WASHINGTON -- As they pursue their uphill wild-card bid into the seasons final week, the Nationals had another opponent to contend with Saturday night: Mother Nature. After a lengthy wait, persistent rain finally forced the postponement of the Nationals game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday night. The teams, and a few thousand fans, waited nearly four hours from the 7:05 scheduled start time before an announcement was made shortly before 11 p.m. The game was rescheduled as part of a split doubleheader Sunday with the first game starting at 1:35 p.m. and the second at 7:05 p.m. Washington plays in St. Louis Monday night, while Miami hosts Philadelphia. Neither teams clubhouse was open to the media after the postponement was announced. "Id like to call it early and play a doubleheader. Its easier on everybody," Washington manager Davey Johnson said Saturday afternoon. "That said, well probably be here until 1 (a.m.)." Marlins manager Mike Redmond also said he expected that the teams would wait it out. "From what Ive heard, I think they want to play it tonight. Nobody really wants to play a doubleheader on our getaway day. I think well sit this one out, wait it out and see what happens," he said. The details of the decision to wait nearly four hours, and then ultimately postpone the game, were not disclosed. The home team generally controls whether or not a game will start, but late in the season Major League Baseball and the umpires are part of the decision-making process. The Nationals have won 12 of 14 and began the day five games behind Cincinnati and Pittsburgh for two NL wild card spots. Pittsburgh defeated the Reds 4-2 Saturday night. The Marlins have lost six of seven. Miamis Tom Koehler (3-10, 4.51) opposes Dan Haren (9-13, 4.88) in the afternoon game, while Stephen Strasburg (7-9, 2.96), Saturday nights scheduled starter for Washington, faces Brian Flynn (0-2, 9.64) Sunday night. Strasburg will make his first start since Sept. 8. On Sept. 13, the day before his next scheduled start, he felt tightness in his right forearm, so his start was pushed back to this past Thursday. On Wednesday, Strasburg couldnt shake forearm tightness while trying to get loose for that start, so he was again pushed back, to Saturday. Any top ten has some sort of explicit or implicit criteria. Top ten dunks: flare, power, finesse, levity of the moment. Top ten goals: style, creativity, dare I say panache. With names the parameters of selection would seem subjective, but Ill boldly predict that I get a bunch of head-shakes with the proceeding list. 10) Rasmus Ristolainen – Finland World Junior Hockey Player The suffix “lainen” is as prevalent as the recent onslaught of “D”s and “L”s followed by apostrophes in basketball and football. The alliteration is nice, but giving it that extra boost is the hockey-punnable “risto”, like a wrist shot. And LOOK AT THE HAIR! 9) Barkevious Mingo – Cleveland Browns Another suffix gaining prominence – “ious”, “ius” or “eon” – Jadeveon Clowney (future NFL first-round pick), Latavius Murray (Oakland Raiders running back), Latavious Williams (former NBA second-round pick). The long “e” and “uh” that follows simply flow off the throat. Add the “bark” required of an angry linebacker with a unique surname and youre making the top 10. Tie: Luke Kuechly (pronounced “keek-lee”) - Carolina Panthers, and Kiko Alonso - Buffalo Bills Coupled “k” sounds are kooky, cool and make a nice combination. 7) Starling Marte – Pittsburgh Pirates You got a first name that includes the word “star” and is a mix of “starlet” and “darling”. Nearly trumping the first half of his full name is the last name itself – you cant get any better than a non-French person with an accent aigu sound, even when there issnt actually an accent aigu there.dddddddddddd 6) Chael Sonnen – MMA Fighter I suppose the UFC fighters prevalence as a loud mouth helped him garner the sixth spot. But reputation aside, “Chael” is a freaking fighters name. The composite syllables are punchy and fit the profile of a great pugilist. 5) Nerlens Noel – Philadelphia 76ers Theres that alliteration again. Also that French elegance of “Noel” kicks the former Kentucky superstar into our top five. 4) Anderson Silva – MMA Fighter Ive always had a thing for last names as first names: Brady Quinn, Carson Palmer, Carter Ashton, Cooper Manning, Connor McDavid, Grady Little, Harrison Barnes. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – Detroit Pistons When you add a hyphenated last name youve increased its brilliance potential by 50 per cent. Im pretty sure Kentavious fate to become a pro athlete was determined at the baby-naming, as I wouldnt foresee any Kentavious Caldwell-Popes working at the local Canadian Tire. 2) Johnny “Football” Manziel – Texas A&M A classic nickname for a guy who fits the bill. A superstar quarterback, playing for a team called the “Aggies” in a town called “College Station” – so beautifully old school. Rounding out the names appropriateness is the attitude off the field. The guy was invited to Peyton Mannings QB training camp for kids and (allegedly) got too drunk in New Orleans to fulfill his duties. The masses have jumped on Manziel for being too much of a partier, meanwhile every one of us would have done the same thing at his age. 1) Ha Ha Clinton-Dix – Alabama Football Does this really require an explanation? Cheap China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China ' ' '