Steve Cohen, Buck Showalter address Citi Field conditions after Mets-Marlins postponement
NEW YORK — In the heat of a postseason race, the last thing any Major League Baseball team wants to see on its schedule is a doubleheader.
That became the reality for the Marlins after Tuesday's series opener with the Mets had to be postponed after the diamond was deemed unplayable. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Marlins officials were "furious" after the game was pushed back with Braxton Garrett, the team's top remaining starter, slated to pitch Tuesday.
After the rain from Tropical Storm Ophelia dissipated around 5 p.m., the Mets grounds crew tended to the field for more than three hours but it had taken on too much water and could not be worked back into playing shape. According to the report, the infield was left uncovered on Saturday as the storm began to pass.
Mets owner Steve Cohen apologized on X for the team making the decision in spite of the importance for the Marlins, who entered Wednesday at a half-game back of the Cubs in the National League wild card race.
Our sincere apologies to the Marlins and their fans for having to postpone last night’s game. We know how important this series is to the Marlins and every effort was made to get the field playable.
— Steven Cohen (@StevenACohen2) September 27, 2023
Buck Showalter defended the Mets grounds crew asserting that neither team wanted to play a doubleheader and the crew did everything they could do to get the field playable.
"If you’re in interest of being fair to the Mets and to the people that work here, they’re really good at what they do," Showalter said. "I see it firsthand. I understand (the Marlins') frustration but it will be on to something else in 24 hours. There’s a lot more to it before everyone else starts weighing in on it. It’s nothing cloak and dagger, it’s just the way it is."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets react to Marlins fury after postponement at Citi Field
