Latest news with #TropicanaField
New York Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
As Blue Jays head to Tampa, here's why Tropicana Field (mostly) won't be missed
TORONTO — Tropicana Field was all fun for a 10-year-old Bo Bichette. Sitting in the stands for a 2008 American League Championship Series game between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays, Bichette felt the full crowd. As cownose stingrays swam in the right field tank, cowbells rang out each time Carl Crawford or Evan Longoria reached base. But when Bichette first played at the Trop during his rookie season, 11 years later, it wasn't the same. Advertisement 'The vibe was different,' Bichette said. 'Obviously there wasn't a lot of fans, it was a little darker in there. It just didn't feel much like a ballpark.' For the Toronto Blue Jays, the different vibe of Tropicana Field spilled over onto the scoreboard. Since Bichette's 2019 debut, the Blue Jays are 18-32 when visiting the Rays. Toronto's franchise is 92-144 all-time at Tropicana Field, a winning percentage of just .390. The Jays won't have a shot to improve that record this season — and they're not exactly heartbroken about it. Instead of another date at what's been a house of horrors, the Blue Jays open a three-game set against the Rays on Friday across the bay at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Because Hurricane Milton tore the fiberglass roof membrane off Tropicana Field last October, the Rays are playing all home games at the New York Yankees' spring training facility this year. With a season away from the stadium, and Tropicana's long-term future uncertain, Blue Jays players reflected on what made the ballpark unique — and difficult. 'I don't even know if there's a word to describe it,' Daulton Varsho said. 'It's just … different.' The cream-coloured roof tormented outfielders like Varsho. There are specific ground rules governing balls hit into catwalks below the ceiling, but the hardest part of fielding at the Trop is the baseball-toned facing. For Varsho, it's like every fly ball is hit directly into the sun. 'I just remember a couple balls that went up into the ceiling,' Varsho said. 'And you're like 'where did it go?' And then you're just running to a spot and hoping it comes out.' Chris Bassitt, who has made five career appearances at Tropicana, called it 'playing in a tent.' He's lost fly balls in the roof and scaffolding, but Bassitt's real struggle with the Trop is the mound. Major League Baseball mounds are regularly measured and required to be a uniform height, exactly 10 inches tall, but Bassitt claims Tropicana Field's pitching bump feels much taller. Other pitchers around the league have made similar observations. Advertisement If you know how to use it, Bassitt said, the higher mound enhances the spin on pitches. While Bassitt's release point at Tropicana Field wasn't higher than normal in 2024, two of the righty's five highest spin pitches came at Tampa Bay. Closer Jeff Hoffman agreed the Trop's mound is 'massive.' It's his favorite pitching bump in baseball, he said, because it increases the induced vertical break on his four-seam fastball. But it's the consequences of that raised rubber Bassitt worries about, as he feels it temporarily messes up his pitching mechanics. Over the last three seasons, Bassitt has a 6.19 ERA in starts immediately after pitching in Tropicana Field. Kevin Gausman and José Berríos also have post-Trop ERAs over 5.00. 'The way that you're pitching, the way you're landing, where your body's reacting,' Bassitt said, 'is completely different than I would say normal. So, yeah, I think you definitely had a lot of 'all right, I gotta figure out my mechanics again' and make sure they're lined up for a normal mound, so to speak.' Tropicana Field is hard on the Blue Jays' bats, too. During the previous five years, Toronto hit just .234 at Tampa Bay, with a .385 slugging percentage. At every other park, those marks were .256 and .423. Multiple Toronto batters cited Tampa Bay's consistently great pitching for those offensive struggles, but Bichette and Varsho also mentioned the ballpark's dark lighting as another offensive roadblock. Per Baseball Savant's park factors, pitchers at Tropicana have produced above-average strikeouts each of the last 18 years. 'You just didn't see it as well,' Varsho said. 'From a hitter's perspective.' Maybe Steinbrenner Field will be kinder, though there are aspects of Tropicana Field the Blue Jays will miss. Varsho praised the new turf installed before the 2024 season. Bichette enjoys playing at the venue, he said, as it's close to home. Ernie Clement, who leads active Toronto hitters with a .281 average at the Trop, enjoys the stadium's 'relaxing vibe.' Clement also noted it was one of the best dirt infields in baseball — never a bad hop. But the Blue Jays' record there doesn't lie: Tropicana Field isn't their venue. 'I'm not too sad that it's gone,' Bassitt said. (Top photo of Tropicana Field on March, 28, 2024: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
St. Pete discusses two proposed downtown projects that include hotel, 2 high-rise apartment buildings
