GAME POSTPONED: Game Day Weather Forecast For April 20 - Yankees vs. A's Likely To Be Postponed

UPDATE (3:30 PM): According to the Yankees weather update page, the Yankees vs. A's game on 4/20 has been rained out. http://yankees.mlb.com/nyy/ballpark/weather_update.jsp

As of now, no makeup date has been announced.

UPDATE (3:00 PM): Steve DiMartino has checked in and has the following to say:

If the Yankees wait until 9PM there is a shot [to play the game]. Depends on how well the field dries. The heavy rain should continue through 7 PM.

The Yankees would probably rather wait until 9 PM than have to play a doubleheader, but that would really inconvenience the fans. Don't expect an early decision to be made.

We touched on this topic last night, but now it is the day of the game and the weather forecast is still looking terrible. Here to get us through this soggy week of games is Steve DiMartino, special to NSI from NYNJPAWeather.com. Be sure to check out his website every day - he is an independent meteorologist, but his forecasts are seemingly more accurate than any mainstream weather forecast around. Check out what Steve has to say for today's game, and the rest of the week's games,

Perhaps this rain storm is good news for the Yankee's bullpen as heavy rain through today and into the evening will likely lead to a postponement of the game.. This rainstorm is expected to produce a half inch to as much as two inches of rainfall with the heaviest rainfall expected over the Bronx between 6PM and 10 PM. Obviously, these conditions are not optimal for baseball games. If you are heading out to the Stadium expect winds from the east around 5 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph and temperatures in the around 50.

The rest of the series is looking more promising.

A risk of showers will remain on Tuesday evening, however the showers will be widely scattered by the evening hours with generally dry conditions expected over most locations. Although a delay is possible, the game will likely be played. Winds will be from the southwest around 5 to 10 mph. Temperatures will range from 56 to 60 degrees..

On Wednesday afternoon, a risk of showers will still exits but will become isolated through the day. Although a delay is possible, the game will likely be played. Winds will be from the southwest around 5 to 15 mph. Temperatures will range from 58 to 61.

Unfortunately, it looks as if the great weather that blessed the first weekend of games at the new Stadium is long gone. In its place is a soggy atmosphere, ready to ruin baseball games. It should be interesting to see the attendance of these games. This weekend, the Yankees didn't come close to cracking 50,000 people, and they just blasted out an email this morning stating that "tickets are still available" for the Oakland series. Is it possible that they won't crack 40,000 for one of these games?

Read the full post, after the jump

Rainout Likely For Monday Night 4/20 - Yankees vs. A's

We will have a full game day forecast by Steve DiMartino from NYNJPAWeather.com first thing tomorrow morning. For now, he has been kind enough to pass along this unfortunate update:

I wouldn't bet on the game being played tomorrow as the latest guidance coming in has the heaviest rain is expected to be over the Bronx by rush hour through the late evening hours tomorrow, not good for the game for sure.

As for when the game will be made up - River Ave. Blues pointed out earlier today that both teams have an off day this Thursday, and they also have an off day prior to the next time Oakland comes into town in July. A doubleheader is pretty unlikely, as the Yankees are heading into Boston this weekend and won't want to deplete their pitching staff. In addition, this week's games are not sold out, and the Yankees would love to move one to the peak month of July if weather gives them the excuse.

Our early prediction is that tomorrow night's game will be canceled and tickets will be valid for a makeup game on July 23. Gary in the comments points out that July 23 is not a realistic makeup date because of the following clause in the collective bargaining agreement:

ARTICLE V—Scheduling
C. Additional Scheduling Agreements
(10) No Club shall be scheduled, or rescheduled if practicable, to play more than 20 consecutive dates without an open day, or 21 consecutive dates if necessary to accommodate the Hall of Fame Game. A rained-out game may be rescheduled to an open date in the same series, or to an open date at the end of the same series, if (a) the open date is a road off-day for the visiting Club, and (b) the rescheduling does not result in the home team playing more than 24 consecutive dates without an open day, or 25 consecutive dates if necessary to accommodate the Hall of Fame Game.

And Gary notes:

I wouldn't bet on the July 23 makeup game. If the Athletics were to play a game that day, that would make for 28 consecutive days with a game, violating the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The only way a game happens on 7/23 is if the Athletics waive their right to a rest day but I can't imagine that would happen. Another possibility is a day-night DH Wednesday or a 1pm game on their off-day Thursday.

A Wednesday day/night would make sense logistically for travel purposes, but with the Yankees' lack of long relief, it spells trouble.

We'll keep everyone up to date as the day progresses on Monday with any official announcements from the Yankees. Read the full post, after the jump