BaseballBiz On Deck – Details, episodes & analysis

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 

• Philip Wrigley, Cubs executive, begins a Women’s Softball League. 
• Wrigley would be 1 of 3 executives, including Branch Rickey, to launch the AAGPBL
• Joe Boland, South Bend Tribune Sports Editor & AAGPBL legendary pitcher Jean Faut
• Arthur Meyerhoff invites Merrie to dig through the basement files & letters in the Wrigley Building for her research.
• Merrie completes AAGPBL thesis after 4 years of research in 1976
• June “Lefty” Peppas – 1st base & pitcher for the Kalamazoo Lassies asks to print & circulate Merrie Fidler’s thesis amongst other AAGPBL players
• Peppas prepares the first national AAGBPL reunion in Chicago, July 1982. Reunions begin to spread across the U.S.
• Petition Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame to have AAGBPL – Fall of 1988 HOF launches AAGBPL
• Documentary of league –  Kelly Candaele & Kim Wilson  “A League of Their Own” PBS documentary 
• Penny Marshall, Yankees fan, directs a “A League Of Their Own” movie – highest grossing baseball movie in history.
• Movie inspires many - Little League allowing young girls to play baseball
• Former AAGPBL Sue Zipay, is starting a new League of Their Own with tournament in Sarasota, Nov. 17th – 19th
• Fall 1942, US War Department notifies major league baseball owners that in 1943 there may not be a baseball season due to man power needed for the war. 
• Wrigley responds to War Dept news & creates the AAGPBL
• League moves to overhand pitching in 1948 
• Tampa Baseball Museum 
• Shu-Shu Wirth – Ybor native makes it to the AAGPBL – South Bend Blue Sox
• Shu-Shu bridged the language gap between Cuban players & AAGBPL Managers
• Players for teams were selected at a league level prior to each season
• Loaning players to other teams
• Dodgers Spring Training in 1947 moves to Havana Cuba as they brought Jackie Robinson onto the team
• Branch Rickey was one of 3 trustees to begin the AAGBPL and set it up as a non-profit league
• Cuban promoter had developed girls teams in Havana
• AAGBPL were drawing 15,000+ crowds for their Havana games
• Shortstop Shu-Shu Wirth spoke Spanish & helped communicate with players & coaches
• Exhibition games a good tool for scouting & recruiting new players on the road. 
• Ruth Davis, bat girl for the Blue Sox, shares impact of AAGPBL on how the women in the league broadened her horizons for careers as she watched players succeed off-field.
• Merrie’s visit to Cooperstown and the AAGPBL Reunion in Syracuse, New York
• Post League many players continued as athletes in other professional sports including tennis,  golf & professional bowling. 
• Jean Faut became a successful professional bowler

Merrie’s book
  “The Origins & History of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League”
 
 All-American Women’s Baseball Classic in Sarasota - November 17 – 19, 2023
https://americangirlsbaseball.org/all-american-womans-baseball-classic/ 

Past Tournament Video Highlights
BaseballBiz On Deck is at www.baseballbizondeck.com & on iheartradio, Apple & Google podcasts
Twitter: @TheBaseballBiz
Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music "Rocking Forward" 

@Mat_Germain_ joins the show and shares his insights into the Rays

• Wild Card Game 1 is here.
• Tampa Bay Rays face the Cleveland Guardians 
• Have the Rays suffered with their last 9 games on the road
• Kevin Cash v Terry (Tito) Francona - Friends, Rivals & Pranksters
• Yandy Diaz pivotal to Rays success
• Friendship on the field Wander Franco 
• Shane McClanahan v Shane Bieber
• Pedro Martinez assessment of McClanahan
• Tyler Glasnow for game 2 who will be relievers
• Jeffrey Springs & Drew Rasmussen could  be on the mound if there is a Game 3
• Taylor Walls brings it on for Defense how will his Offense fare
• Rays Minor Leagues successes - breeding new talent
• Why did we not see Taj Bradley make it to the big league
• Where will you watch the PostSeason games
• I'm Free Jerry 

Mat Germain can be found on Twitter @Mat_Germain
BaseballBiz can be found on iheartradio, Stitcher, Apple, Spotify & Google podcasts &
@TheBaseballBiz on Twitter 
Please like, subscribe and remark. Let us know your thoughts about the show.
Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music "Rocking Forward"

