Former all-star and World Series MVP Manny Ramirez has resurfaced. Unfortunately it isn't as a baseball player, rather it is as an arrestee.
Ramirez was arrested Monday night and charged with domestic battery after his wife allegedly told police he hit her during a domestic dispute. She called police
Ramirez, who was living in the Weston area of Broward County in South Florida, was booked at the county Sheriff's office and has since been released.
By now, most of us know Ramirez retired from baseball after repeatedly testing positive for steroids. He started this baseball season with the Tampa Bay Rays, but retired in April rather than face another suspension due to issues the MLB's drug prevention and treatment program.
Mostly because this is funny. And it is we guess a baseball tradition. The Tampa Bay Rays, one of the currently hot teams in baseball swept the Boston Red Sox this weekend.
After the game, the team had to catch a flight to Baltimore. And that...is when the teams rookies, of which there are plenty, got to experience hazing...at a major league baseball level.
Check out the photo as they posed for a picture before getting on the airplane. And yes, they had to wear the outfits to check into their Baltimore area hotel too.
We aren't sure who got the worst of this, there are some really scary looking outfits here.
For real? This may be even more bizarre than the story about Mike Gundy being sued.
According to the St.Petersburg Times (FL), Victor Willis, former lead singer of the Village People says he will sue the team for mis-using his image.
Yes, the Village People of "YMCA" fame.
Apparently, the group--sans Willis, who apparently quit the group in 1984, appeared after a Rays game last year. Willis's publicist says they used the original video, which featured Willis (the policeman) and that led people to believe he'd be there.
No....really.
The publicist does say really, they just want the Rays to apologize and promise not to do it again.
No, really.
You can read the bizarre story from TampaBay.com RIGHT HERE
Apparently the Rays politely declined to comment. Ha!
Willis apparently still gets royalty monies from the song, but quite honestly, the motivation for this is just plain weird. Or an attempt at getting publicity. (We go with the latter)
Using this logic, we should, I guess be afraid that we may be sued here for (a) reporting this, (b) using Willis's name and (c) for using a photo of the group and having a laugh about it.
Mr. Willis and publicist, we congratulate you on your successful PR stunt, but we regret to inform you that though profitable, you'll never be more than a novelty act...though we will admit that it appears that novelty pays...rather handsomely.
Well, we couldn't find an embeddable copy of their famous stuff, so you'll have to settle for a dub of their movie, Can't Stop the Music:
Six games into his first season with the Tampa Bay Rays, Manny Ramirez has reportedly told anyone and everyone in and around the Rays and Major League Baseball that he is retiring.
Going 1-for-16 will do that for you out of the box... Kinda like this...
More when we know more... We know more...
1700 UPDATE: MLB informed him that there was an issue with Manny and performance enhancing drugs. ManRam, apparently, tested positive during spring training.
He's retiring rather than face a 100-game suspension...
By now, most of you have read about the Tweet from Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price, calling out his teams fans for not showing up in the stretch drive. Quoteth Price "Had a chance to clinch post season spottonight with about 10,000 fans in the stands...embarrassing". He later said "If I offended anyone I apologize I did not think it was gonna turn into this..."
That wasn't all. All-Star 3rd baseman Evan Longoria tacked on some more, saying in post game comments that "You'd pretty much like to think that a team in a playoff hunt, with an opportunity to clinch, that you could get 30,000 in here to cheer you on". He went on to ask how to get people to come see them play.
More on the issue from TBO.com's Tony Fabrizio RIGHT HERE
We think the guys make valid points, but, they probably shouldn't have shared them. If you've ever been to the Trop, you'd understand why so few actually go. We attended a game in August and there were maybe 15-18,000 in attendance. They were playing another 1st place team, Texas.
Fans at the Trop/Courtesy: Me
We don't blame the fans in this one. The Trop is located in downtown St. Petersburg, perhaps one of the most desolate alleged big-city downtowns in the country. Really, there is nothing that would draw someone from the Tampa area there.
