NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell had plenty to be unhappy about Tuesday, from a second straight rainout to getting tossed from the game over a rule he called flat-out bad.
The Cubs’ series opener Monday night in New York against the Mets was pushed back due to weather conditions and rescheduled as part of a day-night doubleheader set for Wednesday at Citi Field.
Chicago had also been rained out the previous Sunday at home when they were set to finish a series against Toronto. That makeup game is now scheduled for August 6.
Speaking from the dugout Tuesday afternoon — with a tarp stretched over the infield on yet another damp day in Queens — Counsell didn’t hide his irritation about the Monday postponement.
“Look, consecutive rainouts are, they’re troublesome for pitching, for sure. And frankly, yesterday’s game did not need to be rained out. It didn’t rain, and for some reason we didn’t play,” he said.
According to reports, Monday saw a couple of heavy thunderstorms near the ballpark in the late afternoon and again after 11 p.m., but there was a window between roughly 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. when rain had largely stopped. First pitch was scheduled for 7:10 p.m. but was called off about 40 minutes before that. The Mets announced the postponement citing weather.
It marked the first time the Cubs had suffered back-to-back weather postponements since April 2018 — and the first time those rainouts occurred in two different cities since early October 1986.
When asked whether he received any explanation for the Monday cancellation, Counsell was blunt: “Major League Baseball tells you the game’s canceled, and that’s it. Especially on the road. That’s all you get.”
Pitcher Shota Imanaga had been lined up to start Monday against fellow Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga, but with the evening’s uncertainty, the Cubs instead had Imanaga throw a bullpen session and pushed his start to Wednesday. “Just to give him a chance to touch the mound and be a little more in routine,” Counsell explained.
Edward Cabrera took the mound Tuesday night against Senga in the first game of a four-game series, which got underway following an 11-minute rain delay. Chicago won 9-6, but Cabrera hurt his left leg during the game and is expected to go on the injured list.
The doubleheader situation created roster headaches for Counsell. “You stack a doubleheader, which affects — you’re not going to have enough starters available, so we’re either going to end up with a bullpen game or we’re going to call up (someone) later in the week,” he said before Tuesday’s game.
A strange play unfolded in the seventh inning when Michael Busch drew a walk that appeared to move Pete Crow-Armstrong from first to second base. But Crow-Armstrong had been running on the pitch, and a replay review after a challenge by Mets manager Carlos Mendoza determined that Crow-Armstrong had briefly lost contact with second base and was tagged out — despite Busch’s walk standing.
“No comment. Pretty confusing stuff,” said Crow-Armstrong, who tried to argue the call with umpires before being led away.
Counsell had received an explanation from the umpires about what was being challenged, but when the call was reversed, he came back out to argue and was ejected. Afterward, he didn’t hold back on the rule itself.
“Umpires interpret rules correctly. They don’t get that stuff wrong,” Counsell said. “It’s a bad rule. It’s a terrible rule. I mean, I don’t know what else to say. Like, not a good rule.”
On the roster front, right-handed pitcher Jayden Murray joined the Cubs’ bullpen after being acquired Saturday from the Houston Astros in exchange for minor league first baseman Cameron Sisneros.
“This is a guy that’s had a lot of success in the minor leagues. He’s pitched really well in the minor leagues. In the big leagues, he’s gotten just a limited opportunity,” Counsell said. “We’ve got options, obviously, so there’s going to be some flexibility, but we like his performance right now in the minor leagues and think he’s ready to pitch big league innings.”
Murray made his debut with Chicago in the ninth inning but gave up three runs, including a home run by Bo Bichette, before recording the final out. To make room on the roster, the Cubs sent right-hander Gavin Hollowell down to Triple-A Iowa.
