The Tampa Bay Rays, who regardless of having zero fan base, even much less of a finances, and enjoying in a ballpark (Tropicana Discipline) that makes the much-maligned Oakland Coliseum look like the field of dreams, have over latest years managed to piece collectively an on-field product that has seldom been lower than aggressive. When your divisional competitors contains the New York Yankees, whose clubhouse snacks finances dwarfs the Rays’ whole payroll, that’s saying one thing.
The Rays didn’t make the postseason this 12 months, which, given latest occasions, is arguably for the perfect. When Hurricane Milton got here by way of the Tampa/St. Petersburg space on October 9, 2024, it shredded Tropicana Discipline’s roof. It may have done even more damage than that.
To our Rays household, followers and all the Tampa Bay neighborhood. 💙 pic.twitter.com/X9fwjZdcRX
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 10, 2024 Though not but totally assessed, the preliminary harm experiences are dour:
Entry to the constructing has been extraordinarily restricted because of security issues, together with the integrity of the struts that held the Teflon-coated fiberglass roof.
There are indications of intensive harm elsewhere on the stadium. For instance, some staff workplaces on the fourth ground, which had drop ceilings beneath the general roof, are actually open to the weather.
Lengthy story brief, don’t rely on the Rays’ 2025 house opener, presently scheduled for March 27 in opposition to the Colorado Rockies, going down on the Trop.
Ought to the Rays be compelled to play their house video games elsewhere for half or all of 2025, issues will get messy rapidly, as San Francisco Bay Space sports activities reporter Brodie Brazil notes.
Brazil notes a attainable situation that albeit surreal might transpire which forces the Tampa Bay Rays to play their 2025 house video games in the one out there Main League ballpark that might accommodate the staff with ease. You already know … the one close to the San Francisco Bay, presently
without a tenant courtesy of MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and A’s owner John Fisher’s mendacity?
MORE: A Personal Farewell to the Oakland A’s
Stranger issues have occurred when the money talks.
The Rays are purported to have a brand new stadium in St. Petersburg, the situation being adjoining to Tropicana Discipline, prepared in time for the 2028 season. Whether or not this occurs or not is unknown, as relating to constructing a brand new ballpark, something can occur and often does. If Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) is concerned, it’ll get completed if he has to pour the concrete himself since he’s no-nonsensically environment friendly. Nevertheless, he’s not concerned, which ends up in the subsequent level.
In addition to maybe Texas, no state on this nice union of ours is as sports-crazy as Florida. Even a sport as overseas to the Sunshine State as will be imagined, particularly hockey, has been wholeheartedly embraced by the fan base. Though it has usually struggled on the skilled stage because of a mixture of possession’s monetary chicanery and atrocious stadiums, the Florida sports activities thoughts has lengthy unreservedly embraced, and does embrace, baseball. The a long time of spring coaching success bear this out. All effectively and good.
That mentioned, Ron DeSantis has made it clear in phrase and deed that he’s no fan of public cash going towards skilled sports activities in his state. In 2022, he nixed a plan to offer the Rays public cash for a coaching facility. (The linked story below is out there to VIP members solely, making this a perfect time to sign up in the event you’re not already on board so you will get the deep dives and unfiltered commentary out there solely to members. Be part of right this moment by clicking this link.)
MORE: CNN Lies About DeSantis Denying Funding for Tampa Bay Rays’ Training Facility
Flash over to the left coast and Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA), the alternative of Ron DeSantis in additional methods than one can relate in a single put up. Below Newsom’s watch, Oakland has change into a deserted city of the heart, with the Raiders and A’s leaving for Las Vegas and the Warriors shifting throughout the Bay to San Francisco. If Newsom has made even the slightest effort to maintain both the Raiders or A’s within the not-so-Golden State, he has stored it to himself. Now, he has a possibility to rectify his earlier failures and extract some measure of revenge in opposition to Ron DeSantis for the thorough whuppin’ he administered to Newsom throughout their December 2023 debate. (The linked story can be for VIP members — what are you ready for? Do your self a favor and click this link to enroll right this moment! ) MORE: What the Heck Was That DeSantis-Newsom Debate Really About?
If I used to be advising Newsom — which I guarantee you I’m not — I’d be making a cellphone name 5 minutes in the past to Golden State Warriors proprietor Joe Lacob, who has long had an offer on the table to buy the A’s and keep them in Oakland, and recommend he name the Rays’ possession with a candy supply to finish all their climate complications. There’s the minor element of California earthquakes, however they occur far much less usually than Florida hurricanes. The Rays transfer to Oakland, Lacob builds them a brand new stadium on the Oakland Coliseum’s parking zone, the Rays’ possession will get an growth franchise to start out play when/if the brand new stadium involves move, and everybody in Main League Baseball traces their already luxurious pockets with the staff sale cash and growth buy-in cash. This, in fact, because it makes at the very least a bit of sense, won’t occur. However, as a jilted A’s fan, I still have dreams.