Sure, they are called the "Tampa Bay" Rays, but they are a good 30-minutes from Tampa. There is a much bigger population base in Tampa, in St. Pete, the average age demographic has got to be in the late 50's to early 60's. They aren't hard core sports fans.
We realize the recession hit the area pretty hard, but we truly believe if the team were in the city of Tampa, we wouldn't be having this conversation. We also say that after living in the "Ultimate" apathetic sports city, Atlanta. This we think is different.
The Rays are trying to get a new stadium. Their owner seems to want to do the right thing and get them out of St.Pete. The Mayor of St. Pete, while we sure is an honorable man, is fighting this hard. Unfortunately, the Trop is not a baseball stadium, never has been a baseball stadium and never will be. It just isn't.
We'll keep an eye on this, though we guess that during the playoffs, the stadium will suddenly fill up. The games mean more and at some point, they may end up playing the Yankees, a team with a rather large fanbase in the area.
Check out the postgame comments from Longoria courtesy of Tom Korun and WFTS-TV in Tampa...
What if you tried to take a large coliseum or small dome and decided to oh...say...let's play baseball in it? Yeah, I know there has been a ton of stories on the eccentricities of the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, but the stories become a lot more interesting when you experience the place for yourself.
We got to make our first visit to the nicknamed...Juice Box, otherwise known as Tropicana Field on Wednesday. It definitely wasn't a bad experience, we saw a good game and it was pleasant, enjoyable time...it just had an odd feel to it.
Inside the Juice Box//Courtesy: Me
Part of the lure and atmosphere of baseball is feeling like you are at a tried and true ballpark with history. The Trop doesn't have that. Part of the experience is being someplace that just says ballpark. The Trop doesn't have that.
What it does have. It's a pretty small place, so there aren't a lot of bad seats. It wasn't full, a good crowd, but not a great one. The fans are somewhat knowledgeable and are into the game.
What it doesn't have. Location. It's smack in the heart of St .Petersburg, Florida one of America's most desolate cities. Demographics. Everyone is St. Pete is old. If not everyone...at least 75% of the population that remains. Atmosphere. You don't feel like you are at a real park. It feels like a sort-of large basketball arena.
The game itself was fun. The Rays beat the Texas Rangers 8-6. There were a couple of home runs. And yes, the legendary catwalks came into play. However, Tyler Teagarden's home run was hit so hard, that had it not hit the catwalk over the left center field wall, it would have hit the back wall of the stadium...or it would still be flying. The Rays are a very good, but not great team, however they were much, much better than Texas this week.
The crowd/Courtesy: Me
I understand now why the team wants a new place. Really, to walk the concourse feels like you are at a basketball gym. It's in a horrible location and is not easy to get to if you live in Tampa...or Clearwater...or Orlando...or pretty much any other city in Florida.
It's really kind of hard to put into words why the place is so weird, it just is. For the sake of the fans here, I really hope they get a new place. While I know that the weather is an issue here during the summer, it still is how the game was meant to be played. It's very obvious if you've spent time in the Tampa Bay area they love the team. But not that many go. And it's because of the stadium, not just where it is, the stadium itself, that keeps them from being a big draw.
Wow, I guess I missed this, but check out the Tampa Bay Rays cartoon as they save the world? I feel as though I missed something epic here. Thanks YouTube:
The closest Matt Garza came to a no-hitter was an outing on June 26th of 2008 against the Florida Marlins... until tonight in a 5-0 shutout of the Detorit Tigers.
Garza faces the minimum, one reached, and he registers the first no-hitter in Tampa Bay Rays history.
Falling behind 3-1 to Don Kelly in the ninth, Kelly would eventually ground out to Reid Brignac for out number one. Tigers catcher Gerald Laird was called out looking for out number two, and pinch-hitter Ramon Santiago flew out to right fielder Ben Zobrist.
Santiago was 0-for-2 lifetime against Garza going in... He goes out 0-for-3...
