BaseballBiz On Deck

Kevin Boles, Montgomery Biscuits Manager has a 25 year career in baseball

First game as manager with 2 special players; Adrian Gonzalez & Miguel Cabrera

John Boles, Kevin’s dad a great mentor 

Boston Red Sox in Pawtucket the “31st major league team” a great place to see the future of players working up to the major league team

How to balance Player Development while Developing Winners today

Advice to players “Don’t Be a Front Runner in Your Own Career”

Look at failures as an opportunity to learn

Players Need to develop a thick skin & give themselves some credit for coming out of failures

Double-A as a separator, see some older arms along with younger arms. 

Time to move players up through minor has been reduced

If you can get into a AAA clubhouse you got a chance

Looking for intelligent, consistent & reliable player like Homer Bush Jr.

Mat notes significant trades that have impacted the Montgomery Biscuits & Rays pipeline - Jackson Baumeister, Ty Cummings, Jacob Waters, Will Simpson, Mathew Etzel, Brody Hopkins

Adjustment period for a player when settling in with a new team

Duncan Davitt commands the zone & utilizes a good mix of pitches & tempo

Cooper Kinney can flat out hit 

Brayden Taylor is tough, while struggling at the plate right now he is working ,on adjustments

Kevin would rather see a player struggle in the minors & adjust before they make it to the majors

Paul Rozzelle & the hitting department are doing great things with the players

How has draft decisions for increase of hitters impacted the organization

Hopkins has a chance to be really something

Yoniel Curet has versatility & has a power arm

Stickier balls?

Automated Zones – would improve accuracy of umpire calls. It is hard for umpires to judge 90+ speed pitches

How will the Automated Zone impact the role of the catcher

Veteran pitchers may get a better call than a younger pitcher without Automated Zone 

People don’t realize how tough the umpires have behind the plate

Ejections – Kevin is good for 5 a year. Ump asks “don’t you want to get animated”

Kevin’s career goal is about the players “Create the next Chandler Simpson” 

Top players that Kevin seen rise through the system – Miguel Cabrera, Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts and any players who come up through the minors who excel in the game

RaysUp 

Rays return home to George Steinbrenner Field and increase their wins

Rays Outfielders, Misner, Aranda, and Simpson formerly with the Montgomery Biscuits

Steinbrenner Weather metric

Swirling Winds, Day Games & Sun Rays disorienting players fielding fly balls

Gusts of wind 40+ MPH impacting outs caught

Lack of 2nd Tier at Steinbrenner increases wind

Should their be a new Statcast metric on the weather

Rays climb up in the standings to #2 in the AL East

Foul territory expand more ground outside of the foul lines for safety 

Roster Crunch Incoming

• Ha-Seong Kim rehabbing and soon returning
• Jake Mangum and Johnny DeLuca waiting in AAA
• Who gets sent down? Walls? Mead? 

With so much movement between the majors and AAA, Rays prospects in Montgomery have all the motivation they need. It’s a dog-eat-dog path to the top

Just a reminder, if you enjoyed this show, go ahead like and subscribe to BaseballBiz On Deck. Also you can find Mat at M-A-T-G-E-R-M-A-I-N dot B Sky social. That's Mat at M-A-T-G-E-R-M-A-I-N dot B, Sky social or Mark at  Baseball Biz on Deck dot B Sky Social. You may also find Baseball Biz on Deck, at iHeart Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and at baseball biz on deck dot com

Special Thanks to XTaKe-R-U-X for the music Rocking Forward,

Tamara Holmes, Veronica Alvarez, Malaika Underwood & Alex Oglesby, Champions of the USAWNT Women's Baseball team, discuss the increase in bullying & pushing out of young girls in baseball

Talking groups with young players at MLBDevelops Trailblazers uncovered more on how young girls are being pushed off teams & encountering bullying

Climate of bullying is getting worse

Malaika Underwood recounts that when she was a child playing baseball her team did not care if she was a girl or not. Their main concern was if you were a good player.  The bullying & rudeness often came from parents 

Veronica Alvarez points how some Moms in the baseball space talk down young girls in baseball. They treat them as lesser than boys. Parents have an opportunity to teach good behavior toward girls & women to their children

Social Media praise of a successful player can increase bullying from the jealousy of others 

“Why is she playing instead of my Kid” – overheard by young children builds a prejudice against girls in sports

Encourage players to build friendships with others at the baseball camps & stay in touch to support one another  

Kelsie Whitmore & Olivia Pichardo discovered that they had to get stronger facing adversity to advance as girls in baseball at college & professional level

Idea of these girls are a threat to boys & men’s career is insane. They have the same dream, they want to play baseball

Girls may start with baseball in Little League but soon receive the message that they need to play softball. 

