BaseballBiz On Deck

• The Scott Boras Effect & Player Disadvantages
• Juan Soto's Big Contract and the 
• Gambling Industry Influence on Salaries
• Why Soto Chose the Mets
• Steve Cohen's Impact on the Mets and MLB
• Mark shares a conversation with Lou Schiff about Steve Cohen's ownership, with Lou wishing Cohen owned every MLB team for his commitment to winning and willingness to spend money.
• Mat reflects on how Cohen’s approach contrasts with other owners, driving the Mets to become true championship contenders.
• The Blue Jays and Their Missteps
• Blue Jays for focusing on signing Juan Soto instead of solidifying their system by locking down Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and building a competitive roster.
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s potential departure, especially if the Jays don’t show more commitment to winning.
• Will White Sox be sold to a Montreal-based ownership group
• Vladdy Guerrero Jr. could find a home with the Angels
• MLB Spring Training and player signings
• The influence of gambling on MLB contracts
• The rivalry between the Mets and Yankees
• Steve Cohen’s impact on the Mets' financial commitment
• The Blue Jays' struggles to build a competitive team
• Potential future for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• Blue Jays never have exceeded the luxury tax
• Should have forgottend Soto and signed Max Fried & Willy Adames
• Will Bo Bichette & Vlad Jr stick around
• Blue Jays pitchers are aging
• $23 million a year
• Should have considered Ketel Martinez and saved 7 million more to 2nd baseman Andrés Giménez
• Will Vladdy Jr continue to stay with the Blue Jays
• Montreal baseball expanded franchise – could that be a future home for Vladdy
• Red Sox & No Soto – decisions to be made – Rafael Devers
• The Rangers have a deep roster including Nate Eovaldi
• Peek over the fence with Rule 5
• Orioles brought in Gary Sanchez & Tyler O’Neill
• Will Orioles bring back Teoscar Hernandez to their young team
• Trevor Rogers the best LHP for the Blue Jays
• AL East – what it will look like in 2025
• Shane McClanahan will be returning to the Tampa Bay Rays
• How Rule 5 gives a lot of players into the show who otherwise may not rise up on their current team
• Anthony Santander was lifted up years ago on Rule 5
• If you return a player you took from Rule 5 then original team must pay you 50K to get them back
• Rays in Rule 5
• Bring in the Hammer – Dan Hammer from the Orioles & Jake Brentz
• Rays are committed to keeping open spaces for the guys that they may bring back up including Carson Williams, Chandle Simpson, Ahmed Rosario
• Seiya Suzuki could anchor the Rays outfield - $19 million a year
• The Return of Tony Francona – now with the Cincinnati Reds
•  
• 46: - Caitlin Clark – WNBA – Basketball Card – more than annual salary
• Dr. Leslie Heaphy, IWBC, on the Cooperstown, Hall of Fame Eras committee
• Expansion teams by 2030? 
•  Montreal already vetted by MLB – Would Stephen Bronfman show same commitment as a Steve Cohen
• Montreal government is spending $870 million on a new roof for their stadium – should they buy an existing franchise or be part of the expansion – maybe White Sox or A’s
• Montreal, Salt Lake City, Nashville
• The Angels – Ron Washington – supports and builds his players and holds them accountable
• Ron wants hungry players that are teachable
• Bring us a healthy season for Mike Trout
• Just a reminder you can find Mat at  M-A-T-G-E-R-M-A-I-N dot bsky social. That’s @matgermain.bsky.social  or Mark at @baseballbizondeck.bsky.social
• Special thank s to XTaKeRuX for the music “Rocking Forward

