DRaysBay: All Posts by Elizabeth StromA Tampa Bay Rays Blog: Ball on a Budgethttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48753/drb-logo-fv.png2024-03-20T10:45:00-04:00https://www.draysbay.com/authors/elizabeth-strom/rss2024-03-20T10:45:00-04:002024-03-20T10:45:00-04:00Dear Abby, Help! I’m not excited for Opening Day
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<figcaption>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Why is this year different from all other years?</p> <p id="LhOjGr">I’ve been a Rays fan since 2006, and every year I’ve been psyched for the start of the season. Even when our big hopes were the dying husk of Manny Ramirez and when Elliot Johnson was our opening day shortstop, I always anticipated the start of the season with great excitement. The return of baseball is always the best, and on the eve of Opening Day every team is a potential champion. Heck, last year I was so excited for the start of the season I even did a <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/2023/3/27/23657601/countdown-to-opening-day-three-rays-minor-leaguers-likely-to-impact-the-major-league-team">series of Countdown to Opening Day posts on this site</a>. </p>
<p id="qHfAzp">So why am I feeling uninspired about Opening Day 2024? </p>
<h3 id="RZEj9t">Maybe I’m tired of trading away my favorites</h3>
<p id="a48P28">At first I thought it was the Tyler Glasnow trade. As you can tell from this farewell column, <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/2023/12/20/24005263/tyler-glasnow-rays-farewell">Glasnow was my guy</a>. I loved the tantalizing possibility that something great could happen whenever he took the mound (of course he could also pull a muscle whenever he took the mound). But I understand the Rays limitations enough to know that they weren’t going to have one injury-prone pitcher take up <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> of their payroll, and at least, based on what I’ve read, they’ve gotten a decent return (even if part of that return is currently on the IL). I’ve weathered enough Rays trades of beloved players to expect this, so I don’t think this trade alone should be enough to kill my spirit, although I sure wish Tyler were our Opening Day starter. </p>
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<cite>Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<h3 id="Fc8mXv">Maybe the 2023 postseason left a sour taste</h3>
<p id="8o3I9l">Last season ended with a thud. A team starting out on fire; holding on to a playoff berth after losing half the starting rotation and their shortstop, and then, in the postseason, playing the two worst games I’ve seen in Tropicana Field since the Devil Rays days. I was so excited for that Wild Card series! I bought tickets to the first and third games and they were not cheap. I rearranged my work schedule to be there. I came early to the first game to soak up that playoff atmosphere. I teared up during player introductions.</p>
<p id="CDofkn">And then I waited for something, anything, good to happen. Instead the Rays struggled to play defense. They struggled to hit. Although I know that players are ambitious and competitive and eager to win, our guys played as though this were a throwaway series in the August of a losing year. It was so demoralizing, and the icing on the cake was getting called out by a player’s wife for being insufficiently enthusiastic: </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">No fan support at the stadium ♀️ silence from start to finish. Nobody standing, nobody cheering <a href="https://t.co/yTuJeQfutq">pic.twitter.com/yTuJeQfutq</a></p>— Amanda Diekman (@amdiekman) <a href="https://twitter.com/amdiekman/status/1709348825565921663?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2023</a>
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<p id="XCFCE2">I truly believe that a team’s goal is making the playoffs, because once you get there it’s a crapshoot, but you at least want your team to give you a little something to cheer for in the postseason, and we have not gotten that from the 2022 or 2023 teams. I think some of that letdown from 2023 rolls over into 2024.</p>
<h3 id="CctwtB">Or maybe having your franchise player awaiting trial is demoralizing</h3>
<p id="nP2M6H">Finally there is Wander. The Wander Franco situation continues to darken my enjoyment of baseball. To be clear, I don’t blame the Rays. They can only do so much to measure a player’s character. From what I know, they did what they could to support Franco when he needed support, and they’ve handled his suspension in a very responsible way. But Wander was supposed to be our guy. Our cornerstone player for a decade. Our “enters the Hall in a Rays cap” player. The accusations against Franco are a reminder that the men we admire on the field may be damaged humans who cause damage to other humans. From a purely baseball point of view, it’s as though a crucial wheel has fallen off the team wagon and it’s not clear how we replace it. </p>
<p id="coD2IK">I know we have other people who can play shortstop. I know there will be other prospects who will either thrill us or, at worst, disappoint us in normal, non-criminal, Reid Brignac ways. But for me at least the Wander situation feels personal and painful and it’s hard to just forget it. </p>
<h3 id="RqNMvT">Maybe we’re just spoiled?</h3>
<p id="Jn7eoK">My colleague Darby Robinson has pointed out that we, as Rays fans, are all pretty spoiled. Our team has had a winning record six years in a row, and a playoff berth for the last five years. So for us, yet another solid team taking the field, such as the team we are fielding in 2024, has ceased to be exciting. </p>
<p id="kWyfCE">I do try to remind myself, we could be Detroit Tigers fans, with nothing to cheer for but another Miggy milestone. We could be Angels fans (argh). I could still spend my time following my ancestral team, the New York Mets (ARGH!) Perhaps I’ve lost some of my appreciation for a team that delivers solid baseball on a daily basis; I don’t want to let that happen.</p>
<h3 id="9gAd1j">And maybe by April I’ll be in love with this team</h3>
<p id="3qSEut">It’s possible that when March 28th rolls around and I hear the sound of the first pitch hitting the catcher’s mitt my baseball spirit will revive. I’ll remember how much I love Jose Siri — his energy, his athleticism — and how much I want him to gain just a touch of plate discipline (which he did in the latter part of last season). I’ll remember how Yandy Diaz is the guy I want up in just about any situation. I’ll look forward to seeing Shane Baz, who impressed me so much before he was injured, work his way back to the majors. I’ll remember that look in Pete Fairbanks’ eyes that makes me confident this one-run lead is safe. </p>
<p id="zZL0Zo">I’ll learn to love newly acquired or promoted players, too. Richie Palacios seems like a good hitter and a great guy, and he hails from my hometown of Brooklyn, NY, birthplace of all the greats. And how long will we have to wait to see Xavier Isaac hitting bombs into the ray tank?</p>
<p id="d1xrU9">OK, maybe I can get excited for Opening Day after all. </p>
<p id="a6qJBz">Eight days to go! </p>
https://www.draysbay.com/2024/3/20/24106074/dear-abby-help-im-not-excited-for-opening-dayElizabeth Strom2024-03-04T09:07:06-05:002024-03-04T09:07:06-05:00Spring Training Thread part 3
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<figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="HEMRRS">When the Rays do poorly, “hey it’s just practice!”</p>
