Snow Forces a One-Day Postponement

The Dodgers had snowball fights, took pictures and ran around Coors Field like kids when school is canceled.

It was a day off for them too.

Wednesday’s game against the Colorado Rockies was postponed because of snow and rain and rescheduled for today at 2:05 p.m. PDT.

“When I looked at the schedule and saw the three cities [Denver, Chicago and Milwaukee] we were going to on this trip, I figured the weather was going to be a factor,” pitching coach Glenn Gregson said. “You can’t go to play in these places, at this time of year, and expect perfect conditions.”

This was the Rockies’ first postponement in eight home games.

Team officials decided to postpone when snow began falling in mid-afternoon.The Rockies’ 6-3 victory over the Dodgers on Tuesday night had been interrupted twice by rain.

“That’s just the way it goes here, but you can’t let it bother you,” said second baseman Eric Young, who played for the Rockies for five seasons.

“I’ve seen it snow here before, and I’ve been here when it’s been a lot colder. It’s Colorado, that’s all you need to know.”

The Dodgers will travel to Chicago after today’s game for a three-game series with the Cubs beginning Friday afternoon. They also have a three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers beginning Tuesday, which will complete their eight-game, 10-day trip.

“In some places, you have to expect this type of weather in March and April,” outfielder Thomas Howard said. “Some of the guys might not be used to this, but I am because I’m from Cincinnati.

“I remember when I was in high school, we couldn’t play more than 15 games a year sometimes because of the snow and cold. We had to shovel off the field before we could even practice sometimes.”

Gregson said that the unexpected day off would not affect the pitching rotation. Ramon Martinez (2-1, 2.18 earned-run average) was scheduled to start Wednesday and will pitch today.

“Ramon will just get an extra day’s rest for this start,” Gregson said. “He was going to have an extra day off later in the month, and now he’ll just go back to pitching on five days’ rest.”

But Gregson said another postponement might prompt changes.

“I don’t know what the weather is going to be like in Chicago or Milwaukee,” he said. “But I sure don’t expect it to be balmy.”

*

With Jose Vizcaino recovering from a strained left hamstring, Wilton Guerrero has started the last two games at shortstop.

He has driven in three runs, and committed a throwing error. Guerrero began his career as a shortstop but was moved to second base because he was too erratic in the field.

“Wilton deserved to start,” Manager Bill Russell said. “He drove in two big runs for us [in a 3-1 victory over Houston on Monday], and we’re trying to get his bat in the lineup whenever we can.”

TODAY

DODGERS’ RAMON MARTINEZ (2-1, 2.18 ERA)

vs.

ROCKIES’ DARRYL KILE (1-2, 6.63 ERA)

Coors Field, 2:05 PDT.

Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Update--Martinez and Kile were scheduled to start in Wednesday’s game. Martinez beat the Houston Astros last Friday, 7-2, and has given up two runs--one earned--with 17 strikeouts in his last 16 innings. Team officials say he hasn’t shown any effects of the slight tear he suffered last season in the rotator cuff of his throwing shoulder. “I don’t want to think about how I’m pitching right now because it’s early,” said Martinez, who is 6-6 with a 4.97 ERA in 13 starts against Colorado. “A lot of things can happen in the year, so I just want to focus on each game right now. Dodger Manager Bill Russell is impressed: “I’m not a doctor, but I can’t remember a guy coming back from what he’s come back from and pitching so well so fast. It really is something to watch.” Kile left the Astros for a three-year, $24-million contract, but he isn’t having much fun. He has struggled with his control and was booed in his first start at home. The Rockies lost their first six games at Coors Field and nine of their first 10.