Clubhouse Confidential

7/31/2019 Clubhouse Confidential

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BY JONATHAN GANTT

Whic hitter d yoleas wan t se ith batter b?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.

Shoul MLB r-alig it division?

Wh go th bes ballar?Players love Minnesotas Target Field (36%), which opened in 2010. New Yankee Stadium rankedsecond (22%) thanks to top-notch amenities. Other notable votes: Baltimores Camden Yards,Seattles Safeco Field, Houstons Minute Maid Park and St. Louis Busch Stadium.

ClubhousConfidentiaInside Pitch recently did an anonymous poll of the Raysclubhouse to get their two cents on the biggest debates inbaseballand 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 thoughtrealignment was a good idea. e

game needs to be more comp etitiveacross the board, one Ray said. Eitherrealignment or a balanced schedulewould fix that. Anything would be moreappealing than the current AL Eastlineup.

JOSE

BAUTISTA:RONV

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72%

28%

0%

STAY AS IS SHORTER LONGER

Shoul th regularseaso b longer, shorteror sta a 162 game?

D yo lov th traveo roa tri or jus

dea wit i becausi ar of your job?

Shoul Pet Rb i th Hal of Fam?YES 100%

NO0%

Probably the most intriguing

responses of our poll. Everyplayer thought Rose should be

in the Hall but only 67% wouldgive Bonds their vote. OneRay noted that Bonds will

find his way init just stinksthat his incredible numbersmight be disguised by

things he did off the field.

Mor rela, les

rela or goo a i?AS IS55%MORE45%

LESS0%

e game has been played oneway for a long time, and I dontwant to see it change a lot, saida player.

Most players thought162 games was the rightlength for the regularseason. Those whowanted a shorter seasonagreed154 games isthe best alternative.

56% 44%LOVE IT

DEAL

WITH IT

Shoul Barr Bondb i th Hal of Fam?YES 67%

NO33%

PR

Shoul ther b designate hitter or

shoul itcher ba?DH94%

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.

Whic tea dyo hat layinth m?

45%

36%19%

RED SOX

YANKEES OTHER

Whic itcher throw

th nasties stuff?ROY HALLADAY 37%

JUSTIN VERLANDER 23%

MARIANO RIVERA 23%

OTHER 17%

e Doc gets themost respect fromthe Rays. One playernoted that Rivera hasmanaged to dominatehitters with only onepitch. How do you get

nastier than that?BB

ROY

HALLADAY:KEVINC.COX/GETTY

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A Tampa Bay Rays Survey About The Game

M overrate statistii basebal?

The clubhouse agreeda

pitchers win-loss record isntimportant, 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.

Shoul ther bInterleagu la?

M surrisin tea durin th 2011 seaso?

Favorit Major Leagu cit t visi?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.

I srin trainin

to lon?TOO LONG 73%

FINE AS IS 27%

Its not like the 50s wheneveryone came to camp out ofshape, one Ray said. Guystrain all year long and are readyto go once you get to camp.

Wh i th beslayer i basebal?Though this debate hasbecome less one-sided inthe last year, the Rays

agree that Albert isstill King. But JoseBautista (27%) andRobinson Cano(18%) arentfar behind.

45%VOTED

ALBERT

CLEVELAND INDIANS 45%

PITTSBURGH PIRATES 36%

ARIZONA D-BACKS 19%

CHICAGOSEATTLE

NOYES

64% 36%

WIN-LOSSRECORD

ALBERT

PUJOLS:RONV

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