BaseballBiz On Deck

BaseballBiz takes a unique spin into the world of Collegiate Softball with FSU Softball Enthusiast Mary Kitts. Mary shares her insights into the 2022 NCAA Softball season

• Joanne Graf Invitational - The Tribe scored 35 runs in 4 games
• 2021 FSU had spirit fighting out of the loser’s bracket to be in the Finals in the World Series
• Oklahoma – Big Home Run hitters & FSU plays an effective small ball game
• FSU Pitchers returning including Danielle Watson
• 27 players on this year’s FSU team roster
• NCAA Extra Year of Eligibility for players who missed 
• Professional Softball League 
• Fierce nature and commitment of collegiate players. Softball players give it their all.
• Injuries – Kalie Mudge came back strong to lead the World Series in Hits
• What is a good batting average in softball?
• FSU stealing bases is definitely a strength
• Face Mask protection for players safety – 3rd base & pitchers adopting them
• 2022 NCAA Softball World Series contenders 
• UCF - Central Florida can be a contender
• Oklahoma and UCLA rivals
• Clearwater Invitational many of top 25 teams will be playing including FSU facing UCLA
• Where to watch the games – ESPNU, ESPN, ACC & SEC Networks
• 2021 Softball World Series 7 days straight play no days off. 4 hours sleep between games
• Top 25 NCAA Softball teams with 3 Florida teams
• Teams to Watch this year, Oklahoma, UCLA, Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma State, Michigan & Texas
• Lonni Alameda is one cool coach who delivers for FSU & Canadian Olympic team
• Limited Scholarships for Softball teams – Rosters have several volunteers
• No showers for the players, sometimes no team bathrooms, need better treatment of the players
• Softball audience and viewership is high NCAA seems to be lacking in support
• Oklahoma is the heart of Softball, The University and fans back them with Sooner Nation

• Pitchers & Catchers report to Spring Training – not happening today – mlbLockout
• Brandon left in the Drive way waiting for his ride to Spring Training
• Watching old Baseball Games videos
• MLB Umpires shine when compared with The Big Game of Football Officiating comp
• Face masks, Bengals, Rams and WTF.  Doesn’t the NFL have instant replay
• Getting ready to watch the Minor Leagues MiLB
•  Rob Manfred loves the Minor Leagues with a strong diet and contraction addressing
• inadequate facilities 
• travel
• poor pay 
• drafting players who don’t have a realistic shot to make it to the majors
• Loss of 42 minor league teams and impact on the games and fandom
• Lawsuits from minor league players and some of the 42 teams who were cut
• MLB spokesman states that Minor League players receive over $2,200 worth of value per week during Spring Training. Therefore, they should not be paid during spring training. 
• Should minor league players have to pay for Spring Training?
• They are learning life skills. 
• Even Burger King trainess get paid for learning to flip burgers and learn life skills         
• One Baseball plan slapped together like a student’s science project
• Garret Broshius lawyer for the Minor Leaguers speaks out
• Do minor league players need a union
• Players must have other jobs to have a livable income
• Housing for the Minor Leaguers – What is MLB doing to help and what do we believe
• Baseball boot camp living conditions
• MLB program to increase minor league players play during regular season
• Shorter bus travel between games for the players with realignment of teams
• Club House Dues no longer need to be paid by players
• Players no longer need to share a bed
• Host Families still around to give players a place to sleep
• PED’s penalties in the Minor Leagues – 14 players have been suspended for performance enhancement drugs. Let’s remember to forgive them later
• Boston Red Sox ticket sales down 20 to 30% from last year at this time
• White Sox lack of ticket sales is felt by the owners
• Ticket Scalping, Martial Arts, Fraud & Alcohol – Bruce Lee is sentenced for ticket scalping. Not the original Bruce Lee
• Could Ozark, Marty Bird have done better
• Special Thanks to our Health Care workers and military service people
• You can reach Mark @TheBaseballBiz on Twitter & Brandon @SportsBlitzPod
• No MLBPA Player images were used during the recording of this audio podcast.
• BaseballBiz is also on iheartradio, Stitcher, Apple & Google podcasts 
• Special Thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music Rocking Forward

MLB Commissioner, Rob Manfred holds press conference at quarterly Owners meeting in Orlando

