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ST. PETERSBURG (SNN-TV) – When playoff baseball rolls around, you can expect nothing but the best. 

The best is exactly what the Rays are getting from their ceremonial first pitch on Thursday in Game One of the ALDS from ESPN College Basketball analyst, Dick Vitale. 

Vitale has thrown out the first pitch for the Rays on more than one occasion. Last year, the long-time Rays fan through out the first pitch “virtually”, from his home during the COVID hampered season. 

According to Vitale, he’s undefeated when throwing out the first pitch. “I’m 2-0, I threw out the first pitch for them a couple years ago in the playoffs, they won, and they won again last year. I hope they’re going to win Thursday night.”

Dickie V also made two things abundantly clear when speaking to him:

#1: He’d rather the Rays face the Red Sox than the Yankees in the ALDS.

#2: He promises to throw a better first pitch than Conor McGregor.