* MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred was at the Trop for the Rays home-opener. Even while being generally diplomatic and upbeat, he was still pragmatic in discussing the Rays’ gut stadium issue. “I think the geography here would suggest it’s possible to have a stadium that would be more centrally located for the overall Tampa Bay metropolitan area,” noted Manfred.
* Given that baseball is a 162-game marathon of a season, there are no “must win” games till the September pennant drives. But opening day at the Trop is as close to “must win” as you can get in April. It’s the one–and maybe only–game of the year sure to be a sellout. You’d like to make the experience as good as possible for those in attendance. Good enough, possibly, to think about coming back for more Rays games. Alas, it was a 5-3 loss to Toronto.
* This is the last season for Boston’s David Ortiz. It’s been dubbed an official “farewell tour.” It also begs a question. Ortiz is not Derek Jeter or Mariano Rivera. So, will opposing fans and players, especially pitchers, pretend they like him? Or just show that they’re glad to see his showmanship hit the road?
* Sometimes it’s easy to forget that this is 2016. Case in point: the U.S. women’s soccer team is going to court for equal compensation with their male counterparts. Their arguments: They are manifestly better (winners of three World Cups and four Olympic gold medals), and they generate twice as much revenue. If anything, they should be paid more–a lot more.
* Every year there’s some controversy about who did–or didn’t–get into the NCAA basketball tournament–with a chance to play for the national championship. I agree with ESPN’s Dick Vitale that teams should at least have a winning record in their conference–no matter how powerful a “power conference” it is–to get an invitation. I’d even go further. No more than three teams from any one conference.
Put it this way, if you’ve already proven that you’re no better than the fourth best team in your conference, what are you doing competing for a national championship? Accomplishment matters more than parity rationales.