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)

Best Series Action Yet

Say what you will about Major League Baseball’s handling of the World Series rain delay and postponement Monday night – it seems everyone has an opinion today – but you have to admit that the rain is the most exciting storyline of this lackluster Series. Several columnists, bloggers and radio personalities are chiming in today, and most are going hard after Bud Selig. I would link to a host of stories, but you people are smart. You know how to Google. Knock yourselves out.

Wait, I do want to link to a couple of items. Here are opposing opinions of the Commish’s actions.

Bud Selig makes a bad call for baseball – LA Times

And here’s the other side: (Actually, this is from MLB.com and is more of a skipping-through-a-field-of-daisies argument.)
Silver lining: Another day of baseball

By the way, in case you haven’t heard, the conclusion of Game 5 has been postponed until Wednesday night.

No Rays of Sunshine at Birdland

In case you missed it, the rubber match of the Rays at Orioles three-game series was rained out Thursday. No make up date has been announced. The O’s are scheduled to open a four-game set today with Seattle at Camden Yards, but the forecast is not promising for that game. The first pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. You can read more about Thursday’s rainout at the O’s official Web site. In this AP photo, Rays pitchers Al Reyes and J.P. Howell are seen throwing on the Camden Yards field after the game was called.