Archive for March 8th, 2010

Mar 08

The Mystery Of The Blue Rays Cap, 7 Years Before It Existed

New Uniforms Cork Gaines 14 Comments »

Over the weekend, two Rays fans on Twitter (@striderblack and @pdriscoll811) brought to our attention this image…

Kind looks like a cheap Tampa Bay Rays knock-off cap, right? There is only one problem with that theory: That image is from 2000, seven years before the Rays switched from green to blue caps.

The image is a screen grab from the video for the song “Adam’s Song” by Blink 182, a song that was released as a single in 2000. Forward to the 3:53 mark and watch very closely as the video scrolls through a bunch of still images.

The cap is very similar to the ones worn by the Rays since 2008. Here are the two side-by-side…

The image quality on the left is poor so it is difficult to tell how similar the blue is, and the thickness of the letters are clearly different. But the orientation of the letters are identical, and the font appears to be the same on both caps.

So where did this cap come from? Only professional teams in the area use “Tampa Bay.” As far as we know, no minor league teams in the area have ever used “Tampa Bay.”

That blue narrows it down to the Tampa Bay Lightning or the Tampa Bay Storm. Both are unlikely as it is clearly a baseball design and there is nothing else to associate the cap with either team (e.g. a logo) as would be expected. Also, correct us if we are wrong, but we believe the Storm were using a much lighter blue in 2000 (apparently not, see comments).

So, is this a cap from a local semi-pro or amateur team? Might it just be a Do-It-Yourself project that somebody created and just happened to predict the Rays caps of the future? Or does the “TB” stand for something completely different?

We are at a loss. Anybody have an answer or a theory?

Mar 08

Pat Burrell Is Bored Playing For The Rays

Pat Burrell Cork Gaines 16 Comments »

With the Rays facing the Phillies yesterday, it was to be expected that the Philadelphia media would catch up with one of the heroes from the 2008 WFC* Phillies squad. And while Pat Burrell chose his words somewhat carefully, it sure sounds like playing for the Rays bores the crap out of him.

First it is the fanbase…

“I don’t know if there is any way of saying this without getting myself in trouble,” Burrell said. “But there is definitely a different excitement level [in Philadelphia]. I think more than anything, there is a stronger tradition for baseball there. That goes without saying…I probably saw the full parameter of the good and the bad. But at all times you knew that people cared. They want you to win and they come out and support you. I’m not sure enough players appreciate that because there aren’t many places like it.”

Then he complained about being a DH…

“When you realize how much time there can be between at-bats sometimes, you have to find a way to fill that time and still stay up to speed with the game. It doesn’t sound that difficult, but it can be at times.”

Certainly not the harshest comments ever, but put together, you get the impression that The Bat is counting the days until he hits free agency again.

You gotta love guaranteed contracts in baseball. Both sides want a divorce and yet they have to live with each other for another year. Of course, in the end, it is the kids fans that suffer the most.

Mar 08

[THE HANGOVER] The One Where We Discuss Blalock’s Near Signing, Aybar’s Near Return And Joyce’s Sore Leg

Desmond Jennings, Hank Blalock, Matt Joyce, Uncategorized, Willy Aybar Cork Gaines 3 Comments »

The GBT – The Good, The Bad and The Telling sandwich, where The Bad is nice and lean and the The Telling is ripe.

click above image for boxscore

THE GOOD: Kelly Shoppach. Shoppach is showing the one thing Dioner Navarro can’t do even in a good year, hit home runs. Shoppach went deep for the second straight game…Jake McGee. McGee retired 4 of the 5 batters he faced, striking out 2…Justin Ruggiano. Ruggy’s nailed a runner at the plate to end the 8th and keep the score tied…Reid Brignac got two more hits and is now 6-10 this spring.

THE BAD: Pat Burrell. In the third inning with the bases loaded, one out and a rookie on the mound, The Bat grounded into a double-play to end the inning…Heath Phillips. Phillips blew a 2-run lead in the 8th and has now allowed 6 runs in 3.2 innings…Gabe Kapler. He got off to a slow start in 2009 and 2010 is not much different. He led off yesterday going 0-4 and is now 0-8 this spring.

THE TELLING: Desmond Jennings returned to action and went 2-2 with a a single and a double. He is expected to get his first start today…Sean Rodriguez got his first start at second base and his third start at three different positions…RJ Swindle is not expected back for a while…

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…

  • The Hardball Times has introduced their “THT Forecasts” for the 2010 season. We did the write-ups for the Rays players. [The Hardball Times]
  • Marc Topkin writes that the Rays are very close to a deal with Hank Blalock. [The Heater]
  • Marc Topkin says Willy Aybar will be taking batting practice soon and that Matt Joyce is being hampered by a sore leg. [St. Pete Times]
  • In the same piece, Joe Maddon still hasn’t decided whether Evan Longoria will bat 3rd or 5th, with Ben Zobrist taking the other slot. [St. Pete Times]
  • The Rays are working with Randy Choate to be tougher on righties so that he can be called on to work through those tough lefty-righty-lefty situations. [MLB]