Fans Still Not Flocking To The Trop

Leave it to a member of the Red Sox to put the Rays' attendance woes in the kind of straightforward terms that public relations-conscious members of the home team have generally avoided.

Boston 1B Sean Casey was mystified to find Tropicana Field more than 6,000 short of a sellout for Monday night's series opener, with many of those in attendance cheering for the visitors.

"If you're not going to come out now for the Tampa Bay Rays, when are you going to come out?" Casey said Tuesday. "Especially against the Red Sox, pennant race, middle of September, you're tied for the lead, you've been leading the whole year. The bottom line is, every city wants a major-league baseball team, and if Tampa Bay can't draw now, when are they going to draw?"

It's a question Rays officials undoubtedly have asked one another in private this summer, but have generally not been so direct in addressing it publicly. They have expressed confidence that playoff games at the Trop would sell out, but by the same token they've been reduced to hoping 16,000 people will show up for Thursday's series opener against a Twins team that may represent the Rays' primary competition for a postseason spot.

In Manager Joe Maddon's mind, the time for attempting to drum up support has come and gone.

"I think I've made my pleas all year long," Maddon said. "It's getting to the point now, based on what's going on, that you'd like to think you wouldn't have to say a whole lot more.

"Having said that, I really want it to be known that I do appreciate the people who do come out - and believe me, that is quite a difference from what it had been in the past, just the group that is showing up."

Indeed, Tuesday's crowd of 32,079 was not only larger, but also noticeably more pro-Rays than the previous evening's gathering of 29,772. With red liberally splashed throughout the Trop, it still wasn't ideal, but the Rays understand the endeavor remains a work in progress.

"We wish it was all blue out there, but we understand even though it definitely disappoints us a little bit," Rays 1B Carlos Pena said. "It's a lot more fun when you've got that packed house and the whole stadium's cheering for you. ... We've got good fans; we just want our base to grow. We want more."

Though the Rays are hoping for a significant uptick in season-ticket sales for 2009, which would give them a larger base from which to work each night, Casey noted that the circumstances might not be the same.

"It's tough to do what they're doing every year," he said. "Especially with the payroll they're on."

RIGGO RETURNS: C Shawn Riggans was back in the clubhouse for the first time since flying home from Boston last Wednesday to have surgery on his right knee.

Riggans said he was hospitalized for four days following the procedure to clean out an infection that had developed around the bursa sac in the knee, and he admitted it was a frightening experience.

"It's serious," Riggans said. "Koco Eaton, the Rays' orthopedist told me yesterday that that's something you can lose limbs from and even die. I'm not trying to mess with death, you know? I'm 28; I've got a couple more years in me, I hope."

Most of Riggans' right leg was encased in a brace, and he said even though he would love to return to the field this season he understands that wouldn't be realistic.

"At this point, you're not going to put somebody out there who's not 100 percent," he said.

HAIR-RAISING: Maddon joined the growing ranks of those in the Rays' clubhouse sporting a version of the mohawk haircut. He had it done following Monday night's game as "a unity kind of thing," continuing the trend begun by B.J. Upton and since joined to varying degrees by Edwin Jackson, Evan Longoria and Tuesday's addition, Fernando Perez.

While Perez had his head shaved completely bald on either side of a strip of hair running down the middle, Maddon didn't go all the way. He merely went shorter on the sides than in the middle.

NOTEWORTHY: Upton (strained left quadriceps) took early batting practice Tuesday and said his swing felt good but his leg still hasn't healed enough to allow him to play defense. ... Red Sox OF Jason Bay left the team to be with his wife, Kristen, who gave birth to a daughter Tuesday evening. ... Friday's Rays-Twins game has been picked up by ESPN but will still be shown locally on FSN Florida. ... The full 2009 schedule will be released today.