With James Shields in a bit of a seventh-inning jam Sunday, there was an apparent communication breakdown at Marlins Park.
Hoping to avoid a mixup like Tony La Russa's in Game 5 of the 2011 World Series, Joe Maddon had to ask home-plate umpire Chad Fairchild to momentarily stop play because the phone to the Rays bullpen wasn't functioning properly.
Tampa Bay's skipper eventually found an old-fashioned solution, sending reserve infielder Will Rhymes joging down to the bullpen in right-center field to deliver his message. Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey was later spotted communicating with the 'pen via wakie-talkie in the bottom of the eighth.
-- J.B. Long
