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Cubs Finally Set To Play At Trop

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By MARC LANCASTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 11, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Devil Rays fans eager to welcome Lou Piniella back to Tropicana Field should pencil in June 17-19 on their 2008 calendars.

By the time Piniella's Chicago Cubs pay their first visit to the Trop in what figures to be the most anticipated home series of the season, the Rays and their fans should be accustomed to the team's new moniker - sans Devil - and uniforms.

The Rays will open their 11th season March 31 at Baltimore and debut their new blue-based color scheme at home April 8 against the Mariners, according to a schedule released Wednesday that remains subject to change.

The bulk of the schedule, as always, is made up of AL East opponents. Unlike the 2007 season, when the Rays didn't play Boston for the first time until July 3, they'll get their fill of division opposition right away. In addition to the season-opening trip to Baltimore and New York, the Rays will host the Orioles, Yankees, Blue Jays and Red Sox during an April stretch that will see them play 17 of 19 games at home.

Fans eager to catch the two marquee draws, Boston and New York, should be prepared to block out a few weeknights to do so. Of the Rays' six home series against the Yankees and Red Sox, only one (April 25-27 vs. Boston) falls on a weekend. The Cubs' visit also is in the middle of the week.

The rest of the Rays' interleague schedule features the Houston Astros' first trip to Tropicana Field (June 20-22) along with series at Pittsburgh (June 27-29) and St. Louis (May 16-18), where Tampa Bay will get its first look at the new Busch Stadium since it opened in 2006. In addition, the Rays will play six games against the Marlins - three at home (June 13-15) and three in Miami (June 24-26).

According to Rays president Matt Silverman, the team is still weighing whether to play a home series at Disney's Wide World of Sports for a second consecutive season. Three weeknight games there against the Rangers in May drew an average of 8,806 fans.

An April 22-24 home series against the Blue Jays would seem a logical choice if the Rays were to play at Disney in 2008. Those games fall in the middle of a nine-game homestand, and a scheduled day off for the Rays before the Toronto series opens would help with logistics.

As for the road schedule, Tampa Bay will be among the last teams to visit Yankee Stadium in its farewell season, playing there Sept. 12-14. The Yankees will open a new stadium across the street from the current ballpark in 2009.

A 2008 season ticket priority list is currently open, and groups will be able to book party areas and suites beginning Oct. 15. Call 1-888-326-7297 or visit www.devilrays.com for more ticket information.

Reporter Marc Lancaster can be reached at (813) 259-7227 or mlancaster@tampatrib.com.

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