Can_of_corn

Elias is trying to run a rebuild under whatever constraints ownership puts on him.

I can see travel teams paying it.

Sure suites are great if you can sell them but teams have moved to "better spots" before and as I just said, long term it doesn't seem to make a significant improvement in attendance. I know I have no interest in driving to Ybor to see a game.

I think he's more of a candidate to be traded. (I think they keep him).

I can't think of a single situation in which a new stadium was a long term fix for attendance problems. Aren't the Twins drawing about what they did in the Metrodome? Aren't the Indians drawing about what they used to at the mistake at the lake? We know what happened with the Marlins. The closest I can think of is the Giants, and they would break 2M in a good year at Candlestick so can you even say they had an attendance problem?

Does anyone think that if that downtown Ybor stadium were to magically appear for opening day 2021 that the Rays will be a healthy franchise by 2025?

It isn't "the" reason. The situation isn't that simple that it can be boiled down to a single cause.

I agree it's a garbage situation, but where you and I differ, in this instance, is that I don't think it was as obvious when the franchise was awarded as you are indicating. Of course I was overseas when the franchise was awarded so maybe I missed something?

I think it's true but the only person it will apply to is Henderson. I'm also not sure if it applies to pitchers.

Baseball fans trend old. The age of the population isn't a problem. You seem to have this idea that the average resident moved down here at 70 and dies at 75. The Rays are not having an issue with their fanbase dying off. It's inaccurate and distasteful.

Maybe 60% if they bundle the CBP.

Other than Davis and Cobb.

The stadium is 30 years old. Unfortunately that was more the norm back then. Tampa- St Pete is the #12 market in the US. The comment about folks dying is pretty tasteless to be honest. I don't think it was a total no-brainer that the team would struggle to this degree with attendance when the franchise was awarded.

I used to have three or four guys at work that were Rays fans. I don't have any now. Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, sure. Not Rays.

I'm not sure that was something that could have been predicted.

I don't like their owner and don't think the fanbase deserves a championship.

I am predictable.

I'm that annoyed with the fans that are so deeply wounded about the Astros getting caught cheating. It's like steroids all over again. You cheat a little and no one cares, you get good at cheating and everyone loses their minds. Stealing signs outside of the field of play has been going on forever, we all know this. I'm sure we all remember the trips to the Skydome? Right now what is probably a majority of ML pitchers break the rules of the game every appearance. No one cares. The Red Sox get caught multiple times and they get a video tech suspended. I think it's ridiculous, get over it. Teams cheat.

I'd have preferred the Astros but I'm fine with the Rays. Sure takes the wind out of the sales of the fans that think you have to spend.

That's crazy to me that some leagues would pay for that.

Could be interesting speculating about why some players aren't being mentioned in these fluff pieces. Other than that, yea, nothing of substance gets mentioned. I hope the players are getting paid for this.

I'm concerned that Kjerstad hasn't done much of anything with the team since he was signed. When the last time he's seen game action? May? It feels like an entirely missed season for him.

She isn't the best example because she's got a good job at the moment but Kim Ng would be an example of someone that went from the next hot GM candidate to courtesy interview. It happens in this business, there are not a lot of chances for folks to get this type of position. Wasn't the O's job the last one filled that season? This was his for sure one chance to get a chance at this job. I've never agreed with the folks that thought he had a lot of leverage with the owners when he was hired.

I wouldn't say he was a fool even if our suspicious are correct. These jobs aren't easy to come by and it's very possible what went down in Huston might have kept him from ever getting this level position if he had remained there. Heck even without the cheating scandal candidates go from the next big thing to courtesy interview in this business.

Was just talking about Kjerstad.