Diane Villanova was waiting for us when we arrived at the ballpark. She escorted us to the field and made sure we had everything we needed including an Express Pass to pet the rays swimming in a tank in center field.
Around the batting cage, the Rays players were very accessible. We were with a group from Westchester, NY. Seven kids were clamoring for autographs and the Ray's players accommodated them in spades, signing everything thrust at them by eager little hands. And then posing for individual and group shots, really talking with the kids and ably fulfilling the professional baseball players hero role. I'm not an autograph hound, but even I couldn't resist asking Evan Longoria to sign our scorebook. Cool.
Then there were the baseballs. People risk serious injury diving in the stands for baseballs or standing in front of a screaming line drive to catch one. Kids beam when a major league baseball ends up in their hands. The Rays clearly understand this love affair with the round, stitched leather. We've never seen such effort to get baseballs to kids. For example at the end of a half inning, youngsters storm the dugout pleading for the ball that landed in the player's glove for the third out. On several occasions, not only the third out ball landed in outstretched little gloves, but additional ones came out of the dugout as well. And during batting practice the downpour of baseballs to kids matched the storm outside. Nice job Rays.
The game itself was a good one, except the Rays lost 4-3. Reese caught a t-shirt during the seventh inning stretch toss. He promptly handed it to a lady in front of us who was absolutely thrilled with the addition to her Rays wardrobe.
One of the things we've noticed on this trip is the employment of cheerleaders by both the Marlins and Rays. Can't recall seeing that before.
We did experience another housing challenge tonight. During the game I received a call from America's Best Inn letting me know they closed the front desk at 9 pm. We received instructions on opening the lock box where we found our room key.
Off day tomorrow as we make the long drive to Atlanta and ballpark 31.
Then there were the baseballs. People risk serious injury diving in the stands for baseballs or standing in front of a screaming line drive to catch one. Kids beam when a major league baseball ends up in their hands. The Rays clearly understand this love affair with the round, stitched leather. We've never seen such effort to get baseballs to kids. For example at the end of a half inning, youngsters storm the dugout pleading for the ball that landed in the player's glove for the third out. On several occasions, not only the third out ball landed in outstretched little gloves, but additional ones came out of the dugout as well. And during batting practice the downpour of baseballs to kids matched the storm outside. Nice job Rays.
The game itself was a good one, except the Rays lost 4-3. Reese caught a t-shirt during the seventh inning stretch toss. He promptly handed it to a lady in front of us who was absolutely thrilled with the addition to her Rays wardrobe.
One of the things we've noticed on this trip is the employment of cheerleaders by both the Marlins and Rays. Can't recall seeing that before.
We did experience another housing challenge tonight. During the game I received a call from America's Best Inn letting me know they closed the front desk at 9 pm. We received instructions on opening the lock box where we found our room key.
Off day tomorrow as we make the long drive to Atlanta and ballpark 31.
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