Fansided

Orioles considered forfeiting game because of Rogers Centre turf

By Connor Muldowney

Apr 23, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis (19) reacts after being called out on strikes in the ninth inning against Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The Jays won 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis (19) reacts after being called out on strikes in the ninth inning against Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The Jays won 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Orioles played at the Rogers Centre in Toronto this week and the team was more than unhappy with the new turf, nearly leading to a forfeit.

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Playing baseball on a natural surface is something that MLB players are used to. However, there are some instances where teams have indoor games, and such is the case when the Baltimore Orioles traveled north to play the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre.

The division rivals had a three-game series, starting Tuesday, in which the Blue Jays swept by a combined score of 24-14. However, the Orioles weren’t happy with the new turf at Rogers Centre and almost considered a forfeit after Jimmy Paredes took a weird bounce on a grounder to the face.

While no team should ever make excuses for losing, the turf on the field has been complained about heavily and seems to be the furthest thing from natural.

Any type of artificial turf will be the furthest thing from natural to begin with, but the surface that these players are performing on has been described as spongy and causes a lot of wacky bounces and hops on grounders and balls in play.

Those ‘untrue hops’ nearly led to a forfeit by the Orioles after Tuesday night’s 13-6 thumping.

It has been documented that the team was thinking about a potential forfeit after Tuesday’s game, but the chances that they would ever go through with that are slim to none.

While the surface may be one of the worst in baseball today, no team wants to be known as the one who made excuses and forfeited a matchup because of bad hops on the playing surface. The Blue Jays have to play on that field all the time and they haven’t complained about it yet.

Toronto will likely be carefully watched by the MLB higher-ups in the coming weeks as the Orioles have contacted the league regarding the issue. Don’t be surprised if the field is changed again this upcoming offseason to ensure a safer playing surface for the whole league.

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