Well just because! Tampa Bay needs some love too!

I'll give a Devil Ray some lovin'...

George, Tino is the only reason I'm paying any attention to the DevilRays now. So when discussing how the team does this season, I request that you be sure to give me an update (and photo link) on my Tino baby!

Well the Devil Rays also have the cute and adorable Julio Lugo as well as Fernando Tatis who is now with the club. If you're into adorable latinos, this could be an interesting infield rounded out with Tino at 1st base.

I was gonna put this in the "steroid thread" but I figured I'd post it here instead (since it's not necessarily steroid-related anyway)....Josh Hamilton, a top Devil Rays prospect, who was the first player selected in the 1999 amateur draft and the recipient of a $3.96 million bonus directly out of high school, has been suspended FOR THE ENTIRE 2004 SEASON for violating baseball's drug policy....although Hamilton hasn't played since July 2002 due to injuries and "personal issues" he was still considered to be one of Tampa's top prospects and in 251 minor league games has hit .295 with 33 HR's and 166 RBI.

Since minor leaguers (at least those not on the major league team's 40 man roster) do not fall under the provisions of the MLBPA's collective bargaining agreement, that is the only reason why Hamilton is able to be punished so severely....it should be interesting to see how much publicity this receives from the national media and whether it garners the attention of Donald Fehr, Gene Orza and co.

[ March 19, 2004, 06:14 PM: Message edited by: gamecock ]

The Devil Rays are off to Tokyo to open the season against the Yankees. Despite the fact that the schedule calls for the 'Rays to be the home team, clearly the Yankees will have the home town support. The Yomiuri Giants--the Yankees of the Japanese league (although their uniform resembles the SF Giants) and the former team of Yankee Hideki Matsui--play in the Tokyo Dome, and it's sure to be a partisan crowd. I've been to the Tokyo Dome, and it's a fun place to watch a game. The Japanese fans really get into the group cheering.

And now, back to Everybody Loves Tino:

Rays arrive in Tokyo amid fanfare

With those movie star eyes, of course the Japanese are going to scream for you Tino!

WOW, I didn't think there would be any D-
Rays interests and figured if "I" started a thread I would be talking to myself! Glad to see there are some other guys interests, even so be it more towards Tino, the Tampa native!

On the Josh Hamilton note, I bought a authentic signed baseball off Ebay for 4.99, hoping he can make a huge comeback in the future!

Things are looking up at Tropicana Field! Maybe see some of you guys at the "beach"!

Hey, Don Zimmer's defected from the Yankees... and is now a Devil Ray!



The Rays have 'reassigned' the Crime Dog Fred McGriff, who's now looking for a new job. 9 home runs short of 500, McGriff is willing to take any job anywhere. A little long in the tooth, McGriff is a career .285 hitter, who averaged 27 HRs/yr over 18 seasons.

----------------

Rocco Baldelli homers of Hanshin Tiger (and former Yankee) Hideki Irabu during exhibition game.



[ March 28, 2004, 07:41 PM: Message edited by: canmark ]

What a nice morning(40 minute) drive to work at 6:45 a.m. to listen to the Devil Rays on the radio! Especially as it was tied when I first started out at 3 a piece and by the time I got to work it was 8-3 D-Rays!

Your boy Tino is 3 for 3 with a single, double and 2 run homer against his former team! Funny hearing the Japanese chant "Let's go Devil Rays"!

Way to go D-Rays!

Disappointing start for the Yankees, but I'm really happy that Tino Martinez is getting a lot of attention for his contribution to the game. I hope he keeps it up and fights any rumors of him being in his declining years. And good for Jose Cruz Jr. too after leaving the Giants, he's able to still make news in the game. The Devil Rays actually have gotten some interesting players so it'll be interesting to see if they can make some noise in a division so dominated by the Yankees, Red Sox and Orioles.

Go Tino Go!

Well, that's called a fact, not rumor. He's 36 and his power has declined. He's always seemed like a nice, attractive guy, but aside from career years in 1995 (Seattle) and '97 (Yankees) he wasn't much more than a league-average 1B with gaudy RBI totals in solid lineups. Don't let one game fool you.

It's still only 3 games in, but Tino is playing impressive. If this is what "declining" years look like, I will take it. Overall the team is playing well, with the new additions Cruz and Sanchez batting great. Hope they can keep it up all year!

Last nights game was awesome, the game was announced as a sellout which was nice to see. Acutal attendance was a shade under 42,000. Just amazing! Hopefully they can have a great season.

I'm gonna head down to Tampa for May 30th game against NYY. Much to my delight, it's Tino mini-bobblehead day. It'll look so cute next to my Tino bobblehead from NYY. Yes, I'm obsessed! What do you think the 24 after my name is for?
(Jeez, I'm pathetic )

Are the bobbleheads being given to all, or just kids? You may need to rent a kid for a couple of hours. wink

[ April 07, 2004, 07:02 PM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]

Just remember Tropicana Field is in St. Petersburg!

St. Pete....I knew that but thanks!
The bobbleheads are to be given to the first 5,000 fans (any age). I brought my nephew to the Tino bobblehead day at Yankee Stadium with the stipulation that I get Tino and he gets another one of his choice. Am I a bad uncle???? wink

as some others have said, the only reason I'm paying attention to Tampa bay is because of Tino.

Man!!! I can't believe how good he looks in the pic with a coat and tie. He looks ecven better than I remember!

