 June 4, 2002 - Darren Hunt
El Paso Times
The interpretation of a minor league rule about the playing of music and sound effects created a controversy at Cohen Stadium over the weekend that had the Texas Rangers' front office complaining to the Texas League commissioner and former Diablo's manager Tim Ireland fuming.
The Diablos took three of four games in the series with Tulsa, including Monday night's 7-3 win.
Ireland, now skipper of the Rangers' Double-A affiliate Tulsa, complained to umpires often during the first three games of the series about the timing of Cohen's public address system. He believed it was interfering with his pitchers' delivery and his hitters while at the plate.
Ireland, who managed the Diablos from 1993-95 and is the last man to bring a Texas League title to El Paso (1994), drew an ejection in the second inning of Sunday night's game after discussing the issue at length with umpire Ray Gregson, then grabbing his backside as he walked past him on the way to the third base coaching box the next inning. After giving him the hook, Gregson was showered with a tirade from Ireland that required a request for a towel from from the bat boy.
"Look at the rule book," an agitated Ireland said, refusing further comment on the matter.
Rule 1.24 on page eight of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues rule book states: "Clubs should instruct their (organists/public address directors) not to play when the ball is about to be put in play. The (music/sound effects) should stop playing as soon as the hitter is in the batter's box and the pitcher is on the rubber."
Diablos General Manager Andrew Wheeler, who fielded calls on the issue from Texas League Commissioner Tom Kayser and Texas Rangers Director of Player Personnel Trey Hillman on Monday, said his club is complying with the rule.
"The key word is 'and,' " Wheeler said. "Once the batter is in the box 'AND' the pitcher is on the rubber, we stop playing music."
Wheeler refused to tell his public address/sound effects director to change his approach.
"(Kayser) and the umpires have told us we've done nothing wrong, and I've been in communication with them for two to three days," Wheeler said. "In 11 years, I've never seen a visiting manager this chapped about something during a four-game series."
Wheeler said he found the situation with Ireland odd, especially since the man in charge of the music and sound effects at Cohen Stadium is 11-year club veteran Steve Martinez.
"The irony about it is, it's the same guy that was doing it when (Ireland) was manager here," Wheeler said. "And we do things the same for everybody. None of the other managers in the league have complained."
It's not the first time this season Ireland has had a problem with the timing of music/sound effects in a Texas League stadium. Earlier this season at Arkansas, the always-interesting Ireland was tossed for arguing a similar situation.
Lead safe: Monday night's win allowed the Diablos (36-21) to keep their 2 1/2 -game lead in the Texas League West with 12 games left to play in the first half. Second-place Round Rock (34-24) kept pace with a 5-2 win at Shreveport.
Wichita arrives in El Paso today for a four-game series with the Diablos.
Sanchez switch: If not for a five-run, ninth-inning meltdown of El Paso reliever Duaner Sanchez on Sunday, the Diablos may have swept Tulsa. Sanchez regained his confidence Monday night, however, coming on in the ninth to retire the side in order and preserve the four-run win.
Andrew Good (5-3) picked up the win for the Diablos, pitching four-hit ball through 6Ë innings while striking out six and walking three. El Paso's hitting heroes included Matt Kata, Chad Tracy, Luis Terrero and Tim Olson, who all picked up a pair of hits. A three-run Diablos fourth helped El Paso overcome a 3-2 deficit.
To see the boxscore from the game CLICK HERE | 
