Clearwater City Manager Bill Horne was at lost Wednesday to explain why the Tampa Bay Rays won't make Thursday's city council meeting when the topic is whether to extend the county's hotel bed tax past 2015 to help pay for a new waterfront stadium.

Why? The Rays final game with the Chicago Cubs. The team's executives are planning to attend.

Horne is flummoxed, "As far as I know none of the executives play baseball."

Rays attorney Ed Armstrong said the invitation to Thursday's meeting, extended Tuesday, came after the team leaders already had commitments. But he hopes the team will eventually meet with Clearwater officials.

- Mike Donila, Times Staff Writer