Rays-Red Sox, the world is (really) watching, day 2
Rays nation? Well at least Rays bay ....
According to the team, the TV ratings for last night's game were the highest in franchise history.
The Rays say the game had an 8.5 average rating (and 13 share) and peaked at 10 p.m. with a 12.8 rating (and 20 share), making it the No. 1 watched program in the Tampa Bay market at that time. The 12.8 share was the highest in team history, and the combined 271,000 homes in the Tampa Bay and Orlando markets was also a team-high.
Meanwhile, the national media is traipsing through Tropicana Field and regularly raving about the Rays, and the Red Sox seem to be aware, if not impressed, by what the Rays have done. Here is the cover from the upcoming issue of ESPN, The Magazine.
And it appears the Yankees have noticed.
Even with the Red Sox headed to the Bronx for a fiery Fourth of July, Yankees are definitely paying attention to the Rays, and, from what Mike Mussina said in this Daily News piece, sound a bit concerned:
"I think they're going to be there," Mussina said after taking a tough loss Monday night. "They've been doing it for three months, and though they don't have a history of winning, once you believe you're a pretty good team, then you can do a lot of things.
"I think they believe now. And I know for sure the rest of us believe they're a good team. Unless they have a major injury, they're going to be there."
Add another name the list of believers, as David Whitley of the Orlando Sentinel also crowns the Rays as the best team in the game, and then goes a little further, writing:
"City fathers warned fans to arrive early to beat the crush. City mothers have been naming their first-born males "Akinori. Ladies and gentlemen, we have officially entered a parallel universe. Up is down, ugly is beautiful and the Tampa Bay Rays are the best team in baseball."
ESPN's Peter Gammons weighs in on the market for Indians ace LHP C.C. Sabathia, writing that: "Tampa Bay has lurked, but Rays people say there's now way they can sign him after the season, and their focus is on a right-handed bat with (Pittsburgh's Xavier Nady) and (the Cubs' Matt) Murton on their radar.''
Former Red Sox slugger Brian Daubach, now hitting coach with the independent league Nashua Pride, talked to the Boston Herald about his painful memories of past Rays-Sox brawls.
Follow Tampa Bay Rays baseball from spring training to the World Series with Marc Topkin, Joe Smith and the St. Petersburg Times sports staff. From Evan Longoria to B.J. Upton and James Shields, we're your source for Tampa Bay Rays scores and schedules.
What an AAss ...
Posted by: sevenyearhawk | July 01, 2008 at 05:35 PM
Go RAYS NATION!!!
Posted by: Marc | July 01, 2008 at 03:44 PM
Just wanted to let you know what they are saying on the radio Maine (unfortunately I'm stuck here right now). DESPITE THE RAYS SUCCESS, RED SOX FANS OUTNUMBERED RAYS FANS 70%/30/%.
This is on "The P.M. Jab" in Maine. I think you guys should give them a call . Email chris@thebigjab.com
Studio Line: 775-2217 or 1-866-811-9505
The PM Jab: 4pm - 7pm
The PM JAB gives you local talk in the afternoon. Join Chris Sedenka as he talks Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, Bruins and more. The phone lines are open weekdays from 4-7pm for the PM Jab!
Posted by: Brian | July 01, 2008 at 03:35 PM
I read Whitley's column where he claimed the Rays as "our" team, in Orlando. This from a crap paper that doesn't even bother to provide the AP write up of the previous night's game most days in favor of Red Sox and Yankee blurbs. Joke.
Posted by: Paul | July 01, 2008 at 03:26 PM
You all need to take it easy on Andy.
My crew had to pull him out of two feet of water last week when his inflatable swim flugels popped. It was a very traumatic experience.
Add to that the fact that his team (which pays their roster FIVE TIMES what ours does) is totally tanking this season, and his life pretty well sucks.
Posted by: David Hasselhoff | July 01, 2008 at 03:18 PM
I live in upstate New York and go to St Pete's beach each year. I was watching the game last night on MLB.com while the Yanks were on the tube.
Posted by: JV | July 01, 2008 at 02:43 PM
LOL...yes, the Y-AARP-kees will be selling and some retiring.
Posted by: James | July 01, 2008 at 02:30 PM
Andy,
the yanks do need new talent. My crippled sister throws farther than Damon.
Posted by: nick | July 01, 2008 at 02:25 PM
Looks like AAndy and Lou have been reading a little too much Perez Hilton.
Posted by: Allison | July 01, 2008 at 02:09 PM
I think Andy got the Rays confused with the mAArlins. Wrong city, bud.
Posted by: Lou | July 01, 2008 at 01:48 PM
Aw, Andy, do you still think that way? You poor loser. We have all of our talent, besides B.J. Upton, signed for at least 3 years. Best be shopping elsewhere, sweetheart. But I'm not so sure the Yanks will be shopping this year. They might be selling ...
Posted by: Mike | July 01, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Of course the Yankees are watching, the rAAys are the team they will be getting their talent from.
Posted by: Andy | July 01, 2008 at 12:48 PM