Here's the last out, one of many posts until they all get pulled... ((HT: MLB/FS Rays/MLBAM/lifeiscubes))
Carl Crawford of the Tampa Bay Rays had the misfortune of taking a pickoff throw someplace where most guys cringe. He was leading off 1st base at the time and yeah, probably would've tried to steal 2nd. However Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jake Arrieta tried to pick him off. The throw...however hit him in the family jewels.
Guess it's one way to stop Crawford from stealing. Follow the link to see the video
After starting out 25-10 this year, the Tampa Bay Rays have turned into something just this side of mediocre in the American League East- something that cannot ever happen if you want to maker it out of the division alive by regular season's end...
It seems to be reaching a boil... BJ Upton and Evan Longoria got into it at the ballpark, and while it's not to the Zambrano-Lee scale, it's worth noting...
So, where do they go from here...??? That's the question and that's why this may be one of those seminal moments this season... ((HT: The BigLead via Bubbaprog/Sun Sports/MLB))
Winners never jog during play... The HQ is siding with Longoria until further notice...
Only 149 pitches to do it, too... The HQ would like to check and see if the Diamondbacks are involved in the College World Series and not the MLB regular season...
Edwin Jackson, who has been regarded as a high-level prosepect AND a mediocre major leaguer, can add his name to the stacks with his no-hitter over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Here's the ninth inning... ((HT: MLB Network/FS Arizona/MultiCoolman97))
Jackson walked eight and this was the third time in a year the Rays were no-hit. The HQ would like to also have the D-Backs consult any and all search references for former major league pitcher Richie Lewis.
An interesting battle is brewing in the Tampa Bay region over where to locate their baseball team.
Right now the Rays play at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. The Trop isn't exactly a baseball friendly stadium and it isn't particularly close to Tampa. That may have a hand in the team not drawing as well as they probably should.
Now, it comes to light that (a) The owner of the Rays wants out of St. Pete (b) St. Pete wants them to stay and (c) Tampa thinks they would be a better fit on the other side of the bay..
Check out the story from abcactionnews.com RIGHT HERE
((Tampa Bay Rays Logo//Courtesy: Tommybloggingsports.com))
Having grown up in Florida and having spent a decent amount of time on the gulf coast, Tampa has a legit argument here. We get the whole "play nice with your neighbor" thing, but business is business.
St. Pete isn't exactly someplace that people clamor to go to, to say the demographics there skew old...would be a huge understatement. It is one of the city's that Florida gets it's "Retirement Haven" moniker.
Tampa is a larger, more diverse town with a lot more going for it. It's only 30 miles from St. Pete which is great for those few Rays fans who actually live there.
Yes, there are a lot more hurdles and details to go through if the Rays want to stay in the Tampa Bay area. The stadium is going to be expensive; really expensive for an area still trying to recover from the recession.
We'll keep an eye on this story, it should be interesting.
Here is the TV version of the story from ABC Action News:
Jon Lester held the Rays to one hit over six innings last night in a 2-0 victory, the Red Sox's second in a row over Tampa.
Lester was getting a generous strike zone from Bob Davidson, but the first pitch he threw to Carl Crawford in the bottom of the fifth inning set everyone off.
Davidson called the pitch a strike, which was good enough for an argument from Crawford and then Rays manager Joe Maddon. Both were ejected for arguing.
Crawford had been called out looking earlier in the game...
"I know why I was kicked out, but I had a good time when I was out there," said Maddon, who said there was a "wide strike zone" throughout the game.
Here's the locker room... just in time for the two Rays to get suspension offers from the league office...
The Oakland A's Dallas Braden pitched the 19th perfect game in major league history- shutting down Tampa Bay 4-0.
Gabe Kapler grounded out to shortstop for the final out- the first perfect game for Oakland in 42 years ((Catfish Hunter)).
The closest the Rays got to a hit was Jason Bartlett's liner to third leading off the game. Evan Longoria tried to bunt against Braden leading off the fifth, drawing boos from the small crowd.
