What's Your Pitch for the First Pitch?

by thebaddancingraysfan on Sep 26, 2008 2:57 AM EDT Comment 41 comments

There was an interesting article in the St. Pete Times hitting the newsstands today that simply asked "who should throw out the first pitch?" This question is a good question.

A few names that I have heard have been: Dick Vitale, General Petreaus, and a few former Rays Fred McGriff and Wade Boggs. I ask the same question to your Draysbay? Who do you, the *loyal fan of the Tampa Bay Rays, who do you deem perfect to throw out the first pitch of the playoffs?

Here are a few names that I would like to throw out there, just for fun:

1. George Stienbrenner. WHAT? Why not, I mean the guy has done a lot for the Tampa Economy and I would find it rather amusing and also I would tip my cap if "the Boss" had the gumption to throw out the first pitch.

2. Wounded War Veterans. What is the Tampa bay area? BESIDES TRANSPLANTS, yes I hear you. The Tampa Bay area is full of honorable War Veterans and military retirees. Would would be more thoughtful then a veteran or a slew of veterans throwing out the first pitch?

3. Tim Marcum, Jon Gruden, John Tortorella, and Joe Urso. All four of these men have brought championship hardware to the Tampa Bay area. Tim Marcum has coach the Tampa Bay Storm to five Areanabowl Championships. Jon "Chucky" Gruden brought home a Vince Lombardi trophy in 2002. John Tortorella was the coach who gave Lord Stanley's cup a tan. Finally, all Joe Urso has dominated the NCAA II baseball with University of Tampa Spartans.

4. Vinny Lecavalier, Dave Anderchuck, Leeroy Selmon, and Doug Williams?

Anyone else have two cents to throw in?

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Toe Nash available?

by Jason Collette on Sep 26, 2008 7:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The entire Baltimore Orioles pitching staff

To inspire our hitters

by steve-o1285 on Sep 26, 2008 8:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No

Just Jamie fucking Walker

The stock market will never recover, our armies will never again be #1, and our children will drink filthy water for the rest of their lives - HST

by the fix is in on Sep 27, 2008 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I could dig Vinny

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Sep 26, 2008 9:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Brooke Hogan and Eva Longoria

by Dbullsfan on Sep 26, 2008 9:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

only if she says

oh yea brother haha

by Underdogs on Sep 26, 2008 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I read somewhere Azinger is a rays fan

He should throw out the first pitch while toting the Ryder Cup

by Sveet on Sep 26, 2008 10:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

AllI have to say is "Please, God not Dick Vitale. He is the bane of my existence."

by rglass44 on Sep 26, 2008 10:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Victor Z?

What about the great Victor Zambrano??

by bpoe13 on Sep 26, 2008 10:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sig #19???

by steve-o1285 on Sep 26, 2008 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seth McClung?

Mound Visit

by Mound Visit on Sep 26, 2008 11:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This would be unpopular, but...

I think Vince Naimoli is most appropriate.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Sep 26, 2008 11:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hell no to Boggs or Georgey. I don’t want a freakign Yankee or a Red Sox

My votes in order:

Crawford is he is unable to play the ALDS

Sternberg, Friedman, and Silverman together

Dwayne Statts

Azinger

Dick Vitale

by matthan on Sep 26, 2008 12:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sternberg, Friedman, and Silverman...?

You don’t want to put yourself over too much.

Boom. Outta Here.

by WillisDaddy on Sep 26, 2008 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

McGriff.

by R.J. Anderson on Sep 26, 2008 12:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Brian Nobbs

And its not even close

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Sep 26, 2008 12:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

by HAHAHA OH WOW on Sep 26, 2008 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol i love that show

by dropkicknu on Sep 30, 2008 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

one of a few people:

Have Stu or Andrew at the front door greeting people. They’d choose a random fan walking in to throw out the first pitch.

That or Dick Vitale or anyone from the current front office responsible for building the team…..or anyone of the original group responsible for bringing us the rays.

by chancedj on Sep 26, 2008 2:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Who threw out the first pitch to open the season?

I’d get them to do it again. It worked out well for us this year.

by floridaroar on Sep 26, 2008 2:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I want to say Crist, but I'm not sure.

by R.J. Anderson on Sep 26, 2008 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He doesn't seem to be so popular right now though

if they were going to use a politician they would be better off with jeb. despite being a bush he has managed to sustain decent popularity in the state.

