Bob in My Brain

I was watching MLB Network late Wednesday and heard Bob Costas talking about Arizona pitcher Wade Miley's masterful performance that night against the Texas Rangers. The rookie left-hander gave up only a run to the potent Rangers lineup, but received no run support from his Diamondbacks teammates and lost the game 1-0.


Anyway, as I'm watching the highlights, I see a shot of Miley walking off the mound in the pouring rain. My brain immediately went into daydream mode and, in my mind, I heard Bob say," this is the sort of thing that needs to be featured on The Rainout Blog." Ok, had Bob actually said those words, he would have much more eloquently. He is Bob Costas, after all.

So here ya go, Bob, a brief mention of Wiley's performance – it was halted by a 29-minute rain delay in the fourth inning – just like you asked for… if only in my mind.

Now, I didn't find an image of Miley pitching in the rain, but I did find this cool Associated Press shot of the Rangers' Adrian Beltre walking back to the dugout after striking out against Miley in the second inning as ominous storm clouds gather above the ballpark. Eerie!

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.

What Are You Waiting For?

The game has been postponed. 

Fans in this Associated Press photo from April 30 are shown braving wet conditions during a rain delay at Comerica Park in Chicago. 

The patient fans were waiting to see the hometown White Sox play the Kansas City Royals. However, rain kept falling and the game was postponed until Sept. 24, a date that had been a mutual off day for both clubs. 

The rainout was the second in three days for the Royals.

You Kids Get Off My Lawn

To all spammers out there who insist on leaving (usually unreadable) messages in the comments section of this blog: I hate to rain on your parade, but no one reads this blog. No one! It's a simple project I do for fun in my spare time. 

Your advertisements, or whatever you call that crap, will not be seen here. Now, run along and play someplace else. Scram!

Did The Beatles Ever Sing about Foggy Nights in Liverpool?

You are looking live, sort of, at foggy Anfield, where today – tonight in Liverpool – the Reds host mighty Tottenham.

Well, "mighty" may be a bit of a stretch for the Premier League's third place side, but Hot Spur are having a nice run this season.

Anyway, the match, which I hope to catch glimpses of as I work today in The Rainout Blog satellite office, should be fun if the fog continues to hover along the pitch.

By the way, the neat photo above is from the Liverpool Facebook page.

Speaking of Premier League social media pages, Manchester City posted on its Facebook site a nifty gallery of Saturday's beautiful snowy scene at The Etihad Stadium Saturday.

I watched some of the match live and caught more of the visuals later that night on replay. I particularly enjoyed watching grounds crew members shovel snow away from the penalty areas.

If anyone was at the match and took photos you'd like to share with the – uh,hm –  many, many Rainout Blog readers please send those my way.

A Brief Story on Tim Howard’s Wind-Assisted Goal That I Should Have Posted Two Weeks Ago

Wow, wind can do crazy things… like push a kick from a goalkeeper into the opposing team’s net from about 100 yards away.

That’s what happened Wednesday night, Jan. 4, when Everton keeper Tim Howard booted the yellow ball from just inside his penalty area. The ball soared across the pitch, bounced about 30 feet from the Bolton goal and then took wind-assisted flight over outreaching Wanderers goalkeeper Adam Bogdan and into the goal during the game’s 63rd minute.

“I think the wind is the hardest condition to play in,” Howard, an American, told BBC Radio.  “Snow, rain, sun doesn’t matter, but the wind really does play tricks on you.”

It was only the fourth goal by a keeper in the Premier League’s history, which dates back to only 1992.

Those inside Goodison Park joyfully cheered the rare achievement – Howard remained subdued, explaining later he felt bad for Bogdan – but Everton supporters’ glee was short lived as Bolton soon scored two goals and held on for a 2-1 victory.

Bogdan, speaking to reporters, said he would learn from the experience.

"It could have happened to anybody because of the conditions,” the keeper said. “It was extremely hard to get in the right positions.”

Can They Play Two in the Snow?

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for spring and baseball season, particularly after seeing – or is it despite seeing? – this photo posted last night on the Cubs’ Facebook page of the snow falling on the statues outside Wrigley Field.

It’s been an unusually mild and quiet winter here at The Rainout Blog world headquarters, but I’m eagerly awaiting the days when I don’t have to fear waking up and driving to work in nine inches of snow.

