Games 6 & 7 in Canada

• Historic Game 3 clocked in at 6 hours and 39 minutes - 18 innings
• 19 pitchers used between both teams
• catcher taking the mound.
• Just hours after that exhausting game, Shohei Ohtani took the mound again in game 4 — still serving as DH — 

“If you told anyone 15 years ago that a player would pull that off, no one would believe you.”

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s clutch two-run homer off Ohtani flipped the series energy. - Mat calls Guerrero’s home run potentially “one of the top three or four in Blue Jays history” if they go on to win the Series.
• Bo Bichette continued to shine, proving the Jays’ depth and resilience.
• Their goal met: Bring the series back to Canada.
• With Springer out, Bichette moved to DH and Kiner-Falefa and Lucas filled in key roles — making the Jays more athletic.
• Chris Bassitt impressed in a bullpen role, 
• Ty France’s strong pinch-hit appearance gives Toronto another potent bat.

Game 5:

• Trey Yesavage vs. Blake Snell 
• Expect Gausman for the Jays and Yamamoto for the Dodgers Game 6.
• It’s a Rays reunion across the postseason — from Glasnow to Banda to Snell. Mark & Mat reminisce about seeing former Rays make waves in other uniforms.
• Bo Bichette’s confusing pickoff after a late ball call left everyone scratching their heads.
• Pitcher Steve Varland’s triple balk sequence had Mark doing double-takes before realizing it was a deliberate move to keep Max Muncy off second.

Human Side of the Game - Mat highlights the pure emotion of players realizing lifelong dreams:
“The way the Jays look around in awe — it’s that ‘pinch me’ feeling. That’s the human side of baseball I love.”

Managerial Moves & Rays Coaching Tree

• Derek Shelton lands with the Minnesota Twins after his time with the Pittsburg Pirates
• Rocco Baldelli rumored to join the Nationals.
• Craig Albernaz (ex-Rays minor leaguer & coach) hired to manage the Orioles — a move Mat calls “a brilliant under-the-radar snag.”
•  Rays’ remarkable impact across MLB dugouts.
• Skip Schumaker to the Rangers
• Tampa Bay’s offseason outlook — suggesting players like Brendan Donovan as ideal fits for the Rays’ flexible lineup
• Potential trade partners, including the Cardinals under new exec Chaim Bloom, and explains how Rays’ options on Pete Fairbanks and Brandon Lowe could shape roster moves
• President Ronald Reagan’s special message: “Baseball Diaper Diamond” clip
  https://www.facebook.com/reel/765496489237266
  Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute
• Rays trade targets: Donovan, Fairbanks, Lowe, Wallner, O’Hearn
• Chaim Bloom’s Cardinals blueprint
• Anticipating the WPBL draft and first season
• Will World Series trophy & team have a warm presidential welcome
• Predictions for remainder of the World Series
• Mark’s personal health update, Thanks for prayers + message on healthcare access
• Call to federal government officials to extend ACA subsidies & to encourage maintaining SNAP benefits for those in need
• Healthcare for profit is obscene

 Find Mat at @matgermain.bsky.social or reach Mark @  baseballbizondeck@gmail.com BaseballBiz on Deck, @ iHeart Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, & at www.baseballbizOnDeck.com 
Special Thanks to XTaKe-R-U-X