Interview with Tampa Bay Rays President Matt Silverman

When the Tampa Bay Rays visited Disney's Wide World of Sports for their three game regular season series with the Toronto Blue Jays, I was able to meet the Rays' team President Matt Silverman, who was gracious in answering a brief Q and A interview for later. Thank you Mr. Silverman.

The following is a question and answer interview with the President of the Tampa Bay Rays, Matt Silverman.


The new ownership group came into the Tampa Bay area with a plan on how to turn this franchise around and becoming a viable major league team. Ownership first addressed Tropicana Field itself, changed the front office decision makers, the coaching staff, and attempted to become more fan friendly. As a whole, has the feedback from the public been as positive as you'd hoped for? And with attendance?

We are thrilled to be part of the Tampa Bay community. Our organizational philosophy is really bearing fruits on the field this season, but the process has been ongoing since our ownership change in October 2005. We took many fresh, new steps to provide a great environment for fans to enjoy a game and establish ourselves as a community partner. The interest level in the team is on the rise, and we can only hope that it manifests itself in attendance. Having packed crowds really makes a difference to our players. It creates a real home field advantage.


Which statement better describes the Rays' philosophy towards winning;

Would it be "win it all now, be the front runners, and worry about the future later, no matter the cost", or would it be "lets try and win 90 games every year, be competitive, and once in a while maybe get a shot at winning it all"?

Andrew Friedman has consistently said that we want to be an organization that can sustain winning, season after season. To do that, we have to keep one eye on the present and one eye on the future. We do not have the financial resources of higher revenue clubs, but, with a focus on player development and with continued investment in the talented player we’ve acquired or developed, we believe we can compete year in and year out.

What would you like to say to the naysayers that are constantly dwelling on past failures and prior ownership?

We are the Rays, not the Devil Rays. We are committed to being a quality corporate citizen, to putting a great product on the field, and to providing the best possible environment for fans to enjoy the game of baseball. The naysayers should give the organization another try—hopefully they’ll recognize the differences.

And to those that say "you can win some now, and maybe for a few years, but will never be able to maintain winning nor keep the great players because this is a small market team"?

It certainly won’t be easy, but we believe it can be done. The first step is creating an environment in which players want to play. The long term signings of James Shields, Carlos Pena, Evan Longoria, Dan Wheeler, Scott Kazmir and Carl Crawford are evidence of that. They have chosen to be Rays. If we can continue to draft and develop top players, we should be able to continue adding to our already talented and exciting team.

The new stadium proposal that is underway has been receiving great support from the national media. Clearly, this unique waterfront stadium as designed would become the beacon for the city of St Pete. Is there a timetable as to how long is the ownership group willing to lobby the local government, the media, and residents to get this project done?


We believe the design for a waterfront ballpark in downtown St. Pete will give us the most beautiful stadium in Major League Baseball. It would be a great source of pride for St. Pete and Tampa Bay, and it could be a part, along with the redevelopment of Tropicana Field and its parking lots, of a new wave of growth for St. Pete. We are focused on getting the ballpark on the ballot for November. If all goes well, we’ll be playing regular season baseball on the waterfront in 2012.


And if the proposal is not accepted by either deadlines and/or taxpayers , would there ever be consideration for a Tampa location?

We put forth this proposal because we believe the historic Al Lang Field site would be a great location for the long-term home of the Rays. If the new ballpark effort does not proceed, our long-term lease at Tropicana Field would remain in place.


The ownership group disappointed many fans when the Rays' payroll went down last year. Rampant thoughts of "new guys in town, but nothing has changed" were everyday criticisms. Knowing what was on the horizon, was that an intentional plan at the time, by choosing not to invest in any significant free agents and thus waiting for the youth to further their development?

Before the 2006 season, Stuart Sternberg said our payroll would rise 10%-15% annually. That’s a target, but so much of it depends upon the players in-house and the particulars of the free agent market. Over the past two seasons, we were able to determine our needs and how to address them. We also were able to provide many young players the chance to get valuable experience at the Major League. Two of the beneficiaries, Dioner Navarro and Edwin Jackson, have gotten off to great starts this season. The experiences they gained the past couple of seasons certainly have contributed to that.


