Rays hope to go home after Irma
The people in Tampa are exhaling.
The Rays, too.
The worst of Hurricane Irma is expected to be over in the Tampa Bay area, and while it’s not going to be an easy recovery process, the damage was not considered devastating enough to force the Rays to move their three-game series with the Red Sox, which begins Friday.
Rays owner Stu Sternberg was on MLB Network yesterday and said he expects that series to be played at Tropicana Field as the Rays are now in New York playing a “home” series against the Yankees.
“We’re not planning on anything otherwise,” he said. “I think we’ll have a real good sense of things tomorrow as we start to get a download from the police, fire and administrative people on how the area is. Our plan right now is to fly home after Wednesday’s game. I know the players and staff on the trip right now, we had the players bring their families if they wanted to and most did, if not all. They want to get back and see their homes and check on whatever they left behind.”
The Rays are playing the Yankees at Citi Field, home of the Mets. There was some speculation that the Rays would stay in New York to play the Red Sox, but there are difficulties with getting hotel rooms for all the players, staff and the families that tagged along on this trip to avoid the hurricane.
Also, Tampa Bay is slipping out of the wild card hunt, but they can at least feel better knowing they’ll head home tomorrow and host the Red Sox as originally scheduled.
“When (the hurricane) tilted the other way, then started headed toward Tampa, everybody crossed our fingers but we prepared for this,” Sternberg said. “We sent our employees out and let them evacuate if they needed to. We closed the offices after Wednesday’s game last week. We were as prepared as could be. Most importantly the police, the fire, the mayors, all the people in the county did a great job preparing. And I think people heeded the warning.
“And because of that, even though it’s less than what it could’ve been, it’s still not pleasant but we’re feeling pretty good about things.”
Fort Myers hit
In Fort Myers, the Red Sox spring-training facility at JetBlue Park sustained some damage from Hurricane Irma.
“The damage to the Fenway South complex was moderate and mainly attributed to high winds resulting in downed trees, fencing, and (light) poles around the ballpark,” the Red Sox senior director of communications Kevin Gregg wrote in an email. “Water damage mainly affected parts of the building facing the playing field, primarily offices and suites. The drainage system continues to draw off water from the playing surfaces but there are other areas of the complex that sustained minimal flooding. The power is currently down and the ballpark is operating on limited backup generator power.”
The team offices will remain closed until Monday.
Waiting on penalty
The Red Sox are still waiting to hear from the commissioner’s office regarding punishment for using Apple Watches to steal signs from the Yankees during the season. That could come as soon as this week, WEEI.com reported yesterday.
Commissioner Rob Manfred plans on making sure the punishment he issues serves as a deterrent for other teams considering using electronics in the dugout.