You're up 8 runs and lose the game 20-11.

Your players don't care.

Your fans don't care.

Your owner doesn't care.

You've never finsished above last place.

Doesn't Vegas want a team? Doesn't Charlotte want a team? What about Minot, ND?

Don't shut down the D'Rays as long as cutie Scott Kazmir is pitching. And boy did he pitch a good one today.

actually they did finish out of the cellar last season just a game up on the Jays.

That whole scene is so sad.....a clueless owner who won't relinquish control, another who won't spend any cash, a clueless gm who somehow is still around since the clubs inception. A dreary lifeless domed stadium.....and no end in sight.

After all of the times a club teased that region with ideas of moving there.....then to get a team and this is the result...... a shame.....a damned shame.

What? This couldnt be! CU actually posted something that was false? That is just completely and utterly obsurd. Mr. Raider, you had better go back and check your facts!

Vince Naomoli is just a horrible owner. His lack of dedication to winning has had just a trickle down effect on this team.

Big whoop. One game. They are perennial losers.

Blowing an 8 run lead and getting destroyed says it all. This team plays in a morgue. Even you, Kenny, didn't care until they put together a modest winning streak last year. Since then, nothing from you.

Dang! Your up posting early! No drinking last night? wink

Define "nothing"? So you are saying I have posted no posts in baseball threads since last year when the D-Rays had a winning streak right?

This thread is nothing but a bitter attempt for you to bait Tampa Bay fans. Why would you, living in Phoenix CARE whether baseball contracts the D-Rays? Makes no sense. What interests could YOU possibly have?

BITTER party of 1? Or is anyone joining you at the "pathetic" table?

P.S.- Slow day here at work until I head out for some partying in NYC, so I might as well poke the ape for utter amuzement.

Waa waa waa. Whine whine whine.

The thread was started because this sorry ass excuse for a team was up 8 runs and lost a game 20-11. Why should they be in the league? Does the owner just want to collect the luxury tax money and run and hide? Face it Kenny, the fans only care if they win. Move the team to a town who will support baseball.

Montreal deserved a team more than this Tampa. Butte anyone?

I like watching the Devil Rays play, especially if Baldelli gets back into action (next year). There's a lot of talent on the team, just no direction.

Blowing a lead is not a reason to contract a team. I would claim that game was simply a fluke anyways given Tampa Bay's success against the Yankees this year.

The problem is not the fans. There are very few teams that when results aren't produced on the field the fans keep on coming to the ballpark. The problem is most certainly not the players. They go out there night in and night out and give it their all. They never quit. If that's too hard for you to believe, just think about the fact that some good numbers could be their way out of Tampa. Besides the bullpen, they really do play good baseball. And the problem certainly isn't even Sweet Lou. The problem is ownership. Until they get their freakin' act together and realize they have to spend a little to do better, the Rays will be constant bottom-dwellers. I wish the rest of Major Leauge Baseball would leave us alone. Do y'all not think we know how bad our front office is? Do you think it's not sickening to us to watch night in and night out a group of guys playing their best but that not being good enough because other folks are spending more money? One of these days things will turn around, and it'll be so sweet for me knowing that I've stuck with 'em since day one.

On sports radio they have talked about that Vince Naomoli has a buyout in his contract(which noone knows the specific date) and that last year the D-Rays profit of almost 25 million dollar helps his cause. Then when it is all over the media that the team made that much money last year and are not using a dime of it to bring in some talent at least to help a little to win some games this year, fans don't want to go. Ie: that walkout a month ago.

The two previous posts are right, the guys for the most part that are here play their asses off. Only to watch mostly middle relievers let the games get out of reach.

Why should the city suffer? It's not the citizen's fault that the team stinks, and that the owner couldn't care less. The citizens of Tampa are showing intelligence - they're not going to pay money to watch a substandard team lose yet again. It only took us Coloradans eight years to wise up. At least now, the Rockies management isn't pretending there isn't a problem. If only they could find a solution...

LXN

Batter Up, someone knock this one out of the park...

Interesting site.......

www.oustnaimoli.com

apparently a fan site dedicated to running Vince Naimoli outta town.

Well, there is no such thing as a fan of a losing team in tampa.

>>>Well, there is no such thing as a fan of a losing team in tampa.

Uh...huh.

LXN

Dear Vince Naomoli,

Where can I send a check to you as a fan of the D-Rays so that you will continue to line your pockets with cash and not try to improve our team here.

