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MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Postponement casts cloud over Guardians-Yankees elimination game

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 10/18/22

Fans and analysts alike have blasted MLB for the handling of and ultimate postponement of Monday's elimination playoff game between the Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees due to rainy conditions.

The league has since tried to explain the reasoning behind its decisions.

MLB chief operations and strategy officer Chris Marinak told Ian O'Connor of the New York Post that the original plan was for the contest to begin at "around 8:45" p.m. local time after a weather delay.

"But then a second pocket of rain that had not been on the radar popped up," Marinak remarked. That pushed the realistic game-time start to closer to 10 p.m. ET.

"We felt that was the time to call the game," Marinak added.

Meanwhile, MLB spokesman Michael Teevan told The Post that fans inside Yankee Stadium weren't provided with routine updates throughout the delay because the league didn't want to offer them so-called "false information." That take likely won't sit well with paying customers who spent money inside the ballpark for hours thinking they were going to witness Game 5 of the American League Division Series in person on Monday night.

Whatever is ongoing behind closed doors, MLB owes it to thousands in stands who have waited here for now nearly 2 hours from sked 1st pitch to explain what is ongoing. Work/school day tomorrow. At least lay out possibilities so those who are sticking this out can make a decision.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) October 18, 2022

Gates opened to fans at 5 pm. The Yankees and MLB announced at 6:20 pm that the scheduled 7pm game would start in a delay. There were no official updates between the announcement of the delay and the announcement of the postponement at 9:35 pm. Awful.
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) October 18, 2022

“Customers” were understandably pissed leaving the stadium last night. The least Yankees can do is make concessions 50% off for today’s Game 5. But I’d be surprised if they went that route. https://t.co/EGQM0U49BL
— Deesha (@DeeshaThosar) October 18, 2022

.@ZachGelb DESTROYS #MLB commissioner Rob Manfred for his handling of tonight's Guardians Yankees game. pic.twitter.com/dROBnPPRy5
— CBS Sports Radio (@CBSSportsRadio) October 18, 2022

As for on-the-field matters, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported Tuesday morning that the Guardians are upset with the way the postponement "was handled in negotiations with the Yankees and MLB" because the visitors "felt that the game could have been played Monday night after the rain stopped and the game was officially postponed just after 10 p.m."

Instead, Game 5 was shifted to 4:07 p.m. Tuesday, a move that allowed the Yankees to start Nestor Cortes on short rest over Jameson Taillon. Hoynes notes that Cortes went 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA in two regular-season starts against Cleveland this year and surrendered two runs over five innings in Game 2 of the ALDS.

Whatever happens Tuesday, it seems pockets of individuals will inevitably be left fuming over what occurred in the Bronx Monday evening.

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