Another Raw Night In Philly For Baseball

Posted Oct 27, 2008 by TBO.com

Updated Oct 27, 2008 at 08:57 AM

Players and fans at tonight’s Game 5 of the World Series in Philadelphia will see weather better suited to football than the game of summer.

Think cool, windy and damp. The weather service office that covers Philadelphia says temperatures at the 8:29 p.m. start should be about 50 and slowly crawl downward as the game goes on. With the 10-mph wind out of the northwest, it will feel like the mid-40s.

By 11 p.m., the temperature will drop to about 46, and the wind chill will make it feel like 41.

Rain is in the forecast, but the weather service doesn’t expect the washout conditions that delayed Saturday night’s game. The game will probably start dry,  but a few showers may pop up before the it’s over. There’s a 20 percent chance of rain starting about 9 p.m. Heavier rain is expected after midnight if the game drags into a lot of extra innings.

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Another Chance To Watch Rays In The Park Tonight

Posted Oct 27, 2008 by Ray Reyes

Updated Oct 27, 2008 at 08:12 AM

The weather will be a little cool (low 60s and breezy), but you can bring a jacket and take in Game 5 outdoors tonight with other Rays fans.

Game 5 will shown again be shown on a 40-foot-wide TV at Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park in downtown Tampa.

The park is at 601 St. Pete Times Forum Drive. Admission will be free, and parking will be available at the South Regional garage for $5.

Low-back folding chairs, blankets and coolers are welcome. No alcohol is allowed.

On Sunday night, a couple of dozen fans broke out the lawn chairs and blankets to watch Game 4 at the park.

“It’s a beautiful night. How could you pass this up?” said Lesliegh Lopez, who sat on a blanket with members of her family as the game began about 8:30.

Only 20 people had shown up by the first pitch, but the fans that arrived at the park behind the St. Pete Times Forum in downtown Tampa were still enthusiastic about watching the Rays on the giant outdoor screen.

“We’d rather watch it here than sitting around the house,” said Mike Williamson of Tampa, who wore a Santa Claus hat emblazoned with the Rays’ logos and colors. Williamson also brought with him a banner that read, “Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is a World Series title.”

Williamson’s wife, Linda, said the sparse number of people was not a deterrent and it made the event seem like “a private screening.” When the game started, she started clanging a cowbell.

Tamara Silva drove from Zephyrhills to watch the game at the park with her sons, Thomas Poynter, 17, and Trace Muzzey, 11. Silva said she could not afford going to the actual game, so watching the game outdoors with fellow fans was the next best thing.

“We just wanted to come out and cheer them on,” she said. “They’ve been amazing this year.”

The event, sponsored by the city of Tampa, also featured food vendors for fans who did not bring their own. It had the atmosphere of a tailgate party, even if the team wasn’t in town.

“This is as close as I can get to a real game,” Mike Williamson said. “And I got a front-row seat.”

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Clear Skies Mean Brisk Sales For Philly Vendors

Posted Oct 26, 2008 by Shannon Liston, News Channel 8

Updated Oct 27, 2008 at 06:34 AM

Thousands of Phillies fans crammed into the concourse section of Citizens Bank Park Saturday with nothing to do for an hour-and-a-half. They spent their time dodging the rain, waiting for Game 3 of the World Series to get under way. 

You might think concession and retail sales shot up due to the delay. But for at least a couple of vendors, sales are actually better Sunday. A young woman working the cash register at the Chickie’s and Pete’s stand tells me that business is much busier now with a clear night. Despite seeing Phillies fans snaking around in a line waiting for the famous crab fries early last night, the employee says there’s a more steady stream of patrons tonight. 

The same is true for the folks at Bull’s BBQ in Ashburn Alley. A woman there says orders are coming in fast and furious. She says Saturday night’s rain did not help sales all that much. She says that’s because there were few places to move to even try and sit down to eat.

Mitchell & Ness, known for its authentic throwback jerseys, has a store in Ashburn Alley. During the downpour, jerseys weren’t flying off the shelves. Instead, ponchos were the hot commodities. “We were even out of our emergency ponchos, the ones that look like trash bags,” a retail associate said. 

She admits, though, that sales Saturday night are so far better than tonight’s, but thinks tomorrow could be the big sales winner. “I can’t even imagine what it will be like tomorrow, especially if we can win the Series. The fans are going to be nuts. We’ll probably make a lot.”

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Phillies’ Field Has Unique Feel

Posted Oct 26, 2008 by Keith Cate, News Channel 8

Updated Oct 26, 2008 at 09:47 PM

The dome over Tropicana Field is nice when it rains, but nothing beats the authentic feel of an open-air baseball park or the look and feel of freshly mown Kentucky Bluegrass.

We just finished a tour of the Citizens Bank Park. A couple of standouts to notice while watching the game: The 35-foot by 50-foot Liberty Bell that towers 100 feet above right center field. It rings after every Phillies home run along with a burst of fireworks.

There’s also a rude awakening for Rays pitchers when they enter the bi-level bullpen, again over right-center field. Phillies fans can lean over a balcony and yell insults as the Rays pitchers warm up. We’re told the Phillies pitchers used to warm up in the upper deck, because it has a great view of the infield, but Phillies fans would lash verbal assaults at their own players if the game wasn’t going their way ... so now it’s where the opposing pitchers have to warm up. 

Our tour guide says he prefers to think of the Phillies fans as passionate… not insulting or rude. Try telling that to a Rays fan holding a cowbell. 

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LaBelle Warms Up For Game Four

Posted Oct 26, 2008 by Shannon Liston, News Channel 8

Updated Oct 26, 2008 at 08:10 PM

While the grounds crew worked to get a soggy field dry for Game Four of the World Series, a soulful voice rocked a fairly empty ballpark. Philadelphia native Pattie LaBelle rehearsed the national anthem around 1:30 p.m. near the third base dugout. She is slated to sing to a packed house tonight. When Ms. LaBelle finished, vendors preparing for the long night ahead clapped and cheered.

Also participating in the pregame ceremonies tonight is Hall of Fame pitcher and Temple Terrace resident Robin Roberts. Roberts is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. To learn more about the Phillies’ former ace, watch a live report from Dan Lucas tonight at 6 p.m. on News Channel 8.




Phillies fans wait in front of the Robin Roberts statue before the gates open at Citizens Bank Park for Game Four of the World Series. Temple Terrace resident and Phillies Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts throws out the first pitch tonight. Roberts said in an interview with News Channel 8 reporter Dan Lucas, “If the Phillies don’t win, I hope the Rays do.” He also added that he just wants to get the ball past the plate. He’s not looking for a strike.  News Channel 8 photo by Bob Hansen

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