In regards to my letter emailed last evening, I received a response from the International League President Randy Mobley.
I have to say, I am impressed. To have a letter from a fan answered so professionally and quickly is a classy and admirable act.
In the response, Mobley confirmed that the existing rules were followed and also added:
… I would like to make it clear that while field maintenance judgments did need to be made thought the course of this game, including when to cover the field, these were all in the hands of the umpires as opposed to anyone associated with the Buffalo team. So, when you suggest suspicions you need to direct that comment at the umpires. I can assure you that while working 8-10 years in the minor leagues for a chance at a major league umpiring position the last thing these or any Triple-A umpires would choose to do is intentionally put themselves in this type situation. While you may disagree with the judgments made by the umpires in their care for the field, your disagreement should be in the same vain as you would disagree with a ball/strike call or an out/safe call. You can rest assured that suspicions related to the decisions they make would be unwarranted.
Ok, so Buffalo Bison.. I apologize. I can admit when my frustrations were misdirected. I am truly sorry for suggesting that the organization is less than reputable following the rain shortened game yesterday.
As for umpires Gerard Ascani, David Rackley and Toby Basner… I wish you the best in your quest to become a Major League Umpire. Take this experience as a lesson learned.
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
I don’t think the Bison should get off the hook that easily. Does Mr. Mobley really mean to tell us that the umpires are solely responsible for the condition of the field during the game? If no remediation whatsoever was performed (QuickDry, etc.), then were the umpires responsible for calling for it? If so, then they are guilty of not monitoring the field condition closely enough during the game up to the time of the rain delay.
If not, then the Bison grounds crew or management is responsible for addressing the field concerns as the game goes on. In that case, they were either negligent in monitoring it or malicious in allowing it to become unplayable in order to encourage a delay–since they were leading in the game.
It would be interesting to know if they would have come out to spread some QuickDry had the Bison been losing. Eh, whatever. As Dweezy says: #semipros
Rule 3.11: “Between games of a doubleheader, or whenever a game is suspended because of the unfitness of the playing field, the umpire-in-chief shall have control of ground-keepers and
assistants for the purpose of making the playing field fit for play.”
Rule 4.01(e): “As soon as the home team’s batting order is handed to the umpire-in-chief the umpires are in charge of the playing field and from that moment the umpire-in-chief shall have sole authority to determine when a game shall be called, suspended or resumed on account of weather or the condition of the playing field. The umpire-in-chief shall not call the game until at least 30 minutes after he has suspended play. The umpire-in-chief may continue the suspension so long as he believes there is any chance to resume play.”
Thanks man! That’s the rule to the T.
Sounds like we have the 3 Stooges here. All we need now is Andy Vincent, the umpire who seemed to have a grudge and personal vendetta against the IronPigs.
I was kinda fond of the umpire named “Voltron” Yes.. true story.
Never attribute to malice what simple ineptitude will explain, but really … I hope the Pigs make Buffalo pay dearly every time they play them from here on in.