• Rays Stadium - John Fisher money & motivation in Vegas with the A's satire
• Tradition vs. Modernization in Baseball
• Golden Bat rule challenges the traditions of baseball. MLB becomes the Savannah Bananas 
• Field Dimensions and Fairness in Baseball: large market edge
• Other Ideas from Fans for changes: 
  • Fans from the stands being selected to play an inning or take an at-bat.
  • Pitchers being required to hit but allowed to use aluminum bats.
  • A proposal for teams to have two women on the roster.
• Incentivizing Team Performance
• Rob Manfred’s Legacy: “just a piece of metal.” lack of passion for the game & impact of his leadership.
• Juan Soto impact with smaller markets
• Team Building and Free Agency: the importance of star players committing to smaller market teams and how it could shape their legacy.
• Historical Winter Meetings: 1988 and 2014 meetings, and how teams like the Texas Rangers & Los Angeles Dodgers made significant trades and acquisitions
• Competitive Balance in MLB: Blake Snell signing with the Dodgers.
• Juan Soto’s impending free agency and potential destinations.
• Freddie Freeman and his impact with the Dodgers vs. the Rays.
• Historical Trades: Texas Rangers (1988), Dodgers (2014).
• Rob Manfred’s will he retire as commissioner by 2030
• Incentivizing Competitive Balance: Would penalties for losses help improve the competitiveness of MLB?
• Can small-market teams make an impact by signing stars
• Teams spending Floors & Ceilings needed as large-market teams outspending smaller-market teams and creating an uneven playing field. 
• Fixing the MLB System:  fix the financial imbalance—not as a bargaining chip with players, but as a necessary step to protect the integrity of the league. 
• The Importance of Retaining Star Players:
• A Call for League Balance: where all teams have a fair shot at retaining star talent and competing. 
• Merging MiLB with NCAA would increase exposure and viewership.
• Savannah Bananas Influence on MLB
• Stadium Drama with Oakland A's & the Tampa Bay Rays
• Frustration felt by Rays fans, taxpayers, and the local community.
• Therapy needed for fans to "heal" from years of stadium uncertainty.
• Women in Baseball
  • Isla Borders, Meggie Meidlinger, and Kelsie Whitmore, women who have had professional baseball careers
  • potential of women playing in MLB when demonstrating elite skills, citing examples from other sports like hockey.
  • Rachel Balkovec (player development with the Marlins) 
  • Veronica Alvarez (coach for the USAWNT) pioneers in coaching roles.
• The Future of Women’s Professional Baseball 
  • Potential for a professional women’s baseball league and the challenges women might face in breaking into MLB.
  • The idea of merging smaller women’s leagues for greater comparisons to the early days of the NFL.
• Winter Meetings and the Rule 5 Draft
  • Big contract signings will be discussed and trades are expected.
  • The Rule 5 Draft will also provide insight into team strategies.
  • Juan Soto potentially commanding a $600 million deal

Just a reminder you can find Mat at  M-A-T-G-E-R-M-A-I-N dot bsky social. That’s @matgermain.bsky.social  or Mark at @baseballbizondeck.bsky.social

