Bug this
Posted October 5th, 2007 by Pat McManamon
Here are some of the comments of Bruce Froemming, the crew chief for the umpires in the Indians win in Game Two of the ALDS. Froemming was asked by a pool reporter about the bugs that descended in the eighth inning.
Q. Did you consider stopping the game at any point?
A. No, because it was a little irritation. We've had bugs before. I've seen bugs and mosquitos since I startd umpiring. It might not be a perfect scenario. Within about 45 minutes, basically, they were gone. And they had the spray and everything. There was just about a 10-minute period there where everybody was lathering up. But no, I never considered it.
Q. Does Major League Baseball have any specific procedures or instructions for this type of thing?
A. We have a weather bug, but that's not related. You have to use common sense. I've got five partners and myself. Not anybody, including both managers, nobody fussed about it. We just put the stuff on and let's play. It's like a rain situation, almost. Except a little more irritating, that's all.
Q. Did you feel that either the pitcher or the hitter was at a disadvantage?
A. I think they were all irritated. The umpres and the players and the managers, everybody that was on the field was swatting the bugs off and everything. They eventually went away and nobody said a word. They came out with the stuff and sprayed their players. I didn't see what Cleveland did, but they must have taken care of it before they came out.
Q. So neither the pitcher nor the hitter seemed to be at a disadvantage?
A. No. Not at all.
Q. Do you have any previous experiences similar to this?
A. The only other experience that comes close to it would be in Cincinnati, years ago. We had a bee problem by the dugout. They had to get a beekeeper to move this swarm of bees, and they did it.
