The Tampa Bay Devil Rays would like us to start calling them by a different name. They would now like to be known as the Tampa Bay Rays. They have abandoned the “Devil” in the name and gone with new colors.
Carl Crawford is happy with the change:
“It feels like a fresh start. It’s like that feeling of going to school on the first day. You get to wear the new uniforms. It feels good. You know what they say, ‘You play like you feel.’ We feel good, we look good, so hopefully, we’ll play good.”
Stuart Sternberg who took over the team in 2005 was all smiles as well:
“I think this gives us as an organization and identity,” he said. “It was something where we were tied to the past, and the past wasn’t something we necessarily wanted to be known for. Nobody’s running from it, or hiding from it, and we’re proud of certain aspects of it. This is something the organization has really been able to put their arms around, and I’m hoping the fans will see it as a new beginning.”
Until the Devil Rays can get some good veterans to go with their plethora of young talent, I don’t think it’s going to matter whether or not they changed their name or uniforms.