<p id="Hxfy0r">When the Rays do well, “Woohoo look at that, we’re going to the Ship!”</p>
<p id="vBSAM9">Post your Spring Training reactions below</p>
https://www.draysbay.com/2024/3/4/24090038/spring-training-thread-part-deuxElizabeth Strom2024-01-22T12:15:50-05:002024-01-22T12:15:50-05:00Two grassroots groups oppose the new Rays stadium in St. Petersburg
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<p>Both opposition groups think the city and county are giving away too much.</p> <p id="TZOJtw">Since the city of St. Petersburg announced that it had chosen the Rays/Hines partnership to redevelop the 86-acre Tropicana Field site, there hasn’t been a ton of new information about the development to discuss.</p>
<p id="lzbCjY">We know that Pinellas County has agreed to contribute $312 million toward the stadium, <a href="https://www.wusf.org/economy-business/2023-10-13/pinellas-commissioners-want-assurances-on-the-rays-stadium-cost">using a part of its hotel tax revenues to pay back bonds</a> (which is how they also had paid for Tropicana Field). We know that St. Pete has <a href="https://stpetecatalyst.com/city-officials-select-firm-to-oversee-6-5-billion-redevelopment/">hired a company</a> to manage the project on their behalf, and (thanks in part to little else to talk about) we know that the city council <a href="https://www.wusf.org/sports/2023-12-15/tampa-bay-rays-name-change-not-moving-forward-st-petersburg-city-council">quashed a movement to require the Rays to rebrand themselves as the “St. Petersburg” Rays</a>.</p>
<p id="xTDT8X">As redevelopment presumably moves along, critics of the the plan have begun to come to the fore. </p>
<p id="OPNZhJ">While these critics have very different ideas about how the Historic Gas Plant District should be redeveloped, they agree on two central points: the Rays should be paying for their own stadium, and this prime real estate in the heart of St. Petersburg should be used for other purposes. </p>
<p id="Hz9aaO">We interviewed individuals active in both of these groups to better understand their perspectives in opposing the Rays/Hines deal. </p>
<p id="rW7Ior">The first begins with two former Raymond James executives who have long been critics of the deal. They believe that public funds should not be used to build a stadium, and that the redevelopment of the area should be carried out with a far more market-oriented approach. </p>
<p id="TrNZjx">One of those executives, Tom Mullins, ran unsuccessfully for St. Pete city council in 2021, championing a platform of fiscal conservatism and fighting off “woke” policies (according to his campaign website). He was later joined by his former colleague Ron Diner. The two <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2023/12/24/st-petersburgs-proposed-rays-stadium-deal-is-strikeout-city-column/">have penned an OpEd in the <em>Tampa Bay Times</em></a> and <a href="https://www.nohomerun.com/">have also created a website</a> called<em> No Home Run,</em> where they provide their own analysis of the redevelopment costs and benefits, and detail their opposition to the current Rays Stadium redevelopment plan. </p>
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<figcaption><a class="ql-link" href="https://www.nohomerun.com/" target="_blank">No Home Run</a></figcaption>
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<p id="h3A2W5">In their analysis, the total public subsidy from the city and the county will amount to $2.4 billion, which is considerably more than the direct stadium subsidies. They point out that the land on which the stadium is built will not be sold to the Rays/Hines (R/H) partnership and will remain publicly owned, and therefore not be subject to property taxation, which they calculate as worth over $630 million in foregone taxes to both city and county over a 30 year period. Yes, that’s not only $630 million the Rays won’t have to pay, but also $630 million the public sector will not receive. </p>
<p id="9gK17j"><em>No Home Run</em> also believe the sales price of the land surrounding the stadium, which is slated to be purchased by R/H, represents a subsidy of another $545 million. </p>
<p id="KKJiSI">The price the Rays have agreed to pay — $105 million — is based on an appraisal that assessed the value of the land (minus the 22 acre stadium site) with current zoning and infrastructure. The opposition group believes a more appropriate appraisal would consider the “highest and best” use of the land, which would include zoning changes that allow for more intensive use. </p>
<p id="Tufzv5">R/H also have used some creative math to support their payment for the surrounding land, where a $50 million pledge toward “community benefits” and another $50 million pledge for infrastructure cost overruns are deducted from the cash balance R/H will owe the city to complete the deal. Currently, St. Pete pays the first $130 million for infrastructure costs and R/H covers any costs beyond that amount. </p>
<p id="TFKGJm">As you might guess, <em>No Home Run</em> does not believe this should be part of the calculation, nor do they agree with excluding the 22 acre stadium site from the land sale. In an interview, Diner said that their valuation of the land at around $700 million is not based on a formal appraisal, but rather on their analysis of land sales around the area in recent years. </p>
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<figcaption><a class="ql-link" href="https://www.affordablestpete.org/" target="_blank"><em>Affordable St. Pete</em></a></figcaption>
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<p id="PJTLEq">The second group, <a href="https://www.affordablestpete.org/"><em>Affordable St. Pete</em></a> (ASP), is described as “coalition of local organizations, unions, businesses, and concerned citizens working to transform housing” in St. Petersburg that also opposes using public funds to build a stadium. </p>
<p id="d9TlNX">ASP has been active on a range of housing and tenants rights issues in the city. The group opposes the R/H deal both because its participants are opposed to deep subsidies being given to a private business, and because they believe that both the land and the subsidy dollars could better serve the city’s residents by addressing storm water and other infrastructure issues, as well as providing for more affordable housing. </p>
<p id="oerFrQ">In an interview, Jamie Kidder, who is active in ASP, told us he’s a long time Rays fan and hopes the team stays in the area, but not at such a high cost to taxpayers. His sentiment was a familiar refrain: If the Rays want to build at this site that’s fine, but they should pay for it themselves. </p>
<p id="gRAzE2">These two unrelated groups converge in their analysis of what is wrong with the deal, but differ considerably in what they see as the ideal alternative. </p>
<p id="l6BRlX">For the <em>No Home Run </em>group, the ideal way to carry out development is by letting the market drive the process. They would like to see the site divided into smaller parcels and offered to the highest bidders. Purchasers of the parcels would ultimately decide on their use — hotel? High-end housing? Offices and stores? This is, after all, how redevelopment is occurring up and down Central Avenue, with individual investors purchasing property and developing the sorts of projects they believe will be popular and profitable. </p>
