St.Pete Council Kills Rays Stadium Search Deal

((ht: tampabay.com))

Oh boy.  Thursday night brought a big surprise in the Tampa Bay area when the St. Petersburg, Florida City Council rejected an agreement the mayor made with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The agreement would have allowed the Rays to look for a new home in either the St. Pete or Tampa area and get the team out of the horrible stadium know as Tropicana Field.

And if the Rays were able to find said location, the city would have been reimbursed handsomely for allowing it.

The Rays are locked into a terrible stadium deal that in theory locks them to the Trop until 2027. It would cost a fortune to break that deal. Attendance is spotty at best and because of all these issues, the team is one of the lowest budget teams in Major League Baseball. Getting to the Trop is an extra 30 minutes just from Tampa, which limits the teams ability to get people who live in the region to games.

Current team owner Stewart Sternberg has already gone on record saying if he can't get an opportunity to find a new stadium, he will sell the team to the highest bidder. And that bidder likely will move the team once they are able to.

St. Pete mayor Rick Kriseman understood that and was able to get a deal that made sense. To everyone but the council who defeated it on a 3 to 5 vote. They quoted a statement from the team questioning stadium redevelopment rights. The two sides had an agreement to redevelop the Trop site should the Rays move. The money would be split 50/50. But when asked if they'd change that agreement if the team left the stadium early, the Rays said "No". That appeared to turn the tide in a vote they otherwise would have won.

The council decided it was best to discuss stadium options in a workshop saying they want the Rays to limit their search to St. Petersburg. And while hope remains the two sides can workout a deal, both sides walked away with bruised egos. We all know it takes awhile for the bruises to go away.

WTSP-TV in Tampa explains things visually:

Scott Boras Wants A Team In Montreal

((HT: Sportsnet))

And, at the Winter Meetings, he thought the team should be the Rays as the ones to move.

Here's his gaggle...

Makes sense to the HQ, now all the town needs is a barn in town to make it happen.

The team could not play in the Big O because it's out of date, unless the provision was for a year or two during costruction. The fans have never been an issue there, it has always been ownership and wanting to invest in a team there.

So, the HQ agrees with Boras... let's see if everyone else does...

St. Pete Mayor: Deal in Place for Tampa Bay Rays to Look for New Stadium Location

((ht: tampabay.com))

The Tampa Bay Rays have been chomping at the bit for years to get out of Tropicana Field. Attendance has always lagged at the indoor stadium, a stadium that while fitted for baseball, hardly feels like baseball.

But previous ownership signed a long-term deal with the City of St. Petersburg, some 20 miles or so from Tampa, to play in the Trop until 2027 with a crazy-expensive buyout option.

Until now.

The team, which has always struggled financially, due in part to the location and general crappiness of the Trop (we've been there), has wanted to look at locations in Tampa for years. Tampa has a much bigger population base than St. Petersburg and is much easier to get to.

But the City has held up the search....

St. Pete Mayor Rick Kreisman has a deal in hand with the team that would allow them to search for new stadium locations in the Tampa/St. Pete area and allow them to leave Tropicana Field.

Yes, there'd be compensation; $4 million a year for the 1st 3 years, $3 million the next 3 and $2 million the final three years left on the lease. And it calls for the team, should they land in Tampa, to essentially allow promotional items for St. Petersburg to be placed in the new facility.

But the deal would work for both parties though it has yet to be approved by the St. Pete City Council. Which appears likely.

Read more from TampaBay.com RIGHT HERE

The deal also specifies the Rays have until the end of 2017 to come up with a site or the agreement is nullified. We don't expect that to happen.

Tampa has more than enough population and business wise to support the baseball team. And it also makes the Rays easier to access from Orlando and points east. Very few of those people were willing to drive across I-4 and then navigate Tampa traffic to drive another half hour to St. Pete. A Tampa location would change that.

It gives the Rays a fighting chance. Long one of the lowest budgeted teams in Major League Baseball, they've managed to scrape together good teams. But anytime they had a player become a star, the Rays traded him before having to pay the price.

If they can get a new park, with new revenue, look for that to change.