When we first spoke at Disney's Wide World of Sports back in April, you stated that the Rays were very close to becoming competitive. Did you ever envision a stand alone hold on first place in the middle of May 2008, and has this fast start by the team surprised even you?

Coming into Spring Training, we were very excited about the ballclub. The organization was optimistic, but no one really knew what to expect. Our success to date has come despite some early season injuries. We’re even more excited to see what a healthy Ray ballclub can do the rest of the way.


With the considerable wealth of talent currently on hand in the Rays' minor league affiliates, one could draw comparisons of the current Rays' organization to that of say, the Atlanta Braves of the early 1990's, or the Baltimore Orioles of the 1960's. Was there a previous franchise model that was chosen to follow, prior to taking ownership control?

I wouldn’t say that we follow the model of any single organization. We certainly have learned lessons from observing other organizations, but each organization faces its particular circumstances and challenges.

If the Rays' are still in the pennant race by late July, is there a temptation and/or desire to trade minor league prospects for a veteran player(s) for a potential stretch run?

We don’t feel we have any major needs, but we always want to maintain flexibility so that we could add potential pieces should the need arise and the cost (in terms of talent exchanged) make sense.

Rocco Baldelli is still attempting to return to baseball. Being one of the primary faces of this franchise and so well respected in the community, it surely has been devastating to both Rocco and the Rays' that he unable to play at this time. If, by some misfortune, that his recovery is not successful enough for him to continue playing, would the Rays' be able to find a place for him in another role assuming he would want to?

Rocco’s focus and ours is on getting Rocco back on the field. He’s making progress and we’re going to do everything we can to aid him in his efforts.

The Disney series against the Blue Jays seemed to be another success with the exception that there were still some empty seats throughout the stadium. By and large though, players, fans, and the media all liked the experience. Are the odds of returning next year greater than 50/50, or less than 50/50?

We really enjoyed the Orlando series and reaching out to fans in that part of our region. It is too early in the scheduling process for next season to determine the odds of returning. Whether we return to Disney or not, we will continue to work diligently to extend the Rays into Orlando and Central Florida. They’re critical to our growth as a franchise.



What changes there would you like to see if the Rays' were to return?

We’re undefeated at Disney—why change a thing?



Comparisons could be drawn to the Rays' relationship to Orlando, and that of Baltimore and Washington during the late 1970's. After the Senators moved to Texas for the 1972 season, the Orioles began to televise and broadcast games on DC affiliates several years later. The foothold in the region did not take until the late 1970's though. Once it did however, the Orioles saw attendance jump significantly while attributing upwards of 25% of their total attendance to the DC area.

Is that the plan with Disney and the Rays? And do you envision other mini road trips to other regions in Florida, such as Jacksonville, Ft Meyers, etc?

We are determined to become a truly regional ballclub with support from throughout the State of Florida. We want the Rays to not only be Orlando’s team, but also Fort Myers’ team and Gainesville’s team. If we can capture the hearts of our region and extend our reach throughout the state, we’ll be able to prosper.


There is significant frustration in Orlando concerning the broadcast partners of the Rays', in that they are very much unavailable to most of the region. FSN-Florida has an ongoing dispute with Britehouse cable and it's 800,000 subscribers, and is unavailable on their cable system, and WHOO 1080 am, which has a too weak signal to be heard over the air in most of the region after dusk.

The FSN/Brighthouse dispute keeps more than half of the Rays' games from being seen by nearly a million subscribers regionally. The alternative then, would be to listen to the game on the radio, but, for most, is an impossibility as well.

Do the Rays' have any plans on addressing these issues in the future, so that "out of sight, out of mind" doesn't take hold in the area?

We are working hard each season to expand our partnerships with television and radio affiliates throughout the state. We are determined to do what we can to make sure that everyone who wants to watch or listen to a Rays game in the region has the ability to.



Finally, as President of the Rays', is this your dream job, or would you rather be a player?

Like most kids, I dreamed of playing in the Major Leagues, but that dream was vanquished well before I made it to high school. I’m much better suited for this position than any position on the field.

Is Edwin Jackson Just Trade Bait or Another Bob Gibson?

