Marlins weighing storm options

MIAMI -- The Marlins headed to Chicago Thursday night for a four-game series over three days with the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

But the team left with their bags packed for a longer stay.

With Hurricane Ivan threatening to make landfall in South Florida over the next few days, the Marlins are bracing to play perhaps five scheduled home games at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.

Already in a bind schedule-wise, the Marlins are aware they may follow up a weekend series against the Cubs with five more games against the Expos at U.S. Cellular Field, home of the White Sox.

"We're out of days," Marlins president David Samson said before the Marlins lost, 4-0, to the Mets on Thursday afternoon at Pro Player Stadium.

Conceivably, the Marlins may play a total of nine games -- with two separate doubleheaders -- at two separate stadiums in Chicago.

Hurricane Frances, which swept through Florida last weekend, wiped out the Marlins' Sept. 3-5 series with the Cubs at Pro Player Stadium. On Friday, the Marlins will play the Cubs in a twinbill at Wrigley Field, with the second game being a makeup contest from what was a Marlins' home game.

As Hurricane Ivan approaches, forecasts in Florida for next week call for more rain -- even if the storm does not directly make landfall.

So the five-game series with the Expos, set for Monday through Thursday, could be played at a neutral site. With the White Sox out of town, there is talk of playing the series at U.S. Cellular Field. A doubleheader is slated for Tuesday because the Expos and Marlins are making up an Aug. 1 rainout.

"Playing in a neutral site is another possibility," Samson said. "We have a direct Bat-Line to [National Hurricane Center director] Max Mayfield."

"We're Weather Channel-watching," manager Jack McKeon said.

With so much uncertainty over the pending storm, the Marlins invited the families of the players to make the trip to Chicago.

Second baseman Luis Castillo said his family was taking heed and leaving its Miami home for a few days.

"We have to play a tough series in Chicago," Castillo said. "If we can't come here, we may have to play in Chicago again, at the other field. We have to try to play hard."

To accommodate the families, the team charter's departure out of Fort Lauderdale was pushed back to 8:30 p.m. ET.

"If we have to play games somewhere else, we don't have to worry about the families," McKeon said.

Added center fielder Juan Pierre: "It would be weird -- a home game at an American League park. But you definitely don't want to be sitting around another three or four days."

Pierre, who last week evaculated his condo near the ocean because of Hurricane Frances, says he doesn't have much to bring inside with the storm coming.

"I brought in my satellite, that's about it," he said.

Pitcher Dontrelle Willis, Saturday's starter at Wrigley Field, was at U.S. Cellular Park last year for the 2003 All-Star Game.

"I like the park," said Willis, who didn't pitch in that game. "I guess you've got to do something."

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...s_fla&fext=.jsp