GDT: 10/27/08 - WS GAME 5 - PHI (3) @ TB (1) - 8:00 PM ET

GDT: 10/27/08 - WS GAME 5 - PHI (3) @ TB (1) - 8:00 PM ET

10/27/08 6:12 PM ET
Maddon shuffles lineup for Game 5
Regular 2-3-4 hitters dropped down, Crawford bumped up

By Bill Chastain / MLB.com

PHILADELPHIA -- In light of Carlos Pena's and Evan Longoria's struggling bats, Rays manager Joe Maddon altered his lineup for Game 5 of the World Series on Monday.

Carl Crawford moved from the fifth spot in the order back to second -- his regular spot in the lineup before hurting his right hand in August -- and B.J. Upton moved back to the third spot. Rocco Baldelli will start in right field and hit in the No. 7 spot.

"Carl has been swinging the bat well," Maddon said. "He's a familiar No. 2 hitter. B.J. looks like he's got his RBI swing back together. I just thought it was something that we did early in the year also, at different times ... unfreeze the situation a little bit."

Meanwhile, Pena and Longoria moved from the third and fourth spots to the fourth and fifth spots, respectively.

"I just wanted to tweak [the lineup] a little bit," Maddon said. "Just see if Carl can get up there and stir it up a bit. Just unfreeze Longo and Carlos a little bit from where they had been hitting and just see if it makes a difference or not. It's a minor adjustment."

Pena and Longoria have combined to go 0-for-29 with 15 strikeouts in this series. Both players struck out twice in Sunday night's 10-2 Game 4 loss to the Phillies. In two playoff series prior to the World Series, the duo combined to hit .295 (23-for-78) with nine home runs. They hit .360 (9-for-25) in the American League Division Series and .264 (14-53) in the ALCS.

Maddon was asked if he considered benching either Pena or Longoria.

"No, I just wanted to do something to clear their minds a little bit," Maddon said. "More than anything, it was more to give them a different outlook on the day. They're basically still hitting in the same order."

Ben Zobrist started in right field in Game 1 and went 1-for-3 against Cole Hamels, the Phillies' Game 5 starter, but Maddon opted to go with Baldelli on a hunch.

"Ben's done a nice job," Maddon said. "I just wanted to get Rocco out there. I know he's ready to play. Rocco can do something special I believe -- not that the other guys can't -- but I think Rocco's capable of doing something extraordinary. So I just wanted to get him out there."

Bill Chastain is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

10/27/08 5:37 PM ET
Manuel sticks with successful lineup
Phillies skipper goes with same order that won Games 3 and 4

By Ken Mandel / MLB.com

PHILADELPHIA -- Staying with a winning alignment, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel opted for the same lineup for a third straight game Monday night in Game 5 of the World Series against the Rays.

Why change?

"It's worked for us so far," Manuel said.

Mainly, Jimmy Rollins has worked for the top of the order, going 5-for-9 and scoring four runs. He started the World Series in an 0-for-10 slump.

Patience with Ryan Howard as the cleanup hitter has also paid off, as the big guy has powered three homers in the past two games. He drove in five runs in Sunday's 10-2 win to put the Phillies on the brink of the the second World Series title in their 125-year history.

Monday's game is also being played with the threat of rain. Varying forecasts have showers beginning at around 7 p.m. ET and accelerating throughout the night. First pitch is scheduled for around 8:30 p.m.

Phillies' Game 5 lineup:
1. Rollins, SS
2. Jayson Werth, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Howard, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Shane Victorino, CF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Cole Hamels, P

Ken Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

10/28/08 12:36 AM ET
In a first, World Series game suspended
Fall Classic to resume when 'weather conditions are appropriate'

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

PHILADELPHIA -- For the first time in Major League Baseball history, a World Series game was suspended, as rain put a halt to Game 5 of the Fall Classic in the sixth inning when the field at Citizens Bank Park became unplayable on Monday night.

"It will be resumed when I believe that weather conditions are appropriate," said Commissioner Bud Selig. "We can't tell you tonight when we'll resume. ... We are not going to resume until we have decent weather conditions."

The game was halted by Selig and crew chief Tim Welke at the conclusion of the top of the sixth inning, when the Rays scored a run to tie the score, 2-2, with the official delay beginning at 10:40 p.m. ET.

"I was told about 7:45 [p.m. ET] only about one-tenth of an inch of rain would fall between then and midnight," said Selig.

Prior to Game 5, Selig said he met with members of the Rays and Phillies, all the umpires and the grounds crew. Although rain was in the forecast, "Everybody in the room wanted to play," said Selig.

"I thought the umpires did an extraordinary job, as did the Philadelphia grounds crew," said Selig. "They did a remarkable job."

Selig said he started to get nervous about the weather in the fourth inning. He then met with the groundskeeper and Welke an inning later, and that's when Selig made the decision to suspend the game.

Even if the Rays hadn't tied the game in the sixth, the game wasn't going to be called, which would've resulted in the World Series championship being awarded to the Phillies.