The Brief St. Pete city council discussed two proposed projects for downtown on Thursday. It would include a hotel and two high-rise apartment buildings, adding to the development. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Resident in St. Petersburg are no stranger to redevelopment these days, and two new projects may be added to the list of growing construction. At a community redevelopment agency meeting on Thursday, St. Petersburg city council heard a plan for 300 Central Avenue, just feet away from a massive luxury condo building still under construction at 400 Central. READ: St. Pete leaders discuss infrastructure and storm preparedness ahead of hurricane season Local perspective "I know many businesses on this block are down 15% immediately after they shut down the parking lot or the parking, and it hasn't really recovered since," said Frank Craft, the owner of Green Bench Flowers. Craft owns Green Bench Flowers right off Central Avenue. Around the corner from his business, the building at 300 Central, damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, could turn into a 16-story hotel. "That sounds great to me. That building has been kind of a dead zone," said Craft. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Dig deeper City council also heard details about an office building near Tropicana Field at 800 Second Avenue South. Renderings presented to council members show 824 apartments in two 31-story towers. "How are we expecting to continue to build for people to live, but they don't have anywhere to park?" asked St. Pete District 5 Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders during Thursday's CRA meeting. That's the same question residents have. Some compare parking to the game Jenga and don't bother with cars. What they're saying "I don't [drive]. I uber. Uber, Lyft, motorcycle." said St. Pete resident Lawrence Parker. "Eventually, I see Central Avenue in the next four to five years becoming car free." MORE:Longtime St. Pete grocery store and restaurant at risk of being demolished Parker, a longtime resident of the city, works nearby and hopes more development won't change the feel of St. Pete. "I'm excited to see the new faces. I'm nervous that we lose the small-town vibe. That's what I came here for. That's what I settled here for," said Parker. And for those also looking to call the city home, some residents hope there will be stormwater and wastewater infrastructure, and more to match. "I want to make sure that all of the water to all of the buildings is going to be efficient with all the high rises, there's more electricity that's going to be used," said Jan Siegel, a St. Petersburg resident who lives in a retirement community building downtown. "It's a fabulous neighborhood to be in for someone who's newly retired and still wants to do things." What's next City council members said the plans are private developments, so city council's meeting today was to make sure these plans aligned with the community redevelopment guidelines for downtown. Council members agreed that they did fall within the guidelines, and they said construction of the proposals could move forward at any time. The Source The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13's Briona Arradondo. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
National Post
12-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Evan Longoria to sign 1-day contract to retire with the Tampa Bay Rays
Article content TAMPA, Fla. — Evan Longoria will sign a one-day contract with Tampa Bay and officially retire as a Ray on June 7. Article content Article content The greatest player in franchise history didn't play last season after spending the 2023 season in Arizona but never officially retired. Article content Now he'll do it with the team where he built his illustrious career. Article content 'Evan Longoria's place in Rays history is unmatched,' president of baseball operations Erik Neander said in a statement. 'Evan leaves the game as our all-time leader in nearly every major offensive category. He not only defined an era of Rays baseball — he helped put us on the map. His impact, both on and off the field, laid the foundation for our success, and it's a privilege to celebrate his legacy.' Article content The third baseman was selected with the third overall pick in the 2006 draft and starred for the Rays from 2008-2017. He's the team's all-time leader in WAR (51.7), games played (1,435), home runs (261), RBIs (892), runs (780), extra-base hits (618) and walks (569). Article content He was the American League Rookie of the Year in 2008, a three-time All-Star and won Gold Glove Awards in 2009, 2010 and 2017. Longoria finished sixth in AL MVP voting in both 2010 and 2013 and won a Silver Slugger Award in 2009. Article content Longoria's image was made into a statue placed outside of Gate 4 at Tropicana Field to depict his celebration of a walk-off home run in the 12th inning of the final regular-season game of 2011 that sent the Rays to the postseason. Article content
Associated Press
