Through The Fence Baseball

Winter meetings notebook; few results but meaningful communication

The recently concluded baseball winter meetings opened in relative silence and closed the same way. Except for titillating ...
Through The Fence Baseball

At the Winter Meetings; Is Dominic Keegan an answer?

The revolving door behind the plate for the Tampa Bay Rays continues to spin at a rather prodigious and staggering pace. Since Mike Zunino was the Rays’ everyday catcher from 2019 to 2022, the quest ...
Through The Fence Baseball

Winter meetings on the agenda; here’s what to expect

ORLANDO, Fla. - The annual excuse for baseball executives to party and play golf nears. That’s the annual winter meetings, and where it’s pretty much all talk and more socializing. This year, the ...
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Where have you gone, Rimp Lanier?

A story in Strike Two, the second book by former umpire Ron Luciano and David Fisher, piqued my interest. In it, another former umpire, John McSherry, told of his promotion to the major leagues. He ...
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Is there ‘life’ after Steinbrenner?

TAMPA, Fla. – Since the major league season began about a month and a half ago, attention and focus has been on the diamond. Rightfully so, and the impact players have on the game. Yet, lurking under ...
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Will Another Canadian City Take on an MLB Franchise?

There’s currently only one men’s professional basketball team from Canada that plays in the MLB (Major League Baseball) competition in the United States, the Toronto Blue Jays. The other team was the ...
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AL East preview – Can the Rays return to post-season play?

TAMPA, Fla. – After playing baseball in October for five straight years, the anguish and dismay from missing postseason play have quietly faded into the history books. That 2024 year of disappointment ...
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Which team has the strongest rotation?

Sep 12, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ryne Nelson (52) pitches during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe ...
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Where does Taj Bradley fit in the Tampa Bay Rays’ rotation?

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla – Beginning with remarks at the end of last season, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash told listeners the Rays’ 2025 starting rotation held great potential. Here’s a player with whom the ...
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With Jonny DeLuca in Center, Have the Rays addressed an important need?

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – During the recent off-season, Erik Neander, the Tampa Bay Rays’ president of baseball operation, held a critical need close to the vest. In his review of the 2024 season last ...
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For the Tampa Bay Rays, a new season with renewed optimism

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Here at the start of spring training, challenges tend to be minimized and issues less acute. As major league baseball teams open camp this week, “optimism” appears to be the ...