Rays arrival delayed until 9:15

After playing 11 innings in Sunday's season-finale, the Rays' welcome-home reception at St. Pete-Clearwater airport will be delayed until around 9:15.

The team has invited fans to come out and will provide soft drinks and entertainment.

Comments

[Amanda]

James-
Just FYI, I used the wrong word when I said "shaft". Shaft would imply that it was unfair and/or mean of them to do that. I just meant that we got the suckier (is that a word? it is now!) time of the two.
I'm not complaining about it, because obviously one of the two matchups was going to have to get the earlier time. I was just saying that I felt bad for those who weren't expecting it and would have to miss the game.
Just clarifying :)

[WaLlY tHe WiNo]

I aint seen this much winin' since that truck of mad dog got turned over in williams park

[Joisey]

I got unjustly fired a month ago (from corporate america) and was pissed! The good thing is I can see the whole Rays game Thursday. It is said that "What goes around comes around". Go Rays!

[9equals8.com]

It's obviously about economics. The two "small(er) market" series get the bad times and the "big market" series get prime time slots. That's just the way the cookie crumbles. I hate it too as I'll have to take a day off and also pull my son out of school. But, it's worth it to me and we'll be there. To be honest, I would rather have the 2:30PM start time vs. the 10PM EST start time the BoSox got. They will be so tired come the end of that game (you need 2+ days to adjust to that time change). It does look like we got the 6:00PM time on Friday, though.

RAYS FANS - I do have some extra tix to Game 5 of the ALDS (2, but maybe 4) that I am going to sell for my cost (face + service fees). I'll post details at http://www.9equals8.com. Yes, I could make a tidy profit on these tix via StubHub, but I want some loyal fans to be able to attend the game without breaking the bank. I will sell them in such a way that you cannot resell the tix, so only true fans that want to see the game should apply.

[Jason]

Get your butts out there!!! Far as I can remember you get a surtain amount of skip days for school. Or even ask to see if you can get off early if it doesn't work out to get off early, time to use the *cough cough* excuse. I to have tickets for game 1 and 2 $130 for each night and I plan to may good use of them.

[James]

I don't understand the whining and crying either.

If you've followed baseball atleast since the inception of the Wild Card teams, then you would know that the MLB has always had triple headers. I remember alot of Astros@Braves games being played early on in the day back in the late 90's. Imagine being the Twins or White Sox after they hopefully play a late afternoon or night AL Central clincher game on Tuesday just to have to fly to Tampa and get little-to-no time to rest up before they have to play what is a 1:00pm start time CST.

2:30 isn't a "shaft to Tampa fans" it's exactly what we should've expected. However, it would've been alot better if ESPN/NBC carried the 4 division series that way each one can be shown each night in doubleheaders.

Stuffing tripleheaders on TBS is a joke. You would think they'd balance this mess by using TNT as well.

But us who can't make it to the game have one brightspot, TBS is in crystal clear 1080i-HD not 720p like ESPN and FOX.

Go Rays!

[Bill]

Come on guys....if you've followed baseball at all you know they try to squeeze in all the games. You know the Red Sox and Angeles would be the late game because they are playing on the west coast.....you know the Cubs would get prime time..........so it was obvious the Rays would get the early game. Do I like it? NOT AT ALL......but you should have seen it coming.

[JJ]

Why is the game-time such a surprise? Quit whining and go and support the team or let someone use the tickets that can actually go. We all know as fans that there are games we can not go to due to work, school and life in general.
GO RAYS.

[Jesse]

BRAD, Ill see you at both games...I was upset the Angels picked Wednesday cuz i have field passes for USF, and woulda had 2 gie them up, now lik eyou said, we can attend both games!!!!

[Slappy]

Who are the "Rays of St. Pete" (as seen on one of the hand-made signs at the airport)? I'm not aware of any such team.

[Brad]

I'm glad it is an early game, now I can watch the Rays then the USF game later that night. LOL Go Rays,Go Bulls

[Matt]

The time is a bummer, but all of us have probably called in sick for less important events than the first playoff game in Rays history, right?

*cough cough* - I feel it coming on...

Can't miss this, folks. We're screwed by the schedulers, but we've all just got to find a way to be there.

[Amanda]

Brewers/Philies got the same shaft we did; their Game 1 on Wednesday is at 3:00, while the Dodgers/Cubs start at 6:30. Looks like the AL and NL leaders not only got to pick the day they start, but they get the benefit of a normal game time, too.

