46

BY JONATHAN GANTT
Ma/ca a/ttct dc gca
/cas/ aaa/ tc scc /a
tac battct: bm?
The superhuman statistics of
Jose Bautista (38%) over the
last two years have vaulted
him to public enemy No. 1 for
Rays pitchers. Albert Pujols
got 31% of the vote, but the
Rays see him less since hes in
the NL. Other notables: Bobby
Abreu and Paul Konerko.
aca/d M{T tc-a//ga /t: d/t/s/ca:?
Mac: gc/ tac bcs/ ba//atk?
Players love Minnesotas Target Field (36%), which opened in 2010. New Yankee Stadium ranked
second (22%) thanks to top-notch amenities. Other notable votes: Baltimores Camden Yards,
Seattles Safeco Field, Houstons Minute Maid Park and St. Louis Busch Stadium.
L/abacasc
Lcadcat/a/
Inside Pitch recently did an anonymous poll of the Rays
clubhouse to get their two cents on the biggest debates in
baseballand they were more than happy to weigh in.
A Tampa Bay Rays Survey About The Game
67%
SAY YES
Like most of their fans, the Rays thought
realignment was a good idea. e
game needs to be more competitive
across the board, one Ray said. Either
realignment or a balanced schedule
would x that. Anything would be more
appealing than the current AL East
lineup.
J
O
S
E

B
A
U
T
I
S
T
A
:

R
O
N

V
E
S
E
L
Y
/
M
L
B

P
H
O
T
O
S

V
I
A

G
E
T
T
Y

I
M
A
G
E
S
;

T
A
R
G
E
T

F
I
E
L
D
:

R
I
C
H

P
I
L
L
I
N
G
/
M
L
B

P
H
O
T
O
S

V
I
A

G
E
T
T
Y

I
M
A
G
E
S

R
O
Y

H
A
L
L
A
D
A
Y
:

K
E
V
I
N

C
.

C
O
X
/
G
E
T
T
Y

I
M
A
G
E
S
;

B
A
R
R
Y

B
O
N
D
S
:

O
T
T
O

G
R
E
U
L
E

J
R
/
G
E
T
T
Y

I
M
A
G
E
S
;

P
E
T
E

R
O
S
E
:

M
L
B

P
H
O
T
O
S

V
I
A

G
E
T
T
Y

I
M
A
G
E
S
IP_Issue5_Sep2-28.indd 46 10/12/11 11:17 AM
47
72%
28%
0%
STAY AS IS SHORTER LONGER
aca/d tac tcga/at
scasca bc /cagct, sacttct
ct stag a/ I5Z gamc:?
Tc gca /ctc tac ttatc/
ca tcad tt/: ct jas/
dca/ a/ta // bccaasc
//: at/ cj gcat jcb?
aca/d Tctc Tmc
bc /a tac #a// cj Tamc?
YES 100%
NO 0%
Probably the most intriguing
responses of our poll. Every
player thought Rose should be
in the Hall but only 67% would
give Bonds their vote. One
Ray noted that Bonds will
find his way init just stinks
that his incredible numbers
might be disguised by
things he did off the field.
Mctc tc/ag, /cs:
tc/ag ct gccd a: /:?
AS IS 55%
MORE 45%
LESS 0%
e game has been played one
way for a long time, and I dont
want to see it change a lot, said
a player.
Most players thought
162 games was the right
length for the regular
season. Those who
wanted a shorter season
agreed154 games is
the best alternative.
56%
44%
LOVE IT
DEAL
WITH IT
aca/d Tattg Tcad:
bc /a tac #a// cj Tamc?
YES 67%
NO 33%
PEIE
CsE
aca/d tactc bc a
dcs/gaatcd a/ttct ct
saca/d /tcact: ba/?
DH 94%
NO DH 6%
Unlike Crash Davis from Bull
Durham, the Rays clubhouse
likes the designated hitter. The
lone opponent to the DH was a
pitcher, who said with a smile:
I want to hit.
Ma/ca tcam dc
gca aatc /ag/ag
tac mm/?
45%
36%
19%
RED SOX
YANKEES OTHER
Ma/ca /tcact tatca:
tac aast/cs/ sta?
ROY HALLADAY 37%
JUSTIN VERLANDER 23%
MARIANO RIVERA 23%
OTHER 17%
e Doc gets the
most respect from
the Rays. One player
noted that Rivera has
managed to dominate
hitters with only one
pitch. How do you get
nastier than that?
BAnn\
BCMs
J
O
S
E

B
A
U
T
I
S
T
A
:

R
O
N

V
E
S
E
L
Y
/
M
L
B

P
H
O
T
O
S

V
I
A

G
E
T
T
Y

I
M
A
G
E
S
;

T
A
R
G
E
T

F
I
E
L
D
:

R
I
C
H

P
I
L
L
I
N
G
/
M
L
B

P
H
O
T
O
S

V
I
A

G
E
T
T
Y

I
M
A
G
E
S

R
O
Y

H
A
L
L
A
D
A
Y
:

K
E
V
I
N

C
.

C
O
X
/
G
E
T
T
Y

I
M
A
G
E
S
;

B
A
R
R
Y

B
O
N
D
S
:

O
T
T
O

G
R
E
U
L
E

J
R
/
G
E
T
T
Y

I
M
A
G
E
S
;

P
E
T
E

R
O
S
E
:

M
L
B

P
H
O
T
O
S

V
I
A

G
E
T
T
Y

I
M
A
G
E
S
IP_Issue5_Sep2-28.indd 47 10/12/11 11:18 AM
48
A Tampa Bay Rays Survey About The Game
Mm/ ctcttatcd stat/st/c
/a bascba//?
The clubhouse agreeda
pitchers win-loss record isnt
important, following the logic
of baseball writers who voted
Felix Hernandez AL Cy Young
last year despite his 13-12
record. Just look at James
Shields, said a Ray. Hes
pitched unbelievably but has
hovered around .500 all year.
aca/d tactc bc
Tatct/cagac /ag?
Mm/ satt/s/ag tcam dat/ag tac Z0II scasca?
Tatct/tc Majct {cagac c/tg tc t/s//?
Though for different reasons, Chicago (39%) and Seattle (39%) top the list. Seattle was described as clean
and eclectic while one Ray said that during the summer, Chicago is probably the best city in America.
T: st/ag tta/a/ag
tcc /cag?
TOO LONG 73%
FINE AS IS 27%
Its not like the 50s when
everyone came to camp out of
shape, one Ray said. Guys
train all year long and are ready
to go once you get to camp.
Mac /: tac bcs/
/agct /a bascba//?
Though this debate has
become less one-sided in
the last year, the Rays
agree that Albert is
still King. But Jose
Bautista (27%) and
Robinson Cano
(18%) arent
far behind.
45%
VOTED
ALBERT
CLEVELAND INDIANS 45%
PITTSBURGH PIRATES 36%
ARIZONA D-BACKS 19%
CHICAGO SEATTLE
NO YES
64%
36%
WIN-LOSS
RECORD
A
L
B
E
R
T

P
U
J
O
L
S
:

R
O
N

V
E
S
E
L
Y
/
M
L
B

P
H
O
T
O
S

V
I
A

G
E
T
T
Y

I
M
A
G
E
S
IP_Issue5_Sep2-28.indd 48 10/12/11 11:18 AM