Why Can’t Baseball be Played in the Rain?

Aug 12, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves grounds crew pulls the tarp back on the field during a rain delay before the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

If you watched any NFL games on Sunday you saw about half of them being played in freezing conditions, with snow on the field, in the slop, etc. I know it’s football and baseball is a completely different game – but it raises the question to me….why can’t baseball be played in the rain?

In the Eagles/Lions game this week they could not even attempt extra points because the snow was so thick. Seriously – the game was tied at 20-20 in the 2nd half and instead of trying to take the lead with a PAT the Eagles went for two because it was a more viable option. Players were slipping all over the field. It completely changed the dynamics of the game. So yes, rain would change the dynamics of a baseball game….so what?

Are we worried about players losing their footing? Well, isn’t that what happens in these types of conditions at a football game? Maybe a pitcher can’t be his usual self…so what? It can’t be that easy to hit in pouring rain, or to nail a water-logged baseball. Just keep playing.

Sometimes I just don’t understand the mindset of baseball. Why can’t players continue in adverse conditions? In the SEC Championship Game on Saturday at the Georgia Dome, Auburn running back Tre Mason carried the ball 46 times. That is an insane amount of carries and beating on his body. It’s like the equivalent to a pitcher throwing 150 pitches….but if you ever saw a manager leave a guy out there for that long he’d be criticized to no end.

George Carlin probably put it best in this piece of stand-up comedy…