New York, NY--The Yankees asked the commissioner of Major League Baseball for a forfeit over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after the team failed to arrive on time for the scheduled double-header because of travel problems due to Hurricane Frances. Bud Selig (commissioner) reported that such a request would never have been granted.
"Given the stage of the season we are in, and the exciting pennant races, it is critical that we do everything to decide the championship on the field," he said in a statement.
The Yankees were not so willing to see things the commissioner's way. In a statement issued by the team's president, Randy Levine, the Yankees felt that the Devil Rays had ample time to leave Florida and arrive on time for the games. "The rule states that if your team is here and ready to play, and the other team isn't here and not ready to play, there should be a forfeit, and we believe there should be a forfeit," Levine said.
However, because of the conditions of the hurricane, the Devil Rays' administration felt that it would be in the club's best interest to leave on Sunday night in order to stay with their families. This was a decision that Devil Rays general manager Chuck DeMar was willing to adhere to and "stick with."
The Devil Rays arrived at Yankee Stadium at 6:05 p.m. ready to play the Yankees. They lost 7-4.
Complete details of the Devil Ray's dilemma here
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