IT’S HOTEL AWKWARD
Yankees sharing space with hated Rays for ALDS is ‘not ideal’:
Aheated rivalry that’s sure to bring postseason drama is already broiling with some entrylevel hotel awkwardness.
The Yankees and Rays are staying at the same hotel in SanDiegoduring the American League Division Series that will begin on Monday night at Petco Park. The Yankees touched down on Thursday and the Rays, as far as the Yankees could tell, reached the hotel late Friday night. In the chunks of waking hours since, players from both teams have crossed paths.
“It’s a little unique being at the same hotel with your opponent,” Aaron Boone said. “Baseball in 2020 … I don’t expect it to be a factor.”
Might hotel run-ins be enough for the heavily documented bad blood between division rivals to start off-site brawls? Perhaps food fights during breakfast? The Yankees were unanimous in regards to what to expect this week — namely, classy interactions — but it’s fair to wonder whether that’s just wishful thinking.
Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier drove the wedge even deeper on Friday when he said: “I’ve said it many times. They don’t like us, we don’t like them.” Brett Gardner, in response to Kiermaier’s remark, said on Saturday: “I think the feeling is probably mutual.”
“I saw a few guys last night and this morning maybe,” said Gardner, the longest-tenured Yankee who’s experienced his fair share of rivalries across his 13 years in the Bronx. “I just said, ‘Hey,” and kept walking. Obviously, it’s not ideal but it’s the cards that we’ve been dealt.
“We got a group of guys that’s very professional and it’s just business as usual. Yeah, it may not be ideal. But it’s a big resort. We got a lot of space and so far, it’s been good.”
No, the notion of side eyes and increased tension at a hotel that is, according to Rays manager Kevin Cash, situated 45 minutes outside of downtown San Diego wasn’t a mistake by
Major League Baseball’s traveling agents. The setup was a result of MLB’s COVID-19 protocols so the league could manufacture a neutral site and an atmosphere that somewhat resembles a postseason bubble.
Gardner said there’s no one on the Rays squad that he’s trying to purposely avoid at the hotel/resort, and no one that he’s “too scared of.” The 37year-old said a lot has been made of the drama between the division rivals, but the only priority is advancing to the ALCS.
“I expect both teams to be professional at the hotel, there’s families there,” said Zack Britton. “I don’t expect that to carry over away from the field. It’s all about the competition on the field. Obviously, we’re two passionate teams so I don’t expect there to be any issues in the
hotel.
“And if we see each other, I’m sure we’ll give a friendly nod and just go about our business.”
The Rays beat the Yankees in eight of their 10 matchups this season before Cash’s club clinched the AL East division title. Tampa Bay celebrated with cigars and confetti at Citi Field following an 8-5 win over the Mets. The Yankees eventually grabbed a playoff spot as the No. 5 seed.
But, well before the season wrapped up, the Yankees and Rays exchanged jabs and escalated the tension. Though their history goes back several years, the strife came to a head after Aroldi s Chapman hurled three-digit heaters near Mike Brosseau’s helmet.
The Yankees wound up beating the Rays 5-3, and Cash expressed indignation at Chapman’s “mishandled” actions.
“I got a whole damn stable full of guys that throw 98 mph,” Cash said. “Period.”
The ALDS will be the first time the two teams meet since the series highlighted by Chapman’s antics and Cash’s comments. It will be tough to separate the hostility from this week’s upcoming playoff games. Boone called the rivalry a distraction. He wants his players to concentrate on ending their 11-year championship drought.
At least one veteran is all in. “Obviously, some drama between the two teams over the course of this season, but for me and this group, the focus is simply on winning,” said Gardner.