How To Beat A Bookie

Top prospects for Utah Mammoth

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 12:59:59 +0000

How acquired: Selected with No. 4 pick in 2025 NHL Draft

2025-26 season: Moncton (QMJHL): 45 GP, 22-56-78

Desnoyers (6-2, 178) sustained an apparent left leg injury while playing for Team Canada at the World Junior Summer Showcase on Aug. 1, leaving his chance to make the Mammoth roster during training camp in doubt. His health also was a concern entering last season, missing the start of it after having wrist surgery in mid-August 2025.

When healthy, the 19-year-old leans on his physicality without sacrificing skill. He’s averaged more than a point per game for Moncton of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League the past two seasons, with 162 points (57 goals, 105 assists) in 101 games, and he had six assists in seven games at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.

“My mentality is I’ll always aim for the highest thing,” Desnoyers said June 28. “The highest level I can play this year is the NHL, so I’ll focus and do everything I can this summer to achieve that. If not, we’ll see after that.”

Projected NHL arrival: This season

Source link

The post Top prospects for Utah Mammoth appeared first on How To Beat A Bookie.

Tampa City Council approves development deal, 4 to 3.

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:34:48 +0000

Tampa City Council voted four to three to approve a stadium development through which Tampa would commit $80 million toward building the infrastructure required for a new Rays stadium. The three no votes were Miranda, Hurtak and Maniscalco, who had also voted no in previous Council votes on the stadium.

There’s a lot in the new agreement, a lot that was discussed today, and perhaps even more that has not been addressed at all. I’m not going to try to provide a detailed, in the weeds analysis, but rather pull out some of the key issues that were raised by Council members and in public comments.

You know that feeling when your team plays a 12 inning night game and then your realize there is a noon game the next day? Well, tomorrow the County Commission — which is providing nearly ten times the funding as the City of Tampa — will meet on this agreement at 9am. This is a special meeting called to discuss the agreement and not a regular Commission meeting, so it’s likely that they will start on this topic very soon after they convene. You can stream the hearing here:

Source link

The post Tampa City Council approves development deal, 4 to 3. appeared first on How To Beat A Bookie.

Xavier Isaac promoted to Triple-A following swing change

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 15:19:41 +0000

When the Rays selected high school first baseman Xavier Isaac in the first round of the 2022 draft, there were many in the industry who scoffed as their pick. After all, a high school first baseman isn’t exactly the most alluring profile. Add to it that Isaac was a hefty 240 pounds during his senior year, and many scouts questioned whether he’d be able to have the athleticism needed to be a professional ballplayer.

Isaac quickly put those worries to rest as he transformed his body as a professional, and has actually turned what was originally graded as well below average speed into a solid tool and has shown an adeptness as a base stealer, swiping 46 bases with an 85% success rate thus far over his minor league career.

Meanwhile, the tools that made Isaac a first round pick were quickly made apparent as he launched one jaw dropping homerun after another. Since making his debut in 2022, Isaac has a .235 ISO which is in the 98th percentile of 689 hitters with at least 1400 PA over that time.

Now that long road of power and progression has now led him to a mid-season promotion to Triple-A.

On a personal note, I (Adam) attended a game in Asheville in June 2024. If you have never been to the Asheville Tourists home stadium, just note that it is a haven for left-hadnded hitters as the right field wall sits less than 300 feet from homeplate and only stands at 36 feet tall (Fenway Park’s Green Monster is 37 feet tall). However, that wall could have been 400 feet from homeplate, it wouldn’t have mattered on that Sunday afternoon. Isaac stood in against Carlos Calderon and took the first pitch for a ball.

It was a hot Sunday after noon in Appalachia. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Fans in attendance were chatting casually, half paying attention to the game while fanning themselves with whatever appliance could provide the most cool air.

