maybe you should throw the rays first pitch
The Rays appear to be a bind going into their first ever playoff series next week: they do not have anyone lined up to throw out the first pitch (Note: the emphasis is mine).
| Pros | Cons | |
| Jon Gruden | Coach of most popular team in Tampa Bay | Limited availability during season |
| Dick Vitale | Most visible Rays fan | May result in Cincy mayor debacle |
| Barry Melrose | Bolts Head coach | New to Tampa Bay |
| John Lynch, Warren Sapp, or Mike Alstott | Popular retired Bucs player | Has not played for Bucs for some time |
| Lee Roy Selmon | Only Bucs HOFer | Been even longer since he played |
| Gov. Charlie Crist | From St Pete | Partisan candidate |
“We don’t have anyone to throw out the ball for our first playoff game,” Tampa Bay President Matt Silverman said.
“MLB asked us who it’d be. We realized nobody in the history of the franchise had done anything to be worthy of the honor.”
To quote Rays Index, “the truth hurts.”
There are a number of options if the Rays want to look outside the franchise though.
Maybe it’s just my personal bias but a number of the better candidates come from the Bucs.
Considering the football team is still the most popular franchise in the area, it would not be a bad idea to have a Tampa Bay Buccaneer throw out the first pitch.
Are there any good candidates that I missed?
Who would you like to see throw out the first pitch at the Rays first ever playoff game?
Tags: baseball, charlie crist, pitch, playoffs, rays, st pete, Tampa Bay Rays
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September 26th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
While I love John Lynch and am still bitter about that Bucs move, I wouldn’t go with him, Sapp or Alstott. Crist would definitely love that photo op and he’s from St. Pete of course.
September 26th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
How about george steinbrenner? He’d be the only Yankee to make an appearence in this year’s postseason.
September 26th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
I vote for Lee Roy. He’s a solid citizen whose contributions to the community didn’t end when he stopped playing.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Joe Redner
September 27th, 2008 at 10:44 am
How about Bob Stewart, outgoing Pinellas County Commissioner, who has been involved since Day 1 with getting a team and building the dome?
September 27th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Get that guy named Szasz who yells during all Rays games. “Lemme put that ball over the plate babaaaay!”
Unbelievably there used to be Rays “fans” who thought he was too loud, mainly because nobody else would make any noise. Thank the Good Lord that the Trop’s days of being the world’s biggest sports cathedral are OVER!
September 27th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Jessica Sierra and Debra LeFarve :p
In all seriousness, it should be someone with long local ties to baseball — not football coaches or players. Tampa Bay in general has too rich a history in baseball to go to the shallow end of the pool and select someone from another sport (or a local politician) to do the job.
September 27th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
You make a good point, John. And if Al Lopez were still alive, there’d be no contest.
September 28th, 2008 at 2:23 am
Maybe not for the first game, but I would think having Generals Patreus, Franks, and Schwarzkoff (sp?) together to throw out three simulanteous 1st pitches would be kinda cool. Especially since they are all in the Tampa area.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:35 am
OK, this finally occurred to me who should do it… and this will earn groans everywhere, or should at least.
Vincent J. Naimoli.
It sounds like a joke, really, but he hasn’t been anywhere during the Rays run this year. I don’t recall much coverage of him since he was pushed out by Sternberg (praise the heavens, holy the mayo). I’m the last person who wants to throw Vince a bone after his years of arrogance, pomposity, ineptitude and what not… but lets face it, Vince is the guy who put the Rays in TB ultimately. He ought to be acknowledged.
September 28th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Sure thing, John. Let’s acknowledge him during the World Series, seeing as the Rays would never EVER get that far with VinnyMac in charge. He can take all the credit in the world (and still does) for bringing MLB to Tampa Bay. But plenty of other people have gotten it to where it is now. You don’t hear any of them whining for credit, now do ya?
September 29th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Well, at least I didn’t recommend someone who will be out of the country on Thursday. Or someone from another professional sport. I brought up someone who might get booed heavily when he is announced — but the public will know him AND he has a connection to the Rays. I can’t say the same thing for a county commissioner, or Rick Dodge, or various others who were part of the process to bring the team into the area.
Also, at least I hadn’t suggested Chuck LaMar and Larry Rothschild :p
September 30th, 2008 at 6:43 am
I think it should have been Alstott. After all, he threw out the first pitch of the regular season.