The Tampa Bay Rays begin a four-game series against the New York Yankees on the road on Thursday. That had WFAN’s Carton & Roberts speculating as to how the Rays have exceeded expectations. Despite having the third lowest payroll in baseball and a roster with whom some baseball fans are wholly unfamiliar, Tampa Bay currently sports a 29-9 record, the best in Major League Baseball.
“Tampa is playing stupid ball right now,” co-host Craig Carton said. “They’re probably cheating.”
“I didn’t say it,” replied co-host and New York Mets fan Evan Roberts. “All I know is I’m a baseball fan. I know baseball. I like baseball. I was very skeptical with what I saw this weekend.”
“Are you going to wake up when the article’s written in The Athletic or are you going to wake up now?” Roberts said. “Sometimes, you don’t need evidence; sometimes you’ve got to say, ‘What I’m watching doesn’t make sense.’ So I’ll do it – I’m not a Yankees fan, I have no reason to say it. Hey, ladies and gentlemen, what I’m seeing in Tampa makes no sense.”
Needless to say, 95.3 WDAE midday host Jay Recher took umbrage to the show’s accusation, leading him to issue an impassioned response to Roberts on Wednesday. He is confident Roberts’s statement will ultimately blow up in WFAN’s face because of the exceptional play by the Rays and sports in the Tampa Bay area for that matter.
“Cracking this mic in any market, but especially when you have multiple sports teams, is a privilege. It is not a right,” Recher said. “Things you say will be criticized. You know that. But again, if you’re going to say something, say something. Don’t tiptoe around it. Don’t say, ‘Can’t wait for The Athletic article to come out.’ If you’ve got something to say, say it.”
Because of the actions taken by Carton and Roberts, Recher decided to issue a challenge to the show regarding sports in the Tampa area.
“I’ll fly up there on my own dime,” Recher said. “I’ll stay with my parents. I’ll give my nephew a hug and celebrate his sixth birthday with him. I will walk right into the WFAN studios, and we will debate any Tampa Bay or New York sports team that you would like.”
Earlier in the week, Carton and Roberts were surprised to see the story went viral throughout New York and Florida, leading Roberts to reaffirm his perspective on the situation and effectively stand by what he said.
“I didn’t realize the entire city of Tampa would be so offended and be so bothered by it,” Roberts said. “Look at all those crappy players and how they’re all having amazing years. It’s suspicious.”
