Archive for January 8th, 2009

Jan 08

[THE PROFESSOR] Yes, We Will Be Appearing In The Season Premiere Of ‘Friday Night Lights’

The Professor revealed Cork Gaines 17 Comments »


The Tampa Bay Rays came a long way in one year, and now their fan base is everywhere.

The above image is a screen capture from next week’s season premier of “Friday Night Lights” (here is a slightly larger version). That handsome fella on the right side of the screen is your local Tampa Bay Rays blogger, me (you can see a reverse angle below). I play a reporter during a preseason press conference. The episode will air next Friday (Jan. 16) at 9:00pm et on NBC.

This is not my first foray into television, although it is my most prominent. I once even appeared as a basketball referee (of all things) in an episode of “Ultimate Road Trip” on the Yankees’ Yes Network.

I must admit that I did find some humor in appearing on a television show based on a book authored by Buzz Bissinger, considering his very public disdain for blogs. We wonder what his reaction would be if somebody were to mention this to him. We hope it would be laced with explicatives. But more likely he just wouldn’t care.

So there it is…If I follow the same meteoric rise of the Rays, by this time next year I will be starring in a Hollywood blockbuster. Unfortunately I would have to die in the final scene.

Jan 08

[RI CONFIDENCE GRAPH] The Rays Index Confidence Graph

Confidence graph Cork Gaines No Comments »

The Rays Confidence Graph will appear every Wednesday and is a look at how much confidence Rays fans have in the Tampa Bay Rays. The graph is designed to give us a look at how our emotional bias as Rays fans fluctuates through time. The “confidence” in the team is an inexact measure of how fans feel about the team’s current strength as well as how much confidence fans have in the franchise for the next 3-4 years. Notes on this weeks agida-level can be found after the graph..

Notes on the RI Confidence Graph…

  • The most common response for “Confidence in 2009 Rays” was 10 with 39.7%.
  • The most common response for “Confidence in future of franchise” was 10 with 57.5%.
Jan 08

[WAGGING THE DOG] Rays Index Readers Survey 2009

Survey Cork Gaines 1 Comment »

If you have about 30 seconds to spare, please take a moment to answer 6 questions.

Rays Index Readers Survey 2009

Jan 08

[THE HANGOVER] Cliff Floyd Wants To Return To Rays; May Have To Hire Jeff Gillooly

Andy Sonnanstine, Ben Grieve, Ben Zobrist, Cliff Floyd, Jason Giambi, Pat Burrell, Roberto Hernandez Cork Gaines No Comments »

Just the links today, Jason Giambi’s birthday. We don’t think David Chalk will be sending any gifts. Also, on this day 7 years ago, the [Devil] Rays were involved in a three-team swap that sent Roberto Hernandez to the Royals. The Rays received Ben Grieve from Oakland and the A’s received Johnny Damon from the Royals.

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…

  • In a strange twist, Jayson Stark is reporting that Cliff Floyd’s agents continue to have discussions with the Rays about returning, and that returning to the Rays is his first choice…Not sure if there is enough ice in the state of Florida for both of Floyd’s knees and we have no idea where the Rays would fit Floyd’s bat. [MLB Trade Rumors]
  • The Rays Party of America wonders if Ben Zobrist is an infielder or an outfielder. [Rays Party of America]
  • Another look at how undervalued Andy Sonnanstine is. [Drays Bay]
  • Pat Burrell is just the fifth player since 1970 to play on a World Series team and then play for the opposing team the next season. [St. Pete Times]