SIDE SALAD - Everything crunchy is good.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Hey, Devil Rays fan. (Yes, Mom, you're the one.) Be sure to come out to Tropicana Field on April 7 and Aug. 2 so you can participate in what are sure to be memorable nights in team history.

On Wednesday, April 7th, the New York Yankees come to town. For the insolence of abusing their much beloved employees, the Yankees will face the wrath of... Don Zimmer Fan Mask Day. Every fan who attends - Devil Ray and Yankee alike - will receive a mask featuring the face of Rays’ Senior Baseball Advisor Don Zimmer. Yes, the formidable Bronx Bombers will get to see what I'm sure will be dozens of fan faces adorned with the pudgy mug of their former Yankee bench coach/human bulldog/Pedro Martinez hitman. Repeat after me: Oh, the horror!

Then on Monday Aug. 7, the first 5,000 fans attending that night's game against the Boston Red Sox will receive an individual mini Don Zimmer bobblehead doll. This will be one of nine bobbleheads highlighting the Devil Rays’ 2004 promotional schedule. (Nice to see the Rays pony up the extra cash for the shot of the bobbleheads. Photography like that really sings.)

Back by quasi-popular demand, the Aubrey Huff, Rocco Baldelli and Carl Crawford mini bobbleheads will be the first three in a series of nine given out during what the team is calling "the 2004 Championship season." Those dates are:

April 10 - Aubrey Huff
May 18 - Rocco Baldelli
May 23 - Carl Crawford
May 30 - Tino Martinez
June 9 - Jose Cruz, Jr.
June 26 - Toby Hall
July 19 - Lou Piniella
Aug. 2 - Don Zimmer
Sept. 27- To Be Determined

That's right, kids, there's a bobblehead to be named later.

Don't think of it as, "What the &#@!, they don't have nine players good enough to feature on their team?" Think of it as, "Hey, we're keeping our late-championship-season-playoff-push free-agent-miniature-idolatry-options open." And, you know, there's always the option of turning Sept. 27 into "Bring Your Magic Marker To The Ballfield To Name Your Own Damn Bobblehead Night."

The Devil Rays have every reason to hedge their bets. Remember, this is the team that scheduled Jason Tyner Bobblehead Doll Giveaway Day on June 2, 2002 for a home game against the Oakland A's. That, of course, was before they sent the man of the hour to the minors. Five days before his bobblehead was to be given out.

To be determined, indeed.

On that note, here's the the rest of the 2004 promotional schedule:

2004 PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE

APRIL
6 – Schedule Magnet courtesy of Tropicana***
Thermal Mug courtesy of Checkers***
7 – Don Zimmer Fan Masks courtesy of Nestle***
9 – Poster courtesy of The Tampa Tribune*
College Night
10 – Aubrey Huff Mini Bobblehead*
16 – Poster courtesy of The Tampa Tribune*
College Night
18 – Softball Day
30 – Poster courtesy of The Tampa Tribune*
College Night

MAY
1 – Youth Sports Weekend
2 – Youth Sports Weekend
New Era Rays Cap Giveaway^
13 – College & University Day
18 – Rocco Baldelli Mini Bobblehead*
19 – Tino Martinez RallyStix courtesy of 970 WFLA**
21 – Poster courtesy of The Tampa Tribune*
College Night (Grad Night)
23 – Carl Crawford Mini Bobblehead*
27 – Value Game
28 – Poster courtesy of The Tampa Tribune*
College Night
30 - Tino Martinez Mini Bobblehead*

JUNE
9 – Jose Cruz Jr. Mini Bobblehead*
11 – Poster courtesy of The Tampa Tribune*
College Night
13 – Little League Day
Spiderman Day
25 – College Night
Poster courtesy of The Tampa Tribune*
25 – NASCAR Night
26 – Toby Hall Mini Bobblehead*

JULY
1 – Value Game
16 – Parks and Rec Day
Raymond’s Birthday
Poster courtesy of The Tampa Tribune*
College Night
19 – Lou Piniella Mini Bobblehead*
30 – College Night
31 – Parrothead Night

AUGUST
2 – Don Zimmer Mini Bobblehead*
6 – Poster courtesy of The Tampa Tribune*
7 – Bike Night
18 – Rocco Baldelli RallyStix courtesy of 620 WDAE**
20 – College Night
Poster courtesy of The Tampa Tribune*
21 – 60s Night
31 – Greek Heritage Night

SEPTEMBER
1 – Italian Heritage Night
2 – Polish Heritage Night
3 – Irish Heritage Night
Poster courtesy of The Tampa Tribune*
College Night
4 – Hispanic Heritage Night
5 – Negro League Celebration
20 – Retro Night
Air Force Day
24 – Fan Appreciation Weekend
Poster courtesy of The Tampa Tribune*
College Night
Boy Scout Night
25 – Full Season Ticket Holder
Appreciation Day
26 – Fan Appreciation Day
27 – Mini Bobblehead*

* to the first 5,000 fans
^ to the first 5,000 fans 14 & younger
^^ to the first 5,000 fans 21 & older
** to the first 10,000 fans
*** to all fans in attendance