By MARC TOPKIN and TOM JONES
Published March 17, 2004
ST. PETERSBURG - Don Zimmer didn't get the chance to see any of his old Yankees friends due to the heavy rains that forced cancellation of Tuesday's exhibition game. Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella said he hopes Zimmer and Yankees owner George Steinbrenner can eventually resolve the rift that has them refusing to speak.
"It's sad in a way to see what happened in their particular relationship," Piniella said, "but it happens I guess. ... They're both stubborn, that I can tell you."
Piniella knows all about Steinbrenner, having played 11 years in New York and having worked for him as a manager (twice), general manager, adviser and TV broadcaster.
"I never really had battles with George," Piniella said. "I've had disagreements. But we get along great. I enjoy seeing Mr. Steinbrenner from time to time. We've remained good friends. ...
"I was fired a couple of times. But I'm in the managing business because of him and I've always been appreciative of that. I was there a long time. I think if you work there long enough you're going to have a few disagreements."
RAIN, RAIN: The Rays waited until about 11 a.m. before deciding the heavy morning rains made the Progress Energy Park field unplayable and canceled the game. They talked to the Yankees about rescheduling the game for Thursday, when both teams are off, but couldn't work anything out.
"It's a shame because this was a sold-out game," Piniella said. "The fans would have enjoyed this. It's more for the fans, and for the players to get their work, nothing more, nothing less. I think the fans were anticipating this game. Our fans, anyway."
Games with the Rays are taken very seriously by the Yankees, however. The traveling squad included stars Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield, Hideki Matsui, Jason Giambi and Mariano Rivera.
"George is very competitive, obviously," Piniella said. "He likes the Tampa-St. Pete area but he doesn't like the Tampa(-St. Pete) team to win ballgames."
The Rays are not offering refunds but will allow fans to exchange their tickets for tickets to another home game this spring, or apply the value toward tickets to any regular-season home game by going to the Tropicana Field box office any day or the Progress Energy Park box office on game days.
The Rays are scheduled to play the Yankees in Tampa on Sunday.
PITCHING IN: Thursday's cancellation cost the Rays the proceeds from their only sellout of the spring. With 42 players in camp and nine days until they leave for Japan, it also cost them valuable innings for their pitchers and at-bats for their hitters.
To compensate, they may send some players, such as pitcher Jeremi Gonzalez, to play in exhibitions today at the minor-league complex. They already planned to have Doug Waechter pitch in a minor-league exhibition on Thursday's off day.
TWEAKED: Leftfielder Carl Crawford and catcher Pete LaForest are available to play after sustaining minor injuries in Monday's game. Crawford had a slight groin strain and LaForest a right knee sprain.
MISCELLANY: The Rays will wear special white St. Patrick's Day caps today. ... The first 1,000 fans today will get a Rays shamrock key chain. ... Mark Hendrickson, who appears to have won the No. 3 spot in the rotation, starts against his former Blue Jays teammates. Dewon Brazelton, competing for the No. 5 spot, also is scheduled to pitch.
