Ultimate Baseball Road Trip (41 page)

Though their futility was certainly not by design, there was an advantage to finishing with the worst or next-to-worst record in baseball for so many consecutive years. Throughout the 2000s the Rays picked at the top of each round in the Amateur Draft, stocking their farm system with the game’s very best prospects. Sure, there were misses along the way, like Josh Hamilton, whose drug problems earned him a ticket out of the Tampa Bay system before he got squared away, and Elijah Dukes, whose own personal problems derailed his once-promising career; however, there were also smart picks along the way like Carl Crawford, Delmon Young, Rocco Baldelli, B.J. Upton, Evan Longoria, Jeff Niemann, Jeremy Hellickson, Wade Davis, and David Price. Trades for budding stars like Scott Kazmir and Matt Garza also paved the way for future success.

When success did come to St. Petersburg, it came suddenly. In their last season as the “Devil Rays” the team went from finishing thirty games out of first place in 2007 with an MLB-worst record of 66-99 to posting a 97-65 mark the next year as the “Rays.” Not only was that the franchise’s first winning season, but it resulted in a first-place finish and a trip to the World Series. The Rays ultimately lost to the Phillies, but not before dispatching the White Sox in the AL Division Series and the defending champion Red Sox in the AL Championship Series. The first truly magical moment in franchise history occurred on October 19, 2008, when Garza and three relievers beat Boston, 3-1, to earn a hard-fought seven-game series victory. More than forty thousand Tampa Bay fans cheered wildly as Price, who was pitching out of the bullpen as a rookie, closed the door on the Red Sox with two strikeouts and a groundout in the ninth. The Rays ran into a hot Phillies team, though, and fell, four games to one in the Classic. After a disappointing 2009, the Rays were right back atop the AL East in 2010, although the post-season gods did not treat them so kindly, as the World-Series-bound Rangers knocked them out of the first round of the playoffs. They made the playoffs again in 2001, but again fell to the Rangers in the first round.

Surely, the Rays will have their chance to play in October again. Making it all the way to baseball’s highest seat will continue to be an uphill climb for the franchise, however, so long as the local fan support remains tepid. To compete year-in and year-out, teams need to not only run smart draft and minor league operations but also retain their very best players when they reach their primes and gain free-agent eligibility. Until the fans start filling the seats in St. Petersburg it’s difficult to imagine how the Rays will afford to lock up their exciting young players. This is the same conundrum Billy Beane’s A’s wrestled with for years in Oakland. For a while, money-ball, smoke and mirrors proved enough to keep the A’s among the game’s top contenders, but the steady hemorrhage of talent eventually caught up with them. We foresee it catching up with the Rays too. Of course, it doesn’t have to be that way. We challenge the Tampa Bay fans to make sure it doesn’t.

As for its life outside baseball, the Trop has seen use as a NCAA basketball and football venue. It was the site of the 1999 Final Four at which the Connecticut Huskies beat the Duke Blue Devils 77-74 for college basketball’s national title. And since 2008 it has been the site of the absurdly named Beef “O” Brady’s Bowl, which features teams from the Big East, Conference USA, and the Sun Belt.

Kevin:
This is where I’d normally make the case that there are too many bowls and that there needs to be a true championship playoff.

Josh:
But …

Kevin:
This is a baseball book, so I’ll refrain.

The Rays draw New Yorkers and Bostonians aplenty when the Yankees and Red Sox are in town. Otherwise, the crowds at the Trop are usually thin. When those two teams are in town, thirty-thousand or so turn out, but even then there’s no urgent need to order tickets in advance. We should mention though, that the Rays charge an extremely sketchy $3 day-of-game charge for tickets purchased within five hours of the first pitch. Additionally, be advised that each game fits into one of four pricing tiers—Diamond, Platinum, Gold
or Silver—depending upon the opponent that day. This means that tickets for a match-up against the Red Sox cost about 50 percent more than tickets against a less eagerly anticipated foe like the A’s.

Kevin:
Until they start averaging thirty grand a night, every game should cost the same.

Josh:
You’re questioning the law of supply and demand?

Kevin:
No, I’m questioning an unduly complicated pricing scheme.

Josh:
You’re just mad that the Mariners only rated “Gold.”

The Trop is small by dome standards and, following the lead of the A’s, the Rays cover several thousand upper level seats with tarps to give the joint a more intimate atmosphere. In general, the seats on all three levels are angled toward home plate. For those seated in the upper deck, the underhang is not as much of a factor as at most stadiums, but fans seated in the Terrace Boxes below find the trajectory of some pop-ups obscured by the deck above. On all levels the even-numbered sections are on the right-field side, while odd-numbered sections are on the left-field side.

These seats, located right behind the plate in the foremost rows of Sections 101–108, are grossly overpriced at up to $300 (Diamond). Remember, you’re at Tropicana Field, not Fenway Park or Yankee Stadium. We say, sit ten rows farther back and use the couple hundy you save to treat yourself to a night on the town in Tampa after the game.

The first twelve rows of seats that don’t already fall into the Home Plate Club cost more than the seats on the rest of the first level. These fall into the Fieldside Box or Lower Infield Box categories depending upon their section, row number and proximity to the field. We don’t see much point in paying $100 for a marginally better view than you can get for half the money in the Lower Boxes, but if you have the cash and like to spend it, be our guest.