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Evan Longoria to sign 1-day contract to retire with the Tampa Bay Rays
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Evan Longoria will sign a one-day contract with Tampa Bay and officially retire as a Ray on June 7. The greatest player in franchise history didn't play last season after spending the 2023 season in Arizona but never officially retired. Now he'll do it with the team where he built his illustrious career. 'Evan Longoria's place in Rays history is unmatched,' president of baseball operations Erik Neander said in a statement. 'Evan leaves the game as our all-time leader in nearly every major offensive category. He not only defined an era of Rays baseball — he helped put us on the map. His impact, both on and off the field, laid the foundation for our success, and it's a privilege to celebrate his legacy.' The third baseman was selected with the third overall pick in the 2006 draft and starred for the Rays from 2008-2017. He's the team's all-time leader in WAR (51.7), games played (1,435), home runs (261), RBIs (892), runs (780), extra-base hits (618) and walks (569). He was the American League Rookie of the Year in 2008, a three-time All-Star and won Gold Glove Awards in 2009, 2010 and 2017. Longoria finished sixth in AL MVP voting in both 2010 and 2013 and won a Silver Slugger Award in 2009. Longoria's image was made into a statue placed outside of Gate 4 at Tropicana Field to depict his celebration of a walk-off home run in the 12th inning of the final regular-season game of 2011 that sent the Rays to the postseason. He was traded to San Francisco in December 2017 and played five seasons for the Giants before finishing his career with the Diamondbacks. The 39-year-old will be honored in a pregame ceremony at Steinbrenner Field before Tampa Bay's game against the Marlins. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘It hurts even worse for us': Former Trop employees react to dead stadium deal
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — Now that the Tampa Bay Rays said they will not move forward with the new ballpark deal, what's next for the City of St. Pete? Mayor Ken Welch said he has no interest in working with the team's current ownership group. There was a lot hinging on this Rays Hines deal. Patricia Oak worked at Tropicana Field for the last 12 years and said she wanted to see this deal work. Rays deal dies: St. Pete mayor says he has no interest in dealing with current team owners 'It hurts even worse for us,' Oak said. 'What more can you do to this neighborhood that needs this kind of stuff? We need the jobs, the local jobs, we need the low-income housing.' Also on the line is the new Carter G. Woodson Museum that many in the community have pushed for. 'I'm grieved that we are where we are today, but I remain hopeful,' said Terri Lipsey Scott, the executive director of the museum. Scott saw the uncertainty of the project before the Rays pulled out Thursday. Last month, Scott withdrew a $10 million request for Pinellas County to fund their part of the Gas Plant project. 'There was some pause all the way around because of what was required of the Rays, and we were on their timeline. So there was some anxiety with regards to whether or not it could come to fruition on that timeline,' Scott said. Mayor Welch said he wants the same equitable development but on a smaller scale. He said the city will repair Tropicana Field and honor their contract to 2028. But he also said he wants to move forward in a way that doesn't preclude new baseball ownership in the future. 'I have no interest in working with this ownership group,' Welch said. 'That bridge has been burned.' Welch said there was no credible explanation on why the Rays pulled out. The ownership previously expressed concerns of cost overruns due to delays from back-to-back hurricanes. 'I have seen nothing that explains their cost overruns, no evidence of that whatsoever, but Mr. Silverman has said recently we have the money,' Welch said. News Channel 8 On Your Side asked Oak, if she could, what would she say to Rays ownership. 'Where are you?' Oak said. 'We were there during your bad years as fans. We were there helping as employees; we've been your family any time you asked us to do something, where are you now to take care of us?' As for the Woodson, they said they are back in the waiting room, hoping for the delivery of another opportunity. 'We will continue to labor intensely and see to it that we can garner the support of others,' Scott said. 'The historic Gas Plant area represents so much to so many in our community. To be able to have staked the claim in that particular area just elevated our desire to showcase our glorious history.' The agreement is in effect until March 31 or until the city receives a termination letter from the Rays. The city on Thursday did get an unsolicited proposal from Blake Investment Partners. It was not to buy the team, but to buy the real estate. The proposal includes parks, a five-star hotel, the Woodson Museum, and a convention center. Welch said the city gets unsolicited offers all the time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
