Archive for September, 2016

  • The Rays still have strong TV ratings but there is a scary trend emerging

    The Rays still have strong TV ratings but there is a scary trend emerging

    September 29, 2016 at 10:53 am 13 comments

    For the 2016 season, the Tampa Bay Rays ranked 13th among the 29 Major League Baseball teams that call the United States home, according to new data from Nielsen (via Shadow of the Stadium). That’s a good thing, but it is also a bad sign. During all the Rays’ struggles with […]

     
  • at U.S. Cellular Field on September 26, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois.

    Tampa Bay Rays honor José Fernández with jersey in dugout

    September 27, 2016 at 9:19 am 0 comments

    After the death of José Fernández on Sunday, the Tampa Bay Rays honored the Miami Marlins pitcher by hanging a jersey in their dugout during Monday’s game in Chicago with his name and number on the back. Like other teams, the Rays used one of their own jerseys instead of a […]

     
  • Pregame ceremony to honor David Ortiz has been canceled

    Pregame ceremony to honor David Ortiz has been canceled

    September 25, 2016 at 10:30 am 5 comments

    The Tampa Bay Rays have announced that their scheduled pregame ceremony to honor David Ortiz on Sunday has been canceled. The move comes after the tragic news that Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez was killed in a boating accident late Saturday night. Ortiz asked the Rays to cancel the ceremony. […]

     
  • David Ortiz to wear special cleats made just for The Trop in final series against the Rays

    David Ortiz to wear special cleats made just for The Trop in final series against the Rays

    September 19, 2016 at 2:28 pm 4 comments

    While the Rays continue to hem and haw about honoring David Ortiz in his final appearance at Tropican Field as a player, it turns out Big Papi will actually honor The Trop. Ortiz wears New Balance shoes and the company has announced special cleats for him to wear, and the […]

     
  • [THE HANGOVER] What Rays fans will be talking about today

    [THE HANGOVER] What Rays fans will be talking about today

    September 19, 2016 at 9:54 am 1 comment

    The GBT - The Good, The Bad and The Telling sandwich, where The Bad is nice and lean and the The Telling is ripe. Orioles 2, RAYS 1 (boxscore) THE GOOD: Evan Longoria now has a career-high 35 home runs and has an outside shot to reach 40 home runs with […]

     
  • Rays thumb their nose at local Red Sox fans, won’t give them the satisfaction of a David Ortiz farewell ceremony

    Rays thumb their nose at local Red Sox fans, won’t give them the satisfaction of a David Ortiz farewell ceremony

    September 16, 2016 at 9:34 am 7 comments

    When the Tampa Bay Rays play the Boston Red Sox this weekend, it will mark the final games for David Ortiz at Tropicana Field. While most teams have used these opportunities to honor Big Papi with gifts, the Rays will not and now they look silly. Rather than present Ortiz […]

     
  • Fantastic shot of Evan Longoria and Mikie Mahtook reacting to Jose Bautista’s home run

    Fantastic shot of Evan Longoria and Mikie Mahtook reacting to Jose Bautista’s home run

    September 13, 2016 at 12:41 pm 0 comments

    The Rays lost to the Blue Jays on Monday night, thanks in large part to Steven Souza Jr. not hitting a ball as far as he thought he did and because of Jose Bautista hitting a ball exactly as far as he thought he did. The latter produced this shot […]

     
  • The Rays and Blue Jays nearly brawled because one player tried to compliment another

    The Rays and Blue Jays nearly brawled because one player tried to compliment another

    September 13, 2016 at 8:30 am 2 comments

    Steven Souza thought he had hit a go-ahead 2-run home run in the ninth against the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday. Instead, Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar caught the ball on the warning track and it was game over. But that is when the fireworks started and it was all […]

     
  • The Rays will not sign Tim Tebow

    The Rays will not sign Tim Tebow

    September 9, 2016 at 10:06 am 2 comments

    The Mets have announced that they have signed Tim Tebow to a minor league contract. This seems significant just because of the gamut of emotions I have gone through as a Rays fans over the last few weeks. It went something like this: Tim Tebow wants to play baseball! He’ll […]

     
  • Derek Shelton has been fired

    Derek Shelton has been fired

    September 6, 2016 at 12:15 pm 3 comments

    Derek Shelton has been fired by the Tampa Bay Rays, effective immediately, the team has announced. Chad Mottola has been promoted to take his place. Mottolla has spent the last three seasons as the Rays’ minor league hitting instructor. “We are grateful for all that Derek has given to the […]