• CBA discussions in February are like Ash Wednesday with solemn thoughts & a time of denial.
• RSN - Baseball Regional Sports Networks & Streaming, Bally,  YES networks
• MLB Owners working on Diversity - compared with NFL issues with Brian Flores &  Lovey Smith
• CBA current history & lockout dates
• MLB says it is important to get the game on the field ASAP
• Once again MLB holds their agreement to the DH as some big move
• Clubs will not move on MLBPA proposal with changes to comepetitive balance
• It would be like making Billionaires take a Pay Cut - Sympathy & Flowers please
• Status of Spring Training -  "No Change"
• Manfred is an Opening Day Optimist and believes that they will have an agreement to play their regular schedule
• Commissioner states - I see missing games as a disastrous outcome for this industry 
• What about those Tampa Bay Rays - can they sustain a team in current environment
• MLB thinks Tampa Bay region is a Major League Market
• Is owning a baseball team a good investment? - Take a look at the Atlanta Braves stock reports
• Steve Cohen, investment professional bought the Mets - something must look good
• Manfred not interested in social media
• Max Scherzer & Marcus Stroman share their thoughts
• NCAA CWS Softball Opening Day was February 10th 
• FSU & Oklahoma in the CWS World Series
• Minor League Baseball Opening Day scheduled for April 8
• MiLB AAA teams added 6 games to their season

You can reach Mark @TheBaseballBiz on Twitter & Brandon @SportsBlitzPod

No MLBPA Player images were used during the recording of this audio podcast.

BaseballBiz is also on iheartradio, Stitcher, Apple & Google podcasts 

Special Thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music Rocking Forward

Ground Hog Day – ESPN Jeff Passan peaks out to see his shadow and the baseball winter continues to extend 

• Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt & Bill Murray seek a better tomorrow. 
• Marvel’s Dr. Strange & Dormammu stuck in a time loop. - Time to Bargain
• Baseball fans stuck in Time Loop with MLB & MLBPA. 
• CBA – MLB & MLBPA - Points of Discussion Pool for Arbitration
• Minimum Wage increase
• Salary Floors and Penalties – Other leagues deploy but not MLB
• NBA model could be implemented.
• Earlier Free Agency
• Competitive Balance Tax
• Draft Lottery – setup to avoid Tanking
• Service Time Manipulation
• Ken Rosenthal remarks from The Athletic article
•  42 is The answer to  Life the Universe & Everything. Just ask Google Douglas Adams, author, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
• 42 – in Baseball Jackie Robinson
• 42 years of age when GOAT Tom Brady joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Brady was 199th pick in NFL draft came out hungry
• Tom Brady drafted in 18th round as a Catcher for the Montreal Expos
• Brady was the shot caller as a catcher and as a quarterback
• Will Brady pick up the glove again and join baseball again 
• Brandon’s advice – “Don’t Doubt Tom Brady”                                                 
• Chicago Cubs – moving Santos & Williams statues to build a sportsbook in front of Wrigley
• Sara Sanchez of Bleed Cubbie Blue shared Cub fans response – 80% negative
• 2018 MLB & MGM partnership begins
• Gambling in Sports – FanDuel, MGM, DraftKings & Caesar’s
• Nationals Sportsbook with BetMGM has just opened
• Wrigley Sportsbook will be partnered with DraftKings
• MLS Audi Stadium in Washington with Sportsbook, Caesars outside Chase Field w/Diamondbacks
•  Tampa Bay Times - List of stadiums with sportsbooks –
• When does gambling dollars give back to the community and the fans
• Can Gambling and Sportsbooks keep baseball relevant or is it just a bad idea? 
• No sight of a CBA before Super Bowl 
• Looking forward to April 5th Opening Day of Minor League Baseball, MiLB
• It’s Ground Hog Day all over again, and again, again, again
• “Dormammu, I've Come to Bargain”

BaseballBiz is also on iheartradio, Stitcher, Apple & Google podcasts 

You can reach Mark @TheBaseballBiz on Twitter & Brandon @SportsBlitzPod 
 
Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music "Rocking  Forward"

