Plays havoc with the game. About six weeks ago, my wife (here she is) looked out from our porch at the pouring rain. ”Well, it’s about time,” she said. “We need the rain.” In the weeks since (according to MLB Network), it’s rained so often that the Nationals hold the major league lead in rainouts and suspended games — seven in all. The May 3 Nats versus Cardinals rainout was the worst; the umpires kept fans waiting for one hour and 54 minutes before calling the  game. Just three days later, the Nats and Astros went into the 10th inning of a 10-10 slugfest only to have the game suspended. More recently, the Nats doubleheader with the McCoveys — scheduled because of a rainout – was a rain fiasco: the first game was delayed by rain, the second was called with the Giants leading 4-1. It went into the books that way, as a doubleheader sweep. 

By rule the umpires make the final decision on whether to play once they’ve received the home team playbook (rule 4.01), and they make the decision on whether to suspend a game. But, in truth, the umps always consult with the home team. Prior to “the Big Train’s” first attempt at 300, Stan Kasten could be seen trooping with the umpiring crew around third base, trying to decide whether the game could be played. No one seemed capable of making a decision. Inevitably the fans started to leave. The impact of the indecision was catalogued by Dan Steinberg over at DC Sports Blog. It’s pretty grim. Kasten’s indecision was motivated, apparently, by his desire to play the game for those who had come — no matter how long the delay. But you have to wonder: wouldn’t it have been in the interests of the Nats (and the fans) to postpone the game? What’s the point: to get the game “in” — or to get it in when there’s a chance that people will come?  

Even so, it’s hard to blame Kasten for the indecision. The amount of rain on Maine (Ave.) has been unusual this year. There’s no question it’s dampened attendance (it kept me away once, and I’m a fanatic). You have to believe that without the rain the Nats, who are averaging 20,000 a game, would be drawing better. In just five years, Washington fans have set a tradition for arriving late, leaving early, and staying away when it pours. That’s not true in Chicago or St. Louis or Boston or New York. And Nats fans with families traditionally stay at home until the school year is completed. And when they do come out with their school-age kids, they leave early. They won’t stay past eleven. The Nats and the umps should know this. There’s no reason to keep people waiting past 10:30 in Washington — unless you want to play a game in front of a few thousand diehards. This ”well, we need to get the game in” attitude is just stupid. And it kills end-of-year attendance figures.  

That said, my bet is that when it stops raining and we get into the mid-summer (and school is out) the fans will return, in spite of the on-field product. The Nats are now 27th of 30 in attendance (that’s actually astounding, when you think about it), but by the end of the year don’t be surprised to see them jump a few places. They’re now outdrawing Oakland, Florida and Pittsburgh — which is dead last. If you haven’t watched a game in Pittsburgh you should. The stadium is beautiful and you can talk with your buddies without being interrupted by cheering.

A friend looked over at me during the Lincecum game the other night and said that he thought that Twinkie catcher Joe Mauer is probably “the best player in baseball.” I thought about it for a minute and shook my head: “No, it’s Albert Pujols,” I said. But I’ve been thinking about the comment ever since, and making up lists of the “ten best players in baseball” in my head. He has a point on Mauer: the AL catcher was out for the first three weeks and has still hit 12 home runs. And he plays a tougher position than Pujols. Still, I would put him second. So here’s my list of the “top ten” — not counting pitchers. And you can tell me where I’m wrong: 1) Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals, 2) Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins, 3) Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins, 4) Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees, 5) Alberto Gonzalez, San Diego Padres, 6) Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers, 7) Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees, 8) Derek Jeter, New York Yankees, 9) Dustin “Our Lord and Savior” Pedroia, Boston Red Sox, 10) Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals.

Two things strike me about the list: there are a lot of first basemen here (Pujols, Morneau, Gonzalez and Teixeira) and a lot of Yankees — three in all. And I would adamantly claim against all comers (including fans of the “chokes”) that the number ten spot is accurate. Zimmerman might or might not belong in the top ten, but he’s a better hitter than David Wright — and a better fielder.