Shocking Love From Above
March 30th, 2016
The Rays will roll out the red carpet for Major League Baseball’s head honcho on Opening Day.
News of Rob Manfred’s visit was announced Tuesday, continuing the recent hugfest between Tampa Bay and the second-year commissioner. It was only a week ago, during the Cuba excursion, that Manfred spoke of the Rays like a proud papa after watching how the local ballclub repped the league in Havana.
Yes, there are larger stages where Manfred could kick up his feet Sunday. Joe finds it interesting that the commish chose the sold out FruitDome as his perch instead of Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium, where the Mets and Royals will stage a World Series rematch Sunday night. This will be the first time an MLB commissioner has visited the Trop for a Rays opener.
Hey, it only took 19 seasons.
The love from above is a welcome change. After all, Bud Selig seemed more eager to tip-toe through a mausoleum at midnight on Halloween than step foot in St. Pete during the twilight of his tenure as commissioner.
Yeah, yeah, the FruitDome has its faults. But it’s not like the walls are rotting at the place. It was a shame how Selig kept the Rays – and their fans – at a distance in his final years as baseball’s boss before he faded into the background. Good riddance.
Manfred is a breath of fresh air. Make yourself at home, Commissioner.
Rob Manfred will attend #OpeningDay, marking the 1st visit by an @MLB commissioner for #Rays opener at the Trop. pic.twitter.com/iB449sp8BO
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) March 29, 2016
March 31st, 2016 at 12:56 pm
Screw Selig! The way that worm dis respected my home team any chance he got, I would love to come across that guy face to face to tell him what a douche he is. Along with several national talking heads.
March 31st, 2016 at 4:13 pm
St. Petersburg will always play second fiddle to Tampa, like it always has. Move the Rays to Tampa because that is what will happen eventually. The Rays in wrinkle city is a joke and has been from the onset.