ST. PETERSBURG — It was a sunny Sunday afternoon outside Tropicana Field, the kind of day that begged for a retractable-roof stadium. But nobody begs on Opening Day. Not Rays owner Stu Sternberg, not baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, who were both at Tropicana Field. For there was baseball to be played, before a Trop sellout crowd of 31,042, who warmed the seats for the estimated 10,123 who’ll show up tonight.
Rays Fever, the 24-hour bug.
But, yes, there was baseball, after opening ceremonies that included two national anthems, introductions for everyone from manager Kevin Cash and his Rays as well as the Toronto Blue Jays massage therapist (boo!