“We have baseball, you have softball, you don’t belong here” 

We need to start creating a pipeline for supporting girls who want to play baseball 

Girls are not trying to invade boys baseball it’s just that is the only place for them to play

Baseball &  Softball can Co-Exist. 

Baseball loses girls to softball due to opportunities 

The bullying problem of pushing out girls & women exists beyond baseball, 

MLB points to the new softball league as the option for women

“They’re just kids being kids” mentality strengthens the bullying

Girls internalizing negative remarks about them on social media

Girls are expected to be perfect on the field

People need to get back to common decency

Matheny Manifesto – written as instructions to parents from a coach

Travel ball expands number of teams & opinionated parents

Good coaches do not tolerate bad behavior from kids or parents

Youth’s sports main focus needs to be development, it makes them better students & learn life lessons

Co-ed baseball an opportunity for young women & men to play baseball in college

Parents need to set the foundation teaching boys to respect the girls & their equality

Making it normal that women & girls are in the game

Veronica notes how the men on her team respect her as a professional

“Boys play baseball?” Sharing stories of their children learning about baseball & softball

Need to stick up for girls in sports & show respect

Thanks to Tamara Holmes, Veronica Alvarez, Alex Oglesby & Malaika Underwood for discussing the increase of bullying girls & young women in sports & the steps parents, coaches & players can take. Discover more at www.stopbullying.gov

Suggested reading:
 The Matheny Manifesto: A Young Manager's Old-School Views on Success in Sports and Life https://bit.ly/3SQWmJC

Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls in Sport A Handbook for Policy Makers and Sports Practitioners  https://bit.ly/3SSelzi

• Mat’s World Series Dream 
• Mark Thanks the USAWNT players who were on the show to discuss bullying young girls in baseball
• Rays lose Marlins series
• Rays feeling like Super Dave on a Roller Coaster 
• Marlins, Cal Quantrill pitches the first Immaculate Inning of the year. 9 pitches – 9 strikes
• Pedro Martinez style Immaculate Inning would include 1 Hit By Pitch
• Rays Offense recently has been lacking with some of the younger players
• Veterans Brandon Lowe & Yandy Diaz have put up more offensively
• Taylor Walls and men left on base LOB
• Curtis Mead offense is firing up – broke out of .98 yesterday with 3 AB’s 2 Hits & 1 HR against the Astros
• Rays had 7 of 9 players with hits against the Astros in Wednesday’s game
• Ben Rortvedt – flatline at bat – who could be Rays 2nd catcher
• Kevin Cash is handcuffed with the lineup he has today
• Elements of a great game – 2 Home Runs back to back with Josh Lowe & Brandon Lowe, Manager ejection with Kevin Cash
• Cash’s ejection as he questions Astros & Umpires long it took for Astros to make an appeal
• Do manager ejections motivate the team players
• Taj Bradley had a solid outing & had good communication with the catcher
• Ryan Pepiot is also showing more promise
• Looking forward to Shane McClanahan & Ha-Seong Kim return to the team. Who will be sent down when they return
• Will there be room for Johnny DeLuca to return to Rays
• FCL Rays rehabbing expect a Roster Crunch with the Rays
• Isaac Paredes returns as an Astro to hit Home Runs against the Rays
• Mat breaks down YOY increase in growing attendance – Mets increase of 289,000 more fans. Detroit Tigers, Dodgers and Athletics follow behind the Mets
• Total of 372,000 more fans this year in attendance across MLB
• City Connect – Wallet Connect - A lot of love and sales for the game including merchandise
• Mat recommends Grit & Glow lighting at the new stadium for Rays
• Rivalry weekend numbers
• Juan Soto and the Yankees show their backs to Soto in the outfield
• Subway Series Streaming - registering as the third (May 17th) and fourth (May 16th) most-watched games ever on MLB.TV.
• merchandise sales increased +45% during Rivalry Weekend
• Tampa Bay Rays Hall of Fame – Evan Longoria will be joining Wade Boggs, Fred McGriff, Don Zimmer, Dave Wills
• Mark would add Erik Neander & Joe Maddon to the Rays Hall of Fame.
• How fans may see players and coaches who move to another team
• Rays are 3 games out of a Wild Card spot 
• How many wins will the addition of Shane McClanahan & Ha-Seong Kim
• Orioles traded away so much talent it has hurt their ability to win
• The value of Brandon Hyde beyond the O’s
• A look back at the Liberatore– Arozarena trade