"I was not going to allow that to happen," said Selig, who said the rain delay could have lasted two or three days, if necessary.

With rain forecast for Philadelphia on both Tuesday and Wednesday, Selig said he will not move the remainder of the Fall Classic to the domed confines of Tropicana Field.

"We'll stay here if we have to celebrate Thanksgiving here," said Selig.

Speaking on FOX at the start of the delay, Major League Baseball president & COO Bob DuPuy said that he was "not optimistic" that play would continue on Monday, which was confirmed a short time later when the game was officially suspended.

"Obviously, the conditions have deteriorated and the grounds crew has done a phenomenal job trying to keep the game going," DuPuy said. "But with all the puddling and the wetness, the Commissioner and the crew chief, Tim Welke, decided that playing conditions were such that we ought to call time and put the tarp on the field."

Because more than 4 1/2 innings were completed and the score is tied, the game would be treated as a suspended game and would resume with the Phillies batting in the bottom of the sixth inning. Cole Hamels is due up for Philadelphia, followed by Jimmy Rollins and Jayson Werth.

DuPuy said the play would have been stopped even if the Rays had not scored a run off Hamels in the top of the sixth. B.J. Upton stroked a two-out single, stole second base and scored on Carlos Pena's RBI single.

"Oh, I think so," DuPuy said. "I think it had gotten to the point where we were going to have to have a delay. As you know, with a tie game and with the Phillies not having batted in the bottom of the sixth, what would happen now if we didn't play is it would be a suspended game and it would resume whenever we were able to resume, even if it had to be [Tuesday] or Wednesday."

No World Series game, once started, has not been completed. DuPuy said the radar forecast for Tuesday is not promising -- more rain is predicted for the area.

"The weather tomorrow is supposed to be worse," DuPuy said. "It's supposed to be colder and it's supposed to continue to rain and be very windy. So we wanted to play tonight for that reason."

Ultimately, the decision on when and whether to play remains in the hands of Selig. During the regular season, pregame postponements are controlled by the home club, and then after a game begins, by the umpires. Selig makes those decisions during the World Series.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

I wonder how long they would have waited if the Rays had not tied



That would have been something


If they started this game at 7

Might have ended before heavy rain hit

Feel Sorry for anyone who bought tickets tonight


But can't attend the completion of the suspended game



Whenever that happens

More Rain and Wind Tuesday and Tuesday Night in Philly

Good Luck getting the game in

Could you all imagine what would have happened if the Rays didn't tie it? It was shameful that they were even playing in such heavy rain but not as shameful as it would have been if the Phillies won the World Series in a rain-shortened game. The season needs to end a month earlier. Sorry players, you're going to have to play some Sunday doubleheaders like they used to.

I bet you if that happened


The WS would be played in neutral warm weather or dome stadiums, starting in 09

Glad it didn't happen

So tonight will be the end.

If it don't rain

More Rain and Wind is expected tonight

45 degrees in Philly

Cloudy

Winds gusting to 38mph

10/28/08 5:01 PM ET
Game 5 will not resume on Tuesday
Poor weather continues in Philly; eyes turn toward Wednesday

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

PHILADELPHIA -- Their contest paused by the elements, the Phillies and Rays must wait one more day to create an outcome for Game 5 of the 2008 World Series.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said that, because of a continuing inclement forecast for the area surrounding Citizens Bank Park, no effort would be made to resume the World Series on Tuesday. Instead, the two clubs are tentatively scheduled to unfreeze the game at 8:37 p.m. ET, weather permitting on Wednesday.

"While obviously we want to finish Game 5 as soon as possible, the forecast for today does not allow for us to continue the game this evening," Selig said in a statement released on Tuesday.

"We are closely monitoring tomorrow's forecast and will continue to monitor the weather on an hourly basis. We will advise fans as soon as we are able to make any final decisions with respect to tomorrow's schedule."

As expected, wet weather continued Tuesday in the Philadelphia area, as MLB officials studied radar data to determine when Game 5 of the World Series would continue under conditions that would be deemed, as Selig said, "appropriate."

Bob DuPuy, MLB's president and chief operating officer, called the resumption of play on Wednesday night "problematic" even though the weather is supposed to be better.

"It's going to be less wet, less windy and less cold than today, but it's still problematic," he said. "The Commissioner wants to avoid what happened last night and that the game is finished with full integrity."

With Mother Nature calling the shots, the Phillies and Rays remain tied, 2-2, going to the bottom of the sixth inning. A victory would clinch Philadelphia's first World Series championship since 1980, and though the Phillies grumbled on their way out last night, a possible celebration remains on their minds if they can outlast the Rays.

"That's all that's important to us, that's all that we think about," Manuel said. "We've got 3 1/2 innings of baseball -- we get to bat four times, they get to bat three. We get 12 outs, they get nine. We're definitely coming with the mind-set that we're going to win that game."

