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Pregame procedure altered for tribute

By MIKE READLING and KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 28, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- It has become baseball tradition to have a local celebrity throw out a ceremonial first pitch before each game.

[Times photo: Michael Rondou] Rays manager Hal McRae, right, leaves the field with Jays manager Buck Martinez after they left roses on the mound to honor those killed during terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.

There was no first pitch at Tropicana Field on Thursday night. And the only celebrities were the 400 or so uniformed firefighters, law enforcement officers, rescue and EMS squads, and active and retired military personnel who crowded onto the field in a pregame ceremony to recognize those lost in the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and at the Pentagon.

The ceremony began on the infield, which had stars colored on the left side and stripes on the right to form an American flag, and included a moment of silence followed by a bagpipe rendition of Amazing Grace.

The teams lined the first- and third-base lines while Rays manager Hal McRae and Blue Jays manager Buck Martinez layed a red and blue rose on the mound next to a baseball and a white rose remembering the victims.

CHECK YOUR BAGS: Security around the Trop was heightened for the first home game since the attacks.

Fans were not allowed to bring in big bags, and any bags were searched at the door. All reporters' computer bags were checked by a security officer and visiting players were asked for identification when they arrived by cab and again when they were in the tunnel heading toward the clubhouse.

The Blue Jays arrived Wednesday and went through a security check before boarding the bus to the team hotel. In the past, teams have gone from the plane to a bus on the tarmac.

"It's probably more safe to keep us together as a team rather than walk through an airport and maybe let somebody slip into our group," Toronto designated hitter Brad Fullmer said. "But I'm all for the stuff at the ballpark. There's usually all kinds of people in the tunnels and you just kind of look at them and wonder who the hell are these people?"

LAST STAND: One week after he snapped a six-game losing streak, Bryan Rekar's season in the starting rotation ends today.

The right-hander began the season 0-7, went on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis in August and is 2-13 with a 6.08 ERA. A win today would mark the first time since 1999 that he won consecutive starts.

"I went 0-and-whatever and 1-and-whatever for so long that I'm just trying to get back some consistency," Rekar said. "Another win would just be that much better, that much more to build on."

PRETTY IN PINK: Jason Tyner and Toby Hall appeared to be the big winners after Wednesday night's rookie hazing in which the first-year players were made to dress up in women's clothes on the trip home from New York.

"Tyner could pass as girl," first baseman Steve Cox said, noting the outfielder wore a little pink number with spaghetti straps. "Toby was the coolest girl ever."

Damian Rolls, Tyner and Hall were repeat performers, having been dressed up last season.

"This year was much better," said Rolls, who wore a shoulder-baring gown. "I looked like Halle Berry. We had some chicks who worked at the airport following me and Toby. A cop in New York said, "You ladies have a nice night.' "

MEDICAL UPDATE: Jose Guillen started Thursday with a swollen left wrist, one night after being hit with a pitch. ... John Flaherty will receive his third cortisone shot this morning as he recovers from a herniated disc in his neck. ... Greg Vaughn is available to pinch hit but is listed as day-to-day with tightness in his left calf.

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