Rays Win...Rays Win!!

[daisax]

A well deserved win -- I love my Sox, but the Rays deserve to go to the World Series (plus I'd rather the Sox have lost the pennant in 7 games than the Series in 4!)

I concluded last night that it was impressive enough that the Sox took it to 7 games, considering the majority of the batting order didn't even bat .200 for the entire series!

These games with Tampa Bay this summer reminded me of the old Yankees rivalry, in terms of 4-5 hour games that were hard won by either side.

 

[Barbossa]

That was a great game last night. I'm rooting for the Rays in the WS!

 

[Mean Queen]

Woo Hoo!!

We live about an hour and a half away and went to a Ray's game this summer while at the beach. It was fun! My DH entered the lottery to buy World Series tickets and was picked. We will know tomorrow morning whats available for Wednesday nights game.

Those picked for the lottery should be able to try to buy tonight at 5, at least that's what our email said. Sadly, DH will be out of town for business so we gave our presale letter to a friend. We've been Rays fans for years, just like we were Bucs fans before they were good. This is so exciting for the team and for St. Pete (which is where the Rays play, not Tampa.) (No one here said that, but I've heard sports announcers say the Rays played in Tampa.)

 

[Keggy]

Regarding Bandwagon - I think we should take all the fans we can get.

My DH has been there since day 1. He loves seeing the stadium full of Rays fans and he hope it continues. There are a lot of fans at the games who carry around those seat cushions that they gave out at Game 1. So, there are a lot of faithful that have been around throughout the years.

Go Rays!

 

[daisax]

I have a Rays question that was bugging me, and I'd better ask it now or I'll never know.

They started out as the Devil Rays, right? And now they're the rays. Okay, there are all sorts of rays, and we wouldn't want any to feel left out.

Except the uniform has a sort of sunburst thing on it now (maybe it always did). So are they easing towards just being a Sunshine Rays kind of Rays for the future?

I think the aquarium thing is too cool to lose.

 

[kpm76]

Yippee for the Rays!!! Hope they win the WS!!!

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

I have a Rays question that was bugging me, and I'd better ask it now or I'll never know.

They started out as the Devil Rays, right? And now they're the rays. Okay, there are all sorts of rays, and we wouldn't want any to feel left out.

Except the uniform has a sort of sunburst thing on it now (maybe it always did). So are they easing towards just being a Sunshine Rays kind of Rays for the future?

I think the aquarium thing is too cool to lose.

You've pretty much got it.

They've adopted a two fold logo, the Ray of Sunlight and the stingRay. I doubt the stingRay will ever go and I believe most fans wish the Devil hadn't been dropped...At least I do and I certainly wish they'd incorporate some of the uniform colors (green and white) from last year - IMO, they were better looking.

But I'm more than thrilled with new ownership, Joe Maddon and of course the whole bevy of talented, spirited and youthful players...Oh, one last thing, I LOVE the Trop. If they EVER build a new outdoor stadium, as has been proposed, the franchise will die in the oppresive summer heat!

 

[Mean Queen]

But I'm more than thrilled with new ownership, Joe Maddon and of course the whole bevy of talented, spirited and youthful players...Oh, one last thing, I LOVE the Trop. If they EVER build a new outdoor stadium, as has been proposed, the franchise will die in the oppresive summer heat!

ITA! I remember running to a game this year through the rain during one of the hurricanes. I said to DH, if we had an open air stadium, this whole week would have been cancelled. I love it being a nice 72 at all times during my baseball game (especially when it's about 102 with humidity outside.)

 

[schmitty]

The talk of bandwagon fans is exhausting... you can't compare ten years of history to 100+ (it will always feel like bandwagon if "your team" has been around 10x as long)...

REGARDLESS!!!!!!!1!

GO RAYS GO RAYS GO RAYS GO RAYS!!!!!!!!!!1!

REMARKABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!

Joe is incredible as is his team. And I am so thrilled.

Nah its a valid saying. When you have 17,000 people at a game and consider it a success then all of a sudden sellout crowds you have a ton of band wagon fans. Marlins are the same way. We have a ton of bandwagon fans but we are also in the top 10 in TV ratings for our games.

And a closable roof stadium is the way to go. You can expirence the sun and environment or you can close it up when the weather stinks.

