Nats and Marlins will settle things in the end (that's awkward)

Washington Post

If you're a Washington Nationals fan – count me in with that group – you probably were a bit disappointed Tuesday to learn the game with the Marlins that night had been rained out.

Bummer.

And moments later you were most likely thinking, "oh, they'll play two on Wednesday or make up the game on Thursday." Seems logical. Both teams have off on Thursday.  And on Friday, the Nats stay at home for an interleague matchup with Texas and the Marlins have a short flight back to Miami for a night game with the hated Braves.

Without any other knowledge of the logistics, that was my thinking… and I was wrong.

The two NL East squads will make up the postponed game as part of a split doubleheader on Friday, September 26. First pitch for the makeup contest is 1:05 p.m. The regularly scheduled game for that night begins at 7:05 p.m. (Just for fun, any guess who'll be the Nats' starting pitcher for those games?)

That weekend series will be the last time the Marlins visit Washington in the regular season.

So, what if rain pours in Washington that Friday and both games that day are a wash? Do we then have back-to-back doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday, the final day of the regular season?

And – let's get really crazy – what if it rains all day on Saturday and those games get rained out, and the Nats and Marlins need those game to settle the division race?

Do they play two on Sunday and two on Monday?

Let's hope!

-- rain --

Nats undercover?

See all that blue sky? The Nats brass want to block it out, like Mr. Burns
once tried to block the sun from Springfield.

So, the Nationals want to build a dome over Nationals Park, you know, because it rains so much there. If they do so, I don't think I can be a fan any longer. Call me old school or non-progressive or whatever, but I just don't like indoor baseball. If the Nats' plans come to fruition, the dome will be retractable. But still, why ruin a neat ballpark with a roof, right? 

And, really, do the Nationals need a roof? Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post provides the below figures, which don't seem to justify the need for a huge umbrella over Nationals Park:

2008: Nats had six delays and two postponements (Throughout MLB, 155 games were affected by weather — postponements, delays, called games).

2009: Nats have seven delays and three postponements (MLB-wide: 210 games)

2010: Nats had six delays (MLB-wide: 130 games)

2011: Nats had 10 delays and four postponements (MLB-wide:180 games)

2012: Nats had seven delays and three postponements (MLB-wide: 127 games)

2013: the Nats had four postponements because of weather (The 2013 numbers provided by MLB are incomplete.)

-- rain --

Not Worth Mentioning, But Here Goes...

I just can't do this. With all the cool photos of rain and, of course, sunshine from the London Olympic Games, I just can't post anything here about a nothing story like the first-place Nationals and Marlins playing a doubleheader today – it begins at 4:05 p.m. at Nationals Park – to make up for a rained out game between the two N.L. East clubs way back on April 22. Can't do it. You readers of The Rainout Blog – both of you – deserve better.

Oh by the way, I just saw the lineup for the first game... no Bryce Harper. Bummer! Perhaps he'll pinch hit at some point. And, I'm sure the rookie will be on the field for the night cap. 

Braving the Rain

Before the Braves and Marlins could start the sixth inning last night, rain fell at Turner Field and delayed night's baseball game in Atlanta for an hour and 53 minutes. 

The photo above, on loan to me from the Braves Facebook page, shows Jason Heyward standing on deck as ominous clouds gathered. (Did I really need to write that sentence? You can plainly see what is happening.) 

Anyway, the Braves went on to thump the Miami Marlins 7-1 for their 10th victory in their last 13 games. The Braves hot streak inches them a bit closer – two and half games behind – to the N.L. East-leading Washington Nationals, who somehow was thumped by what's left of the last place Philadelphia Phillies last night. 

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?).

Somewhere Over The Rainbow Is Probably Another Loss for Nats

Is there a chance that a Nats win or two can be found just beyond that double rainbow? Not bloody likely. This photo was taken in late June, just before the Washington club took the field at Nationals Park and were handed an 8-3 defeat by the Angels. The Nationals have only 34 victories this season, the fewest in the major leagues. I still proudly wear my Curly W cap when I go to the store early, before I’ve had a chance to shower. I get a severe case of bed head when I sleep.

Under Construction: Nationals Ballpark

Psssst! I've said twice already that I'm finished posting today, but I wanted to share one more thing before getting ready for tonight's indoor football game in Minnesota. It's the Web construction cam for the Washington Nationals new ballpark. You can view today's lastest shot here and see the green outfield grass. The infield is covered with a tarp. The photo above is from a Dec. 6 snow that fell on the construction site and the District area. That's it. Good night.