The Devil Rays "have made an interesting deal regarding
future [MLB] expansion," according to Marc Topkin of the ST.
PETERSBURG TIMES. Devil Rays Managing General Partner Vince
Naimoli said that the team "will not give up any players" for
an expansion draft but also "won't get a share of any
expansion fees" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 8/24).
TOUGH ON VINCE: A ST. PETE TIMES editorial, on the
dispute between the St. Pete/Clearwater Convention and
Visitors Bureau and the Devil Rays over use of the team's
logo/pictures on the cover of a new visitors guide:
"[I]nstead of diffusing an unnecessary argument, Naimoli
escalated it by saying the team no longer wants the visitors
bureau to be one of its marketing partners. This is not the
first public relations error Naimoli has made in what should
still be his honeymoon with the community. ... His insistence
that local companies buy season tickets if they want to do
business with the team was unsettling. ... Naimoli needs to
patch up the Devil Rays' relationship with the visitors
bureau, and he should not be so sensitive about criticism.
His every move is under scrutiny, and the strong arm tactics
that might work in private business do not play so well in
the public arena" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 8/23).
