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© St. Petersburg Times, published August 21, 2002
BALTIMORE -- The Rays won't be up in the air if the players go on strike.
Because the Rays play what would be the last game before the strike, a 7:05 p.m. Pacific time game at Anaheim on Aug. 29, the specific start time for the stoppage is a relevant issue.
According to Rays player representative John Flaherty, union officials said Tuesday the strike would commence at 1:20 p.m. Central time Aug. 30, when the Cardinals and Cubs are scheduled to start play in Chicago.
That means, as of now, the Rays players would fly as scheduled on the team's charter flight from Anaheim to Texas after the game of the 29th, keeping open the possibility for a last-minute settlement.
"At the stage of negotiations we are at right now, we are flying to Texas in hopes of getting a deal done to play on the 30th," Flaherty said.
But that could change, especially if the owners and players break off talks and have no chance of making a deal, as happened before the 1994 strike. In that case, players probably would head to their offseason homes at their own expense.
Because of the position the schedule puts them in, Rays team officials have asked Major League Baseball officials how they want things handled. "We're still waiting for clarification on myriad issues with regard to a potential work stoppage," assistant general manager Scott Proefrock said.
Owners negotiator Rob Manfred said the start time of the strike is a "union issue," but the clubs will be "well-prepared as to what has to happen" if there is a strike.