Are the Rays under-appreciated in Tampa Bay?

The Tampa Bay Times has begun running roundtables with their sports writers, and the results have been great, allowing varying voices to contribute their (sometimes opposing) thoughts on a topic.

Today’s posed the question, “Are the Rays under-appreciated in Tampa Bay?” with the following prompt:

Since 2010, only four Major League Baseball teams have produced five 90-win seasons: the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox — and the Rays. It’s a remarkable feat for Tampa Bay to be in any conversation about on-field success with the well-funded titans of the game, but the adoration it receives in this market doesn’t seem to match its achievements. Is the hometown team under appreciated in its hometown? We convene a roundtable to get answers.

We’re interested to know whether you agree with the question, and further more, whose take you might think is the best in the roundtable! Vote below, and let your own thoughts be known in the comments section.

Poll 1: What do you think?

Poll 2: Whose take do you agree with the most?

Before we get to the second poll, here’s a sampling of the responses:

Marc Topkin - No Doubt (Yes)

For all the bashing the Rays take, and the occasional missteps they make, they have done a lot of good, in terms of donating money and providing opportunities.

Topkin says the Rays play a crucial role in the Tampa Bay community that deserves more recognition.

Rick Stroud - They deserve more support (Yes)

The Rays job is to field a good product and win. They’ve done that.

Stroud believes the Rays win and trail blaze too often for the support to be so low.

Frank Pastor - Value the support the team does receive (No)

Just because the team doesn’t draw at the gate doesn’t mean that people don’t care about the franchise.

Pastor believes television ratings and merchandise prevalence in the community show the Rays are widely loved, just hard to travel to.

Rodney Page - Surpassing expectations (Yes)

The Rays always seem lousy out of spring training and often surprise.

Page says there’s “no real star in the lineup” (and seems down on the team in general), but seems to believe an underdog status should be appreciated.

Ernest Hooper - Show some love (Yes)

The Rays are a regional team, but it starts with the host city... St. Pete can show more love.

Hooper believes blame for under-appreciation starts with the city they are in.