Embarrassing Crowd at Rays-Red Sox Game Proves Playoff Baseball in Tampa Bay is Unsustainable

This has been the case for the entirety of the 2019 campaign (and 2018, and 2017...), but the fact that it's still relevant down the stretch speaks volumes.

The Tampa Bay Rays were playing in front of their home crowd at Tropicana Field against the Boston Red Sox on Monday night desperate for a victory to keep pace in the tightly-packed AL Wild Card race, a chase they were tied atop.

If you were curious, they pulled out a dub to add a half-game advantage over the Cleveland Indians for the second spot. However, it was NO thanks to their home field advantage, as less than 9,000 fans showed up to support the club.

We don't care if you don't consider yourself a Rays fan. Any baseball buff should look at those photos and feel significantly bothered. Tampa has won 90 or more games for the second consecutive season, and yet fans don't come out to experience the thrill of a postseason atmosphere.

Forget 2018; just this year, the Rays overcame a tumultuous two-week stretch in late August when their bullpen couldn't record an out. They've hung in a tough race. So where's the city?

We have no doubt fans will "sell out" the stadium during any postseason contest, but never forget they've roped off 10,000 seats from the initial capacity to make that possible.

The problems in Tampa extend beyond the crowd, as well. Never forget that, in the middle of the outfield, there are SPEAKERS IN PLAY.

If you liked replay review controversies, you'll love baseballs banging off hardware and turning into pop-ups!

We've felt his way all season long, but Monday night served as the final nail in the coffin: playoff baseball in Tampa Bay is infeasible and this organization needs to relocate as soon as possible.

The team's efforts deserve better.