Game 3 of the American League Championship Series was postponed due to rain. Rain began drenching Fenway Park Friday afternoon, and with the storm scheduled to remain in the area until the early hours of Saturday, MLB announced the postponement at 7:05 p.m. CDT. Although they will be renumbered, today and tomorrow's games will take place as scheduled. If necessary Game 5 will take place on the 18th, eliminating the teams' travel day should the series extend to six games. Considering the limited distance between Boston and New York, the condensed travel schedule should not be much of a hardship.

Following Game 1, the Red Sox ruled out the possibility of pitching RHP Curt Schilling in Game 5 and indicated he might not be able to pitch again in this post-season. Yesterday, Schilling threw a bullpen session that encouraged Boston to believe that he may be able to return to the mound if the series goes beyond Game 5. Schilling will have surgery following the end of the Red Sox's season to repair the damaged tendons in his right ankle.

After Boston left him off their Division Series roster, RHP Scott Williamson decided that he likely would not be included on any of the Red Sox's post-season rosters and scheduled surgery on his injured right elbow. During Williamson's October 13th surgery, the doctors discovered much more damage than expected and were compelled to perform a second Tommy John procedure on Williamson, who also underwent the surgery in April of 2001. Williamson likely will not be able to pitch in the majors in 2005, so he probably will pursue an incentive laden deal with an option for 2006.

The Yankees could bring RHP Mike Mussina back to pitch Game 4 on normal rest, but if they manage to win tonight, then I suspect they will go ahead and pitch RHP Orlando Hernandez, allowing them to find out whether Hernandez can be trusted for a potential World Series start. Hernandez has been rehabbing a tired shoulder but now feels ready to attempt a start. Even if he pitches Game 5, Mussina will have extra rest going into Game 1 of the World Series. Additionally, if New York goes up 3-0 in the ALCS, the Yankees will not be concerned about having Mussina available to start an unlikely ALCS Game 7.

FOX has added a Diamond Camera view to their broadcasts this post-season, placing a mini camera in the dirt in front of home plate in order to provide the audience with a ground level view of the batter. The networked debuted the camera during the All-Star Game. To the best of my recollection, there were comments at that time that it would not be used in other broadcasts due to the possibility of the in-play camera altering the course of a ball.

While MLB, the Yankees, the MLBPA, and FOX apparently agreed on using the camera in the playoffs, New York catcher Jorge Posada was concerned about the device interfering with the ball in Game 1. He first attempted to cover the camera with dirt, but after network crewmen repeated uncovered it, he ground the gadget into the earth with his heel in the top of the second inning. Given the established agreement on the use of the camera, MLB and the Yankees chastised Posada for his impulsive actions. Posada did not seem repentant afterwards, but his comments indicated that he was content with whatever adjustments FOX made when installing the camera before Game 2. Personally, I think the camera has the potential to seriously effect the outcome of a game given its in-play position near home plate, and I find it ridiculous for MLB to sanction its presence given the superfluous nature of the feed provided by the obstruction.

In NLCS news, the Cardinals took Steve Kline on their playoff roster despite the 70 percent tear in the tendon of the index finger on his left hand. Kline, who gave up back-to-back singles to SS-S Jose Vizcaino and C-R Brad Ausmus in Game 2 of the NLCS, reported extreme soreness in the finger after the game. While the rest of the team traveled to Houston yesterday, Kline remained in St. Louis to see a hand specialist. Following the examination, the Cardinals revealed that Kline suffers from gout, which is contributing to excess swelling in the finger. Gout results from an excess of uric acid in the bloodstream, which crystallizes and accumulates in joints causing pain. Kline will rejoin St. Louis in Houston, hoping that his gout medication will enable him to pitch again during this series, though since the treatment reportedly takes 48 hours to provide relief, he likely will not pitch in either Game 3 or 4 of this series. If he fails to improve, the Cardinals may leave him off their World Series should St. Louis advance beyond the NLCS.