Weather Permitting, Again: ALCS Game 6 Preview, Saturday 10/24, 6:57 CT

by Al Yellon on Oct 24, 2009 3:15 PM CDT in Chicago Cubs Game Threads

UPDATE: Game 6 postponed to 7:20 pm CDT on Sunday.

This forecast doesn't look very conducive to playing baseball tonight in New York:

Late Afternoon: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. High near 71. South wind around 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers between midnight and 2am. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Low around 55. South wind 10 to 16 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

If there is a rainout tonight, the Angels might consider bringing John Lackey back on short rest for game seven Monday:

"Yes, we've talked about a lot of different scenarios," [Mike] Scioscia said. "I think we're going to let this thing unfold a little bit and see how the weekend goes. If there is an opportunity to look at bringing a guy like John back, it's something we would certainly consider. We've talked about a bunch of different things."

Finally, the umpire behind one of the most famous bad calls in history (the one that might have cost the Cardinals the 1985 World Series), Don Denkinger, says video replay review's time has come: (hat tip to our SBN friends at Pinstripe Alley for the link)

Denkinger has an unwavering opinion about instant replay: Its time has come.

"I'm in favor of getting all the calls correct, whatever it takes," he said by telephone Wednesday. "I don't see how [commissioner Bud Selig] can get away with not [introducing instant replay]. It makes no sense not to. There's nothing better than getting every call right."

That's an excellent article, incidentally, and worth reading in its entirety. Denkinger has been retired since 1998, but I can't imagine any active umpire not being in favor of replay review, if the rules are codified properly and it results in the hiring of more fulltime umpires (to be the "fifth umpire" in the press box available for review). That press box umpire could also serve as official scorer, taking the job away from retired sportswriters (who shouldn't have it in the first place).

My proposal: give each manager two "red flag" challenges per game, to be used before the 8th inning. In the 8th and 9th innings, review would be automatic, similar to the NFL's "last two minutes" policy. All calls except balks, interference/obstruction and balls and strikes would be reviewable (so we're talking safe/out on the bases, home runs, fair/foul, and catch/trap).

Wake up, Bud, and get it done.

Yankees at Angels, 6:57 pm CDT. Yankees lead series 3-2. TV: Fox. Announcers: Joe Buck and Tim McCarver.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Angels site Halos Heaven and Yankees site Pinstripe Alley.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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Comments

I would expect a late start if they get the game in.

Been raining pretty steadily all day and supposed to continue for a few more hours but hey it could change.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim

by Doggie Stalker on Oct 24, 2009 3:35 PM CDT reply actions

This does not look very encouraging.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Oct 24, 2009 3:40 PM CDT up reply actions

♪ ♫There's a shower in the Bronx,

JFK has cancelled fights.
There’s a traffic jam in Harlem
That’s backed up to Jackson Heights.♪ ♫

"Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things." ~Winston Churchill

by Goodie1969 on Oct 24, 2009 3:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Car 54, where are you?

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 24, 2009 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Im just gonna go ahead and say it.

Its gonna rain there tonight.

Don’t worry about the three before seven start time.

Chicago
Cubs

We are the better CC.

by Zy Toro Young on Oct 24, 2009 4:02 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Im just gonna go ahead and say it.

Its gonna rain there tonight.

Don’t worry about the three before seven start time.

Chicago
Cubs

We are the better CC.

by Zy Toro Young on Oct 24, 2009 4:03 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I hate when it comes out twice.

Chicago
Cubs

We are the better CC.

by Zy Toro Young on Oct 24, 2009 4:05 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

TWSS

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 24, 2009 10:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Happens a lot to me too when I post with my iPhone

Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -

by eths on Oct 25, 2009 4:22 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

24 hours late... At least it's not ice and snow.

Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -

by eths on Oct 25, 2009 4:19 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

This game scheduled to start on time:

"Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things." ~Winston Churchill

by Goodie1969 on Oct 24, 2009 4:36 PM CDT reply actions

With Minnesota sucking real bad,

I’m gonna throw my support behind Iowa.

by chilango2 on Oct 24, 2009 5:02 PM CDT up reply actions

No, no, no. MSU!

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 24, 2009 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow.

That was one of the best football games I’ve watched in a long time.

Sorry, Zeke. I thought it was over when White caught the TD. Frankly, I’m still in shock.

"Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things." ~Winston Churchill

by Goodie1969 on Oct 24, 2009 9:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Great game but costly

for the Hawks. One of the best games I’ve seen.

Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT

by sue369 on Oct 24, 2009 9:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Congrats Sue. Hard hitting to be sure. Hope your banged up guys can make it back to the field next week.

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 24, 2009 9:47 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks Zeke.

It was a very hard hitting game for sure. Spartans played a heck of a game.

Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT

by sue369 on Oct 25, 2009 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions

Yes, until the last 1:37...

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 26, 2009 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions

I can't congradulate the Hawkeyes.

It’s killin’ me.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Oct 25, 2009 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions

G..D..I..

I’d like to say I’m in shock, but following the Spartans for as may years as I have, I’ve seen far too many of these kind of late game collapses/heroics (depending on which team you are on) to be in shock.

The only thing a prevent defense does is “prevent” your team from winning. Had we played the same defensive scheme on the final series that we played the rest of the game- and not the soft rush of 3 drop deep by the other 8, we win. And Chris L. Rucker can’t graduate fast enough for me. He’s been the weak link on our defense all year.

That being said, congrats to Iowa. They did what they had to do and won it.

Some year we’ll turn the corner. I’m just getting tired of waiting for it to happen.

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 24, 2009 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Here you go:

@AmyKNelson: They have opened clubhouses to media here which usually means posponement. I’m being told a decision at 6 pm ET.

by chilango2 on Oct 24, 2009 4:56 PM CDT reply actions

And it's postponed, per the NY Post

@nyp_joelsherman: Game 6 is postponed, Post has learned.

by chilango2 on Oct 24, 2009 5:03 PM CDT reply actions

No surprise.

I’ll have another game preview post tomorrow.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Oct 24, 2009 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Hey Al, I know the game has been postponed,

But how long have the Angels had home-field advantage in this series?

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup!

by Vermont Cubs Fan on Oct 24, 2009 6:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Whoops.

That’s what happens when you aren’t careful with your copy/paste.

I’ll fix it tomorrow.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Oct 24, 2009 7:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Enjoyed the Denkinger article.

It’s interesting to hear his take on the situation. Yep, “Its time has come.”

"Fasten those seatbelts"-Pat Hughes

by katie casey on Oct 24, 2009 5:29 PM CDT reply actions

OT: MSU is about to play Iowa and um lost to PSU.

So far, so good.

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 24, 2009 5:44 PM CDT reply actions

I'm almost scared to watch this game.

Something about it feels like a trap…

Also, this guy in the booth with Wayne Larrivee claims to be Chris Martin, but looks nothing like this:

"Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things." ~Winston Churchill

by Goodie1969 on Oct 24, 2009 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Al, thanks for the opening day clock.

I just whistled the tune of ♪let’s go cubs♫ and my husband asked “how many days til opening day?” I was able to give him an accurate answer immediately. I don’t know if he thought that was cool or that I was hopeless.

"Fasten those seatbelts"-Pat Hughes

by katie casey on Oct 24, 2009 6:02 PM CDT reply actions

Keep your eye on it in about 6 minutes.

All four numbers will change at once…it’s pretty cool.

And I’m a dork.

"Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things." ~Winston Churchill

by Goodie1969 on Oct 24, 2009 6:05 PM CDT up reply actions

countdown clock

….yeah, that really was cool….thanks

by cooliogirl47 on Oct 24, 2009 6:11 PM CDT up reply actions

162 days doesn't seem all that far away, does it?

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Oct 24, 2009 7:55 PM CDT up reply actions

A game a day.

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 24, 2009 9:47 PM CDT up reply actions

OT: I realize my dislike for Notre Dame slants my vision significantly

but does anyone who works in the media industry think NBC goes over the top in their coverage of ND? I understand the ratings, advertising $, nationwide fan base, etc. etc. all mean big bucks for NBC but isn’t there some sort of professional ethics line that even a “home” network shouldn’t cross?

Two things I noticed today. First, the sideline reporter, Alex something (NBC’s answer to Erin Andrews I suppose) is featured on-screen before the game with “Notre Dame Football” displayed under her name. Funny – I thought she worked for NBC, not Notre Dame.

Second, after the game, NBC pauses the post-game interviews/analysis stuff to show the student section singing the alma mater. Okay, nice post-game tradition, I guess. But then NBC runs a scroll along the bottom of the screen with the words to the alma mater! Why – so their viewing audience can stand up and sing along at home? Seriously???

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Oct 24, 2009 6:24 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs