Overview
A rain delay is declared when the umpire crew determines that rainfall makes continued play impractical. During the delay, groundskeepers cover the mound and bases with tarps and work on drainage. NPB has no strict time limit for delays, but resumption or cancellation is typically decided within one to two hours. For pitchers, delays risk the body cooling down, often leading to a pitching change upon resumption. Batters face challenges maintaining concentration. While domed stadiums have reduced rain delays, they remain a strategic factor at outdoor parks. Leading teams tend to welcome delays while trailing teams hope for resumption, creating a psychological dimension to the interruption.