The Tampa Bay Rays kick off their 2022 MLB Playoff run today, however long that may be, with a truncated Wild Card matchup with the Cleveland Guardians.
Both teams bring a small ball approach with elite pitching. And by all accounts, it should be a lights-out series. The two clubs played a three-game series just last month, with all three games decided by one (1) run.
But more teams and more rounds in this year’s October classic means 3-6, small-market matchups like these often get the noon shift. Which means you—a Tampa Bay resident deviously conniving a way to watch the game instead of work—need a bona fide excuse to ditch the laptop for some peanuts and cracker jacks or whatever.
That’s where the Hurried Person’s Field Guide comes in. A failsafe game plan equipped with sports bars and excuses to get you out of the office and onto a barstool, wherever it is you’re working on this fine Friday throughout the bay area. If things go right for the Rays, you’ll be keeping it handy past the weekend.
Downtown Tampa
The Place: Hattricks Tavern
The Excuse: You’re stepping out to get your suit tailored at Greiners. Should be an hour or so.
Plenty of time for six shake n’ bake wings and two cold Miller Lites.
South Tampa
The Place: Dead Bob’s Too
The Excuse: The Rays opening Wild Card time slot happened to be the only window you could get in with your dentist.
Haven’t had a cleaning in years—this could go extras.
Downtown St. Pete
The Place: Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill
The Excuse: “I’m going to Ferg’s.”
Enough said.
Midtown
The Place: Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux
The Excuse: You’re looking at leasing options for a new apartment.
Only by leasing options you mean beer towers. And by new apartment you mean a defiant Rays rally.
Clearwater
The Place: Hooter’s
The Excuse: Tom Cruise and John Travolta have invited you to lunch.
You’re now fully committed to the Church of Randy Arozarena. (And hot wings.)
Town ‘N’ Country
The Place: Bilmar Station
The Excuse: You’re volunteering at Alonso High School.
Your nephew is on the football team there.
Feather Sound
The Place: Courtside Grille
The Excuse: You have a noon appointment to get your passport renewed and expedited.
How else are you going to lock down that deal in Dubai next month? Slack me.
Ybor City
The Place: Bad Monkey
The Excuse: You have a cigar rolling class with your wife.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