WTSP-TV in Tampa/St. Pete gives us a TV explanation:

Rays Protesting Blue Jays Win Over Replay Snafu

((HT: MLB.com))

Rays manager Joe Maddon is protesting the Rays-Jays result from earlier today because of how the replay function of Major League Baseball was handled during the game.

Here's how all hell broke loose with the new baseball wrinkle...


Maddon says he would be surprised if the protest isn't upheld because of how the whole thing was run.

The San Francisco Giants became the first team since 1986 to win a protest after it was determined the tarp at Wrigley Field had not been properly put away after its previous use. The Giants beat the Cubs 2-1 two days after initially being given a 2-0 loss.

A Different Kind Of Rally Mascot In Oakland

((HT: MLB.com))

A rally possum...???

Apparently...

The HQ did the story on the "Rally Monkey" during the 2003 World Series between the Angels and Giants. The effect of showing a capucin monkey on the video board in Anaheim had a disproportionate amount of success for the team in the year. Troy Percival and John Lackey really didn't have a sense of humor about it. Rex Hudler did...

And the HQ appreciated his taking the story with a grain of salt and running with it...

Now, we may have a suitable mascot for the nasty stadium in Oakland
This happened last night before the A's extra inning win over Tampa


A's starter Jeff Samardzija thinks the possum would be a good mascot:

"We're going to have to give him a name, get him a jersey," Samardzija said after the game. "We've got to keep feeding him."

OSG High: Rays Take BP Against Knuckleballer

((HT: MLB.com))

The HQ knows what you're thinking...

So effing what...

Well, the knuckleballer is a 17-year-old high schooler from Plant City, Florida- Chelsea Baker...
Here's her day


Baker throws for her baseball team at Durant High. Rumor has it that Rays manager Joe Maddon was impressed with the movement of Baker's pitches- as is the HQ.

George Springer Hit The Ball A Long Way

((HT: MLB.com/CSN Houston))

David Price was throwing pitch 50 of the night to the Astros Rookie of The Year candidate, George Springer, and he absolutely UNLOADED on it...

Evidence below...


Astros beat writer Brian McTaggart, via his Twitter, has the details on the bomb:

Springer's HR hit off the "d-ring" catwalk. It's 23rd time in ballpark history a ball hit off "d-ring." First time since May 30, 2011.

That's really far...

Tampa Bay Rays Moving Tribute to Don Zimmer

((ht: mlb.com))

He wasn't a "Star" player, but he's someone if you are over the age of 30 or follow baseball seriously, you knew about.

He wasn't front page pretty or a living, walking quote machine, but he spoke for everyone in the game.

Don Zimmer managed or at least seemed to have managed roughly half the teams in Major League Baseball in his career. He began that career as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Which is the jersey the Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners donned Saturday night as they lined the field during a moving celebration of Zimmer's life.

Zim passed away on Wednesday at the age of 83. He was a "Special Advisor" to the Rays. And the Rays did him right by celebrating the incredible life and amazing experiences of a man that most everyone in baseball knew and loved.

Watch and enjoy.

Thanks MLB.com for sharing:

Big Papi Got No Respect For David Price No More

((HT:MLB.com/CSNNE))

Tempers flared multiple times last night at Fenway as the Tampa bay Rays went after Boston.

And for David Price it seemed like last night was his opportunity to get back at David Ortiz after his playoff homer that rubbed Price the wrong way.

All the brushback and blowback is below


Papi talked after the game and called Price out...
It was quite colorful

Basebrawl Over A Stolen Base (?)

Yup...

((HT: MLB.com))


Yunel Escobar, Jonny Gomes, and Sean Rodriguez got ejected as Escobar stole third with a five-run lead...

How would you react...???

Friday Night Walk-Off: Jose Abreu With the Walk-Off Grand Slam

((mlb.com))

Boom!

Rookie Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox has some serious power.

9 Homeruns in his first month with the big club in April.

None bigger than the one he hit Friday night.

Abreu took the plate against Tampa Bay Rays closer Grant Balfour with his team trailing 6-5 in the bottom of the 9th with the bases loaded, down in the count with a strike..