Special thank s to XTaKeRuX for the music “Rocking Forward

Happy Thanksgiving from BaseballBiz On Deck

• All primed up for the Rays Prospects List
• Mat's conversation with Baseball America, J.J. Cooper
• Blake Snell - $185 million 5-year contract with the Dodgers
• MLB - 10 teams that can afford to compete remaining 20 must struggle
• Ohtani timeline of wealth
• Billionaires who seek funding for stadium
• Rays Stadium challenges with Brian Auld, Pinellas County & Cisty of St. Pete
• Yankees Steinbrenner stadium new stadium
• Genesis Cabrera to Mets
•  Trip to Vegas
• 2 Franchises playing in minor league stadiums - A's & Rays
• White Sox needs to maximize the value of Garrett Crochet, Louis Robert
• White Sox need to flip the attitude – perhaps new faces will infuse the team
• Alex Anthopolous trades & signings in Montreal built talent
• White Sox need to have a complete overhaul of their system
• The A’s were building in  2024 with Brett Rooke and their Catchers 
• Mark tired of hearing about if and when on the stadium
• Hurricane changed the stadium circumstances
• Ken Hagan on bringing the Rays to Ybor – we need to talk with Tampa developer Darryl Shaw
• Traffic to St Pete compared to Tampa
• Baseball America – Top 10 Tampa Bay Rays prospects
• How do they measure grades of top prospects – Carson Williams
• Comparison of Williams & Taylor Walls as a shortstop
• imagine if Taylor Walls merged with Junior Caminero
• Lookout for Brayden Taylor
• Where will Xavier Isaac and Tre’ Morgan be playing 
• Baseball America gave Tre’ Morgan an 80 grade for fielding
• Gary Gill Hale pitcher grade – a closer could become a starter like Blake Snell in time
• Encourage fans to subscribe to Baseball America for more insights to the game
• Mat keeps us positive as Rays fans
• Love affair between the Rays & the City of Tampa
• Roller Coaster ride of the Rays stadium issue – what will MLB learn
• Mat Germain on Blue Sky - @matgermain.bsky.social 
• Mat’s Blue Sky Starter Packs for Rays Fans

Just a reminder you can find Mat at  M-A-T-G-E-R-M-A-I-N dot bsky social. That’s @matgermain.bsky.social  or Mark at @baseballbizondeck.bsky.social

Special thank s to XTaKeRuX for the music “Rocking Forward

• USAWNT Baseball Player – Beth Greenwood - Women in Baseball
• Player Development Coach 
• Won the Championship with the Comets at the AmericanGirlsBaseball.org
• Path to the USAWNT Baseball team
• Making the 40 player team with Ila Borders, Meggie Meidlinger, Tamara Holmes
• Competition to make it to the final roster becomes more challenging year after year
• Catchers the Managers of tomorrow
• Al Lopez, historic catcher/manager at Tampa Baseball Museum
• Catchers like Veronica Alvarez who took the tough job when others deferred in youth baseball
• Facing the hard throwing pitchers
• Making adjustments – getting tighter and tighter to the plate 
• Beth working with Player Development in Phillies program / Jersey Shore Blue Claws
• What is Player Development – Helping Players to advance to the big leagues through game planning, nutrition, 
• Excitement for development of a Women’s Professional Baseball League 
• Professional League will give women a full-time job to focus on being an athlete and will increase the level of play 
• Many women who play baseball need an alternate source for income. Some who have become architects, coaches & firefighters like Veronica Alvarez, Tamara Holmes, Valerie Perez
• Womens Professional Baseball League, Kat Williams & Leslie Heaphy 
• Jason Varitek of Boston Red Sox was Beth’s baseball favorite catcher as a youngster
• Later Beth later looked to USAWNT players for favorite players
• Rachel Balkovec – wore a lot of hats to advance in baseball strength coach, batting coach, manager of Tampa Tarpons, now director of Player Development for the Marlins
• While working with the Threshers, a Phillies affiliate Beth met Rachel Balkovec
• Benches emptied between Threshers & Tarpons – a lot of emotion
• Baseball Travel what a calendar year looks like
• Beth is playing at Roy Hobbs tournament this week in Fort Myers Florida
• A fly on the wall in the 40’s & 50’s listen to AAGPBL players
• Maybelle Blair, Shirley Burkovich are some of the AAGPBL legends that Beth has met
• Future of Women’s Professional Baseball League
• Look into the future with Michael Goodmon toward a Women’s League
• Hope that all Women’s baseball groups can come together to make a league happen
• Beth remembers playing in 2011 with Baseball for All girls teams & tournament
• Greenwood’s performance with the Comets at AGB, Durham
• Beth recounts 7th inning of tournament Bases loaded, full count, payoff pitch, foul tip into Beth’s glove 
• Roy Hobbs tournament this weekend in Fort Myers - https://royhobbs.com/world-series/schedules/women-team

