One million, two million... $240 million

Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports

By now, you’ve heard Robinson Cano took the money and ran to Seattle, a place CBS sportswriter Jason Keidel says is more known for “coffee and cold rain and bad baseball.” (Yes, the “cold rain” line is what lands this on The Rainout Blog.)

Keidel also suggests Cano’s agent, Jay Z, may have hustled Cano in the deal. Jay Z is good at math, you know.

Anyway, that’s an interesting word, “hustle,” when referring to Cano because it’s likely folks in Seattle, while sipping latte’s and waiting for Seahawks training camp to begin, will not see much of it from their new second baseman. Wait, is that the Yankees fan in me talking?

I imagine John Sterling is sitting alone somewhere in New York City shouting, “Robbie Cano, don’t ya know… you’ll never win a ring in Seattle.”

McCann’s first Yankees rain out… in November?

Yankee fans are waiting (in the rain) for McCann.

If you’re a Yankees fan, you’re excited and thankful to have a new catcher. But, if you’re looking to see Brian McCann in pinstripes at an introductory news conference before Thanksgiving, it’s 

likely you’ve grabbed the short end of the wishbone.

Our boy Wallace Matthews reports on ESPN New York that McCann’s trip to the Bronx for a physical and press conference is likely to be postponed by severe weather. Matthews writes:

“According to a Yankee source, the club would like to fly McCann in from his Atlanta-area home either today or tomorrow, but forecasts of a severe rain-and-wind storm later this afternoon may well push everything back to next week. The concern is that once McCann arrives here, he will not be able to return home in time to spend the holiday with his family.”

Matthews also quotes the Yankees source as saying, "The odds are we won't see him (in New York) until next week.

-- rain --

Rain Shields

I love this shot. You could probably say this Reuters photo is sports/weather blogger’s dream come true. Ok, let’s not get carried away, but this is a great shot of what looks like a single rain drop splattering off the bill of Kansas City Royals pitcher James Shields as the starting pitcher faced the New York Yankees in the Bronx. James and the Royals won 3-1 in a game on July 9 – yeah, I just found the pic nearly a month later – that was played in occasional rain and hail.

Rain on A-Rod's parade?

So today is the day we find out – I hope – MLB’s decision on the Alex Rodriguez suspension. 

It’s an odd circumstance in play: We’re hearing now that the decision for a long suspension will be announced around 3 p.m. Eastern today. Meanwhile, all indicators suggest A-Rod will appeal the suspension, thus allowing him to rejoin the Yankees in Chicago for tonight’s game with the White Sox.

We’ve waited so long to see how this finally plays out. We know there will be a suspension, most likely through the 2014 season, but will Rodriguez indeed be allowed back on the field tonight after surgery in February and a long rehab stint?

We’ll find out tonight, right? I mean, what could possibly hold up that decision now?

Oh, yeah: Rain!

Ok, probably not but there is a 40 percent chance of rain and there have been media reports of drizzle at the ballpark in Chicago today.

But if rain does postpone the game, what will the Yankees do? Will they take this opportunity to 

develop another excuse to keep Rodriguez off the club? Perhaps invent a new nagging injury?

Editor’s note: After reading the above post, you said to yourself, “wow, that was a half-arsed attempt at a blog post,” you’d be right. I’ve been writing The Rainout Blog on-again, off-again (mostly off-again) for the past seven or eight years. (Has it been that long?) When I started, I had real passion for what I still think is a unique –that’s my way of saying “uninteresting to most other people” – sports blog. Occasionally, I’ll say, “hey, I really should write more on The Rainout Blog.” And then I’ll open the blog and think “Ugh, I really don’t want to get into this again.” So, what am I saying here? Nothing really, other than I’d really like to get back to writing this blog, but I’m not promising anything… other than it probably won’t happen.

Wild, Rainy (and not so rainy) Night

I hate admit this, but I saw no baseball yesterday. Blame it on the rain. (That's so cheesy. Sorry.)

When I got home from work, the Giants and Cardinals had already slipped into what would become a three-and-a-half-hour rain delay – the delay actually lasted longer than the game.

My wife and I are remodeling our bedroom, and when I finished painting the closet and installing light switch and outlet covers, the rain had stopped and the Cards had grabbed a 2-1 series lead.

