Wake-Up Call: Joyce determined to return

The Wake-Up Call greets you each weekday with news, views and a few Tampa Bay area sports offerings to anticipate for the day and night. We encourage suggestions and contributions.

Good morning!

Rays outfielder Matt Joyce, a bit red-eyed and somber after emerging from Joe Maddon's office on Thursday night, said he knows his time will come.

But that time is not now.

Joyce, the former Armwood High School player, was sent down to Triple-A Durham following Thursday night's 11-1 victory against the Los Angeles Angels at Tropicana Field. Designated hitter Pat Burrell, reinstated from the disabled list, will replace Joyce on the roster.

Joyce's story had a compelling chapter on June 2, when he smashed a two-run homer against the Royals while playing before family and friends. But overall, in eight games since being recalled from Triple-A, Joyce batted just .238 (5-for-21).

His right-field defense, sometimes an adventure, will become the priority in Durham.

"I want Matt to know how much we think of him as a major-league baseball player," Maddon said. "We believe strongly in his future here. But we want him to balance out his work, get stronger on defense.

"Through the natural maturation and at-bats, he's going to be a very good hitter. We want him to be a good defender also. We don't want guys to come through here and try to pigeon-hole themselves in one aspect of the game. We want our guys to be aware of the liberal arts form of baseball."

Joyce, acquired in the offseason deal that sent pitcher Edwin Jackson to the Detroit Tigers, was Tampa Bay's opening-day center fielder. But after the first weekend, he was sent to Durham, where he hit .315 in 41 games, including 15 doubles, five homers, 27 RBIs, six stolen bases and a .538 slugging percentage.

"[My mindset is to] just tear it up again, force them to bring you back up," Joyce said. "Any time you get sent down, it's not a good feeling. I don't know if it's more frustrating not playing, sitting the bench, watching the guys go out there and win, or, at the end of the day, getting sent down.

"It's kind of back to the drawing board. You've got to leave your home and family. You go back down, then scratch and claw your way back up."

Joyce agreed with Maddon's charge of defensive improvement.

"I had a couple of games here where I wasn't comfortable in the outfield," Joyce said. "I definitely didn't look the best. Coming into a dome you're not used to. Going to Yankee Stadium, getting thrown into a game without taking any flyballs. It was a tough scenario. But I've got to work on everything."

As the Rays savored their victory against the Angels - one that included homers by Dioner Navarro, Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford - Joyce was making plans to rejoin the Durham Bulls for tonight's game at Buffalo.

"This game is a roller coaster sometimes," Joyce said. "You have good games, bad games, and you try to be consistent. I kind of fizzled there at the end. I'm sure I'll be back."

And when that time comes, Joyce wants to be here to stay.

"These guys are pretty pragmatic," Maddon said. "You can see it in his face. He's eager. He wants to be here. And he will be back here. His time is coming."

Figgins still on a roll

Angels third baseman Chone Figgins (Brandon) went 1-for-3 against the Rays. He has gotten a hit in 25 of his last 27 games (with a career-high 15-game hitting streak mixed in there). During his hot streak, Figgins has raised his batting average from .246 to .316.

He's now 67 hits short of 1,000 for his career.

Two homers for Gload

Florida Marlins first baseman Ross Gload, who played at the University of South Florida, had two home runs in Thursday's 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. It was the first multi-homer game of Gload's major-league career.

Sound familiar?

The University of Tampa women's basketball program recently signed Ocoee High School's Kamari Smith, a 5-foot-7 guard who is the daughter of Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith. She became the first player in Ocoee program history to score 1,000 career points. "I expect her to be ready to give us some help at the guard spot right away," UT coach Tom Jessee said.

LaCrosse is under way

Former University of Louisville golfer Cindy LaCrosse (Plant) tied for 10th last week at the Ladies Titan Tire Challenge in Marion, Iowa, an event on the Duramed Futures Tour. LaCrosse shot a 68-73-73-214 and earned $1,733. LaCrosse shot a 2-under-par 70 in Thursday's first round during this week's event at Decatur, Ill.

Tymrak makes Parade All-American

Erika Tymrak, an IMG Soccer Academies midfielder who has committed to the University of Florida, made the Parade Magazine's All-American Girls Soccer Team, which will appear in Sunday's editions. Tymrak is a longtime Bradenton resident.

Father's Day alert!

Former Tampa Tribune sports writer Ron Kaspriske, now a writer and editor with Golf Digest, has produced a must-read book for all golfers - "What's a Golfer To Do?" It's a quick read with 343 techniques, tips and tricks from a range of touring pros, golf instructors and Golf Digest writers.

Birthday wishes

Happy birthday to former Hillsborough High School football player Steve Kiner, a two-time All-American linebacker at the University of Tennessee who was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. In 1969, when Kiner finished ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting, Kiner had the game of his life against Bear Bryant's Alabama Crimson Tide - five sacks, 11 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble. Kiner, a third-round draft choice in 1970, played eight seasons in the NFL with the Cowboys, Patriots and Oilers. Today, Kiner turns 62.

The Answer Man

Here's the answer to Thursday's trivia question:

Guard Tyronn Lue is the lone member of the Orlando Magic who was once part of a championship team in the NBA Finals. In 2001, Lue played for the Los Angeles Lakers, who defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the five-game Finals.

Oops!

Somehow, this one slipped past us. Turns out, there was a fifth former Plant High School baseball player to make the major leagues. He is right-handed pitcher Darren Clarke, who debuted on May 18, 2007 with the Colorado Rockies.

So we stand corrected on Wednesday's trivia question.

Apologies to Darren.

Our quality control department has been notified. We'll try not to let this happen again.

Friday trivia

Here's our daily sports trivia question, featuring a Tampa Bay/Florida spin. Try your luck by commenting below.

Since baseball's draft began in 1965, a pitcher has been the top pick 14 times (that includes David Price in 2007 and San Diego State's Stephen Strasburg this season). Which of those No. 1 pick pitchers registered the most career major-league wins?

Check for the answer in Monday's Wake-Up Call.