how long do they wait until a game is considered postpponed in MLB?

Question

For example in Detroit today the seatlle game is delayed by rain, how long do they wait until they call the game postponed?

Answer 1

This is up to the judgement of the umpire-in-chief of every game, and he gets advice from the grounds crew, who are paying attention to The Weather Channel and local forecasts.

Answer 2

Unless the rules have changed, the home manager has discretion in calling off the game or waiting BEFORE lineup cards have been given to the umpire crew. Once the lineup cards have been submitted, the umpire crew gets to make the call.

MLB Rule 4.01:
Unless the home club shall have given previous notice that the game has been postponed or will be delayed in starting, the umpire, or umpires, shall enter the playing field five minutes before the hour set for the game to begin and proceed directly to home base where they shall be met by the managers of the opposing teams. In sequence --
(a) First, the home manager shall give his batting order to the umpire-in-chief, in duplicate.

(b) Next, the visiting manager shall give his batting order to the umpire-in-chief, in duplicate.

(c) The umpire-in-chief shall make certain that the original and copies of the respective batting orders are identical, and then tender a copy of each batting order to the opposing manager. The copy retained by the umpire shall be the official batting order. The tender of the batting order by the umpire shall establish the batting orders. Thereafter, no substitutions shall be made by either manager, except as provided in the rules.

(d) As soon as the home team’s batting order is handed to the umpire-in-chief the umpires are in charge of the playing field and from that moment they shall have sole authority to determine when a game shall be called, suspended or resumed on account of weather or the condition of the playing field.

Back around 1991, the White Sox waited over six hours (it was a Sunday game) before finally giving up on the weather. Since lineups hadn't yet been given to the umps, it was the team's decision to wait, and wait, and wait....

Answer 3

By rule a minimum of thirty minutes. League guidelines range from one to two hours.
AL has a curfew that no new inning may begin after 12:50 am local time under any circumstance.
NL states that a game called after 12:50 am due to weaqther becomes an automatic suspended game if it is of official length, regardless of score.

Generally when it is the umpires' decision they will try to finish the complete 9 innings if possible.

Answer 4

If a game has gone four and one half innings an umpire can call a game and the team that is ahead then is usually declared the winner. I am not sure how long an umpire will wait before calling a game if it has not gone four and one half inings.

Answer 5

There is no official rule or waiting time. It all depends on the umpire who depends on the weather report he gets. If the umpire believes the rain will clear anytime soon, they wait it out if not, it is cancelled.

Answer 6

depends how hard it is raining, but they usually decide in a few minutes.

good question!