"It's without a doubt a team effort," Braden said. "You got eight guys out there chasing balls and knocking balls down for me. So this is ours, not just mine, this is ours. ... It's just a tremendous feeling for the team, for everybody, for the organization. It's been a while since we've had something like that happen around here. It's never happened to me, that's for sure."
Just ask his grandmother... Kate Longworth caught up with her knee-deep in the hoopla... ((HT: CSNCalifornia))
Whaddya think Alex Rodriguez will do when these two teams hook up again...???
Tampa Bay Rays catcher Dioner Navarro has been suspended for two games and fined for "inappropriate conduct," which includes contact with umpire Dan Bellino during Friday's game against Toronto at Tropicana Field.
Grant Balfour had just thrown a ball to Adam Lind to make the count 2-2 when Navarro turned to face Bellino. The Rays catcher began jawing with him, prompting the ejection. At that point, Navarro bumped the umpire.
Unless Navarro appeals, he is scheduled to serve his suspension tonight and tomorrow against Oakland.
If he appeals, his suspension will be held off until a final decision is made.
Here's some video of Navarro and Matt Garza celebrating Tampa's title run drenched with the bubbly... ((HT: WTSP-TV))
Tampa Bay Rays Carl Crawford tied the modern-day record for stealing six bases against the Boston Red Sox over the weekend. His shoes will be taking a walk somewhere special- Cooperstown. Justin Allen from WTSP-TV and 10Connects has the reaction...
The envelop please. The American League Rookie Of The Year is.... Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays. This was a no brainer. Longoria slugged 27 home runs, drove in 122 runs and batted .272. Clearly the best rookie in the AL.
The National League Rookie of the Year is a catcher, Geovany Soto of the Chicago Cubs is the winner. Soto batted .285 with 23 home runs.
Guess who the last Cubs was to win the Rookie of the Year award? Jerome Walton in 1989. What ever happened to Walton.
Congrats to the world champion Philadelphia Phillies and closer Brad Lidge (pictured, thanks tsn.ca). The Phils won the first ever W.S. rain-delayed Game 5 by defeating the Tampa Bay ((don't say Devil)) Rays 4-3.
The Phils won the Series 4-1, and I'm sure were happy to shut the door on the Rays while still in Citizens Bank Park. The 28-year wait is over...
More coming...
Enjoy the champagne...
Hopefully, friend of OSG/Sports Anchor-Reporter Angela Jacobs can get some rest now...
Oh, yeah... we forgot... it's November Ratings Period now... Stake your claim to Christmas and New Year's NOW, AJ!!!
Reminder: Below is what happens when people in Philadelphia are pleased with themselves...
Note To Self: Keep Philadelphia Miserable on Principle... ((HT: walkoffwalk))
We're going to try something... as long as this link lasts... Occasionally, there should be some live television-type programming from Tampa surrounding that best-of-seven game series that starts today...
News, sports, features... this is live television, folks... Check in during normal news broadcast hours east coast time... We'll all see what happens...
With a grand total of five games of regular-season experience, Tampa ((Don't Say Devil)) Rays pitcher David Price gets a four-out save to send the team to their first-ever World Series.
Click here to hear the winning call, courtesy of the Rays Radio Network.
The Rays ((with Erick Aybar scoring, thanks tbo.com/Chris Urso)) defeat the Boston Red Sox four games to three. Game one of the Series against the Philadelphia Phillies is Wednesday Night.
WTSP-CBS10 ((SIDENOTE: For those of you that missed our live simulcast of 10Connects coverage after the clinching victory, we'll have coverage from friend of OSG, Anchor Angela Jacobs, all series long... as soon as they post her material from down there...))
A big sixth inning put the Tampa Bay ((Don't Say Devil)) Rays one win away from the 2008 World Series...
How weird is that to say...?
We're this/close to a Phillies/Rays Fall Classic... Once again... how weird is that to say...
Those crashing sounds were the executives at the Fox Network wishing things would be a little, ((oh hell, a LOT)) different than the way it's shaping up to be...
Your Big Sixth Inning is below... ((HT: TBS/MLB/MLB.com))
