Rain could push Game 1 of ALCS to next week

The National Weather Service is predicting an 80% chance of rain at the scheduled start of the American League Championship Series on Friday night at Yankee Stadium, which could throw the series into serious disarray.
 
If Game 1 can't be played Friday night, when temperatures are expected to drop to the low 40s with a wind-chill near freezing, the start of the series could be pushed back to Saturday. But the forecast is basically the same. In fact, the forecast doesn't have the skies clearing until Tuesday.
 
But there are other obstacles in rescheduling any rain-outs. If either Game 1 or 2 is postponed by weather, the teams could play on Sunday, which is currently listed as a travel day. But since the ALCS is being televised on Fox, it's unlikely the network would agree to a schedule that would include a Sunday afternoon game because it would clash with the network's NFL schedule.
 

Game 3 is currently scheduled for Monday afternoon in Anaheim. If the teams have to play Sunday night, it's unlikely they would be asked to fly across the country and play the next afternoon. The game could be moved to Monday night or could simply be moved to Tuesday by the commissioner's office, which is in charge of scheduling postseason contests. That would compact the schedule by having the teams play on three consecutive days.
 
Wednesday is now scheduled as a day off.
 
Under any scenario, however, the series is scheduled to return to New York for Games 6 and 7, if necessary, next weekend when the forecast calls for -- wait for it -- more rain.

-- Kevin Baxter

Photo: Field workers at Yankee Stadium remove a tarp prior to the Yankees' team practice session on Thursday. Credit: Julie Jacobson / Associated Press

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