Why AGM Traffic Has Been Quieter... Proof, not a Theory.

No, it's not because SSR is pretending not to be lurking. It's not because Cougar took his copy and pasting to the next level. It's not because the Olympics are such a distraction. It's not kids getting ready to go back to school or people being REALLY busy at work...

It's because the bigmouths are having their pieholes stuffed with a heavy dosage of crow.

The Yankees are out of it, the Red Sox are floundering and suddenly relegated to a wild card BATTLE. Meanwhile the Tampa Bay Rays have been decimated by injuries yet still seem to win and win and win...

36 games left. It's not technically over (yet), but it's not going to change... and it certainly has proven to not be a fluke.

I warned you all a year ago and very few believed. Even so much as to say "The DEVIL rays will NEVER compete in the AL East."

I have gone out of my way to NOT write about them as to NOT jinx them (I am superstitious, afterall). But I can contain it no longer! Even I can't mess this up!

September is a few days away. David Price is a few days away from joining the expanded roster. Evan Almighty is a few days away from returning. Troy Percival is back in a few days. Carlos Pena has begun to heat up. BJ Upton is on a mission. And impending Manager of the Year Joe Maddon is pulling all the right strings. The Rays face a heavy load of contending teams in their schedule - the kind of teams a pennant winner WANTS to face in September! It's going to be a great month.

The Red Sox are in trouble. And their "fans" clearly know it - as evidenced by their absense and silence.

The Yankees fans are already talking about "next year" - which sounds awfully Cubbish when you think about it. Not a good way to close out the "House that Jeter Crumbled"...

So prepare for a heavy onslaught of the Rays banter to get shoved down the Red Sox and Yankee loving throats...

It's payback, bitches! We had to read all your ridiculous Oral. Turn your heads and start blah-blahing about the Pats and Celtics all you want... your false hope entertains us all!!

Sure, it's not 18-1, but it's just as effective at shutting up the blabbermouth front runners wannabe sports fans... Of course, they are suddenly all "diehard" Michael Phelps fans now.

SSreportersLegend

446 days ago

Score 4

No, it's not because SSR is pretending not to be lurking

There, I'm no longer pretending.

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AmphibiousSportsDuoVarsity

446 days ago

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Stop feeding the troll.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

446 days ago

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Welcome back, errr... here SSR! AD - that's damned funny no matter how you slice it!

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SSreportersLegend

446 days ago

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ASD, you win, I laughed as soon as I read it.

I'm not here to start anything, I'm not lurking as much as you think, I apparently have a life and another site to attend to.

Also, that "Russian" user has to be a JTJer, likely Jamel.

Finally, happy birthday Dad, you're the most important man in my life, and I can't believe you've turned 523 already.

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BigPPupMajor Leaguer

446 days ago

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AGM Traffic is just fine. It has nothing to do with any idiotic squabbling taking place on the site or who came or who left. Anyone who knows is you track unique visits not repeats. And as long as unique traffic is increasing then everything is fine. To this point AGM traffic is up at a near phenom rate on the year, and it increased from june-July.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

446 days ago

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Traffic IS fine. I wasn't talking about the number of visitors, but the volume of their opinions. I know there's more people looking than ever...

There's less "yapping" on AGM because the Red Sox and Yankees fans have STFU (FINALLY). If you look at this time last year, there was 3-4 Red Sox articles EVERY day.

Personally, I think it's a beautiful thing!

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KelsdadAll-Star

446 days ago

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:)

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KelsdadAll-Star

446 days ago

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I thought Traffic was a good movie, too.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

446 days ago

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I won't name you as a target specifically because you have expressed your interest in the Rays in the past. But you know how these campaigns go - there's bound to be some collateral damage. I never saw '"Traffic. I was however told to play in it once... by a Yankees fan... the same Yankkes fan that said " I wonder how Stiles feels now that the Rays just guaranteed themselves third place by being unable to get their collective heads out of their asses..." after the trading deadline...

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JuTMSY4Legend

446 days ago

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hey, he also picked the mariners, soooo

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

446 days ago

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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (and so on...)

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KelsdadAll-Star

446 days ago

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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

446 days ago

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You're right! Derek Jeter IS the new JJ Redick! (Used to be popular for no real reason, now everyone forgets he's still around)

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KelsdadAll-Star

446 days ago

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"there's bound to be some collateral damage." Make sure you don't "misremember" that comment on September 29th

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

446 days ago

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Isn't that the day when the Yankees are going golfing? Maybe they can pair up with the Red Sox players too... just for "old time's sake"???