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<cite>Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="oJdEAa">In this scenario we would be unlikely to see the sorts of “community benefits” that R/H have promised. We would probably not see income-restricted affordable housing, or an African-American cultural center. To Diner, that’s not a problem, because the $700 million the city would realize through property sales would pay for plenty of housing and quite a nice cultural center on some other, less valuable site.</p>
<p id="bsmcEA"><em>Affordable St. Pete</em>, however, wants the site to be used to serve the community more fully, most notably by committing to construction of what they are calling “social housing” — affordable units built and owned by the city, serving low and moderate income residents with the profit motive removed. While their scenario doesn’t generate a large public windfall through the sale of the land, they believe that the city subsidy currently supporting the stadium could be redirected to serve their other, more compelling community priorities. </p>
<p id="O0yNF6">Nevertheless, these two groups stand united in their belief that the city and county should not be using tax payer funds to pay for a stadium — or at least committing such a large portion of the costs with what they claim is little direct benefit. </p>
<p id="qkmFTX">While the R/H proposal seems to be moving along, there will be other junctures at which the Mayor and City Council will need to approve contracts, land sales, and subsidy commitments. For example, the details of any lease agreement for the stadium land remain open, and it’s possible that payments to lease the land for the stadium will offset some local tax loss. We should also note that the current agreement caps the city and county contributions, leaving R/H to address any cost overruns. </p>
<p id="aM70we">Both <em>No Home Run</em> and <em>Affordable St. Pete</em> are hoping to galvanize residents against the city’s deal with the Rays and Hines, with the goal of either seeing the deal abandoned or at least renegotiated with better benefits coming back to the city. </p>
https://www.draysbay.com/2024/1/22/24018297/two-grassroots-groups-oppose-the-new-rays-stadium-in-st-petersburgElizabeth Strom2023-12-20T08:00:00-05:002023-12-20T08:00:00-05:00On Losing Tyler Glasnow
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<figcaption>Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Our leading man heads to Hollywood.</p> <p id="K0bIkh">When he is on his game, there is no one better. </p>
<p id="DDXdlN">I’m convinced that Tyler Glasnow has one truly amazing, healthy, 180-200 inning, Cy Young competing season in him. I hoped it would be in St. Petersburg. Instead, he’ll get his chance in Los Angeles.</p>
<p id="P0y7fk">We want to give our departing players a good send-off, so join us to celebrate the Rays career of Tyler Glasnow. You can read our tribute to Manuel Margot <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/2023/12/17/24005260/mar-gone-for-good">here.</a> </p>
<h3 id="V7ErtA">Stand-out moments vs. Stretches of dominance</h3>
<p id="UJNCp2">We asked our readers last week to share key Tyler Glasnow memories, and a few noted that Glasnow had not had an on-field signature moment for the team. He has certainly had some very dominant games, and some dominant stretches, but it’s true: he has had some shaky post-season performances and has not been on the mound for any must-win moments. </p>
<p id="opmPA3">Given his ace quality, it was part of his allure. When he took the mound, that signature moment felt like it was always within reach.</p>
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<cite>Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<p id="SY8kUC">But his regular season numbers for Tampa Bay have been great. </p>
<p id="yKvd01">Traded to the Rays at the 2018 deadline (along with Shane Baz and Austin Meadows), he has pitched to a 3.20 ERA, a 3.10 FIP, and he’s struck out on average over 12 hitters per nine innings.</p>
<p id="2QCrv7">Of course, over those six seasons he’s never thrown more than 120 innings, losing time to injury nearly every year. But even with a few lost months and seasons, he’d accumulated 9.2 WAR. </p>
<p id="Kqgd02">When the Rays pulled off the <s>heist</s> trade that included Glasnow in 2018, it wasn’t quite clear what they were getting. He’d been a fifth round pick for Pittsburgh, drafted out of high school, successful in the minors, but unable to translate that success to the majors. In his time with the Pirates he was walking just under six batters and striking out just over nine batters per nine innings. When he wasn’t walking batters he was getting hit hard. By 2018 the Pirates had relegated him to relief duty. </p>
<p id="AcwTUa">Glasnow has often spoken about these struggles, for example in <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2F2148511%2F2020%2F10%2F20%2Ftyler-glasnow-rays-world-series-pirates-chris-archer-trade%2F%3Fredirected%3D1%26source%3Dgooglesearch%26access_token%3D10910871&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.draysbay.com%2F2023%2F12%2F20%2F24005263%2Ftyler-glasnow-rays-farewell" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">this 2020 article</a>, and in <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2021/03/27/how-getting-mad-helped-rays-tyler-glasnow-get-better/">this 2021 Tampa Bay Times piece</a>. When he came to Tampa Bay in 2018, he was immediately tapped to start, and he pitched 7 innings of 2 hit, 1 run ball, perhaps his best major league performance to that date. While he was rocked in his second Rays start, the team kept with him and he was solid. </p>
<p id="4aA4zs">What changed? Perhaps he found a better pitch mix: with Tampa Bay he steadily reduced his fastball reliance, largely ditched the change up (which his hand was too large to grip), and developed a slider that is considered one of the best in the league. But he’s also talked about responding well to a more laid-back clubhouse, developing a more consistent routine, and thinking less (which can be a good thing). </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Aaron Judge recently revealed that Tyler Glasnow is his least favorite pitcher to face. Tyler found that out mid-interview on <a href="https://twitter.com/baseballisdead_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@baseballisdead_</a> <a href="https://t.co/MFWn40wJEM">pic.twitter.com/MFWn40wJEM</a></p>— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jared_Carrabis/status/1665861924549021696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2023</a>
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<p id="JKJCAJ">Things really seemed to click for him in 2021. Into mid-June he had a 2.66 ERA, was pitching deep into games and consistently providing quality starts. It was a Cy Young contender season. Most of his starts looked like this:</p>
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<p id="qkRX39">But while pitching in June in Chicago, Glasnow felt a “tug” and was pulled from the game. Early reports suggested he had just a partial UCL tear that would require rehab, but we all knew better. And indeed later that season the Rays reported that he would be undergoing elbow surgery, from which he returned in a limited role at the end of 2022 after having a brace installed in his elbow.</p>
<h3 id="BPoYjq">If baseball is looking for personalities to market, Tyler is your guy</h3>
