Yesterday was like every other day for the last 18 years. Sharing. Laughs. Baseball. Fun. No way to know it was the last time. Sadness beyond words today. It always felt like we were actual brothers. Will miss him forever. Love to him and his family.
First trip to Chicago without Dave has been emotional. I walked around the city this morning to see some of Dave’s favorite places in his hometown. Then, upon coming to the ballpark, this was setup in our visiting radio booth. Thank you,
@whitesox
. ❤️⚾️
Memories come rushing back to October 17, 2020 - the last time we were in San Diego. The Rays won the AL pennant. It was so special. And now somehow it seems so much more precious.
We hope you join us today starting at 2:30 as we do our best to give our friend, Dave Wills, the best tribute we possibly can. It will continue through the game as Rays play the Marlins at 3:00
@RaysRadio
@953WDAE
Dave and I always did a fist bump right before 1st pitch of the season. Rest assured, Neil and I will carry that tradition forward today. Along with his legacy.
@RaysRadio
will always carry the torch for him. He will forever be with us. Happy Opening Day to everyone.
#RaysUp
The Rays got Joey Wendle the same day the Yankees got Stanton. I remember hearing snide and sarcastic “comparisons”. But all I know is that Wendle drove in 3 runs tonight and played a large in role in the Rays tying up this World Series at 1-1. He is a classic Ray for all time.
After approximately 1,700 Rays pregame and postgame shows, this man is hosting his final shows today. Congratulations to our friend,
@neilsolondz
for your talents, knowledge, and most impressively your patience!!
@RaysRadio
@953WDAE
As we see the Rangers celebrating, my son quietly whispers to me “Dad, this just gets me dreaming about what it will be like when the Rays win the World Series one day”. Me too, kid.
On this date 9 yrs ago Evan Longoria and Dan Johnson combined for three of the biggest home runs in Rays history in Game 162. And tonight Tampa Bay also becomes home to the Stanley Cup. A date in TB sports history for all time. Way to go Bolts!And Let’s Go Rays!
#TBIsTitletown
I love
@MLBNetwork
. Watch it all day everyday. But it seemed presumptuous and disrespectful to the Rays when on April 10 they asked “when would Red Sox pass Rays” this season. Not “if” but “when”. I took a picture. And saved it for this day. Because the answer was...never!!
Baseball is simply the best. No other sport comes close to setting up and delivering moments like we experienced tonight. This game could be studied and analyzed for years. What a moment for the Rays. World Series tied 2-2. Game 5 Sunday. Thank you to the baseball gods.
Another unexpected joy of fatherhood. Coming back from a road trip and seeing that your son has scored the game in his own scorebook. So we spent part of the morning comparing our scorebooks together.
What a proud moment for the entire Rays franchise! To vault past the Yankees this yr and then eliminate them in the postseason is something to be appreciated & celebrated heartily! Congratulations to all Rays fans everywhere! What a time to be a TB sports fan!! On to the ALCS...
For the Tampa Bay Rays to win the American League East will always be a tremendous accomplishment. Something to be enjoyed, appreciated, almost marveled at. To have won 3 in the last 13 seasons would’ve been a notion laughed at not so long ago. Enjoy the moment, Rays fans!!
When
@davewills34
and I got to TB in 2005 the notion of the Rays ever winning the AL East was deemed impossible. Now they’ve won the toughest division in sports four times!!!! Enjoy it, Rays fans! Now let’s go win it all!
#champabay
Of course it’s early and anything is possible, but for MLB Network to put “when” will Red Sox pass Rays is more than a bit presumptuous. Boston is as many games behind Rays as Rays were behind Boston at this point a year ago. How bout some respect for Rays???
Hello Tropicana Field.
Home Sweet Home.
America’s Ballpark.
Love this place.
So good to be here once again.
Happy Opening Day.
@RaysBaseball
@RaysRadio
Just have to say this. And it’s no knock on any other centerfielder out there bc there are some terrific ones. But Kevin Kiermaier is the best defensive centerfielder in the game. Quite probably the best defensive centerfielder of his generation. That is all.
