While not "proceeding as far as an official name
change," the Devil Rays "are going to go the single-name
route, and start promoting themselves more as just the
Rays," according to Marc Topkin of the ST. PETERSBURG TIMES,
who wrote that the team's new home uniforms "will read RAYS
across the front, exorcising the DEVIL." The team's
promotional materials and ads for next season are touting
RAYS Baseball. Additionally, the uniforms will feature
"slight changes" to the color scheme, with "more of an
emphasis" on green than purple (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 10/8).
MAGOWAN LAYS DOWN A TURF WAR: In N.Y., Murray Chass
noted that the A's and Giants may be preparing for a "turf
battle" over the A's possible relocation to the San Jose or
Santa Clara area. Giants Managing General Partner Peter
Magowan: "When [Steve] Schott and [Ken] Hofmann bought the
A's franchise, they knew what territorial rights the A's had
and what territorial rights the Giants had. Santa Clara
County is in the Giants' territorial rights so they can't
really go there if we object. If they want to violate our
territory, there will be a battle" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/8).
A HOT BOSS: In S.F., Matier & Ross reported that
Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner was "upset with the
seating his team got" for the first two games of their ALDS
against the A's, as the Steinbrenner family "had to sit
three rows behind the Yankee dugout," when they wanted to be
in the first row. But Steinbrenner "got his revenge" when
Schott and Hofmann arrived at Yankee Stadium for Game Three
and "found no box for them." Steinbrenner let Schott and
Hoffman have a box for Game Four (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/9).
DID MARLINS POST A PROFIT? In Palm Beach, Charles
Elmore wrote that the Marlins "actually enjoyed" a $500,000
operating profit through August 31, but the team says it
will post a $10M loss on a $67M budget this year because of
"extraordinary expenses," including $4.2M on a new ballpark
effort, which included fees for more than 30 lobbyists,
architect services and other costs (PALM BEACH POST, 10/8).