<p id="F3I0DS">Glasnow’s talent as a pitcher is clear, even if frustrating injuries (the UCL tear in 2021-22; a forearm injury in 2019; an oblique strain in 2023) have kept him from realizing that potential. </p>
<p id="Lz31BR">But he’s also a big personality. He was elected the team’s player rep early in his Rays stint, which meant he was the point person communicating between the union and the players during both the COVID delays of 2020, and the lockout of 2022. </p>
<p id="plqySf">His thoughtful if slightly goofy air has also made him a favorite of baseball media. He’s done extensive podcasts with Chris Rose, where he talks baseball, hair care, and travel (in recent off seasons he’s cavorted with monkeys in Thailand and trekked the Andes in Peru). But<a href="https://youtu.be/h6fG6FFiJcg?si=5l67OivHzNhdxJ0y"> he also does backflips</a> for the heck of it.</p>
<p id="xH8Wxl">When in New York, <a href="https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/tyler-glasnow-plays-chess-in-new-york-city">he hangs out in Washington Square park to play chess. </a> He’s done skydiving and cliff jumping (hey Andrew Friedman, any hazardous activities clauses in that contract?) and <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2023/02/24/rays-tyler-glasnow-thailand-monkey-beach-tame-impala-sky-diving/">listens to neuroscience podcasts. </a> He claims he’s seen the movie The Notebook a dozen times. He’s emotional on the mound — not screaming at teammates after an error emotional, but fist-pumping strikeouts and celebrating great plays emotional (even though his mom gets on his case when that emotion involves f-bombs). </p>
<p id="7UTTTA">He’s entertaining.</p>
<h3 id="dsexJc">Folks say he’s easy on the eyes</h3>
<p id="NBJSbx">It’s hard not to comment, of course, on Glasnow’s appearance. First, many have noted his resemblance to Irish actor Cillian Murphy — <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/tyler-glasnow-cillian-murphy-interview">and indeed both Glasnow and Murphy have commented on that likeness.</a></p>
<p id="MHTcOF">Except that Glasnow is also a well-built 6’8” with flowing hair.</p>
<p id="gfNN7j">And his physique is one of his pitching tools. His height and his pitching motion <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/tyler-glasnow-is-balancing-his-power-pitching#:~:text=Glasnow%20has%20the%20same%206,his%20curve%20averaged%2084%20mph.">give him unusually long extension</a>, so that he actually releases his pitches nearly 8 inches in front of the mound. This gives hitters even less time to decide if that oncoming missile is a fastball or a slider. </p>
<p id="4BCw3I">I’ve given some thought about whether and how to write about Glasnow’s good looks. If a male writer were to make too big a deal about a female athlete’s attractiveness I’d probably be put off — it’s important to take people seriously as athletes and not objectify them because they happen to be attractive. I don’t want to engage in behavior I might find offensive coming from a different writer commenting on a different athlete.</p>
<p id="bFuwt5">But here’s the thing: just about everyone talks about Glasnow’s appearance, it’s just part of the chatter about him. That reputation precedes him. Chris Rose, Glasnow’s podcasting partner, often makes reference to Glasnow’s looks. <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2022/08/27/excitement-and-trepidation-on-tyler-glasnows-quick-road-to-recovery/">In a Tampa Bay Times article</a> John Romano describes Glasnow like this:</p>
<blockquote><p id="7MWH9A">And when you see Glasnow up close, you can understand why. He’s all muscles and limbs. He’s got washboard abs that look prosthetically created.</p></blockquote>
<p id="lzToRI">And then quotes a trainer:</p>
<blockquote><p id="Q95QLL">“He just has that stature, that aesthetic look. He’s what, 6-7 or 6-8, and he’s chiseled. It’s like looking at a Greek god. He is impressive, no doubt about that.”</p></blockquote>
<h3 id="0EAGcp">I suspect Glasnow will be a big hit in LA</h3>
<p id="5UIyN6">A top pitcher who looks like a movie star and is at ease in front of the cameras? I have a feeling he’s going to do well there. </p>
<p id="Ud7ej0">When that happens, it will be hard watching the baseball media “discover” him now that he’s playing in a big market, and thinking “hey, all that was true when he played for Tampa Bay, where were you then?”</p>
<p id="h5vyoX">And I do hope he has that monster year, because it will be fun seeing him put it all together — but also really hard to see that happen on a different coast. </p>
<p id="NMB7Fa">***</p>
<p id="IRSCEr">Here’s the farewell video from the Rays organization:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tampa Bay's been grateful to have ya, Glas <a href="https://t.co/20isDucleT">pic.twitter.com/20isDucleT</a></p>— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/RaysBaseball/status/1736090681427349737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2023</a>
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https://www.draysbay.com/2023/12/20/24005263/tyler-glasnow-rays-farewellElizabeth Strom2023-12-17T16:43:33-05:002023-12-17T16:43:33-05:00Mar-gone for Good
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<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Angels at Tampa Bay Rays" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7-hsz8TXCH520sVQqYcX8wyOVWc=/0x0:4559x3039/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72972839/usa_today_21472785.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="K0bIkh">Maybe you are the glass half-full sort who can get excited about the prospecting coming back in return. Maybe the prospects coming back are no consolation for the players you are bidding farewell. But saying good-bye to players who probably still have more than a few good years left is, for better or worse, an essential part of being a Rays fan.</p>
<p id="P0y7fk">We want to give our departing players a good send-off so join us to celebrate the Rays career of Manuel Margot.</p>
<p id="wlrmJG">Acquired by the Rays before the 2020 season for reliever Emilio Pagan, Manuel Margot had been signed by the Red Sox as a teen. He debuted with the Padres in 2016 and played with them for four seasons before coming to Tampa Bay. </p>
<p id="QkQymk">During his stint in St. Pete, Margot has been a solid, if never spectacular, part of the line up, largely playing right field but capable of playing center field as well. His slash line over the course of his Rays career was .255/.309/.385.</p>
<p id="MEGIyp">Margot’s first season with the Rays, that COVID-shortened 2020 season, had dramatic ups and downs. During the 2019-2020 off-season, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/13/sports/baseball/manuel-margot-rays-astros.html">Margot and his family were involved in an auto accident in which the car caught fire and bystanders pulled the family to safety.</a> Because of COVID travel restrictions, when Margot came to the US to start the delayed 2020 spring training, he could not bring his family with him; Willy Adames welcomed him as a roommate and helped him feel at ease with the team. </p>
<p id="vye6bK">That summer, Margot’s father back in the Dominican Republican caught COVID and, just as the season got under way, passed away. Margot had been extremely close to his dad; he flew home for the funeral and then had to isolate under COVID protocols before rejoining the team. No wonder he struggled in his 2020 regular season.</p>