For now, with Opening Day still a few months away, we can sneak a peek at the streets outside Wrigley Field, where currently a little snow lingers, and dream of the warmer, baseball-filled days ahead.

Crimson Rain (not literally)

It was wetter than elephant spit in Tuscaloosa Tuesday when the Alabama Crimson Tide football team landed safely back in its home state with its second national championship in three years. In case you missed it, Alabama thumped LSU and its comatose offense 21-0 Monday night in the title game.

Fans of the football crew gathered Tuesday at the Tuscaloosa Regional Airport – who knew they had airports in Alabama – to greet the champs by, no doubt, yelling “roll Tide” and something silly about a yellow hammer. Aren’t you glad college football is over? Me, too!

Photo: AP Photo/The Birmingham News

Kickin' It in the Rain

I don’t know a thing about German football, but I do know I like this photo of a match today – like right now – between Nuremberg and Fuerth.

The Getty Images caption reads:

Nuremberg's defender Philipp Wollscheid (R) and Fuerth's Kazakhstan's midfielder Heinrich Schmidtgal (L) challenge for the ball during the German Football League DFB Cup last sixteen round match between 1. Fc Nuremberg and Greuther Fuerth in the arena in Nuremberg, southern Germany, on December 20, 2011.

In the meantime, there’s a lot of wet stuff falling in Blackburn where the Rovers trail Bolton 2-0 and the Ewood Park faithful are ready to kick Steve Kean out in the rain.

You're right. The Blackburn/Bolton photo stinks. I'll try to do better as the match progresses.

Slide, Reggie, Slide!

Who knew the Dolphins were a cold weather team?

Heck, through first seven games of the season, who knew the Dolphins were a team at all?

Since starting at a dreadful 0-7 and being accused of sucking for Luck, the ‘Phins have swam back to respectability by winning five of their last seven games, including a 30-23 victory over the Buffalo Bills Sunday in a snowy, picturesque Orchard Park, N.Y., where temperatures were just below freezing. (Wow, that was a long sentence.)

Miami running back Reggie Bush led his team with 203 rushing yards, a big chunk of which came on a 76-yard gallop to the end zone and capped by a slide through the end zone snow at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Teammate Brandon Marshall, who could take a few sliding pointers from South Beach’s newest resident, Jose Reyes, glided right past Bush.

“I play FIFA a lot on PlayStation,” Bush said after the game. “I felt like I did a little soccer slide right there.”

Bush’s impromptu celebration drew a 15-yard penalty.

No blubber off the Dolphins, who continue their December tour of cold Northeast states with a visit with the Patriots Saturday in Foxboro, Mass., where the forecast – yeah, I know it’s a little early for forecasts – calls for a high temperature of 36 degrees and, you guessed it, a chance of snow.

Photo: Getty Images

Note: Buffalonews.com has a great photo gallery of the snowy game.

One more thing: Someone just told me I could really increase page views to The Rainout Blog if I posted images of Bills cheerleaders dancing in the snow. I haven’t yet found a good shot, but I’ll keep checking. If you have one, send it my way, and I’ll post it on the blog.

Answer Still Foggy

On Tuesday, I posted a brief story centered on an Associated Press photo of a recent FIFA Club World Cup soccer match in Japan between Auckland FC and Kashiwa Reysol. The caption mentioned that fog shrouded Toyota Stadium at the point the photo was taken.

Indeed, it looks like fog, and, who am I to question the AP?

However, no story I read about the match mentioned fog, but one story did mention a pre-match fireworks display. So I asked: was it fog or smoke from the fireworks?

Keep in mind: I know this isn’t super important and no one really gives rats arse either way. But this is a sports weather blog, so I thought I’d take a crack and uncovering the truth. You know… just for fun.

I sent out a few Tweets and emails and then yesterday received this email from Auckland FC Media Manager Gordon Glen Watson:

Hi,

I was there, and my first impression was the 'mist' was from the fireworks display of the short opening ceremony.

However, as the match progressed, the mercury fell and the argument for fog probably becomes stronger.

To be honest, there was no way to be 100% completely sure.

There was steam coming off the players, so that's also an indicator.

The fireworks display wasn't that grandiose, although the roof was closed over the pitch, so who can tell.

