A dark blue Rays "alternative" jersey will be unveiled this week.

A dark blue Rays "alternative" jersey will be unveiled this week.

TopkinAlso Burrell will wear number five. It'll be a change having a number 5 who actually plays.

about 3 years ago R.J. Anderson 24 comments 0 recs |

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is this the cool base uniform we saw earlier this or last month?

by plasticman on Jan 10, 2009 9:38 PM EST reply actions

Are our away uniforms going to say "Tampa Bay" this year?

I hope so.

by floridaroar on Jan 10, 2009 10:30 PM EST reply actions

hopefully.

by walkoffwalk on Jan 10, 2009 11:50 PM EST up reply actions

why does this matter so much to people?

by plasticman on Jan 11, 2009 12:11 AM EST up reply actions

Local pride.

There are other, more out-there conspiracy theories (they want to save money when they move by not having to change the uniform), but pride in where my team is located is why it matters to me.

However, it doesn’t eat at me like it does with some people.

by kericr on Jan 11, 2009 12:32 AM EST up reply actions

No. One more year of gathering money from talking heads on TV if they say Devil.

It’s only there to enforce the new name. It’ll switch to Tampa Bay eventually, which will be interesting to see on the jersey.

For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09

by bdalebs on Jan 11, 2009 7:28 PM EST up reply actions

This is my understanding too

I just hope they make it magnanimous and with zero dispute whatsoever. They put this to bed, and I will have no problem with them. Like I said, I will be the first to raysbaseball.com to buy it.

Joe

by joedobr on Jan 11, 2009 8:34 PM EST up reply actions

For the record

I wasn’t the first to make any ill-will comment on this issue:) And contrary to some belief, I am not alone on how I feel about this. With some of my work-out buddies in Clearwater and Oldsmar, this matter has stewed some people up. This is definitely the same uniform we saw last month with the light blue piping around the buttons and neck of the uniform.

kericr is correct in identifying the gist of this. Yes, maybe I take it to the "n"th level in describing it, but to just “shrug” off and ignore the fact is a mistake. Yes too, I understand that due to MLB Properties, they can’t change a uniform marking without a 2 year waiting period. But it doesn’t preclude them from saying that we understand the passions and feelings of a lot (or at least a great number) of their fans. For the record, I think it was done to subtly give the team a more regional identity. I can get that, IF there is a marked presence in Daytona Beach, Orlando and Ocala.

Bottom line and for the record, the Rays have done an OUTSTANDING job of settling doubts and making me understand that what some of my thoughts are were wrong. However, when they deliberately IGNORE a lot of upset people at Straub Park a year ago and Stu wonders why the road uniform markings were commented on by fans and some of the media, then he should have seen it coming. I will be the FIRST PERSON to buy a Tampa Bay road uniform when it comes out in this new set. I don’t want the team to be referred to as “Tampa”, so that too is another reason to reinforce the identity of the club. The players are professionals but the road marking also can be a rallying cause and a reminder of not just what the Rays are but WHO they are playing for. It adds a bond between the players, the organization and the fans who support them, either from Holiday, Trinity, Elfers, Tarpon Springs, Avila in Tampa or from any part therein between.

No conspiracy theory, they simply just miscalculated the gesture. But it can be righted (as they suggest) in 2010. I strenuously hope that indeed that is the case. Thanks for bringing this up. I hope Stu and Matt can address this issue once and for all and state they still intend to change it (as it is suggested). Best of luck to the Rays!

Joe

by joedobr on Jan 11, 2009 9:57 AM EST reply actions

I am a Tampa fan who now lives in Boston

so I know as much as anyone how important it is to represent—however, the logo or name of the home team is enough for me.

I don’t need the name spelled out, but hey, whatever they decide.

Personally, I miss the old Devil Ray from the previous logo, which is why my new logo hat has that on it.

by plasticman on Jan 11, 2009 5:33 PM EST up reply actions

For the record, I think that blue shirt is damn sexy

I’m hoping that they make replica versions. If not, it’s going to be hard to resist spending that much money on a silly shirt.

I shouldn’t have called the ‘no city on the away jersey because of the possibility of moving the team’ a conspiracy theory. There were (and still are) legitimate concerns surrounding the teams future in this area. The Trop has some advantages as a dome, when it’s packed with Rays fans, the crowd noise can rival that of a fully-packed Raymond James; which is genuinely impressive. The controlled climate is always nice too, and from unobstructed angles, the sight lines are exceptional all around. But the fact is that ultimately, it’s still a very ugly stadium inside and out, and sitting in the tarped seats during the playoffs for the first time, I can see why they didn’t want to open them up, because they’re horrible seats (for the record, in the middle of the second, I just moved to the beach and stood for the rest of the game). Going to a couple of Lightning games last year and having the privedge to sit in a corporate box, the boxes at the Trop in comparison are a complete joke.

I think I kinda got derailed here, but I think that one way or another, the fear surrounding the Rays possibly moving will be aleviated; especially if this team is winning.

by kericr on Jan 11, 2009 7:42 PM EST up reply actions

Fair

This was a reason to others who think they are holding the area “hostage” for the Tampa Bay monicker on the road uniform. Frankly, I don’t buy it at all. Fact of the matter is, some people do think that way. I do not think that way but others do. Its just another reason in my mind for the Rays to do the right thing and make the change.

Joe

by joedobr on Jan 11, 2009 8:36 PM EST up reply actions

If they were holding the area hostage wouldn't they have went through with the park vote?

I think they saw the economy collapsing and held off because of it. Pushing it forward probably leads to failure and the serious pursuit of relocation.

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 11, 2009 8:38 PM EST up reply actions

Certain defeat

It would have looked bad if they went through and had a sound defeat. They were in a no-win situation thanks to the efforts of POWW. It didn’t seem like the infrastructure was sound. However, that is besides the point, with all due respect. They have a chance to end this silly debate once and for all in my mind, and Stu and Matt have got to make this happen.

Joe

by joedobr on Jan 11, 2009 8:49 PM EST up reply actions

I forgot all about the POWW.

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 11, 2009 8:52 PM EST up reply actions

Unfortunately, the NRO did not do a good job dispelling those rumors about the POWW

Which makes me think that to an extent, either they were accurate in some of their assumptions or the NRO didn’t do proper enough research to dismiss or dispel their hyperbole. In retrospect however, this probably would have been blown out of the sky without the efforts of the POWW due to the economic situation.

by kericr on Jan 11, 2009 10:45 PM EST up reply actions