But that would probably be seen as a snub to Crist.

Wasn’t Petreus (spelling?) a suggested option as well?

Blake
USF--Class of '09

by usfraysfan on Sep 26, 2008 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Okay, Alstott Then.

I’m fine with that. People love him, and he was a good luck charm for the regular season.

by floridaroar on Sep 26, 2008 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mike Alstot.

The line it is drawn/The curse it is cast/The slow one now/Will later be fast/ As the present now/Will later be past/The order is/Rapidly fadin'./And the first one now/Will later be last/For the times they are a-changin'..- Bob Dylan

by thebaddancingraysfan on Sep 26, 2008 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it was

MIke Allstott

Rays 2009 Slogan: "Come back with your shield or on it"

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Sep 26, 2008 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't give it to him, he'll just drop the ball on the mound anyway then break his neck trying to pick it up.

Yes, I’ll even make jokes about people I do like.

by kericr on Sep 30, 2008 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's a homer pick

but why not Matt Grothe to keep with the Tampa area mohawk theme.

Blake
USF--Class of '09

by usfraysfan on Sep 26, 2008 3:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Matt Grothe is a terrible choice.

That guy sucks. Brian Nobbs has been a fan longer than many of the people that post here. He goes to a ton of games, let the man throw out the pitch

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Sep 27, 2008 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tampabay.com

had a suggestion of Carl Crawford if he’s not on the ALDS roster. This thought leads me to ask, Would Carl bounce the ball in the dirt if he did this? Or would he half to stand in front of the mound to get it there on the fly…

Rays 2009 Slogan: "Come back with your shield or on it"

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Sep 26, 2008 3:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

have to stand*

Rays 2009 Slogan: "Come back with your shield or on it"

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Sep 26, 2008 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nick Hogan

by stpetelawyer on Sep 26, 2008 4:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

After today's news

Rocco

http://www.raysprospects.com/

by DAM on Sep 26, 2008 5:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A season ticket holder from the beginning

They deserve this playoff berth more than anyone

by Sveet on Sep 26, 2008 10:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I like the vets idea.

How about have the outfield stormed by military, and they all throw to homeplate.

Remember when we were kids and we mixed sodas together and called them "suicides"? It was OK though, because Dr. Pepper was always there.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Sep 26, 2008 11:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Me too, with a twist.

How about have the outfield stormed by military, and they all throw grenades ~~to homeplate~~ at Red Sox fans.

by floridaroar on Sep 27, 2008 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Top 10 List

1. Hal Mcrae Hurls a phone rather than the ball

2. Vince Namoli Then he becomes the subject to Rusty’s Trivia Question:
                                                Do you know who I am?
                                                            A) Vince Piazza.
                                                            B) Vince Namoli.
                                                            C) Tony Soprano

3. Sidd Finch Although a fictitious character, at least he did ‘play’ once in St. Petersburg. That’s more than you can say for Toe Nash.

4. Jarret Sandberg On the oft chance that he brings his uncle Ryan with him.

5. Chuck LaMar Serves as a reminder of just how far we really have come.

6. Rick White For what the Rays paid this guy, they have to get as many pitches out of him as they can.

7. Brooke Burke You have to ask why????

8. Delmon Young With minor league replacement umpire behind the plate to receive it. (Does ‘it’ refer to the ball or a bat?)

9. Frank Morsani. With as much time, money and effort this man committed to bring baseball to this area, and than to be treated by MLB as it’s very own prison-cell bitch, he deserves some modicum of respect and honor from this area and baseball.

10. Don Zimmer Because he’s Don Zimmer. And now that Pedro Martinez’ season is over, he can be on hand and charge the mound.

by TampaMet on Sep 29, 2008 3:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well done sir

Condolences that your revolution is over, but stick around and keep the wit.

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Sep 30, 2008 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Vitale makes his own pitch

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2008/columns/story?columnist=vitale_dick&id=3614967

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Sep 29, 2008 9:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Alstott, How about Dwight Howard or Young Jeezy, I saw them both at the game

Sadly I had to listen to We The Kings when Jeezy was in the house…
It’s like throwing Farnsworth when you have Chamborlin.

9=8

by raysbball on Sep 29, 2008 10:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Per the radio

reported off another board, John Higgins (the first Rays employee ever) will throw the first pitch. Paul Azinger will throw the first pitch in game 2.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Sep 30, 2008 8:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs