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Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:37 pm EDT

Tonight's NLDS Game 3 in Colorado called on account of snow

By 'Duk

With the season's schedule delayed an entire week because of last spring's World Baseball Classic, it was a smart bet that the weather was going to wreak an unusual amount of havoc on October's postseason.

Well, we're less than a week in, but let the temperature troubles begin! 

With Denver's forecast dominated by snow, Major League Baseball has announced that the NLDS Game 3 between the Rockies and Phillies has been postponed. The game has been rescheduled for Sunday night at 10:07 ET, which was Game 4's original starting time. No snow is being predicted for Sunday, but the temperatures at Coors Field could measure below 40 degrees by game time. (No word on if the stadium will be "cold-activated," whatever that means.) 

Though East Coast fans will stay have to stay up late on Sunday — a monumentally stupid scheduling move by Bug Selig and Co. — the cancellation has the potential to work out great for the Phillies. Instead of throwing Pedro Martinez(notes) out into the cold tonight and hoping for a good start, Charlie Manuel can go with either a rested Joe Blanton(notes) or J.A. Happ(notes) in Game 3.

He can then go straight to Cliff Lee(notes) on his normal five-day schedule for Monday's Game 4 and then Cole Hamels(notes) in Game 5 (if necessary). The Rockies will get a similar benefit by being able to pitch Ubaldo Jimenez(notes) and Aaron Cook(notes) in the series' final two games.    

Today's postponement is sure to attract a lot of negative attention and force some good questions why MLB is so beholden to TBS and FOX that they're playing night games in the cold and dark Denver night, instead of the relatively more accommodating afternoons. Bud Selig can't control the weather, but he and his schedule makers could sure use a lot more common sense in anticipating and avoiding the worst of it.

Related: 2009 NLDS — Rockies vs Phillies, 2009 postseason on the Stew

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48 Comments

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  1. rob
    1. Posted by rob Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:56 pm EDT

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    The Broncos are already playing in the afternoon tomorrow, so having the Rockies game played in the afternoon as well would be a traffic nightmare in Denver- as if the roads won't be bad enough out there.
  2. Jay
    2. Posted by Jay Sat Oct 10, 2009 1:26 pm EDT

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    ahh!!
    Damn it...
    I was looking forward to the game...
  3. John S
    3. Posted by John S Sat Oct 10, 2009 1:41 pm EDT

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    @rob
    Try being in Philadelphia on a Sunday at 1pm when the Eagles, Phillies, and Flyers play. It's hell.
  4. Fourfingered McGee
    4. Posted by Fourfingered McGee Sat Oct 10, 2009 2:37 pm EDT

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    At this point picking on Bud Selig and FOX/TBS coverage of and stranglehold on the playoffs is too easy. Baseball is popular in spite of the terrible commish, the terrible coverage at horrible hours, etc. because of MLB's antitrust exemption. In ANY other situation and outfit run this badly would have been in the ground long ago, but fans love the game and its players. MLB and its corporate counterparts know that, and use it against us to squeeze every last dime out of our pockets.
    Am I p-o'ed about a 10PM start time? Yes. Will I still watch? Yes.
  5. Bozo
    5. Posted by Bozo Sat Oct 10, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

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    Use colored baseballs and play in the snow. Baseball players need to man up.
  6. smalltimehustler
    6. Posted by smalltimehustler Sat Oct 10, 2009 2:53 pm EDT

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    eastcoasters, stop whining about the schedule. You guys have been babied on having the schedule taylored to your time zone all the time. Usually games start when we're at work, now 1 game is a bit late for you guys and you cry about it. Wah! muthaphuqin' wah!
  7. DC
    7. Posted by DC Sat Oct 10, 2009 3:16 pm EDT

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    This is dumb. You can play in snow. It's not rain. Delaying a playoff game just isn't right...
  8. bojangles
    8. Posted by bojangles Sat Oct 10, 2009 3:16 pm EDT

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    Yeah but SNOW during MLB Playoffs wasn't on the frickin table !
  9. bojangles
    9. Posted by bojangles Sat Oct 10, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    Yeah and tell those pansy tennis players to start playing through the rain during hardcourt season !
  10. JasonK
    10. Posted by JasonK Sat Oct 10, 2009 3:21 pm EDT

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    To be fair, the weather is usualy better then this in colorado this time of year. The previous record low for this day was 25 degrees in 1905, and we hit 17 degrees today. So I can forgive the schedulers for not predecting extremely cold weather.
  11. souless
    11. Posted by souless Sat Oct 10, 2009 4:08 pm EDT

