The retractable roof at American Family Field began closing Tuesday during play in the eighth inning of the Chicago Cubs’ 7-6, 11-inning win over the Milwaukee Brewers.
The process takes several minutes and usually is done only when it’s about to rain.
That wasn’t the case Tuesday, and closing the roof was among many annoyances Cubs manager David Ross addressed
In a profanity-laden rant about the umpiring, Ross said: “I know it’s not an easy job, but a lot of the pitches they called today weren’t even close. They’re closing the roof to get rid of the shadows late. There was a lot of bull—- around today that was really frustrating.”
Asked if the Brewers were allowed to close the roof during play, Ross barked: “I f—— thought it was horses—. I don’t know.”
It’s likely Ross did know a little about the rules, which was why he was so upset.
a home team with a retractable roof has the option of opening or closing it at the beginning of a game.
That was not an issue.
But the rule goes on to say: “The roof can be closed only for weather reasons if the game begins with the roof open. If the game begins with the roof closed, it can be reopened once if the home team determines the climatic environment has reached a level where fan comfort and enjoyment will be best served by opening the roof.
“The roof may be moved only once during a game, unless inclement weather indicates otherwise. During the postseason, the Commissioner or another designated official shall make all decisions regarding roof movement, in consultation with the home club and the umpire crew chief.”
Ross sidestepped the controversy before Wednesday’s game, while jokingly calling the decision “un-American.”
“We talked about it before the game,” he said of the home plate meeting. “The roof stuff is discussed before the game, that they plan on closing it and what those circumstances are. They said (rain) could be in the area, a pop-up shower. Looked pretty nice to me. A beautiful Fourth of July. It’s really un-American to shut the roof on the Fourth of July. I don’t know who does that. It was a beautiful day.”
Then why did Ross mention “getting rid of the shadows” in his Tuesday rant? Was he backtracking on that comment?
“Let’s not get into it,” he said. “That was yesterday. We won the game. I’m so thankful we won the game. I don’t control the roof. The umpires don’t control the roof. There are rules set in place to deter certain things. It just seemed awfully shady (Tuesday). That’s it. We’ll move on.”
Of course. Nothing to see here.
Brewers manager Craig Counsell disputed Ross’s assessment Wednesday, saying the umpires actually do control the roof. Counsell took umbrage at what he perceived as blame for the roof closing.
“The roof, when the game starts, the umpire and the grounds crew consult,” he said. “I don’t know that conversation that the umpires had with the grounds crew. I’ve never been consulted on the roof. I got out of the roof business nine years ago.”
Some Cubs personnel were upset the roof closed part way and stopped when the Cubs were up in the eighth. It closed all the way when the Brewers came to the plate. Asked if they close it often while games are in progress, Counsell said: “That’s the point of having a roof, I think, is to prevent it raining. I know (the Cubs are) sensitive about rain, an open roof and rain.”
When I said it wasn’t raining when the roof was closed, Counsell replied: “I’m not responsible for whether it was raining or not. I can’t control whether it was raining or not. I’m not in the roof business. I don’t want to be in the roof business. It’s a bad business to be in because you’re never going to make everybody happy in the roof business. It’s like the umpire business.”
Counsell said the team is in charge of the roof before the game and the umpiring crew chief, in this case Andy Fletcher, is in charge anytime afterward. Counsell said Ross’ “shadows” theory was invalid.
“I don’t think the umpires would allow it to be shadow-related,” he said.
The roof was closed Wednesday after a rainstorm with more rain was in the forecast.
The Cubs and Brewers have had debates before over . The Cubs postponed a 2017 game at Wrigley Field on a day when it not only didn’t rain, but the sun came out later.
“It’s the first time for us that we’ve had players treated for sunburn after a rainout,” Counsell said the next day.
The speculation was the Cubs postponed the game to rearrange their rotation.
Did closing the roof give the Brewers an advantage Tuesday?
If so, it didn’t work. The Cubs wound up with a wild win that ended with left fielder Ian Happ throwing out Owen Miller at the plate to complete a double play in the 11th.
A classic game like that probably deserved a silly controversy, and thanks to Ross, that’s exactly what we got.
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