References:
Beth catches for the Comets in this championship game - https://www.mlb.com/video/agb-peaches-vs-agb-comets-138730  - check out at 2:23 timestamp for top of 7th.
Third Annual All-American Women’s Baseball Classic Results - https://americangirlsbaseball.org/third-annual-all-american-womens-baseball-classic/ 

Mark is on BlueSky at @baseballbizondeck.bsky.social & and at  http://www.baseballbizondeck.com

Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music “Rocking Forward"

#WIBW #AAGPBL 

• Hurricane Brain in Tampa Bay
• Pinellas County Commission vote to not vote on Rays stadium bond
• Where does the county funds come from to build a new stadium
• Timeline of approval of Rays deal with both the City of St Pete & Pinellas county
• County Bed Tax – can only be used for tourism – cannot be used for renourishing the beaches
• Timelines & Delays are not helped by Stu’s antagonistic communications
• Commissioner Brian Scott – shows disappointment with Stu & Tampa Bay Times’ headlines “End of the stadium deal?
• Reflect Reds Castellini & White Sox Reinsdorf poor communications
• When Billionaires speak people listen
• Need Erik Neander to negotiate
• MLB teams as a tax haven
• Quebec govt putting on a $875 million roof for their stadium
• Other options for Rays – Montreal, Nashville &
• County Commissioners Brian Scott & Kathleen Peters – Rays stadium investment will be a generational & transformative action for the future
• “reeks of corporate selfishness” a commissioner’s remarks of Rays recent media tactic
• Is it Rays strategy to motivate commissioners to vote no & give Stu option to move Rays
• What if MLB Commissioner, Rob Manfred, visited Tampa Bay and brokered a deal with Rays & Yankees at Steinbrenner Field, add 5,000 site
• Pinellas fields not suitable for the Rays to hold their 2025 season
• Blue Jays 2020 @ Sahlen field
• Jose Siri traded to New York Mets, for reliever Eric Orze
• Will Chandler Simpson a roster spot
• Could Dylan Carlson replace Siri
• Willie Adames – ex-Ray – declines Brewers qualifying offer
• Could Willy land with Dodgers or Tigers – what about Javy Baez
• Angels should release Francisco Lindor bring in Adames – Eeyore to Tigger move
• Bret Phillips now a pitcher and a future as a broadcaster
• BallySports - FanDuel – Diamond Team Broadcasting
• Utah Jazz - unique model, broadcasts local games live and is still profitable
• Perth Heat – Australian Baseball League – Tampa Bay Rays
• Eyes on Angel Mateo
• Post-season viewing & reading Beyond baseball:
• Mat:  It’s not all about Batman – The Penguin & the Marvelous Miss Maisel
• Mark: Ila Borders book – Making my Pitch &  watching Saint of Second Chances
• Roki Sasaki in the Rays future?
• What would Rays rotation look like with Sasaki
• How will stadium issues impact Free Agents attraction to the Tampa Bay Rays
• Reflect on Nate Eovaldi & Wilson Ramos signings as players who came to the Rays as they needed to rebuild their value
• Expect the Rays to be aggressive in possibly bringing on Danny Jansen or Kyle Higashioka – revenge on the Yankees
• Rays will show that they are ready to compete in 2025 if they keep Brandon Lowe, Yandy Diaz, Jeffrey Springs & Pete Fairbanks
• Ken Hagan on WDAE – talks about the City of Tampa’s early offer to keep the Rays

Thanks to Mat Germain for bringing his knowledge, wit and wisdom to the show. You can catch more of Mat on BlueSky @matgermain.bsky.social

Mark can be found on BlueSky at @baseballbizondeck.bsky.social & and at  http://www.baseballbizondeck.com