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    Actually everything is scheduled for the west coast, do you really think MNF @ 9pm is catering to the east coast? C'mon now put your anger where it should be, californians. I shovel the snow off my sidewalk & car yet am told I can't water my lawn because someone in L.A. owns rights to the melt from the snow I had to deal with all winter. COLORADANS UNITE AGAINST CALIFORNIAN INVADERS (and anybody else who's willing as well lol)
  12. Fritz
    12. Posted by Fritz Sat Oct 10, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

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    Is it me or did the large market team get the favorable call Friday Night in New York City?
  13. Bruce
    13. Posted by Bruce Sat Oct 10, 2009 5:31 pm EDT

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    I agree with Bozo let them play with colored balls (floressent colored ones) - the football players play in the snow so why not let the baseball players do the same. With colored balls the umps can see the ball easier also to make better ball and strike calls year round too.
  14. Jack Hemmer
    14. Posted by Jack Hemmer Sat Oct 10, 2009 5:38 pm EDT

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    Has Dick Stockton been inducted into the Hall of Fame for completely useless baseball broadcasters ?
    He doesn't know.. the mechanics.. the rhythm.. the language.. of the game. Chip Caray should be inducted next.
    These guys are bad.. and so is TBS.. even though I do enjoy Ripken.. and couple of the other guys.
  15. Joe
    15. Posted by Joe Sat Oct 10, 2009 5:48 pm EDT

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    I have been a baseball fan since the 50s and Bud Selig is hands down the WORST commissioner MLB has ever had. EVERY decision MLB makes is always governed by the almighty dollar. They have no common sense at all. The players can't complain because they are benefitting financially. But the fans are the ones paying for everything and they are the ones who are always inconvenienced.
  16. Matt
    16. Posted by Matt Sat Oct 10, 2009 6:31 pm EDT

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    @ Joe
    There is NO WAY Bud is a worse commissioner than Kenesaw Landis was. Banning people for disagreeing with him...destroying the farm system...reinforcing the color barrier. Thats a lot worse then a game starting late.
  17. stingrays
    17. Posted by stingrays Sat Oct 10, 2009 6:33 pm EDT

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    Phillies fans- first 2 games at home at 2:37 during work, 3rd game starts 10:07 Sun nite. It ain't right
  18. Admiral Cowpollock
    18. Posted by Admiral Cowpollock Sat Oct 10, 2009 6:47 pm EDT

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    I don't get it.
    If Selig TBS et al want to drive viewership and ratings, what better way than to play an postseason game in the SNOW? The entertainment intrigue would have been off the charts.
    This game should not have been canceled. Sissies. Give the grounds crew flamethrowers to melt any accumulated snow and PLAY BALL!
  19. Admiral Cowpollock
    19. Posted by Admiral Cowpollock Sat Oct 10, 2009 6:56 pm EDT

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    Snow schmoe! For Pete's sake, the forecast calls for a "few snow showers" ... 30% chance of precipitation ... it's not like Denver is getting buried in a blizzard! Yes the mid 20s F temps might be a little nipply but dammit this game should be played.
    Today: Flurries and a few snow showers throughout the day. Cold. High 27F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%.
    Tonight: A few snow showers scattered about the area this evening, otherwise a good deal of clouds. Patchy freezing drizzle possible. Low 22F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
  20. Kell B
    20. Posted by Kell B Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:22 pm EDT

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    Not everything revolves around the East Coast...
  21. 3branches
    21. Posted by 3branches Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:27 pm EDT

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    Hows that Gorebal Warming thing going ??
  22. C
    22. Posted by C Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:56 pm EDT

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    bring back Ryan Speier...he doesn't care if it snows
  23. Mike Fields
    23. Posted by Mike Fields Sat Oct 10, 2009 8:25 pm EDT

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    Are you serious? 10:07 EST? That's ridiculous.
  24. A
    24. Posted by A Sat Oct 10, 2009 9:35 pm EDT

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    I wonder why MLB is trying to "bury" this series? After all, the Phillies are the defending champions. The first 2 games (in Philadelphia) were on at 2:00PM on a weekday.
    Now, game 3 is going to be on at 10:00PM Sunday.
    But, hey, at least they don't have the incompetent umpires (the Twins and Yankees got them).
  25. A
    25. Posted by A Sat Oct 10, 2009 9:36 pm EDT

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    I wonder why MLB is trying to "bury" this series? After all, the Phillies are the defending champions. The first 2 games (in Philadelphia) were on at 2:00PM on a weekday.
    Now, game 3 is going to be on at 10:00PM Sunday.
    But, hey, at least they don't have the incompetent umpires (the Twins and Yankees got them).

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Big League Stew is an MLB blog edited by Kevin Kaduk. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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