Just a reminder, if you enjoyed this show, go ahead like and subscribe to BaseballBiz On Deck. Also you can find Mat at M-A-T-G-E-R-M-A-I-N dot B Sky social. That's Mat at M-A-T-G-E-R-M-A-I-N dot B, Sky social or Mark at  Baseball Biz on Deck dot B Sky Social. You may also find Baseball Biz on Deck, at iHeart Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and at baseball biz on deck dot com

Special Thanks to XTaKe-R-U-X for the music Rocking Forward, 

• Reflecting on show with Dodgers Announcer Tim Neverett 
•  https://bit.ly/3YNsZLJ
• Firings of Pirates, Derek Shelton & Rockies, Bud Black  
• Evan Longoria trade away from the Rays left several fans upset, others saw an opportunity for Evan 
• Fans had to realize that with the Rays we should not expect anything permanent
• Evan returns with a 1-day contract with the TB Rays and then retires
• Longoria is a selfless player who has no peer and could bring positive energy & leadership to the team
• Rafael Devers controversy on moving him around and poor communication in the Red Sox organization
• Tanner Hauck 40+ pitch inning – now on the IL
• Mat’s assessment of Pitchers in Dodgers
• Rafael Devers was a deal compared with Vladimer Guererro Jr, 314 million to 500 million
• Rob Manfred visits the Oval Office and pardons Pete Rose #14
• Rose could now potentially be on the path to a Hall of Fame plaque
• Cooperstown should consider plaques for achievement. Telling the story of great players personal shortcomings as well as their great achievement
• Shoeless Joe Jackson fantastic player & the journey with the Black Sox
• Pete Rose one of the Top 20 players to ever play in MLB
• Myriad of great players experiences . . . if you don't tell their stories, they're just gonna die and your sport is worse off for it”
• Pete Rose has a better chance of getting into the Hall of Fame than Barry Bonds 
• HOF voting needs to be revamped – Mat’s 5 point solution 1
• Rob Manfred made more folks eligible the dead are no longer a threat to the game - https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-ineligibility-status-after-death-decision
• Chandler Simpson – igniting the energy with a passion and performance that galvanized the Rays – shades of Randy Arozarena
• TSN – Turning point is now as Rays are fighting through series
• Shane McClanahan, Josh Lowe, Joe Boyle ,Casron Williams, Tre Morgan, Jake Mangum looks like they will be returning 
• Who will stay who will be traded or sent down
• Christopher Morel – what will bring out the best of him – Ranks 8th on barrell percentage. 
•  Morel is in the top 25 in bat speed. Morel should be a 200 ISO and above easy. He's sitting at 1 41 right now. 
• Electrified version of Taylor Walls – more intense and less zen
• Rays players have to fight for their positions everyday with all of the talent in the organization.
• What will happen with the Rays at MLB Trade Deadline
• Pete Fairbanks is having some difficulties
• Return of Shane McClanahan – bring him back slowly with 2 inning stints – reliever?
• Where is the Rays new home, The Trop,  
• Orlando Dreamers – Morgan & Morgan                                                       
• Hopeful to see a hanging  #3 Evan Longoria banner in the outfield when he retires- The Rays will then take ownership of George Steinbrenner Field
• Can the appeal of St. Pete Beach be a new Spring Training home for the Yankees
• Baseball synchronicity May 14 – Pete Rose Day in Cincinnati - #14 Jersey giveaway while  playing the team of Shoeless Joe Jackson
• Great American Ballpark - Cincinnati steamboat smoke stacks on field with 14 bats design reflect Pete Rose in the park.

