Associated Press
ST. LOUIS ó Colby Lewis and his Texas teammates casually tossed a ball in left field, trying to avoid the tarp and any anxiety about being so close to the World Series championship.
On this day, the only winner was the weather.
Game 6 was postponed Wednesday because of an accurate wet forecast, delaying the Rangersí bid to clinch their first championship. Ahead 3-2, they can close out the St. Louis Cardinals tonight. Itís likely to be clear with temperatures in the low 50s at Busch Stadium.
ěWeíre not getting antsy, weíre not getting ahead of ourselves. We just have to wait,î Texas manager Ron Washington said.
Lewis is set to start against Jaime Garcia. If thereís a Game 7 Friday night, itíll be Matt Harrison for Texas against, well, no telling. St. Louis manager Tony La Russa playfully mentioned the great Bob Gibson, but ace Chris Carpenter on three daysí rest looms as a possibility.
ěItís already been asked about Carp,î La Russa said. ěI was told by Carp that he would be ready to go.î
The postponement came after a travel day for the teams. This two-day gap is the longest at the World Series since 1989, when the Bay Area earthquake left the Athletics and Giants idle for 11 days.
ěItís just a rainout, thatís it,î Texas star Michael Young said. ěI donít know if people think weíre going to sit in our hotel rooms all night biting our nails. Weíre going to get something to eat, get some rest and be ready to go.î
After a damp season and postseason, Major League Baseball announced the decision about 41/2 hours before the scheduled first pitch. At the time, no drops had fallen at the ballpark.
ěIím not even sure why they canceled it,î Cardinals outfielder Lance Berkman said. ěThis is better than the weather for Game 1. I guess Iím going to lie back on the couch like a big, fat pig and watch a movie.î
Maybe Berkman couldíve joined La Russa. The Cardinals manager planned to go see ěMoneyball.î
By late afternoon, a light mist turned to drizzle and then to steady rain.