• David Ortiz awarded Hall of Fame on first ballot, winners & losers
• Roger Clemens speaks to fans
• Rules & history of HOF
• Marvin Miller the MLBPA & Hall of Fame
• Loveable Rob Manfred HOF Candidate?
• The Athletic polls Fans
• Next Field of Dream's proposed sites include Aircraft carriers
• Fromhold Field
• College World Series- Baseball
• Could you fit a ballfield in Vatican City?
• Game changers
• 15 second pitch clock
• Penalties for slow replay calls

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

Thursday the news was out. There will not be a Tampa Bay / Montreal  Sister City Baseball team. Stu Sternberg & Stephen Bronfman got the word from MLB    The Deal (i.e., wicked old witch) is Dead. I feel like a joyous munchkin 

• MLB says NO to Montreal deal RaysUp
• Stu’s lament
• Press conference 
• Bronfman
• Rob Manfred and MLB Executive Committee supported Sister City plan since 2 years ago
• More Fans in Trop Stands?
• How did Arlington build a new Rangers stadium
• What’s next?
• Does the CBA make a difference
• What is the role of local sports media
• Who has more viewership the Tampa Bay Rays or the Tampa Bay Lightning
• Mat Germain - “TV is where the money is”
• Was the Sister City idea a new one, ask Omaha, Kansas, Puerto Rico & Montreal
• Bronfman – proclaims it’s a bloody eulogy. We all got slapped in the face. The rest of us fans in Tampa are pleased as punch.
• How is that looking there Todd
  
  BaseballBiz is also on iheartradio, Stitcher, Spotify, Apple & Google podcasts 
  You can reach Mark @TheBaseballBiz on Twitter & Brandon @SportsBlitzPod 
  Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music "Rocking  Forward"
• Also Thanks to Tucker for his daily inspiration to us all. Woof - Woof.

The Honorable Louis Schiff discusses the 94 - 95 baseball strike & Justice Sotomayor's critical decision

• Sonia Sotomayor federal court decision - What happened?
• Team & Player Achievements stalled & never met
  • Montreal Expos
  • Matt Williams with 43 runs could have matched or exceeded Roger Maris record
  • Tony Gwynn - closing in on .400 BA but came up short with less games
• Lou's dual-fan status with Mets & Marlins
• MLB Rob Manfred 2021 Baseball Lockout
• Will MLBPA agree to Federal Mediator
•  What is Baseball missing? – Fans 
•  Late Night Games and loss of a younger audience 
• Will we have a 2022 season and what will it look like
• The Honorable Lou Schiff’s book on Baseball and The Law cases
• Honorable Lou Schiff  -  
  ·         Judge with the 17th Judicial Court of Florida located in Broward County 
  ·         Lou Teaches course “Law & the Business of Baseball”
  ·         Co-author of the book: Baseball and the Law: Cases and Materials, a law book 

BaseballBiz is also on iheartradio, Stitcher, Spotify, Apple & Google podcasts 
You can reach Mark @TheBaseballBiz on Twitter & Brandon @SportsBlitzPod 
Lou can be reached on Twitter at @BaseballandLaw
Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music "Rocking Forward"

Mat Germain joins Brandon and Mark at BaseballBiz to review the lockout, it’s impact on the Minor League season and a deeper dive into the Tampa Bay Rays future with a Montreal Sister Cities program

• MLB new proposal includes DH – Who cares?
• Hot Stove has been a No Stove
• Baseball Fans thirst for news and The Media has little to offer
  • Minor League Signings
  • International Signings
  • Retirements
• Loop the news cycle
• Tennessee Smokies
• Chris Mazza
• Jim Bowden’s analysis of MLB core economics offer
• Physical Therapy or Drug Test – which is most needed
• Yankees, Tampa Tarpons hire first MLB female manager, Rachel Balkovec 
• Tampa Bay business leaders give fans a big slap in the face with Sister City backing
• Who would you have as a new owner for the Rays, Vinik, Elon Musk, Mark Cuban or Tom Brady?
• Mark proposes a new Sister City plan between Tampa & St Pete
• The Rays 100 group – whatever happened 
• How would Rays broadcast rights develop with Quebec
• Moving our gear purchases from Rays to the “Pitching Ninja”

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

Brad Snyder, Professor of Law at Georgetown and Author of "A Well-Paid Slave" visits BaseballBiz and shares his story about Curt Flood and his legal battles to fight for player's rights for some control over their careers.

