What are they saying now? Tampa Bay Rays in the News

I often spend time on teh weekends surfing around other AL East newspapers to see what the competition is saying about the Tampa Bay Rays. So, I thought I might share some of what is out there on our team. The articles below are all within the last few weeks and give you an interesting look into how other sports writers view our team and its prospects for 2009. If you come upon any other interesting original articles from major newspapers about our boys, don't hesitate to email it to me. Enjoy!

Finally a winner, Rays work to fill more seats – Associated Press 3/12/2009
“Clearly, we are being throttled somewhat by the economy,” Stuart “Stu” Sternberg said. “We're still going to be next-to-last in season-ticket sales. I'm pleased with the growth, but we have a ways to go yet.”

Without providing specifics, Sternberg says ticket sales are up over last year. "We're right at expectations," is how he puts it.

Tampa Bay Rays encore: they believe in the best is yet to come – Sun Sentinel 3/11/2009
"They are no longer the "upstart Rays" or the "Amazing Rays."

Rays are Big Fish Now – Boston Globe 2/28/2009
"The Yankees have the money and the new stadium. The Red Sox have the MVP, the Nation, and newfound stability. But going into 2009, the Tampa Bay Rays are the defending league champs and the team to beat in the American League East."

Tampa Bay aims to improve amazing turnaround of 2008 – Seattle Times 2/22/2009
"Every downtrodden team in baseball harbors secret — or not-so-secret — hopes of being the Tampa Bay Rays of 2009."

It’s the No-Longer-Surprising Rays – New York Times 2/13/2009
"Mostly, though, Maddon believes that the Rays, who rocketed from a decade of oblivion into the World Series last October, can be even better."

Confident Joba: We’re Top Dogs in East – New York Post 2/12/2009
"We're always the team to beat, and we have that in our minds from the get-go, "Chamberlain said yesterday. "With the year the Rays had, people are going to look at it that they're the team to beat. But . . . we're always going to be the hunted just because of who we are and . . . we always go with the mindset that we are the best and that's the way you have to play."

2009 AL East Preview – RBI Magazine 2/21/2009
"The American League East landscape changed dramatically last season as the Tampa Bay Rays finally wrestled the AL East Crown out of the hands of the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees."