In Case You Needed to be Reminded

Ian Beckles is also the man who last year, from a good source, wore Yankees paraphrenalia inside the Trop and conducted an interview with Friedman and Silverman while wearing Yankees garb.

I too listen to Bobby and am all for Bobby. The best secret in this market that I hope is a secret no more. He knows more and cares more, period. You can discuss it and hammer it with him and he gets you and he loves the back and forth.

If I were the Rays its now time to give WDAE a clear shot across the bow, since they own the radio broadcast rights to Rays games. Its time for some love and respect. You got an entire morning crew that has zero loyalty and a complete lack of regard for the success of this team. Its political chicanery, and Stu, I beg and implore of you if you are reading this, to please exert some force on Mike Killebrew and Gabe Hobbs over at Clear Channel and get a better shake.

I know this is a fan website, and this has zero to do about radio critique or other political affiliations. But this situation with the three clowns in the morning is nothing short of a cancer. And no one cares because Clear Channel, the #1 radio conglomerate in this market, don’t give a rat’s phooey because its all about ratings!! A pig could sneeze on CC’s stations and draw. CBS Radio, where Bobby works, has entertaining programming but suffers from a lack of a signal strength and station’s lack of marketing. That is tough, because CC owns all of the major franchise agreements on 620, so they naturally will draw.

Their misconceptualizations draw extra naivete. And what they say is a disservice to the Tampa Bay Rays, let alone the Buccaneers or Lightning. I don’t care if I agree or disagree, its the presentation, the technical exeuction, the lack of care and the sheer lack of professionalism and PREPARATION. The teams need to take a look at this and wonder why some of the feedback is as lousy as it is. Bobby Fenton, who I got an inordinate amout of respect for, is a strong personality, and is fresh, innovative, and non-repetitive. It doesn’t revert to sex, drugs, food or lifestyle. I don’t want to listen to that, and I don’t. I also got an XM radio, and enjoy that too. So you know what, when Chris Thomas passed away 5 years ago, bless his heart, the passion and barometer of what was quality left this market!

The fact that this piece made it to the team’s website should send shockwaves through the teams’ offices. Its obvious that the main, prime hosts don’t care for this franchise. So be it, people can make that conclusion. But what I care about is having an erudite and intelligent way of having feedback, good or bad, is important not just for people like me, but for the “ham and eggers” too. This is not news what I wrote, but go to Boston and WEEI especially, and you see the kind of banter and debate, and its why fans come to DRB to get the information and feedback!!! Stu, please read this and exert some force. I implore you.

This rant is hard, but its done to support Bobby and two, to bring light to a matter that the Rays should expect more out of their partnership with Clear Channel. And this hurts them, no matter the way it does. Jason, I have called Bobby’s show on may of occassion, and I too get the occasional text from him, our bias aside, he is much better than anyone. Yes, I implore people not only to STOP listening to 620, but to implore the Rays to challenge the relationship and understand that what these clows, these sanctimonious jackasses hurt their relationship, they get no feedback, and create bitter feelings.

Yes, I listen to Steiner on the Baseball Beat myself on 175 after Bobby’s show too. Point is, people in this market are treated like cattle. It hasn’t been the same here, and Bobby fills the void for me.

My understanding from the arbitron ratings…

Stu, please make yourself heard and understand what Killebrew is doing!! They don’t care about what is being said, they want to pay for crappy commericals, rather than engage listeners! What comes first, the chicken or the egg? Have someone from the team make a phone call and at least put someone’s feet to the fire. Long live Bobby, DRB friends

And heard his comment. Ian didnt watch any of the game, and Ron didnt start watching until the 9th inning. Isnt it these guys jobs to watch some of the most important games of the year and provide commentary?

I completely agree with RJ….Fenton is by far the best local sports guy on the radio in Tampa. I thought that before I realized he posted here, and that only enhances my opinion of him.

I am going to hammer this in

Don’t get mad at them anymore, well beyond that. Direct your anger at Mike Killebrew, the PD at Clear Channel. And to the Rays front office who have a right to protect themselves. It is time for Stu and Matt to draw their sabers and make themselves heard. If they don’t care, maybe its overtime that the Rays do. Don’t let it get to your own boards!! Stop this, Stu, please.

Realizing everything that is spewed on TV or Radio is opinion, I hate to hold different personalities on a pedastal or throw too many stones.

Granted, Beckles and Diaz do not understand baseball and are not a sports forum persay. I had the dubious honor of meeting Ian at the Trop at the Rays/Indians game. He does support his Rays. My seats were directly behind the dugout with Ians behind ours. It was cowbell night, in fact Beckles mentioned my annebriated accomplice wearing his Boston derby on the radio the next morning. He did this because Ian brought an entourage of young kids with him to the game (how many does he have?) and we gave them our cowbells since they had none. Ian was so happy hearing the cowbells in his ears. NOT! It made for a pleasant evening as we talking throughout the game. While Beckles doesn’t have in depth knowledge of baseball, he sure as hell went in depth about the Bucs, his expertise.

Anways, the point being I think R.J. is a jack ass but I don’t throw stones at him. Just turn the dial man rather than dis their morning show.

I can’t tell you how much it means to me to read some of the things being said on this thread. I’m so glad to hear that a few people out there are enjoying the show, especially people who are on this blog every day. R.J. does a phenomenal job and as Rays fans to have this kind of resource makes us very lucky, and I’m not just saying that. It also makes me lucky as a talk show host because I am not nearly as smart as I sometimes get credit for, but thanks to having draysbay to read every day, I can at least sound like it.

I am in NYC, I am going to the ballgame tonight, and we do not have any plans to blend in with the crowd.

The Rays Revolution in full effect. Great city, great town and have a great time!

Already there, they knew what they said and were doing. Its par for the course. This is standard modus opperendi for these two.

Ron & Ian isn’t the greatest show ever, but they certainly beat the pants off Bobby Fenton in the ratings. I can’t believe all this love for Bobby Fenton though, his show is awful.

He continuously ripped on the Rays earlier in the year rather than support them, and has only recently come around on them. I don’t listen to him all that much, mostly because I can’t stand him or any of the other garbage on 1010, but I do remember hearing that once he actually did attend a Rays game all he did was complain about the Trop the next day — how cold it was in there, how loud it was, etc. What a douche bag.

“He continuously ripped on the Rays earlier in the year rather than support them, and has only recently come around on them. I don’t listen to him all that much…”

That last line means I probably shouldn’t even address this at all, but whatever. Homeboogie, I have no problem with someone thinking the show sucks because that’s radio, but at least make it sounds like at some point EVER you may have listened to the show instead of reacting to something you heard secondhand. If you ever listened, you know I didn’t rip the ballclub, I was ripping some of the off-field marketing moves that had nothing to do with the baseball team itself. There has been very little to rip the team itself about this year. And it is not my job to support anybody, it’s to say what I think. I’ve supported them by going to games since 1998, which is not my job, just something I like to do.

And the Trop blows. I don’t consider that a lack of support for the team. You’re an idiot, simply.

Again, I probably shouldn’t even be acknowledging the rantings of halfwits, but since I visit this site everyday anyway, I figured what the hell?