Wind, fog and shadows may be part of World Series

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The Giants and Rangers are getting ready for Wednesday night's World Series opener. San Francisco has home-field advantage, courtesy of the National League's victory in this summer's All-Star game.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy will hand the ball to Tim Lincecum for Game 1. He'll be opposed by Texas lefty Cliff Lee in a matchup of past Cy Young Award winners.

The Giants used to play in one of the oldest, coldest and most blustery stadiums in the majors before moving into AT&T Park a decade ago. Not much has changed at their waterfront home, where the fog rolls in late and the winds still swirl in the outfield.

How much of a factor the weather will be in the World Series is debatable.

"It's kind of like Seattle where the ball doesn't necessarily travel real well," Texas pitcher C.J. Wilson said. "It's not like they have a fire pit where there's a lion that jumps out and eats the outfielders. They don't have that. The reality is we know that we're in for a damp, cold-weather environment when we're here, and then the weird shadows because we're playing in the afternoon."

Two weeks ago when San Francisco faced the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the playoffs, temperatures peaked in the mid-90s. The forecast for Game 1 Wednesday is cloudy and 60 degrees, with a slight possibility of rain for Game 2 on Thursday night.

San Francisco center fielder Aaron Rowand doesn't seem too concerned. He's been roaming the outfield at AT&T Park for the past three seasons and hasn't had an issue with the cool, often winter-like conditions.

"I don't think that's going to be a big deal," Rowand said. "I don't think playing the outfield here is all that difficult or different for someone coming in."

Probably not as hard as the old place where the Giants used to play: Candlestick Park.

Because both Game 1 and Game 2 have early evening starting times, players will have to deal with the twilight shadows.

Texas hitting coach Clint Hurdle is very familiar with AT&T Park, having spent several evenings in the visitor's dugout as manager of the Colorado Rockies. He doesn't expect the weather or shadings to be an advantage or disadvantage for one team.

"There's nothing you can do about them, we don't talk about them," Hurdle said. "We really don't pay much attention to distractions. That's one of the things this group's really good at. Things that are out of our control we let go, man. We just try to stay in touch with what's in our control."