Baseball rains out "The X Factor"

(CBS) Simon Cowell might have thought he was musical deity, but the baseball gods weren't moved by his celestial powers.

Because last night's ALCS Game 4 between Detroit and Texas suffered a rain delay, Cowell had to suffer a reign delay. "The X Factor" scheduled for the evening was pulled, with Fox promising to run the Wednesday episode on Thursday, and the Thursday episode on Sunday.

However, that will only work if there is no Game 7.

Even worse for Cowell, there is currently a 30 percent chance that Game 5 on Thursday will enjoy some rain, which just might, possibly, conceivably affect "The X Factor" again.

The show has mesmerized some, but put off others with its sometimes extreme manipulation of events, emotions and taste.

It has averaged around 12 million viewers. This contrasts with Cowell's belief before "The X Factor" began that anything less than 20 million would be a disappointment.

The shifting sands of the schedule will surely dent further the ability of Fox to generate enthusiasm for the show - which they were to have done Wednesday with a guest judging appearance from a probably clothed Rihanna.

One can imagine that Cowell will already have been in touch with the Texas Rangers, who hold a 3-1 series lead, in order to perhaps incentivize them further to finish the series by Thursday.

What could he possibly offer? A Josh Hamilton-Rihanna duet, perhaps? Or even a whole album of the Rangers singing in the shower, with manager Ron Washington being offered a solo on, say, "We Are the Champions"?

Neither Cowell's imagination nor his determination seem to have previously encountered bounds, which is why he must find it infernal He Who Creates The Weather is getting in his way.