<p id="bZNchx">He was a star, however, of the postseason. He scored three runs and got on base nine times in the six World Series games, but he is perhaps best known for his success against Houston. Never known for his power, he hit three home runs and knocked in six runs against the Astros, including this three-run bomb:</p>
<div id="FUS7Hm"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/m/manuel-margot-s-three-run-homer" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media;"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="gqjbGt">But perhaps he’s best known for the runs he saved that game. With two Houston runners on base, you can see him fighting the sun and the wall to turn this fly ball into an out:</p>
<div id="Uw5kq5"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/m/manuel-margot-s-amazing-catch-in-right" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media;"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="CYG2qZ">That’s too good for just a brief video; <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/manuel-margot-s-amazing-catch-frame-by-frame">this article breaks it down second by second. </a></p>
<p id="QC2Qn9">Margot confessed afterwards that he <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/13/sports/baseball/manuel-margot-rays-astros.html">hadn’t anticipated the long drop</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p id="2OFbXo">Once I actually started to flip and realized it was a little bit further of a drop, I kind of got a little scared.</p></blockquote>
<p id="DhvOqN">But that fear was not in evidence when he emerged, smiling and holding the ball for the umpire to see.</p>
<p id="RoRO05">One of his best stretches came early in 2022, when he was a consistent hitter on a weak hitting team. He suffered a bad knee sprain, however, in June of that season. He missed two months and was considered fortunate for not needing season ending surgery. </p>
<p id="9F7GFW">Margot was never a face of the franchise, <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/manuel-margot-role-model-to-young-rays">he was often mentioned as a clubhouse leader,</a> especially, but not only, for younger Spanish-speaking players. <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2022/04/01/a-look-at-the-many-ways-manuel-margot-helps-the-rays/">As he told Marc Topkin</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p id="eytj8T">“I’m pretty proud of having that role,” he said via Navarro. “With the experience that I’ve had and some of the more time I’ve had compared to some of the other Latin guys, that’s the position I’ve fallen into.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="vneFpd">The Rays created this tribute video for him:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Let's Mar-got-ahead and relive some of our favorite Manny memories <a href="https://t.co/9vrrI9cp7r">pic.twitter.com/9vrrI9cp7r</a></p>— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/RaysBaseball/status/1736087368384291327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2023</a>
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<p id="X0OeXh">You can enjoy this walk-off 58 mph single as we say good-bye. Thanks for everything, Manny!</p>
<div id="qGLAUb"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/m/carlos-estevez-in-play-run-s-to-manuel-margot" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media;"></iframe></div></div>
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https://www.draysbay.com/2023/12/17/24005260/mar-gone-for-goodElizabeth Strom2023-10-06T11:49:03-04:002023-10-06T11:49:03-04:00Is it time to discuss Rays attendance?
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<img alt="MLB: ALDS-Houston Astros at Tampa Bay Rays" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/A2eLOgMs8l3vdMQX9h4SkFMtlSg=/0x0:4050x2700/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72728205/usa_today_13481343.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Or what we call the “A” word?</p> <p id="2f4hDY">This recent Wild Card series was the least fun I’ve had watching baseball in quite a long time. </p>
<p id="1T5dWM">To add insult to injury, the conversation around our suddenly-inept team was essentially overshadowed by the conversation we Rays fans always dread having. </p>
<p id="LwUobF">Attendance.</p>
<div id="owNvB6">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here's some perspective on today's attendance of 19,704 at the Trop: according to <a href="https://twitter.com/Stathead?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Stathead</a>, it's the lowest (non-Covid year) attendance for a postseason game in 104 years. Last one below 19,704 was Game 7 of the infamous 1919 World Series in Cincinnati.</p>— Tyler Kepner (@TylerKepner) <a href="https://twitter.com/TylerKepner/status/1709322127889858637?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2023</a>
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<p id="fkEpsV">The year 1919 had many things working against it, including the Black Sox scandal and the difficulty of selling physical, single game tickets day-of (when tickets used to be sold in 3-game packs). It’s telling that it took until 2023 for attendance to ever dip this low again. The local paper reported the actual attendance of that game was <a href="https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/october-8-1919-eddie-cicotte-returns-to-form-in-game-7/">below 14,000</a> fans.</p>
<p id="uLMs3S">The circumstances that led to the Rays poor attendance in the playoffs are markedly different.</p>
<p id="3v4B1f">Before we get into it, let me make my personal position clear: I wish we’d had full houses on both days. </p>
<p id="aZd4ai">I’ve been to a sold-out playoff game at Tropicana Field and it’s an electric atmosphere (especially if there is something on the field to cheer about). Perhaps if the team had fewer injuries, or finished in first place, there would have been more people determined to see games in person. But I think there are other reasons at play.</p>
<h3 id="j4HYfy"><strong>It’s no mystery why the Wild Card games had empty seats</strong></h3>
<p id="Xe4v9s">We long knew the Wild Card game would be on Tuesday and Wednesday, but we did not know until Sunday evening that both games would start at 3:10pm. To be clear, the Rays did not choose this time. These are decisions made by MLB leadership.</p>
<p id="CF5qWy">That gave folks 36-48 hours to rearrange their lives — get off from work; arrange for school pickups. To be sure there are people for whom that is not a big deal. Retirees, workers with flexible schedules and no elementary school aged children can hold those days open and work around the game, whatever time it starts. </p>
<p id="GagkED">But that eliminates a lot of Rays fans! </p>
<p id="X0LRvg">Then, of course, there is the price. MLB sets postseason ticket prices. I also believe (and please correct me, readers, if you know otherwise) that these Wild Card series prices are pretty consistent across venues, so tickets in Philadelphia were priced comparably to those in St. Pete. For us, this means that ticket prices were about twice as high as for regular season games, making them expensive for many people who might like to attend. </p>
<h3 id="LG8QQK"><strong>If MLB is a business, why is it pushing away its customers?</strong></h3>