 

[TewEpcot]

ITA! I remember running to a game this year through the rain during one of the hurricanes. I said to DH, if we had an open air stadium, this whole week would have been cancelled. I love it being a nice 72 at all times during my baseball game (especially when it's about 102 with humidity outside.)

I'll "third" this sentiment! I love the Trop. They've done such a great job with the atmosphere surrounding the field. We love to head to the cigar bar before the game. I actually think this past Saturday was the first time we have ever actually said "tonight, we could play outside"... but it's also the first time we've been playing in the third week of October, so that may have something to do with it.

GO RAYS!!!!
**patiently awaiting 5pm**

 

[Missy1961]

I am a Mets fan. So I am rooting for the Rays to beat the Phillies. Plus they remind me of the 1969 Mets.

 

[robinb]

I am a Mets fan. So I am rooting for the Rays to beat the Phillies. Plus they remind me of the 1969 Mets.

And the 2007/2008 Mets remind me of the 1969 Cubs !

 

[TewEpcot]

Nah its a valid saying. When you have 17,000 people at a game and consider it a success then all of a sudden sellout crowds you have a ton of band wagon fans. Marlins are the same way. We have a ton of bandwagon fans but we are also in the top 10 in TV ratings for our games.

And a closable roof stadium is the way to go. You can expirence the sun and environment or you can close it up when the weather stinks.

It's human nature to be attracted to a winner. I don't necessarily think that means that the extra 20,000 people in the Trop are bandwagoners. They just want to see want the excitement is all about and be a part of something amazing. Cultivating a fan base that will be there in good times and in bad takes decades, not years. It's almost something that gets passed down... your grandpa was a Cubs fan, so your dad was a Cubs fan, now you're a Cubs fan and so will be your daughter... like eye color or something. Add in the fact that Florida is inhabited by transplants who probably already have another team that you could insert into the above senario, and it's a tough nut to crack... truly. People think I'm crazy when early in the conversation they hear that I'm a Rays fan only to later realize that I moved here 11 years ago from Cincinnati... have I abandonded the Reds?! In a word, yes. Give where you live, baby. It holds true for not just charity, but for the economic force that is pro sports as well.

I also don't think the Rays are anything like the Marlins. The Marlins put their World Series team together player-by-player, paying them to come in and win... and then they all scattered. These guys (Kaz, Shields, Longo, CC, Carlos, Navi, Aki, even Price and Beckham) are in it for the long-haul. Joe Maddon is in it for the long-haul. I like to hope that Stuart Sternberg is in it for the long-haul as well. They (the organization) are outreaching not just to Tampa Bay, but inward to Orlando, and south to Ft. Myers. They want to make the Rays Florida's Team. By holding a series in Orlando and moving spring training south to Port Charlotte (in conjunction with a partnership with Ripken Baseball, who is moving the Vero Beach Class A team there as well), the organization is making great strides toward building the team that has a strong fanbase... in good times and in bad.

Sorry, just my 2cents.

Ahem... Go Rays.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Nice post Tew...

I think the term bandwagon fan is probably technically accurate but in reality it should only be used when you have a community pattern and in this case the Rays never had a fan base before. All they did was lose and lose and lose and always attracted lots of fans from the opponents. Now, with a good, young and successful team the base is finally coming. If the base slips back next year or when we start to become less successful then the term would be far more appropriate, IMO.

Anyway, I only get upset because the boston fans particularily like to throw that term at us as a negative. Now if everyone could just get it straight that the team is called The Tampa Bay Rays and that they play in St. Pete everything will be OK!!!

 

[schmitty]

I also don't think the Rays are anything like the Marlins. The Marlins put their World Series team together player-by-player, paying them to come in and win... and then they all scattered. These guys (Kaz, Shields, Longo, CC, Carlos, Navi, Aki, even Price and Beckham) are in it for the long-haul. Joe Maddon is in it for the long-haul. I like to hope that Stuart Sternberg is in it for the long-haul as well. They (the organization) are outreaching not just to Tampa Bay, but inward to Orlando, and south to Ft. Myers. They want to make the Rays Florida's Team. By holding a series in Orlando and moving spring training south to Port Charlotte (in conjunction with a partnership with Ripken Baseball, who is moving the Vero Beach Class A team there as well), the organization is making great strides toward building the team that has a strong fanbase... in good times and in bad.

