Posted by: Skeet on March 29, 2007 1:37PM EST I'm from Tampa but now live in Atlanta. I can sympathize with what your saying because they just screwed up the Braves TV team and we have a new crew which lacks personality. By the way, I was lucky enough to catch a Rays game last Saturday at AL Lang field. Edwin Jackson threw against Boston and looked pretty damn good. If he's the fifth starter, I think Tampa Bay could surprise a few people with their quality of pitching.

Posted by: andy lenart on March 30, 2007 10:38PM EST Yes you are right about the Rays surprising some teams, if not this year than next. They could be another Detroit Tiger team. They have the offense, now they also have to learn how to win on the road. Starting the season in New York against the Yankees won't help them but it could show what kind of season we can expect. As for the tv broadcasters, not only do Staats and his sidekick Migraine lack personality, I think they get paid by the word because they never shut up. The only announcer I can think of that talks more and says less is Michael Kaye of Yes Network

Posted by: Yanksmaniac on April 7, 2008 11:52AM EST I am absolutely tired and disgusted about the biased and double-standard announcing of Statts and Magrane. It is especially noticable when the Rays play the Yankees. Whenever a call goes against the Rays, it's because the Yankees get special treatment because they are from NY, or because they have the highest payroll in baseball. When a call goes against the Yankees, it's ok, the umpire simply made a bad call. It's pathetic to listen to them because they sound so jealous of the Yankees payroll. Understand this, if the Yankees weren't subsidizing your team with the luxury tax, you guys WOULDN'T HAVE A JOB! Statts is probably still upset at the Yanks because he couldn't hack it on MSG. My point is, these two have to stop sounding like jealous teenage boys!

Posted by: leroy kemp,jr on May 3, 2008 4:27PM EST The team is better, but not as good as wayne statts and his sidekick try to make them. These two guys are terrible. some body need to tell them, they are announcer, and NOT UMPIRES. They should have managers or umpires.

Posted by: gary s on September 9, 2008 10:52PM EST I have enjoyed watching baseball since i was kid. Like alot of fans I like enjoy Rays baseball but I also like the team from where I grew up. Listening to the Rays annoncers makes me want to puke. In all my years I have seen a lot of questionable calls and close plays but I have never heard anyone on air stink up the game so badly with their commentary. Please pass this along to the management and add it to the list of others who I'm sure share my view.