TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Rain May Hit Philly Saturday

ADVERTISEMENT

By TONY FABRIZIO

afabrizio@tampatrib.com

Published: October 24, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - The next game of the World Series could be further away than Saturday's 8:35 p.m. scheduled start.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for a 90 percent chance of rain in Philadelphia during the day Saturday, with "rain likely" at night.

Rain wouldn't be a problem in St. Petersburg, of course, because the Rays play in the dome. But the Phillies' Citizens Bank Park is an open-air stadium with natural grass.

If Game 3 is rained out, the Philadelphia portion of the schedule would be pushed back one day. Game 3 would be played Sunday (the forecast looks good), Game 4 Monday and Game 5 (if necessary) Tuesday, which is supposed to be a travel day.

Under that scenario, any remaining games at Tropicana Field would be played as scheduled.

However, losing the scheduled travel day between Games 5 and 6 could potentially mean games would be played five consecutive days - a problem since both teams are using four-man rotations for the playoffs. The alignment is unclear, but the Rays likely would start either Edwin Jackson or David Price in such a scenario, with the other pitcher backing up the starter.

Having the schedule pushed back a day would give Phillies manager Charlie Manuel the option of pitching his ace, Cole Hamels, in Game 4 rather than Game 5.

Hamels earned the victory in Philadelphia's 3-2 Game 1 win Wednesday night.

The Rays got lucky with the weather in Chicago and Boston during the AL Division Series and AL Championship Series, playing in mostly mild temperatures. It will be cooler in Philadelphia during the weekend, and temperatures for a fifth game Tuesday could be bitterly cold.

The long-range forecast for Tuesday calls for a low in the upper 30s with windy conditions.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT