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
• Realize that a player may not make it to the majors
• 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
• Hopscotching from multiple travel teams impact
• 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.

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,

• Tampa Jay experience at George Steinbrenner Field & $16 beer - https://bit.ly/3FJ2Zud
• Dodgers Mookie Betts extreme weight loss
• Joe Maddon & Rick Vaughn Event at Tampa Baseball Museum - https://bit.ly/4iUXeYK
• Could Players from Venezuela, Cuba & other countries be blocked from returning to US to play baseball
• What happens if they go to Canada to play a Blue Jays game, will they be able to return to the USA
• Anthony Santander form Venezuela plays for the Toronto Blue Jays, would he be allowed to enter the United States
• Orioles have many players from Cuba & Venzuela – how might they be impacted
• Will MLB billionaire owners come to the rescue of these players
• 8.5% of players are from Cuba and Venezuela will they get paid or do they just get released?
• Luis Arráez & Santander examples
• How could travel bans impact individual teams & players
• Will international players seek to play in other nations baseball leagues (Japan & Korea)
• Al East – The Yankees what to expect – Loss Juan Soto, Gleyber Torres & Giancarlo Stanton
• Remember Mat Carpenter – can Paul Goldschmidt & Cody Bellinger reignite the Yankees lineup
• Injuries on Yankee rotation impact with loss of Gerritt Cole, Luis Gil & Clark Schmidt
• Opening Day with Carlos Rodón
• Orioles impact with Zach Eflin & Charlie Morton
• O’s loss of Gunnar Henderson
• Blue Jays – will their Venezuelan & Cuban players be impacted in travel
• Vladdy – Vladimer Guerrero Junior & the future of the Jays
• O’s lacking depth in AAA
• Blue Jays do not have the assets to trade for new & better players
• Tampa Bay Rays starting without Shane McClanahan
• When do Carson Williams & Chandler Simpson arrive
• Could Angels’ Mickey Moniak join Palacios & Caballero
• Rays were dead last in Centerfield when facing right handed pitchers
• Confidence in the Rays pitching from the pen
• George Steinbrenner Fieldimpact on the Rays - Rain outs &Excessive Heat
• Healthy Brandon Lowe could hit 40+ home runs this season playing in a Yankee Field-like home field
• Palacios & Rortvedt connections with Yankees Stadium
• Author & marketer, Rick Vaughn scoring the minor leagues during
• Joe Maddon & Rick will be at the Tampa Baseball Museum on April 21st - https://bit.ly/4iUXeYK
• Angels highlight Manager Ron Washington & Tim Anderson expectations

Special Thanks to the Nurses, Doctors & staff at South Florida Baptist Hospital
Follow Mat on Blue Sky at https://bsky.app/profile/matgermain.bsky.social

Also continue to serve and protect our veterans, health professionals, seniors, LEO's volunteers, federal employees and anyone who needs our daily support & prayers.

You can find Mark on Blue Sky at https://bsky.app/profile/baseballbizondeck.bsky.social
Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music “Rocking Forward

Ryan Woodward - Project Coordinator with The International Women's Baseball Center (IWBC)

IWBC sharing worldwide history of women in baseball

Past Events include Baseball For All Nationals tournament, SABR, USA Women’s National Team visits, Baseball Clinics, Guest speakers on women in baseball

Womens Baseball Heritage Trail map began in 2017

Planning a vacation trip use the map to locate interesting stops that spotlight women in baseball

Along the trail - discover museums roadside markers, historic ballparks, murals, libraries, gravesites, archives & more at https://www.wbht.org/

Ryan’s love of the preservation of history led him to create the Women In Baseball Week program to celebrate the stories of women in the game. - https://womeninbaseballweek.org/

Conversations with Dr. Leslie Heaphy on building lists on the historic locations sparked the beginning of the Trail to develop wbht.org

Florida northbound trip would find Mary Wisham Park, Rachel Robinson marker, Archives in Tallahassee

A League of Their Own, Movie & TV Series, #ALOTO - inspirations for Ryan. The movie was filmed near his home in Kentucky & Southern Indiana

In the early 90’s there were only a few books covering women in baseball gave Ryan the fire to learn & develop more resources for all to enjoy

Evolving technology & the internet gave Ryan the tools to begin building the Trails website. https://wbht.org/

Historic locations of trail include grave markers of past players as well as online archives are listed on the Trail

7 or 8 Trail sites in Kentucky

Toni Stone, an American Treasure & Hero has multiple listings on the trail

Nellie Twardzik Thompson – first girl to play varsity baseball in 1935 – ballpark named after her in Massachusetts

Twardzik inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame

Only 6% of monuments & statues are of women in the US

Recent statues erected for Toni Stoni, Mo'ne Davis, Mamie (Peanut) Johnson, Gertrude Dunn, celebrate women in baseball

See It, Be It, - See Her, Be Her - Mo'ne Davis – strength of character

Early inspiration in Kentucky was AAGPBL, Anna May Hutchison

Anna played from 44 through 49, mostly with Racine Belles. Hutchinson was an All-Star player in AAGPBL

As AAGPBL transitioned from underhand pitching to overhand pitching - Hutchinson developed unique side-armed pitching

Ryan worked to have Anna May Hutchinson inducted into the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame

Lois Youngens & Sue Zipay to of the AAGPBL veterans have places on the Trail

Shirley Burkovich, nicknamed “Hustle” - “stop talking about it, do it”

Ryan Burkovich , Shirley & Maybelle Blair & #ALOTO TV filming

The Shirley Burkovich “Hustle” awarded to USAWNT Baseball catcher, Beth Greenwood

Isla Borders, “Making My Pitch” broad reach and appeal

Barbara Gregorich's "Women at Play" has become a good friend

Tanith Harley - a great contributor in finding new places & information

Women in Baseball Graphic Novels

Martha Ackmann’s book on Toni Stone, "Curveball," is both upsetting & inspiring of a black woman playing baseball in the South

Kat Willaims new book on Maybelle Blair, All the Way: The Life of Baseball Trailblazer Maybelle Blair - https://bit.ly/4kUlGeC

Louisville SABR conference in August

Invitation to visit Rockford Illinois to discover home of Beyer Stadium, IWBC, Rockford Peaches

 Ryan Woodward's Womens Baseball Heritage Trail at wbht.org

You can find Mark on Blue Sky at https://bsky.app/profile/baseballbizondeck.bsky.social
Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music “Rocking Forward

• 2 beautiful countries USA & Canada
• Jackie Robinson & DEI
• Jeff Passan and the DoD
• Will Jackie Robinson Day be cancelled
• Will Jackie’s #42 be retired to accommodate DEI
• Will Babe Ruth
• DoD response to ESPN
• MLB Tokyo Series
• Beer & Fries a priority over the at bats with Marquee Sports during the series
• Hometown players appreciated
• Shohei Ohtani walked
• Spring Training Injuries – Jared Jones with Pirates
• Need more than a 5 man rotation
• Are owners okay with a 5 man rotation & pitcher injuries
• MLB CBA consideration lower pitchers path to arbitration to 3 years
• Current continuous turnover of pitchers on teams
• Craig Kimbrel path to a future HOF
• Kimbrel comparisons with Mariano Rivera & Billy Wagner
• Craig Kimbrel HOF’er fighting for a job
• Tigers & Pirates Spring Training – multiple former Yankees, Gleyber Torres, Tommy Kahnle
• The Tigers – the people’s choice added former Ray, Alex Cobb & Astros José Urquidy
• Will Javy Baez find his moxie?
• Spring Training coming to a close March 25th
• Opening Day March 27th
• Rays Prospects – Trey Morgan could he take on AAA.
• How will Yoniel Curet advance in Rays system this season?
• MLB building excitement for opening day – celebrations
• Shane McClanahan scheduled as starting pitcher for the Rays on Opening Day
• AL East winning projections for 2025 in descending order, Red Sox, Rays, Orioles, Yankees, Jays
• 2024 rough season for the Rays – returning much stronger in 2025
• We give credit to the Rays for taking care of their veteran players, Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe, Drew Rasmussen
• Electric talent with Chandler Simpson & Carson Williams
• Rays Prospect Spring Training Breakout game – Chandler Simpson is a speed demon
• Rays focus on the fundamentals of the game – much like many did in the 70’s & 80’s
• A well rounded team
• Toronto Blue Jays will they offer Vladdy Guerrero Jr 550 & 600 million contract
• Jays not conducive to a, a prolonged winning team
• Tampa Bay Rays playing in the Yankees Spring Training, George Steinbrenner Field
• Rays take the World Series in Steinbrenner Field – new permanent home for regular season.
• Hot Dogs & Gravy

Special Thanks to the Nurses, Doctors & staff at South Florida Baptist Hospital
Follow Mat on Blue Sky at https://bsky.app/profile/matgermain.bsky.social

You can find Mark on Blue Sky at https://bsky.app/profile/baseballbizondeck.bsky.social
Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music “Rocking Forward