Letters to the Editors

Trop's great on inside

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 30, 2000

Darrell Fry's commentary Friday comparing Tropicana Field and Turner Field (Atlanta's Turner Field tops Trop for fan fun) struck a nerve. I am a Devil Rays season ticket holder and have enjoyed the atmosphere and the games at the Trop. It's a very comfortable, fan-friendly environment to see a game when it's 90 degrees, 90 percent humidity and another storm is rolling into the area.

The atmosphere that Mr. Fry felt in Atlanta is more about the atmosphere associated with a winning tradition. The "real major-league baseball" game he saw in Atlanta is all about having a good crowd and taking part of an event with a group of fellow fans. There is an energy and atmosphere associated with that that could be mistaken by a fan such as Mr. Fry.

I am from Cleveland originally and love going there to watch the Rays in Jacobs Field. But as nice as Jacobs Field is, there are none of the things he classifies as being at a "real major-league baseball game" as he saw in Atlanta.

There are no statues, monuments, video walls and virtual games. There are only huge crowds and fans who love the game.

We have a core group of fans in Tampa Bay that is true to its home team now, but winning and the larger crowds that will follow will make the Trop an even better place to see a game. Obviously Mr. Fry won't be there.
-- Steve Levin, Seminole

In reference to Darrell Fry's column, I would like to point out a few pertinent facts.

He chose to criticize the Devil Rays organization because we don't have enough going on outside the stadium. There are no local radio stations airing live programming, no live music and no one handing out "free stuff."

The aim of the Devil Rays organization is to entertain fans inside Tropicana Field. One of the best things about Tropicana Field is that it is a cool place to be -- 72 degrees in fact -- while outside, fans must deal with the heat and humidity that goes with summertime in our region. Our fans have told us they would rather be inside out of the oppressive conditions. It's why we have an indoor stadium in the first place.

And it's why we have concentrated on giving fans a great deal to do inside: two cigar bars, the Batter's Eye Restaurant, cyber cafe, climbing wall, kids areas, game rooms, an obstacle course, speed pitch machines, virtual batting machines, father-and-son games of catch on the field on Sundays, kids run the bases after day games, a hot tub and soon, a billiard room.

I have yet to receive one letter from a fan unhappy that we don't have a band outside. While it seems to have really upset Darrell Fry, people that come to Tropicana Field regularly know that it is better to be inside.

It also helps keep our ticket and parking prices lower than all of the franchises he compared us to in his column.

Instead of writing about how we have more discounted ticket programs than any team in baseball except one, Darrell complains that going to a Devil Rays game is not a real major-league game, apparently because not enough is going on outside the stadium.

As for "free stuff" Darrell, we have 28 giveaways on our schedule this season -- many for kids.

Incidentally, every Sunday at Tropicana Field the Rays and interestingly enough, the St. Petersburg Times, sponsor a Family Funday outside the Trop.
-- Rick Vaughn, Rays vice president, public relations

Organization doesn't get it

The Devil Rays organization just does not get it! Not only is the team horrible but the entire management from a business perspective is incompetent. Years of pent-up consumer demand for baseball, lack of competition for entertainment dollars, a lot of public funds, and you blow it. Anyone ever hear of customer-focused management? The only thing bringing fans to the park these days is their loyalty to particular players, and you trade many of them today. It must be convenient to blame the local market for not being true sports fans when attendance is dismal. Guess what, guys, even if that were true (laugh), you still look bad for not doing the proper market research (definition found in basic marketing text) before investing millions of dollars. I realize you know everything about baseball and business, but you might want to call the Glazers sometime.
-- Jim Stoddard, via e-mail

Manager hurts Rays

Let me get this straight. Ryan Rupe pitches six solid innings with 78 pitches. Devil Rays manager Larry Rothschild yanks him for Jim Mecir, who gives up a walk and a run. Rothschild yanks him for Mark Guthrie, who gives up a run. Suddenly a game that was a no-brainer is 5-4. Rothschild is an inconsistent coach. Send him back to Miami and get us a real manager. Our bullpen stinks; our coach stinks. I don't know if we won or lost, because I turned it off.
-- Kenneth Kennedy, Palmetto

Rays fill-in Russell perfect

Don't you think maybe we should shake up the Devil Rays coaching staff a bit? Maybe Bill Russell should manage, and Larry Rothschild should take the bench coach seat. Two wins in two tries for the ex-Dodger.

Russell employed a double steal that worked in Detroit. He called a safety squeeze in K.C. that worked with Felix Martinez driving in Vinny Castilla. And he managed the pitching staff well, taking out Rupe after 73 pitches and five innings.

Larry would probably have let Rupe allow a couple more runs before calling in the cavalry.
-- Joel Hersch, Clearwater

Castilla adds little for price

How could it be possible that Vinny Castilla signs a $7-million contract with the Devil Rays and then proceeds not only to forget how to hit, but his fielding skills have deteriorated to Class-A level? Two Expos runs two weeks ago -- essentially the difference in the game -- were the direct result of Castilla's inability to make the routine play. He looks lost, a man content with collecting the big contract, with no heart (or ability) left to play. We looked to him to be a big part of the Hit Show this year.

Maybe it's time to take the Kevin Stocker approach -- cut our losses on the scoreboard in exchange for some enormous financial penalties.Jim Sanders, Tierra Verde
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TV executives ruin sports
Watching sports on television is becoming harder to enjoy. I would love to see the old days again, when you could enjoy a sporting event from start to finish. If the executives at ABC think an empty racetrack and cars driving in a circle is more important than watching Tiger Woods accepting the most sacred jug on the planet, they've lost touch.
Can someone tell me why they let these geeks who have never played sports make decisions that frustrate the loyal sports fans and cut off the parts of sports that give us goose bumps? Watch the speech that Justin Leonard gave when he won the British Open a few years back, and you'll want your children to grow up like these role models.
First we had the weatherman at Ch. 8 snub us at Pebble Beach, and now this. And they wonder why ratings go up and down.Michael Raynor, Clearwater

Tampa snubs tailgaters

I am in agreement that Al Lopez Park is one of the premier tailgating spots in the NFL. In defense of Malcolm Glazer, it was the Tampa City Council that banned tailgating in the southern part of the park. When this issue first arose last fall, City Council chairman Charlie Miranda explained this was being done because Bucs fans destroy the green space and local residents have complained for years they can't use the park on game days.

I called the mayor's office at that time and was told if I didn't reside within the city limits my objections would likely do no good and there was nothing that could be done since this was a motion passed by the City Council. Fortunately the north end of the park is still accessible to tailgaters -- until Charlie the anti-Buc can figure out a way to curtail that.
-- Jim Carnrike, Brandon

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