[Mike]

Brian: I cant find and actual email address for either MLB or TBS...I am pretty sure that the only way to contact them is to go to thier respective websites and do it from there. If anyone can find a phone number or email address for either, or both, PLEASE let me know my email address is mike_czipri@yahoo.com we need to make sure that if they are actually going to do this to us, we need to make thier lives as miserable as humanly possible. This is totally unacceptable.

[Brian J]

Can anyone find contact info for TBS and MLB? I agree with you Mike, let's at least be heard about this. ST PETE TIMES, ARE YOU IN?

[Brian J]

I am sure this has nothing to do with MLB thinking the Angels/Sox game will make more money in prime time. What an absolute insult, not just to us, but to the integrity of the game, especially considering that this will affect in whatever degree the home field advantage that we won. Pathetic.

[Mike]

Seriously here guys....we all need to get a petition together or something and do mass non-stop e-mails to TBS or MLB or something. This is absolutely unacceptable. I looked a tthe Sox vs. Angels game times....of course they get the good start times. Of course. Why wouldnt they? MLB YOU SUCK!!! This is absolutely horrible. I cannot believe this is happening.

[Richard]

I am retired so the time doesn't bother me but a lot of working people won't even be able to watch it on TV. Do you think they'd do this to New Yuk or Boztune. I don't think so.

[MLB Sucks!]

Way to get 36,000 tickets sold, hype the biggest game in team history and then stick it to the fans and team by starting the game at 2:30.
How many bought tickets thinking it would be a normal 7:10 evening start and now how many can't take the day off of work to make it? How fair is it to a players routine on game day? Were there any 2:30 starts all year?
All baseball is interested in is the advertising dollar. So many people will have to cancel plans to see Game 1

The Rays, Times and every news station should make this a major story that hammers MLB for selling out the fans of Tampa Bay.

[Mike]

I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS!!!!!!! 2:30 in the afternoon?? I didnt win thier stupid "pre register for the opportunity to possibly win a chance to buy tickets" crap so I had to buy 2 $25 tickets for $130.....and now thid crap????? I CANT EVEN GO TO THE GAME NOW!!!!! I just wasted $130 on 2 tickets that I cant even use. Why the hell is it so important to show every game when the game is at 2:30 in the friggin afternoon?? WE HAVE JOBS YOU KNOW!!!

I cannot believe this. I am really, honestly in shock about how stupid this is. The Rays are an incredible story this year, but MLB is really, really making me question thier logic. This is so stupid.

[Amanda]

Mark-
Fortunately the timing works out for me (I was going to have to miss my Thursday night class, now I can just show up late instead), but man, what a weird time! I mean, I'm lucky on this but I can't imagine that this is going to work in the favor of most people. 2:30 in the afternoon? On a weekday? I feel bad for the people who are either going to seriously have to rework their schedules, but I feel AWFUL for the folks who can't go to the game at all now.
Stupid TBS...

[Mark]

You don't even understand how angry I am about this Game 1 start time. It's absolutely ridiculous.

Now I have to plan on missing two classes because it takes 2 hours for me to get to the stadium, and I can't show up at 2:30 sharp of course, so I have to leave even earlier.

What a stupid thing to do just so TBS can air every game.

[Let's hear it for the RAYS TEAM]

It was a great event seeing the Rays touch down as Champions. I'd say 1000 people were there [plus the mayor].

Let's hear it for the RAYS TEAM--the young women and men who kept the crowd enthusiastic for several hours as we waited.

[Amanda]

Speaking of time changes, Game 1 is at 2:30 in the afternoon on Thursday? Seriously?

[Phil]

Just got back from the airport. There was a great crowd there. Had to be around 700 people or more. Everyone wsa loud and the players walked by high fiving everyone they could reach. They looked tired, but happy to see the reception. Good luck guys. No matter how it ends, it was a season to remember.

[Kenny Blue]

One year ago it was playing out the string and listening to endless Elijah Dukes reports -- what a difference a year makes!! Go Rays Go!

[Travis Del Rosal]

I'm a Yankees fan, but I want to congratulate the Rays for winning the division. Wish I could be there.

[Toby]

Can't make it tonight. I live in New Hampshire but have been a huge fan since 2003. Finally I am able to wear my merchandise in pride. Congrats guys! You are what is good about baseball.

[Pirate77]

Man, I wish I was down there instead of MN. I'd be at the airport! GO RAYS!

[jeff]

Just got back from Baltimore and Detroit - What fun! "Find A Way - Rays"

[Joe]

I was planning to go and take my kids for the 8pm arrival, but now it's going to be too late as it's a school night. Hope others can make it! Go Rays!!

[ben]

Man, I wish I could go and give these guys a nice warm welcome.

They deserve it!

Hopefully, People will show up and cheer them!