Find Mat @matgermain.bsky.social & Mark @baseballbizondeck.bsky.social. You may also find Baseball Biz on Deck, at iHeart Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and at baseball biz on deck dot com

Special Thanks to XTaKe-R-U-X for the music Rocking Forward,

Tim announced his first professional baseball game at the age of 19

Filling out index cards for Chicago Cubs and Montreal Expos draft

First broadcast was with a Pirates minor league and he was paid $25 

Tim’s eldest son, worked his way up from single A to AAA baseball announcing  and also UNLV football & basketball

Anniversary of Pirates “Take Your Kid to Work Day “ memory with his son

In radio “ Nothing happens until you say it does.” - you are the graphics

Television is more of an analyst position

Tim & Rick Monday keep the conversation organic

TV has more to setup and more people involved in putting the show together

Listening to Andy Freed & Neil Solondz with the Rays

Rick reflects on meeting in the past with kindred spirits of Andy & Bob

Creating visuals with storytelling

Getting the inside track on lineups hours before the game                  

Marlins manager Clay McCullough former Dodgers coach 

Conversations pre game outside of the booth and getting depth to share with the audience

"I can’t wait to get to work every day"

Tim once recorded a game from the top of a bus - recorder slid down from the arc of the top of bus during the game – luckily intact and just needed a little editing

Old Park in Vancouver Pacific Coast League in AAA – A small wooden box with a wooden door & latch and a sawed out space for a window

Thrilled to be any box in any game

Calgary & Anaheim Duck - Close Call Sports with Lindsay who also plays organ for the Ducks

Approach on national assignments for announcing  - playing it evenly between the teams 

Pitch clock has reduced the amount of time to share stories on radio

Yadier Molina & mound visit restrictions

The game is moving along quicker and it is a crisper game

Pre-pitch clock - had to plan to have filler stories to tell for during longer breaks and mound visits

MLB extra innings Placed Runner – (not a ghost runner)

Tied games in Japanese ball and train transportation

Before MLB Manfred Man there was Softball the Olympic Tiebreaker

2016 Spring Training conversation with Rob Manfred about the need to have umpires with microphones to explain certain calls

Umpires were mic’ed up in Japan long before MLB brought it into the game

How does a younger audience enjoy the game 

Many ways to listen or watch a game today via tv, phone & internet

At Bat app  - BAM – Baseball Advanced Media – adds more depth to the players

Teoscar Hernandez – sunflower seeds in astroturf to mark his place  

MLB has loosened up & allowed players to add some flash to their uniform 

Prepa for the show - room temperature water is essential for 2 reasons

Field of Dreams broadcast booth – who is your partner

A drive in the Mojave Desert and a Voice mail from Vin Scully -  a treasure that Tim will keep forever

Red Barber & Vince Scully story – broadcasting from the roof of Fenway Park on a cold windy day without a coat

Rain delays are just part of the game all part of the Charm of the Game

The Oddities & details of a game are what make baseball memories

Dryout – game called off with blue skies and not a cloud in sight

Favorite away field – PNC Park in Pittsburgh

Maury Wills & Steve Garvey should be in the Hall of Fame

Steve Garvey - bat boy for the Dodgers during Spring Training in Vero Beach

The depth of preparing for the game that many might know

Find Mat @matgermain.bsky.social & Mark @baseballbizondeck.bsky.social. You may also find Baseball Biz on Deck, at iHeart Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and at baseball biz on deck dot com

Special Thanks to XTaKe-R-U-X for the music Rocking Forward,

Special guest, MLBPA Agent, Phil Terrano visits as we discuss how the love of money is encroaching on the love of the game.

