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Cuyahoga Daily Sentinel

October 6, 2007

New York Yankees Bugged

By Erwin Schlemmel

 

The New York Yankees registered a complaint with Major League Baseball last night, officially requesting game two of the League Division series game against the Cleveland Indians be replayed. At the center of their request is an issue of inappropriate conditions for play.

As temperatures were unusually warm in Cleveland, site of last night’s second in the best of five game series, gnats became a factor for Yankee pitchers and hitters, creating a distraction. New York’s General Manager Brian Cashman, phoned other Yankee executives from his seat in Jacobs Field to ask about lodging the protest.

The Yankees lost in extra innings, 2-1 to the Indians, and now trail two games to none.

Joe Torre, manager for the Yankees complained to home plate umpire Laz Diaz , as the game went into extra innings. “It was great weather”, Torre said. “The conditions for playing were ideal; low 80’s and not terribly humid. It’s pretty unfortunate that other factors interfered in a game the way they did.” Torre believed the game should have been called, agreeing with the decision to file a protest. “I asked Laz [Diaz], if he was able to see pitches clearly. I thought if the bugs were causing havoc with the players, it might be hampering his ability to call balls and strikes”, Torre urged. Apparently, the late season pests were not a concern to Diaz, or crew chief Bruce Froemming, as the game continued without interruption. While no official word was heard from New York’s senior management team, sources suggest principal owner George Steinbrenner is incensed.

Insects, causing game delays, or in some cases postponement are not new to baseball.

On September 15, 1946, in the second game of a double header between the Chicago Cubs and the Brooklyn Dodgers was called in the fifth inning because of gnats. Conflicting news accounts published then had differing views, where one umpire was quoted as saying the game was called because of darkness. The New York Times quotes the game account from 1946, which demonstrates the Yankee point. “The game was called at the end of five innings when, with darkness falling, great swarms of insects descended on the field. These insects first made their appearance in the stands when Kirby Higbe started for the mound to pitch the sixth inning and began slapping about with his glove, the thing became clear and the umpires, after two conferences, one about the darkness, the other about the insects, decided to go home.“

However, in June 1959, in a game between the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox, the game was delayed; forcing grounds crew to use smoke bombs to clear the insect infestation. After thirty minutes, the game resumed without further incident. Neither team complained about the conditions.

Conspiracy to cheat is claimed.

While it remains a judgment call for game officials, unnamed sources within the Yankees organization believe the Indians tilted the scales unfairly. “We received word that unmarked trucks had gathered in Erie Street Cemetery. These trucks were filled with gnats and we believe they were released at around 8:30 PM.”, claimed a Yankee senior official who declined to be identified. The cemetery is located northeast of Jacobs field and is a few moments walk from the ball park.

Meanwhile, Alan Chang, Esq. Associate General Counsel for the New York Yankees is insisting a test be conducted on Indian players for illegal use of DEET. N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, abbreviated DEET, is an insect repellent chemical. Although widely considered the safest form of prevention against bug bites, Chang contends the substance is not allowed under the rules of Major League Baseball’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, which bans certain types of substances.

Alex Rodriguez, star third baseman for the Yankees says the insects were the size of small animal s . “They were like rats with wings”, he complained. “Joba [ Chamberlain ] , had to fight to get his pitches to Jorge [ Posada ]; it was ridiculous to play under those conditions . The Indians cheat and everyone knows it.” he asserted. Cleveland first baseman, Ryan Garko scoffed at the allegation and chuckled; "I think that was my favorite part of the game," Garko said. "Fausto didn’t step off the mound, because he’s tough. That’s what you’ve got to be here: Tough. Fausto didn’t flinch. There were guys acting like those were bullets flying around their heads. They’re not bullets. They’re just bugs. This is the big leagues." Rodriguez, a perennial all star and potential American League MVP has not had a hit in the two games and six at bats.

Mark Shapiro, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Indians would not comment on the Yankees allegations, but did indicate he was proud of his teams play. “You work all year for these moments. Our fans have been fantastic and our players are showing why we deserve to be here.”

Game three of the League Division Series heads to New York and will be played Sunday evening, where the Yankees will attempt to prevent a sweep.

MLB formally accepted the protest by the Yankees, but has refused to comment on it pending review.

 

 

Albert Sapplewhip contributed to this story…