Slippery Pitch: Schmidt's Wet Game Battle

Pitching on a rain-soaked field is no easy task, and Clarke Schmidt found that out the hard way. The Yankees' game against the Pirates was delayed by 91 minutes due to heavy rainfall. Once the delay was over, Schmidt stepped onto the mound, ready to face the challenge. He pitched through four-plus innings, helping his team secure a 6-4 victory. The conditions were far from ideal. Players slipped and fell while running to bases, including some Yankees. Despite the risk of injury, Schmidt was determined to keep his team in the game. "It was like walking on ice out there," he said after the match. To make matters worse, the grounds crew had to constantly reapply dry dirt to the mound and home plate area between innings. This meant that the rubber on the pitching mound would often disappear under a layer of wet dirt. Schmidt's cleats couldn't grip the ground properly, making it hard for him to find his balance and deliver pitches with precision. Even handling the ball was an issue. The rosin bag, which is used to help pitchers get a better grip on the ball, was wet and made things worse when Schmidt tried to use it. However, he didn't let these challenges stop him from doing his best. He acknowledged that while conditions were brutal, his execution could have been better. The Yankees face an important upcoming playoff series, and Schmidt is one of the pitchers in contention for a start in the American League Division Series (ALDS). Given the risks on such a wet field, he made the smart decision to hold back from pushing himself too hard. This was not just about winning a single game but ensuring his health for more critical matches ahead. As Schmidt said, "It's great that we all came out healthy and won the game. " It was a tough battle on a wet day, but he and his team persevered, which is what truly matters in the end.