[ml/nj]

First, I'll say that baseball has mostly left me behind, especially when the Mets aren't involved. But there's still a bit of the little boy in me that cares about the game and its rules. (I've never bet on BB, BTW.)

I think Bud Selig should be indicted for tampering with the outcome of a sports event. It's convenient for him to annouce that he had a secret meeting with some folks before the game about changing the rules, but no one broadcasting the game knew about it I'm told. As far as I'm concerned the secret meeting is an after the fact cover-my-a$$ attempt.

Baseball should not be played in October at night in 40 degree weather in the rain in the Northeast, at least. There are not supposed to be puddles on the field.

But the criminal Selig cannot decide that the Series cannot end with the Phillies leading a rain shortened game. This means, that for him, it would have been okay if the Tampa team had been leading. But since they were behind, the game had to continue under non-baseball conditions until Tampa was no longer behind or nine innings had been completed. Can we say, "huge advantage Tampa"?

Giving one team a huge advantage after the game has started is tampering with the outcome of a sports event, a federal crime. Selig should be prosecuted.

Red Smith is probabaly spinning in his grave.

ML/NJ

[raybbr]

I suppose if the situation were reversed you would feel the same way.

[Born In America]

Field conditions were horrible and not conducive for playing a World Series game. Interesting that the game continued while Philly was ahead but, when TB tied the score, suspend the game. The conditions were no different when they suspended the game compared with play in the top of the sixth prior to the tie. I don't have a dog in the hunt but, could not help but feel there could not be a winner regardless of the weather conditions.

[prolifefirst]

I don’t see how either team has an advantage. No matter what the score was, Selig wasn’t going to allow the game to end until 9 innings had been played.

Maybe he changed the rules, although no World Series game has ended short of 9 innings, but he didn’t give either team an advantage.

[MIT-Elephant]

I guess I’m going to be contrarian, but I think calling a postseason baseball game over before the 9 innings are played would be a huge drag.

It’s the damn World Series, play all the innings. The alternative - giving someone a weather-shortened win - would taint the result more than resuming the game would. We’d never hear the end of “but we didn’t get to bat!”

Now let’s get the Series moved back into warmer weeks and earlier in the evening.

[Always Right]

The only reason to allow shortened games is that it is a hassle to make them up during the season. This is the world series. You play all nine innings.

[microgood]

But the criminal Selig cannot decide that the Series cannot end with the Phillies leading a rain shortened game. This means, that for him, it would have been okay if the Tampa team had been leading. But since they were behind, the game had to continue under non-baseball conditions until Tampa was no longer behind or nine innings had been completed. Can we say, "huge advantage Tampa"?

All Selig did was say the game had to finish. It was the umpires that suspended the game when they did. He did not have a say in that. But the rules clearly state the game must start where it left off, and it actually gives the Phillies one more inning since it ended in the top of the 6th.

You may say it should have ended earlier, but Selig did not make that call.

[editor-surveyor]

Would you be offended if I suggested that you are a nut case?

[Keith in Iowa]

>>>Baseball should not be played in October at night in 40 degree weather in the rain in the Northeast, at least.

The World Series should start on Labor Day weekend. Opening day should be Memorial Day weekend.

And if it were up to me, hockey could only be played in locations where, and when it can be played outdoors. :)

[fkabuckeyesrule]

I agree with you about thr world series. I’m paying it almost no attention at all. First time in my life I could say that and I’ve been watching baseball since 1969. To have to world series running into late october / early november is silly. If they’re gonna have 3 rounds of playoffs they need to start the playoffs earlier and they can’t schedule the playoff games around certain Fox tv shows. But I agree with playing the game in its entirity. You cant have abbreviatd games during the post season.

[RckyRaCoCo]

One would think (with modern forecasting, radar, etc.)they knew the weather was going to be crap and should have canceled it earlier in the day. I have not seen the ratings, nor watched most of the post season for that matter, but I have heard the ratings were pretty poor for the Series(the little elites didn't get THEIR teams in there).

For that reason and, perhaps, FOX just wanted/hoped to end it yesterday and give "his unholiness" undivided attention to the 30 minute "Sermon On The Mount"(Cyanide)tomorrow night.

[Doc Savage]

First of all the game never should have been played. They knew the weather report, they knew that both Tuesday and Wednesday were complete write-offs due to weather. They also knew the forecast for Philadelphia for Thursday was bright sunshine and warmer temperatures. They should have moved the game to Thursday.

That being said, Selig is a 'self-appointed' stiff who had NO right to change the rules of the game of baseball. As it turned out the Rays saved his ass by tying the game.

That having been said, next year's WS is scheduled to conclude on or about November 7th which, by any stretch of the imagination, is complete and utter insanity. Since the teams don't want to rduce the number of games, and can't start the season any earlier than they already do, I suggest they schedule a number of double-headers - say 15-20- during the season so that the WS starts earlier and is played in better weather. Either that, or get rid of the stupid playoffs.

[big'ol_freeper]

especially when the Mets aren't involved

I don't think you need to worry about the post-season rules my friend....not for a long long time...

[devere]

In 104 years no world series game has ever been ended by the weather. Not a single game.

The commissioner and umpires have no obligation to end a delayed game. They could make everyone sit in their dugouts until weather conditions clear, for weeks if necessary. That would be fun to watch; sort of a baseball version of Luis Bunuel’s “Exterminating Angel”

Personally I would prefer if they got rid of the rainout rule entirely ( including in the regular season ), and play all suspended games to a finish.