Cubs' Epic Tarp Fail Caused By Obamacare, Sources Say

Cubs Epic Tarp Fail Caused By ... Obamacare?
CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 19: The Chicago Cubs ground crew struggles to get the tarp on the field as heavy rain falls during the fifth inning of the Chicago Cubs game against the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field on August 19, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. The game was initially called off resulting in a 2-0 Cubs win, but Major League Baseball accepted the Giant's protest and ruled the game suspended and the remaining portion of the game to be completed. (Photo by Brian D. Kersey/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 19: The Chicago Cubs ground crew struggles to get the tarp on the field as heavy rain falls during the fifth inning of the Chicago Cubs game against the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field on August 19, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. The game was initially called off resulting in a 2-0 Cubs win, but Major League Baseball accepted the Giant's protest and ruled the game suspended and the remaining portion of the game to be completed. (Photo by Brian D. Kersey/Getty Images)

Oh, Cubs.

The Chicago Cubs' now-famous tarp fail during a rain delay earlier this week is being blamed on the team's cost-cutting reaction to Obamacare by unnamed sources who spoke with The Chicago Sun-Times.

During Tuesday's home game against the San Francisco Giants, heavy rains sent the Cubs' ground crew scrambling as they fought a sad (or hilarious?) losing battle against a rain-soaked tarp. The 20-minute downpour and not-quite-covered infield led to a four hour and 34 minute delay.

As many as 10 crew members were reportedly sent home early on Tuesday night with "little, if any" input from the field-level supervisors. The move was purportedly part of a massive reorganization that the Cubs enacted last winter designed to keep as many workers as possible under the hourly limit that would qualify them for employer-healthcare provided under the Affordable Care Act.

And like the wealthy uncle who annually gives $5 checks for family birthdays, the Cubs -- Major League Baseball's fourth most-valuable team -- are "cheap," according to unnamed high-ranking official from another team who spoke with the Sun-Times.

Not only was the tarp fail a national embarrassment for the team, it also cleared the way for the Giants to lodge the first successful protest of a game's results since 1986.

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