John McDonald is better at short and Kevin Youkilis hasn't made an error at first base in an MLB record 200+ games. The pitching has been good but I don't think they can keep it up all year. Kazmir has a history of injury (although when healthy he's a top 10 starter in MLB). Jackson has been pretty terrible for most of his young career and it will take more than a two month streak of decent pitching to convince me he's figured it all out. I like Shields and Garza a lot, but Sonnanstine isn't that great. The main problem with all of them though (except Kazmir to an extent) is youth and inexperience. Once the calender hits late July/early August and they find the Sox and/or Yankees either just ahead or just behind them, I think the experience of the other two will do the Rays in. That goes mostly for the rotation, but the same can be said about pretty much the entire roster. Even the players that have been in the Majors for a few years have never been CLOSE to a pennant race before. If they can keep the team together for a few years they might be legitimate contenders, but I don't see it this year.
Day games in the summer are terrible. Which one reason why the Marlins really can't draw in the summer. It's unfortunate that where they're moving, they will lose attendance, but still gain revenue because they won't have that terrible huizinga contract. The Rays need the bayfront stadium, only way their attendance will really stay solid, IMO.
What a surprise that the fans now show up in Tampa Bay... Prior to Tony Dungy, you could walk into Hoolihans stadium. Green Bay would get 35,000 Packers fans there... The Lightning on their way to the Stanley Cup, the bandwagon got big and people jumped on. Now the Rays start winning and people show up... Front Runners.
It's really bad man. Miami might be the absolute worst though, see the Marlins WS runs. And it really sucks to say it, but Hurricanes fans are bandwagoners pretty bad.
Most teams fans across the Country are like that including here in NY and in jacksonville. jax has had alot of trouble selling out games throuhg the years even though they have had some good teams. Most of it's existence it was called Tampa Stadium, they sold the naming rights towards the end of it's life.
Banwagon fans? Yeah, ok. As fans, for over 10+ years, we have never had anything to be excited about... It wasnt about losing for 10+ years that got to the fans, it was THE WAY we lost for 10+ years that made us fans sick. You all live in NY or NJ have no idea of how much this Tampa Bay area loves baseball, we have over 15 little league parks for baseball here in St.Pete and another 15+ little league parks in the city of Tampa, this is a basbeall town. Its just the way we lost. Once again. For 10 years we had an owner and front office that was never committed to winning We had an owner and front office that was never committed to signing free agents, that can actually help the team win games, Wade Boggs, Greg Vaugn, Jose Canseco? Are you kidding me? We had an owner and front office that was never committed to signing and keeping our young talent long term We also had an owner than never cared about the fans for 10+ years, was never committed to getting this team a new ball park and was only in it for the money as an owner. ----------------------------------------------- In less than 2 seasons, our new owner and front office has showed the baseball fans of Tampa Bay the blue print, they have showed us in Tampa Bay what we missed out on ever since 1998, this is what we been dying for... Not a winning team, but a team that is committed to winning instead of being the laughing stock of sports, not just baseball. In less than 2 seasons this BRAND new Rays front office has gave the fans free parking last year, and this year... If you come with a group of 4 or more in your car, you also get free parking, they actually care about the fans making the effort to support the team. In less than 2 seasons this Rays front office has signed quality free agents to help this team win games, Cliff Floyd, Troy Percival, Dan Wheeler, Aki Iwimura (A superstar from Japan) along with Erick Hinske and Carlos Pena In less than 2 seasons this Rays front office has also signed key players long term, Carlos Pena and James Shields both signed long term last year, Carl Crawford, Kazmir and Evan Longoria has all signed long term this year and they also drafted the best pitching prospect in the country, David Price. This front office has traded away a bad apple in Delmon Young and recieved Garza, a future ace and Jason Bartlett, the best defensive short stop this Rays team has EVER had from the Twins. -------------------------------------------- You all dont know how much love for the game of baseball this Tampa Bay area has, none at all. As kids, baseball is our #1 sport, then football, then basketball, this city of St.Pete/Tampa is a baseball town, and with a team thats committed to winning, like this one... The fans will come and they will come with energy. They are not banwagon fans, they are fans that have been upset with the ownership we were stuck with, when a team like the Diamondbacks has already been to two W.S since 98
Calling any city in Florida a baseball town is a joke. College football rules from Miami to Tallahassee and every where in between..Number 2 is NASCAR. All other sports are secondary.
I can tell you know nothing about Florida sports, Football may be big down in Miami, Talli and Gainsville but St.Pete has always been a city of baseball, you wouldnt know unless you lived here. USF Bulls are the team of Tampa and Rays fans love the Rays alot more. Players like Tino Martinez, Garry Sheffield, Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry were all born and raised in St.Pete/Tampa, and many more. This city has always been a baseball city, since before the Rays, and thats a fact mr "Know it all" Nascar? This isnt Texas or Georiga buddy... This is Florida, its the south but its far from redneck ville, most people in FL are from other northern states, once again, your Mr. Know it all
Sure...Nobody in Florida follows NASCAR:lol: IF NCAA FB is not the biggest sport in FL, why does UF, FSU and UM outdraw the Bucs, Jags, Rays, and Marlins combined?
UF, FSU and UM outdraw the Bucs, Jags, Rays, and Marlins combined? Ok... Wanna try and get smart? Lets see what you have in the tank buddy. How many fans can the stadiums of the Gators, Seminoles and Hurricanes hold, how many? Combined? How many fans can the stadiums of the Jags, Rays, Bucs and Marlins hold? Combined? And thats your answer. Ill be waiting buddy
No matter what you all say about the fans of the Rays in this thread, the fact of the matter is this... In less than 2 years, the new owner and front office has this team in 1st place in the American League on June 3rd, They have signed players such as Carlos Pena, Cliff Floyd, Erick Hinske and Troy Percival through free agency, they have scouts that have scouted Aki Iwimura out of Japan who was a huge superstar and got him signed long term with the Rays, we have signed our own players LONG TERM in Carlos Pena and James Shields last year and this year alone they went out and signed Crawford, Kazmir and Evan Longoria, all long term. Thats what fans of the Rays have been dying for, for over 10 years now. They drafted the best pitcher in the country last year by the name of David Price, hes a real Baseball Phenom, just ask A.Rod or even Pedo Martinez on what they had to say after they seen the kid pitch. Before this year is over baseball fans around american will see a Rays starting rotation that looks like this (All under 26 years of age) Kazmir Shields Price Garza Jackson We also get the 1st pick of the draft this year, its exciting. And we are also weeks away from Signing B.J Upton long term with the Rays and you never know, Justin Upton from the Diamondbacks may be the Rays RF next year. Crawford, B.J Upton and Justin Upton would dominate the outfield for years to come. The fact of the matter is this, we are not the "Devil Rays" anymore, this is a Rays team who will be the Future of the American League East for years to come, and as fans... Its exciting
Ben Hill Griffin- Florida Field 90,716 They sell out every game Doak Campbell Stadium 84,300 Sell out Miami Orange Bowl(2007/8 was the last year) Capacity 74,476 They do not fill it, but they avg 50k a game So, that is an avg of 75k/game TB had 626,239 attend last year FLA had 421,089 attend last year The Bucs 522,530 The Jags 522,410 That is an average of 36K/game