• Quick Look at MLB Rankings, Mets leading the pack with .700 Winning percentage. AL East – Orioles suffering  challenges with young players
• Phil Terrano joins the show live from a youth baseball field
• Travis Jankowski – had a lot of movement between teams since Spring Team
• Your playing for the 29 other teams
• Players jump from team to team – sometimes not by their choice
• Phil recounts Moneyball story about player changing teams during game
• Putting your best foot forward at every level of the game from Rookie to MLB
• Very few players that come off the bench and are good every time
• Many players come up and down across the league levels
• Need opportunity to shine with teams – Rule 5
• How do you identify talent. It does not come to you.
• The Youth level has become a business
• Little League & American Legion teams are being challenged with Travel Ball
• Community ball – many local fields are being rented by Travel Baseball
• Youth baseball revenue 50.62 Billion in 2024 will to 56 Billion in 
• There is only 1 Derek Jeter
• Cost of youth baseball – a new popular bat may cost $500+
• Enjoy the game as a kid – what happened to the fun in baseball
• Youth baseball – being loyal to your teammates, loyal to your coaches
• More changes as young girls and women coming into the game
• Has the game really changed or have we changed
• NCAA impact on young baseball players
• Phil's Dream Big Project
  • Vision for a community sports complex
  • Challenges faced from those profiting off current youth baseball models
• Offering scholarships and free camps for underserved kids
• Passion for the Game
  • Phil’s personal commitment as an agent and father
  • Balancing business with genuine care and loyalty
  • Teaching kids the value of the game beyond wins and stats
• Parenting in Baseball
  • Phil’s experience raising two baseball-loving sons
  • Lessons in balancing ambition with fun and perspective
  • Emphasis on education and a “Plan B” beyond baseball dreams
• Mental Toughness & Adversity
  • Dealing with negativity in the community
  • Encouraging kids to persevere and enjoy the game despite setbacks
  • Respecting coaches, umpires, and the game itself
• Industry Insights
  • The harsh realities of making it to the pros
  • Stories from Phil’s career supporting players through transitions and releases
• Importance of honesty in coaching and talent evaluation
• How to Make Baseball More Enjoyable for Kids
• One free sport for every child until age 12
• Funding for coaches to reduce financial burdens
• Promoting different playing styles instead of a “one-size-fits-all” mold
• Remembering baseball is still a game meant to be enjoyed
•   A Real-Time Walk-Off Moment!
• Phil shares a spontaneous, live moment of his son's team winning a game
• Celebration of pure joy and the innocence of youth baseball
• Kids care more about fun than stats – Slushies

Early in season at bottom of AL East

• Baltimore Orioles & Cincinnati Reds – O’s lose 24 to 2
• Not Charlie Morton’s Day 
• Wrexham A.F.C. comparison
• Max Fried is bringing the fire – almost No-Hitter
• Catchers & Pitcher Battery
• Catcher value measurements
  • Arm Strength
  • Pop Time – Caught Stealing
  • Blocking
  • Framing
  • Pitcher not shaking off calls from catcher, Yanier Molina 
  • Fangraphs – effective defensive rating
• Danny Jansen, 1st year with Rays, great blocker & building rapport with pitchers
• Rays not catching opponents from stealing bases
• Importance of Framing metric decreases with electronic strike zone
• Salvador Perez – Kansas City Royals catcher
• Tres Barrera & Logan Driscoll
• Baseball Savant measure catcher framing & strike zone
• Rays catchers rank 50th & 51st
• Why is Jonathan Aranda not showing up higher in the lineup
• Taylor Walls, switch hitting talent questioned
• Rays Roster Crunch – Palacios, Montes, Caballero, Josh Lowe, Tre Moran
• Trade Brandon Lowe to Mariners for Harry Ford
• Tre Morgan
• Moving on from Randy Arozarena, they moved on from Zach Effinrrrrrr
• Moving a franchise player like Brandon Lowe, Kevin Kiermaier & Longoria
• Evan Longoria could bring a strong aggressive approach as a coach for the team
• The question to Eric Neander and his group “Who is our core”
• Sign Junior Caminero to a long-term extension
• Fast Bat Speed – 78.7 mph – bat speed – Junior Caminero exceeds Judge & Ohtani
• Move Yandy Diaz to Reds who need a first baseman since Joey Votto left
• Rays have an outstanding outfield core throughout all of the Rays organization
• What’s happening with Curtis Mead
• NHL playoffs
• Stanley Cup – at which point do that stop adding winning team tiers
• Tampa Championships
• Tampa Baseball Museum event with Larry Rothschild, Joe Maddon & Rick Vaughn
• Rays this year looks like Astros of last year, who started slow and grew stronger
• Will the away games strengthen the team
• Smelling the frustration of Kevin Cash
• Rays have the talent and potential to, to fight back
• Charleston River Dogs are one of the hottest minor league team

Just a reminder, if you enjoyed this show, go ahead like and subscribe to BaseballBiz On Deck. Also you can find Mat at M-A-T-G-E-R-M-A-I-N dot B Sky social. That's Mat at M-A-T-G-E-R-M-A-I-N dot B, Sky social or Mark at  Baseball Biz on Deck dot B Sky Social. You may also find Baseball Biz on Deck, at iHeart Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and at baseball biz on deck dot com