On May 30th make sure you get the the stadium really early for the mini-bobblehead. Last year when they gave away the Rocco Baldelli ones the place was a mob scene, and the people who did not get them were a little bit pissed off. Just wanted to give you a heads up.

Give it up for the Devil Rays. At this very moment they're in FIRST PLACE! Look out for that Devil Rays-Tigers ALCS. wink

Zambrano is pitching great and is 3-0 in 7 games starting! D-Rays have a tough road ahead with 18 out of 25 games on the road. Keep it up boys!

[ April 12, 2004, 08:08 AM: Message edited by: Kenny ]

Zombrano did look good yesterday, and it's also good to see the Rays with some pop in their bats...I try to catch them on Sunshine Network whenever I can....

How about them D-Rays? Six wins in a row! Coming out of game 7 Stanley Cup playoffs I chanted "Let's go Devil Rays" to the amusement of several people!

Actually, the way they are looking, we should have alot more inter-league play. They have won 6/7 games since playing the National League.

With a 9-6 win over the Padres, make that a franchise record 7 straight wins!
:cool:

Is it time to break up the Devil Rays?....tonight's 4-1 victory in San Diego completing a series sweep over the formerly first place Padres was a franchise record 8th in a row and will almost certainly move the D-Rays past the O's into sole possession of 3rd place in the A.L. East....this may be a bit premature but considering the Orioles are down a run to L.A. in the 9th and facing Eric Gagne (who has ONLY successfully saved an incredible 78 consecutive games entering tonight) I think it's a safe bet that Tampa and Baltimore will no longer be tied at 24 losses in a matter of minutes.

Do you think the Yanks or Red Sox are getting nervous looking over their shoulders at Lou Piniella's surging crew?

One can hope and dream, especially the Red Sox!

TEN wins in a row for the D-Rays, but still 11.5 behind the Yanks in the East. If only they were in the Central ......

make that 11 wins now! WOO HOO! Man they should be in the National League! ha!

Nice run by the Rays. Now they play a 3 game series at Toronto.

sheeze...

I think the Lightning's MOJO has rubbed off on the Devil Rays!

12 straight!

Look out Yankees! wink

I was waiting for someone to say that! wink
The Devil Rays seem incapable of doing wrong right now. My Yankees have a home 4-game series with Tampa during July 08-11. I hope we don't overlook a series with Boston and two with the Mets in anticipation for Devil Rays.

Hey Dog!

I will be in NYC this weekend if you are in the area and want someone to go to a game with! I see you live in Washington though.

K

Yeah, I will be in beautiful Alexandria, Virginia, this weekend taking care of a bunch of chores, and going with Pat125 to see Journey (I don't want any jokes here) on Monday night. However, if you are in town the weekend after this one, some of us are getting together to watch the Yankees and New York's other team play. See the thread on "Local Sports". Also, some guys are getting together in NY on Tuesday. See the thread on "About OutSports". I think they will let you wear your Devil Rays cap in NY--especially if you pass up that hated team from Massachusetts!

Do you want them in the Yankees thread instead?

The Devil Rays' problem is, with all of this winning, they're 10.5 out of first and 6 out of the wild card (with 5 teams to pass). Sooner or later they'll come back to earth. Their win streak is a nice story but really, that's all it is.

Gotta start somewhere but thanks Joe for keeping us grounded!

Being a soothsayer of doom and gloom is a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it.

NO

Streak over! Well good while it lasted, hope they can start up another winning streak soon. Just figures on a night when looks like Yankees and Red Sox are going to lose.

I really have enjoyed seeing the Devil Rays get to where they are now. I do have one concern, now my loyalty has switched from the Yankees(my team that I followed since I was a kid) to the Devil Rays, I still hate to see the Yankees lose for the Rays to gain any ground in the standings. Is there any one out there that is in the same predicament?

Something special about the Devil Rays this year...

They just keep winning. eek!

Aubrey Huff, Carl Crawford and Rocco Baldelli are incredible. I think Rocco is incredibly sexy. He's also a really nice kid, does a lot of charity work and all that.

The Devil Rays are now just 4.5 back of the wild card and 3.5 behind Boston for second in the AL East. I may have to take back what I said about their playoff chances. They're still kind of a longshot because their current torrid pace isn't really sustainable, but they don't have to be that good, just good enough.

Hey Bill... Rocco is VERY sexy, even moreso in person. Funny story, saw him at game 7 Stanley Cup, then he was out of the line up next night, listed as "food poisening". Maybe hungover? HA!

Bullpen and hitting are really coming through for the Rays. If the starting pitchers could improve, I think they could really make some strides. I am actually skipping outta work here in a few for a rare weekday afternoon game since I have to go in Sunday for a few hours.

Well, the Devil Rays really blew it today! Shut out by the Blue Jays big time. Sorry you had to witness it Kenny... frown

Good lord, I must have been bad luck! HA! It was an atrocious game. Huff played 3rd base horribly and they need to keep Fick out of right field, he is going to hurt someone that is playing center field. On to Miami... hope we can play them as well as last weekend!

Well, Devil Rays won convincingly against the Marlins today. This team looks really good.

yeah, they do look good (well other than that 14-0 Jays loss). I guess it's time for my to jump on this bandwagon , it seems anytime I jump on a Tampa teams bandwagon they win the Championship!

Bucs, Lightning.....Devil Rays?

Time to buy a ticket!

Well, they are a far cry from that, but for right now, I am eyeing them jumping ahead of the Red Sox!