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KelsdadAll-Star

446 days ago

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Yeah, something like that.

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The PipDiv-I Stud

446 days ago

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Funny the Rays are winning but their stadium is still empty. Way to go city of Tampa! Way to support your team and one of the best baseball stories ever! You can't jinx it, they are a damn good team. But their attendance is pathetic for a team that's been in first place since May.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

446 days ago

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Their attendance has more to do with geography and traffic issues than a fan following. The people of Tampa are deathly afraid to cross the bridges to St. Pete., freeks.

I've crossed 'em all, they aren't that bad...

Also keep in mind - it's summer. Would you rather go to a baseball game inside or the beach?

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The PipDiv-I Stud

445 days ago

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I've heard that excuse and it's crap. The sun is down by the time the games start. This is one of the best stories in my life of baseball, and one of the best going in all of sports right now. I am truly happy for the Rays and what few fans they have, but when I see a team doing something like this in front of an empty stadium it pisses me off! I'd rather see a stadium full of people that didn't realize tampa had a team prior to this season than see an empty stadium.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

445 days ago

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People in Tampa are deathly afraid of crossing those bridges at 6:00 when the games start at 7:00. Personally, I think they're full of shit, too. But location, location, location... I've also stated publically that Tampa is one of the most openly, blatent racist towns I've ever been to - based on my experience of a one week visit, having a brother that lives there and the stories I've read. It's sadly astounding. Where the stadium is in St. Pete is a predominantly non-caucasian area... pretty lame, but a contributing factor I'm sure.

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KelsdadAll-Star

445 days ago

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Isn't the whole Tampa/St. Pete area "non-caucasian"?

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

445 days ago

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Hillsborough County (Tampa side of the bay) is 75% white, Pinellas County (St. Pete/Clearwater) is almost 86%. Both figures include around 20% hispanic origin as well.

St. Petersburg is 71% white. And only 4% of that figure is Hispanic.

Source: Wikipedia, of course.

My guess is the 5 square miles around Tropicana is >60% non-caucasian. Doesn't bother me none, most people didn't get to choose what they look like, but I enjoyed watching my racist brother's paranoia overtake him...

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KelsdadAll-Star

446 days ago

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And the city scrapped plans for that new park in St. Pete.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

446 days ago

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...altered but not dead. A new stadium deal will get done.

There's going to be either a reorganization of funding (read: the ownership foots the bill) or there's going to be a big push to get the new stadium in Tampa instead of St. Pete. (see above)

Although, the team already owns the land in St. Pete.

It's a huge issue there. It's similar demographically and logistically to NYC and Jersey, SF and Oakland or Los Angeles and Anaheim.

The area can certainly carry a MLB franchise, the Buccaneers and Lightning have proven that anything is possible - of course, they both play in Tampa and not St. Pete.

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Anonymous Fanatic #1

446 days ago

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Don't worry princess, we all push for bragging rights and naturally get a little quieter when our team hits a slump, and yah super bowl is still a really sore conversation for me, but my Sox and Pats are perfectly fine...and i am still full of PRIDE.....so while i might be in a wildcard battle.....you can't touch us, for years we have been on a mission to prove we are a better clubhouse than the Yankees...and today we are, seasons will come and go, but as a REAL sox fan, i want the pendant i want the Al championship, but most of all i wanna rub a yankee fans face in it....so quit your crying we are plenty loud here in Red Sox nation...you just better hope your team has the required MARBLES to stay on top...because here we are....AUGUST, make or break month.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

446 days ago

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Princess? Pendant? Crying? [O!F]....

For the record, I was much louder about the Rays LAST YEAR...

I don't even care about the 'Marbles' this year. This is Year ONE of the run of dominance. Get used to looking up at the doormat of the AL East, you just got swept under them. The Red Sox and Yankees are getting older, old as dust... the Rays are getting more experienced.

The Red Sox and Yankees have dealt all their young talent (and the remaining young talent is getting exposed) in the pipeline while the Rays have more to come... LOTS more.

The Red Sox and Yankees have bloated payrolls full of former all-stars. The Rays have one of the lowest payrolls AND have all of their cornerstones locked up in long term (and fiscally wise) deals.

The Rays also have the LOCK Manager of the Year and one of the brightest, if not THE brightest and most forward thinking front offices in pro sports.

Tell Coco Crisp we said "Hi!" and "Thanks!". He's the guy/douche who galvanized the Rays as the team they are today.

