Rays determined to make the most of extended time on the road

BALTIMORE — The Rays get a respite this week from their two-month barnstorming tour of America, though their stay at home will be brief.

Between arriving home Sunday night, playing three games against the A’s and leaving again Thursday afternoon for a 10-game trip that leads into the All-Star break, there won’t be time for much beyond unpacking, doing laundry and stuffing it all (plus some extra clothes) back into a suitcase.

Unless you have connections, sending out dry cleaning could be a risk.

“It’s unfortunate our schedule isn’t as balanced home and away, but it also is what it is and we can’t change anything about that,” veteran starter Drew Rasmussen said. “It took an act of God to get us out of the Trop. So it’s not like anyone did any one action that is causing all the chaos that we’re dealing with.

“The schedule has been out, and we’ve known that this was coming for a long time. So, I just think everyone’s had the opportunity to mentally prepare for what we’re about to go through, and I think it’ll make us better at the end of it.”

After Sunday’s series finale in Baltimore, the Rays will be six games into a stretch of 35 of 47 (74.4%) on the road, with only 12 (!) at home from June 23-Aug. 18.

That portion of their schedule was already a bit road-heavy, but after damage from Hurricane Milton to Tropicana Field forced the Rays to spend this season playing outdoors at Steinbrenner Field, two adjustments made in collaboration with Major League Baseball made them even more frequent fliers.

Six of the upcoming road games (July 4-6 in Minnesota and Aug. 4-6 in Anaheim, California) originally were scheduled to be played at home.

But with the weather in Tampa less comfortable and definitely less accommodating this time of year, those series were flipped. The Angels visited in April and the Twins in May, so the Rays get to make the summer trips.

One byproduct is an August trip to the West Coast that now extends to 12 games — a journey so long it includes two off days (in Seattle and San Francisco) and another after returning home.

“We didn’t make the schedule,” starter Ryan Pepiot said. “We’re still playing baseball games. Rather than riding in our own cars to the field, we take the bus. Our travel accommodations don’t stink, so it makes it a lot easier. ... There’s going to be times where we get in at 2, 3 in the morning, but we have a job to do and we’re not going to make any excuses. What happened to our stadium, no one could have planned for that.

“The schedule is going to help us out so we’re not playing doubleheaders all the time (due to rainouts) or playing in the middle of the summer in Florida all the time in that heat.”

That is a benefit even manager Kevin Cash acknowledged.

“The 12 o’clock (home) games, it’s hot,” he said. “So, maybe the guys might appreciate not playing in the heat like this.”

Obviously, spending that much time on the road — even with the benefits of plush chartered jets, five-star hotels (with a hospitality suite), private ground transportation, meal money and senior director of team travel and logistics Chris Westmoreland handling all the details, delays and other hitches — still can be challenging.

Coordinating for wives/ girlfriends/kids — who have to travel separately from the team — to join them is rewarding but can be taxing. As can keeping track of family and friends in those road cities that want tickets or to meet before or after games.

Even where to be when, with specific times to have their suitcases in the hotel lobby for transport straight to the airport and for buses to the stadium. Though the Rays were still in Baltimore Saturday, Westmoreland sent out the itinerary for the next trip to Minnesota, Detroit and Boston.

There are some practical concerns, too: “Finding good places to eat on the road is probably the biggest challenge of all,” pitcher Taj Bradley said.

But the players say they are ready for it (starting Saturday with a majors-best 19-13 road record) and won’t be sidetracked from their main goal, even when spending a lot of time in their gray pants and batting first.

“We’ve been through a lot of stuff off the field,” outfielder Josh Lowe said. “Whether it’s the hurricane to not knowing where we’re playing to the whole potential sale of the team now, I think we do a good, really good job of taking care of business and worrying about keeping the main thing the main thing.”

Added starter Shane Baz, “It’s just such a good group. It’s like we don’t even really talk about it. It’s just kind of show up and play ball and get on the bus and get on the plane.”

Several players said they expect intangible benefits from being on the road, which if true could provide a major boost as the team battles through the second half seeking a return to the playoffs.

“Even though our group has become incredibly close over the past couple of weeks, I think it’ll help bring us closer,” Rasmussen said. “We spend more time on a bus, on an airplane, in hotels.

“One of the things about being at home is everyone goes home to their own families, so you don’t necessarily spend as much time as you would think at home with each other. But when you’re on the road, that’s when you can really bond and become closer as a group.”

Added infielder Taylor Walls, “In this clubhouse we love one another, so it’s pretty easy to get along, get to the field early, chat it up, do whatever it takes. I don’t think that’ll be a problem, to be honest.”

Rays bosses and players have cited that improved camaraderie as one of the reasons the team has played better this season. So, that extra bonding time has value.

“This group is so close and we’re having such a good time that if we do go on the road, guys are getting a drink after the game, getting coffee in the morning, playing video games together in the hotel, just finding ways that you know you’re away from home but you’re still having a good time with the guys that are in here,” veteran second baseman Brandon Lowe said.

“It makes the road trips not feel as long. It makes them a whole heck of a lot easier when you enjoy being with a group that you’re with. These guys are your brothers, whether you want them to be or not. I see these guys more often than I see my wife. It’s just one of those things that you’re in close contact, you’re in close quarters with these guys for (six-plus months). ... So, you better get in close, you better have fun. And we’re doing a good job of that.”

Today

at Orioles, 1:35 TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Sun; 95.3-FM, 620-AM

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