How long before a baseball game might it be cancelled due to rain?

My suggestion to you, Mr. Itty, is to prepare an alternative, say, have a dinner at Bull & Finch Pub (well, Cheers on Beacon Hill), since you are at the mercy of the home team and the umpire, if you can’t get a decision before you have taken off for a while.

Here is the pasted paragraphs from Wiki:

Before a baseball game commences, unless it is the second game of a doubleheader, the manager of the home team is in charge of deciding whether or not the game should be delayed or canceled due to rain or other inclement weather (see Rule 3.10 of baseball’s Official Rules). Once the home team manager hands his lineup card to the umpire shortly before the game is to begin, the umpire-in-chief has sole discretion to decide if a game should be delayed or canceled (see Rule 3.10 and Rule 4.01 of the Official Rules). This also applies to the second game of a doubleheader. Umpires are required by rule to wait at least 30 minutes to see if conditions improve; this is referred to as a rain delay and is not counted as part of the length of the game listed in the box score. In practice, umpires are encouraged to see that games are played if at all possible, and will sometimes wait as long as three hours before declaring a rainout.

If a game is rained out before play begins, it is rescheduled for a later date. If a game is called after play begins but before 4 1/2 innings have been completed (if the home team is ahead) or five innings have been completed (if the visitors are ahead or the game is tied), the game is not an official game. The umpire declares “No Game”, the game is played in its entirety at a later date, and statistics compiled during the game are not counted. Games that are stopped after they become official games count in the standings (unless the game is tied, in which case it is continued at a later date, usually the next day), and statistics compiled during the game are counted.

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In other words, if the home team manager decided to go for it, the umpire might wait 3 hours to decide. And even if the game can begin, it might still be delayed or canceled.

Good luck.

I can’t find the Red Sox offiicial rain policy, but some other clubs say they won’t call a game before game time (e.g. Phillies: “Since it’s the Phillies desire to play every game at its original time and date, postponement decisions are not usually made until gametime at the earliest (special, extenuating circumstances may dictate otherwise). Fans are encouraged to arrive as planned.”)

@MrItty, congrats on going to see the Red Sox. They are my favorite team, I wish I lived closer than Illinois so I could experience Fenway more often. As you mentioned, there is a 100% chance of rain called. Last night during the radio broadcast on WEEI, Joe and Dave mentioned the chance of rain and seemed to predict that the game wouldn’t not be played Friday. Hopefully for you, the rains will be light and they can play the ball game.

I really doubt there will be a game tonight… it is pouring here (Copley Square) and I intend to sit around and watch tv somewhere before heading to fenway- I too have uncovered seats. Even if they play- I would rather miss a few innings. I wouldn’t travel a 3.5 hour drive for it- if they do play- you will be miserable. The makeup will be on Sunday afternoon- that will be great.