mulheap

Tampa's Red Sox fans Jumping Onto Bandwagon. Look at the attendence of the red sox from last year and the games so far this year, same thing, just in reverse. In three years they'll all be jumping onto the Rays wagon.

BOOOOO!!! What's up with that! The Ray's beat Johnson 3 times, 2 in a row, would be going for 3 in a row tonight, and he just happens to go on the DL now. He's scared of the D-RAYS! Great, the Rays are going to lose thier 9th game in a row to some minor league pitcher.

in total agreement there. Who's to say this new owner is going to get the top free agents. I wouldn't be surprised to see the team move to Las Vegas and then the new owner would take over. Hopefully that is not the case. On a side note, how about only 4000 and some yankee fans showing up monday night. Seems when their team is not in first place they jump off the wagon. What a surprise. It would be great if they don't make the playoffs. Only one of them (yankees or sox) are going to make the playoffs this year.

I think the signing of Crawford to a long term deal proves that the new owner is willing to open his "man-purse". Like TripleB said, rays fans have to worry about the youngsters getting thier confidence destroyed while they lose 100 games a year until the new owner finally takes over.

make it 7 in a row. 7 games in 7 days! alright! If they were in the national league they would be much better, there is no doubt about that. They were originally supposed to be in the NL but the idiot owner Naimoli decided he wanted to be in the AL east so he could make money off the yankee and sox draws. He even sold his owners box to yankee fans in at least one game some years ago. So while the team and fans suffer, he sits up there in his stupid box making money and making tampa bay look ridiculous. It's so frustrating. It is past ridiculous! I don't get it! All he has to do is look at the lightning and see that it is possible to spend a little money and become competitive. The Lightning went from worst record in the NHL to Stanley Cup champs in 2 seasons, because they brought in vets to tell the young guys how to play. And people came out to see the games. What does Vince say to that, "I'll spend money when the attendence goes up". It doesn't work like that you stupid idiot! People don't support losing teams! Especially people in florida where everyone is from everywhere else and don't want to give up thier old alligences to start rooting for a loser! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woooo!!! Go loser mentality!!!

yep, 2nd highest operating income or something like that.  I know baltimore was ahead of them.  USFBull is right, but the tickets are $5. This team is horrible.  They just plain suck!  It wouldn't be so bad, expect they were supposed to at least compete this year, if not with the yankees and red sox with everyone else.  This could be one of the worst teams in franchise history, and that is saying a lot.  The pitching is no good, they are near the top of the AL in batting average but can't score any runs, everytime they get a single they hit into a double play, every one of them swings at the first pitch, I could go on forever.  I can't even watch the games anymore, it's too painful.  I don't think one player (Baldelli) is going to fix this mess.

Once again, the rays pitchers have very bad control and there is no way lance carter can throw 93 mph. I doubt carter was aiming for ortiz's head. Have fun watching Jermey Gonzalez and John Halama lose. I know I enjoyed it here in Tampa.

I'm a diehard rays fan and this whole bean ball thing started back in 2000 with Pedro Martinez beaning rays players becuase the rays had beat him three times in a row. That is where the whole thing started. And on Sunday Arroyo hit Huff after Huff was 2-2 or 3-3 that day. That is where it started sunday. The rays are not leading the league in hit batsmen, they are 5 or something. They are only that high because none of thier pitchers have control. They are up near the top, if not leading, the league in walks. Kruk is right, if the batter is going to hit a homerun and rub it in the pitchers face, the pitcher has every right to send a fast ball right at his ribs next time up. Curt Schilling is an idiot. The red sox are a bunch of punks.

I guess I'm in the minority here.  The only radio I listen to is talk (and wmnf) and Duemig's show is the best one around right now.  He defends the local teams, knows what he is talking about, he's not afraid to take on locals (i.e. Naimoli), and his show is entertaining.  Years ago, when Glenn Beck was local and 3-7, Beck's show was what I listened to (but that's nothing to do with this thread).  But I do agree with the gambling points, can't stand that.  Bullgrad95 has got it right, all you have to do is call and change the topic.  Whitney Johnson is a USF alum, by the way.  He always gives the bulls press.

"And that sound you just heard was the New York Yankees hitting the basement of the American League East" -Dewanye Staats after the Rays win on Saturday, 23rd HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!  I love it!

