Despite my sorry existence as a long-suffering fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates, it must be noted that, last night, the Tampa Bay Rays clinched the American League East title with the best record in the league.   Yes, they performed even better that the hated Red Sox and the stinkin’ Yankees.   Two things are of note.   First, the Rays accomplished this feat with a payroll 1/3 or even 1/4 that of the large market teams, with players that no one other than the most freakish sports fan would recognize.

Secondly, and this is the central part of my message today, is that the Rays discovered the ultimate secret to long-term success against these giant teams in giant markets, all thanks to the COVID virus which has emptied baseball stadiums this Summer.    Whereas the Rays’ management has historically whined about having too few in attendance, in the neighborhood of 10,000 bodies average per game, worst in baseball, they have now discovered that they have had too many fans in the stands.    Somehow, the Rays play better in empty stadiums.    I propose that from this year forward, the Rays cease ticket sales to all home games, thus ensuring a superior quality of play.                               WHY NOT, WHAT THE HECK !