In the American League, you all know by now that the Yankees, who are benching everyone these days, and the Tigers were rained out… sort of. Actually, it was the threat of rain that postponed Game 4, and possibly lengthened the hapless, hitless Yankees' season by a day. Today's game, which should have been Game 5, gets started at 4:07 p.m. From what I've heard and read, the ballpark was dry when the game was called at 9:15 p.m. Rain eventually hit the ballpark around 10 p.m., where it rained for about an hour.

Forecasters say that the wet stuff will be long gone from Detroit before today's Yankees-Tigers tilt. The NLCS Game 4 is scheduled for tonight in St. Louis, where it will be, according to forecasters, cloudy and cool with a low around 45 degrees with a chance of a spot shower or sprinkles. That forecast doesn't seem much to worry about, right?

Sprinkles

MLB.com has a story about the Cards-Giants rain delay, complete with Giants skipper Bruce Bochy talking about the delay.

The St. Louis Post Dispatch has some cool pics of a lot of wet fans in Busch Stadium last night… lots of umbrellas, which I love but never use. I love the image showing the weather radar on the ballpark's giant screen.

As a Nationals fan, I'm a bit sick of writing about the Cardinals participation in the playoffs, so let's move on to the Yanks and Tigers…

FanGraphs has a story detailing how Wednesday's postponement in Detroit could play havoc with the Yankees rotation and further damage the team's already dismal chances.

The Tigers have been through this playoff rain delay thing before… last year, and Max Scherzer is cool with it.

Not so cool with the rain out was this fella, who checked out his grandfather from a nursing to take him to Comerica Park for the game.

Not to be outdone by the Post-Dispatch, the Detroit Free Press has photos from the not-so-rainy night accompanying a Mitch Albom column. I love Mitch.

Speaking of sports writers I love, Tim Kirkjian took to Twitter during the delays to discuss his top 10 sitcom characters of all time.

Rain Could Doom Tigers - Yankees Finale

It's rainy at Comerica Park today where the Detroit Tigers are scheduled to host the New York Yankees at 1:05 p.m. A 60 percent chance of rain is forecasted for Detroit today.

I'll be away from The Rainout Blog Headquarters this afternoon, so you may want to follow the Tigers on Facebook and/or Twitter for updates. I'm so lazy.

By the way, the photo with this post is from the Tigers Facebook page. Thanks, guys, for letting my borrow it.

UPDATE: First pitch has been pushed back to 1:35 p.m. because of rain. Do Detroit TV stations show episodes of The Andy Griffith Show during rain delays?

Rain (Photo) Delay

Hey, remember a few weeks ago when the Yankees bird-slapped the Toronto Blue Jays 6-0 in a rain-shortened game in the Bronx? Well, I'm sure these guys do. That game was July 18, but I just today found this fun Daily News photo when researching another story. As for the game, it was called after a 58-minute rain delay. Wouldn't you just love to hear John and Suzyn fill air time during a near hour rain delay?

Rain Spoils Gardner's Work

If you're a New York Yankees fan eager for the return of Brett Gardner to the lineup, you'll have to wait perhaps a day longer for the left fielder to test his injured right elbow. Gardner's scheduled rehab game with Tripe-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, know this year as the Empire State Yankees, was rained out last night. The team is scheduled to play a double header today against Columbus in Rochester. (Confused yet?) Gardner has been out of the New York lineup since April 18 with a strained right elbow.

Rochester is far away from The Rainout Blog headquarters, but the trusty Weather.com tells me it's raining right now in Rochester, just as it is at TRoB HQ. However, the forecast calls for rain to cease a few hours before the 5:05 first pitch and for a 30 percent chance of rain the rest of the night.

The image at right was posted Monday on the Empire State Yankees Facebook page.

Raining on Jeter’s Hit Parade

What’s that?

Oh yeah. You’re right. I have officially closed The Rainout Blog, but occasionally I get the itch. Such is the case on this late Friday night as I chill in the Mancave watching the Giants and Mets. The Panda just made a nice play at third, by the way.

Anyway, it’s not raining in San Francisco, but clouds did explode over Yankee Stadium tonight, postponing the Bombers’ game with the Rays. The significance of the rainout, of course, is it gives Derek Jeter one less game to smack his 3,000 career hit before the home crowd in the Bronx.