PF seems to think this is the RIGHT thing to do! So sign me up!

Bill,

he pitched another great one last night! Although in the second I believe he walked 3 to load the bases, he still got out of the inning scoreless. This kid is 21 yo and is amazing. The Devil Rays seemed to be the only team to think so last year when they made the trade for him.

GREAT triple post bobster... i mean kenny.

Much like hockey, until the team wins... no one cares in Tampa.

Well no one means no one and I believe there's a couple Rays fans here. Therefore, you're wrong. Why people come out in droves for a team that is likely going to lose? I don't even go to the games. 1) It's an hour away and with gas the way it is now... 2) Why the hell am I going to give money to them that will not be spent on bettering the team? Until they do anything that somewhat resembles a move such as that, I'll give them TV ratings and that's it. I wish I could be there supporting the guys (or seeing sexy Scottie in person, among others wink ), but it's just not right to me. I feel bad for them. Ownership SHOULD feel worse.

Why thanks! Coming from YOU that makes my life SO much more meaningful.

Your fave-

Tampa is a bandwagon town.. no more no less.

Terrible fans. Sort of reminds me of the gravy train called the heat this year.

Whatever...

Isnt that what the feeling is on the Yucks these days?

Battle Flags Ho!

Hardly anybody's showing up to the Rockies games this year. Count me among the ones staying away. I stopped going because:

(a) the team, which used to win at home and lose on the road, decided that was too much work and started losing everywhere.
( the owners decided that since they could get 40,000 to see a .500 team, they could pull roughly the same numbers for a losing team.
© the players rarely seemed to care - why should I?

You might call that "fickle" or "fairweather". Whatever. I call it being smart enough not to pay for substandard product. Look, I know all about "rooting through good times and bad" - I was a San Francisco Giants fan back in the 70s and early 80s. And I remember wondering if Matt Keough from the Oakland A's would ever win a game again. And as long as the team - both the players and the owners - at least look like they're TRYING to win, I'll be there. If they're too busy holding out during the preseason or building more skyboxes, I'll find another place to spend my nickels.

LXN

Once Namoli goes, and Stewar Sternberg takes over the franchise will be on it's way up. Ownership has to prove that they are willing to actually reinvest the $25mil that they have been PROFITING. There is plenty of talent in the organization that appear to be a year or two away (Baldelli coming back from TJ Surgery, Niemann will have a season under his belt, BJ Upton can already hit just needs to do a little bit better in the field, and Delmon Young is smokin AA, he'll be in AAA soon and in the majors next year). Here is what I proposed to one of my buddies for next year. Move Rocco to 1st, have a starting outfield of Crawford in left, Gathright in Center, and Gomes or Huff in right with the other as DH. Cantu at 3rd, Upton at short (if he's not ready Lugo can stay), Nick Green at 2nd, and Hall behind the plate, would be a decent offense, of course the rightfielder would be keeping Delmon Young's spot warm. The pitching staff does need to get overhauled. Kazmir will be around, the rest of them I could do without, maybe keep around Fossum, and put Waechter back in the rotation. Orvella is going to be the setup man and possibly eventual closer if Baez gets traded. If they spent that $25 Mil on pitching we'd be on our way up in a hurry.

Unless you fix the bullpen, you gotta keep Doug in there. He's great as middle relief. When the starter hasn't been the problem but they don't go long enough (cough cough, Kazmir, cough cough), the middle relief has broken down. Harper and those guys are B-A-D. But just look at what Doug did last night. He's got the arm to go several innings. Get Orvella in there in the 8th and Baez to close it out. So, get a couple more Waechter's and improve the starting rotation (you have to keep Kazmir, I also like Fossum, and hell, maybe even McClung if he keeps up what he did Sunday). If they can do that, they'll be well on their way.

[ June 29, 2005, 03:43 PM: Message edited by: sooners2727 ]

One thing you can say for PF... He knows how to continue to use the copy and paste feature on his keyboard YEAR AFTER YEAR! Saying the same ole troll things over and over and over. Example: watch for comments about the pokes and hookers and coke! Or Skins and GOD. Nothing new, sort of like his underwear. Well, maybe some crust is new. EWWWWW!!! wink

Kenny, you are the driver of a Formula 1 Bandwagon.

The definition of a sports town is not simply a city that has won championships. That is part of it, but a very small part of it. It has more to do with the fans, their loyalty and their passion.

