Not only is one Tampa resident with a pretty good major-league background happy to see Tampa Bay's ascent this season, he's thrilled at the prospect of the Rays finally getting closer to a new ballpark, too.
But you can rest assured that Cubs manager Lou Piniella, who managed the Rays from 2003-2005, would do things a bit differently if someone handed him a draftsman's table and pencil.
"I hope so," he said when someone asked him whether he thinks the fans eventually will turn out to watch this Rays team during a conversation last week. "I hope the fans do turn out.
"I wasn't really crazy about the idea they had for a new ballpark, though."
The initial drawings for Tampa Bay's new baseball stadium look very cool. Plans are for it to be built on the site of historical Al Lang Field, the longtime spring training facility, right on the St. Petersburg waterfront.
It resembles a big sailboat, with a retractable roof that will be comprised of a light, weatherproof fabric. The idea is to shield the field from rain while leaving an open-air feel to the park. The club is advertising "sweeping waterfront views."
Mostly sounds pretty good.
What's not to like?
"I think they need (a park) like Houston's," Piniella said. "Open-air tent, Al Lang Field ... there's no parking down there. It's not an air-conditioned dome, which is what they need.
"It rains quite a bit in Florida in the summer in the late afternoon. It's muggy. If I had anything to do with it, which I don't, I'd build a ballpark just like Houston's. It would work in Tampa and it would work in Miami.
"They've got that tent thing. A hurricane comes, there won't be a tent there anymore."
Whatever, the feeling here is, anything is better than the catwalks in Tropicana Field. And the St. Pete waterfront is a beautiful location.
Now, all they need is -- gulp -- to secure the funding to get it done. Right now it must be approved via public referendum, so the pressure is on the Rays to get it onto the November ballot in the city of St. Petersburg.
They do that, they've got a chance to be in a new park by Opening Day 2012.
They don't, the battle continues.
Likes: Ken Griffey Jr.'s 600th. Here's to the The Kid doing it the right way. ... Longtime Mets beat writer Marty Noble, now covering the team for mlb.com, acknowledging that pitcher Wil Ledezma spells his first name oddly but concluding that "you can't blame a pitcher for giving up an extra 'L'." ... Marc Topkin, veteran Tampa Bay beat writer for the St. Petersburg Times, delivering a box of In-N-Out burgers to the Rays' radio men, Andy Freed and Dave Wills, at Angels Stadium before Tuesday's game. Inexplicably, neither of the two -- both in their fourth seasons -- had ever had In-N-Out. ... Bob Nightengale's feature on Mike Scioscia in USA Today, specifically the revelation that Scioscia proposed to his wife of 23 years, Anne, over a drive-thru dinner of In-N-Out burgers. I told Scioscia on Tuesday that that might be my favorite thing I've heard this season. "That double-double was good," Scioscia responded, grinning broadly. I think he meant it tasted even better after his then-fiance said yes, but I can't be sure. ... Tampa Bay outfielders Carl Crawford and B.J. Upton. Not only are they talented on the field, they get it off of the field. ... The latest disc from the Drive-By Truckers, Brighter Than Creation's Dark. Some terrific stuff on there.
Dislikes: Let's just say I had to fill up my car with gas today.
Rock 'N' Roll Lyric of the Day:
"He likes to drink a beer or two every now and again,
"He always had more dogs than he ever had friends
"Bob ain't light in the loafers
"He might kneel but he never bends over"
-- Drive-By Truckers, Bob