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It did not seem possible that the Rays would play baseball today, given the snow on the ground in Chicago.
Yep this sure looks like baseball weather for #Rays and #WhiteSox in Chicago, as well as #Pirates and #Cubs pic.twitter.com/1wHXKS64Ln
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) April 9, 2018
Once the media arrived at the field, it was clear that snow was going to be a problem.
They are shoveling the field here in Chicago... doing everything they can to get this game in...@RaysBaseball @RaysRadio pic.twitter.com/FoYmCqgUNB
— Dave Wills (@davewills34) April 9, 2018
Sir may we see your field pass? pic.twitter.com/IJhipbdFUh
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) April 9, 2018
My goodness.
‘Tis the season?!?! pic.twitter.com/KByXM0BRFo
— Dave Wills (@davewills34) April 9, 2018
I know they probably don’t want to have to play a doubleheader but this is a joke! pic.twitter.com/skf2XwUT7E
— Dave Wills (@davewills34) April 9, 2018
Blake Snell and Sergio Romo took advantage of the snow to have some fun.
Blake Snell taking some swings! pic.twitter.com/B3MNXDHKAP
— Dave Wills (@davewills34) April 9, 2018
Snow or no snow...@snellzilla11 and @SergioRomo54 are playing baseball today.
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) April 9, 2018
Via IG//snellzilla4 pic.twitter.com/Fxf8E5LmLk
The White Sox also had some fun, and to quote my colleague Cameron Kaiser, they should have called this little guy Snowan Moncada.
Do Yoán to build a snowman? pic.twitter.com/duXVegFo3Q
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) April 9, 2018
But just watch the progress from just three hours ago:
Better view of #WhiteSox field, where #Rays are supposedly playing in a few hours ... pic.twitter.com/j0iZvynixz
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) April 9, 2018
To two hours ago:
#WhiteSox grounds crew making pretty good progress in last 45 minutes starting to get field cleared so they can play #Rays later pic.twitter.com/BigQ4X9D2M
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) April 9, 2018
To fifteen minutes ago:
Pretty impressive work by #WhiteSox grounds crew to get this field ready for game vs #Rays pic.twitter.com/LHIh1X7ZhX
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) April 9, 2018
Impressive!
Think they are gonna put the sprinklers on to melt the remaining snow on the ground... looks like we are gonna play...@RaysBaseball pic.twitter.com/JaWdNUEeZh
— Dave Wills (@davewills34) April 9, 2018
Nice job White Sox.
#Rays relievers playing around a bit with what snow is left before warming up pic.twitter.com/UDPnhou2Bh
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) April 9, 2018
The Cubs seemed to be having the same problem at Wrigley this morning.
Snow much fun. ❄️⚾️#OpeningDay #EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/lotqsTATlX
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 9, 2018
Their home opener will be delayed until tomorrow (the Cubs grounds crew tried the sprinklers trick before the snow was cleared...), but fear not, the Rays will still play on the South Side.
Sounds like a 2:30 Eastern time start for #Rays and #WhiteSox
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) April 9, 2018
Now where’s the Vaseline?
UPDATE - It’s snowing again!
Snowing again... tarp is going back on the field...@RaysBaseball @RaysRadio pic.twitter.com/7stmPFQrAw
— Dave Wills (@davewills34) April 9, 2018
The tarp is being rolled back out.