The Tampa Bay Rays are making waves in more ways than people imagined. Their playoff odds have skyrocketed since an early-season slump. A future sale of the team is looking likely after talks with a Jacksonville real estate developer. Now, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Rays have had preliminary conversations about where they would host potential home playoff games.
The Rays currently sit in the top wild-card position in the American League and are within spitting distance of the New York Yankees in the AL East. In a watered-down American League, it’s entirely feasible that a formula based on strong pitching and defense can lead this club straight into the postseason. Is playing those games at George Steinbrenner Field a realistic option for the team and the sport of baseball at large?
Report: Preliminary Talks are Ongoing Concerning Potential Rays Home Playoff Locations
Rosenthal notes that Steinbrenner Field in Tampa could be satisfactory for a wild card or Division Series round. The dilemma arises if the franchise advances further into October. One of the problems cited in the article is the lower gate receipts from playing games in a smaller park. That directly reduces the money players receive, and the MLB Players Association would need to be involved in any discussions regarding this matter. As Rosenthal notes, the Rays typically draw low playoff gate revenue; however, travel costs and the absence of home-field advantage would be a concern.
The other challenges of playing games at Steinbrenner Field in the postseason include making enough tickets available to the thousands of people who typically attend, as well as the problems that broadcast partners would face. The logistics of hosting a national television broadcast are more complex than those of a typical regular-season game.
The Rays Continue To Play Well At Their Home Away From Home
The article doesn’t specifically outline any alternatives to this potential problem because the Rays may miss the playoffs, and it’s a moot point. It’s worth noting that the Rays are about to embark on a stretch of their schedule in which they will play a significantly higher number of games on the road. The conventional wisdom has been that the Rays would wilt because of the near-constant travel in the second half of the season.
The club is playing well at Steinbrenner Field. They have made the spring training home of the Yankees feel like their own residence. Crucially, they are doing well in terms of attendance. The Athletic article notes that 42 of their 50 games have been sold out and the environment seems a lot more livelier than Tropicana Field. Crazily enough, the humid and stormy weather of Florida has yet to postpone a regular-season game or cause a prolonged rain delay. There have been a handful of rain delays, but nothing that causes embarrassment for either side.
The Rays Have Shown An Ability To Tolerate Almost Anything
While the Boston Red Sox complained earlier this season about the cold weather at Fenway Park, the Rays never mentioned their unusual circumstances. Manager Kevin Cash set the right tone in the offseason when asked about Steinbrenner Field. Second baseman Brandon Lowe said they must control what they can control, noting, “So, we’re going to understand this is the hand we’ve been dealt. We can’t change anything about that. Let’s go and make the best of it.”
The encouraging part is that baseball is trying to solve this issue before it gets out of control. The Rays have proven that they can adapt to any circumstance thrown their way. The league needs to be clear about its plans. There is no point of reference because the 33-49 Athletics are playing in a minor league ballpark. Still, their slide in the standings probably means that baseball doesn’t have to come up with additional contingency plans. Any Rays home playoff location may only increase the team chemistry.
Main Photo Credits: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
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