Sorry bloggers, Manfred insists Rays are not moving
Derby Day rain; Sullivan highest paid
Good morning, all!
Memo to bloggers, especially those on You Tube: baseball commissioner Rob Manfred repeated on Friday the Rays are staying in Tampa Bay. Bloggers, particularly those in the YT community rankled because they insist the commissioner did little to keep their beloved Athletics in Oakland, are even more bent out of shape because he is doing cartwheels to maintain the Rays will remain in Tampa Bay, despite their stadium issues.
Manfred makes it a practice to speak to every big league team and Friday he stopped by Yankee Stadium to chat with the Rays. He made a point of insisting he has positive vibes about the Rays remaining in the nation’s 11th rated television market. (That’s really what this is all about, isn’t it?)
Rays reliever Peter Fairbanks, while not revealing all of what the commissioner said in his closed door session with players, told the Tampa Bay Times:
He wants baseball to be in this market. I think the league, from what it seems, wants to have a team in the region.
If anyone has learned anything by now, it’s that this commissioner gets what he wants. He wanted the Athletics out of Oakland and a team in Las Vegas. Check. He wanted to speed up the pace of play. Check. And he wants baseball to remain in Tampa Bay.
Bottom line; sorry bloggers, the Rays are not moving, especially to Oakland. You’ll have to find another narrative to drive your channels and websites.
Here are some other DAN ON SPORTS top stories for Saturday, May 3, 2025:
Rain in the forecast for Kentucky Derby
Fired by Penguins, Sullivan hired by Rangers as next coach. To become among highest paid ever
Sidelined by stroke, Popovich retires as Spurs coach. Will remain as president
Tigers Greene makes history. Becomes first to homer twice in ninth inning
Formula One signs 10-year extension for Miami Grand Prix
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DAN