It's already starting...

[Moose Milligan]

So two weeks ago, I saw it.

I was shooting photos at a high school football game when I did...roaming the sidelines, trying to find a good angle to shoot from and someone with a video camera stepped in front of me. His hat was turned backwards and there was a "TB" logo on it.

And I saw it again yesterday.

I was in the Polo Outlet store in Leesburg here and there were 4 idiot guys in the store, one of them wearing a brand spankin new Nike Rays sweatshirt. Still had that "new" look to it, fresh off the rack, hadn't seen the inside of a washing machine yet.

So has anyone else out there seen signs of the bandwagoning for the Rays yet? Anyone seen any hats, jerseys, sweatshirts that they wouldn't have seen 6 months ago?

[McNulty]

I can tell you that I've lived in Jacksonville since the beginning of 2003, and I never (not once) saw any Rays fans, hats, shirts, jerseys, etc until about 4 months ago.

[geschinger]

So two weeks ago, I saw it.

I was shooting photos at a high school football game when I did...roaming the sidelines, trying to find a good angle to shoot from and someone with a video camera stepped in front of me. His hat was turned backwards and there was a "TB" logo on it.

And I saw it again yesterday.

I was in the Polo Outlet store in Leesburg here and there were 4 idiot guys in the store, one of them wearing a brand spankin new Nike Rays sweatshirt. Still had that "new" look to it, fresh off the rack, hadn't seen the inside of a washing machine yet.

So has anyone else out there seen signs of the bandwagoning for the Rays yet? Anyone seen any hats, jerseys, sweatshirts that they wouldn't have seen 6 months ago?

Yes, I've seen a couple although I'm not sure they were bandwagoners as they had the nice Green 'old' Devil Ray Spring training caps.

[beaner]

You know what, when the O's win, they'll be more O's caps everywhere. It's part of the deal that comes with success. The Rays are going to be good for a really long time, and this is going to be part of their arrival. No biggie, this is how it goes with sports, whether we like it or not.

[ledzepp8]

I can tell you that I've lived in Jacksonville since the beginning of 2003, and I never (not once) saw any Rays fans, hats, shirts, jerseys, etc until about 4 months ago.

That's why I kind of feel like the Rays going to the WS is a little bittersweet. Yeah they're going but they're also playing for a bunch of people who didn't give a **** about them until a few months into this season.

[Bloopandablast]

So two weeks ago, I saw it.

I was shooting photos at a high school football game when I did...roaming the sidelines, trying to find a good angle to shoot from and someone with a video camera stepped in front of me. His hat was turned backwards and there was a "TB" logo on it.

And I saw it again yesterday.

I was in the Polo Outlet store in Leesburg here and there were 4 idiot guys in the store, one of them wearing a brand spankin new Nike Rays sweatshirt. Still had that "new" look to it, fresh off the rack, hadn't seen the inside of a washing machine yet.

So has anyone else out there seen signs of the bandwagoning for the Rays yet? Anyone seen any hats, jerseys, sweatshirts that they wouldn't have seen 6 months ago?

True story.

We live in central Florida and my son played little league two years ago. His team was the Rays. We had all the shirts, hats etc.... as I was one of his coaches.

We travelled over to Tampa to watch a Rays game and wore the shirts and hats.

They were so happy to see fans show up wearing Rays gear that we got in for free.......and this was mid-June.

[McNulty]

You know what, when the O's win, they'll be more O's caps everywhere. It's part of the deal that comes with success. The Rays are going to be good for a really long time, and this is going to be part of their arrival. No biggie, this is how it goes with sports, whether we like it or not.

Yea, well how come I didn't see any Rockies stuff last year? Or the Tigers the year before it? Or Phillies stuff this year?

[beaner]

Yea, well how come I didn't see any Rockies stuff last year? Or the Tigers the year before it? Or Phillies stuff this year?

Because you live in Florida maybe? Who knows, and honestly who cares? If people want to like the Rays now, it's fine by me. If they stay with them for life, god bless em. If it's the same people who "loved " the Red Sox last year and just jump from team to team, then they're not worth it anyway.

[tennOsfan]

I too recently saw someone at a youth football game wearing a Rays hat. I just had to ask the guy whether he'd ever worn their stuff prior to this year.

[Lt Melmo]

Yea, well how come I didn't see any Rockies stuff last year? Or the Tigers the year before it? Or Phillies stuff this year?

I saw an inordinate amount of Tigers and Rockies stuff after their successes. The Phillies didn't exactly come out of nowhere, they've always had their supporters.

I agree with beaner... there will be O's hats everywhere (assuming, of course...). As long as it doesn't get to the levels the Sox are at now, where you have thousands and thousands of people suddenly claiming a life-long love and taking over our stadium, I don't mind it. Most of us are rooting for the Rays, maybe a bunch of these people who're popping up are also self-aware of their bandwagon behavior and just want to show their support in the real world.

[beaner]

I saw an inordinate amount of Tigers and Rockies stuff after their successes. The Phillies didn't exactly come out of nowhere, they've always had their supporters.

I agree with beaner... there will be O's hats everywhere (assuming, of course...). As long as it doesn't get to the levels the Sox are at now, where you have thousands and thousands of people suddenly claiming a life-long love and taking over our stadium, I don't mind it. Most of us are rooting for the Rays, maybe a bunch of these people who're popping up are also self-aware of their bandwagon behavior and just want to show their support in the real world.

Thanks, and i agree 100%. It doesn't bother me one bit, and it's certainly to be expected when any team succeeds.

[BaltimoreTerp]

<img src="http://mlb.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pMLB2-3499843dt.jpg"></img>

This is what we will likely be seeing soon.

And eventually...

<img src="http://mlb.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pMLB2-4201150dt.jpg"></img>

[beaner]

<img src="http://mlb.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pMLB2-3499843dt.jpg"></img>

This is what we will likely be seeing soon.

And eventually...

<img src="http://mlb.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pMLB2-4201150dt.jpg"></img>

Which is why we should spend less than zero seconds being concerned with this.

[24fps]

True story.

We live in central Florida and my son played little league two years ago. His team was the Rays. We had all the shirts, hats etc.... as I was one of his coaches.

We travelled over to Tampa to watch a Rays game and wore the shirts and hats.

They were so happy to see fans show up wearing Rays gear that we got in for free.......and this was mid-June.

This is not a story, this is a movie. Major League IV anyone? I get to play Chuck LaMar. What carwash is he working at these days? I know, I know, he's with the Phillies now.

Seriously, this is a great story, well told.

[NewMarketSean]

It's only human nature to support a winner. I was a HUGE Ravens fan from the start and in 2000 I had probably three times more Ravens gear than I had before and was finding reasons to wear it more often. Granted, I lived in Baltimore and not some place 1200 miles away.

That does bug me a bit.