<p id="E6iW9i">Would any other entertainment business put on an event without considering the local market when setting the start time or the ticket prices? </p>
<p id="Ow4Bcz">Let’s say a popular music performer were to announce on Sunday night that they would be holding a concert at 3pm on Tuesday, with tickets more expensive than what we generally pay in our area. If that concert didn’t sell out, would we bash that singer’s fans, or would we wonder why the heck the concert producers had set things up so poorly?</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Wild Card Series - Miami Marlins v Philadelphia Phillies - Game Two" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/L7PCv3BHePCT6lWdTFDhQtyw7nk=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24982380/1717660180.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>There were no empty seats at this night game in Philadelphia</figcaption>
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<p id="1SQPkg">MLB has its own postseason priorities. They want to maximize TV viewership, which means ensuring that what they consider to be their top drawing matchup is shown in TV prime time. Almost across Tampa Bay playoff history, our team has gotten the most inconvenient time slot (unless we are saved by playing the Yankees or Red Sox). </p>
<p id="GgnIg9">The baseball business brain trust has, in essence, said to fans: we don’t care if you can’t attend. But then when there are empty seats, it’s local residents who are blasted for their lack of commitment. </p>
<p id="qEuQdB">Other teams, I’ve been told, DO sell out 3pm games announced at the last minute. Milwaukee and Minnesota, neither “big market” teams, seemed to have full stadiums. That’s great, but we are not other markets. </p>
<p id="pdqLk8">We’ve written before, and I’m sure you’ve read before, all the reasons that our Tampa-St. Petersburg metropolitan area is unlikely to be a high attendance area. Our population is smaller and (by median household income) poorer than almost every other major league metro area. We have a ton of transplants who remain loyal to their hometown teams. No doubt those empty seats would have been full if we’d played Toronto or Philadelphia, let alone New York or Boston. </p>
<p id="172Stf">And our stadium is not located in a place that makes it easy to attend. Our region is sprawling, which means a very small percentage of our population lives within a thirty minute drive of the stadium. The stadium is also located far from major employment centers, which are are Westshore, Downtown Tampa, the University and Gateway areas. Add in a dearth of mass transit and you can see that our region is poorly positioned to facilitate large attendance numbers at that time in that location. </p>
<p id="78538P">I have read posts and articles saying these barriers are just “excuses” as though attending games were a civic or religious duty that we are shirking. How fortuitous for major league team owners that we have created a narrative in which we blame customers who are choosing not to spend their dollars to support a private business that isn’t delivering a product that they can easily access! In what other business are customers expected to shoulder large burdens for the privilege of spending their discretionary dollars?</p>
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<img alt="Wild Card Series - Texas Rangers v. Tampa Bay Rays - Game One" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2cF6Se6PhvXoW8EPIAvYdchQAvg=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24982370/1704940509.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<h3 id="OmMHET"><strong>But wait, haven’t the Rays just decided to stay in St. Pete, which we’ve just described as difficult to get to? </strong></h3>
<p id="8DVtWX">They have, and in making that choice they have made clear that maximizing potential attendance is not their priority, either. Presumably they saw the development opportunities and availability of subsidies at their current location appealing enough to offset the disadvantages of a more peripheral (from those population and employment centers) site. </p>
<p id="urt6Nj">The Rays could build in Tampa, and draw a few thousand more people each game, but be on their own to find land, influence surrounding development, and raise most of the $1B needed for the stadium. Or they could stay in St. Pete, get a lot of development benefits and subsidies, but settle for lower attendance. Guess which one they chose.</p>
<h2 id="tclFYn"><a href="https://www.draysbay.com/2023/9/19/23880771/rays-reach-1-3-billion-stadium-deal-with-st-petersburg">Read More: Rays reach $1.3 billion stadium deal with St. Petersburg</a></h2>
<p id="JrjRsY">No doubt they also hope that the development surrounding that new stadium could change the equation. They will be spearheading a project that includes offices, restaurants, and over 6000 apartments. In say 2032 there will be a lot more people working and living there who can pop in for a 3pm game. And who knows, perhaps pigs will fly and we’ll have more robust transit that can make a trip across the Bay more feasible for those in downtown Tampa or Westshore. </p>
<p id="GKb50u">By every projection, however, most population and job growth will happen on the other side of the bay. The St. Petersburg site, even with the anticipated new development, will never be close to the majority of the region’s population or employment.</p>
<p id="vrOfjB">To recap: The Rays have chosen to remain in a location that is a trek for the majority of the region’s residents and employees. They will reap benefits for building there, but they have opted not to choose a location that will boost attendance dramatically. MLB has chosen, and will always choose, to feature big market teams in prime TV slots. Tampa Bay will always play postseason games at awkward times. </p>
<p id="aliSNk">Thanks to these decisions, we may continue to see weekday playoff games with 20,000 in attendance, at least in Tampa Bay. And then, predictably, we will get a week of the baseball world disparaging us because we didn’t overcome the barriers of expense and inconvenience to attend a baseball game.</p>
<p id="Fv1x0J">The Rays have good reasons for staying in St. Pete. MLB has good reasons for shunting our games to weekday afternoons. But with those choices having been made, can we stop yelling at Rays fans for also making the reasonable choice not to attend in person?</p>
https://www.draysbay.com/2023/10/6/23905743/is-it-time-to-discuss-rays-attendanceElizabeth Strom2023-10-04T18:02:11-04:002023-10-04T18:02:11-04:00Rays 1 Rangers 7: A disappointing end to a challenging season
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<img alt="MLB: Wildcard-Texas Rangers at Tampa Bay Rays" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/06FYRoYlh67NMW1jIBNwsSgXPjM=/0x0:4932x3288/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72721994/usa_today_21572525.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="Dju03U">I thought last year’s loss to Cleveland in the Wild Card series was a low point. If you recall, the team scored zero runs in two games, one of which went into extra innings.</p>
<p id="QEPkUH">But 2023 said “hold my beer” — because this year we also got two games with almost no scoring, this time accompanied by poor defense and less stellar pitching. So instead of two excruciatingly close games we got two games in which the Rays at no time seemed to be within spitting distance of victory. </p>