Due up for the Phillies will be a pinch-hitter for the No. 9 spot, as Cole Hamels will be lifted from the game, followed by Jimmy Rollins and Jayson Werth. Right-hander Grant Balfour is in the game for Tampa Bay, though Rays manager Joe Maddon declined to say if he was entertaining a pitching change, a distinct possibility with left-hander David Price available.

"Both bullpens are rested, and there's no telling what's going to happen at this point," Maddon said.

Early forecasts for Wednesday offer hope for baseball. The Weather Channel predicts partly cloudy skies and a 20 percent chance of precipitation for 8 p.m., with temperatures in the low-40s and 15-mph winds from the west.

AccuWeather agrees, forecasting partly cloudy skies and 43 degrees for game time. Weatherbug, marks the chance of precipitation for 20 percent at first pitch on Wednesday, while the National Weather Service is predicting mostly cloudy skies with a low around 35.

Resuming play on Tuesday evening never appeared promising, as early afternoon presented overcast skies, continuing precipitation and medium winds as Philadelphia woke up to a cold and gray scene. By game time, the continuing rain and winds would have made the temperature feel as though it was in the 20s.

Ultimately, the decision on when and whether to play remains in the hands of Selig. During the regular season, pregame postponements are controlled by the home club, and then after a game begins, by the umpires.

Selig makes those decisions during the World Series, and he said he made the ruling to start Game 5 with some trepidation. Up to this point, there had never been a rain-shortened game in Series history, and this was the first suspension. Selig even felt some relief after three innings were completed, but conditions deteriorated.

Though crew chief Tim Welke said the pitcher's mound and batters boxes were never compromised, standing water was visible on the infield and warning tracks, while the wind and rain made routine plays difficult. Manuel said that Hamels found fastballs hard to grip in his sixth inning of work and had to shy away from his changeup.

B.J. Upton, who scored the tying run in the sixth inning, reached on an infield hit that Manuel said shortstop Jimmy Rollins normally almost always makes a play on. Upton stole second base on the sloppy infield and then came around to score on Carlos Pena's RBI single to left field.

"With the conditions on the field, it definitely played a part in Rollins not making the play at shortstop," Manuel said. "I felt like when Upton went down to second base and mud and water came up on his shoes, if you go back and look at it, that tells you the condition the field is in. It's not good for us to be out there."

Both managers said that they had agreed to begin the game as scheduled, meeting before Monday's contest with Selig, both general managers and head groundskeeper Mike Boekholder.

"We had the forecast and all the information was there, and it didn't work out," Maddon said. "For me, I have no problem with it. I was a part of it, I was there, Charlie was there. We were all good with going forward. It just did not work out."

"We agreed on starting the game because the weather report was going to be a very light drizzle, similar to what was already going on," Manuel said. "It wasn't supposed to be a consistent rain. It was supposed to be very light, and there was a good chance that we could definitely get the whole game in."

Though Selig informed Phillies GM Pat Gillick and Rays GM Andrew Friedman that there was no way a World Series contest would be decided in less than nine innings, neither manager opted to pass that information along to their players.

"Our players were thinking about going nine innings, and when the rain started, they were still thinking about going nine innings," Manuel said.

In a rare move and due to the strange circumstances of the game, Maddon said that he addressed his team after Monday's suspended contest to make sure the Rays were all on the same page. The Rays had packed their bags for a flight to the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, knowing that completing Game 5 -- one way or the other -- would send them back to their home base.

But after Monday's game was suspended, the Rays scrambled to find alternate lodging, relocating some 25 miles away to the Hotel Dupont -- built in 1913 -- in Wilmington, Del. Maddon raved about the property and said that his club was making the best of the inconvenience.

"Just getting your rest right now is as important as anything," Maddon said. "I know I've been sleeping like a bear right now just trying to catch up. Our guys haven't forgotten how to hit, throw or run."

Game 3 of the World Series, played Saturday evening, was delayed one hour and 31 minutes by rain. The Phillies and Rays played uninterrupted after the delay, with Philadelphia winning, 5-4, in the bottom of the ninth on Carlos Ruiz's bases-loaded infield hit.

The field at Citizens Bank Park is playable in a steady rain. The system in place allows the grass to drain and a sand-like substance is used to keep the dirt portion of the infield from saturating. As a backup, the system is equipped with a vacuum that pumps tons of water out of the drainage pipes.

Games 6 and 7, if necessary, would take place in the domed confines of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, though no determination has been made on the scheduling of those contests.

Those games were originally to be played Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. The Rays would love to create a further logistical issue, but if the Phillies have their way, Manuel said it will be rendered a moot point and the delay considered worth it.

"All year long, we've been in situations where we can control our destiny," Manuel said. "It's no different. It's up to us to stay focused on tomorrow's game and win that game. If we don't get the job done, I have no complaints. It's in our hands."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

They should have played tonight

When are they playing Game 6 or 7

If needed?

Baseball in November?

gs78 wrote:

Baseball in November?

Not this year!

bobrob2004 wrote:

gs78 wrote:

Baseball in November?

Not this year!

Darn

I probably will die before another WS goes seven games