The Rays are "likely to head home" to St. Petersburg after tomorrow's game against the Yankees at Citi Field to "host the Red Sox as planned this weekend" at Tropicana Field, according to Marc Topkin of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. A final decision is "expected today." After determining there was no major damage or flooding at the Trop and talking with St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman about staffing and public safety concerns, Rays President Brian Auld said that he was "'optimistic' the team will be able to play" the Red Sox as planned starting Friday. The "biggest hurdle may be whether traffic lights in the area are back on line." Meanwhile, the Rays did "rave about how much the Mets did to make them feel at home" for their series against the Yankees, from "allowing them full use of the home clubhouse and facilities to playing their walkup music and scoreboard videos all the way down to little things like putting Tampa Bay logos on the placards above their lockers." Mets GM Sandy Alderson "came down to the clubhouse Monday afternoon to make sure they had everything they needed" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 9/12). Rays Owner Stuart Sternberg said the organization is "feeling pretty good" about Tropicana Field. He said, "We see some things so far but haven’t gotten a full report, so we’re still waiting to hear" ("High Heat," MLB Network, 9/11).
ISSUES EVEN WITH A ROOF: In Miami, Richards & Jackson note Hurricane Irma damaged about 6% of the retractable roof at Marlins Park, and it will "need to be replaced immediately after the season." Though the facility is "safe to use," the Marlins and MLB have "not decided whether Miami will play host" to the Brewers this weekend. A source said that whether the series will be played in Miami will "depend on several factors, such as whether police and fire rescue can work the game, whether Miami-Dade County's curfew is lifted and whether street lights are working" (MIAMI HERALD, 9/12). Brewers manager Craig Counsell said, "All indications that we've gotten indicate that it's a go in Miami. I don't think anything is for sure yet, but every piece of news we've received has been positive" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 9/12).