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JuTMSY4Legend

446 days ago

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but my Sox and Pats are perfectly fine...and i am still full of PRIDE.....so while i might be in a wildcard battle.....you can't touch us

Robert Kraft or John Henry...and are you personally battling for the wild card?

at least say we!

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Anonymous Fanatic #2

446 days ago

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I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.

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MegECass110AAA-er

446 days ago

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That was me...I really did just throw up in my mouth a little bit. Take off your Sawx glasses and look at the standings, genius.

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Tmil42AAA-er

446 days ago

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You know, in some cultures, they only eat vomit.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

446 days ago

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But only while they are nestlings?

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Tmil42AAA-er

446 days ago

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I like the Mets.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

446 days ago

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I'm sorry.

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Cornfed78Draft Pick

446 days ago

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They make a patch for that.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

446 days ago

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also, a fancy necktie...

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Falcon02520Legend

445 days ago

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Even the falcon will come out of retirement to say bravo on this great piece of reasoning...

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JuTMSY4Legend

445 days ago

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'bout fuckin' time...

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

445 days ago

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Meh. Un-retiring is the old black. Which is also the new black oddly enough.

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Baltimoresports247All-American

445 days ago

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don't drop f-bombs jut...now, by the powers vested in me by the Almighty Rawbeez, you are deemed classless ;)

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JuTMSY4Legend

445 days ago

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Fuckin' A!

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Anonymous Fanatic #1

445 days ago

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former all stars? pedroia? stansbury? beckett? didn't know that they were former. Epstein and Francona have worked hard to keep the clubhouse full of young guns, and train the rookies in a Red Sox way. and unfortunately i am a fan who hated to see Manny leave, well hated to lose the at bat, but how can you possibly deny the force that is Veritek, he is the back bone of that team, who by no means is a super star, but a star, a clutch player. and Youk? where was he in your ramblings? come on....you want to accuse the guys of slumping, losing chemistry, a shitty pitching- fine,but don't deny their athleticism and talent. Papi not hittin like he used, Lugo never hits like we want him to, Lowell injured, not injured, trades with Pawtucket going back and forth and back and forth, Pap blowin leads...fine but how in your right mind can you ever accuse them of being washed up all-stars...papi's at bat is still the most feared in the AL, lugo can still play the field like no other, and lowell is as clutch as you get. you are completely wrong. and maybe the rays win the division...and maybe just maybe they win more, but i can say that my Sox will battle for a spot in post season...and well the yankees run is over...and the Sox might look a bit tired, but don't count them out just yet, and don't think that the dominance will be soo short lived.

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JuTMSY4Legend

445 days ago

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what did "Veritek" finally win the fight with the Mendoza line and now he's god again?

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

445 days ago

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Jack Stansbury? Let me guess... you've been a "lifelong fan" ever since game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, right?

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Anonymous Fanatic #1

445 days ago

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lemme guess, you picked the most inconspicuous crappy team you could, because your such a "bad ass rebel"? heres a deal for banter...leave my "fanhood" out of it. but the answer is no, i am a military brat who has never actually lived in any new england town, but was born on the east coast, have family their, and chose my teams from there. it was long before the 04 series....

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

445 days ago

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Well, I am a "bad ass rebel" but you're WAY off. I didn't pick them, they picked me. For charity (of course). Sign up! AGM could use some more Red Sox fans around here... there used to be a ton but then the fairweather changed and the bandwagon lost a wheel...

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

445 days ago

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Or a more "articulate explanation" of you can handle all the syllables...

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Anonymous Fanatic #1

445 days ago

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i am still thinkin about this "myspace" for sports fans.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

445 days ago

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It's more of a community and journalistic exchanging of ideas than myspace. There are certainly other sites that are more messagebaordy and others that are more myspaceish. This is a blend of each and way more wikipedia-ish with a sports attitude.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

445 days ago

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know where

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Anonymous Fanatic #1

445 days ago

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so its not a bunch of 15yr old. sports fans? humm and your "articulate explanation"led me to know where, so i guess i didn't need my thesauraus and dictionary afterall

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

445 days ago

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Be happy for the small miracles in life!

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RomiezzoLegend

445 days ago

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I knew as soon as I read the title that the article would be because of this. And you're absolutely right, Stiles. I've STFUed for a while now because I know that this is the Rays' year to win the AL East. And Falcon, I hope you stay out of retirement. We don't need another Brett Favre story. Welcome back! (I think) Oh, and I congratulate you for jumping on the bandwagon when you could.

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People PeoplePee Wee

144 days ago

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Ha ha! It is funny how people don't say as much when their teams don't do well.

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