Rays Up!
Day #2 for B4B at the Trop started out with getting caught up on work and sneaking in some relax time at our host’s house. Both were much needed. But we knew we had to be at the stadium early for two very important things:
1. Joe Maddon Bobbleheads
2. Batting Practice
Yes! This game was Joe Maddon Bobblehead night. He’s one of our favorite managers in baseball, and we were stoked to get his bobblehead at this game. After picking up a bucket of fried chicken at Publix*, we headed to the stadium, gathered our bobbleheads and went straight to left field to try to catch some Batting Practice home runs.
*We were allowed to take a 12 piece fried chicken into the game!
The Rays were playing the Marlins in the Citrus Series, and we got there right when the Rays were finishing their batting practice before the Marlins turn to hit. Pretty much right when we got to the outfield and found a good home run zone, a ball comes flying at us! Rex got a BP home run ball! We literally sat down and caught a ball without even having time to see which Rays player hit it.
After the Rays BP, it was the Marlins turn. Admittedly, we were really there early to see Giancarlo Stanton mash homers in BP. That guy is a beast. Here’s proof from a game earlier this season. And here’s more proof, if the first wasn’t enough. Well, we didn’t catch any more homers, and Giancarlo was kind of disappointing, but we got to talk to Miami closer Heath Bell in the outfield. Since pitchers don’t really have much to do during BP, so a lot of them shag balls in the outfield. Heath Bell was friendly and was chatting with us about B4B. We gave him a sticker and a business card.
One thing that we’ve discovered when preparing for the Rays games is that Rays fans are very interactive, and they LOVE their team. Many of the fans we met on twitter were supportive of what we are doing, and we got tons of advice and recommendations. We try meeting the best fans of each team we visit, and the group of Rays fans we met were as passionate as they come. We happened to be there at the inaugural game of the Rodney’s Archery Club @RACRays fan club and we met @RaysFanGio, aka Lenny. Lenny bought us a bunch of food and chatted with us about Rays baseball. It’s safe to say he is the biggest Rays fan; he had some really good stories about his experience at the Rays playoff clinching game last year. Good to meet him, thanks for the food!
One other Rays fan we met on twitter was an amazing photographer, and even more amazing person, Laura. She was so kind to come out to both our Tampa youth baseball clinic and the Rays game the next day to volunteer her professional services to photograph our events. She did incredible work for us; we honestly can’t repay her enough. We hope to see her again down the road. She’s a great friend of B4B now. Check out her pics on our facebook page, and check out her website.
We gathered all of our belongings which included; all the food Lenny bought us, a bucket of chicken, our gloves, Rays t-shirts Lenny gave us to then give to the kids, and our Joe Maddon Bobbleheads and went up to our seats with about 20 kids and volunteers from BBBS of Florida. It was great that we had our baseball clinic before the game, because we immediately recognized the kids and mentors and we had a great time watching the game with them. They LOVED the shirts from Lenny, and they all even got to be on TV. Rays broadcaster Todd Kalas, came to our seats to interview us during the game. He was a really cool guy and a great interviewer. Good times at the Rays game!
Speaking of the game, our second game at the Trop was much better for the home team than the first. The Rays continued their dominance over their in-state rival this season by winning their fourth in a row against the Marlins. The Rays were walked 9 times, which usually doesn’t bode well for the other team. The final score was 11-0, and 6 of the Rays who scored reached base on a walk. Matt Moore was lights out for the Rays, striking out 8 in seven innings pitched. He, Burke Badenhop, and Brandon Gomes combined to pitch a one-hitter with 12 strike outs. Free pizza for everyone!!!
In addition to Bobblehead night, there was a post game concert on the field with DJ Afrojack. Heck yes! The four of us riders, Laura, and our host’s son Ryan and his friend all got to go onto the field to dance and celebrate the Rays win. What a way to end a great day watching the Rays!
The Trop isn’t as bad as its reputation, and we thought the fans were some of the best and most involved we’ve seen so far. We can’t wait to come back next year.
Gm 1– 4/13 @ Safeco Field – Oakland A’s @ Seattle Mariners
Oakland wins 4-0 (WP – Colon, LP – Hernandez)
Gm 2 – 4/24 @ O.Co Stadium – Chicago White Sox @ Oakland A’s
Oakland wins 2-0 (WP – Milone, LP – Floyd, SV – Balfour)
Gm 3 – 4/27 @ AT&T Park – San Diego Padres @ San Francisco Giants
San Diego wins 5-3 (WP – Luebke, LP – Hacker, SV – Street)
Gm 4 – 5/3 @ Angels Stadium – Toronto Blue Jays @ LA Angels of Anaheim
Toronto wins 5-0 (WP – Morrow, LP – Haren)
Gm 5 – 5/7 @ Dodger Stadium – SF Giants @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Dodgers win 9-1 (WP – Lilly, LP – Zito)
Gm 6 – 5/8 @ Petco Park – Colorado Rockies @ San Diego Padres
Padres win 3-1 (WP – Suppan, LP – White, SV – Thayer)
Gm 7 – 5/12 @ Chase Field – San Francisco Giants @ Arizona Diamondbacks
Giants win 5-2 (WP – Cain, LP – Cahill, SV – Casilla)
Gm 8 – 5/20 @ Coors Field –Seattle Mariners @ Colorado Rockies
Mariners win 6-4 (WP – Beavan, LP – Guthrie)
Gm 9 – 5/30 @ The Ballpark in Arlington – Seattle Mariners @ Texas Rangers
Mariners win 21-8 (WP – Beavan, LP – Holland)
Gm 10 – 6/3 @ Minute Maid Park – Cincinnati Reds @ Houston Astros
Astros win 5-3 (WP Lyles, LP – Arroyo, SV – Myers)
Gm 11 – 6/15 @ Tropicana Field – Miami Marlins @ Tampa Bay Rays
Rays win 11-0 (WP Moore, LP – Zambrano)