Who do you think was telling him to "go veterens, then go hit show, then go...".  Canseco hit 31 HR before the all star break his first year, then injured himself.  There is nothing wrong with McGriff, I don't know how that was a bad move.  Guzman and Alvarez were both proven when they were brought in.  Maybe Lamar should invent a time machine to see who will get injured in the future.  Castilla was a bum who quit on the team.  And in case you've forgotten, the Rays were not the only team going after members of the "hit show".  And as I recall, Gerald Williams was one of the best players on the team when he was here.  Which doesn't say a lot.  But what do you expect when the owner refuses to pay out anymore money.  And I wonder, did that lack of money and resources apply to the scouting department too.  Hmmm, I'm going to have to go with a yes on that one.  If only Lamar had consulted with Madam Cleo the Rays would have won 3 world series by now.  Every GM makes bad moves (I'll give you the stocker for abreau even though they did need a shortstop in '98 ), Lamar just can't cover his tracks by bringing in someone else if something goes wrong.

Vince should go.  Bringing in Stu Sternberg would at least allow the Rays to compete with the yankees and red sox.  It is not Lamar's fault at all, there is no GM out there that can put together a winning team in this division with the payroll he has to use.  Last year Lamar put together a Rays team that went a game under .500 against everyone except for the yankees and red sox.  Against the yankees and red sox they went some ridiculous 9-20 or something like that.  If ownership would just give Lou what he wanted, the Rays would not be nearly as bad.  Once again, Vince must go.  and the Trop should be in Tampa.

EXACTLY!  UCF EATS IT GETS IT!  Gathright may be hitting well right now (his average will go down) but this will never make up for his defensive errors.  He's just like Upton but worse.  I was one of the few to actually go out and see Upton when they brought him up, he was hitting the tar out of the ball, but he cost the Rays 3 games in a row by making errors, and they tried him all over the field.  Not worth it.

You're right he is there because Rocco is out, but he is the 4th string guy.  I believe the order went something like this: 1.  Rocco (injured) 2.  Sanchez (juiced up) 3.  Singleton (not good) 4.  Gathright (can't field) You could even make the case he is 5th string: 1. Rocco (injured) 2. Crawford in center, Bautista in right (retired, Huff moves to right) 3. Sanchez (juiced up), Crawford back to left 4. Singleton (not good) 5. Gathright (can't field) But you are right, I would much rather see Singleton go instead of Gathright when Sanchez is back, and I am no fan of Gathright.

I know, I'm a diehard fan and I'm getting sick of this penny pinching guy.  Gathright is the 4th string CF though (Though, I think he's taken over 3rd string).  He is a horrible fielder, that's why he always gets sent down to the minors and they can't trade him. All Namoli needed to this offseason was go out and get one more proven bat for the lineup and/or one proven ace.  Or at least get someone that can play defense in freaking center field until Rocco gets back! It's ridiculous! Once Namoli is out this team will compete!

that AAA crack does not work anymore.  Crawford is a bonafide allstar, huff is one of the best hitters in baseball, cantu is proving he belongs in the majors, lugo, lee, and hall are all solid position players. But I guess because they don't have an allstar at every position like the yankees, they might as well be a AAA team, right? GO RAYS!!!

all thier starting pitching has looked good so far.  Thier hitting just looks like crap, except for that 6 run inning.  Good to see huff and crawford starting to hit.  They'll need to keep it up against the A's.

really?  I've heard not until 2007 will Sternberg come in.  I'm assuming he's the new owner your talking about.  Good move getting Crawford locked up, whoever shelled out the cash (pretty good deal if he keeps producing like he is, only about $5 mil/year).  Hopefully Baldelli and Cantu are next.

Crawford signs 6 year deal.

The Devil Rays will make a "major announcement concerning the future on-field success" of the team! We can only hope that Namoli is stepping down! On a side note, I miss Chris Thomas' show.

I've got a bad feeling about this season. They lost two good rbi men and a third is out until at least midseason. Hopefully the offseason pickups can pick up the slack. But, I'm pretty sure we'll see Upton back in the majors before long, despite his pitiful fielding, just for a bat. Gathright should stay in the minors where he belongs. When one of the relief pitchers is traded they should throw in Gathright just to get rid of him. On the bright side though, the pitching rotation seems a lot more solid than it was last year.

Brazelton has been named the opening day starter!  Go Rays!  80 wins in '05!

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I know a fiery coach looking for a job who is recently out of work.  John Tortarella!  He may not know 2 figs from sunday about basketball but he's a fiery coach.  You won't be "bored to tears" by him.  What if McCollum throws a chair next year.  Will that make him a better coach.  I don't think it's the coaches job to inspire you.  His job is to inspire his players.  And last time I checked there was no one on the team named shizzler.

does anyone know if there will be any replays of the usf tourny games? brighthouse 47 or sunshine or something. In my opinion usf should replay the games on wusf.