March 07, 2007

Devil Rays Acquire Fan: Tampa Bay Devil Rays Team President Matthew Silverman paid $535 at auction for the fan support of Manny Stiles, a prolific contributor to ArmchairGM.Com who was "tired of people making fun of me for not having a favorite team." The money and an additional $1,000 will go to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation in remembrance of Stiles' brother.

posted by rcade to baseball at 03:43 PM - 5 comments

so now they have...2 fans?

posted by FriarFan at 03:50 PM on March 07, 2007

I would have asked a hell of a lot higher number than that to publicize I rooted for the Devil Rays.

posted by wfrazerjr at 04:10 PM on March 07, 2007

#1- Good on Manny for the charitable remembrance. #2- It shouldn't be hard to get involved with the rich tapestry of D-Rays fandom and lore. #3- Lou P. left just as things were getting good, what with the sudden spike in fan interest. Too bad Chicagoans don't tend to show much support for their teams.

posted by THX-1138 at 04:23 PM on March 07, 2007

Tampa Bay Devil Rays Team President Matthew Silverman paid $535 at auction And thus, Tampa goes another year without a qualified fifth starter. Seriously, though, I think it is very cool that Silverman ponied up for this. And it shows wicked savvy. In doing this, Tampa Bay a) buys a fan with an internet following; 2) makes a show of civic responsibility with the contribution to an AIDS charity; and 3) exhibts a sense of humor about themselves that is bound to attract the large population of folks who love self-deprecation. I hope this plays out well for them. Tampa seems to deserve a team -- certainly one that is better run than the Devil Rays. And nobody deserves a stadium as awful as The Can. Man, it's a good day to be a baseball fan on SpoFi. Yeah Baseball.

posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 04:30 PM on March 07, 2007

Hmmm...Devil Rays sign AAA blogger to 1 year deal...$535. Cool! But I wonder how the other Fan Free Agent deals are going down: MVP Heckler with Bullpen seats: $827, 3 year deal, with a $42 signing bonus AAA Swim suit model...$45, 1 year deal...random seat assignment. (But they are looking to fill their roster with at least 40)

posted by True Blue at 12:33 PM on March 08, 2007

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