Not true at all. I cant stand when people say that. We only brought in 3 people and only one of them left after the initial break up of the Marlins. We brought in acouple players before than and we had both Renteria and Castillo brought up from the system as well as Livan Hernandez. In 03 there was a mix between farm system people and people we traded for. We had to get rid of alot of them because they would have been so much money to keep. Alot like what the Rays have now. Tampa played games in Orlando to try to hype the team up and try some new stuff. Alot of people went because it was a pro game in Orlando not because it was the Rays in Orlando. Half the majors has Spring Training in Florida and the Marlins have 3 Minor League teams based in Florida compared to Tampas 1.

 

[Missy1961]

And the 2007/2008 Mets remind me of the 1969 Cubs !

Oh, sure, rub it in!

 

[TewEpcot]

Nice post Tew...

I think the term bandwagon fan is probably technically accurate but in reality it should only be used when you have a community pattern and in this case the Rays never had a fan base before. All they did was lose and lose and lose and always attracted lots of fans from the opponents. Now, with a good, young and successful team the base is finally coming. If the base slips back next year or when we start to become less successful then the term would be far more appropriate, IMO.

Anyway, I only get upset because the boston fans particularily like to throw that term at us as a negative. Now if everyone could just get it straight that the team is called The Tampa Bay Rays and that they play in St. Pete everything will be OK!!!

Oh my goodness, Pirate... I wrote a lovely response to your post and it was met with "technical difficulties"... much like TBS in game 6.

Basically, I said thank you.

And I agreed that if we can't manage to maintain the vibe through to next year, then yes... paint away with the "Bandwagon Fans" and "Football Town" generalizations. I, for one, am so incredibly geeked out that these guys are going to spend Spring Training a mere 5 miles from my house. Really, I may end up "changing careers" every spring.

Also, couldn't agree more about the big market teams throwing out phrases like "bandwagon" to make the pain go away. If I hadn't already had 2 glasses of wine (and typed it up once only to lose it), I would quote some numbers about BoSox attendance in the 80s... after over 70 years of playing at Fenway.

Anyhoo... Go Rays. See you at the Trop on Wednesday.

 

[TewEpcot]

Not true at all. I cant stand when people say that. We only brought in 3 people and only one of them left after the initial break up of the Marlins. We brought in acouple players before than and we had both Renteria and Castillo brought up from the system as well as Livan Hernandez. In 03 there was a mix between farm system people and people we traded for. We had to get rid of alot of them because they would have been so much money to keep. Alot like what the Rays have now. Tampa played games in Orlando to try to hype the team up and try some new stuff. Alot of people went because it was a pro game in Orlando not because it was the Rays in Orlando. Half the majors has Spring Training in Florida and the Marlins have 3 Minor League teams based in Florida compared to Tampas 1.

Yes, but the Rays have lots of money to spend... so... spending to keep those who aren't already locked in won't be a problem if that's what the organization wants to do.

Fair point about "just something to do" but I think that once people get a glimpse into the Rays, they easily become hooked. If you've ever seen an interview with Garza, Longo, Price, Pena, or the Skipper Joe... it's just different. Is it possible that I'm just that biased? Sure! But I love what these guys are doing together and especially on a national stage.

And again, not to be repetitive, but spreading the fan base is just smart business. I wasn't asserting that no one had done it before. But Ripken Baseball is an impressive organization, and the partnership speaks volumes. Of course Florida is home to half of the Spring Training grounds... but in a day and age where some of those are moving west to Arizona, to move the Rays out of their "home market" further south and closer to wherever the BoSox end up playing (Ft. Myers or Sarasota) is again... smart business.

 

[jmms1224]

This is so exciting for the team and for St. Pete (which is where the Rays play, not Tampa.) (No one here said that, but I've heard sports announcers say the Rays played in Tampa.)

This has always drove me crazy. Thry play right down 16th street right here in St. Pete, Not in Tampa.

 

[Papa Deuce]

This has always drove me crazy. Thry play right down 16th street right here in St. Pete, Not in Tampa.

At least they have you in the right state... The New York Giant and The New York Jets are actually located in New Jersey....

When I went to a rays game this summer I was surprised that St. Pete was as far away from Tampa as it is. I actually thought that they were just about 5 minutes apart.