Young pitchers with potential come and go. Some are able to harness their skills and have successful baseball careers, while others never seem to gain enough consistency to stay very long in the big leagues. So where does Edwin Jackson fall?

Struggling to a 0-8 record after his first 13 starts last year, many heard whispers that Ed "no win" Jackson was on his way out of the rotation, and maybe even off the major league active roster. Lack of control in the early innings was his downfall on most nights. If the ball wasn't over the plate, batters weren't swinging, and if it was, Jackson's 96 mph fastball was getting hammered.

Such is the life of a starting pitcher that often gets behind in the count to major league batters.

The 2008 season has been a mirror opposite from last season. Jackson's 2007 season was heavily loaded with 3 inning / 6 run knockouts, while sprinkling in a solid month of performances later in the season where the signs of his vast potential finally made an appearance.

To outsiders, nine starts and a 2-3 won-loss record certainly does not speak volumes that Jackson has turned any corners on his future as a Rays starter. But it's his body of work in each start though that brings much interest, as Jackson has yet to display any middle ground between a Bob Gibson like performance or that of a Class AA journeyman.

The bad: three starts, 13 innings pitched with 17 earned runs allowed while the losing pitcher in all three starts.

The good: six starts, 41 innings pitched and only 3 earned runs allowed. But Jackson only picked up 2 wins as the bullpen let two of his starts get away. Offensive support was lacking in the others.

Gibson like efforts included were 2 starts against the Yankees, allowing only a single earned run, and dominating performances against Boston, Seattle, and Toronto. For all of his 2008 starts, the good vs. bad ratio is the polar opposite of last year.

Now, the dilemma for the Rays: gamble and keep him, or gamble and move him.

With so much youthful potential currently on minor league rosters, is this the time to possibly move Jackson? If he's another Bob Gibson, it's certainly a regrettable mistake.

Right now though, while his value is probably as high as it will get, he could be another Sidney Ponson as well. We all know the type, just another one of those guys that turns heads for a while, and then just disappears.

It may be a be a tough choice for the Rays to make, but they will have to decide.

Are The Rays' More Than Just A Feel Good Story?

A quarter of the way through the 2008 season has seen the Tampa Bay Rays establish a new order for the franchise. Officially gone in mid May are the days of waiting for NFL summer camps to open in July.

Also gone are the laughing stock comparisons to the Bad News Bears and Charlie Brown.

This year, the Tampa Bay area fan base may actually be watching what may soon be a dream season unfold. The signs for just that are becoming more clear as each week goes by.

After the Thursday afternoon 5-2 victory over the Yankees, the Rays record stands at 24-17, and in sole possession of first place, leading Boston by a full game. Not only is their record the best ever by any Rays team, it also is the best record in the American League.

What is impressive though, is how the Rays got there.

The current 16-6 streak has included 18 games against teams that were above .500 in 2007.

An eleven game home winning streak that ended on Wednesday came at expense of teams that were all above .500 last year. Among those teams swept were the Red Sox, who were shutout once, and then had a bottom of the 8th inning two run homer seal another 2-1 Rays victory. The Red Sox left humbled but angry, and paid back Tampa Bay later with a sweep of their own in Boston .

In years past, that sweep might have sent the Rays packing, and beginning a never ending tailspin into baseball oblivion.

But not this team and not this year.

Next came the Angels into Tropicana Field, leading the AL in batting.

But they too left Tampa Bay impressed with the club after suffering two shutouts and scoring just a single run in the series.

"There is nothing they did that surprised us," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "They have a lot of good things going and I think I saw it first hand."

Defense and pitching have been key for the Rays. The new infield has committed just 9 errors in 41 games, which leads both leagues for fewest errors by an infield . Difficult double plays have become routine by shortstop Jason Bartlett and second baseman Aki Iwamura.

More important though, is that routine double plays have become routine.

The speedy outfield of Carl Crawford, B J Upton, and a combination of right fielders has allowed few balls to find the gaps.

Pitching has at times been dominant. Careless base on balls that plagued this pitching staff in years past have been reduced to just a 136 in 41 games.

The bullpen ERA is at 3.16 and is now a full three fewer runs per game allowed in 2007, while the team ERA is 3.69 and nearly two runs less than at this same time last year.

Starting pitching was up and down early on, but has come on like gangbusters during the streak.

