It's not easy being the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. They've never finished out of last in their going-on-10-season existence. They are last in the league in attendance, by a lot. They play in a charmless mausoleum of a stadium. And their best prospects tend to have bad things happen to them: their careers are derailed by drugs (Josh Hamilton), they can't stay healthy (Rocco Baldelli), they lose the ability to find the strike zone (Dewon Brazelton), they get caught having sex with a minor (Toe Nash), they get shot (Delvin James, Nick Bierbrodt), they throw a bat at an umpire (Delmon Young), or they threaten to kill their wife and children (Elijah Dukes). And those are just the ones I can remember off the top of my head. Oh yeah, they also signed John Rocker and Julio "Wife-Beater" Lugo. And Jose Canseco.
A lesser team would have given up and moved by now. But armed with an iron will and an ironclad 30-year albatross of a lease, the Devil Rays press on, seeking creative ways to convince people to drive a long way to a bad stadium to see a bad team. I admire their plucky, never-say-die spirit.
What's Tampa Bay's latest brainstorm? It's Pirate Night!
To quote their press release:
On Saturday, June 2, it will be Pirate Night and fans will get a choice of either Rays Beads (first 5,000) or a Rays Bandana (first 10,000). Also, there will be floats in Lot 7, the Gasparilla Cut Throat Chorus will sing the National Anthem and the Ye Old Krewe will parade on-field pre-game and will perform Take Me Out to the Ballgame during the 7th Inning Stretch.
Why is it Pirate Day? I assumed at first that the Pittsburgh Pirates were coming to town, and the marketing staff found a clever way to spruce up an otherwise drab interleague matchup. But no, they're playing Kansas City that night.
In case that wasn't enough to entice you, the Rays are also giving away Scott Kazmir posters to the first 7,000 fans. Yes, in what may be a first for a major-league team, the Rays are offering three different giveaways on the same night. Plus the Gasparilla Cut Throat Chorus.
On the other hand, why else would you want to see a Rays-Royals game?
Posted by Mediocre Fred at May 29, 2007 12:51 PM | TrackBackCoincidentally, the Alley Theater in Houston is having "Dress Like a Pirate" night tonight for their production of Treasure Island.
Posted by: PG at May 31, 2007 12:02 PMThe Pittsburgh Pirates seem to have "Dress Like A Pirate Night" every night. Only those who dress up wind up on the field instead of the stands.
(Apologies to Pittsburgh fans...you deserve a better team/owner)
Posted by: PapaShaft at June 1, 2007 07:01 PM