<p id="16qZYK">I don’t think y’all need or want a traditional recap of all the things that happened; the score says it all. The Rays did break a postseason scoreless inning stretch that the Boston-based announcer hired by ABC seemed to want to talk about nonstop. And they did manage eight hits, but only one extra base hit. Texas really helped themselves by not walking anyone all series. No free runs for the Rays. </p>
<p id="Kqmoyj">Today they only committed one official error, but misplays that were not errors led to several base hits. And Eflin simply left them too deep in a hole, giving up five runs on two walks and eight hits in just five innings, for the team to have any sort of chance.</p>
<p id="TOk9Du">But of course even with stellar pitching, this offense was not going to win games. So we return to where we were a year ago.</p>
<p id="f3sTTf">We’ll have more time to reflect on 2023 — it had some wonderful highlights but also some difficult and ultimately impossible to overcome challenges. Let’s remember that baseball is a game and we watch because it’s fun, but what makes it fun is the emotional investment, which then makes it less fun after a loss.</p>
<p id="LE3bmZ">Thanks for reading our site this season. </p>
https://www.draysbay.com/2023/10/4/23903719/rays-1-rangers-7-a-disappointing-end-to-a-challenging-seasonElizabeth Strom2023-10-02T08:38:21-04:002023-10-02T08:38:21-04:00Can’t get to Tropicana Field? Here’s how you can watch/listen to games
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<img alt="MLB: Tampa Bay Rays at Toronto Blue Jays" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dwLT_yrZiEwTULXRethMK4yeZ4c=/164x0:2446x1521/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72711534/usa_today_21540252.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="gxRrU5">The Wild Card games will be broadcast on ABC. All three (if needed) start at 3:08. If you want to hear a local broadcast, you can listen to the game on WDAE radio. </p>
<p id="S7qHeh">Generally the team has sponsored official watch parties in the Tampa Bay area when the team is playing on the road — with the idea that the “party” is in the stadium if they are playing at home.</p>
<p id="GxLzr5">But many of you won’t be at Tropicana Field, yet would still like be able to commiserate/celebrate with other Rays fans. We’ll use this post to report on any watch parties we hear about (check back for updates). </p>
<p id="pB2EZF">We also encourage you to use the comments or our social media posts to share any watch parties you know of. This is especially true for members of what we call the “Rays Diaspora” e.g. Rays fans scattered outside the Tampa Bay area. Are you hanging out in a bar in Brooklyn or a pub in Portland to catch a game? Let us know about it so others in your area can join you. </p>
https://www.draysbay.com/2023/10/2/23897587/cant-get-to-tropicana-field-heres-how-you-can-watch-listen-to-gamesElizabeth Strom2023-10-02T08:37:52-04:002023-10-02T08:37:52-04:00Come watch post season baseball at the Trop! It will be WILD!
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<img alt="Toronto Blue Jays v Tampa Bay Rays" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hJ3YRD5bTGCpuJwGSCJxPwkZkao=/0x0:8256x5504/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72711530/1427130633.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Wild Card Series at Tropicana Field</p> <p id="88DXjR">The Rays will be playing the Rangers in the three-game Wild Card series this week. Because the Rays had the best record among all non-division winners, they have the home field advantage for all three games. That means you have many opportunities to see an actual playoff game in person. </p>
<p id="G947eR">Please allow me a quick rant. If you’ve been a Rays fan for a while you know that the least appealing and accessible start time will always be ours. In this case, there are some time zone issues so that other teams also get 3pm starts in their own area, but the one match up that is entirely EST (Philly v Miami) gets the prime time slot all three nights. You’d think they could mix it up to split the “needing to take time off from work” burden is spread a bit more evenly, but no. </p>
<p id="VOOyfV">But those of us are lucky to have flexible schedules will be able to attend.</p>
<p id="zv45uM"><strong>Tickets </strong></p>
<p id="IzLKxh">At present to be tickets remaining for all three games. On the Rays website you can still find a lot of upper deck tickets for $55, plus a few scattered tickets in other sections. The re-sale sites also have tickets on offer, in some cases below the Rays asking price. By the way are you looking at the prices and cursing? Me too, but don’t blame the Rays; MLB sets postseason ticket prices. </p>
<p id="AFDO24"><strong>Getting there</strong></p>
<p id="oKvySQ"><em>By car</em>: Most of you will drive to the ballpark. The Rays have a number of lots and standard parking will be $30. The advantage of using the Rays lots is that they are close to the stadium; the disadvantage is the price and the difficulties getting out after the game. And of course we don’t want to turn into the sort of terrible people who leave early just to beat the traffic! So you might want to consider other options. There are a lot of informal lots that pop up around the stadium, and people in the know even say there are some free street spots if you are willing to walk a bit. Most street parking, however, is metered with a two hour limit, so it doesn’t work well for a baseball game.</p>
<p id="xoObJ1">You can also park downtown, where there are several reasonably priced garages, and take the <a href="https://loopertrolley.com/baseball-shuttle">baseball trolley</a> to the stadium. </p>
<p id="oG9PCk"><em>Leave your car at home! </em> No, the region has not suddenly sprung a comprehensive transit system, but for some it may be possible to get to the stadium without a car. Of course there are taxis and the various app-based ride hailing companies. And if you live live somewhere on the Pinellas Trail, it is indeed possible to bike to Tropicana Field, and there are bike racks around the stadium (perhaps a silver lining of the early start times is that you can bike there in daylight).</p>
<p id="92nQAW">Public transit options are limited but they exist. There is an express bus, <a href="https://www.psta.net/riding-psta/schedulesmap/route-100x/">the 100X</a>, from the Marion Transit Center in Tampa to Downtown St. Pete but its limited running times could make it difficult to use to after the game.</p>
<p id="wKoF69">For those within Pinellas County, there are more options. You can take the <a href="https://www.psta.net/riding-psta/schedulesmap/route-16/">16 from the Gateway Mall</a> (it stops running at around 7pm) or the <a href="https://www.psta.net/riding-psta/schedulesmap/route-16/">18 from Clearwater</a> (which stops running around 10pm). Finally, the <a href="https://www.psta.net/media/6146/psta_sunrunner_howtorideguide.pdf">Sunrunner</a> connects Downtown St. Pete to St. Pete Beach, with a stop at Tropicana Field, and runs until midnight. (It had been free but as of October 1 it will begin charging a fare of $2.25). </p>
<p id="XZPvGZ">Anyone who has been to a Rays postseason game can tell you, it’s an electric atmosphere. </p>
https://www.draysbay.com/2023/10/2/23895733/come-watch-post-season-baseball-at-the-trop-it-will-be-wildElizabeth Strom2023-09-26T22:24:40-04:002023-09-26T22:24:40-04:00Rays 9 Red Sox 7: Can it ever be easy?
