PHILADELPHIA — For the first World Series game in Philadelphia in 13 years, the Phillies and Mother Nature went one year better to bring back some wet memories Monday night.
It took a bit of a monsoon on another October Monday night in 2008 to postpone Game 5 of the World Series between the Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays.
One game from a title and with ace pitcher Cole Hamels on the mound, the Phillies had an early lead when a storm off the coast decided to come a little closer. The light shower at game’s start became a driving rain, but the game played on. It became official in the fifth, but then the Rays tied it at 2-2 in the top of the sixth, and the game was called shortly thereafter due to unplayable conditions, with the Phillies having yet to bat in the bottom of the sixth.
Despite rules that would have had the game revert back to the end of the fifth with an official result, Commissioner Bud Selig overruled his rule book and said the game was suspended. The Phillies wound up winning a couple of wet days later and clinched the Series.
All of which is why modern day Commissioner Rob Manfred didn’t hesitate to call this game before it started, even though it might have been sprinkling at best at the time. Said Manfred: “We can see on the radar what’s coming.”
Hence, the Series was pushed back.
Phils manager Rob Thomson said calling the game was “the right decision,” which Astros manager Dusty Baker echoed in detail.
“It affects both teams,” Baker said. “You’ve just got to turn it off, get a good night’s rest and … I hear it’s hard getting (restaurant) reservations anywhere, everything’s full. But you hope the guys can get reservations, get something to eat and be with their families and get ready to play tomorrow.
“This is part of the game. You can’t control the weather so you just deal with it,” Baker added. “I think it’s harder to wait around and then turn it on because waiting around to play, I always felt you’re more tired, burning up energy and not knowing when or if you’re going to play. Now we know we’re not playing, we just treat it as an off day.”
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While the Phillies have been getting historic production from Bryce Harper this postseason, the team in the league used to having the designated hitter is scuffling. Baker penciled in a third different DH in as many games Monday, with David Hensley’s name coming up on the roulette wheel.
Game 1 brought Trey Mancini, who is 0-for-16 this postseason. The midseason acquisition from Baltimore was lifted with two on in the 10th inning for Aledmys Diaz to make the final out. Diaz started Game 2 in left field so that Yordan Alvarez could return to his more natural DH spot.
In Game 3, Alvarez would have been back in left with Hensley batting seventh as the DH. The rookie made his big league debut Aug. 27. The 26-year-old batted .345 with a homer and five RBIs in 16 games in the regular season. He had two pinch-hit appearances in the ALDS.
“I like his approach, his aggressiveness, and his overall fight to give you a good at-bat,” Baker said. “He’ll foul off some pitches. He’ll put some others in play. He uses the whole field.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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