Understatement of the day

After last night's World Series Game 5 was suspended because of rain with the score tied 2-2 Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria said: “It’s tougher for them because we’re losing right now, we’re playing for our lives and they’ve got to close this thing out. So we’ve got to go out there and have fun and try to take this thing back to Tampa. I think they’re probably a little bit more nervous with this decision than we are.”

He's got that right. The Phillies were up three games to one. They had their best pitcher, Cole Hamels, starting for them. Everything was in place for the Phillies to wrap up the Series last night.

The Series is supposed to resume tonight with Hamels scheduled to be the first batter in the bottom of the sixth inning. If the game is played tonight (and I understand that is a major "if), a pinchhitter will be inserted, meaning the Phillies lose their ace (although now there's a chance he could start a Game 7, if the Series goes that far).

But the Rays have to be optimistic about getting by Hamels without a series-ending loss. And the Phillies have to be a little bit concerned about the same prospect because, if the Rays manage to pull this game out, the rest of the series will be played in the Rays' Tropicana Field where Tampa Bay had the best home record of any team in baseball.

But, back to that "if" I mentioned earlier. The weather forecast for Philadelphia says rain, possibly with snow, until Thursday. If that is the case, Hamels might be rested enough to finish Game 4. However, I'm betting he'll be held for Game 7 insurance.

Update: The resumption of Game 5 has been delayed until tomorrow at the earliest.