Diamondbacks owner rips MLB over Mets-Braves doubleheader 'debacle'

The 89-73 Arizona Diamondbacks ended Sunday knowing they needed either the New York Mets or Atlanta Braves to sweep Monday's doubleheader to qualify for the playoffs because both clubs held tiebreakers over Arizona.

After the Mets and Braves predictably split the twin bill to earn postseason berths, Diamondbacks owner and managing partner Ken Kendrick discussed the league's controversial handling of the Mets-Braves series during an appearance on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM radio station.

"I predicted a week ago, when this debacle — at multiple levels — was occurring to have the season end with two games yet to be played on a Monday before the playoffs start, it was ill-advised," Kendrick said, as shared by Arizona Sports' Aaron Schmidt. "I’m disappointed that MLB didn’t take a more aggressive posture to insist on those games being played earlier." 

Kendrick was referring to the fact that it was no secret from Sept. 22 that Hurricane Helene could impact the pivotal Mets-Braves series scheduled to occur in Atlanta from Sept. 24-26. The weather ultimately resulted in Monday's doubleheader taking place at Truist Park. 

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal noted that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred could and probably should have either shifted the series to a neutral site out of the hurricane's path or rescheduled it to include one game played on Sept. 23 and a doubleheader planned for the following day. 

"This is a self-inflicted wound," Rosenthal said about Manfred's lack of action. 

"Those teams didn’t have a game scheduled [for Sept. 23]," Kendrick said about the Mets and Braves. "They played one game on Tuesday. They could’ve played two games last Monday or two games last Tuesday and then not been involved in the middle of getting canceled and scheduling games to be played after the season." 

Kendrick also lamented that the Mets and Braves are "both very disadvantaged" heading into best-of-three wild-card tilts because those teams had to play meaningful games through Monday and then begin the playoffs on Tuesday. The Mets play at the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday afternoon, while the Braves will take on the San Diego Padres at Petco Park later in the evening. 

"Whether it’s us playing or them playing," Kendrick added, "I’m disappointed that Major League Baseball didn’t play a more active role in making sure we didn’t have what occurred [Monday]."

Rosenthal believes "Manfred and Co. learned their lesson" and "won’t mess around" if a similar situation arises at some point down the road. That won't do the Diamondbacks, Mets or Braves any good this fall.