Special Thanks to XTaKe-R-U-X for the music Rocking Forward, 

• Rays Monday night melee with the Red Sox 16 – 1 win
• Jonathan Aranda & Camerron Misner – setting the tone for the game
• Misner -  2 Home Runs in that game
• Jake Mangum on the bases 
• Shane Baz on the mound with 11 K’s did stayed strong even through long time between innings
• Trevor Story’s glove
• Rays most productive outfield in MLB even without Arozarena & Siri
• DeLuca’s injury has resulted in a heavy left-handed lineup
• More than Brandon Lowe - Entire team contributed to the win
• Aranda's outstanding numbers 1.242 OPS, 4.13 Average, 4.81 On Base Percentage
• 7:10 – edit sheesh out of 
• 4 effective left-handed hitters in lineup including Brandon Lowe
• Kevin Cash must be listening to Mat’s take on the Rays lineup – lol
• What’s the hype on the Rays in the city of Tampa
• Does the local media experience fatigue due to the stadium talk and changes
• How are Rays ticket sales being managed 
• Making Steinbrenner Field permanent Rays’ site with renovations -  Look to Janet Marie Smith’s off season work with Dodger’s Stadium
• AL East – Blue Jays commitment has risen now that they have invested in Vladdy Guerrero Jr
• Vladdy’s extension shows a glimmer of hope
• Jays could have paid Freddie Freeman twice what Guerrero will make
• MLBPA will reap the rewards of Guerrero’ extension agreement
• What will it look like when Junior Caminero is looking for an extension with the Rays
• Wander Franco contract was an anomaly 
• Blue Jays savings from not building a new stadium
• Teams keeping their soul with keeping their original stadiums – Wrigley & Fenway
• Watching the Rays get more vitamin D
• Consider new Rays’ uniform policy – wear white uniforms during hot home games
• Rick Vaughn – marketing guy with the Orioles & Rays 
• Rick & Joe Maddon book signing event at the Tampa Baseball Museum
• Inequities between MLB team coaches & MLBPA players
• The CBA  – will the larger markets want a floor for the smaller markets
• Most MLBPA careers are short. If there is a salary cap then perhaps more players could make more.
• Comparison with NHL & Stamkos
• Could we see a 50/50 share with the owners & players on the revenue of the game
• Last CBA had MLBPA committee made up of many Scott Boras players   - not the rank & file
• Pitchers careers are ending before they can get paid what they are worth
• Are teams blowing out pitcher’s arms for instant success over longevity
• Pitchers should be able to have a shorter path to arbitration and free agency
• Blake Snell example of poor offering from Tampa Bay Rays
• Blowing off some steam with some time in the batting cage
• Rays - brought to you by the letter M – Montes, Mangum, Morel & Misner
• 3 Rays outfielders now hitting above 300 – Mangum, Misner & Morel
• What will happen to outfield when DeLuca & Josh Lowe come back
• This productive lineup may slow high quickly Chandler Simpson and others come up
• Keep your eye on up and coming Eric Orze

Joe Maddon & Rick Vaughn charitable event at Tampa Baseball Museum

Just a reminder, if you enjoyed this show, go ahead like and subscribe to BaseballBiz On Deck. Also you can find Mat at M-A-T-G-E-R-M-A-I-N dot B Sky social. That's Mat at M-A-T-G-E-R-M-A-I-N dot B, Sky social or Mark at  Baseball Biz on Deck dot B Sky Social. You may also find Baseball Biz on Deck, at iHeart Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and at baseball biz on deck dot com

