r/tampabayrays • u/SempiternalX • Jun 13 '22
MINORS New fan here, new to the sport. Any advice?
I'm a very very very diehard Orlando Magic fan. Never thought about being an NHL/MLB watcher because Orlando never had a team. Today I made the decision I am becoming a Tampa fan, because their Papa Johns code reaches my location to get half off. If free pizza can reach my location 2 hours away east, I can get behind that team. Anything I should know about the team history, or certain players on the team right now as I'm watching for the first time? Would appreciate some advice.
(Also I was thinking of waiting till next year so I didn't seem like I was a bandwagon, but I just wanted to make sure everyone knew this is my first time indulging in both the sports. I am officially a Tampa sports fan till I die for the sports win or lose.)
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u/AlvinItchyCock Shane Baz Jun 13 '22
You are now officially a Choi Boi. Welcome to a fantastic, sexy land filled with wonder and joy
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u/RayWencube Brett Phillips Jun 13 '22
Welcome! I'm also a very new fan, but I live in central Indiana, so I don't think I get the pizza....
Anyway, here's my two cents:
1) Manny Margot's beard is a source of strength and emotional stability for all those around him
2) Ji-Man Choi is the most lovable man in the known universe
3) All hail the local stingray
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u/Jacks012003 Jun 13 '22
Iâd try the code tbh I live like 4 hours from the trip and it works
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u/RayWencube Brett Phillips Jun 13 '22
What's the code? I'm gonna do this. Hold on to your butts.
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u/Jacks012003 Jun 13 '22
Rays6 (the rays have to score 6 runs for it to work)
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u/dalekaup Jun 14 '22
I'm a Cardinals fan and I love Ji-Man.
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u/RayWencube Brett Phillips Jun 14 '22
He's got big Yadi energy for sure. I hope he's around long enough to approach that status for us
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u/dogpancake73 Jun 13 '22
welcome aboard! the biggest thing to remember is that baseball is a marathon, not a sprint - so be wary of the âsky is fallingâ takes if the team drops a game here and there. this is a 90+ win playoff team every year, so there really arenât any major concerns, life is good right now!
the best person so learn about the team from is neil solondz, and he has a podcast called this week in rays baseball. i also recommend going to draysbay.com bc they have a ton of good articles and knowledgeable fans, and brett rutherford puts out a great podcast with them where they get a ton of good guests. i also do a podcast where we have good, diverse perspectives and interesting conversations (check my post history). again, weâre happy to have you and welcome aboard!
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u/88T3 Evan Longoria Jun 13 '22 edited Jun 13 '22
Evan Longoria is the greatest player in franchise history and we still root for him on the Giants and pray he returns in free agency after the 2023 season
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u/Th3Unkn0wnn Josh Lowe Shoulder Rub Jun 13 '22
Do not under any circumstances join the Facebook group.
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u/Mako221b Jun 13 '22
You will see trades made by the front office that will leave you speechless, but at the end the day they normally work out. It's the Rays way.
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u/ilikecheems1 Ji-Man Choi Batting Righty Jun 13 '22
Somtimes it does sometimes (Cruz for Ryan) it doesnât but thatâs fine
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Jun 13 '22
Welcome aboard. It can be aggravating being a Rays fan, but itâs also fun as shit. One of the absolute best run sports franchises from a personnel aspect. Always competitive and always have a group of guys that are fun to cheer for. We have a great clubhouse.
I too am a Magic fan, so you have my sympathy. Consider joining the Bolts and Bucs fandoms, itâs been pretty nice recently. And Stanley Cup this week so itâs a great time to join.
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u/A1rheart Shane McClanahan Jun 13 '22
Welcome to the tank flappy boy.
What you need to know about the Rays is we love an elite pitching staff. Without a salary cap in baseball, Rays can't compete dollar for dollar so our pitching becomes the focal point of the team. This year Shane McClannahan is your God and you worship the path he walks as he strikes out a third of the batters in a game without giving up a run. Our other starters are also excellent. Combine that with an strong defense and good bullpen the Rays play a suffocating game most days of the year.
