The back cover of today's TBT might say it best: "WHERE YOU BEEN?" You is Armwood product Matt Joyce.
I promise we won't be blogging about Joyce every day on here, but have you seen what he has done since getting called up from Triple-A Durham last weekend by the Rays?
After homering and going 2-for-3 Sunday against the Twins, Joyce followed it up last night with a homer, a double and four RBI, helping lead the Rays to a 6-2 win against the Royals at Tropicana Field.
Joyce, 24, got a standing ovation from fans in right field as he made his way back to the outfield in the ninth inning following his two-run homer. He now has three homers in just 17 at bats this season, and he is well on his way to making a case that he belongs in the Big Leagues.
Joyce is back in the starting lineup tonight against Kansas City. First pitch is just after 7 p.m.
For more on his performance last night, check out Times staff writer Joe Smith's story that was in today's newspaper.
(Times photo by Brian Cassella)
Kevin Smetana, Time Staff Writer


Saundra Amrhein covers retirement living in Sun City Center and cultural and immigration issues in Wimauma, Ruskin, Dover, Brandon and Plant City. Before working in east Hillsborough, she covered police news in Tampa; social services and government in Pasco County; and growth and development in Hernando County. She's originally from Pittsburgh and is married to a professional magician. In her free time, she practices yoga and has been working toward a master's degree in Latin American Studies at the University of South Florida. You can reach Saundra at
Sherri Day the Brandon Bureau Chief, loves suburban life. She enjoys leaving the urban jungle behind for the peace, quiet, sound of laughing children and random wildlife in her deed-restricted community. Though still fairly new to the bay area - she moved here in 2004 - Sherri knows what makes small communities special. She was born and raised in Tifton, Ga., a small-town in the southwest part of the state. Sherri received her bachelor's degree from Clark Atlanta University and her master's of journalism from the University of California at Berkeley. She moved to Tampa from Brooklyn and lives in the 'burbs with her husband, one-year-old daughter and two cats. Share your news & views with Sherri at
When I first came to Brandon in 1988, I thought, "There's a McDonald's here, so it can't be all bad." After a year, I moved to St. Petersburg and then Lakeland. When it became time to return to Hillsborough County in 1993, I could have picked Carrollwood, South Tampa or Temple Terrace, but the "60 " South" area just seemed like home. Fifteen years and three kids later, our roots have taken hold in Seffner like a majestic oak tree. We couldn't be happier. You can reach Ernest Hooper at
Chandra Broadwater covers growth and development, including the areas of
Riverview and Lithia. Chandra grew up in a military
family and the suburbs make her feel right at home, bringing back memories
of a childhood spent in the back of a minivan as her mother carted the
family around to countless after-school activities. (Just as her mother
predicted, she regrets that she didn’t stick with piano.) And now that she
drives herself, she enjoys exploring the "60 & South" area and meeting
everyone along the way. You can reach her at
Jessica Vander Velde joined the Times in 2008 after graduating from the University of Florida. She grew up in the suburbs of Tampa, planning not to return. But she's back and loving it. Nothing beats Plant City strawberry U-picks and lazy afternoons kayaking down a local river. She'll readily pass on tips about fun things to do in southeastern Hillsborough County. Jessica can be reached at
Kevin Smetanahas lived in Brandon most of his life, and he eagerly returned to the suburbs to join the Times in November after spending six months in South Carolina reporting for a newspaper, TV station and Web site. Kevin is a graduate of Bloomingdale High and USF. He covers news in the Brandon area, but on the blog he writes about local sports -- both team and individual. He's an avid runner and cyclist and a member of the FishHawk Road Runner's Club. If you have information on athletics, you can reach Kevin at
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