Rusty Shackleford
Banned
Hardly an overpowering win for the Rays against the lowly Orioles at the Trop, but it will still go down as one of the 100 that they get this year, and any walk-off victory is a sweet one.
Guys, Im going to Florida next month and wanted to take in a Ray's game and wondered if anyone can help. The week I am looking at they are playing the Red Sox, and then the White Sox, evening games.
Where would be the best place in the stadium to get tickets. Ideally I'd just want a decent ish view without paying a fortune. Also, are any of the days likely to be less busy than others? Ie the first game against each opposition or the last?
Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers.
YB - naughty Reds http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5119303 - suspension is hardly crushing as he is already on the DL, really teaches the guy a lesson.
Guys, Im going to Florida next month and wanted to take in a Ray's game and wondered if anyone can help. The week I am looking at they are playing the Red Sox, and then the White Sox, evening games.
Where would be the best place in the stadium to get tickets. Ideally I'd just want a decent ish view without paying a fortune. Also, are any of the days likely to be less busy than others? Ie the first game against each opposition or the last?
Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers.
I haven't been to a home Rays game since they became competitive, so I'm not sure if things have changed that much since then, but you used to be able to rock up a few minutes before game time and pretty much sit wherever you want. However, that's not the case when the BoSux, Yanks, and to a lesser extent ChiSox are in town as they have large fan bases in the St Pete area, so book in advance. If you can get tickets for the party area that is a good laugh, but the view isn't great. You should be able to get something around third base a few rows up if you book now - will probably be in the region of $40 a ticket.
The first or last game of a series isn't much of a factor, it's more a case of what day the game falls on - obviously weekends are busier. I'd encourage you to try and get to a game where Matt Garza is pitching - he is bringing some sick stuff so far this year (0.75 ERA).
One last thing, make sure you no your way back to the hotel or the freeway from the Trop - there are some very seedy neighbourhoods only a few minutes away if you make a wrong turn. On my first visit there, we had a Griswald family 'wind 'em up' moment a few blocks from the stadium.
Would you recommend a pitcher's dual or a home run derby as a spectacle though?
Before the season started I mentioned to my pal YB that the Rays would win 120 games. They are currently on pace to win 122.
The Sux/Yanks series is being hyped by ESPN America as 'the biggest rivalry in baseball'. I regard it as 'the battle for second place'.
They interviewed Braden and his Gran on ESPN yesterday and they still wont let go of the A-Rod story... Fair play to the Rays though in letting all these other teams have perfect games against them.
Hitting up Yankee Stadium this weekend to see the world champs against the Twins - luckily right now the schedule shows i dont have to go through the pain of watching vazquez pitch..
They interviewed Braden and his Gran on ESPN yesterday and they still wont let go of the A-Rod story... Fair play to the Rays though in letting all these other teams have perfect games against them.
I see it as a nod to their heritage.
They may not have as much of it as my Redlegs, but it's good to see them pay tribute to it.
You've got to love Braden's Gran's comments.
It shows how far the Rays have come when Yankees' fans are cracking on them - even with that perfect game, Tampa Bay's run differential crushes that boasted by the pinstripers, although obviously the win-loss record is a little tighter.