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<img alt="Tampa Bay Rays v Boston Red Sox" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7HCjvA6j1wDFk7IMlvsemPRuiyw=/0x0:3290x2193/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72692116/1703257485.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="StxGQ3">The Rays took a commanding early lead today, leading some of us to think this would be the relaxing, laughter-filled, have Erasmo pitch three inning win we all needed. But starting in the fifth inning they proceeded to give that lead back. They did hold on for the victory, but it was hardly relaxing. </p>
<p id="Db0pmw">This game started off oddly; it was a 7:10 start, but Boston starter Tanner Houck wasn’t even on the field until 7:13 at which time he took his warm up pitches. I would have thought that the players need to be in position at the game’s start time, and if they were unable to be on the field they would need to be replaced, but I guess not!</p>
<p id="PRGspY">Houck went up 0-2 to lead off hitter Jonathan Aranda, but then hit him on the foot with a pitch. Then came the second strange moment: Boston challenged the hit by pitch call. This was strange because it was clear he’d been hit, and because you’d think they might want to save a challenge for a more strategic moment. But they didn’t, the call was confirmed, and Boston had burned their challenge. </p>
<p id="ByKxS9">And then came a series of unfortunate events if you are Tanner Houck. Junior Caminero smoked a ball (403 feet, 105 mph) but in Fenway Park that is not a home run. It was however deep enough to fall for a double and an RBI. The next four batters reached base on either a single or an error, and the Rays had three runs in a 37 pitch inning featuring all nine batters.</p>
<p id="j8Atjw">Further strange happenings: before the start of the third inning, Red Sox catcher Reese McGuire was catching warm up pitches when he flung his mitt off in pain. After yet another delay he was removed. </p>
<p id="8oEMIv">The new catcher didn’t, however, help the Red Sox. The Rays scored another two runs on some small ball mix of singles and productive outs, and then Rene Pinto decided it was time for some big ball, hitting a two-run homer to centerfield to put the Rays up, 7-0</p>
<p id="AdjcA9">Meanwhile the Red Sox did have some activity on the base paths. They got a runner on second in the first inning when Josh Lowe did a great job covering a ton of territory to get to a fly ball, only to have it bounce out of his glove for an error (which also shows how errors don’t tell the full story of defensive ability: had Lowe been a few steps slower he simply wouldn’t have gotten to the ball and it would have been called a double). But Lowe was in the middle of a play that eliminated a Red Sox threat in the third inning, when he threw out Enmanuel Valdez as he tried to advance from first to third on a single with the help of a good tag by Caminero. </p>
<p id="GiqXxj">Houck was gone after three miserable (for him) innings. </p>
<p id="gtVNFF">Eflin seemed to be cruising until the fifth innings, when he allowed two hits followed by a three run homer that made the score 7-3, which is already a little close for comfort. </p>
<p id="zqQflp">Next pitcher up was Kevin Kelly and he pretty much struggled to get anyone out. It doesn’t help that with two runners, Raimel Tapia did a poor job handling a deep ball to that infamous left field wall, always tough to play but Tapia did play for Boston earlier this year so presumably it’s not his first time in that position. Suddenly it’s 7-5 and not at all the blowout we all thought we’d been watching earlier. Things got even more concerning in the 7th, when the Red Sox scored again, this time off of Colin Poche. </p>
<p id="IPfumJ">Fortunately the Rays have their pinch hitting prodigy Hittin’ Harold to reduce of bit of the pressure in the eighth inning. With men on second and third, Ramirez pinch hit for Pinto and delivered the much needed RBI (a ground out) to put the Rays up 8-6. Aranda (Joltin’ Jonathan?) singled home another run and the Rays lead was back to a more palatable three runs. </p>
<p id="Ezvx7j">But wait, there’s more! Shawn Armstrong took over and he, too, yielded a run thanks to Enmanuel Valdez’s double. The rookie was, in fact, a large part of the Red Sox offense tonight with his three hits and four RBI. </p>
<p id="FPvjoP">The Rays brought in Pete Fairbanks to close out the game, which normally would give me a feeling of ease, but if you recall Pete has some weird finger problem that emerges when he pitches in cold weather, and it was a chilly night in Boston. But I needn’t have worried, he retired the Red Sox with no drama, recording the save. </p>
<p id="kZm32s">Baltimore won so hopes for winning the division continue to dwindle.</p>
https://www.draysbay.com/2023/9/26/23889813/rays-red-sox-no-new-injuries-lets-call-it-a-winElizabeth Strom