• MLB Wild Card Schedule
• Tommy & Jimmy cable cord cutter workaround - do not try at home
• Atlanta Braves clinch NL East Division
• How to break a  101 / 61 win/loss tie between 2 teams
• Jesus Luzardo was happy to play the role of Spoiler to the Braves if just for one day
• King or no King, Aaron Judge rules with HR #62
• Stop playing in the rain - Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays & Colin Poche
• NL Wild Card - Padres @ Mets  plus Phillies @ Cardinals
• How will you watch the games
• Breakdown of channels/stations that will be carrying the games, ESPN & ABC
• What is your choice Cable, Stream or Corner Bar

MLB PostSeason Prep part 1

• Seattle Mariners - Scott Servais shares his postseason joy
• American League & National League updates
• New York Yankees AL East Division Champions
• Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Wild Card
• Cleveland Guardians, AL Central Champions
• Chicago White Sox came up short as Tony LaRussa leaves
• Astros AL West Champions
• Seattle’s Cal Raleigh delivers a Walk-Off Home Run to clinch a Wild Card position
• Young Mariners fan delivers (free of charge) Cal the gift of his game winning ball 
• Braves & Mets final games toward the NL East Championship
• LA Dodgers NL West Champions 110 wins
• St Louis Cardinals, NL Central Division 
• Charlie Morton re-signed for 2023 with $20 million dollar 1 year contract
• A brief history of Charlie Morton and his impact on the game
• Travis d’Arnaud & Charlie make a great team
• Rob Thompson turns things around for the Phillies
• Bryce Harper injured 
• Summary for Tuesday October 4th on postseason teams
• Cardinals will be there as NL Central
• San Diego Padres will be in the postseason

BaseballBiz is also on iheartradio, Stitcher, Apple, Spotify & Google podcasts &
@TheBaseballBiz on Twitter 
Please like, subscribe and remark. Let us know your thoughts about the show.
Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music "Rocking Forward"

Aaron Judge rules with 60th Home Run of the Season

Maris record at his fingertips

Pirates the game they almost won

Yankees Magic happened as some fans left the stand

Bottom of the 9th and down by 4 runs - what do you do  a HR & an Ultimate Grand Slams

We walk through the bottom of the 9th

Giancarlo Stanton delivers the Ultimate Grand Slam

Michael Kessler the Ultimate Fan who caught Judge’s 60th Home Run

What would you do if you caught the ball

AL East Standings

American League Wild Card Standings
Seattle, Toronto & Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Rays swept at home in a 3 game series

Tampa Baseball Museum in Ybor showcases local talent – Lance McCullers Jr, Kyle Tucker, Pete Alonso & Al Lopez

Will the fate of Freddie Freeman be the model for Judge’s post season decisions

Chipper Jones foresaw Freddie’s future

Wes Singletary, baseball author, will be at Tampa Baseball Museum for book signing this Saturday

BaseballBiz is also on iheartradio, Stitcher, Apple, Spotify & Google podcasts &
@TheBaseballBiz on Twitter 
Please like, subscribe and remark. Let us know your thoughts about the show.
Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music "Rocking Forward"

@Mat_Germain_  shares his insights into the Tampa Bay Rays organization 

• Rays win the 3 game Yankees series at Home 
• Real problem with Game 3 was Ji-man Choi in the #2 spot of the lineup
• Yandy Diaz let final call of the game to the umpire on 3 – 2 count
• David Peralta or Jonathan Aranda should have been moved up in the lineup
• Kevin Cash is loyal to his players to a fault
• Watching the Montgomery Biscuits
• Mat’s analysis with 3-D pitching models 
• Tracking command with Corey Kluber
• Aggressively Attacking the Zone
• Stretching Corey as Rays head to the playoffs
• Kluber incognito on the bench extended to 7th 
• Mat’s process in evaluating Tampa Bay Rays minor league players & teams
• Tracking players through the levels of the minor leagues
• Outfielders – competitive positions – Miles Mastrobuoni, Grant Witherspoon
• Infield Glut  -  Vidal Brujan & Xavier Edwards may be playing in the Outfield
• Taylor Walls – elite defender at SS or 2nd
• Will Rays trade Brandon Lowe in off season
• Josh Lowe may be keeping an eye on Jose Siri
• Wander Franco is warming up now with the Durham Bulls, 
• Will Tyler Glasnow & Yonny Chirinos be back by playoffs
• MLB potential changes – number of pitchers on team rosters
• Umpires not giving the right calls & extending the pitch count 
• RoboUmps & Pitch clock are on the horizon
• MLB takes over MiLB Operations in Vero Beach 
• Double the camera angles to reduce human error on calls in baseball
• Orioles continue to fly higher this season
• Twins, Guardians & White Sox what is happening, AL Central banner  “Nobody wants it.”
• Great Fans of the game – love your team – love the game – respect the competition
• How Rays move pitchers like Taj Bradley & Shane Baz through the Rays minor league farm system
• Rays have the extra boost and momentum to close the gap with the Yankees