BaseballBiz is on iheartradio, Stitcher, Apple, and Spotify

Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music “Rocking Forward

 World Series Game 5 Expectations

•  Dodgers’ unexpected struggle to close out the series, 
• Freddie Freeman's impact: Mat highlights Freeman’s impressive streak with six home runs across six World Series games, 
• Yankees’ Comeback Attempt: Anthony Volpe energized the Yankees, k
• Ohtani's Injury and Resilience with arm  - Mat reflects on Ohtani’s ability to play while injured, likening his resilience to legends like Vlad Guerrero.
• Aaron Judge's Struggles and Adjustments
• Dodgers’ Pressure and Rotation Challenges
•  Future Outlook Yankees' 2025 Roster Outlook & 
  • Payroll
  • Young Talent on the Horizon
• Future of AL East Competition - The Orioles as Potential Favorites
• Tension for the Dodgers in Game 5 
• Dodgers' Pitching Woes and World Series Strategy:
• Pitching Staff Injuries:  Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin, and Clayton Kershaw.
• Three-Pitcher Strategy: 
• Brent Honeywell's Dedication: commitment to helping Mookie Betts out of a slump, highlighting the dedication and team spirit essential in high-stakes playoff moments.
• Mookie Betts Post-Game Focus: he downplays fan drama to focus on the team’s performance.
• Fan Behavior and Stadium Etiquette
• Impact on Future Fans: Both hosts reflect on the importance of modeling good behavior to foster a respectful stadium environment.
• World Series Sweeps: 21 World Series have ended in sweeps, with the Yankees involved in over half of these.
• Fun with Baseball Stats: 
• Pre-Game and Post-Game Performances:
• Ice Cube and Fat Joe Performances: Is it worth the ticket. Does this attract a younger audience?
•  Babyface - National Anthem Performances and Commentary
• Memorable Moments and Player Challenges
•  Shohei Ohtani’s underwhelming playoff performance and Mat’s admiration for Kike Hernández’s underrated postseason consistency. 
• Documentary: See Her, Be Her
• WPBL Women’s Baseball Progress and New Leagues
•  Baseball for All, a women’s baseball organization led by Justine Siegal, and the development of the Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) slated for a 2026 launch. Mat and Mark discuss the potential for growth and visibility of women’s sports
• Mat on Funding and Broadcasting Women’s Baseball
• National Exposure and Strategic Marketing of Women in Baseball
• Upcoming Events: Arizona Fall League & Australian Baseball League
• Game 5 starting with Shohei Ohtani’s recent first-pitch pop-out in good spirits.
  
  
• Thanks to Mat Germain for bringing his knowledge, wit and wisdom to the show. You can catch more of Mat on Twitter x.com @Mat_Germain_   
   Mark can be found on Twitter x.com  @TheBaseballBiz & and at  http://www.baseballbizondeck.com
  Subscribe, follow and rate the show. Thank you.
  BaseballBiz is on iheartradio, Stitcher, Apple, and Spotify
  Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music “Rocking Forward"

Milton debris and cleanup in Tampa Bay continues

#RaysUp - Tampa Bay Rays offering support to local community

Avoid burning debris

What happens to the TB Rays without a roof 

Rays not moving to the big O in Montreal – potential for MLB expansion team

Canadian Baseball History – Montreal Expos most HOF’ers  per season

Evan Longoria & Kevin Kiermaier franchise players

Effective Defense players are not being weighed enough for HOF’ers

Automated Check Swing Challenge begins in Arizona Fall League

Need a new rule - "No Balks", we need to increase the trickery from the mound, give the pitcher a gift after shortening distance between the bases

Ex-Rays in the Weorld Series from the Dodgers include Brent Honeywell, Tyler Glasnow, Kevin Kiermaier, Anthony Banda, Amed Rosario

Brett Phillips signs a minor league contract with the Yankees as a pitcher

Brent Honeywell, Kevin Kiermaier & Anthony Banda were picked up by the Dodgers after many had given up on him

Will Kiermaier pick up a World Series ring after several years in the game

Blue Eyes, A Kevin Kiermaier baseball movie? Who would you pick to play KK, Jake Gyllenhaal?

