* That was an appropriately classy welcome home for Joe Maddon at the Trop. The video salute was as funny as it was nostalgic. It was also a bonus to hear Maddon, unfettered by franchise allegiance, talking about the stadium situation.
“I think a more vibrant building that fans can get to more readily would be very important in moving it forward,” he said. “Quite frankly, when I worked here I couldn’t say that because people did not want to hear that.
“You need a better facility. You need a facility that’s more readily available to the general population when they get off from work. They need a place that’s more baseball oriented. You don’t need an erector set. You don’t need stuff hanging from the ceiling. It was a great place. And it’s a great place to start. For this organization to really get where they want to on an annual basis, you need a better building in a better spot.” Bingo.
Personally, I will remember one long, Maddon interview at the Trop about his hometown Hazelton (Pa.) Integration Project and a drive-by, Joe Merlot hello at Ava Restaurant that turned into a 10-minute discussion of JFK’s assassination. One of a kind, and the Rays were lucky to have had him for nine years.
* USF routed Temple last Thursday, 43-7. The defense was notably stout against a team that beat the Bulls last year. The one-sided win helped USF advance to a No. 18 AP national ranking.
Also impressive for ESPN’s national audience: those commercial-cutaway shots of Ybor City, the Riverwalk and the coolly-lit Hillsborough River bridges. Too bad the cameras also caught glimpses of empty seats. All but 16,797 were empty. C’mon Bulls’ fans, how about providing a real home-field advantage. Next opportunity: Oct. 14 when Cincinnati comes to Ray Jay.
And, BTW, if this Bulls’ season keeps going at an undefeated pace–and USF will be favored to make that happen–the regular-season finale could be special: UCF in Orlando. USF needs a win against a ranked opponent–and the in-state rival Knights could be it. That was a big (38-10) UCF win last Saturday against Maryland–on the road.
* The Rays most talented pitcher, Chris Archer, has a losing record. This year, last year–and career. At some point the designation of “ace” will have to be reassigned–or redefined. Even if we’re talking about the face–and voice–of the Rays.