Tamp Bay Rays Fans Still Seem To Be Learning

I know that they have only had a baseball franchise for about a decade now, but the Tampa Bay Rays fans still have a lot to learn.

After Game One of the World Series, a caller into a local Philadelphia radio station said that he overheard a Rays fan saying, "Well, we lost, but at least we got to see a World Series."

Then during the top of the eighth inning of Game Two, the crowd at Tropicana field could be heard chanting, "Na na na nah, Hey, Hey, Hey, Goodbye." The funny thing is that it was only Game Two.

While I admire and appreciate their enthusiasm and energy, I had trouble understanding why they choose to chant something that is typically reserved for the final victory, not the first one. I could understand if it was Game Seven, but we are talking about Game Two here.

I knew going into this World Series that the Rays' fans would be tame, but I at least thought they would have better judgement. After all, they have solid fanbases for the other two sports teams in Tampa and are reasonably sport smart.

I guess, as a resident of a sports-crazy town like Philly, it can be hard to understand the inexperience of those new to Major League Baseball. After all, it took Rays fans over 10 years to show up to the Trop to actually watch a ballgame and some Tampa residents probably didn't even know they had a team until recently.

But you can't blame them for not showing up over the last 10 years because their franchise was horrible, and when you live in Tampa, there is a lot of alternatives to choose from. I don't blame you Rays fans; you're still learning, and in time you will understand how to be baseball fans.

You'll learn that not every ball or strike called is wrong and deserves to be booed.

You'll learn how to make a stadium loud without the use of a device like a cowbell.

And eventually, when you get that new ballpark, you'll learn that baseball is better when played outside on real grass.

The best advice I can give Rays' fans is to take in the experience and enjoy it, because it can end quickly. And take notes from Phillies fans during the middle three games of this series. Say what you will about Philly fans; because despite the negative things said about them, they know sports. They know baseball, and they know how to impact a game from the stands.

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