And let me add that you can park in a downtown garage for $5 (or even for free on the street if it’s a Sunday) and take the free shuttle to the stadium — that way you save money and avoid the hassle of negotiating traffic right around the stadium.

That the Rays continue to let us bring in our own food and nonalcoholic drinks is to me one of the best things about attending games here. We’ve been able to bring in a birthday cake once — in contrast, when I wanted to celebrate my son’s birthday once at Raymond James stadium, they made me order cupcakes through their catering service, spending about $30 for a few cupcakes they seem to have bought at Publix.

Some of the costs they factor in could be avoided altogether with them letting you bring in sealed bottled water and food. Take advantage of the off site $5 parking and costs drop further

Public transport isn’t really feasible for the Trop where it would be in more urban Stadiums, so thats about the only advantage any other stadium could possible have cost wise over the Trop.

So I doubt the Diamondbacks park is effectively cheaper.

One of my favorite spots to sit is press level, sections 205, 6, 7 and maybe 8 — you are directly above the home plate area so the view is good, and the seats are actually padded. Bathrooms on that level are cleaner and concessions less crowded because you are sharing the level with the luxury boxes.

Of course, there are plenty of variables that muddy the water beyond that, but at its absolute core that’s the crux of how averages and being “due” works.

Joe made bad decisions after that not to walk Juicy in the 10th and not to bunt Escobar in the 10th, and probably to bring out Farnsworth at all, ever. But none of it happens if one pitch goes where it is supposed to.

Let’s move on and sweep up some pin stripes.