PITTSBURGH – The game within the game this week is weather-report roulette. It’s not a question of if it will rain, but when, for how long and if it might disrupt a game.
The opening game of the Diamondbacks-Pirates series at PNC Park was played in gorgeous weather, but starting with thunderstorms about 3½ hours before scheduled first pitch Tuesday, the Diamondbacks’ eyes were watching radar and the skies. The storms moved away and batting practice took place in sunshine, but rain remains in the long-term forecast.
The biggest concern is the impact rain, and especially in-game delays, might have on starting pitchers – and their managers.