The Tampa Bay Rays have made the most of their temporary digs, winning seven of their first 12 games at Steinbrenner Field, their minor league waystation after hurricanes damaged their Tropicana Field home.
The Tampa location has made it convenient for a large segment of their fan base, who have enjoyed a bay area rarity: Outdoor major league baseball. Yet the next week will test the ticket-buying resolve of area fans given who's coming to Dale Mabry Highway: The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.
Both enjoyed partisan support at Tropicana Field and it was the Yankees who magnanimously enabled the Rays to use Steinbrenner Field, their spring training base, for this year only.