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Andrew Friedman (right) thinks the Rays have enough talent to compete against the Yankees and Red Sox.
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Tampa Bay General Manager Andrew Friedman joined Tony to discuss the Rays and other items from the MLB universe.
- Before joining the baseball world, Friedman was an investment banker. To nobody's suprise, Friedman is happier in his current position.
- Friedman thinks that the AL East is one of the most competitve divisions in sports. The team's failures last season can be attributed to a poor start and the team running out of gas playing catch-up to the Red Sox and Yankees all season.
- The team's 14-5 start (9-1 on the road) has been a great surprise for Friedman, who was hoping for a good start.
- Attendance was down last season because of the team's performance. Friedman attributes some of this to the "newness" of the team and the fact that there aren't a lot of fathers who have passed on their love of the Rays to their children. However, when attendance at The Trop is up, it makes for one of the biggest homefield advantages in baseball.
- Bruno asks if this is a make or break year because payroll is up? Friedman says that it isn't and that payroll will fluctuate each year. The most important factor is talent and the team needs to operate with one eye on the present and one eye on the future. Obviously, the Rays lack the resources of the Yankees and Red Sox, so his job is challenging. |
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Andrew Friedman discusses this year's Rays squad
Tampa Bay General Manager Andrew Friedman joined Tony to discuss the Rays and other items from the MLB universe.
- Before joining the baseball world, Friedman was an investment banker. To nobody's suprise, Friedman is happier in his current position.
- Friedman thinks that the AL East is one of the most competitve divisions in sports. The team's failures last season can be attributed to a poor start and the team running out of gas playing catch-up to the Red Sox and Yankees all season.
- The team's 14-5 start (9-1 on the road) has been a great surprise for Friedman, who was hoping for a good start.
- Attendance was down last season because of the team's performance. Friedman attributes some of this to the "newness" of the team and the fact that there aren't a lot of fathers who have passed on their love of the Rays to their children. However, when attendance at The Trop is up, it makes for one of the biggest homefield advantages in baseball.
- Bruno asks if this is a make or break year because payroll is up? Friedman says that it isn't and that payroll will fluctuate each year. The most important factor is talent and the team needs to operate with one eye on the present and one eye on the future. Obviously, the Rays lack the resources of the Yankees and Red Sox, so his job is challenging.