First Half of @MLB Season ends as Team Rhino takes The Trop By Storm
Photo by: Jarret M. Streiner - @jarret23
On July 11, almost two months after Team Rhino launched our website, the Tampa Bay Rays, who told us when we requested credentials that they have been following our work and have enjoyed what we’ve brought to the table so far, provided us with press credentials to our first day-of-event coverage. Rhiny, our small mascot, made the trek to St. Petersburg, with myself and @jarret23, and a crowd of nearly 25,000 attended the game, which featured the giveaway of a @DavidPrice14 bobblehead.
Jarret handled photo duties for the day with his photo pass, and he took over 750 photos. I spent the game speaking with different members of the media in the press box (all of whom were very helpful) and live-tweeting the game under the hashtags #Rays #Indians and #Rhinoball.
Photo by: Jarret M. Streiner - @jarret23
During the first inning, which took 30 minutes, the Indians scored three runs and the Rays scored one – a memorable play by All-Star @CarlCrawford_ , who managed to avoid a rundown at 3rd base and a tag at home. In addition, thanks to the magic of Twitter, we found a fan (@scottyk27) who was live-tweeting from his seat in section 148, so we arranged an interview via #Rays and at the top of the inning, we spoke in person with Scott Krepop, who is a director for the morning and noon news at WWSB-ABC 7 in Sarasota, Fla as well as a freelance photographer.
Rhino: How often do you come to Rays games?
Krepop: About 4-5 times a year.
Rhino: Are you a Rays fan or an Indians fan – who are you rooting for today?
Krepop: Both! I root for the Indians when the two teams play but I hope the Rays win because they need the wins to keep pace with the Yankees.
Rhino: How long have you been on Twitter?
Krepop: About six months now.
Rhino: Do you use @scottyk27 to interact with other #Indians or #Rays fans during games?
Krepop: Yes, although I have not yet met any fans in person outside of tweeting with them during games.
Rhino: Do you find that you’re more involved with the game from a passion standpoint when you’re watching and tweeting?
Krepop: I think so, because you like to have that interaction. My wife sometimes doesn’t get what I’m talking about but if somebody on Twitter understands if I’m complaining about a count or a strike even if I’m watching it on TV, it gives you a feeling of a better connection with other fans.
Rhino: Who are some of your favorite players on the Indians and the Rays?
Krepop: Well, on the Rays, you have to go with @Evan3Longoria. My son is a big @CarlCrawford_ fan. On the Indians, I’m a huge fan of a kid they just called up named Carlos Santana who is their catcher…
Rhino: And had a big hit today in the first inning!
Krepop: …exactly! He’s actually putting me in first in my fantasy league.
We think Krepop forgave us when Crawford hit a two-run homerun the second our interview ended and we saw it on a television in the concourse instead of from our seats!
Photo by: Jarret M. Streiner - @jarret23
As I continued to live-tweet from our @PitchTotheRhino, people such as Tampa Tribune Food Editor @JeffHouck were kind enough to retweet some of our tweets and pointed people in our general direction. It was quite a day because while two-thirds of Team Rhino was at the Rays game, Jose Boza was live-tweeting updates about the World Cup Final between Spain and Netherlands (which Spain won 1-0 after a goal in extra time).
Photo by: Jarret M. Streiner - @jarret23
As the game wore on, we did see Rafael Soriano, who made the All-Star game this year for the Rays, as well as Kerry Wood, who once upon a time was an up-and-coming star for the Cubs. With the score tied 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth, the Rays loaded the bases with no outs but managed not to score a run, which led to some sharply-worded tweets from Rays fans across Tampa Bay and the Twittersphere.
Photo by: Jarret M. Streiner - @jarret23
One extra inning was needed to decide this thriller. In the 10th inning, after Andy Sonnanstine pitched a great top, the bottom saw the Rays get men on 1st and 2nd with one out. Jason Bartlett, who entered the game in the 9th inning to pinch-run for Carlos Pena, hit a long flyball to right centerfield on a 1-2 pitch, and Crawford galloped home from second base with the winning run – Rays 6, Indians 5.
Following the game, Rhiny managed to run the bases and Team Rhino was very happy to have had such a smooth first outing; hopefully, the first of many to come. Our thanks to the Rays communications staff, for giving a fledging publication/website like ours an opportunity to prove our worth.
