How does rain affect playing conditions?
I'm not much of a baseball fan, but I have been enjoying Michigan baseball the last couple weeks. So for those who are knowledgable, how does rain impact the game in terms of strategy, things to look out for, etc.? The number one thing I could think of is that fielding will be harder and there is a likelihood of players slipping, either while base running, or while fielding. Anything else?
Strategy gets a bit slippery, as I am told by the experts. Also, the umps can't throw you out of the game for throwing spit balls.
Wont affect things much. It's pretty much dried up by now.
Usually it would hurt a running team's options......but.....vs. Kumar Rocketship those opportunities may be limited.
It will be fielding, throwing that may furnish surprises....
Good thing is M is going with a bullpen approach tonight so it is Kumar who must deal with stop and go warm ups and decide whether he can labor on through delays....last game of the year so all usual strategies go out the window....
GO BLUE!
makes the playing conditions wetter.
And moister
The infamous midwest marine layer.
Baseballs tend to travel further in humid weather vs. dry weather.
Although this is Omaha in late June. It's ALWAYS humid.
Wet.
Assuming they have a tarp that covers the entire infield in Omaha as they do in every other college and minor/major league stadiums, you won't notice a difference in the small ball game. Outfielders spikes will negate most slipping in the outfield. The only difference you might notice are throws from the outfield on basehits...but that'll be minimal and shouldn't be a problem after an inning or 2.
Looks like more rain coming
Rain shouldn't affect play too much really, unless you get, like, three inches of it at a stretch like we were getting a couple months ago. Then, the field is underwater and they won't play in that anyway.
Twatwaffles
Wet (but playable) conditions have less impact on baseball compared to what you see in football as far as changing the nature/strategy of the game is concerned. The ball will "skip" a bit when bouncing across the grass, basically meaning it will cover ground a little quicker and bounce lower than dry conditions, but fielders will be expecting that so there is only a very slight increase in the chance of fielding errors and maybe a couple more hits sneaking through gaps between fielders. As for throwing the ball, it doesn't typically get too slick after being hit unless it is a rolling ground ball that really soaks up the moisture as opposed to a bouncer. Outfielders having to make a strong throw to a base or home plate after fielding a ground ball hit would be most affected. Making sure to get a good 4-seam grip of the laces is important to maintain control of throws and avoid the ball slipping out. Pitching-wise, there shouldn't be much (if any) affect because balls will frequently get switched out (even more than usual) so that dry ones are being used. As for running around the field, on natural grass with metal cleats on there shouldn't be much slipping at all, but it wouldn't be shocking if someone did. The bases can get slick, but on the rare occasion someone slips its usually when lunging for first base attempting to beat out a close play, which can lead to some nasty injuries.
Makes the field wet
It makes things wetter.
Your shoes and socks may get wet. That sucks.
Rain typically benefits one team and hurts the other team (ex UM football loss to MSU at home where msu was bailed out by the gift of rain and UM severely debilitated by rain). It would seem like it would affect teams equally, but it somehow only hurts one team, typically the losing team.