Persons willing to describe Tropicana Field (above) as “an absolutely beautiful facility” for the game of baseball are either delusional, lying, or named St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster or some combination of all 3.  Talking to reporters prior to the Rays’ home opener / capitulations to Jeremy Guthrie, Foster rejected claims Tampa’s crummy home attendance is in any way due to a substandard venue, arguing the franchise, “have to do their part to make sure there’s an entire fan experience.” From the Tampa Tribune’s Tony Fabrizio (link swiped from Repoz and Baseball Think Factory)

Foster said he doesn’t see any reason why Tropicana Field can’t work long-term for a major-league baseball team.

“I love it,” he said. “I mean, look at the field (new AstroTurf). Aside from a couple of quirky ground rules — you know, I call the (catwalk) rings Wrigley’s Ivy — it’s an absolute beautiful facility, to me, in Florida to play baseball.”

About the potential for MLB involvement, Foster said, “the city is prepared for interference from Major League Baseball and all of the (commissioner Bud) Selig tricks that have been used successfully elsewhere.

“We studied it, we know it, and we’re prepared.”