Celebrating the Tampa Bay Rays at a Birthday party + the Women's National Tournament

Mark's Birthday Surprise at the Ballpark Mark celebrates a milestone birthday with a surprise family reunion organized by his wife Karen. The whole family attended a Tampa Bay Rays vs. Miami Marlins game at LoanDepot Park (Marlins Park), where Mark got a "Grand Slam" scoreboard shoutout, a birthday button, and a slice of chocolate cake delivered to his seat  behind the dugout. Special thanks to Lou Schiff for his help with this nightTampa Bay Rays RecapThe Rays are 5-5 in their last 10 games but have swept all AL East opponents.Drew Rasmussen delivered back-to-back dominant starts: 9 Ks in 7 innings (87 pitches) vs. the Marlins, followed by 13 Ks in 7 innings (97 pitches) vs. the Red Sox  - 22 strikeouts over two games.The Rays beat Boston 7 - 5, overcoming a shaky eighth inning.Yandy Díaz is on fire in June: .444 AVG, .475 OBP, 1.058 OPS -  the hosts discuss Yandy’s impact on younger hitters like Junior CamineroAaron Judge's injury opens a window for the Rays to take the AL East division crown outright, potentially reducing playoff risk.Mat breaks down how the Yankees' and Blue Jays' health issues shift the competitive landscape.Mike Trout's FutureWill Trout pull a "Ray Bourque" & join a contender to chase a World Series ring?Mat predicts he lands with the Dodgers; Mark dreams of Trout joining Randy Arozarena and Julio Rodríguez on the Seattle Mariners.Softball's "River" Rule Mark shares a curiosity from John Boy Media's YouTube channel: a women's softball rule where a batter crowding the plate in a certain zone (the "river") is NOT awarded first base after being hit by a pitch.Ken Babby & the Rays in the Community Mark attended an Embarc Tampa quarterly leadership meeting featuring Rays CEO Ken Babby. Highlights include Babby's background at The Washington Post's digital division (working alongside Steve Jobs on iPad rollout), his ownership of the Akron RubberDucks and Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, and his commitment to diversity - the Jumbo Shrimp were the only minor league team with a black general manager. That GM is now joining the Rays organization. The team also has upcoming community events including an Evan Longoria tribute night and a Juneteenth celebration.Sports, Community & Belonging Mat reflects on how championship runs — like the Blue Jays' World Series wins and the Montreal Canadiens' recent playoff run — unite cities across all cultures and backgrounds. The hosts discuss the undervalued economic and social impact of sports franchises on their communities.Women's Baseball in the SpotlightThe hosts preview a busy summer for women's baseball in Illinois.Women's Baseball World Cup Group Stage — Coming to Rivet Stadium in Rockford, IL (capacity ~4,000). Six teams, three games per day, USA plays the night game. Finals are set for 2027, also in Rockford.All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) reunion events.Baseball For All (founded by Dr. Justine Siegel) — grassroots tournaments and camps that have become pipelines to the Women's Pro Baseball League.Women's Pro Baseball League — launching in August in Springfield, IL.Guest interview with Ryan Woodward of the International Women's Baseball Center, discussing the Women's Baseball Heritage Trail (historic stops across the US and Canada) and the World Cup group stage.Tampa-Area Baseball ShoutoutsSt. Leo University wins the NCAA Division II Softball Championship.University of Tampa Spartans win the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship — a three-peat! Mark gives a special tribute to the late Tony Saladino, whose grandson Nico Saladino played on the previous UT championship team.Remember to like and subscribe to BaseballBiz On Deck. You may also find BaseballBiz on Deck, on YouTube at iHeart Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and at baseball biz on deck dot com. Also you can find Mat @matgermain.bsky.social  or Mark at [email protected] and BaseballBiz On Deck with Facebook social