Special Thanks to Mat Germain  @Mat_Germain­_ on Twitter for his insights, analysis and news on the Tampa Bay Rays

BaseballBiz is also on iheartradio, Stitcher, Apple, Spotify & Google podcasts &
@TheBaseballBiz on Twitter 
Please like, subscribe and remark. Let us know your thoughts about the show.
Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music "Rocking Forward"

Tim Neverett, Author of Covid Curveball & Los Angeles Dodgers Play-By-Play Radio & TV announcer. Tim takes us through his journey of the 2020 MLB Covid Season with the  World Series Champions.

• Covid first shut down in the middle of the PAC 12 Basketball Tournament
•  So many unknowns in the beginning
•  A couple of months in hibernation
• Rick Monday takes up camp in a RV @ Dodger Stadium parking lot
• Getting back to normal
• Orel Hershieser & Tim calling the games in the booth without fans
• Calling Away games with the lights off @ Dodger Stadium
• Coyotes in the parking lot
• Stadium protocols Temperatures taken & Covid testing
• Tracking the ball on the all-9 monitor system
• Funky Arizona Center Field with the Yellow Line of demarcation
• Nothing happens until you say it does in radio
• Relieved to be back on the road in 2022
• Dodgers Announcers but feels free to remark on poor play
• Testing positive in the middle of a double header
• Dodgers director of travel one of the best in the business
• Joe Kelly and his Red Sox history with the Astros
• Joe Kelly Fight Club stickers everywhere
• Alex Cora conversation with Tim about knowing what the Astros do
• Talking Trash
• Dusty Baker the great ambassador for baseball
• Carlos Correa did not get a warm welcome @ Dodgers Stadium
• Tim worked a couple of games for the Astros last year
• Mookie Betts is a positive leader for the team
• “Don’t Run on Mookie” 
• Dave Roberts & Game 5 with Clayton Kershaw
• World Series Game 6 – Kevin Cash pulling Blake Snell turned the tide
• Justin Turner removed from Game 6 due to Covid. 
• How would Turner’s Covid status impacted Game 7 taken place if Rays won Game 6?
• 2022 MLB NLCS title?
• Looks like Dodgers will skip Wild Card series
• Expectations are high for 2022
• Reggie (Tim’s dog) makes every day better 
• Orel Hershiser builds a bridge between 1988 to 2020 Dodgers World Series in the Forward to the book

Special Thanks to Tim Neverett, Author of "Covid Curveball" Tim can be found @TimNeverett on Twitter and you can hear him call play by play on  Los Angeles Dodgers Play-By-Play Radio & TV

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"

• Blue Jays & Canadian Baseball History 
• Are the Yankees running out of ink to write their story?
• Injuries that have hurt Giancarlo Stanton, DJ LeMahieu, Matt Carpenter
• Yankees needed to keep Jordan Montgomery to defeat the Blue Jays
• George Springer goes 5 for 5
• Blue Jays score 28 runs record setting in Boston
• Jays shutout Yankees at Home with Kevin Gausman
• Mitch White from Dodgers now on the mound for Toronto
• Jackie Bradley Junior will he make a positive difference
• Aaron hicks get to watch Whit Merrifield and his bouncing ball
• Mysterious firing of Charlie Montoyo - what happened – Ask Ross Atkins
• Players – Sunglasses needed &  a hole in Vladdy’s glove
• John Schneider elevated from minors to Blue Jays bench coach to manager 
• Charlie Montoyo is a nice guy
• There’s no place like home – where was home
• Covid NY – Patrick O’Neill
• Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team later moved to Louisville, KY
• Babe Ruth, Sparky & Jack Hankook alums for the Maple Leafs
• Roy Halladay featured
• 8 year anniversary of the Cardy Show coming up
• Brent Cardy is on twitter @CardyShowItUp

Special Thanks to Brent Cardy of "The Cardy Show" podcast he can be found @TheCardyShow on Twitter and on most popular podcast directories

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"