Plenty Of Places To Celebrate The Rays On Both Sides Of Bay

With the Tampa Bay Rays on the verge of winning the American League East Division, public party plans are well under way.

Mayor Rick Baker has issued an open invitation to join in a celebration outside Ferg's Sports Bar, 1320 Central Ave., a long fly ball away from Tropicana Field, if the Rays clinch the title.

One victory over the Detroit Tigers will give Tampa Bay the division title and set the party in motion. The first game in a four-game series begins at 1:05 p.m. today in Detroit.

Meanwhile, signs of the Rays' improbable run will be everywhere in the Tampa Bay area, from banners at Tampa City Hall to the Rays apparel dress-down days Baker is promoting for businesses.

Baker and the St. Petersburg City Council plan to proclaim 2008 the "Year of the Rays'' and will open council meetings with a rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" until the season ends.

Also, Baker is rounding up support for a huge greeting for the team at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport when it returns from Detroit at about 8 p.m. Sunday.

The Pier, on the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront, will be trimmed with blue lights, reflecting the team's colors, and offer $1 off admission to its aquarium for anyone wearing a Rays shirt.

Tampa is planning a Tampa Bay Rays Day on Friday and will host a free event at downtown's Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park. Catch the Rays on the Riverwalk will allow people to gather at the park to watch Friday night's Rays-Tigers game on a giant television screen. Raymond, the team mascot, will attend the festivities, which begin at 6:30. First pitch is at 7:05.

People are invited to take food, chairs and coolers. The park is adjacent to the Tampa Marriott Waterside hotel in the Channel District. Parking is available in the South Regional Garage for a fee.

More parties are planned into next week:

On Monday, the Rays will host a celebration with live music at 5 p.m. at Straub Park in downtown St. Petersburg.

On Tuesday, the team has scheduled a similar party in downtown Tampa at Lykes Gaslight Square from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The best-of-five American League Division Series will begin next week, and the Rays' first playoff game is scheduled for Wednesday or Thursday. If the team clinches the AL East title, the first two games will be at Tropicana Field; if not, the Rays will open on the road. Games will be televised nationally by TBS.