Matt Silverman Quotations

We are pleased to begin a relationship with one of our country's premier cancer centers. We are particularly excited because of the community outreach initiatives that are integrated into this partnership. We are not only focused on bringing more marketing partners into the Rays family, but also developing relationships such as this, in which the community benefits as well.

There are some that don't have a positive reaction to the word devil. There are some who don't have a positive reaction to a devil ray. What is a devil ray? If we make a change, it will be something that will be more accessible and appeal to everyone . . . or at least not drive people away.

Barring something unforeseen, at this point, we're probably going to be pretty quiet from now until the end of the World Series. It's still about getting the right guy. We don't want to rush the process and make the wrong decision. We have gathered more names to add to the list if we want to expand the search. With each conversation, you learn more about the game and more about what we're looking for in our next manager.

If that's any indication of attendance, we're thrilled. All we're asking for is open minds.

He will not have any role in the operations of the business. He will be a resource as needed for the organization and he will be a big supporter and cheerleader for the organization.

When they liked something we did, they would refer to us as the Rays. If they were discussing a complaint or gripe, we were the Devil Rays.

Just as we did with ticket prices for the regular season, we examined our spring training pricing and refined it to create a compelling pricing schedule for our spring training season-ticket holders.

Our goal is to make the Tampa Bay Devil Rays - or whatever we'll be called in 2007 - a source of pride for this area.

Our commitment is to keep these players here for many years to come.

Our minds are open to many possibilities. We'll go through an exhaustive study of it and also engage our fans in the process before we make any final decisions.

I tend to take a common-sense approach to problem-solving, and oftentimes that involves the use of quantitative analysis. I do have an appreciation for the collection, analysis and application of information, both as it relates to our business operations and to our baseball operations.

Most of that is fueled by the great potential that we have on the field and on our roster.

We continue to seek the input and suggestions of our fans about how we can improve our operations. Fan feedback has certainly influenced our promotional calendar, from more frequent promotional nights to the increased quality and number of items, even to the timely release of the promotional calendar.

When you see the word devil, you think evil.

Whether it's a GM position or not, there are lots of different holes to fill. If the right person pops up, we're going to jump on them.

There has been some dialogue. But nothing has been formal or in depth.

We're trying to change the perception of Tropicana Field and the fan experience ... to be friendlier and more inviting.

The party will begin. It's part of the local culture.

The philosophy is to create options that will suit the great variety of groups.

We wanted to put the best games on TV and the ones fans want to watch the most. And we don't have consecutive dates without a game being shown.

With Fan Fest comes the unofficial start to the baseball season. We are pleased to welcome our fans into a new era of Devil Rays baseball. We hope to offer many more opportunities to allow our fans to interact with our players.

Bringing a museum like this to Tropicana Field only helps cement Tropicana Field as the baseball capitol of the state of Florida.

Think back to the teams that considered moving to Tampa Bay. The Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners all were considered troubled franchises at one point. Now they're healthy and competitive, and that's what fans care about.

That news, combined with Rocco's great work ethic and dedication to his rehabilitation, gave us the confidence to make this deal.

It's a sign your minds are open to the promise of what we can become. Now it's our turn to deliver on those expectations.

It's our honor to be able to come out here and speak with our troops and learn more about the military operation coming out of Tampa.

Tampa is certainly a focus as we head out with our mobilization efforts.

It was a great crowd. The parking lots were full, there were lines at almost every booth and there were lots of kids sliding into home plate.

It's not about geography. It's about putting a product on the field.

If people don't even remember the (catch phrase), that won't bother us. It's more about building awareness and excitement and carrying it through the course of the season.

In the five months between Stuart Sternberg taking over until opening day, we want a complete transformation of the perception of the team to be progressive and family friendly. We want to build a tradition of winning.

In our outreach efforts and charitable endeavors, the Rays place a great emphasis on helping improve the lives of our area's youths. We are pleased to be able to partner with the education foundations and provide a new element to help our educators motivate their students and make education fun.

He and Carl Crawford represent two premier building blocks of the organization.