Some Rays frustrated by fans rooting for Red Sox

ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays have won more games than ever at this point of a season. But they're still having trouble winning over fans, as Saturday's sellout crowd, much like Friday's, had a large tint of red.

"I don't think it's a good thing," starter James Shields said. "When you see all red out there, it's pretty disappointing. I wish some of the Tampa Bay fans, the Rays fans, would come out and kind of counteract what the Red Sox fans, and Yankees fans, do out here. We're not happy playing with that because we get pumped up when our crowd gets us in the ball game.

"They were cheering for the Red Sox all game (Friday) night, and all of a sudden we won, and the next thing you know they're cheering for us."

The Rays have often seemed like the visitors when the Red Sox and Yankees are in town, but they hoped it would change with an improved team.

"I wish the fans would come out and start rooting for us a little bit more," Shields said. "When you're hearing, 'Let's go, Red Sox,' in your own home field, that's not good. … I guess we've got to win some games, and win some more games, for them to come out."

"The atmosphere was cool but it's kind of getting old that every time we play the Red Sox or the Yankees we're pretty much overmatched," B.J. Upton said. "We're off to probably the best start we've ever had, so you figure it would change, but it doesn't look like it is right now."

JOHNSON DOWN, CANNIZARO COMING: With SS Jason Bartlett's right arm still feeling a bit achy, the Rays called up INF Andy Cannizaro from Triple A and optioned INF Elliot Johnson to Durham. Cannizaro, who had to be added to the 40-man roster, is a better option at shortstop than Johnson, who was a second baseman until the Rays started using him in a utility role.

Bartlett said he continues to have "a little bit" of a problem with an achy feeling in his right arm. "I'm hanging in there. I'm just trying to move my feet more because I can't rely on just my arm."

Johnson hit .158 in seven games and had a limited role. "E.J. needs to play,'' manager Joe Maddon said. Cannizaro hit .289 in 15 games at Durham.

Pitching in: RHP Al Reyes, scheduled to return Thursday after being on the DL with a shoulder impingement, threw one inning, striking out two, for Class A Vero and will throw another Monday. … RHP Matt Garza said his arm felt fine the day after his erratic but effective return from the DL. … LHP Scott Kazmir's debut is "probably" pushed back to May 4, Maddon said.

MISCELLANY: Red Sox DH David Ortiz was out after bruising his right knee during a headfirst slide Friday that manager Terry Francona described as a "car accident." … Carl Crawford's hitting streak ended at 12 games. … Saturday was the Rays' second sellout of the season and 10th in franchise history (sixth since the start of the '07 season). … Enrique Oliu, the Rays' blind Spanish radio broadcaster, was fine and stayed on the air after being hit on the side of the face by a foul ball Friday.

Comments on this article

by Bill	Apr 28, 2008 9:13 AM
Rays players and fans have been complaining about this for years. The Rays don't mind taking the money they get from all the Boston and New York fans but they don't want them at the games. Solution... Get Rays fans in the seats and stop cry

by Katie	Apr 28, 2008 9:11 AM
My hope is that the Red Sox fans living in Tampa Bay come to the game, see the Rays put on an amazing show, realize the Trop is not that bad and hopefully they will come back and start rooting for the Rays at games when the seats are empty!

by Mark	Apr 28, 2008 9:11 AM
Congrats Tampa Bay area! The Rays are in first place. I grew up between Baltimore and Tampa, so I consider both the O's and Rays my hometown teams. Of course, both sucked over the years, but now...

by maria	Apr 27, 2008 9:13 PM
to redsox hater grow up. red sox fans are loyal and faithful in good times and bad , we dont hate like you do if your a man shame on you act like one ,our accent is wicked awesome u wish u had it .stop the whinning you wimp

by johnny	Apr 27, 2008 9:12 PM
i went friday and sunday. great games, but it's a shame that we Rays fans were outnumbered maybe 3-1 or more. so many people seemed to want baseball here so badly... where are they?

by Dman	Apr 27, 2008 6:19 PM
LOL! Why a cowbell? What does that have to do with a devil ray?

by Mark	Apr 27, 2008 6:19 PM
I would love to go to every home game. It's just that I live too far away to pay gas money, especially with me not having a job! If I lived in the area, I'd have season tickets to go to every game. One day though... one day I will.

by Phillip	Apr 27, 2008 6:19 PM
SWEEP!!! Glad to see James have a great game and send all of those Red Sox fans back home to Boston on their bandwagon. GO RAYS!!! Get the cowbells ready! The Yankees are coming next home stand.

by Don	Apr 27, 2008 6:19 PM
Grew up in NY,a Yankee fan all my life.Moved to FL in the '90's,when they announced the Rays were coming I was Rays fan from that point on. I enjoy nothing more than when the Rays beat the Yanks the Sox,bwagon fans will hop on when Rays ke

by Ryan	Apr 27, 2008 6:19 PM
Red Sox and Yankee fans are everywhere. Whether at Comerica or Safeco, they jack up the prices when they play the Yanks and Sox. Oh apparently Youklis can't count. 18-1. Go RAYS -- Redsox And Yankees Suck.

by ben bolt fan	Apr 27, 2008 1:32 PM
Hey BJ, welcome to Florida. This is the only state that caters to northerners. You shuold see around town during footaball season.