The short stop is two hits shy of the milestone, and can certainly record two base hits in one game. However, it’s not unthinkable to say Jeter, a guy who’s hitting well below his career average at .257, could be held hitless throughout the remainder of the series. After Sunday, the Yanks, along with the rest of the Major Leagues, go to the All-Star break and then visit Toronto and Tampa during an eight-game road trip.

I can’t think of a worse place than Toronto for Jeter’s 3,000th base hit.

Friday’s rained out game could have been made up as part of a day-night doubleheader on Saturday – the regularly-scheduled game begins at 1:05 p.m. – but the Rays declined, according to Yankees Manager Joe Girardi, who added that his team voted to play two on Saturday. Now, the rained out contest will be made up Sept. 22.

Will the Rays refusal to play a day-nighter on Saturday create more friction between the two American League East contenders? Girardi and Yankees’ General Manager Brian Cashman say no, but Girardi’s comments suggest otherwise.

"Whether I'm frustrated or not, doesn't really matter,” the skipper said. “We wanted to see this happen for our fans. We thought that was important. But it's not (happening), so let's get the hits the next couple days, that's all."

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Done for the Day

Play at the U.S. Open has been suspended for the day. They'll try again Friday morning.

No word yet on a postponement of the Yankees/Nationals game. It's still in a rain delay.

UPDATE: The target -- this has become a moving target -- for the first pitch at Yankee Stadium is now 4:05 p.m.

The Organist is Playing “Singing in the Rain”

It’s raining in the Bronx, delaying Joba Chamberlain’s first pitch in the Yankees’ rubber (boots) match with the Washington Nationals. Jack Curry has the rain delay covered, including Johnny Damon’s forecast, on the New York Times’ Bats blog.

Frank Franklin of the Associated Press took the above photo exclusively for The Rainout Blog (that’s not true).

Keep visiting The Rainout Blog for updates on the Yankees/Nationals and U.S. Open rain delays. (That, too, is probably not true. I got stuff to do, ya know?).

Two Out on Opening Day, so far

It’s opening day, and threats of rain and snow already have claimed two games. The snowy forecast in Chicago led officials Sunday to postpone Monday’s White Sox opener, and rain in Boston today has led to delaying the Red Sox contest with Tampa. Also, rain has been falling in Cincinnati, but the Reds and Mets continue to play through. And, as you can see in the photo, the tarp has been on the field today in Baltimore, but it looks like the O’s and Yankees will begin on time.

By the way, for more frequent Rainout Blog updates, follow the blog's Twitter page at Twitter.com/Rainoutblog.

The Rainbow is Coming Into Focus

I haven’t completely given up on The Rainout Blog, but I can see the end from here. Oh, look. Is that a rainbow? In the meantime, as the blog rests comfortably and heavily medicated on the breathing machine that I’m reaching to unplug, I wanted to post this photo of the Yankees game against the Orioles in Baltimore Tuesday night. Yanks manager Joe Girardi – I gotta get on Joe’s diet and exercise program – argued with umpires that the game should have been delayed because of the pouring rain before Hideki Matsui lined out to right field to end the ninth inning. He’s probably right, but turnabout is fair play, I guess. Remember this from last year?

Royal Rain Clouds Hover Over KC

The Kansas City Royals are scheduled to play their 2008 home opener later today against the New York Yankees. The Royals and their loyal fans are hoping the rain stops in time for the 3:10 p.m. local time first pitch. They also are counting on the Yankees being a bit tired after the Bombers played and won a Monday night game in the Bronx. The Royals had Monday off to relax and watch the weather radar.

A Drain on Opening Day

Rain spoiled Opening Day in only two Major League Baseball cities Monday: New York and St. Louis. The last home opener at Yankee Stadium was called off and has been rescheduled for tonight. The same goes for the Cardinals and Rockies opening game at Busch Stadium. Meanwhile, wet stuff hit a few other locations Monday, but teams in those cities played through to the end. I love this photo of the Phillies grounds crew.

Bronx Delay

The 2008 Major League Baseball season is just underway and already we have our first rain delay. It’s at Yankee Stadium, where the Bombers were scheduled for a 1:05 first pitch against Toronto. No new start time has been announced. The game, whether it’s played today or tomorrow, will be the last opening day game at the old Bronx ballpark.