Shohei Ohtani nailed a grand slam and the Angels turned their first triple play in 26 years in the 9th…as the Rays beat the Angels, 9-6, in 10 innings.
Good for Ryan Thompson, Tommy Pham, and Evan Longoria as they help lead Arizona to the NLCS. Good for them! Seeing Evan in his first LCS since 2008 makes me happy.
Rays fans - yes it is tough going from up 3-0 to a 3-3 tie. What a roller coaster! But if we were told before the series started that we’d have a chance to win in 7 games we’d be thrilled. We get to live through a Game 7 of the ALCS now. Appreciate the moment! 1st pitch 8:37.
Goodbye to Tropicana Field for 2020. This is the last view - the roof lit up orange, champagne in front of our monitors, celebrating the thrilling win over the Yankees. On to San Diego and a rematch with the Astros in the ALCS!
@RaysRadio
@953WDAE
Congratulations from Rays Radio to all Rays fans everywhere on this team making postseason for the 3rd straight year! A champagne toast to everyone! Sincerely - (from left to right) Dave, Chris, Becca, and Andy (Neil not pictured - he was hosting postgame celebration!)
The famous quote from Winston Churchill comes to mind. “This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is the end of the beginning”. Seems fitting. The 2019 Rays gave us a season to remember. What a year. And here’s to many many more.
Rays make their 1st trip to the west coast starting tonight! Looking forward to filling in for DeWayne and working with BA and
@TriciaWhitaker
tonight for Rays at A’s on the TV side. First pitch at 9:40.
Now that there’s been a full day to think about Brosseau’s big moment, the thing I’m most impressed by is how he handled the situation from the moment he was thrown at to the moment he won the ALDS. Humble. Respectful. Classy. Above the fray. What an example he has set.
It was a real-life David slays Goliath moment. The undrafted player takes down the superstar. All within all the context of a storybook. It forever ranks in Rays lore alongside Evan’s and Dan Johnson’s classic HRs. And he handled it all with such class. Thank you Mike Brosseau.
Rays fans - endless thanks to you for being with us the whole way. From talking to some of you on the phone to communicating thru Twitter etc, just know that we felt you with us all year even though we couldn’t see you at the games. We made it to the end together. Thank you.
In Port Charlotte today and all is right with the world. Beautiful day. Rays on the field. The sounds of baseball filling the air. Our first game broadcast is this Saturday on
@raysradio
@953WDAE
as the Rays host the Braves. It’s that time again!
Our “Tribute To Dave” continues today with our broadcast from Port St. Lucie as the Rays play the Mets. We’d love to have you join us beginning at 12:30.
@RaysRadio
@953WDAE
In San Diego - one of the best baseball cities in America. And one of the very best ballparks in America - Petco Park. Getting ready for Rays/Astros Game One of ALCS on Sunday.
@RaysRadio
@953WDAE
Manta rays are known for jumping out of the water, but scientists aren't sure why they do this. It's thought this behavior could be linked to mating rituals, communication, or getting rid of parasites.
It’s not easy to hang with a player when he is going through a brutal slump. Especially in postseason. But that’s what Kevin Cash did and Brandon Lowe connected twice. Believing in your players when times are tough is a Rays hallmark. And now this World Series is tied 1-1.
Lots of fun out west as the Rays win both series in California and go 4-2 against the Giants and Angels. Now the overnight flight home and we will see you all at Tropicana Field on Tuesday as the Rays host the Rockies.
The Rays twin expansion brother, the Arizona Diamondbacks, win the National League pennant!! Good for them!! And hearty congratulations to Pham, Thompson, and of course, Evan!!
Classy move by the Orioles to put “Congratulations Rays” on their scoreboard when the last out was made tonight. I always remember the Royals doing the same in KC when Rays clinched AL East in 2010. It shows reverence for the moment and respect for the achievement.
It’s about 162 & all that it carries. The winning streaks & the walkoffs. The slumps & the heartbreak. It will be there every day for us. Experience it all, Tampa Bay! Opening Day is here so get ready for the roller coaster! And maybe this is the year to hoist the trophy…
Wow. September baseball. And how ‘bout the last place Cardinals taking 2 of 3 on the road against both of the top two teams on the AL. Rays just two games back with 15 to go. Tmrw is 1st of 4 at the O’s. Bring on the chaos!!!!
