Ben Zobrist apparently wasn’t ready to accept the fact that Wednesday’s Boston Red Sox-Tampa Bay Rays game at Fenway Park was postponed and rescheduled as part of a day-night doubleheader for Thursday.
Even after the Red Sox announced Wednesday’s game was postponed due to inclement weather, reports out of the Rays’ clubhouse indicated that Zobrist — Tampa Bay’s acting player representative — objected to the announcement. The Rays utilityman reportedly had phone conversations with the players’ union, after which he told reporters that Major League Baseball had not officially announced anything regarding a rainout and a doubleheader for Thursday.
According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the Rays were reluctant to agree to a Thursday doubleheader because of Thursday’s forecast. Zobrist reportedly pushed the union based on “practical alternatives.”
“Logistically, they’re here, and we’ve got the ability to play two tomorrow,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said shortly after Boston made an official announcement. ”There’s a professional courtesy that goes on with scheduling and challenges that both teams face.”
An alternative would have been for the two teams to play Sept. 21, which is a mutual off day before a scheduled three-game series in Boston. The Red Sox opted for the Thursday doubleheader, though, even if Zobrist wasn’t initially ready to come to grips with it.
Wednesday’s game has been rescheduled for Thursday at 1:05 p.m. ET. Thursday’s regularly scheduled game will remain at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Dustin Pedroia bobbleheads — originally scheduled to be given away Wednesday night — will be given away to fans attending Thursday’s rescheduled 1:05 p.m. game.
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