that the Rays running game was going to suffer. First, he said this before they even stole a base so he didn't know. Second....I'm sorry, but the Phils had the best stealing pct. in the league...why would they not be affected?
And when people like C say that they shouldn't have started the six, I get even more dumbfounded. The situation was just as bad in the fifth, and the Phillies batted, so why would the Rays not bat? It wasn't a matter of saying "Here, we'll let the Rays bat in this horrible weather to an advantage to hitters". First of all, that isn't even true. Hitting is harder because you don't fully swing because it stings so bad when you hit and you don't get good footing, and running the bases is harder. Second, the Phillies got to bat in the same exact stuff.
I'm a Phillies fan and I admit it was the right move all of the way.
Sorry Claire, but this is the one time I disagree with you.
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Claire Reclosado 8 months ago
Well said, Christian, I totally see your point. No one wants to see the WS end like that, but even having the Rays bat was unfair because when the games resumes, the Phils will be at an advantage. They get the extra half inning with better weather. I guess, at the same time, the Rays' pitchers will have good weather to pitch that extra inning, but concluding it in the middle just seems unfair.
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Christian Karcole 8 months ago
Aha, that is a very good point. It would be unfair, but so would calling the game at 2-1. I think the best they could have done would have been gone another half inning, but it would've just taken too long and it was getting way to terrible out there.
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Claire Reclosado 8 months ago
You're right, it would be unfair to call it at 2-1. I would also be unhappy with that. Either way, there would be some unhappy people. I feel it could have been handled way better. Calling it in the 4th inning as the rain began to fall and there was no end to the storm for that evening would have been better—no official game. Ahh, hindsight is strong than 20/20.
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Christian Karcole 8 months ago
I wouldn't have wanted it called in the 4th. The Phillies would be outraged.
That's why I think the way the did it is the best way, everyone's happy.
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Christian Karcole 8 months ago
Also, as Eric said above, I don't care what the rules say. When you get to the World Series, you do what is best. Bud Selig makes his judgment calls on what he thinks is best for baseball, and this was absolutely best. I'm sorry, but if you call it with a 2-1 lead, that would look terrible. But, if you keep playing, both teams have to play through the same thing, so it's an even playing field. You just wait until it becomes and OK situation to delay it. You do not base this off of regular season delay rules because these games are HUGE. They can always reschedule or just end games early in the season, but come WS time, you just can't. You can't delay the game right when it gets bad. They needed to get as far ad they could, and when they got there, they needed the Rays to score a run or for the Phillies to score a run. Once they did, it was delayed. Right move in my mind.
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Liz O 8 months ago
I have a huge problem with them calling it in the middle of an inning. The Phillies pitcher and fielders had to do their job in the 6th inning in HORRIBLE conditions, which in turn caused an error, which ended up in a tie game. When play resumes whenever that may be, the Rays pitcher and fielders will be playing the 6th inning in favorable conditions, which gives them an unfair advantage.
I hope this inequality fires up the team and sets them off on the rampage they are capable of.
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Claire Reclosado 8 months ago
Good point, Liz. I totally overlooked the Rays' defensive advantage.
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JOHN CAREY 8 months ago
Respectfully, you have to keep the fans in mind, too. Calling the game with the weather questionable is not good. Add the fact that, if there's a "break" in the bad weather tonight, and the game could have been played, you'll have some disappointed fans.
Besides, the game - the beginning of it, anyway - is History. They'll finish it tomorrow...hopefully. I do hope the Phillies win.
AmericanSoldier
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Claire Reclosado 8 months ago
That's true. No one wants to face the ire of Phillies fans.
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Dan Kane 8 months ago
It's odd that Selig keeps the game going, and once he gets the result he wants he stops it. He has screwed up baseball in so many ways, and this is just adding to it.
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Mike McGovern 8 months ago
Lee, I agree that the rules needed to be thrown out in this situation: handing the Phillies the trophy after 5 would have been wrong. However, in a normal game, the weather would have dictated that the bottom of the fifth and the top of the 6th would never have been played. Clearly, the commisioner had a hand in continuing the game.
Giving the Rays a half inning chance to catch up was not something they deserved. They deserved the rest of the game, but in good conditions, whether or not they were tied. For instance, if the Phillies had been up by ten runs, it's clear from Selig's comments that they would have stopped after 4 1/2, suspended the game (against the rules), and continued play tonight in the bottom of the fifth. The Rays were only given the chance to tie or go ahead because they were close.
I believe that the fair thing to have done would be to have suspended the game after 5 and continued play tonight. Oh, well, too late.
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