RAYS PARTY!

So Sunday we headed back up to St. Pete for a Rays game against the Blue Jays. The Rays are hanging on the fringes of the playoff race, about 4 games out of the Wild Card, and need every win they can get. With two outs in the bottom of the 8th, tied at 1, Maddon sends up Greg Zaun to pinch hit. After working the count full, Zaun launches a fastball deep to right, two rows deep for a grand slam!! FEEL THE HEAT RAYS!! The Rays went on to the 5-2 victory, and kept hopes alive for another day.

After the game, the kids got to hit wiffle balls out in left field for the first time, as usually they decide to run the bases. Then we headed to Ybor City in Tampa for the season ticket holders party at GameWorks.

WOW! What a great night. 14 of the players came to the party: Matt Garza, James Shields, David Price, Jeff Niemann, Scott Kazmir, Ben Zobrist, Jason Bartlett, BJ Upton, Gabe Gross, Gabe Kapler, JP Howell, Lance Cormier, Grant Balfour and Dioner Navarro. We had been expecting a couple to show, but it was cool to see so many of them make it. The kids got lots of autographs, and pictures with about 10 of the players (David Price shown above). The food was great, the kids loved the chocolate fountain, they all got to play some games too. The Bear got a "big head" picture done of herself (a caricature), which she is something she has always wanted...who knew?? They also had a green screen picture thing that allowed us all to be put into a shot of a home plate celebration after a Longoria walk off homer against the Red Sox. The picture is pretty funny.

But the definite highlight was the kids getting to meet the players. Most of the players were very easy to walk up to and ask for a picture, or talk with them for a bit. For the most part they seemed very down to earth and genuinely friendly, which was great to see. It makes them so much more likeable and easy to root for. Scott Kazmir and Ben Zobrist were my favorites, as they seemed very humble, and interested in being there with the fans. We were able to get some really great shots with the players and kids together, a nice memory for them down the road. BJ Upton was someone the girls really wanted to get a pic with, but he was just swamped by people. He moved from one part of the room to the other with a swarm of people moving with his every step. The girls tried to get into the swarm and get an autograph, but the adults were pushing and shoving, and the Bear got jostled pretty good. He left, and the Bear was pretty disappointed, but got over it.

It was a great night all around, and a wonderful job by the Rays and the players to do something nice for their biggest supporters. Go Rays!