* Who knows how the Rays’ allegations of tampering involving the Cubs and Joe Maddon will ultimately shake out. Assume, however, at least some ill will. And it’s not going unnoted that Maddon’s agent Alan Nero, the guy who actually orchestrated Maddon’s opt-out departure, also represents Rays coach Dave Martinez, a leading candidate to succeed Maddon. That can’t be helping the cause of Martinez, who’s popular among the players.
* Evan Longoria was candid in a weekend interview with MLB Network. Maddon’s exit, said Longoria, was “a tough pill to swallow” but that Martinez was “kind of the obvious pick for the job.”
*”We trail, 13-10.” With that, I was not only informed that the Atlanta Falcons led the Bucs, but I was reminded that I was listening to Gene Deckerhoff. The radio play-by-play voice of the Bucs since 1989 is a nice guy and calls a good game–except that first-person plural identification with the team sounds so bush league.
Yes, we’re rooting for the same team, and, yes, Bucs’ ownership signs off on your affiliation–but Gene–you’re not suiting up or sending in plays. Call it like a pro, not like a fan. It’s not done that way anymore.