The focus was mainly on the football, although I did hear journalists from abroad ask whether it was fog or smoke.

Let me know when you find out!

Cheers,

Gordon

Ok, we’re not any closer to knowing the answer, but as I said, it’s really not important, just fun.

Big thanks to Watson for taking the time from his busy schedule to reply to my email at – I hope my math is correct – approximately 11:23 p.m. on a Friday night.

Tebowing in the Rain? Not in the Sunday Forecast

Yep. I'm trying to capitalize on Tebow Mania, too.

Hey, you know what would be great for increasing page views to The Rainout Blog?

Rain in Denver Sunday when the Broncos host the New England Patriots, that’s what.

I’m not above capitalizing on Tebow Mania, ya know.

Alas, (I can’t believe I just wrote the word “alas”) the Sunday forecast for Denver calls for a sunny day with a high temperature around 51 and only a 10 percent chance of rain.

Crap!

Oh, well. I’ll just put Tebow’s name in the tags below and watch the page views roll up like the QB’s passing yards. Wait. I’m already at that pace. Never mind.

By the way, the above photo was taken during Florida’s 45-15 win over Florida State on Nov. 29, 2008, when 1.34 inches of rain fell on Doak Campbell Stadium  in Tallahassee. Tebow passed for three touchdowns that day.

Fog or Fireworks?

Is it fog or smoke from a pre-match fireworks display covering the pitch
during a recent match at Toyota Stadium? Who knows?

The caption on this Dec, 8 Associated Press photo reads:


"Fog shrouds the Toyota Stadium where Auckland FC plays Kashiwa Reysol during the playoff for the quarterfinal at the FIFA Club World Cup soccer in Toyota, near Nagoya, central Japan, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)"

You know how I love foggy playing fields, so I had to post the pic.

While doing a little research for a brief story to accompany the photo, I found no reference to foggy playing conditions during Kashiwa Reysol’s 2-0 over their opening round opponents from New Zealand.

However, a match review on the FIFA website noted:

"The action was preceded by an opening ceremony that culminated with some deafening fireworks, but there was nothing particularly explosive during an untidy opening to the match itself."

So, was it fog or smoke from the fireworks display shrouding Toyota Stadium last Thursday?

Anyone out there know the answer?

This may be The Rainout Blog’s first attempt at investigative journalism… or first attempt at journalism, period. 

Last Word on West London Downpour

Yesterday, I was a bit ticked at not being able to see the falling rain on my screen captures from the Chelsea vs. Manchester City game. I could clearly see rain pouring down on the Stamford Bridge pitch as I watched the match on my laptop, but the wet stuff wasn’t visible in photos I wanted to post to the blog. But then I found some cool pics from Getty Images, and now I’ve stumbled upon this gallery from The Guardian photographer Tom Jenkins.

The Jenkins image here shows Frank Lampard after scoring what turned out to be the game-winner in Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over the EPL’s top club.

Seeing the Rain More Clearly

Chelsea leaves Man City all wet Monday.

I mentioned in the post below that the rain falling on the Stamford Bridge pitch today – tonight in London – was not visible in the my crappy screen capture. No problem.

Here is a cool shot from Getty Images giving us nice visual insight into the playing conditions between Chelsea and Manchester City.

The match is tied 1-1 at halftime.

UPDATE: Chelsea defeated Man City, 2-1.

London Rain

It’s a cold, wet night at Stamford Bridge, and “City fans are singing in the rain in West London.” Those were the words of ESPN commentator – I think it’s Rob Stone – after Mario Balotelli scored at the 1:38 mark to give Manchester City a 1-0 lead in the steady downpour.

If you’re relaxing comfortably at home, you can catch the game on ESPN2. If you’re stuck at work like someone I know who shall remain nameless, you can watch on your computer on ESPN3.

By the way, my crappy screen shot was unable to capture the rain falling on the pitch at Stamford Bridge. You’ll have to take my word for it.

Update: Chelsea just got the equalizer on a goal by Raul Meireles. Chelsea 1, Man City 1.

Off Pitch

Occasionally – and by occasionally I mean very, very rarely – I like to stray away from sports and offer just… well, weather. And since it’s a slow sports/weather day, here’s a cool Associated Press photo of traffic flowing through heavy rains today in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Perfect!

