Cubs stand behind grounds crew after Tuesday's tarp episode

The Chicago Cubs are standing behind the Wrigley Field grounds crew after Tuesday's tarp fiasco that led to a called game. 

Team spokesman Julian Green said the sudden downpour was a "freak occurence" that rendered the field so wet it was unplayable, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Employees from the morning crew were told not to stay for the night game because the team didn't believe it would rain, though Green denied that was the reason for the tarp not making it onto the field in time.

Staffing, hours and scheduling had absolutely nothing to do with Tuesday’s freak occurrence. There was no rain in the forecast, the umpires saw no rain in the forecast.  This was an exercise that is done before every game. Typically if there is rain in the forecast, the morning facilities crew stays on to assist the night game crew. Unfortunately with this freak occurrence weather system, along with the mishap with the roller, it unfortunately led to a lengthy delay. The good news is per the rules in baseball… it was resolved.

The game was called after a four-hour delay, and the San Francisco Giants protested the result: a 2-0 loss for the playoff-chasing team.

MLB upheld the Giants' protest, citing the Wrigley Field crew failed "to properly wrap and spool the tarp after its last use."

“We have the best ground crew in the business. These guys make a living exercising precision, and there should be no thought or any question these guys fumbled the ball," Green said. "They step up to the plate and do this with a guy who’s led our crew for decades. Even after last night’s game, I would put my money on [head groundskeeper] Roger Baird every time.”