The Raging Rays Playlist

In the end, it was the crack of a bone, not the crack of a bat, that changed misfortune to fortune for the woeful Tampa Bay Rays. In the blink of an eye — or however long it takes one dude to demolish another — our bad-news basebull bunch took its first cleated step on the road to redemption.

And they did it with violence.

I think I’m in love.

As you might have heard, there was a bit of a dustup at ol’ Legends Field last Saturday, when the mighty New York Yankees played spring training host to our pushovers of summer. In a late-inning brouhaha at the plate, Rays second baseman Elliot Johnson (who?) plowed into catcher Francisco Cervelli (huh?), fracturing the NY backstop’s right wrist.

Yanks skipper Joe Girardi, a former catcher himself, took issue with the “uncalled for” play, saying spring training is no place for harmful acts: “I don’t understand it. I’ve always known that you don’t do it.”

Rays manager Joe Maddon defended that collision (and a previous one earlier in the week) with a refreshing blast of Eastwoodian grit. “If we have a chance, and we have to hit a catcher, we should. And if they have a chance to take out one of our catchers, they should. That’s the way the game’s played."

Some people say spring training games are meaningless. Not this one, folks.

When the teams played again on Wednesday, not much happened . . . except for a hit batter (Rays prospect Evan Longoria), five ejections and a benches-clearing standoff! (The above photo, from the Times' James Borchuck, is from yesterday's scuffle.)

NY and TB players, coaches and fans are going after one another with unprecedented vitriol. People are totally losing their cool. They are whiners; we are losers. They’re prima donnas; we’re thugs. They buy championships; we have a fish tank in centerfield.

Heck, now I want to buy season tickets and brass knuckles.

If you’re a Rays fan, you gotta love this. Rivalries are one thing, but blood feuds are when thing’s really get interesting. Maddon’s club doesn’t need better players; it needs a tougher aura. If we have to be thugs before we’re winners, fine; at least we’re not straight-up tomato cans anymore.

Someone’s threatened by us? Excellent.

In fact, if I’m Joe Maddon, one of these days I might have loose-cannon Jonny Gomes march over to third and smash a pie in Alex Rodriguez’s face. Yeah, a real gooey pie. During the national anthem.

Now some of you parents might think this is a horrible lesson for your children. But let me ask you this: When you go to Tropicana Field, and there are more fans for the enemy than the Rays, and hometown pride is stuck in the sour pit of your stomach, what does that teach the boys and girls of the Tampa Bay area? That we’re all chumps? Exactly. So go on, Jonny Gomes. Make it a cherry pie. And here’s a musical playlist to crank when the next brouhaha busts out:

Comments

[jane]

*claps hands in glee*

I read the delicious details of this melee before I went to bed last night and chuckled delightedly. And it's only Spring Training. Gives me hope for the rest of the season. (Now if only they can get Rocco Baldelli healthy... I *heart* that guy)

"I Won't Back Down" -- Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
"Play Tough" -- The Apples in Stereo
"Bad to the Bone" -- George Thorogood
"Hard to Handle" -- Black Crowes
"Prepare for the Fight" -- The Lovemakers

[Marissa]

Thug Luv ~ Bone Thugs & Harmony
Shattered ~ Rolling Stones
Boys of Summer ~ Don Henley
Tough Guy ~ Beastie Boys
Rest in Pieces ~ Saliva
Throw Down ~ Motion City Soundtrack
Kung Fu Fighting ~ Carl Douglas
Pick yourself up ~ Frank Sinatra

Have a glorious day!

[sparky]

Rough Boys - The Who
Live Wire - Motley Crue

[NickWithAnAxe]

How utterly delightful it is to see the Rays getting under the (thin) skin of the Bronx Bombers. New unis...new name...perhaps a new stadium. The Rays just might be coming into their own. I must note for the record, however, that they won't touch the beloved Boston Red Sox - America's team. (Take that, Hank!)

Anyway...

Seek and Destroy - Metallica
Obliteration - Black Flag

And just for the Yankees...

It's Not Supposed to Be That Way - Willie Nelson

[Jeff in Cuba]

Tough Guys ~ REO SPeedwagon
When The Going Gets Tough ~ Billy Ocean
Don't Fight It ~ Kenny Loggins & Steve Perry

[Sean Daly]

Just in the Nick of time. Good to have you back, NickWithAnAxe. I remember when you first fell in love with Boston's boys of summer.

I buy into a Rays season ticket deal, and for the first time, they might be worth the cash. Come on down to FLA, and I'll take you to a Rays-Red Sox game. Trust me, you'll be among 30,000 other dudes in Wakefield jerseys.