Showalter on tarp controversy: 'We have a lot more important things to worry about than that'

Showalter said that the forecast called for rain to start at 5 p.m., and the Orioles actually started their batting practice session early and completed it early in an effort to allow the Yankees a window to hit. The field was covered right after the Orioles completed hitting in preparation for a storm that never came.

Showalter said head groundskeeper Nicole McFadyen, who makes calls on when to tarp the field, was upset by the story.

"[It] bothered me because it insulted her integrity and she's the best in the business I think," Showalter said. "So she's not real happy about it. I think if you have experience being next to the Chesapeake Bay and the weather says it's going to storm in two minutes … She takes a lot of pride being the best in the business and that's really an insult to her, that a writer or someone would insinuate that. We have a lot more important things to worry about than that.

"You know this is serious. When you insult her integrity, that bothers a lot of people here. She's really good. … That someone would let themselves be told what to do for something they're responsible for? I don't think so."

Just how upset the Yankees were remains unclear. No formal complaint had been filed with the league office as of Wednesday evening, but officials did reach out to both clubs earlier in the day about the issues, as is standard procedure when these instances arise.

eencina@baltsun.com
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