by Red Sox Hater	Apr 27, 2008 12:06 PM
Those Sox-Rays bandwagon jumpers are just bigtime losers; losers in life, no friends, and afflicted with the worst accent on the planet. Hey BJ and James, you guys sucked for more than 10 years!! Win a pennant and you'll see the fans

by Ken	Apr 27, 2008 12:00 PM
One measure of satisfaction is that all those stupid Sox and Yankees fans are paying jacked-up ticket prices. Thanks for contributing to the sign-Kazmir-long-term fund ya jerks!

by Danny	Apr 27, 2008 11:31 AM
Everyone is getting excited to see Kaz come back. But honestly, I think we are in for a huge disappointment. Simply because he has been out of the game for what seems like months. Dont you find it odd that they havent locked up their ace but yet sign

by Bob	Apr 27, 2008 11:31 AM
I thought that we Rays fans did a hellava job last night.Yes there was a lot of Red but the Rays have had 3 color combinations in just 10 plus years.We are getting there.The fans will do there part if the Rays keep winning.

by jb	Apr 27, 2008 11:31 AM
when are you fools going to figure it out,people come to see there team,(not the rays),so go ahead and build a new-non a/c stadium and see how many people show for one of the most boring game played,if the rays want to do something for

by mikee	Apr 27, 2008 11:30 AM
James, don't you worry. I personally chased all the redsox fans out of town with my cow bell and sign. The bells really got to the bosox fans. If they come back tonight just chase them out with the cow bells. Rays fans are coming. GO RAYS

by Michael	Apr 27, 2008 10:36 AM
It is disgusting to see all the Bosox fans in the crowd. However, there is support for the Rays! Ask the folks who were in 204 last night. I know it is disheartening for the players, but it is equally so for the fans. GO RAYS!! Get out the brooms!

by Proto	Apr 27, 2008 10:36 AM
I agree with the players it is our team and our home. I am so tired of trying to beat back the cheers for the other teams. I do not mind cheering for good plays either way. But always cheer for your team the Rays The home team to win every home game.

by John	Apr 27, 2008 10:28 AM
1/2 of those "life long" Red Sox fans showed up in Rays gear yesterday so they could get their cowbell, changed into their Boston gear, then changed back into a Rays shirt as they walked out of the stadium. Losers

by Mike	Apr 27, 2008 10:08 AM
I would like to know how many of the Boston fans don't support the Rays and oppose a new stadium? Also what is it you people hated about Boston?? You must have moved for a reason. Anyway come out today and let me know how you like you $hit sandw

by Nick	Apr 27, 2008 10:08 AM
The Rays are not the only team that deals with this. Sox & Yanks fans show up every where, and they are obnoxious, everywhere.

by Tuck	Apr 27, 2008 10:06 AM
Colin is exactly right. GB Packer games were bad too. Once the Rays start putting together winning seasons, most of the Red Sox fans who live here will jump ship, claiming to have been Rays fans all along.

by Tom	Apr 27, 2008 9:56 AM
Keep winning Rays and they will change their shirts and caps. Great job this year, when Kaz gets back it will be another boost.

by Dave	Apr 27, 2008 9:35 AM
Personally I think it's rude to go to the home team's ballpark and root against them. However, lets not forget that the Red Sox are the defending World Series champs so you are going to draw a lot of fans just to see the defending champs.

by Colin	Apr 27, 2008 9:05 AM
The Bucs had to fight through the same. I remember the only sellouts in the 80s being against the Bears. Now we take it for granted that the games are dominated by Bucs' fans. The Rays need to do their part and keep winning and the fans will

by Kevin	Apr 27, 2008 8:44 AM
There is some improvement. At least us Rays fans can drown out the Sox Fans now. It used to be a hopeless cause.

by Ryan	Apr 27, 2008 8:44 AM
My family goes to 20 games a year, and we usually always make a trip to see them on the road. Your fans are there. Perhaps the lack of Rays fans aren't what you should be complaining about. Feel free to mention the "bandwagon" fans

by Frank	Apr 27, 2008 8:44 AM
There may be a lot of Sox 'fans' there but at least they are going home unhappy! And next week those same Sox 'fans' will be at the Rays game cheering for the Rays until the Sox come back to town.

by Ryan	Apr 27, 2008 8:36 AM
Red Sox and Yanks are proven winners, The Rays have to prove they are winners yet. 13-11 is not bad at all, but it's just a good start. I want the red out of the trop too...but it's going to take more than a few good games in a row.

by Ryan	Apr 27, 2008 8:35 AM
Upton thinks it's old? Try listening to 10 years of it. I rarely go to those games because it is so annoying. I did go to a yankees game this year and saw lots of yankees fans IN THE SEASON TICKET HOLDER line.

by Jojo	Apr 27, 2008 7:37 AM
As a Rays fan, I understand the frustration. I was at Saturday's game and all I can say is thank goodness for the cowbell. My fingers are RAW from ringing that bell to shut the Sox fans up. Keep on winning, boys. The fans will come. Sweep tomorr

by joaquin	Apr 27, 2008 7:36 AM
that will change. with the way the rays are playing, obviously, the fans have no choice but to go and cheer for the rays.

by Tom	Apr 27, 2008 7:36 AM
I was there friday night and its disgusting how many Sox fans were there. The sad part is 90% of these people live in Tampa and dont root for their home team. They all jump on the bandwagon eventually though. Root for the Rays or move to Bost

by Greg	Apr 27, 2008 7:36 AM
The Red Sox are World Series champs. The Rays are still a very young team and organization. I'm a huge Rays fan, but I'm not sure what the players expect. Once the Rays are a legitimate contender, then you'll hear more cheering for the