The forecast in Philly: rain, followed by rain

Major League Baseball will evaluate today's weather forecasts before making a decision on whether to continue the Game 5 of the World Series tonight in Philadelphia.

Fox Sports, which is airing the game, has projected an 8 p.m. start, but hour-by-hour forecasts for Citizens Bank Park from Weather.com and Weather Underground (click for links to forecasts for Citizens Bank Park, ZIP code 19148) call for rain and cold temperatures through the afternoon and into the evening, making it seem unlikely play will resume today.

Baseball officials are reportedly in talks about when to resume the game, and they have said they want to give fans ample time to return to the stadium for the 3-1/2 regulation innings remaining in the game.

Ken Walker, Times staff writer

Comments

[W.C. Fields]

Yes, dear

[Mrs. Fields]

Get off that computer and get your chores done!

[W.C. Fields]

We need a retractable dome, too.

"You gotta build a place that's fun to spend a couple hours outside in first"

What?
Outside in?

[D.G.]

We need an retractable roof or basically covered stadium like Stu was proposing.

Whatever the outcome of the crazy game, the Trop is still going to draw 12,000 for a Wednesday night in April versus Oakland. Baseball is too boring if the game does not have import for the casual fan. You gotta build a place that's fun to spend a couple hours outside in first.

[D.G.]

I'm very traditional about the season. Baseball is the one sport where you have 162 chances to determine who is the best. Even the "devil" Rays won about 40% of their games in terrible seasons. It would be great to go to the old system even if it meant they were bigger than before. LA would have played us. Chicago would have played Philadelphia and from there, you get a series. I could care less if the Yankees wine. Unfortunately, greed has destroyed the game even if it does make it profitable.

[jersey buc]

Game is called off for tonight, still snowing here....

[Bob]

The latest news on game 5 of the World Series is that MLB is looking into moving the remainder of the game to a neutral indoor stadium where there will be as many Phillies fans and Rays fans. Their first choice is Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg FL.

[Brian]

Everyone critisizes the Trop. However, the game is played with no rain delays.

[The Man Upstairs]

I created this storm to disrupt the series and shift momentum to the Rays. They will regroup, win the remainder of this game and go on to win games 6 and 7 therefor signifying the biggest choke in Philadelphia sports history. All of this will be payback to all of the classles Philadelphia fans who have brought this misery upon themselves.

[SJ]

This is ridiculous.
Bring it to the dome!

[Jimbo]

Hey DG, how do you eliminate the WC with 3 divisions? You propose we go back to two and have 7 or 8 teams fight it out all season, only to have Steinbrenner whine again about how it's not fair that the Dodgers win the West and his team sits home (even if they aren't in the same league)? This is the first time in 104 years, so I think all this talk of making radical changes over something so rare is ridiculous.

[Mother Nature]

I love the Rays and want them to win game 5. I have no say when they play in St. Pete.

Yours truly,

Mother Nature

[D.G.]

Almost noon near Princeton, NJ and the snow HAS NOT relented. I can imagine rain and mixed sleet in Philadelphia. Jeez, Selig, shorten the season or the playoffs. Eliminate the stupid wild card. (this year was one of the few where teams under the old system actually would have met in the Series. Before that, it was lots of wild cards). This effect is what Selig gets for making the season insignificant.

[jerseybuc]

I am about an hour from Philly in Central NJ, and it has been SNOWING since 10am. The weather will improve later this week, they need to call this game.

[Jimbo]

Well, according to the local ABC station there ( http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/channel?section=weather/forecast&id=5750629 ), the 24-hour forecast shows from 7pm till after midnight it'll be windy and blustery, but no rain, so it may make it after all. Once can only hope!

[Go Phils]

In Phila at 11:30am, Heavy rain at moment, occasional snow shower, temp is 36 degrees