One More Reason To Hate the NY Yankees

As if you needed another one...

Because of travel problems due to Hurricane Frances, the Devil Rays arrived three hours late for the rescheduled 3 p.m. ET opener of a doubleheader Monday at Yankee Stadium. Tampa Bay lost the game that was played 7-4. Afterward, [Devil Rays manager Lou] Piniella was angry that the Yankees asked the commissioner's office to declare the other game a forfeit victory for them.

Commissioner Bud Selig has no intention of ordering a forfeit.

...The Yankees reported to Yankee Stadium at noon for the doubleheader. Tampa Bay players arrived for the 7:05 p.m. start at 6:05, suited up, and lost their eighth straight.

Before the game, Yankees president Randy Levine and general manager Brian Cashman held a news conference on the field, explaining why they wanted a forfeit. Baseball rules say a forfeit may be called if a team isn't ready within five minutes of umpires calling "play" unless the delay is "unavoidable."

"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.

The guys in Tampa are dealing with the aftermath of two consecutive hurricanes. Hell, George Steinbrenner lives in Tampa. He should know how absurd this request was.

What a bunch of wimps. They're playing a team that's lost eight in a row, and they're complaining about needing a forfeit? Since when did the Yankees turn into a French team?