Philadelphia had to wait another day to host its first World Series game in 13 years at Citizens Bank Park. Game 3 of the World Series between the Astros and Phillies was postponed on Monday night, pushing back the schedule one day.
The last World Series game to be rained out was back in 2011. The St. Louis Cardinals came back from a 3-2 deficit to beat the Texas Rangers at home.
Nick Punto was on that Cardinals team so he has a unique perspective on World Series rainouts. He also started his career in Philadelphia, playing 77 games with the Phillies from 2001 to 2003.
Punto told the new Audacy Original Podcast “Baseball Isn’t Boring” about how a World Series rainout affects both teams, particularly the home team with family in town.
“This group of guys with Schwarber and Harper and the way they’re playing, even these young kids Bohm and Stott, all these kids, the way they’re playing there’s nothing that’s going to get in the way of their confidence,” Punto said (18:29 in player above). “They are super confident and there’s nothing that can get in the way. This is more above their grade, meaning this is the GM now.”
The extra day gives both the Phillies and Astros a chance to rearrange their starting pitching for the rest of the series. This should benefit Philadelphia as it looked like it was going to be mostly a bullpen game in Game 4.
“What is he going to do? Is he going to use Syndergaard or is he going to go to the lefty with the slow heartbeat?” Punto continued. “It has nothing to do with the 25 guys in the clubhouse, for me, this is more like what are they going to do? The players could care less. They’re confident. Both teams are playing with some confidence. I think it’s more what are they going to do? What’s the personnel going to do?”
The Phillies are slated to start that lefty with the slow heartbeat, Ranger Suarez, in Game 3 against Lance McCullers Jr. They’ll return with ace Aaron Nola in Game 4 against Christian Javier.
With the game postponed more than an hour before first pitch, both teams had an unusual night off. Sure, there was some rain in the forecast, but players were getting prepared to play in one of the biggest games of their lives.
“The home guys are more miserable if this makes sense. The Phillies are more miserable because they have grandmas in town. They have aunts in town. Uncles are in town,” Punto said. “So now they got to go host them to a dinner where their heart’s going to be pounding. There’s no relaxing in the World Series. Nobody’s relaxed. There’s no such thing. The only time you can relax is when the game starts. So at 5:05 tomorrow, you’ll see all 50 players relax finally. But right now, they’re pooping in their pants.
“They don’t want to be sitting down with grandma, eating crumpets and drinking tea with grandma and grandpa, but grandma and grandpa are in their apartment. That’s who’s in their apartment right now. Because they hosted everybody. You’re at home. It’s just how it is.”
Punto experienced that before Game 6 with the Cardinals.
“It’s actually kind of miserable. This was my experience in St. Louis. I had 12 people in my house before Game 6. My dad’s sleeping on the couch. My mom’s over here," he said. "It was just an absolute s-show. It was a total mess. But the organized chaos kind of took my mind off what was coming. But really, there’s no relaxing in the World Series until the game starts.”
Hopefully, the weather forecast will remain clear for Games 3, 4, and 5 in Philadelphia this week. Otherwise, there may be some more tea and crumpets on the menu.
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