Rainout shuffles World Series schedule

ST. LOUIS (AP) Eventually, the World Series will resume. It's just not certain when. <br/><br/>Baseball came up with a plan after Wednesday night's rainout to push back the schedule in St. Louis

Thursday, October 26th 2006, 4:55 am

By: News On 6

ST. LOUIS (AP) Eventually, the World Series will resume. It's just not certain when.

Baseball came up with a plan after Wednesday night's rainout to push back the schedule in St. Louis by a day. But more wet weather was in the forecast, meaning additional revisions might follow, perhaps delaying Game 7 until November 1st, only the second time the Series would spill past Halloween.

As of now, Game 4 was reset for Thursday night at Busch Stadium, with Game 5 to be played Friday night.

Will there be a travel day Saturday?

``That has not been determined exactly how they'll handle that,'' said Jimmie Lee Solomon, executive vice president of baseball operations in the commissioner's office.

Prime-time television ratings are lowest on Saturday night, so low, that starting next year the World Series is to start on a Tuesday night instead.

Another consideration in revising the schedule is whether Fox would want a World Series game opposite ``Monday Night Football'' on ESPN, which features the New England Patriots at the Minnesota Vikings.

When Game 7 of the World Series was rained out in 1986, it was pushed back to a Monday and the New York Mets' 8-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox received a 38.9 rating. ``Monday Night Football,'' which broadcast the New York Giants' 27-20 win over the Washington Redskins, got an 8.8 rating, at the time the lowest for a ``MNF'' telecast.

When Game 2 was rained out in 1996, it was reset for 7:17 p.m. EDT on Monday night and the Atlanta Braves' 4-0 win over the New York Yankees got a 14.0 rating, at the time the all-time low for a Series game. The Oakland Raiders' 23-14 victory over the San Diego Chargers received a 12.2 rating, the lowest for ``MNF'' since the 1986 game opposite the World Series finale.

The latest ending Series was in 2001, when it was pushed back a week following the September 11th terrorist attacks. Game 7 was played November 4th.

Here are some of the scenarios:

_ No More Rainouts and No Travel Day: Game 4 Thursday night in St. Louis; Game 5 Friday night in St. Louis; Game 6 Saturday night in Detroit; Game 7 Sunday night in Detroit.

_ No More Rainouts and Travel Day: Game 4 Thursday night in St. Louis; Game 5 Friday night in St. Louis; Game 6 Sunday night in Detroit; Game 7 Monday night in Detroit.

_ Thursday Rainout and No Travel Day: Game 4 Friday night in St. Louis; Game 5 Saturday night in St. Louis; Game 6 Sunday night in Detroit; Game 7 Monday night in Detroit.

_ Thursday Rainout and Travel Day: Game 4 Friday night in St. Louis; Game 5 Saturday night in St. Louis; Game 6 Monday night in Detroit; Game 7 Tuesday night in Detroit.

_ Thursday and Friday Rainouts and No Travel Day: Game 4 Saturday night in St. Louis; Game 5 Sunday night in St. Louis; Game 6 Monday night in Detroit; Game 7 Tuesday night in Detroit.

_ Thursday and Friday Rainouts and Travel Day: Game 4 Saturday night in St. Louis; Game 5 Sunday night in St. Louis; Game 6 Tuesday night in Detroit; Game 7 Wednesday night in Detroit.