If you’re a true Tampa fan (or any fan for that matter), you cheer for the team, regardless of on field performance, regardless of management or ownership. You stick by your team, no matter what. A true fan has hope for the future and believes that the front office, manager and players will do what it takes to make this team turn around for the better.

These same fans who avoided the Bucs and the Lightning when they were losing are now avoiding the Devil Rays like the plague. As soon as the team starts winning a little, they’ll be on board. Let’s face it, no one paid attention to the Lightning until the very end, and the team still had difficulty selling out several of the frickin’ Stanley Cup Finals games. Sorry folks, that’s the definition of bandwagon. Front-running. See: Hilary Clinton wearing a New York Yankees cap.

See last years Devil Rays 2004 Thread thread in this very same forum and here are some representative quotes:
They had a successful stretch last year, and these were the posts we were treated to by pilot Kenny and his co-pilots. This year, with the SAME owner, SAME manager, SAME team make-up of young players, etc. we have absolutely nothing from the fans on this board. The only difference from last year to this year is “winning”. When you only root and cheer for your team when they win you are a bandwagon fan. Don't try to kid anyone on this board. Possibly when you cease driving the bandwagon Kenny, the representative comments will cease as well.

I just may buy CU a drink over that post....

and kenboy it's 4-skins. God=Gibbs, but i just took that from Mr Outsports "Most Respected" poster.

Which begs the two biggest questions of the offseason...

Has God turned to page 3 of his playbook.

How long is afternoon naptime for him.

Just because people don't go to the games or post happy thoughts on here about the Rays doesn't mean they aren't supported. I'll ask you, why should we go when it's sooo obvious that current ownership has no intention whatsoever of attempting to field a better team? The players are going to get paid with or without our attendence, so why give the club our money? It won't be spent for better talent. Exactly. We shouldn't go. If ownership was trying, it'd be different. This guy simply doesn't care!

Show me examples, numerous ones please, of mid to small market teams in any sport where a losing team gets big attendence numbers. It simply doesn't happen.

STALKER ANYONE???? I scared!

CU- in case you dont know what humor looks like, that post about the D-Rays winning streak was a JOKE. Sort of like kidding about your alcoholism. ANYONE in their right mind would know anyone who made comments like that as compared to ACTUALLY thinking the Devil Rays winning would continue would have to be DRUNK. Doesnt take completing accounting 101 to get that bubba.

Did PF send you a PM like he did me saying it was time for a Tampa fight? LOL Kind of pathetic you two have nothing better to do with your lives then HIDE behind some GAY sports website to pick a fight with someone. Isn't it more fun for you to tell Indian jokes in bars in Phoenix? Come on and visit Tampa and I will show you boys around with my friendly southern hospitality(well, maybe some beach time since the sharks are biting! ) rather than bore the nice people on this website with your petty opinions of people that you have no knowledge about.

Put up or shut up I say! Kisses! :cool:

Sooner man,

I will help CU with this one. Kansas City. But what the f$#% is there to do in Kansas City besides attend a baseball game during the summer. Besides inbreeding there is nothing to entertain the lovely people from there.

Knowing how much PF loves triple posts I will keep up with them.

CU, I miss your old icon toys, where are they?

Columbus Blue Jackets anyone?

Is there a smaller market?

>>>If you’re a true Tampa fan (or any fan for that matter), you cheer for the team, regardless of on field performance, regardless of management or ownership. You stick by your team, no matter what.

Sorry, CU, I can't agree. I'll stick by a team...as long as I see an effort. I stuck by the Rockies through several "June swoons" and sub-.500 years. I had no problem watching a "building team". But as the years went on, and the team continued to spiral downward - and, even worse, no one seemed to care - I lost interest. I didn't see players or the owners putting in much effort to make this team work. I don't mind a losing team, as long as it's a hard-working losing team. This one wasn't.

I now have season tickets to two teams - the Colorado Mammoth (NLL lacrosse) and the Colorado Chill (NWBL women's basketball). Why? Because these teams seem to work their butts off. And because they seem happy to have me as a fan. But even at these games, I'm not a "loyalist". I'd much rather see a great game and see "my" team lose, than see a slugfest with my team on top. At the last Mammoth home game, our whole group stood up and booed. Why? Because the team didn't put forth the effort. They lost to the worst team in the league by a wide margin. And they didn't lose because the opposing team was better - the offense just didn't put in the effort they needed to. We talked to the players after the game, and one of them told me, "It was kind of weird to hearing the fans boo us." Then he quickly added, "Not that we didn't deserve it." And that's what I wanted to hear.

