Name could be big change

By MARC TOPKIN
Published January 15, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - The team on the field might not reflect it, but the Devil Rays organization is undergoing significant change.

With a fresh approach and attitude under the new ownership and management, there are millions being spent to upgrade the facility and improve the fan experience. There are creative executives being hired, and holdover ones being empowered. There are all kinds of innovative concepts (clean restrooms! a decent sound system!) floating around along with new ideas, such as plans for a huge touch tank of live rays on the right-centerfield patio.

Bigger news might be coming.

Top officials are privately talking about ideas that would change the entire look and identity of the team for the 2007 season - from the name to the colors to the logos to the uniforms.

At the least, it seems likely the word "Devil" will be dropped, as it already is in some official team references. Then a decision has to be made whether to continue associating Rays with the sea creatures or to connect with the sun. Or there could be a new name, such as the Tampa Bay Tarpons.

The name issue likely will drive the others, and it reasons that if one is changed they all will be, and done neatly to commemorate what will be marketed as the 10th anniversary season.

Discussions are very much preliminary. Concepts have to be designed. Focus groups need to be convened. MLB officials have to be consulted. Procedures must be followed, including a March31 deadline to notify MLB of a possible change and details by May31. Decisions have to be made.

The team on the field in 2007 is expected to be considerably better. From the sound of the whispers, it will look considerably different too.

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE: If current plans being discussed with the Florida Aquarium go through, the touch tank will be a featured attraction, big enough to hold 25-35 rays, open to all fans and visible from the playing field.

RAYS RUMBLINGS: If the Rays trade Julio Lugo (and the Red Sox, Cubs and Mets remain interested), and if they don't acquire Kaz Matsui from the Mets, they would likely sign Royce Clayton or (ex-Marlin) Alex Gonzalez to play shortstop until B.J. Upton is ready. ... If Matsui is acquired, he'll have an immediate connection with new reliever Shinji Mori - they were longtime teammates with Seibu in Japan. ... Upton is back in the Tampa Bay area to work out and soon will have another fielding session with Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith. ... Aubrey Huff's recent radio rant about being tired of trade rumors was nothing he hasn't said before. And his assessment that the Rays "really haven't done anything to improve" is hardly a unique thought, though team officials probably prefer their highest-paid employee wasn't saying it. ... Was reliever Trever Miller getting at something when, upon leaving the Rays to sign with the Astros, he said: "It's good to come back to an organization that has a lot of professionalism, which I'm all about." ... The tireless efforts of area sports booster Bill Bunker, who died last week of cancer, should be remembered by all involved with the Rays. ... Former player development/scouting director Cam Bonifay applied for the AD job at Georgia Tech. ... Arbitration figures are exchanged Tuesday; eligible Rays include Jesus Colome, Casey Fossum, Travis Harper, Mark Hendrickson, Travis Lee and Josh Paul. ... New manager Joe Maddon and his coaching staff will assemble in St. Petersburg this week for meetings. ... The 60-man provisional roster for the U.S. World Baseball Classic team is announced Monday, with outfielder Carl Crawford among the candidates.

MINOR MATTERS: Baseball America ranked the Rays' top 10 prospects, though without Upton, who would have been second but is not eligible under the magazine's rules: OF Delmon Young, RHP Jeff Niemann, RHP Jason Hammel, SS Reid Brignac, OF Elijah Dukes, RHP Wade Davis, 1B Wes Bankston, RHP Chad Orvella, RHP Matt Walker, RHP Chris Mason.

[Last modified January 15, 2006, 01:48:18]