Cold Rain and Snow

It hasn't been quite as bad weather-wise here in Pittsburgh compared with up the turnpike in Cleveland. But this sure isn't spring, and it sure isn't baseball weather.

Somehow, the inconsistent (a kind way of putting it) Pirates pitching managed to give up two home runs to Barry Bonds on Friday night, aiding and abetting the inevitable. That might end up being the last game in Pittsburgh for the guy who started his career here 21 years ago as a skinny kid.

With a chilly, miserably drizzle starting Saturday afternoon and persisting for the foreseeable future, the Pirates decided against playing last night, opting instead for the dreaded (from a team profit standpoint) doubleheader Sunday afternoon.

Well, the weather is even worse this morning, and the Pirates have decided there won't be any baseball at PNC Park this afternoon, either.

According to the Pirates' Web site, "The doubleheader will be rescheduled for a date later in the season." When will that be? San Francisco was scheduled for just this one visit in Pittsburgh this season. If the Giants can't swing by this neck of the woods again, it shouldn't have any bearing on the standings. I have both these teams finishing last in their respective divisions. The Associated Press report on the situation give some vague possibilities about rescheduling the games, but it looks like it can't be done without major inconveniences.

So, is that it for Barry Bonds playing in Pittsburgh?

If so, too bad. I enjoyed hearing the booing.

• • •

Today is Jackie Robinson Day, a full-fledged celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Hall of Famer's major-league debut. Of course, in today's world of baseball, even the most well-intentioned plans generate some controversy, and the beef this week seemed to be who was entitled to wear Robinson retired No. 42. Whole teams offered to wear the uniform number in tribute, including the Dodgers, which is entirely appropriate.

If the Pirates would have played today, they were to have been among the all-42 teams. That also is appropriate. In 1971, Pittsburgh fielded the first starting lineup of exclusively African Americans.

Philadelphia also is on the list as "all players" wearing No. 42 today.

Huh?

History books usually cite the Phillies as being on the major instigators in the backlash against Robinson's breaking the color barrier, with manager Ben Chapman, a Southerner, supposedly a particular thorn in Jackie's side.

Then again, no one playing for today's Phillies have anything to do with that unfortunate situation. So if those guys want to honor Jackie Robinson, go for it!

Trivia question 19: Who was Jackie Robinson's manager when he made his major-league debut 60 years ago? (This is straight from the list of "opening day" trivia questions presented at yesterday's meeting of the Forbes Field chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research. Joe Elinich, the chapter's president, called it a "geek" question. That is, anyone who got it right has studied far too much baseball history!)