Interview with Matt Joyce

A trade-off was made in December 10, 2008 between the Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay. The Tampa Bay Rays got Matt Joyce for their pitcher, Edwin Jackson. Joyce’s first stint at playing with the Rays in 2009 was short-lived. Before mid-year, Joyce was sent back to the minors, presumably to work on his playing skills and style. In his games with the Durham Bulls he hit a 400 plus slugging percentage and managed a double 35 times.

Following his practice sessions with the minors, on June 24, 2010, Joyce was once more included in the line-up of the Tampa Bay Rays. He made a good showing that year with an 8th-inning grand slam on a pinch-hit. That was in the playoff with the Minnesota Twins. This was followed by another grand slam. This time, it was during the game where Matt Garza completed a no-hitter flattening out their opponent, the Detroit Tigers.

According to Joyce, in that game with Garza, they had both seemed to coordinate well towards cleaning the bases up so that the rest of the no-no’s could be pitched by Garza, ending the game.

Joyce was born at Tampa Bay and grew up at Seffner. His high schools days were spent at Armwood High School. When he graduated he began practicing and perfecting his baseball style with the North Brandon Little League.

Joyce is obviously glad to be playing with the Tampa Bay Rays since the games are very often played close to home. He has had the pleasure of renewing old acquaintances whenever he sees old friends among the spectators. He is thankful for the chance to play near his hometown because, being attached to his family and friends, he considers that a privilege that not all big leaguers have been given. He does get one too many requests for free tickets from friends at times, especially when big-name teams come around to play with the Tampa Bay Rays.

He talks about his adjustment to his schedule as a major league player. Although he himself can cope with daily practices and having to spend much of his time practicing with the team, it will be a little while, he thinks, before his family and circle of friends get used to not seeing him around when they want to spend time with him.

Plenty of hard work and lots of sacrifice is how he would characterize becoming a good baseball player and he would like young people to know that.

Tampa Bay Rays lose because of Trop’s low roof

The Minnesota Twins won 8-6 last August 5, 2010 over the Rays because of a dome run. The game had been so far a tie 6-6 between the two teams. But when Jason Kubel hit a high ball clear to the roof, it hit the topmost catwalk and bounded right back towards the pitcher’s mound and landed just behind it. In that time, the score of the twins was upped by two points.

Many people are thinking that it is about time to reconstruct the roof of the Tropicana Field. Baseball players seem to be hitting harder these days and that roof is not high enough or shaped well enough to avoid getting hit by balls. Over a hundred have bounced off those catwalks since the building was completed. Last year, in a similar incident, the ball had rebounded from the top catwalk. Luckily it was caught by the pitcher Jose Mijares.

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Author Bio: Freddie Brister is a retired football coach who writes for http://www.SportsFanTreasures.com. Check out his Tampa Bay Rays blanket or Utah Golf Bag or Alabama Crimson Tide Watch

Category: Sports
Keywords: The Tampa Bay Rays,Grand Slam,High School Days