Ah, the magic of this World Series: When else could we use Grant Balfour and Ingrid Bergman in the same sentence?
This is not the first time ballplayers have visited Wilmington. There is a minor league team there, a Class-A club called the Blue Rocks.
The visiting teams do not stay in the Hotel du Pont.
"We use a Quality Inn," Blue Rocks General Manager Chris Kemple said.
The Blue Rocks also use three mascots, one of which is named Mr. Celery.
The Rays' stay in Wilmington is the biggest baseball event there since Cal Ripken visited the Blue Rocks in 2003, or since the Kansas City Royals played an exhibition there in 2001, perhaps the last time Mike Sweeney was not injured.
There would be no baseball Tuesday, in Wilmington or Philadelphia. Maddon, the Rays' manager, said his players could take a bus to the Phillies' ballpark for an optional indoor workout.
"It's my guess it's going to be a very small turnout," Maddon said, "if at all."
That left the Rays with their snow day, sheltered in a hotel he described as "one of those old-fashioned, well-kept, actually magnificent European units."
Said Maddon: "Quite frankly, it's one of the nicest hotels we've stayed in all year. If you're going to have a postponement, you might as well stay here."
Maddon said he would spend Tuesday night at his niece's home in Philadelphia. The players could hang out with their families.
Dave Martinez, one of the Rays' coaches, planned to go shopping, to buy some new clothes for his kids after Monday's rain-shortened game.
"They got soaking wet," Maddon said.
The Rays all got out of the rain Tuesday. They'll get back on the bus this afternoon, with a travel adventure to share and a World Series to win.
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bill.shaikin@latimes.com
