Tampa Bay Rays Bizarre Ovation For Andino Fuels Red Sox Rivalry

The game of baseball is based upon respecting your opponent.  There are times when they cross the line and as an unwritten rule discipline may be warranted.  But what the Tampa Bay Rays did on Friday when they played the Baltimore Orioles was just down right bizarre.

Every Red Sox fan remembers Robert Andino‘s game winning single last September that capped off a dismal final month for Boston.  As a result of the BoSox losing the game to the Orioles and a dramatic win for the Rays a few minutes later, the Rays got in the postseason.

So to thank Andino, the entire Rays dugout got up and gave him a standing ovation prior to his first at bat during Friday’s spring training game.  The decision for the obscure behavior was none other than the managers, Joe Maddon.

“We just talked about that prior to the game, what was the appropriate thing to do? We saw him in the two-hole, we said let’s give him a nice round of applause.” – courtesy of Ricky Doyle, NESN. 

Even Andino was startled by the unforeseen actions as Maddon noted.

“He was startled by it. He didn’t know what was going on. He was looking around. I thought it was pretty good.”

Case in point on how stupid it was, Andino didn’t even know what was going on or what to think of it.

To think that the Rays waited until spring training to show their appreciation to me stinks of arrogance.  Why not send him a text after the game last September thanking him for the hit.  Rather they went public with their act and to me it says “hey remember what we did on the last day of the year, well we couldn’t have done it without you Robert.”

Maybe the Rays should worry about this year and not dwell on the past.  Sure it was a fantastic day for baseball and despite the heartache and misery that I incurred, I admit it was great for the game.

Perhaps the Rays are becoming a little arrogant in their recent success.  A postseason birth last season, an AL East division title in 2010 and an AL pennant in 2008 is impressive with their Mickey Mouse payroll.  So good for them on beating the Red Sox and Yankees in those years despite having one third of the salaries.  But don’t get too caught up in it all.  This is a game of ‘what have you done for me lately’ and given that this is a new year, the Rays haven’t won squat.

Add this weird behavior to the loose lips of Luke Scott, also known as the Village Idiot who was given that name by our very own Stephanie, and suddenly the Red Sox & Rays rivalry is heating up to a level comparable to the Yankees rivalry.

For all the latest news and analysis from BoSox Injection, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or with our RSS feed.