Game time: 7:05 CDT, 8:05 EDT

Scheduled starters: Josh Beckett (15-5, 3.15) v. John Danks (6-11, 5.30)

The game will be on NESN.

Chicago weather:

2 pm CDT (3 pm EDT) observation at KORD: wind out of the southwest at 16 mph, visibility 10 miles, scattered clouds at 3,800 feet, broken layer at 25,000 feet, temperature 87F, DP 72F.

Forecast:

There's an active weather pattern out there today, with a shortwave over eastern Iowa, with strong convection that's moving east. There's a chance for thunderstorms in the Chicago area this evening, possibly during the game, but most likely after the game is over. There's a chance that some of these storms could be strong, with damaging winds. At 2:30 pm CDT, there was a severe thunderstorm watch issued for Cook County, and there are box warnings for severe thunderstorms for the area about 50 miles west of Chicago. And a Tornado warning was just issed for DeKalb County, northwest of Chicago....

Anyway, it looks like an interesting afternoon. The winds will be gusty out of the northwest, but they should settle down a bit after sundown. I'll keep an eye on the system to the west and provide updates.

The winds will be blowing out toward center.

The pitching has prevented losing streaks, but the inconsistent hitting has prevented us from going on an extended tear and putting some daylight between us and that second place team. Let's get off to a good start to this four game set tonight. Score runs early boys and give JB some padding. But save some runs for the rest of the series.

Nasty weather!

Chicago Tribune - Damaging wind rips across Chicago area; Tornado warning ends, but reports of funnel clouds and fast-moving storm force people to take cover

Somebody be sure to tell Josh to keep his pitches down! Auntie Em?

I could go for a double header tomorrow, actually...

A double header tomorrow would be sweet, Pedroia would definitely love that too:

Lineup for Tonight:

Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
David Oritz, DH
Manny Ramirez, LF
Mike Lowell, 3B
Bobby Kielty, RF
Jason Varitek, C
Coco Crisp, CF
Julio Lugo, SS
Josh Beckett P

Jerry Owens, CF
Josh Fields, 3B
Jim Thome, DH
Paul Konerko, 1B
A.J. Pierzynski, C
Jermaine Dye, RF
Darin Erstad, LF
Juan Uribe, SS
Danny Richar, 2B
John Danks, P

08/23 18:33:41 ET

6 pm CDT/7 pm EDT observation at KORD: wind out of the northwest at 16 mph, with gusts to 28 mph, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 700 feet, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet with cumulonimbus, temperature 73F, DP 67F.

It does not look good out there... There's a line of intense showers and thunderstorms moving from west to east though the area. There are a number of box warnings out, and two of them, for severe thunderstorms and for hazardous weather, cover Chicago.

There's a thunderstorm at O'Hare now; that's northwest.

Right now, it's a tossup...

I think they'll try to play. A doubleheader tomorrow is not the answer because tomorrow's weather may be more active than today's.

When Amalie Benjamin speaks why does the scar on my forehead hurt?

Dusty's been scratched for Cora.

Amalie Benjamin is cute, but shes no Kathryn Tappen

The tarp is still on the field, so it looks like a delay.

That line is moving very fast, so there's a chance that they could get this game in later, although there's been a pattern of convective activity moving west to east since mid-afternoon, and there's another line of showers upstream right now.

Err. It would help to READ.

It will be at least an hour before they make a decision to play.

Updates will be posted here...

Being unemployed only comes in handy twice:

1. Late games
2. Double headers

From the looks of the radar, its going to be tough to get this one in, but as annie said, its not looking much better tomorrow. Tough to call for the umpires that is for sure

9 pm EDT update: They're going to wait this out and make a decision around 10 pm EDT. It does look like there will be a window later on if nothing else forms upstream. There is more rain in eastern Iowa, but that's going to take a while to get to Chicago. There's still a chance they'll play, but it is still raining as of 9 pm.

Unfortunately the Chicago radar is down, so its hard to tell exactly whats going on...

Although looking at the Milwaukee radar it looks like the back edge is going through now. Hopefully the convection thats building back stays to the south, but looks to be close.

Yeah... The Chicago radar went down around 9 pm... Maybe it got blown over by a tornado!

Pretty crazy out there...

The latest announcement is that they will try to start this game between 10:20 and 10:30 EDT. Welcome to more late night baseball.

There is more rain out there, but it's a ways off to the west, so if they play fast, they might get this one in. I think the White Sox are concerned about more of the same tomorrow with a very active weather pattern out that way.

Any updates from EEI or NESN?

That was a quick response, thanks Annie!

Jeez, this really sucks being on the East Coast. Why am I going to school in Boston again?

Not looking good, storms are forming just west of Chicago right now...

I just caught that... Two small cells just west of the city. They'll probably explode right over US Cellular Field! It sure would be nice to have the Chicago radar working!

I updated the radar in the previous post, its good enough since its on the north edge so Milwaukee has a good view of it.

Here's Amalie Benjamin's report

My best guess is that this game isn't going to start in 15 minutes. The guys who were shoveling rain off the tarp -- which has a giant DHL logo on it -- have left the field as the rain has started pouring down.

Josh Beckett is nowhere to be seen.

We might be looking at a doubleheader tomorrow, but I'll continue to give updates to the few souls who happen to still be checking the blog.

There are actually quite a few fans still at the ballpark, huddled up under the overhangs. The one amazing thing is how quickly the field drained. The giant puddles in the outfield are gone. But they might be back...

This thing on the DH they are showing on CSN Chicago is kind of funny--the first DH ever--Bloomer or whoever from the Yankees predicted that Bonds would get traded to an AL team in order to break the record!

Looks like no game tonight.

Ya not looking good at all, storms blew up again right over the city

mlb.tv is saying the game is postponed.

NESN said it too.

See you guys at 2.

gametimes at 1:05 and 7:11

^^^Central.

I'm not sure about getting two in tomorrow. These storms are stretched out all the way to Denver, and are moving northeast on a mid-level jet. This pattern is going to dominate until a cold front passes sometime late Friday or early Saturday.

Just seeing Hawk Harrelson and his obnoxious sidekick DJ made me want to kick somebody in the groin. "Opportunity for us to win twice tomorrow," says DJ.

I can't watch the afternoon game, since I'll be at work, so that blows.

Thanks. I have to set the DVR since I'll be at work. Don't want to set it for the wrong times.

Excellent, day off with a double header! We're taking both (if both are played)

So long as we maintain a reasonable lead in the division, this weather should not be an issue. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have concerns about it. Double headers chew up pitching staffs and if the weather creates further problems we could have some issues. The upside is that they won't have to make these games up until September and we can handle that with September call-ups . . . so long as we keep a lead over the Yanks. I'd hate to be the wildcard and have to go to Seattle or LA.

Anyone know what the odds are of winning a doubleheader vs. winning 2 nights in a row?

anyone know the odds of a game thread for a rained out game being longer than an actual game thread?