Rain? What rain?
 

Anyone who doubts that MLB has "encouraged" its umpires to avoid suspended games at nearly all costs needs only to look at tonight's Texas/Seattle game.

Wow. A virtual mud fest. Despite having to delay the game at the start because of the rain, they then conintued as it rained throughout. Fianlly, it took Seattle's F6 to lose his footing in the mud and the Ranger's runner to be unable to control his slide, both in the 9th, to cause another delay, and the the calling of the game.

They are lucky no one got hurt.

I was thinking the same thing as I was listening to the game.

Rita

Late in the year, last series at that field between the teams? They will do most anything possible to get the game in. The $$ costs for the home team are very high & there is virtually no time left to make up the game. Calling the game for the weather is one thing, having to re-schedule is a hug problem in pro ball.

Why would anyone doubt this? It's been the guideline for 35 years or more.

May 26, 1993; Oakland: After raining out a game earlier in the week and taking away getaway day to play a day game, they let a game be played to its completion in rain and wind that was so intense that center fielder Kirby Puckett was sometimes unseen through the sideways-blowing rain. It wound up 12-11 with several lead changes and 13 pitchers. It featured a number of misplays that were weather related, and there were also many near-miss injury situations on the bases and in the field. The game wound up being the only four-hour nine-inning game I have ever seen (4:00 exactly).

After the game, crew chief Larry Barnett was asked why he allowed the game to continue through all of the hazardous weather. He said, "What are you asking me for; call New York!"

That was 1993.

I watched a Nats game maybe 2 years ago early in the season where the whole infield by games end was a giant puddle.

A game winning hit was made in the bottom of the 9th with the infield in, a humpback liner landed behind SS on the dirt, and pretty much just stuck right in the ground.

Dollars rule...

Speaking of rainouts with the postseason approaching do I have my understanding of the MLB game ending procedures correct?

Called game after 4 1/2 comlete with HT ahead is regulation.
Called game after 5 complete with VT ahead is regulation.
Called game after 5 during bottom of an inning with HT ahead is regulation.
Called game after 5 during top or bottom of an inning with VT ahead is suspended. (No reversion)