My First Experience at Spring Training

Today was a first for me.

I went to the first team workout for the Rays. I was like a little kid in a candy store. It was so exciting. I was just totally enamored with watching these men on the field. I couldn't get over how surreal it was. I kept saying to myself, WOW these are professional baseball players and they are right there... and they will be on national tv like next week.

I couldn't wrap my head around it.

And then, I got to see them UP CLOSE!

MATT JOYCE <3 

DAVID PRICE

JAMES SHIELDS (and one of my FAVORITE shots from the day)

You can check out the rest of my photos on my Flickr page. 

We are going back again tomorrow, maybe I will actually get an autograph!!!  

Spring Training Practice .... OR BUST

Well yesterday turned out to be a disappointment. 

Firefighter (my boyfriend) and I got up, got dressed in our Rays attire and packed our car and headed down to Port Charlotte to watch the Rays practice. I was all atwitter with anticipation and excitement. I felt like a giddy little kid. 

Until we got to the park....

We arrived late. 

30 minutes late...thereby missing practice. (commence heartbreak and disappointment)

On the way back to the car a woman who had arrived early shared with me the autographed batting glove she received from Matt Joyce!!!! I happen to be a Matt Joyce fan, so that was particularly upsetting to me, but totally AWESOME for her. Later in the day, I found out via twitter that all the players signed autographs yesterday... double whammy bummer.

SOOOO..... Firefighter and I headed home and made plans to attend the first squad workout tomorrow.  Hopefully we will get some autographs. And we are leaving at 7am tomorrow so as to avoid any chance of missing them!!! Lesson has been learned!!!!!

Budding Rays Confidence and Heightened Expectations

Like all MLB teams the Rays have added a handful of new players to their organization during our off season. These additions, coupled with the ridiculously talented remaining club members are promoting speculation, already, that the Rays are World Series bound. It's no surprise with their past post-season appearances that they are anticipated to make another appearance in October, and hopefully take home the coveted World Series ring. It would definitely be a testament to the fact that a heavy payroll doesn't always guarantee domination.


Joe Maddon is not shying away from this abundance of optimism. In fact, he is embracing it head on. An interview with Andrew Friedman and Joe Maddon allowed each of them to express their exuding confidence in this still "young" team,"This team is good enough to get back to the World Series," declared a confident Joe Maddon."I like the idea of expectations being raised. I'd rather be managing expectations than building them." Andrew Friedman echoed this sentiment, confirming,"It is a great thing to have those expectations." 


The combination of the young and veteran players could work in the Rays favor. Adding players like, veteran catcher Jose Molina , utility infielder Jeff Keppinger, designated hitter Luke Scott and returning 1st baseman Carlos Pena , to name a few, will definitely help the Rays compete with the AL East big spending New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. 


One thing we have to look forward to this season is watching Maddon switch things up and keep people guessing. Can't wait to see what the season has in store of the fans, the players and the looks on the faces of opposing teams, when we knock their socks off. 


It's World Series..... OR BUST!!!


sources include:
Confident Tampa Bay Rays Enter New Season: Fan's Look - Jeff Briscoe and 
Rays Heightened Expectations - Fred Goodall 

Spring is in the Air... BASEBALL IS BACK BABY!!

I am getting excited. Spring is in the air and you know what that means? 

Baseball is back baby!!!!

I have already purchased tickets for the March 15th game of the Philadelphia Phillies vs. Tampa Bay Rays! It's a divided game for my family and I. My family hails from Pennsylvania but I am a Florida cracker, born and raised. It's all in good fun though. I am grateful that they do not play each other on a regular basis. Oh the tension that would create! Hopefully I will be able to attend more than one game during spring training. I also have plans to see them play the Baltimore Orioles on April 2nd. Good times!! 

So lots has happened over the off season:

Carlos Pena has returned! YAY!!! Very exciting!! 

We lost Shoppach to Boston

Justin Ruggiano decided on free agency

We signed Matt Moore to a 5 year deal 

We signed OF Jeff Keppinger

To name a few things. 

Looking forward to the new season!!!