Wrong move

Monday afternoon, I had my weekly column all written.
I was going to tell everyone that I reluctantly have joined the Charlie Manuel bandwagon and had a special picture already to go.
By 11 o’clock Monday night, I had to re-write my column.
Seems Major League baseball in an attempt to make a few more million dollars, decided to play game five of the World Series Monday night at the Bank in the rain and cold.
Why? The only answer I can some up with is money. Money drives sports today, not the poor suckers like you and me, who put their fannies in the stands to support their favorite teams.
There is no way in creation that came should have been started last night. Major League Baseball made a huge error in judgement. What if say a Cole Hamels and “Eva’ Longoria would have suffered say a career-ending injury?
As I sat at home, watching the rain fall harder and harder and getting an uneasy feeling that the series was heading back to  Florida, I kept saying why.
The infield, despite the efforts of the ground crew, was flooded. There was more standing water on that field than on most streets after a hard rain.
Okay, it does seem kind of odd that baseball waited until the Rays tied the game at 2-2 to put the tarp on and call the game, but apparently it was all part of some type of grand plan.
Remember talking heads Buck and McCarver saying that once the game reached the bottom of the fifth, it was official and if it was called with the Phillies winning 2-1, they would win the game and series.
Well, seems the suits who run Major League baseball decided to alter the rules somewhat, saying the game wold go nine innings regardless and apparently didn’t tell anyone. Fox didn’t know it and neither did the teams.
So when Tampa Bay tied the game, it was the logical time to say “we’ll see you on another night.”
But there are other problems.
The umpiring in the series has been horrible -- both ways. MLB and its umpires union has this contract, which doesn’t call for the best umpires to work the post-season. That’s a mistake. There are some good umpires sitting at home because of this.
And my final gripe has to do with the late starts. Saturday, again, well after 10. Perhaps that one should have been called as well.
You say, eight isn’t a late start. Well, by the time you get the Fox talking heads telling us what will happen in a game during the pre-game, the line-ups and the god awful renditions of the National Anthem, its nine o’clock.
Baseball wants young people to get involved in the game. How can they when its early the next morning when the game ends.
That has to change.
The series is still not over as I write this. I will say I am surprised with the pitching performances the Phils got from Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton.
But, common sense didn’t prevail at all by Major League Baseball in games four and five in Philly.

District 3 playoffs

With the exception of last two years when the Crimson Tide was classified Class AA in football, the annual trip to the District Three playoffs always met one thing -- more often than not the Tide was paired against either Steel-High, Scotland or Camp Hill in the playoffs.
Back in Class A, the Tide, despite its 2-7 record qualified for the post-season again and their reward will be a trip to one of the most tradition rich schools in District Three next week, Steel-High.
And the Rollers are loaded. They are 9-0 on the season and have Division One prospects at a number of positions including senior running back Jeremiah Young.
Young, who has yet to commit to a college, is with 420 yards of setting the state’s career rushing record of more than 8,000 yards held by former East Stroudsburg running back James Munro, who spent some time with the Indianapolis Colts.
Other teams qualifying for the Class A playoffs are Camp Hill (2), Holy Name (3), Central Catholic (4), Millersburg (5), York Catholic (6) and Upper Dauphin (7).

Columbia-Donegal

For the last two years when Columbia and Donegal played their annual high school football game, it was the league opener in the L-L League.
For many years prior to that, the two longtime rivals that are separated by Chickies Hill, played the final game of the regular season.
Usually attached to that final game of the regular season was a championship or playoff berth.
Remember the final game of the 1999 season when the Indians beat Columbia 3-0? The section ended in a three-way tie as the result of that game.
And during the many years of the rivalry, there have been a number of great games, outstanding players and memorable moments.
This year, there is no section title at stake, or, a District Three playoff berth. Donegal won’t be going to the playoffs for the second straight year. Columbia on the other hand is going to the District Three Class A playoffs.
Both teams have struggled this year.
The Tide and Indians come into the game with identical 2-7 overall records and 1-5 section marks.
There are also a lot of similarities.
• Both teams beat Pequea Valley.
• Both teams played Eastern. Columbia lost its season opener to the Golden Knights, while the Indians beat the Knights a week later.
• Both teams played Daniel Boone. Columbia shocked Daniel Boone in overtime, while the Indians were blanked in the opener by the Blazers.
• Both teams like to run the football. Columbia’s Dakota Lightfoot has rushed for 1,386  yards and scored 13 times this season. Donegal’s Kyle Witmer has rushed for 1,224 yards and scored 10 times.
• Both teams are improved on defense, but have weak areas. Donegal’s is against the pass, while the Tide has trouble stopping the run.
NOTES: Kickoff is 7:30 p.m., which is a half later later than Columbia has started its games all season.
Last year, four teams from Section 3 made the playoffs. This year, going into the final week of the regular season, the Tide, Lancaster Catholic, Elco and Northern Lebanon are guaranteed spots, while L-S, who had a magical run through the playoffs last year needs some help to get in.
Daniel Boone, who faced both teams, is ranked in the top 10 in Class AAA.
In all, 15 L-L League teams could qualify for the playoffs, which begin next week.