AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2006 > April > 03
Monday, April 3, 2006
Rain lets up; let’s play
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Well, this isn’t good. About 40 minutes until the first pitch of the new season, and the field covered with tarp, there’s a steady drizzle — and Hootie and the Blowfish are playing on a stage set up in center field.
No part of that is good.
Here at Dodger Stadium, I’ve never seen a rain delay in 12 years covering ‘ball. But that streak is almost certainly going to be blown in a big way today and/or tomorrow. We might — might — get this one in today, but it’s supposed to rain in biblical proportions tomorrow (at least by Southern California standards).
Hey, but what are you gonna do? Eat another Dodger dog and wait.
Game’s supposed to start around 4:10, no announcement yet whether it will happen, but it’s only light rain now so they might be able to.
They’re going to do everything possible to get this game in, since there’s no off day this week and no return trip to L.A. for the Braves. We could end up playing a doubleheader Wednesday, then flying to San Francisco for Giants’ home opener Thursday at 1 p.m. The Braves have four at San Francisco with no day off before their home opener Monday at Turner Field.
MLB usually builds an off day into the first series in case of rain, but probably assumed they’d be safe doing without the off day in L.A. And why not _ there’s only been 17 rainouts in 43 years at Dodger Stadium.
It’s about 60 degrees, too. And going to be in 50s tomorrow night when Smoltz pitches in the rain, if they have the game.
Speaking of injuries — Nomar almost made it to opening day without getting hurt. Almost.
The man the Dodgers are spending more than $6 mill on this season already has an intercostal muscle injury. Hasn’t been decided if he’ll need to go on DL, but he’s not playing today.
What a way to start that Dodger career, huh? Intercostal strains (muscle near ribcage) can be nagging things that last weeks and weeks, or just a few days. You never know, just depends on severity, guy’s position, etc. But it’s not a good one for a ballplayer, whether hitter or pitcher.
Tim Hudson did a month on the DL with an intercostal strain last summer. John Thomson couldn’t pitch in postseason in 2004 because of an intercostal strain.
I had the over-under on a Nomar DL stint as May. But hey, at least J.D.’s in the lineup. It’ll be interesting to see how many times Nomar and J.D. are in the same lineup. I’ll guess 30.
Speaking of lineups, no surprises in Braves’ opening day lineup — Giles, Edgar, Chipper, Andruw, LaRoche, Francoeur, McCann, Langerhans, Hudson.
Enjoy the game _ or the rain delay programming.
I’ll check in later, but won’t be able to update like in spring training. Too much to do on deadline.
Oh, filing this now and tarp’s off, introductions being made. We’re gonna play some ball, folks.