Yankees, Nestor Cortes would trade his arm for a year for a World Series ring

Which ex-Rays would receive a ring if the Dodgers win World Series, Tyler Glasnow, Anthony Banda, Ryan Yarbrough, Brent Honeywell, JP Feyereisen, Kevin Kiermaier, Amed Rosario

Who receives a World Series rings with the winning team

Chris watching the Mets & Dodgers – are you Mets fans

World Series tickets for Game 3 ranging from  $1,320 to $5093 on Ticketmaster

How much have Dodgers spent from 2021 – 2024 to get back to the World Series

Juan Soto will be a free agent next season, Cortes will be free agent in 2025

What changes will Yankees make for 2025 season, Anthony Rizzo will probably not be back, Cortes likely to return, Trent Grisham, Lou Trevino, Clark Schmidt & others

Who is hungriest to have Juan Soto on their team

All Rise, Here comes the Judge. Soto can never supplant Aaron Judge as the lead for the Yankees

What will Giants, Angels & others be doing to pull Juan Soto to their team.

If Mets surrender Alonso would they use that money to pick up Yankees’ Juan Soto

How would Yankees fans respond if Soto does not sign with them

Ohtani v Judge in postseason stats

The Athletic writers seem split on World Series pick – coin toss

Big Dollars built unique powerful large markets like LA & NY that overrides smaller markets

Shania Twain – You don’t impress me much 

Smaller markets like Milwaukee & Tampa need a chance to compete in MLB

No Cinderella was invited to the MLB World Series, Large markets & Large money reign

Women in Baseball - Jean Fruth documentary See Her, Be Her, #SeeHerBeHer on MLB network between Games 2 & 3 of World Series

#RaysUp what’s up with the Trop where will the team play home games in 2025

Montreal Expos trip to Puerto Rico – would Rays consider playing games at Hiram Bithorn Stadium during rainy season, seats 18,000

Omaha – Charles Schwab field, 24,000 capacity

Orlando, Charlotte, Al Lang – closer to home options

Benefits & exposure to new fans if Rays play home games at other sites

Will the City of St. Pete provide funding to replace the roof for the Rays?

Giant Sun Umbrella for the Trop

Arizona Fall League, Xavier Isaac playing outfield & Tre Morgan both performing well

2 weeks away from player transition bonanza

Australian League to start up in a few weeks, Perth Heat

 You can find Mat on Twitter x.com @Mat_Germain_   

Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music “Rocking Forw

Randy Sullivan CEO of Randy Sullivan’s Florida Baseball ARMory (FBA) has made a positive difference in several players’ lives. The FBA provides full individual assessment of all players and tailors a strategy that will increase their personal performance. Randy develops players that can combine Velocity & Command in their pitches.

• Randy began his path in Division 1 Baseball at the Citadel to now being a Pitching Guru. His career moved from Air Force to Nuclear Silos to Physical Therapy in Florida Baseball circuit to FBA.
• He went undercover to discover what Baseball Scouts to find what they were looking for in a pitcher.  Answer: Throw harder.
• As physical therapist and strength coach Randy began looking for a way to break the cycle from Injury to Play to Injury
• Much of FBA’s success can be attributed to Business Partner, Amy Marsh. She made a difference managing & growing the business from the beginning.
• Island of Misfit Pitchers begins to become Hot Bed of Talent at FBA
• “There is not just one solution” unique development for each pitcher – individual analysis of player’s physical hardware
• Randy’s medical background allows him to do a deeper dive on how to develop speed & accuracy with over 29,000 player assessments
• Humble Guy from Winter Park, Logan Gilbert, entered Florida Baseball ARMory to increase his pitching ability. Logan, recent AL East pitcher of the Month has been one of the most consistent hard workers that Randy knows. 
• Traditionally, many coaches and managers had worked on a faulty strategy of minimizing movement to maximize efficiency. This robbed players of their athleticism. 
• Players develop ability to make rapid adjustments much like an Olympic athlete in the Luge
• Which is the best Velocity or Command? Randy says he wants both for his pitchers.
• Randy shares the hierarchy of development for pitchers – Pain, Flame, Aim & Game
• The Flame or Aim  = Fastball or Command – these 2 are conjoined & Randy teaches how to have both in a single pitch
• Randy still catches in pros bullpen to get a better feel for the shape of the player’s pitches
• Florida Baseball ARMory instructors give guided individual plan for each player
• FBA Summer Training Programs, Weekend Camps & Video Access to their work. 
• Access to FBA with satellite training & phone app
• FBA provides Coach Certification with over 500 training videos 
• Creativity – bringing in ideas from different places and develop something new
• Linking “Nerds to Neanderthals”
• Randy educates his players by showing his students the process and strategy while developing trust and a path to building their success.  
• FBA Partner, Amy Marsh runs the business continues to be critical to the growth and success of FBA as they expand into their new facilities. 
• Summer Camps coming up

Players can enroll in Randy Sullivan’s Florida Baseball Armory programs at https://floridabaseballarmory.com/baseball-training-camps/  

BaseballBiz is also on iheartradio, Stitcher, Apple, Spotify & Google podcasts
Mark @TheBaseballBiz  
Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music "Rocking Forward

Canadian Thanksgiving

Thank you to our Canadian friends and those who came from across the U.S. to aid and help from Canada to the Florida area post-Milton

Halifax Explosion

Tropicana Field – shredding of the roof

The rays in the aqua tank survived  and have been moved to the Aquarium

Revisit the Tampa Bay Rays timeline on when & where they could have moved

If the City of St. Pete had not signed with the Rays, It would have given MLB & Rays ownership ability to move the Tampa Bay Rays to another city

What will Rays and Florida do to make the region better and stronger to withstand some of the force from future weather

Tampa General Hospital -  AquaWall

Building new houses & structures with new hurricane building codes

Netherlands model in building dikes as a prevention to hurricanes

Water levels rising will create more difficulties for the future

Climate change choosing to acknowledge

What impact has Milton had on Spring Training, recreation & Little League fields

All-American Women’s Classic in Durham, NC – top female athletes 

Looking forward to seeing more opportunities for women in baseball 

Jean Fruth – capturing moments in the game See Her, Be Her - Documentary to run between Game 2 & Game 3 of World Series

World Series ex-Rays who are in the postseason, Brent Honeywell, Phil Maton, Alex Cobb, etc, etc 

Kevin Kiermaier with the Dodgers, Tommy Pham with the Mets, Kyle Manzardo with the Guardians, Jake Cronenworth with the Padres

Big dollars have built some of the final teams in the postseason

Most fans want to see the Dodgers in the World Series 

Outside of Guardians it looks like big spenders will be the only ones at the World Series table

AAGPBL – used to rebuild teams each season to balance out talent between teams

MLB rule changes have been at the benefit of the larger teams – penalties for overspending has been minimal.

Team ownership of Green Bay Packers & Atlanta Braves allows individuals to buy into the team. Not just one sole ownership of the team

The Public Trust of newspapers historically, and good objective reporting

News is supposed to be based in fact – has news been vetted by enough sources – looking beyond the self-contained glass bubble

Today several “news” operations have been purchased by owners with a political interest and use these as a tool to promote their view of the world. “Experts” are not always experts.

Many sports news outlets do not have someone covering the Rays. 

Sources of information should be thought-provoking. . Reading the paper makes us more educated and involved

Basic Journalism methods – do your homework and have more than one verifiable source for good news reporting.

