MLB managed the Yankees-Indians rain delay about as poorly as a professional sports league can on Wednesday.
The contest — Game 2 of the AL Wild Card matchup — was originally scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. But the start of the game was delayed due to inclement weather in the area, despite the fact it wasn't raining at the time. Roughly an hour later, at 7:50 pm., MLB let the teams start.
Except. ...
MLB calls the weather-related shots in the postseason. About an hour ago, a Cleveland-based meteorologist said she expected rain to start at about 7:50ish. The game began at 7:50 after a 45-minute weather delay. https://t.co/6ZhnetK6Pg
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) October 1, 2020
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Yep: MLB started the game at the same time it actually started to rain. The Yankees went three-up, three-down against Indians starter Carlos Carrasco; the Indians then managed to score a run against Masahiro Tanaka before MLB had to delay the game for the second time in an hour-and-a-half.
Yankees-Indians Game 2 in a rain delay because of this 😳
— Bleacher Report MLB (@BR_MLB) October 1, 2020
(via @MarlyRiveraESPN)pic.twitter.com/frLtbpV1H1
The rain delay ended up lasting roughly 20 minutes before the grounds crew could remove the tarps and the teams could resume play. But MLB's complete mismanagement could also have ramifications on starting pitchers Carrasco and Tanaka. That this happened in the postseason only makes it worse.
All of this, of course, drew the ire of fans, who let the league have it on Twitter:
“Indians have momentum. Let’s have a rain delay”
— Dave @ BIGPLAY (@BIGPLAY_dave) October 1, 2020
-MLB
Does MLB have a brain?? "Let's throw the game into a rain delay when it's not raining, but start during a down pour!" What?!!
— Pinstripe Park 💣 (@PinstripePark) October 1, 2020
No rain for an hour during the delay, they start the game and it starts so they just play through it. MLB gonna MLB. Should’ve just started on time. pic.twitter.com/qbmQBSBuc4
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) October 1, 2020
MLB starting the game in the middle of a monsoon just long enough for Tanaka to give up a run before and possibly have to miss the rest of the game because of another rain delay. Disgraceful.
— pineapple pete (@IAmScottLogan) October 1, 2020
Can @MLB tell me what genius decided it was a good idea to delay the Yankees/Indians game until the rain was actually going to start 😤 pic.twitter.com/5oYU1JMwNJ
— ⭑𝙶𝚒𝙾𝚅𝙰𝙽𝚒⭑ (@Gi0VANi8) October 1, 2020
This is the #Postseason @mlb do better. Second rain delay in 90 min
— Keith McPherson (@Keith_McPherson) October 1, 2020
