Owner Says Rays Will "Vaporize"

The Rays have been eliminated from the playoffs, but listen to their owner the Rays might be eliminated from the MLB altogether.

"We replicated last year and our numbers were down," Sternberg said. "The [television] ratings were down. The rubber has got to hit the road at some point. We're four years into winning. We're getting to the point where we don't control our own destiny. This is untenable as a model."

Added Sternberg: "It won't be my decision, or solely my decision. But eventually, Major League Baseball is going to vaporize this team. It could go on nine, 10, 12 more years. But between now and then, it's going to vaporize this team (WEEI)."

The Rays couldn't even get 30,000 people to show up for Game 4 of the playoffs. It's really just sad. This is been the best "small market" team for the last couple of years, and the fans down there don't care. I would say move them, but where would you even move them to? I have said time and again the MLB should downsize, but then again I say that about every sport that isn't the NFL.

The Rays made maybe the greatest comeback of all time, and if isn't enough to get fans to come out, nothing will ever be good enough. According to their owner they didn't post a profit this year. That's really sad and it means that this team will not be able to go out and sign much for free agents.

My question is what does this mean for Maddon. DP brought it up earlier that he would be a great fit for the Red Sox. It sounds like the Red Sox could just offer him a lot more. Would that be enough? He does have history with the Sox, he was a finalist for the Red Sox job before they signed Francona, so maybe there is a chance they can get something done.