“I just think finding good places to eat on the road is probably the biggest challenge of all,” Bradley said. “I mean, the whole job is to travel, so I just think that's pretty much it. You're on the road. You have to go. It's not like you choose or not, so just make the best of it.”
Several players pointed out one thing that could work in the Rays’ favor during this stretch: their camaraderie. It’s a tight-knit group, praised by team executives and coaches for staying positive during a slow start and not complaining amid this season’s unusual circumstances at Steinbrenner Field.
That chemistry carries into the clubhouse and follows them on the road.
“No doubt. I mean, it's definitely a challenge in itself,” catcher Danny Jansen said. “When you've got the guys in here that have got each other's backs, like to do things with each other and are just a good group of guys, it makes it easier.”
“When you go on the road, people are hanging out with each other. Everyone's having good conversations,” Lowe added. “You get home at night, it's like, 'Hey, let's go grab a drink at the bar. Let's go get dinner,' or whatnot. That kind of camaraderie is going to come in really big here over this stretch, especially those that don't have their families to travel.”
The travel can be challenging for those with families, as it leads to a lot of time away from loved ones. But many players’ significant others and children are road warriors themselves, creating a culture of their own.
“We’re lucky with the group in here, but we’re also really lucky with the group of wives and families that we have. They’re also super close, and they travel a lot,” reliever Garrett Cleavinger said. “I think a lot of them will make the trips, and we’ll all be together as a whole group.”
Things will even out in September, when the Rays play 14 games at Steinbrenner Field and 12 on the road. By that point, they hope, they’ll look back at this midseason stretch as just another part of a successful season.
“We still play 81 games at home and 81 away. It doesn't matter how they're spread out,” José Caballero said. “I feel like, at the end of the day, it's the same for everyone. Everyone has to play 81 at home, 81 away.”