• Career of Curt Flood began with Reds in 1956
• First trade to St. Louis Cardinals 
• 7x Golden Glove player
• 6x MVP
• Curt Flood cerebral man, civil rights activist
• Oakland – diverse early days of his baseball journey
• Racism in Reds minor leagues 
• 1961 integrated spring training in St Petersburg
• Curt works with Jackie Robinson, Medgar Evans for Civil Rights in Mississippi
• Shotgun Threats against Curt and his family 
• Cincinnati All Black outfield would not stand and Curt was traded to Cardinals
• Philadelphia trade – black players faced a lot of racism
• Curt wanted to control his own path after playing 12 years 
• How would Social Media have allowed Curt to control the narrative look to LeBron James and how he has controlled his message through Social Media?
• Curt challenged the trade with the December 24 letter to Bowie Kuhn
• Cosell interview 
• Backing of MLBPA Players Representatives including Roberto Clemente & Reggie Jackson
• Marvin Miller would have selected different counsel for Curt
• The Reserve Clause – a reserve system of perpetual ownership of the sport. An illegal monopoly.
• Anti-Trust Exemption – 1922, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes gave baseball a pass
• 13th Amendment was part of the question
• 100 years later the decision stands “Stare Decisis” rely on past decisions even if they are wrong.
• Supreme Court wants to kick baseball problem back to Congress
• NCAA recent challenge in Supreme Court – One Justice sites Flood v Kuhn as ridiculous
• Justices’ Baseball Fandom gets in the way of justice for Flood
• Blackmun writes an ode to baseball in his Supreme Court opinion. 
• Judges want to show their fandom can get in the way of the law
• Curt Flood lost in Supreme Court
• Flood’s efforts opened doors for change and empowered players beginning with Grievance Arbitration
• Curt Flood 10 & 5 rule allows qualified players to veto any trade 
• Marvin Miller kept Curt Flood’s efforts top of mind reminding young players of how they enjoyed the fruits of his efforts
• Curt’s life rises later life with personal happiness with Judy Pace and recognition
• Ken Burns Baseball documentary with Curt Flood celebrated at the White House with President Clinton
• Gerrit Cole gave credit to Curt Flood as he signed his contract with the Yankees.
• Cole’s book report on Flood
• Curt led the way in fighting for a cause as seen with Pat Tillman, Colin Kaepernick,
• Jackie Robinson was the Guardian Angel for Curt Flood
• Today sports player like LeBron James have the empowerment to make 
• Floods exclusion in Hall of Fame
• Union needs to educate the players on their history
• Recognition with a Curt Flood Day
• Democratic Justice Book about the Supreme Court history and Justice Felix Frankfurter
• Don’t look to the Supreme Court to solve all of your problems

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

Brandon & Mark take a BaseballBiz look back at 2021 
Tommy & Jimmy return with their stories on Field of Dreams & Sticky Stuff

• Celebrating the New Year with our fans – top 10% of all podcast per Listen Notes
• People of Note 
  • Shohei Ohtani
  • Kim Ng
  • Rob Manfred
  • Joe West
• Bad Umpires – Conforto HBP – Braves botched call
  
  
• Glorious Guests – Sara Sanchez, Phil Terrano, Mike Murawski, Nat Gordon, Jeff Brown, Bobby Bass, Judge Louis Schiff, Mat Germain, Coach Cobb, Bruce Voge, John Vampatella,  Brent Cardy- The Cardy Show
  
  
• Blue Jays journey back to Toronto – Dunedin – Buffalo – Toronto 
  
  
• Sticky Stuff – (calendar Bubba Harkins to enforcement to injury – Max Scherzer & Sergio Romo strip tease – instructions)
  
  
• Field of Dreams – what was the importance & value of this event
  
  
• Turkeys of the Year with Goofy Gobbler   
  
  
• Rob Manfed Lockout
  
  
• Ken Rosenthal fired by MLB – role of MLB Network employees - spokespeople or shills for MLB – Ken is still a reporter for Athletic and ESPN
  
  
• Wrap – looked back – what we see looking forward – CBA  – New Year, New Me – Resolutions – New Shows

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