Philly Forecast Slightly Better For Wednesday

Posted Oct 28, 2008 by TBO.com

Updated Oct 28, 2008 at 01:16 PM

It still won’t be the kind of weather you’d pick to play baseball, but the forecast for Wednesday night in Philadelphia is certainly better than what the weather service was predicting if play in the suspended Game 5 resumed tonight.

If the forecast holds, Wednesday night will be warmer, less windy and with rain completely out of the forecast. Still, it won’t exactly be beach weather.

The weather service in Philadelphia says Wednesday’s temperature should be about 45 degrees at game time, with wind chill making it feel about 37. The wind would be about 10 mph.

Compare that with the forecast for tonight of 39 degrees. The wind chill would make it feel like 29, and that wind would be kicking at a sustained 20 mph, with gusts to 39 mph. For reference, 1 mph above that is tropical storm strength. Those conditions would be bad enough, but forecasters also expect a 40 percent chance of rain.

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Windy And Cold In Philly Forecast For Tonight

Posted Oct 28, 2008 by TBO.com

Updated Oct 28, 2008 at 07:34 AM

The weather tonight in Philadelphia will swap the constant rain of Monday for constant wind and cold tonight.

The whole Northeast is being pounded by a strong area of low pressure, and there’s 5 inches of snow in the mountains 90 minutes west of Philadelphia.

The rain during the day should at least slack off by game time if Major League Baseball decides to resume the game suspended on Monday night. But there’s still a 40 percent chance in the forecast for tonight. That’s down from the 100 percent chance during the day.

And there will be wind. Lots of it. The weather service says sustained winds by game time should be 20 to 25 mph and gusts up to 45 mph. The temperature won’t be that bad if you’re a penguin, someplace in the low 40s to high 30s.

The wind, though, will make it feel like the low 20s.

If baseball officials decide to wait for Wednesday, the weather improves with little chance of rain and a whole lot less wind.

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Still Chilly In Philly

Posted Oct 27, 2008 by By Shannon Liston News Channel 8

Updated Oct 27, 2008 at 09:45 PM

As Keith mentioned in an earlier blog post, it’s chilly in Philly.  Many members of the press spent time before the first pitch huddled inside the food room, located in the auxiliary press box section.  While most came prepared with coats, gloves, and skull caps, I did not.  The best I came with was a scarf and a short-length peacoat, shielding a short sleeve top underneath.  That sent me on a mission to try and find something priced reasonably, like a skull cap.  But just like ponchos were the hot item two nights ago, the retail shops in the ballpark ran out of their supplies of those skull caps.  But now, the rain is falling in Citizens Bank Park, so it might be a good idea to try and find a poncho.

Coming up tonight at 11, Keith talks to a young Rays fan, braving the elements, and braving a hostile crowd.  Rod Challenger caught up with Tampa Bay Rays owner Stu Sternberg before Game 5.  Hear what he thinks about his team’s run to the World Series tonight at 11 on News Channel 8.

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Rays Fans Should Beware Of Rowdy Phillies Supporters

Posted Oct 27, 2008 by Keith Cate, News Channel 8

Updated Oct 27, 2008 at 03:24 PM

It’s cold in Philadelphia today in more ways than one. The Phillies fans are anything but warm to anyone they think might be rooting for the Rays. These people are about to pop and Rays fans in town for the World Series are marked targets. 

Everywhere we went today we heard about how the Phillies were going to win this series tonight and how the Rays visitors should head for the exits while there is still time to get out of town. I tip my hat to all Rays fans who have taken the abuse and stayed. I would, however, suggest you hide the cowbell for the night. Sports talk radio in Philly is suggesting that the streets will be filled with brutal fans if the Phillies clinch tonight.

We have live shots planned for 5, 6 and 11 on WFLA-TV… and are hoping to avoid too much hassle, but we know the taunts are coming. All that said:  Go Rays!

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Monday Morning In A City Of Murals

Posted Oct 27, 2008 by Rod Challenger

Updated Oct 27, 2008 at 08:53 AM

We are driving out of Philadelphia this morning, and traffic is moving freely on the interstate. Inbound traffic is bumper to bumper, even though we are past the peak of rush hour.

We are driving along the river, and the banks are lined with trees in their fall colors. This is rowing country, and a number of people are out rowing their sculls. We are heading for the Lehigh Valley town of Bangor, Pa. It is 62 miles from our hotel, according to our GPS. It’s about 75 miles from New York City.  We are going there to do a story about how they make the uniforms for major league players. There’s a company there, Majestic Sports, that still uses seamstresses to hand-sew the uniforms.  It’s an industry that has been in the small town for more than 100 years. The town has a population of 5,000 people.

Leaving Philadelphia, we noticed a lot of murals painted on the walls of buildings.

This is a city of murals. Through a mural art program, artists have painted 2,500 of them, and they are adding more each day.

Despite all these thoughts, I can’t keep my mind from wandering and wondering about the Rays.  All the things that got them to the World Series have failed: pitching, fielding and timely hitting. They certainly have a tough road ahead if they are to win the Series, down three games to one. They have Scott Kazmir pitching tonight, but the Phillies counter with Cole Hamels, who won Game 1. He’s their best pitcher and is 4-0 in the postseason.

If Philadelphia wins tonight, there will be a lot of wild partying in the streets. The Rays need a win to bring the Series back to St. Petersburg on Wednesday night.

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