The most annoying giveaway since the Cow Bell

Red Sox fans if you thought the Cow Bells were obnoxious, wait until you see this weekend's giveaway. The first 10,000 kids 14 and under will receive a Rays Rattle Drum.  This drum is the same one featured in the Karate Kid 2.  Upon getting the drum in my hand, I proceded to go Mr. Miagi with it and learned just how quick the drum can annoy people. My co-worker was ready to pull it out of my hand and stomp it. In fact, I had to go in to a sound proof edit booth just to shoot the video. Otherwise, I risked my life.




The Rays are also giving away a Matt Garza figurine, similar to the Evan Longoria Rookie of the Year that was given out earlier this year. All fans to Saturday night's game will get the figurine and also a chance to see Tito Nieves perform in the Rays 10th post-game concert.

Back to the Garza figurine. I figured that most of you, like me would wonder how authintic it was. So, I've included a close-up of the goatee. You decide. I didn't see any sunflower seeds dripping of the chin.

I couldn't resist having Garza pitch in front of Kazmir's good-bye newpaper ad

Robo-Los tries to exorcise Scotty Kazmir

Look what I arrived in the newsroom this afternoon: Robo Los. Kids going to the Trop on Sunday will get Robo-Los.

Robo-Los wasted no time taking over my desk and working to exorcise any ghost of Scotty Kazmir. He knocked some sense into the bobblehead with a piledriver. Robo-Los said [in best Arnold Terminator voice], "We're going to smack around the Boston Red Sox tonight!"

Go Rays! Beat Boston!

Resistance is futile. Robo-Los makes cyborg debut!

In what has to be the coolest giveaway of the year, the first 10,000 kids on Sunday, September 6th will get "Robo-Los." I guess this is a sneak peak of what baseball would've looked like if the substance abuse policy was not created. Eventually, players would've turned from drugs to help their bodies improve to robotic parts to make the stronger, faster, and better than their human counterparts. It may have started with a few cyborgs, until eventually players had their brains transferred into robots to create the ultimate baseball battling machine.

Off Day Fun: Bossman Junior visor giveaway on Sunday

Just days after B.J. Upton was demoted to the number 9 spot and complained that it was a "kick in the face"... the Rays are giving away Bossman Junior Visors to the 1st 10,000 kids 14 and under. The giveaway is during this Sunday's game versus the Blue-Jays.

I've got to admit. I like it. I wonder how much grief I would get if I wore it out in public?

Picture post: Kazmir bobblehead takes place of honor on my desk

One day after his fine performance against the New York Yankees, the Scott Kazmir bobblehead arrived in the newroom. Kaz is sporting the road grays and seems to be mid-pitch with a big grin on his face. I've been told that there is precedence for trade before bobblehead day. The Cubs traded Michael Barrett in 2007 before his bobblehead giveaway. The promotion went on as planned.

As for Kaz, I would like to see him stay a Ray for awhile. He's going to take his place next to my phone on my desk for the rest of the season. That way, I can have Kaz watching me as go about my day.

Kaz takes his place of honor on my desk.

Here's a look at a quick video of the Kaz bobblehead:

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Rays giving away All-Star t-shirts during next homestand

It looks like the Rays will be giving out some t-shirts next week during the homestand.  Each of the Rays All-Stars will get their own shirt, starting with Carl Crawford on July 27th against the Yankees.

For a full list, go to this link from 10 Connects:
Rays giving away All-Star t-shirts during next homestand | 10connects.com | Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater

I would venture a guess that this is a good sign that Carl Crawford won't be traded at the deadline. I'm not sure it's good form to feature a guy on a t-shirt and then trade him a few days later.

The upcoming homestand is really jam-packed. Besides the t-shirts during the Yankees and Red Sox series, the Kansas City series has 2 concerts and a Kazmir bobblehead. Very interesting.

Here are the pictures of the shirts: