professional baseball games are played in all sorts of weather conditions, from the blazing heat of a summer afternoon to the cold, dampness of a spring night. But when rain comes pouring down during a game, the decision whether to delay or even cancel the game rests with the field managers and umpires.
The first thing that is done when rain threatens a game is for the head groundskeeper to check the field and report its condition to the manager. If it has been raining for awhile, or if there is standing water on the field, then it is likely that a delay will be called. The umpires also have a say in this decision, as they are ultimately responsible for player safety.
Once a decision has been made to delay or cancel the game, an announcement is made to fans in attendance as well as those listening or watching at home. The length of a rain delay can vary greatly, from just a few minutes to several hours. It all depends on how long it takes for the rain to let up and for the grounds crew to get the field ready for play again.
So next time you're sitting in your living room watching a baseball game that's suddenly interrupted by rain, now you know all about how that decision was made!