For all the complaints (and whining) we have heard today directed at FoxTV, Bud Selig and Major League Baseball, the one group that deserves the brunt of the fans’ wrath is the Phillies’ ground crew.

During the bottom of the 5th inning, Chris Myers reported from the field that he had just spoken with the head groundskeeper who claimed that the ground crew had the situation under control and that the field could handle the rain.

“I just spoke with the head groundskeeper Mike Boekholder just before this inning started. He walked out, checked the field. The forecast, a tenth of an inch of rain per hour. He says this field can hold that all night…He doesn’t think that this can stay all night but it should not worsen.”

This is the same person that Major League Baseball and the umpires are checking with and Boekholder is telling them that the field will not be a problem. The field did not appear to become a big problem until the top of the 6th inning. In the 5th inning water was only seen collecting along the warning track in foul territory. And while one could argue that the game should have been postponed during the top of the 6th, umpires always prefer to call rain delays in between innings. A delay during an inning is always the last resort.

The head groundskeeper had the umpires and MLB believing the field would be fine in the 6th inning and once it proved not to be, the umpires were just trying to finish the inning before calling for the tarp.

And for those that think MLB refused to suspend the game earlier just so the Rays could tie the game, that only makes sense if you think they would have kept playing if the Rays do not score in the top of the 6th. Major League Baseball was never going to award a win to a team in the World Series from a rain-shortened game. The score could have been 12-2 and MLB would still make the teams finish the game at a later date. That second run for the Rays had zero bearing on when the game was suspended.

Then again, maybe Phillies fans should not be planning the victory parade…or throwing mustard packs at a 7-year old girl…or pouring beer on a 9-year old boy…or screaming at babies…or, eh. You guys get the point.

Phillies fans, we would introduce you to Mr. Karma, but we have a feeling you guys already know each other pretty well.

Nothing Is Ever &@$#ing Easy [The Fightins]
Only in Philadelphia [Beerleaguer]
Phillies/Rays World Series Game Five Will Forever Be Remembered As Raingate, Unless [The Good Phight]
Game Five Postponed At 2-2 Tie [Phillies Nation]
Philles fans prematurely planning victory parade [Ump Bump]
Rays seek a bit more security [LA Times]
World Series: Phils’ fans live down to their reputation [St. Pete Times]
Rays fans complain of treatment at ballpark [Philadelphia Inquirer]
25-Year Championship Drought [Philadelphia Daily News]