@RaysRadio
@RaysBaseball
Hello again, first place!! Rays dominate the Orioles, 7-1, to regain a share of 1st in the AL East!! Happy to join
@ChrisAdamsWall
on the postgame show - coming up next!! You can join us at 1-888-546-4620.
@RaysRadio
@RaysBaseball
@953WDAE
It’s always such a treat to see my first broadcast partner in baseball, Phillies TV Voice,
@TMacPhils
. We worked together for five joyous years with
@TrentonThunder
, and forged a friendship for life.
Even though it stinks losing the World Series, I just can’t be too sad right now. Sure it’s disappointing, but there were times it truly looked like we weren’t ever going to have a season this year. And the thrills this team gave us will last a lifetime. So proud of the 2020 Rays
@TriciaWhitaker
That is so cool. I can remember in the early years wondering what things might be like when the Rays franchise got old enough for the young fans to become grown ups. And to see some of them become actual Rays players. To hear Zach say this is really exciting.
@RaysBaseball
Reflecting on the completion of a roller coaster regular season as Rays leave Toronto & head home. To go thru the obstacles of this yr & come out w/99 wins is remarkable. Now it’s onto the the postseason at Tropicana Field!! Rays host Texas on Tuesday!!
@raysradio
@RaysBaseball
No Rays game today. For a baseball broadcaster having a Friday night off in the summer is quite rare. My wife and I figured out that we’ve never had a summer Friday off at home! I haven’t had one since 1993. Really enjoying the day with my family. Marlins at Rays starts Saturday.
The engineer for our broadcasts in Arizona is retired Army helicopter pilot Walt Ellis. During the Vietnam War he was shot in the head, for which he received the Purple Heart. Today he brought it in for us to see along with the actual bullet. Amazing. What a hero.
Hello from San Diego! And here it is - the last MLB ballpark from which Dave and I have yet to broadcast Rays baseball. Like so many kids, I’ve forever dreamed of getting to every big league ballpark. And today it happens. Rays at Padres. Pregame 9:30. First pitch 10:10.
Here’s the way I’m looking at it, Rays fans: The AL East standings don’t lie. There’s a reason this team won 100 gms. And they’ve certainly won 2 in a row more often than lost 3 in a row. Win 1 today and the whole thing changes. Pregame 6:30. 1st pitch 7:07.
@RaysRadio
@953WDAE
Today is the 44th anniversary of going to my 1st-ever baseball game. It set the course for a lifelong love affair with baseball. Also the 1st time I ever heard baseball broadcasters - Chuck Thompson and Bill O’Donnell. And on one night I knew what I wanted to do with my life.
Today in 1979 my uncle took me to my 1st baseball game. Orioles beat Brewers, 3-2. Weaver argued with umps. Murray homered to win it. Flanagan CG. Inside Memorial Stadium I heard the announcers and something clicked in me. Filled me with emotion. Changed my life. What a day.
Having my son burst open our bedroom door and run in with his arms in the air yelling “Happy Opening Day, Dad” may have just been about as good as life gets. Happy Opening Day to everybody. Welcome back, baseball!! Rays and Marlins at 4:10.
@RaysRadio
@953WDAE
Hello Twitterverse. Here I am with
@davewills34
and the man who should be AL Manager of the Year. Kevin Cash manages more by the third inning than any other manager does all game long.
There is a special ignorance in sports on this topic. Every person in MLB has at some point played with a homosexual teammate. They have all cheered for their success on the field. They have all felt their pain when they struggled. They just didn’t know that player was LGBTQ.
The 90th victory was one to remember. A signature win if there ever was one tonight in LA. Probably the biggest win for the Rays since 2013. Nine games to go. Hope to see everyone at Tropicana Field on Friday. Good night from LA...
For Rodney, Cabbie, Helly, Bogie, and especially Davey - all former Rays in uniform tonight - a hearty tip of the cap to the new World Champions, the Washington Nationals.