LXN

You are not REALLY serious on this one? Any new team gets attendance and excitement. Come on now!

Oh Ken boy, me thinks you’re a wee bit too defensive.

You seem to be of the opinion that if we don’t reside in a city or are fans of a particular team that we don’t have the right to post our opinions.

This thread is nothing but a bitter attempt for you to bait Tampa Bay fans. Why would you, living in Phoenix CARE whether baseball contracts the D-Rays? Makes no sense. What interests could YOU possibly have?

Sorry Kenny, I’ll post on any topic that interests me. When Outsports starts determining who can post and on what topic, I’ll adhere to those rules at that time. Right now I’ll determine my own interests, thank you very much.

As far as me stalking you. It’s not tough to dig up your past comments. I can see why you don’t want them dug up - you never have wanted to be accountable for anything you have ever said.

As far as Kansas City is concerned, you’re entitled to your opinion. Inbreeding? I’ll defer to your expertise in that arena. But back to the Royals… I do have the MLB Extra Innings package this year expressly to view their games. Probably have seen more out of market Royals games this year than you have Devil Rays games. I’ve also been to several Royals games this year, while living in Phoenix. Certainly not bandwagon. I support them, winning or losing, and lately it’s been a lot of losing.

Again Ken boy, if you are going to post you are going to have to be open to responses. Life doesn’t come pre-packaged and customized just the way you like it.

WOW Ken-Boy... must be that time of month again?

The only real thing missing right now from the gravy train is the pretty pictures from the troll.

CU- email me and I will give you my other halfs phone number and he will tell you how crazy I make him watching the D-Rays lose over and over and yell at the TV on what a sorry team they are! LOL

Not defensive in the least bit, hard to be offended by someone I dont even know. I do however find it sad that some people cannot open their minds to getting to know FOR REAL the same people that they have opinions about. ONCE AGAIN, I was kidding with the inbreeding comment, sorry if I offended anyone besides CU! LOL JUST KIDDING. I guess I need to put that in so you will know I am not serious!!!

I do have one more comment though sugar, but let me check something, brb...

Where's the Atlanta Thrasher attendance mark?

You know, "any new team gets attendance and excitement."

New Orlans Hornets? Charlotte Bobcats? Attendence anyone?

I just want to get this straight, so you are saying you dug up my comments and that there WERE NONE since the D-Rays had a modest winning streak going last year?

Sorry, but that is a FLAT OUT LIE. Just like you just said, ANYONE can look up my posts and see that is a lie. Or was this just a misunderstanding on your part? I think I see some comments in the Chicago White Sox thread talking about the series against the D-Rays, etc. Hmmmm, church lady??? LOL

Lie or just a misunderstanding? :confused:

[ June 30, 2005, 11:36 AM: Message edited by: Kenny ]

Atlanta is a SMALL market team??? If so, damn I would hate to be in traffic in a large market city! Go back and read his question.

That name only PF can get away with calling me missy! lol

I can tell it's end of month, next week you will be too busy closing out June to be chatting on here! wink

TRIPLE POST, TRIPLE POST. I love being irritating! :cool:

[ June 30, 2005, 11:42 AM: Message edited by: Kenny ]

I'm pretty sure the Thrashers had good attendence numbers. I could very well be wrong. My hockey team - the Nashville Predators - certainly had butts in the seats while they were new. Last year though (or I guess, two years ago now ), it wasn't until the playoff push that they started selling out games. So yeah, newness does have something to do with it. Well, I'm off to Nashville for the weekend so y'all have fun arguing... and GO RAYS!

My quote:

Even you, Kenny, didn't care until they put together a modest winning streak last year. Since then, nothing from you.

Kenny, question for you: Is your level of posting the Devil Rays the same as last year during the winning stretch? Yes or no?

If it's yes, I'll defer and do something you would never do, and that is admit I was wrong.

Atlanta Thrashers. New Orlans Hornets. Charlotte Bobcats.

This is so simple, I'm suprised you just don't get it. I was responding to your comment about new teams. Perhaps playing in traffic may be the answer.

Here's the smiley you wanted earlier

Have a good one

DUDE!!!!! I am wrong all the time!

But that is not what you said! You said "Since then, nothing from you".

Thanks for the icon, that was just the one I wanted!!!! wink