Meanwhile, speaking of poor opening day weather in New York, check out this story about the Yankees snowing 1996 home opener.

New York Media No Problem For Girardi, But Can He Handle Rain Delays?

I never thought I'd be writing stuff about baseball rain delays on Nov. 1, but I just heard a radio interview with brand, spankin' new Yankees Manager Joe Girardi. Joe constantly will be under the surveillance of the New York media and already they've begun asking him about his relationship with Marlins ownership and players when he managed in Florida a couple of years back. One of the questions posed to him today was his handling of pitcher Josh Johnson's arm injury. You may remember a Marlins game with the Mets in which Johnson started, sat through a rain delay or more than an hour and then returned to the mound once the game resumed. Some say Girardi should have been more cautious with the hurler and taken him out of the game when the rains fell. The howls grew louder when Johnson subsequently had Tommy John surgery.

Update: Here's something corny: This is Rainout Blog post No. 162. Interesting (not really!) that it's about baseball with that number equally the number of MLB regular season games.

You're right. That's really dumb.

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Full disclosure: I'm a Yankees fan, so I need not explain to you why I want the Red Sox to be eliminated from the MLB playoffs as soon as possible. Also, I still have bad memories of the Diamondbacks beating Mariano Rivera and the Yanks in the Fall Classic a few years back. All that said, you can probably gather that I'm rooting for an Indians-versus-Rockies World Series. The above reasons withstanding, I would love to see how the weather plays a factor for late October baseball games in frost-brewed Coors Field. I hope, good golly I hope, we see something resembling the above photo. Go Tribe! Go Rockies! Go Snow!!!

Rain And Chill Invade British Open First Round

I’m really too busy today with my real job to make any significant contribution to this blog. That’s a shame, too, because the British Open began this morning at Carnoustie, Scotland, and if you follow golf, you how nasty the weather can be at the course, particularly the wind. That said, I will, however, blog deliver to you (via this link) an article from AP writer Doug Ferguson about just how difficult Carnoustie can be when the wind and rain settle in. I can tell you this weather-related item from today’s British Open first round: Tiger Woods sank a 90-foot putt for birdie during this morning’s damp, chilly conditions and finished his round with a 2-under, 69. Play began with a steady drizzle and wind with temperatures in the low 50s. Sounds like a great day!

In the photo above: Australia's Stuart Appleby blows rain off his putter on the 1st green during first round play at the 2007 British Open Golf Championship tournament in Carnoustie, Scotland, July 19, 2007. REUTERS/David Moir (BRITAIN)

At The Bronx: I’m barely listening to the Yankees / Blue Jays game, but I think I heard the Bombers broadcast crew of John Sterling and Suzyn “Goodness Gracious” Waldman mention the possibility of rain there at Yankees Stadium. However, the teams are still playing, so I’m not sure what’s going on. At the time I’m writing this, the Yanks lead 2-0. Watch your back BoSox!

O's Soaking Mad

The Baltimore Orioles have gotten their feathers in a bunch, and no one can blame them. Thursday night against the Yankees, the skies opened and released a downpour upon Camden Yards. The score was tied at 6-6 in the top of the eighth inning. The Yanks had runners on second and third with Derek Jeter coming to bat when the rain began falling harder. The game had already been delayed once for rain, and this looked like the perfect spot for another delay. However, the umpires let the teams continue although it was visibly clear on my TV screen that all the players were having a difficult time dealing with the heavy precipitation. Jeter was shaking water off his helmet and cleaning mud from his spikes. Still, play continued, and Jeter eventually lined a single that scored the two runners giving the Bronx Bombers an 8-6 lead. At that point, the umpires sent the teams off the field and the grounds crew rolled out the tarp, for the night, as it turned out. Melvin Mora was seen on TV arguing with the umps, and frankly, all of the Birds should have been on the field to convey their displeasure. I’m not sure why the umpires kept the game going through the downpour, unless they were hoping Jeter would make a quick out to complete the inning.

The Baltimore Sun’s Roch Kubatko has some good quotes from Mora, who was tossed for airing his grievances with the ump, and O’s hurler Chris Wray, who was on the mound during the rain.

The game was suspended and will resume July 27.

Below is nice AP photo of Jeter's go-ahead hit in the driving rain.