During the eleven game home winning streak, Rays starters compiled an ERA of 1.96, while holding teams to one run or less six times and with three of those being shutouts. Rays' starters have now thrown 75 straight innings without giving up a home run.

So where does this go?

Forward for sure.

This 2008 Rays' version is unlike any other in their history. For the first time ever, there is solid starting pitching teamed with a consistent bullpen that is well balanced for situational purposes.

The team defense is among the best in either league.

The Rays can hit the ball out of the park or can play small ball very effectively. There is constant pressure on opposing pitchers when Rays runners reach base.

Clutch hits have come by nearly everyone that has been on the roster. Dependency on one or two batters is out the door.

The formula for success is finally here. Depth, speed, versatility, and youth make this an electric team to watch, and coupled with a confident drive with a will to win, will keep this team at the forefront of discussions at water coolers everywhere across the country.

Rays Set Marks for April

When does optimism give way to expectations for the future?

The Tampa Bay Rays may be making strides in the coming months by having to answer just that question.

The month of April has been completed, and the Rays management must be at least somewhat happy with the results. Twenty six games played, with fourteen wins, does not seem like much for most major league clubs, but for the Rays it created a precedent.

A precedent in that the Rays had their first winning April in their short history.

A precedent that the Rays set team marks with a staff ERA of 3.74, with a bullpen ERA of 2.59. This, coming from a team that was dead last in the major leagues last year in many pitching categories.

The schedule was more home based than not, but their opponents were mostly AL East division rivals, to which the Rays held a 10-7 head to head advantage over. Not bad.

Not bad at all considering that the Rays were missing two of their top three starters for most of the month. Scott Kazmir did not throw a single pitch, while Matt Garza made only two starts during April.

Also missing for the month of April.........missing offensively that is.......were the likes of Carlos Pena, Aki Iwamura, and Jason Bartlett. Pena and Iwamura have struggled to stay batting above .200 most of the season, while Bartlett struggled at .220 and seemingly never got the ball out of the infield.

Bartlett's productivity is still an unknown to the Rays, but Iwamura, the new lead off hitter, and Pena, last years Silver Slugger award winner, have struggled mightily for the month. Not only is Iwamura's average low, his average with runners in scoring position is worse, at .118. Pena had gone the last three weeks of April without a home run.

So how did the Rays do it?

Two words......

Defense and depth.

These are two words that would never be associated with earlier Rays teams. Solidifying the middle infield with Bartlett and Iwamura has resulted in numerous ground balls not getting into the holes as in years past, and has shown the ability of both players to turn even the most difficult of double plays routinely.

No doubt these are two key contributors to the Rays record setting pitching staff.

Depth has dramatically improved across the board.

Pena in a slump? In steps Eric Hinske, a non roster invite this year, who's timely hitting and six home runs has saved or won several games.

Dioner Navarro on the DL? Shawn Riggans plays hero on a couple of occasions, most dramatically with a four RBI performance against the Yankees.

Two starters out? In the Exhibition season, Andy Sonnanstine, Jason Hammel, and Edwin Jackson were playing musical chairs battling for the 4th and 5th rotation slots, with the odd man out. So, Sonnanstine throws a complete game 3 hit shutout going 4-1 for the month, and Jackson precedes that with an 8 inning 2 hit effort. Hamel has mostly held his own.

Where this leads nobody knows. But this much is in evidence now: the Rays are eliminating the proverbial monkey on the back, and appear to be moving forward, and far, far away from their past.

Magic Aim for Revenge Against Pistons

The Magic will play game two tonight in Detroit with physicality on the agenda.

In losing game one by 18 points, the Magic at times seemed overwhelmed by the physical play of the Pistons. Grabbing, holding, and heavy duty body contact in the post up area, proved to be disruptive enough to hold the Magic to a 72 point effort, their lowest point total of the season.

How the Magic react in game two may go a long way in determining the length of this series.

Dwight Howard, held to just 12 points and 8 rebounds in game one, must become a force for the Magic to get scoring balance from his teammates. Now, it'll be Stan Van Gundy's turn to make adjustments so that Howard roams free again. If successful, the Magic should be competitive against the Pistons.

If not, this series will be over very soon.