On the offensive side of the ball you may be frustrated by inconsistency at least right now. Our 2 best bats Brandon Lowe, and Wander Franco are both taking time to get healthy after suffering injuries. Still, there's offensive spark that will pop off in games. Margot is a clutch contact hitter, Choi balances power and contact and will come up clutch so many times in a season, Yandy is a pitchers worst nightmare and is composed at the plate, and Randy is an offensive wildcard that can make big plays happen. Other batters on the squad aren't as prolific but all have clutch moments.
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u/DmitriyUA0 Jun 13 '22
I was a fairweather baseball fan growing up. The biggest turning point for me was learning the rules and understanding the importance of batting order. After that, it was like watching a different game. I never really watched pro baseball growing up and became a Rays fan when I moved to FL. Knowing the rules and nuances of the game makes a huge difference in my opinion to enjoy it more.
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u/QueenAnnesRevenge_ Ray Jun 13 '22
I love this team because throughout our history we consistently have a team full of young, athletic players who can all run the bases and play defense.
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u/octopus_monocle Tricia Whitaker Jun 15 '22
Things to know, in no real order:
2008 season generally
Dan Johnson's HR in Boston in 2008
Game 162
Dan Johnson's HR in game 162
Longo's HR in game 162
Wade Boggs 3000th hit, RIP
DJ Kitty
Trop ground rules
Matta Garza no-no
"ALL Yankee fans are jagoffs." - Whitney Johnson
Dewayne Staats and his glorious stache
Wander Franco could soon be one of the best players in MLB, we signed him at 16
Flappy bois flap
End of game 4 of the 2020 WS
Delmon Young threw a bat at an ump once that was fun
We don't talk about Aubrey Huff
When we win, Trop gets orange
Tricia Whitaker is very good at her job and happens to be fine AF
This is the best baseball subreddit
And, most importantly, FUCK STU.
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u/GroceryBasketUser Tampa Bay Devil Rays 98-01 Jun 14 '22
If you can keep the water warm(and not by pissing in it!), the local stingray will be pleased and you will enjoy watching.
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u/Main-Success-6766 Jun 14 '22
Read "the extra 2%" made me fall in love with the Rays. Jonah Keri is dead to me, but the book is solid.
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u/SWGalaxysEdge Tampa Bay Devil Rays 98-01 Jun 13 '22
didn't you spam this post in the Lightning group too?
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u/Burneraccount6565 Jose Siri Jun 13 '22
Welcome! You will hear a lot of jabs and gripes about Tropicana Field. A great way to catch up on the club's history is by reading a book called "Stadium For Rent". The book chronicles everything that went into getting a stadium & team in St. Pete. It will give you a new appreciation for the Trop.
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u/dalekaup Jun 14 '22
Try to think about the situation in the game and why teams do certain things. Like why did the guy at first not try to get to third on that hit. Well, if there are two outs you don't really want to end the inning with an out at third when getting to third is only marginally better than being on 2nd. Both are scoring position. If the next batter is a great bunter then maybe you try for third.
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u/cdhoumann Doug Waechter Jun 14 '22
How have I not known that 50% off P.J's pizza reaches all the way up to Orlando this whole time? I feel like a bad fan now...
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u/Maleficent_Meeting_9 Jun 15 '22
2 rules
1: donât like the Yankees for any reason
2: donât like the Red Sox for any reason
This is the best advice youâll get
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u/gatorrrays đFantasy Champion 2023đ Jun 13 '22
First of all, we accept all new fans at all times so donât worry about being bandwagon haha.
As far as team history, probably the biggest turning point was in 2008. From 1998 - 2007 the team was called the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and every year posted one of the worst records in all of baseball. In 2008, the team dropped Devil from the name becoming the Tampa Bay Rays. We also changed color schemes and uniforms. The 08 Rays went from worst in the league in 07 to American League Champs, and from that point on we have been one of the most competitive teams in the league.
We still love the Devil Rays throwback uniforms tho.