Rain puts damper on Game 1 of NLCS

NEW YORK -- Jimmie Lee Solomon, Major League Baseball's executive vice president of baseball operations, said the plane crash involving New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle yesterday was not a factor in the decision to postpone Game 1 of the National League Championship Series last night at Shea Stadium.

The decision was exclusively weather-related, Solomon said, as a steady rain that began in midafternoon continued throughout the evening.

The series between the Mets and St. Louis Cardinals is set to begin tonight, and the starting pitchers for both teams remain the same, lefthander Tom Glavine for the Mets and righthander Jeff Weaver for the Cardinals.

Game 2 is now scheduled for tomorrow -- starting time to be determined -- which would give Cardinals manager Tony La Russa the option to use his ace, Chris Carpenter, on regular rest, after Carpenter pitched the clincher of the Division Series against the Padres Sunday night. But La Russa said he is inclined to stick with his plans, which have Jeff Suppan pitching Game 2, and Carpenter Game 3 in St. Louis Saturday, which would allow La Russa to bring back Carpenter for a possible Game 7.

Suppan, however, has been much more effective at home (7-2, 3.18 ERA ) than on the road (5-5, 5.36), which perhaps is the reason La Russa indicated his plans ``might change." Few would be surprised if he flip-flops Carpenter and Suppan.

The Mets still plan to go with rookie John Maine in Game 2, with veteran Steve Trachsel scheduled for Game 3.

The two players whose participation was most uncertain on the eve of the series, Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen (shoulder) and Mets outfielder Cliff Floyd (Achilles' tendon) , were in last night's starting lineups.