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Raymond to Selig: "Where have you been?!?"

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3467151

 

As an employee of the Tampa Bay Rays, I must take exception to your recent comments regarding Tropicana Field. In an interview with Howard Bryant of ESPN.com, you criticized the Trop by sarcastically asking, "Have you been there?" Then, when Mr. Bryant replied that he had, you said, "Do I need to tell you any more than that?"

Well, sir, I have my own rhetorical question for you: Where have you been?! Since the last time you visited St. Pete, in June 2004, I can assure you that things have changed. The place is much brighter, livelier and cheerier. Back then, we didn't have a tank of cow-nosed rays in right-centerfield. (You can pet them!) Or a second baseman with an alligator glove that has "No pain, no gain" written on it in Japanese. Or a manager in X-ray specs who can discuss the latest archaeological find at Stonehenge.

Tom DiPace

Raymond Ray in his natural habitat.

Or a double-jointed Ping-Pong player in the rotation. Or mysterious T-shirts that read "9 = 8." Or a rookie third baseman who leaves scouts babbling. Or a reliever who wears three of everything. Or an outfielder with his own personalized boxing robe. Or a closer who was presumed dead. Or 34,441 people at a Thursday-night game. Or a team that's 17 games over .500!

Or me. I'm Raymond, the goofy and lovable blue mascot (No. 00) who runs around during the game. (You can pet me, too!) You should've seen me the other night during the Pepsi race, when various bottles scamper along the third baseline. (Yeah, I know, a knockoff of what your sausages do in Miller Park.) Just as the Aquafina bottle was about to cross the finish line—wham! I clotheslined him. Should've made SportsCenter.

But this is not about me. It's about the excitement the Rays are creating here and throughout baseball. The other day our ace, Scott Kazmir, and I were at the South Brandon Little League fields on the other side of the Bay to announce that the Rays will fund renovations to the complex. When Scott walked away after the festivities, he was like the Pied Piper, taking all these kids along with him as he signed their stuff. "I seem to be collecting fans," he said.

 

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Click the link to read the rest. Raymond set that hack straight!

4 recs | Comment 24 comments

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raymond=best mascot in baseball history!

when does that espn the mag with the rays on the cover supposed to be delivered to me?

by RaysOfHope on Jun 30, 2008 3:16 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

He can be NL President

Do not think that what is hard for you to master is humanly impossible; but if a thing is humanly possible, consider it to be within your reach.

by Orlando Rays on Jun 30, 2008 2:38 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

with Billy the Marlin as his VP

Do not think that what is hard for you to master is humanly impossible; but if a thing is humanly possible, consider it to be within your reach.

by Orlando Rays on Jun 30, 2008 2:38 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

JP wears three of everything

Jonny is the robe.

Top Josh Paul Pornos- Big Navi Stroking, 2pitchers1cup, BJ to the Balls

BELIEVE in 08!

by SRQman on Jun 30, 2008 3:11 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

We need Toby Hall back!

With Ty Wigginton as scientists with the Ray Tank!

by Sylar on Jun 30, 2008 4:09 PM EDT   0 recs

You can pet me too?

Well, um…..

In his typically tactless manner, Emperor Bud was probably trying to help your new ballpark cause. Unfortunately, Bud seems unable to forgo chomping on his foot in the course of any pronouncement.

by nyyfaninlaaland on Jul 1, 2008 3:33 PM EDT   0 recs

sure raymond

the trop has improved. but in the 9th inning against the red sox on monday, that ball that hit the catwalk and landed fair, that was crap. how do you explain that?

by dropkicknu on Jul 2, 2008 10:33 AM EDT   0 recs

"Remember that cute little team from Tampa Bay that everybody used to beat on?"

—the title for this story in ESPN: The Magazine

Do not think that what is hard for you to master is humanly impossible; but if a thing is humanly possible, consider it to be within your reach.

by Orlando Rays on Jul 6, 2008 7:28 AM EDT   0 recs

The power of substitution

Change “team” to “girl” any you have an article in Hustler instead…

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Jul 8, 2008 6:53 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

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