In the Shadow of Space Mountain
A strange night.
Brandon McCarthy called it a "really nice Class A park" and added, "I kept expecting to hear my mom’s voice yelling at me."
Kind of like Little League.
But this isn’t Red Sox-Yankees, Cubs-Cardinals or Dodgers-Giants. Disney and ESPN may be part of the same giant conglomeration but the world wide leader wasn’t at Disney’s Wide World of Sports on Tuesday night.
This was Devil Rays-Rangers. The Devil Rays need fans and they’re not going to draw much more – if any – back home with the Rangers in town so why not spent three days at Disney World. They didn’t sell out the 9,000-seat stadium on Tuesday but maybe they can throw in a little two-for-one Devil Rays-Jungle Cruise special price to fill out the crowd.
One of those alligator wrestling matches between innings might work as well.
Don’t laugh. Maybe one day the Devil Rays and the Rangers will be playing up in Frisco.
Love the television guy who asked Ron Washington after the game, "Other than the loss, how did you like playing here tonight?"
"Gee Mrs. Earhart, other than the landing, how was your flight?"
Actually the manager praised the way his team played in a 4-3 loss to the Devil Rays, even though the Rangers are now nine games under .500. That matches the farthest below .500 they have been since the end of the 2003 season.
You know what the guide said on Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise: "Hello everyone, I’d like to welcome you aboard the world-famous Jungle Cruise. My name is Joe and I’ll be your skipper for as far as we get."
The manager also praised the setting and if you’ve ever been to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg you’ll understand why. If you’re still only going to draw the same number of people who are standing in line at Space Mountain or the Maelstrom at Epcot Center then why not enjoy a little fresh air as well.
You can always do a little shopping for the family back home if you can only somehow stumble onto a gift shop around here.
Game 2 is tonight and as the guy also says on the Jungle Cruise: "And just ahead you’ll notice an alligator playing with an elephant. That’s something you don’t see every day….But I do."
T.R. Sullivan
Toby
If only you could find a gift stumble onto a gift shop? Classic. I’ve been hearing that Disney World has become too “touristy.” Say it ain’t so!
Love the jungle cruise. Fun, fun time.
Great post, T.R.
I’m confused, though, between Tampa and the Rangers, who is the elephant and who is the alligator?
Also, re: your first Jungle Cruise guide quote: are you implying that Wash won’t be the skipper much farther or that the Rangers won’t be going much farther?
Am I reading too much into that?
And did K Loe really KO a water cooler: http://rangersorrobbers.wordpress.com/2007/05/15/rangers-evidence-loe-kos-water-cooler/
Hey, when the Rangers start playing Major League Baseball, they can gripe about playing in a Minor League Park. Both of these teams are playing where they belong, the minor leagues. In fact what they are showing on television isn’t fit for children. Ha Ha. I think McCarthy could use some motherly comfort. He pitched well and should have won, but alas, their are no fairy tale endings even in Disney World. It is all about the cash, ask Hicks, he will tell you. He wants to talk about branding try Disney for branding. He can’t compete with that. Speaking of Frisco, looks like there will soon be a Disney park up there. Who would of thunk it?????
I missed the part about being 9 games under .500. After tonight they will have reached my prediction of being 10 games under .500 by the All-Star break. What is it May 16th and the All-Star Break is in July. Anyone for 20 games under by then??? Bye the Bye DANKS beats Yankees today. What a joke! How much longer before Washington is canned? How much longer before Hicks sells? How much longer before Daniels goes back to his fantasy league? Where is the hope?
Hey, I just heard Ron Washington strained HIS hamstring running out to second to argue the BJ Upton call. I have an idea: lets put Ron on the DL, and turn the team over to Don Wakamatsu for 15 days. That way, we might actually WIN some games!!!
At some point in time the manager and the pitching coach have to bear some responsibility for the disintegration of both the offense and the pitching staff…and (gasp) as much as I hate to say it Rudy does too…and I don’t want Waky in there either.
I only can muster two observations: “YUCK!!!!” and “Yes, We could use some baseball!!!”.
Sadly, we are fast approaching the Mendoza-line for futility in all areas. This is what the players wanted in unloading Buck?
I like Ron, but, GEEEEEZ, something’s rotten in the state of Denmark, er, Texas.
Some might be surprised that this blogger actually says Wilkerson isn’t as awful as I figured. Almost–not quite. Sammy is what I thought he’d be. Gagne looks actually fine when he wears a uniform, which is rare. The star players are very mediocre. If it wasn’t for Tejeda, Aki and Sammy, (and Ian earlier), where would we be? THAT’S a scary thought!
Is it bad luck, bad execution, or the Tom Hicks curse coming through once again? Being neither a Cowboy, Maverick or Star fan, the Rangers ARE my team. I’m not a fair weather fan at all; but one thing is clear: “WE COULD USE SOME BASEBALL!!!!!!” Haven’t seen any since the Red Sox series at home.