"Cowbell Kid" advises - use cowbells wisely!

Pinellas Park, Florida - Hauling construction debris and bartending pays the bills, but 39-year-old Cary Strukel's true passion lies elsewhere.

"Oh my main priority is being a Rays fan. It's my number one occupation if you will," said Strukel.

Before most Rays home games, Strukel transforms himself into perhaps the most visible, loudest Rays fan at Tropicana Field.

"Somebody just told me, 'Look at that kid with the cowbell' and next thing I knew, I was the Cowbell Kid," said Strukel.

Strukel's been a Rays fan since the beginning, but he became the Cowbell Kid last season.

"I decided that the United States and the world needed to know that Tampa Bay was proud of our team, proud of our city and we had rabid crazy intense fans," said Strukel.

Before the playoffs Strukel wants to make sure Rays fans use their cowbells wisely, especially when Rays pitchers have two strikes on the opposing batter.

"You want to start off slow (hits cowbell) and get faster and faster and build and build until the whole building is erupting in support of our guys on the mound,? said the Cowbell Kid.

The Cowbell Kid says fans should never use cowbells when a Rays player is batting, because it?s distracting.

Strukel uses a Latin Percussion Ridge Rider cowbell, sold in most music stores for $36 to $50 and a Rays souvenir baseball bat. He's worn out nine cowbells this season, including a silver-colored cowbell that?s torn apart.

"This particular one was when we swept the Red Sox, this one took a beating," Strukel said.

He has pictures with several Rays players who appreciate his support from the right field stands. But you may see the Cowbell Kid throughout the Trop for the playoffs.

And for the playoffs, he's encouraging Rays fans to yell "Ball!" every time a White Sox pitcher misses the strike zone.