MLB.com has the video of the rest...

Easiest Triple Play You'll See For A While...

((HT: MLB/YES))

Sean Rodriguez did the one thing you really don't want to do with runners on first and second...
Pull a pitch right at the third baseman...

You can guess what happens next...


CC Sabathia has now been on the mound for the last three triple plays the Yankees have fielded and Rodriguez has now hit into the last two triple plays the Rays have had turned on them...

What Is It About Elimination Games With Tampa...???

((HT: MLB.com))

There is no interest in leaving the season until they're ready to...

This time, it was Jose Lobaton with the walk-off to keep the series alive with Boston...


Game 4 is Tuesday night, with Jake Peavy starting for the Red Sox against Jeremy Hellickson.
Tampa Bay took a win-or-go-home game for the fourth time in nine days.

Exit Sandman...

((HT: YES/MLB))

There was only one way to do this...

In his last game at Yankee Stadium, Mariano Rivera was pulled...
But not in the way you think...


The best part...???

Michael Kay laid out for almost four minutes on play-by-play...
Classy move... very classy...

ICYMI: Rays and O's Play 18-Inning Almost 7 Hour Marathon

Baseball is a lot of things, most of the references you are probably thinking of would have to do with running a marathon.

The analogy certainly fit Friday night as the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays played an 18-inning, 6 hour 54 minute game that ended around 2 a.m Saturday morning.

The Rays won the game 5-4 on a David DeJesus single and took over the top spot in the American League Wild-Card chase.

21 Pitchers were used in the game. Which accounted for every pitcher on both teams rosters.....and oh, by the way, both teams play on Saturday 11 hours after Friday's game ended.

DeJesus's game winner is right here:

Where'd That Sniper Come From, CJ...?

((HT: FS Rays/MLB))

CJ Wilson didn't quite make it to the mound last night in Tampa as the Rays and Angels squared off...


Right on the seam...

Wilson took a no decision against the Rays, surrendering three earned in five innings in the Angels 6-5 win.

And he took to the Twitter to respond:

Anyone figure out where that sniper was? #gotheem

ICYMI: Walkoff Weekend: Baseball Game-Winning Fun on Friday

Say what you will about baseball being boring, slow, dull or whatever, but nothing gets the heart of a baseball and good sports fan racing more than a walk-off hit.

And Friday night, there were some good ones.

Justin Upton of the Atlanta Braves with perhaps the most dramatic, a 10th inning line drive, that cleared the fence and set of chaos in the A-T-L:


Jose Lobaton of the Tampa Bay Rays with the 9th inning triple breaking a 4-4 tie with Toronto:



And Jonathan Lucroy of the Milwaukee Brewers with the 2-strike, 2-out, 2-run game-winning HR off the supposedly unhittable Aroldis Chapman of the Cincinnati Reds:

Dodgers Fall To Hidden Ball Trick

((HT: MLB on FOX))

It's almost as effective as the fake throw to third then fake throw to first that pitchers do all the time...

No one falls to the hidden ball trick...

But this time, it was a very subtle throw to the Rays Evan Longoria that put Juan Uribe in the dugout instead of on third so the Dodgers can extend their lead...

Here's the play, the subtlety, and the explanation of how it was executed...

Maybe, Don't Call Me...

((HT: MLB.com))

The HQ doesn't think Carly Rae Jepsen will ever be asked to do this ever again- considering the results...


No more first pitches for you...

Rays' Cobb Concussed By Line Drive

Tampa Bay pitcher Alex Cobb was taken off the field on a stretcher after he was hit on the right ear by a line drive off the bat of Kansas City's Eric Hosmer in the fifth inning of their game Saturday afternoon.

Here is the pitch...
((HT: FS Rays))


Cobb was conscious the whole time and was taken to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg. Rays information was that all tests were normal and that Cobb suffered a concussion.

He will spend the night in hospital.

"Can't thank everyone enough for the prayers," Cobb tweeted. "Was the only way for me to make it out of there ok. Look forward to getting back out there."