Barry Bloom

Phoenix

Senior writer, Sportico. Forbes, MLB, Bloomberg, San Diego U-T. 2014, ‘17, ‘18, ‘19, ‘20, '23, '24, SD Press Club Award. Prez, SABR AZ, MLB HOF voter since '92.

Articles

Brewers Making the Most They Can Out of Low Player Payroll

1 week ago | sportico.com | Barry Bloom

PHOENIX — Considering the star-crossed history of the Milwaukee Brewers, it would figure their season would start with the Torpedo Bat controversy at Yankee Stadium. “It’s a non-story,” Christian Yelich said Saturday at Chase Field before his Brewers blew a four-run ninth inning lead to the Arizona Diamondbacks and lost, 5-4.
High-Priced Suns Need Massive Changes After Missing Playoffs

1 week ago | sportico.com | Barry Bloom

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns sealed the fate of their miserable 2024-25 season with lopsided home losses to Golden State and Oklahoma City this week, eliminating them from playoff contention with two games left to play. Despite Spotrac ranking the Suns at No. 1 in the NBA with a season-ending payroll and tax bill of a whopping $366.6 million, they failed to even qualify for the play-in round in the Western Conference.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s $500M Extension Widens AL East Resource Gap

2 weeks ago | sportico.com | Barry Bloom

PHOENIX — When a player agrees to a 14-year, $500 million extension, as Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reportedly did Sunday night, the signing has a ripple effect. The American League East, almost always led in spending by the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, now has another club knocking at the vault door.
A’s, Rays Forced to Make Do With Less in Minor League Ballparks

3 weeks ago | sportico.com | Barry Bloom

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Two of baseball’s lowest revenue teams, the former Oakland Athletics and teetering Tampa Bay Rays, opened their season this past week in what amounts to minor league ballparks. It’s an unprecedented predicament for Major League Baseball.
Torpedo Bats Trend Blows Up as MLB Hitters Dig In

3 weeks ago | sportico.com | Barry Bloom

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The torpedo bats, which have taken the baseball world by storm at the start of this season, are not anything new. Giancarlo Stanton, for example, used them in the playoffs when he cracked seven homers during the New York Yankees’ run to the World Series last season. “I’m a little curious how it took you guys so long to figure out we’re using it,” Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday at Sutter Health Park, pointing his finger directly at the media.
Athletics' New Era at Sutter Health Park Begins With Minor-League Feel

3 weeks ago | sportico.com | Barry Bloom

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Major League Baseball arrived at the California state capital area Monday night, and everyone was on their best behavior trying to deal with a less-than-ideal situation for the Athletics. No matter how much money is put into Sutter Health Park, where the A’s will call home for the next three seasons before heading to Las Vegas, you can’t ignore the fact that it’s still a minor league facility.
Badly Damaged Tropicana Field a Reminder of Rays’ Predicament

3 weeks ago | sportico.com | Barry Bloom

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It’s no secret Tropicana Field is in a state of steep disrepair. But a long, slow walk Saturday morning around the perimeter of the 35-year-old stadium–now without a roof–revealed just how extensive those problems are. Even the sign high above the ground identifying the ballpark and its location is missing letters, “St. ——burg, Florida. Some of the framing is also gone, as well as the green shell over the letter “a” in Tropicana.
Badly Damaged Tropicana Field a Reminder of Rays’ Predicament

3 weeks ago | sports.yahoo.com | Barry Bloom

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It’s no secret Tropicana Field is in a state of steep disrepair. But a long, slow walk Saturday morning around the perimeter of the 35-year-old stadium–now without a roof–revealed just how extensive those problems are. AdvertisementEven the sign high above the ground identifying the ballpark and its location is missing letters, “St. ——burg, Florida. Some of the framing is also gone, as well as the green shell over the letter “a” in Tropicana.
Rays Try to Make Steinbrenner Field Their Own As Troubles Persist

3 weeks ago | sportico.com | Barry Bloom

TAMPA, Fla. — The first thing fans noticed coming into Steinbrenner Field on Friday was a sign on the outside of the left center-field scoreboard with Tampa Bay Rays branding and a message thanking the New York Yankees. Earlier Friday, Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg looked like a listing relic during a quick drive by with its skeletal roof and abandoned warehouse feel, destroyed last October by the ravages of Hurricane Milton.
Rays, A's Move to Minor League Parks Highlights Start of MLB Season

4 weeks ago | sportico.com | Barry Bloom

TAMPA – Major League Baseball opens the regular season far and wide on Thursday, but the focus is not on the Dodgers facing Detroit in Los Angeles or the Yankees hosting Milwaukee in New York. From a baseball standpoint, the fate of last year’s heralded World Series opponents should be front and center. The Dodgers defeated the Yankees in five games. Instead, all eyes are on Tampa and West Sacramento, where the Rays and Athletics are playing in minor-league parks for much different reasons.

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Barry M. Bloom @Boomskie

9 Apr 25

Nets were pretty bad. Common thread? KD!

Hoop Central @TheHoopCentral

True or False — The Phoenix Suns are the worst “Superteam” in NBA History. https://t.co/lqdpKQpbzz

Barry M. Bloom @Boomskie

9 Apr 25

Houston, Miami should be very interesting.

World Baseball Classic @WBCBaseball

Here are your finalized pools and schedule for the 2026 #WorldBaseballClassic. The Championship Game will be played March 17, 2026 at loanDepot Park in Miami. Full ticketing information for the 2026 tournament is available at https://t.co/h4Fi0dLx07. https://t.co/t8q8Nopf4k

Barry M. Bloom @Boomskie

9 Apr 25

All good questions. A shonda as we say in Yiddish.

Damon Amendolara @DamonAmendo

Empty seats (again). Makeshift media sheds. Amateur everything. Why did Manfred and the MLB owners rush the A's to Sacramento... and not even ask for a relocation fee? This whole thing stinks (again). https://t.co/tAWshDDyt1