GroundNews Network App a great source for identifying news sources, political leanings, accuracy 

Arizona Field League (AFL)  which is managed by MLB – 6 teams in the league, each AFL team has a roster from a combined 5 MLB affiliated teams. Rosters are mostly strong prospects 

The AFL team, Mesa Solar Sox, has a roster from 5 teams Chicago Cubs, Oakland A’s, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Rays

2 young players in Rays system in the AFL:
Xavier Isaac easy strength will hit a lot of Home Runsan eye on Tre Morgan 

Australian Baseball League (ABL) not affiliated with MLB  –  Rays sent to the Perth Heat team include: Jhon Diaz, Carlos Colmenarez, Angel Luis Mateo,  Enderson Delgado

 You can find Mat on Twitter x.com @Mat_Germain_   

Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music “Roc

Get Ready for the Third Annual All-American Women’s Baseball Classic 

Blackout Baseball to watch with MLB.tv & Bally subscriptions
How to not successfully market baseball

Once 35 million viewers for each game of the World Series. Now down to 9 million viewers per game. Why are the fans leaving and where are they going

Diamond Bankruptcy– Bally Sports & Amazon Prime Monday Night Baseball

How many services do you need or can afford to watch baseball or football? Apple, DAZN, ESPN, Peacock, Amazon

Cord-cutters from the days of strikes left the game never to return

MLB.tv package had include Playoff games but now expects fans to pay more after watching for the entire regular season

What if MLB solely managed all broadcasts and could offer fans

“Watching” MLB postseason Wild Card game through play by play on the phone

Brockmeyer universe enters into MLB future?

Savannah Bananas baseball

Baseball is a Romantic sport – Take me out to the ballgame, family event at the ballpark

Need more events like the “Field of Dreams” games that MLB has developed

Fans should consider spending their time with Minor League team games, Little League, Recreation League and American League games

Helene’s impact – on families, homes, rebuilding, insurance – may also change the landscape of teams and their fields.

Mat – prior to Helene, Water levels had gone up 6 inches since 1991 – On top of that storm surges

All-American Women’s Baseball Tournament.
 Olympic level talent playing with 4 teams – it could become a new League of their own Donate or Buy Tickets #ALOTO 
#RockfordPeaches, IWBC, #KenoshaComets, #FortWayneDasies @AAGPBL

Orioles season has come to a close – Gunnar Henderson last strike out of 2024 in 2nd Wild Card game.

O’s traded a lot of top talent this year, but also picked up Zach Eflin &others

Orioles fans expected more. We had high hopes for them a

Miami Marlins clears the decks on all coaches after Schumacher’s departure.

What were Marlins going to do after departures of Derek Jeter & Kim Ng?

Peter Bendix putting his stamp on the the Marlins

Yankee-isms, My Way or the Highway past philosophy?

Reflect on 2018 when Rays Way changed everything and similarities with Marlins

Skip Schumacher should be picked up by Montreal Blue Jays or the Rockies

Mariners – still have never made it to the World Series

Mariner Factors: Injuries, Travel Schedule, Cry Poor, Jerry DiPoto

Mat is ready to bring Ichiro in as a Manager for the Mariners

AL Post Season Series – Yankees & Royals face-off

Pete Rose – Mat got to see him in Montreal at the end of Pete’s career

ROY – 1963, played 16 years with the Reds, MVP & World Series, Amazing BA, Gold Glover, Big Red Machine. He could have retired at 37 years old. Played 24 years in baseball. Finished career with a .303 average

Pete’s Heart & Soul – played over 200 more games than any other player in history

Ongoing media on Pete’s gambling overwhelms what he achieved as a player

Johnny Bench – Pete’s apology

Age 37 to 42 Pete lowered his strike out percentage 

Let’s build a Pete Rose museum across from Cooperstown

Australian Baseball League starting soon

Dodgers/Yankees World Series?

Watching highlights of the postseason games as we cannot afford to buy one more service to watch baseball.

All-American Women's Baseball Classic
Donate at https://bit.ly/3G4lcPY   

Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music “Rocking Forw