Joe Maddon: Music man

Joe Maddon

In a nod to the music from the 1980s, Joe Maddon – the Tampa Bay Rays manager with the most eclectic of tastes – uses a lineup 10 years ago tonight that reads 8-6-7-5-3-0-9 for his first seven batters as a tribute to the 1981 song 867-5309/Jenny by one-hit wonder band Tommy Tutone.

The “0” is used for the Rays’ designated hitter, Vince Belnome, who is making his major league debut in the Thursday night game at Detroit.

In an afterthought – mostly because their positions do not coincide with any of the numbers in the song – Rays catcher Ryan Hanigan bats eighth in the order, followed by second baseman Cole Figueroa.

Turns out Maddon’s tribute to the one-hit wonder is a one-night flop as the Rays – winners in their previous five games – manage only two hits off Tigers starter Max Scherzer in losing 8-1 before a crowd of 33,908 at Detroit’s Comerica Park.

Joe Maddon’s lineup card on July 3, 2014