More reasonably priced than the premium seats in front of them, the Lower Boxes provide excellent views. Shoot for Sections 101 and 102 behind the plate and you won’t be disappointed. The only Sections we don’t recommend are 128 and 130 behind the right-field bullpen and 127 and 129 behind the visitor’s pen in left. The pens, we should note, are not boxed off from the playing field but run horizontal to the outfield foul lines. The pitchers warming up didn’t bother us, but the Outfield and Press Level seats offer better views than these medium-depth outfield seats.

The Lower Boxes continue to Row Z, before starting again at Row AA and continuing until Row JJ in most sections. We recommend staying in the single letters. If you opt to sit in the double letters, which, in many sections are located above a mid-level walkway, aim for seats in Rows PP or lower, as the seats higher up subject patrons to an overhang obstruction.

Deep in the outfield foul territory, these seats aren’t going to win any awards for providing good views but they earn our tongue-in-cheek nomination for the Most Nonsensically Named Seats in the big leagues. The baselines are on the infield. These seats are out by the foul poles. They should be called “Remote Foul Line” seats.

Josh:
Truth in advertising is important to us.

Kevin:
Where’s Ralph Nader when you need him?

Josh:
Actually, he’s a Yankee fan.

Kevin:
Seriously?

Josh:
Yes. We Red Sox fans keep a detailed list.

Kevin:
Anyone else I should know about on that list?

Josh:
Nelson Mandela.

Kevin:
You have GOT to be kidding me.

These home run territory seats provide excellent vantage points from which to watch the game. They aren’t too far from the plate, thanks to the Trop’s 370-foot power alleys. The best sections are 141–145 in left and 142–146 in right, which are aimed squarely at the infield. In most sections, the first row is Row T. After Row Z, the next row is AA. Even all the way back in YY we didn’t feel too terribly removed from the game.

To gain an appreciation for the difficulty outfielders face in tracking fly balls against the off-white roof, head to the left-field seats during batting practice. Looking up from Section 141 or 143 you’ll also see just how close balls often come to
hitting the catwalks. During one of our visits, Boston’s David Ortiz drilled a speaker that was mounted on a catwalk with a batting practice drive that would have otherwise left the yard. Josh also snagged a BP homer after it landed on the seat next to him (Section 147, Row CC, Seat 21).

Kevin:
You’re a human ball magnet.

Josh:
That’s what I used to tell Mr. Haeblar.

Kevin:
Who?

Josh:
My high school baseball coach.

Kevin:
He wouldn’t play you?

Josh:
He let me keep score.

Kevin:
Okay. Well. That’s important, too.

Josh:
That’s what he kept telling me.

As their name suggests, the Press Level seats appear on either side of the press box on the stadium’s second level. This mini-level is closer to the field than the mezzanines at many parks, and there isn’t any sort of overhang to worry about. For those who like a vantage point that’s raised, these are a good choice. Aim for infield Sections 203–216.

As we’ve said, the Trop is smaller than most domes. As such, even on the third level we didn’t feel too far from the field or high above it. The first row of each section is A. Then, after Row Z, the rows start over at AA. Some sections like 310 and 319 have bleacher benches instead of seats in the top rows but unless it’s playoff season or the Rays are expecting a larger-than-usual crowd, these are covered with blue tarps. Rows A through D—which comprise the Upper Boxes—are located below the concourse that circles the entire level. Above this walkway is the Upper Reserved, where fans are cautioned to avoid Rows E and F because the walking traffic can be a distraction. Rows G through M are excellent, especially in Sections 300–310. Because the upper deck is set behind the last row of Press Level seats below, there is no underhang to worry about.

The second level left-field bleacher seats—which are situated a bit higher than the Press Level but lower than the Upper Level—used to be known as “the Beach.” Now, they’re called Party Deck seats. They begin with Section 341 in left-field foul territory and continue across the outfield before finishing with Section 355 in the left-field alley. As far as we’re concerned, sitting on these uncomfortable metal bleachers is unnecessary at a park with as many good seats as Tropicana Field. As an additional drawback, the underhang hides the left-field warning track from view. This is less of a factor in the sections near the foul line, like 341 and 343, but is still an annoyance. We say leave these tickets for someone else to buy and if you’re looking for a cheap night at the Trop, shoot for a seat in the Upper Reserved instead.

While the streets around the Trop aren’t steeped in baseball history, they offer a few attractions worth visiting for those looking to soak up some sun before the game. Tailgating is also allowed in the lots surrounding the Trop, providing another opportunity to work on your tan. Hey, you’re going to be inside all night, so why not get some fresh air while you can?

From the south or west take Interstate 75 to Interstate 275. As you cross the Bay, the dome will come into view on your right. From this vantage point, it looks something like a crushed soda can. Stay on Interstate 275 after crossing, keeping the Trop on your left, then take Exit 22 for Interstate 175 East, which leads right to the Trop. There are twelve different parking lots managed by the team, with entrances on First Avenue, Fourth Avenue and Fifth Avenue. Depending upon their proximity to the stadium, these charge $10 or $20 per game. However, if you are traveling with a large party, you should be aware that on Sundays and on days when a “Silver” game (see seating introduction above) is on the schedule, Lots 2, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are free for cars carrying four passengers or more.