Tommy Pham: Unlike the Cardinals, the Tampa Bay Rays Lack True Fanbase

On Thursday, Tommy Pham went on MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM and discussed the Tampa Bay Rays fanbase, or lack thereof. Here’s what he had to say.

Last season, when Tommy Pham was traded from St. Louis to the Tampa Bay Rays, he noticed something different. No, It wasn’t that he absolutely raked while with the Rays in 2018 (.343 BA / .448 OBP / .622 SLG) compared to the Cardinals (.248 / .331 / .399), it was how drastically different each fan base was.

On Thursday, Pham made no bones about it, going on MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM to talk about the Rays fanbase.

“It sucks going from playing in front of a great fanbase to a team with really no fanbase at all,” Pham proclaimed. He later would suggest that perhaps the Rays should change stadiums or move to a different city altogether.

This is similar to an observation made by previous Tampa Bay Rays players, namely Evan Longoria. In 2010, prior to a game in which the Rays could have clinched the Division for the 2nd time in THREE years, Longoria observed that there were some 12,000 fans in attendance, which is about half of what the Rays averaged all season. Disappointed in the fanbase, Longoria stated that he felt “disheartened” and “embarrassed.”

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Then there’s the issue of changing stadiums. With the Rays Principal Owner Stu Sternberg announcing during the Winter Meetings that there would not be a new Rays stadium in Ybor City, the hopes for a new stadium are all but dead.

There’s good news, however. Despite his comments, which are completely legitimate, Tommy Pham was somewhat of a blessing for the Rays last season.

When Pham was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays at the trade deadline, the pre-Pham Rays had a record of 54-53. The post-Pham Rays, however, went 36-19, finishing the season at 90-72.

Rays manager Kevin Cash praised Tommy Pham earlier this offseason, saying that the team was different with Pham on the roster.

Finally, after losing out to the Twins in the Nelson Cruz sweepstakes, Pham’s comments feel like the straw that broke the camel’s back.

There is something Rays fans can do, if they actually do exist: SHOW UP!

Your team is actually good.