Rain Delay
By Karlsie
One of the problems with being a known Sox fan as well as someone who writes about them on a regular basis here is that people often hold me accountable for the team or management decisions.
"What the hell was Tito thinking leaving when he was getting shelled like that?" or "Why did Theo think Tavares and Seanez were a good addition to the bullpen? Those guys couldn't save a game with a life preserver in a bathtub..." and other such statements.
This week has been no different. I have found myself explaining to people about why the 2004 team has since been dispersed or why trade someone who seems on the top of their game or not negotiating to the point of absurdity with a star. When you're talking to people who follow the team and the game with an understanding of the game, it can lead to a level of insight that enhances the game. When you're talking to a bandwagon fan that doesn't get how it all works, it can be an act of frustration.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for educating people but someone who only knows that last 11 games of 2004 and that's all they want to know, it's tedious.
Right now the Boston media is all about how the second Boston/NY game didn't get called early enough for most folks. This leads to the obvious question to me: why didn't they call the game before people had to head into the park? This followed by the angry statement: obviously there is a hidden financial agenda for having people come in. If this had been any other team, the game would have been called earlier.
Not true folks - just read my rain delay blog from a year ago when I signed Pesky's Pole after they called the Sox/O's game an hour after it was supposed to start.
Here is the reality of calling a game: when you're playing a 160 game scheduled with few off days and a bunch of people who don't really do double headers the way they used to, rescheduling a game becomes a logistical nightmare. Not only do you have to deal with the ticket issues (and believe me, there are ticket issues out the wazoo), but you have to schedule travel schedules and look at what works for your teams. Do you really want to tire out your players in a double header to then herd them onto a plane and head out on a road trip? Do you really want risk a level of injury to some of your key players who - later in the season aren't going to be able mask the aches and pains in August they way they can in April?
If there is any chance of getting that game in, they're going to do it. After all, one of the turning points in the 2004 season was that game in July people wanted to call due to weather. Instead it was played and it became the scene of Bronson's comment about A-Rod's salary that lead to Tek's infamous glove wash. It was the turning point the Sox needed to galvanize them and drive them forward.
There are times when the play it out thing gets ridiculous. The risk of injury in those conditions it far too great in order to get to the sixth inning mark before it can be called a game. Not only that, but the losing team is always frustrated because they'll never know if that rally was going to turn things around or not.
The truth of the matter is, unless baseball is only played under a dome there will be games that are called due to weather and that call will be made at the last possible moment. It is frustrating for the fans, the players and everyone else involved, but it is a reality. Like anything else in life, it's what you make of it. There's a reason why Mark Twain once said that if you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a minute and it will change. The other night they tried waiting a minute, it didn't change so the call was made and people are mad.
Me, I go back to another saying: This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains.
