Projo Sox Blog

BY KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- There are plenty of conflicted baseball fans in these parts thanks to the sudden and improbable rise of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Meet Karina Zabala, 22. She works the front desk at the downtown Courtyard Hotel in St. Pete, about 10 blocks from Tropicana Field. To say the hotel caters to baseball fans is an understatement. When the cleaning staff finishes with your room, they don't leave mints. They left peanuts, to take to the ballgame. There are `Go Rays' signs in the lobby and on the windows.

Zabala is playing her part, sort of. She's wearing a Rays game jersey and greeting all the local fans very politely. But under her name badge is her hometown: Providence, R.I. A Cranston East grad, Zabala told me she is a Red Sox fan through and through. In fact, she lifted the bottom of her shirt and revealed several Red Sox logos sewn into the opposite side of the Rays jersey.

"I want to buy a Red Sox jersey but I can't find one right now," she said. "I'm so happy. Someone just sold me a ticket for $20 to Saturday's game. I'll be there.''

The scene outside The Trop is busy already. The park offers free parking so fans gather early (like four hours before the first pitch) and start partying. Getting ready for a very loud 35,000-plus crowd.

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