"I was upset with some of the things that went on," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said yesterday during a teleconference with reporters. "But I definitely agreed with everything that happened, and I also agreed that the game definitely had to be stopped. The conditions were definitely unplayable. . . . I think they could have stopped when [the field] started showing water on it at different times. They chose to stop it when they did."
Major League Baseball, which postponed Game 5 again last night because of inclement weather, plans to continue it in the bottom of the sixth inning with a 2-2 tie at 8:37 tonight.
Weather permitting, of course.
The Phillies lead the best-of-seven series, three games to one.
There are no plans for an off-day for travel after Game 5. If Game 5 is played tonight and the Rays win, Game 6 would be played tomorrow night at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Game 7, if necessary, would be played Friday in St. Petersburg.
The weather forecast for today called for a 30 percent chance of rain with temperatures dropping into the low 30s during the game.
"We are closely monitoring tomorrow's forecast and will continue to monitor the weather on an hourly basis," commissioner Bud Selig said yesterday in a statement. "We will advise fans as soon as we are able to make any final decisions with respect to tomorrow's game."
Fans holding tickets to Game 5 should use them for reentry tonight. Fans with parking passes or receipts from Monday should use them for reentry. Fans who don't have those passes or receipts must pay to park, although fans are encouraged to take public transportation because the 76ers play at 6 tonight at the Wachovia Center.
Gates will open at 5:30 p.m.
