World Series Weather Could Cause Havoc Again

The World Series weather helped wreck the World Series last year - so will this year's World Series weather do the same thing? Today's World Series weather might not rain out Game 1, or cause it to be suspended after 5 ½ innings, but it could be a lingering factor. For the last few days, weathermen have warned that the World Series weather for tonight could get pretty ugly, as rain is expected all day today. It might only bring drizzles by game time, but it might be a sign that the World Series weather could overshadow the actual games again.

As everyone remembers, the World Series weather last year was a major subplot, as it caused major rain delays in Game 3, and broke up Game 5 altogether. Except in Philadelphia, the World Series weather was the thing that every baseball fan most remembers about the 2008 Fall Classic. This year, with the East Coast hosting the entire series, it could be the same again.

Tonight's World Series weather will be ugly, with rain possible throughout the game. But for now, most expect that the Phillies and Yankees can play through it, although the showers could obviously affect play. Game 2 tomorrow night could bring rain as well, though not as heavily.

Even after leaving New York, the World Series isn't out of the rainy woods yet. Philadelphia was the scene of the crime for last year's bad World Series weather, and Game 3 on Saturday night could bring even more rain to Citizens Bank Park. Beyond that, baseball fans have their fingers crossed for dry weather the rest of the series.

But one main reason that last year's World Series weather overshadowed play was that it was a short, lopsided series between the Phillies and Rays. This year, the Phillies and Yankees have enough star power, hype, and high expectations that even the weather might not bring them down. This time, the play stands to be remembered a lot more than the rain is - or at least fans hope so.

The Yankees have already faced weather problems in the ALCS, and the Phillies have already experienced getting snowed out in Colorado. It seems that East Coast teams are unable to get away from lousy weather in October - though that could be a case of the World Series being stretched into late October, and early November.

The usual complaints about starting time, and stretching the postseason out so long, will be a byproduct of the rain if it gets ugly again. For the moment, tonight's World Series weather is manageable until further notice, and fans are still incredibly excited over the Phillies-Yankees grudge match to come.

Game 1 is still scheduled to start on time at 7:57 pm est on FOX.

Sources

Philadelphia Inquirer- "World Series forecast: Drizzly tonight, wetter Saturday?"

USA TODAY- "Halftime: World Series shouldn't be all wet"