Tampa Bay Rays news and links: Truck Day

It was truck day, yesterday.

Inside the link, the Tampa Bay Times has video interviewing Jose Fernandez, the Rays equipment manager, who says that packing the two 26-foot trucks is like moving 100 houses. Fernandez must be from New York originally.

Also, note in the video that the Rays are still using the same old “Devil Rays” crates. Do you think the marketing office knows? Branding is important. I bet the crates are changed next year now that the video is out in the world, and now that the Rays have a bunch of money from not signing Sergio Romo.

This is the time of year that Fernandez gets to shine, so here’s more of that interview with him, from Rays Radio.

I like how he admits that if they forget anything, they can always just drive 100 miles back north to get it. But he’s a professional, so they don’t forget anything.

And finally, in Truck Day coverage, Bill Chastain wins the pun competition: “Rays Truck Day Goes Off Without a Hitch.” It’s kind of a mindbender. If your truck doesn’t have a hitch, doesn’t that mean that there’s a hitch? Kind of our own little version of Seibu’s truck day (do they have them in Japan?): “I will be eaten by lions.”

Links

• So yeah, according to Ken Rosenthal, the Rays were actually the highest bid for Segio Romo, who signed with the Dodgers for less money.
• Good article from Eno Sarris looking at times-through-the-order splits, and who needs to develop another pitch. No Rays on the list.
• Travis Sawchik on learning to hit more fly balls. With quotes from ex-Ray Matt Joyce.
• Bad news for baseball fans everywhere: Shohei Otani won’t pitch in the World Baseball Classic due to an ankle injury.