Tampa Bay Rays quash bobblehead giveaway at Clearwater Threshers games

                                                                          [ JIM DAMASKE  |  Times]

Bobble-heads of WS Champs Phillies players Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley that have been given away by the minor league Clearwater Thrashers.

   The Phillies’ Clearwater-based minor-league team was forced to cancel tonight’s scheduled giveaway of a Pat Burrell bobblehead, and six others later this season, when the Rays complained they violated major-league marketing rules.
   “It’s disappointing to us and it’s disappointing to our fans,’’ Threshers GM John Timberlake said. “”We were in violation of the agreement and we didn't realize it. We’re trying to stay good-natured about it. We're minor-league baseball.’’
   The Phillies beat the Rays in the World Series last year, and the Clearwater farm team scheduled a series of promotions tied to it, with bobbleheads of each starting player. They’d already given out two this season (as well as a replica of the Series trophy), and tonight was to be Burrell, who signed this season with the Rays. “Talk about adding irony to irony,’’ Timberlake said.
    The Rays defended their actions in a statement from vice president Rick Vaughn:  “The Phillies organization recognized they were in violation of Major League Baseball’s territorial rights guidelines and cancelled the promotion. We appreciate their attention to this matter.”
   The Rays had some issues with the Phillies during the Series, complaining about the poor security and treatment of their families in the stands. The Phillies visit the Trop June 23-25.
   Timberlake said the Clearwater-based team has given out Phillies-branded items often in past seasons and “we’ve never had an issue, we’ve never been called on anything prior to this.’’
    Under the MLB rules, the Rays have control over their home market, and the same policy would apparently apply to the Dunedin, Tampa and Lakeland FSL teams.
   Could the Rays actions have anything to do with the outcome of the Series?
   “I have no idea,’’ Timberlake said. “I don’t know where this is coming from. I know I felt perfectly fine about the outcome of the Series.’’

Comments

[Ray]

"The Rays had some issues with the Phillies during the Series, complaining about the poor security and treatment of their families in the stands."

Philly fans treating opposing team fans bad? Is that something new? They've always done it. Got to be the worse fans in the country.

They even threw snowballs at Santa and said nasty things about Jurevicius' son dying. Real classy Philly!

[joemaddonsucks.com]

Haha, SC-Carl, that was well put about those that complain, then whine about parking meters. It did seem kind of chincy, but what if it did draw people to their game tonight instead of Rays games? Two sides to each story, but if it's in the rules, why are the Phillies doing it to begin with, and then supposedly don't know about it..Please..they have given those away for years and finally got stopped. They wouldn't like it if a AAA team near Philly did it to them..but then again Philly folks wouldn't go to AAA instead of the Phils. Either way, GO RAYS, and great point by SC-CARL.

[TriplePlay]

They should give it to the Rays as a reminder of when Pat was getting some hits.

[SC-Carl]

It's called business. They enforced the rules. So many people out there scream for sports teams to spend an extra million dollars or five to get a player, as if they have a say. These same people have rectums which tighten up like snare drums when the parking meter times are extended. Get in business for yourself and then criticize the Rays

[Steve Persall]

It's also Bark at the Ballpark Night, and we never miss one. Mojo will be disappointed to know he won't have Burrell's bobbing head to sleep with. Right on with the tiki bar, Kennedy. TVs to watch the Rays, too.

[Kennedy]

Any ever go to Bright House field? It's close to the action, has a great tiki bar and in spite of the temperature, there is usually a nice breeze blowing. This action makes me want to spend a little more money in Clearwater, less in St Pete.
Oh by the way, the part of the story regarding Phillies fans-how is this pertinent? A few fans not being nice is going to cause the cancellation of the promotion? A bit of a stretch.

[BigBucDaddy]

Is it too late to give "Bobblehead" Burrell back to the Phillies? HE SUCKS!

[slb]

My thoughts exactly mockdraught!!!

[mockdraught]

How utterly petty. Rays should cast their eyes in the mirror more. Is the legacy of Vince Naimoli that hard to exorcise?