Special Thanks to XTaKe-R-U-X for the music Rocking Forward,

• Celebrating Jackie Robinson Day with USAWNT Baseball pitcher & Architect, Meggie Meidlinger
• Look back at Meggie & the USAWNT Women’s team history
• Meggie’s love of baseball and architecture blended together
•  Work completed on UGA's Baseball Facilities – Foley Field – Athens GA
• Architectural Planning & finding solutions
•  Bullpen and Pitching Lab Design
•  Baseball Journey and Mentorship in Uganda
•  See Her Be Her Documentary film of Jean Fruth & Jeff Idelson - https://www.grassrootsbaseball.org/seeherbeher
• Film focus on women in baseball from Japan, US, Uganda, including Maybelle Blair
• MLB 
•  Impact of Jackie Robinson and Trailblazer Series
• Working with young women at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex (JRTC)
• The values and impact of Jackie Robinson on and off the field
• Honoring Jackie’s memory & the Robinson family
• Trailblazer series at JRTC - https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-brings-back-trailblazer-series-to-promote-youth-girls-baseball
•  Looking to the future with new Projects  
• The importance of specialized Women's Sports Facilities starting to evolve with some of the professional women’s leagues in soccer and WNBA
•  You have been listening to BaseballBiz On Deck with Mark's special guest, architect & USA Womens Baseball National Team pitcher, Meggie Meidlinger whose contributions excel beyond taking the mound. Thank you to Meggie as we celebrate Jackie Robinson Day in 2025.
• Giving Back to the Game: with Baseball at Heart 
• Learn more on Facebook about Baseball at Heart

 Just a reminder you can find Mark on Blue Sky at @baseballbizondeck.b sky.social You may also find BaseballBiz On Deck on iheart, apple, spotify, amazon music & at www.baseballbizondeck.com

Special Thanks to X-Take-R-U-X for the music Rocking Forward

• Josh Weaver, curator for the Tampa Baseball Museum
• Joe Maddon book signing event at museum - https://bit.ly/4iUXeYK
• The New Trop or George Steinbrenner Field
• Rays rent to Yankees = medium level player for the Yanks
• Licking the railings at Steinbrenner Field 
• The Critchfields
• Steinbrenner Field feels like Spring Training 
• New players have a familiar feel from their minor league experience – Carson Williams & Chandler Simpson
• Magnum strong start with hit power – similarities to Cody Bellinger
• Nestor Cortes & the attack of the Yankees Torpedo Bats. 
• Is Nestor pitching hurt
• Where did the Torpedo Bats come from – equipment equivalent of PEDs?
• MLB changes on bases impact historical records - Rickey Henderson
• A win should be a team stat, not a pitcher stat
• FWAR & BWAR 
• Kiermaier defensive impact on the game raises him above his at plate performance
• Eovaldi recent 9 innining shutout
• Drew Rasmussen has a similar story to Eovaldi as a player who came back after multiple surgeries
• Atlanta Braves rough start to the season
• Ronald Acuña Jr. & Ozzie Albies contract extensions
• 2025 White Sox surprise leading the way in Central 
• Rafael Devers expeiencing difficulty as Red Sox DH
• Several recent team extensions in MLB – Garret Crochet with Red Sox
• D-backs with Corbin Burnes decision
• Why haven’t the Blue Jays signed Vladimer Guerrero Jr
• Jays spent $11 billion for NHL coverage in Canada
• Just because the Rays extend a player it does not insure that they will keep them forever
• Erik Neander, Tampa Bay Rays GM, impact on the teams and initial unpopular decision to trade away Evan Longoria
• What if  . . . Kiermaier a coach for centerfielders and Evan Longoria as bench manager
• Ray’s games are more of an event in the new stadium – something watching baseball in an open air stadium at night
•  September night. Cool Breeze watching baseball. No open air, no issues
• Tampa Bay Devil Rays & Rays 5 Managers display at the Tampa Baseball Museum
• Larry Rothschild, Hal McRae, Lou Piniella, Joe Maddon & Kevin Cash
• Rothschild first manager of the Rays, played forTigers in ’81 to ’82, 2 World Series as a pitching coach
• Hal McRae took over the Rays after the firing of Rothschild 
• McRae as a player is in the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame. 
• Lou Piniella basically throws a grenade into the field & began building a new structure for the Rays
• Joe Maddon comes in and makes a difference to the Rays
• Rothschild & Maddon believe that Piniella should be installed in HOF
• Kevin Cash and Joe Maddon - multiple Manager of the Year awards
• Ideal HOF induction would include Tino Francona & Kevin Cash together
• Joe Maddon & Rick Vaughn book signing event at the Tampa Baseball Museum tickets at https://bit.ly/4iUXeYK
• Durham Bulls win with Chandler Simpson hitting a triple and stealing a base
• Get ready to support MiLB Minor League Baseball

Special Thanks to Josh Weaver, Curator of the Tampa Baseball Museum for sharing stories on the Tampa Bay Rays Managers exhibit and the special event with World Series winning manager Joe Maddon at the museum on April 21st.

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Special Thanks to XTaKe-R-U-X for the music Rocking Forward,