Highlights
On March 9, 1995, Major League Baseball officially awarded an American League expansion franchise to a Tampa Bay-based ownership group headed by Vince Naimoli. In some ways, that moment has been the greatest in franchise history. First known as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the team played its first major-league game on March 31, 1998, an 11-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. In the years since, the franchise has never won more than 70 games in a single season. Following the 2007 season, the team officially changed its name from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to the Tampa Bay Rays.
But hope may not be unreasonable. In late 2005, New York-based financial se...
But hope may not be unreasonable. In late 2005, New York-based financial se...
On March 9, 1995, Major League Baseball officially awarded an American League expansion franchise to a Tampa Bay-based ownership group headed by Vince Naimoli. In some ways, that moment has been the greatest in franchise history. First known as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the team played its first major-league game on March 31, 1998, an 11-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. In the years since, the franchise has never won more than 70 games in a single season. Following the 2007 season, the team officially changed its name from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to the Tampa Bay Rays.
But hope may not be unreasonable. In late 2005, New York-based financial services whiz Stuart Sternberg became the team's principal owner and installed new upper management, including team president Matt Silverman and general manager Andrew Friedman. In turn, Silverman and Friedman hired a new manager, Joe Maddon. The new owners and management have tried new strategies to lure new fans, including offering free parking at Tropicana Field and by playing a three-game regular-season series in May 2007 at Disney's Wide World of Sport. Though the team's won-loss totals haven't improved, the franchise's minor-league system is rated among baseball's best for talented young players.
But hope may not be unreasonable. In late 2005, New York-based financial services whiz Stuart Sternberg became the team's principal owner and installed new upper management, including team president Matt Silverman and general manager Andrew Friedman. In turn, Silverman and Friedman hired a new manager, Joe Maddon. The new owners and management have tried new strategies to lure new fans, including offering free parking at Tropicana Field and by playing a three-game regular-season series in May 2007 at Disney's Wide World of Sport. Though the team's won-loss totals haven't improved, the franchise's minor-league system is rated among baseball's best for talented young players.
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A playoff monster: Rays homer 4 times, rout Red Sox 9-1 and take 2-1 ALCS lead
AP Sports WriterBOSTON (AP) _ B.J. Upton, Evan Longoria and the rest of the Tampa Bay Rays are bashing their way through their first trip to the playoffs. Upton and Longoria homered off a suddenly shaky Jon Lester, and the power-packed Rays cleared the Green Monster...Tags: Jason Varitek, Fenway Park, Green Monster, Terry Francona, Tim Wakefield
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Red Sox not flexing arms as weighty games loom
Los Angeles TimesBleary-eyed and beaten, the Boston Red Sox returned home after an emotionally and physically draining 9-8 late-night loss to the Tampa Bay Rays to a brilliant autumn Sunday, the weather clear and crisp, the leaves all over New England bursting out in...Tags: Josh Beckett, Fenway Park, Daisuke Matsuzaka, All Stars, Jon Lester
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Monday's Highlights
SERIES
Black and proud: "For Members Only" (11 a.m. KSCI) with host Tom Reed.
Rust never sleeps: "Modern Marvels" (8 p.m. History) looks at America's aging infrastructure and the dangers of corrosion.
Three Gorges Dam: "P.O.V.: Up the Yangtze" (9 p.m....Tags: William Powell, Football, ESPN, Christian Slater, Cleveland Browns
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Amazing Rays outlast Red Sox in dramatic 11-inning affair
This one won't go on Josh Beckett's Hall of Fame highlight DVD.
Then again, it won't make many highlight packages anywhere unless the Tampa Bay Rays go on to win their first World Series.
In a game that made "The Lord of the Rings" look like "Beverly...Tags: Josh Beckett, J.D. Drew, Fenway Park, Cliff Floyd, Florida Marlins
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Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz says playoff pressure getting to young Tampa Bay Rays
Sentinel Staff WriterDavid Ortiz has become the ALCS's equivalent of E.F. Hutton: The Boston Red Sox slugger talked, and the Tampa Bay Rays listened. Following his team's Game 1 victory, Ortiz said that the pressure had gotten to the Rays. "I'm telling you, I saw faces...Tags: J.D. Drew, Fenway Park, Cliff Floyd, David Ortiz, Jacoby Ellsbury
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Rays of hope even ALCS with Red Sox
Sentinel Staff WriterAt several moments in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday night, the Tampa Bay Rays were tumbling down a slippery slope, their 2008 Cinderella season endangered by a potential two-game deficit against their bitter rivals. But...Tags: Josh Beckett, Kevin Youkilis, Cinderella, Fenway Park, David Ortiz
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ALCS Game 2: Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz's comments, mind games can't faze the Tampa Bay Rays
Sentinel ColumnistIf you're heading over a cliff in your car, you might as well open your eyes and enjoy the view. The Rays were heading for the edge Saturday night. After a wild ride through the regular season, they were almost unrecognizably tight in Game 1 of the ALCS....Tags: Daisuke Matsuzaka, Cliff Floyd, All Stars, David Ortiz, ESPN
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Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon readies for tonight's game against the Boston Red Sox
Sentinel Staff WriterThe Rays entered Saturday night's Game 2 of the ALCS against Boston down 1-0 in the best-of-series. Count Rays Manager Joe Maddon as one who is not concerned. "We played a couple of big series against Boston in the last month of the season and lost both...Tags: Kevin Youkilis, Josh Beckett, Jason Varitek, Fenway Park, Cliff Floyd
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Rays slide by Red Sox, tie ALCS
Tribune reporterCoffee, anyone? Tampa Bay and Boston might need some perking up after Game 2 of the American League Championship Series that lasted five hours, 27 minutes and wasn't decided until speedy pinch-runner Fernando Perez scored on B.J. Upton's 200-foot...Tags: J.D. Drew, Fenway Park, Jon Lester, Major League Baseball, Boston Red Sox
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Orlando return for Rays doubtful in 2009
Sentinel Staff WriterDon't expect the Tampa Bay Rays to return to Disney's Wide World of Sports again for regular-season games next year. Rays owner Stuart Sternberg said Friday that the 2009 schedule makes it "doubtful" the Rays would play in Central Florida for the third...Tags: Josh Beckett, Nolan Ryan, Disney's Wide World of Sports, Roger Clemens, ESPN
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A real gem for Red Sox
Associated PressUnhittable most of the game, Daisuke Matsuzaka and the Boston Red Sox taught the Tampa Bay Rays all about dominant postseason pitching. Matsuzaka took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and the defending World Series champions played a little better in...Tags: Kevin Youkilis, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Cliff Floyd, Jonathan Papelbon, All Stars
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Dice-K foils Tampa Bay
Sentinel Staff WriterAll year long, the Tampa Bay Rays have bounced back from injuries, from tough losses and even from their own history of futility. They now face perhaps their toughest test of all: trying to rebound from a 1-0 American League Championship Series deficit...Tags: Kevin Youkilis, Fenway Park, Cliff Floyd, Contracts, Jonathan Papelbon
Oct 13, 2008
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Oct 12, 2008
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Oct 11, 2008
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Oct 11, 2008
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