Brinkman happy to weather latest Streak threat

Joe Brinkman knows he dodged the proverbial bullet yesterday.

And nobody was more relieved that the Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers were able to complete a game that appeared to be in trouble from the outset.

Call it the Continuing Saga of The Streak.

Brinkman is the chief of the umpiring crew that worked the weekend series. And yesterday was a game that couldn't be postponed if the schedule was going to work.

Thirty minutes before game time yesterday, Brinkman thought he was in for a long day. "You're the first person I've talked to, which probably means it's going to rain for a long time," he said. "Otherwise, they [Orioles officials] would be in here."

As it turned out, Brinkman's theory, as well as the forecast calling for intermittent showers until sunset, was wrong. The game was delayed for a mere 49 minutes.

Brinkman was as much aware of the forecast as he was of the circumstances. If all goes right, Cal Ripken is scheduled to break Lou Gehrig's record by playing his 2,131st consecutive game on Sept. 6. That is the last day of a homestand for the Orioles, leaving little margin for the elements.

And yesterday's game was one of those that couldn't easily be made up -- the Orioles and Brewers do not meet again this season. The only possible makeup dates would've been Aug. 28, after a West Coast trip, or Sept. 7, a date already reserved in case the Orioles' game with California the night before is rained out.

Contrary to popular belief, the decision whether to play these games is not up to the Orioles. That responsibility rests with the umpires whenever teams are meeting at the site for the final time.

Those were the conditions facing Brinkman yesterday.

But, he pointed out, there have been no special guidelines issued by the American League. "Nobody has said anything to us, but obviously we know it's a special situation.

"We will do whatever we have to do to get these games in," said Brinkman. "But, if it gets to the point where it's 9 o'clock, well . . ."

That's why, when the skies cleared, Brinkman probably was the most relieved person at Camden Yards. "We work with the clubs as much as possible, and we'll do whatever we can," he said. "But ultimately you have to rely on common sense and consider the risk [injury] factor."

It is something that every crew chief has to deal with between now and Sept. 6.

They would like nothing better than blue skies and cloudless nights. Which is probably why Brinkman had a glint in his eye last night, when the skies opened up again -- and he was leaving town.