Once upon a time I had thought about transforming The Rainout Blog into a site about weather’s affects on all aspects of life, not just sports. Thinking more clearly, I quickly realized it would a daunting task, much more work than I willing to do, I guess.

Associated Press Photo: Mark Baker

I Would Pay to See a Kick Returned in a Hurricane

Oops!

Oh, no!

Not again!

Come on, Cromartie, you @#$%!

Those are just a few words and phrases Jets fans, I’m sure, have used while watching their team’s normally reliable kick returners cough up the pigskin to the opposition this season.

It’s happened four strait games now following rookie Jeremy Kerley’s ball-belching gaffe against Washington Sunday that led to a Redskins score. The Jets have fumbled away six return chances this season thanks to the uncertain hands of Kerley, Antonio Cromartie and Joe McKnight.

With the Jets most likely needing to win their four remaining games for a chance at the playoffs, Coach Rex Ryan has decided to go with the sure-handed Jim Leonard on kick returns, particularly as the season moves into the potentially harsh winter months of December and January.

Leonard may not – who are we kidding? Does not – have the speed of the aforementioned returners, but Ryan has confidence in Leonard’s ability to secure the ball under any circumstances, even severe storms.

“As I mentioned before, he can catch it in a hurricane,” Ryan said in a press conference of his sure-handed return man. “This time of year, the weather has a tendency to pick up, the wind and all those types of things. I just, right now, would feel more comfortable having Jim Leonhard back there. I know Westy (special teams coach Mike Westhoff) and I feel the same way. I think that’s how we’re going to go."

Photo: Getty Images

Tiger Confident Through the Wind

In case you didn’t hear, let me be the first to tell you Tiger Woods won The Chevron World Challenge Sunday, his first tournament victory in more than two years.

This has been big news today for those sportscasters who still gush over Tiger.

I think I heard one sports radio host today say Tiger, in the process of winning a golf tournament, can make TV viewers switch off the NFL and to the links.

Come on, fellas!

As sick as I sometimes get over the Tiger love fests that often occur in sports media, I couldn’t help be a little fascinated – maybe “fascinated” is too strong a word here, but I’ll go with it – with one Woods weather-related item from last week when the golfer explained to ESPN Radio’s Colin Cowherd that playing in the wind at the Australia Open, where he finished third, helped him gain confidence his game was on par with his pre-Thanksgiving 2009 level of play.
“I am fully healthy and the way I played in Australia was very exciting for me because when the wind blows like that and it’s howling consistently like when it did in Sydney and down in Melbourne and I ended up playing nine rounds, nine competitive rounds during that stretch, Woods told Cowherd.

“I felt like I had control of the golf ball for all those days and as a player you get exposed from the wind if you have any kind of weakness and I didn’t have any glaring weakness and as the more I played I got better. That was the fun part that when the wind blew my swing tightened up and actually got better.”

Woods’ shot, but not his confidence, did suffer a bit from the gusty winds Saturday at the Thousands Oaks, Calif., course, where the 35-year-old golfer entered the third round with a three-shot lead, but fell to second place behind Zach Johnson.

"Most of the time today it wasn't me,” Woods said following the third round. “I hit a lot of good shots. The wind was all over the place. It was tough out there.''

Weather bureaus reported the winds to be at 30 to 40 miles per hour.

According to Sunday’s reports, winds slowed during the final round, and Woods shot a three-under-par 69 to finish 10 under and a shot ahead of that pesky Johnson.

Photo: Reuters

Stinging in the Rain

Photo of the Day: I’m labeling this post the Photo of the Day because I really don’t have much to say about the game or the weather, but I do like the accompanying photo from Getty Images.

That’s Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy – has there ever been a better name for a QB from Texas? Never mind – soaking in falling rain drops after he was popped by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Avanbadejo Sunday.

The Ravens soared – that’s so cliché – to a 24-10 victory over the Browns on a windy, rainy day in Cleveland behind the running of mudder Ray Rice, who racked up 204 yards and a rushing touchdown on 29 carries.

With Rice rumbling through the Brownies defense, the Ravens had no real reason for Joe Flacco to take to the air, but he did anyway, completing just 10 of 29 passes for 158 yards.