Every head turned at the loud crack of the bat. To this day, it might be the loudest contact I have ever heard from a ball being hit. The ball easily cleared the high wall in straightaway center field and could still be heard sizziling as it finally made it’s descent into a forrested area and then an almost equally loud crack was made as the ball made contact with a tree. Unfortunately, data for the homerun isn’t publicly available but I estimate that ball traveled at least 450 feet, if not more.

It’s a cliche to say the ball sounds different when Isaac makes contact, but it is just the truth when it comes to the slugging first baseman.

That homerun was just one of 70 that Isaac has hit since being drafted by the Rays but it came during a pivotal season. Isaac was looking like a possible elite talent during the Summer of 2024 as he was demolshing pitchers in High-A. In July, the Rays rewarded a then 20-year Isaace with a promotion to Double-A and all of the red flags that Isaac had so easily cleared in the lower levels came roaring to the forefront.

Over 133 plate apperances in Double-A in 2024, Isaac hit .211/.346/.349 with a glaring 40.6 K% and a 55.9% contact rate on all of his swings. Throughout his minor league career up to his promotion to Double-A, Isaac just strike out more than your average hitter but his offensive output was well worth the price of a few more strikeouts than usual.

Isaac was sent to the Arizona Fall League following the season and again showcased his tremendous power but also his susceptibility to whiffing. There were some tweaks made that will be addressed later in this article and it led to a decrease in strikeouts for Isaac during his return to Double-A in 2025. However, Isaac would suffered a major medicial issue during the Summer and would ultimately undergo surgery to remove a brain tumor, effectively ending his season and potentially his career.

Isaac revealed in November that he had underwent brain surgery to remove the tumor earlier in the year and that he had fully recovered.

Xavier Isaac has been a relatively polarizing name on and off of prospect lists for the last few seasons not just for his defensive profile but due to a powerful but lengthy swing that comes with plenty of whiff. Nobody has ever doubted the power; it’s easy 70-grade pop from the left side with some scouts giving it an 80. But for several seasons, Isaac’s swing-and-miss is what has kept him from advancing past Double-A.

Isaac has tinkered with different set-ups in the box over the last few years and even within this season. Injuries and his health scare last season have kept him from finding enough time to develop the consistency to execute any of his changes at game-speed; however, this year — and especially in the last month — Isaac seems to have found something that works for him.

Isaac’s underlying data is telling us that he’s figured something out:

Month	PAs	Whiff%	wRC+
April	79	51.7%	169
May	100	43.8%	152
June	90	34.8%	62
July	76	42.6%	142
August	81	31.3%	185

We can see it took Isaac some time to get acclimated to game speed again in April after missing a large chunk of his 2025 season. May through July were an improvement period, but his 40% whiff rate across those three months doesn’t scream promotion.

Some of his improved whiff was the result of Isaac experimenting with abandoning his toe-tap and looking to make contact with two strikes rather than do damage.

Now, we’re in August and Isaac has found a way to cut his whiff without sacrificing his ability to do damage.

A low 30s whiff rate is unlikely to stay that way as he faces more advanced pitching in Triple-A, but even if it settles in around mid 30s and even high 30s in the majors, it will allow his power to play.

We can see the main difference in his swing from April compared to August is his how he’s more upright now.

This allows Isaac to use a smaller and more subtle load as he shifts his weight to his back leg before exploding forward. He’s still a big, strong guy, so this doesn’t sacrifice power in the same way it would for a smaller player.

While this is a minor change in terms of actual movement, it makes a meaningful difference. Fractions of a second matter when trying to put the barrel on the ball and this has helped him significantly improve his contact rate.

Swing-and-miss will likely always be a feature and not a bug with Isaac, but he’s now in a place where it’s a manageable amount of whiff that doesn’t come at the expense of his near-elite power.

I (Ben) expect Isaac to continue to find success in Triple-A Durham, where his goal will be to get acclimated against spin, major-league velocity, and better command than what he’s used to seeing in Montgomery for the last few years. I don’t think this will be much of a challenge for him given his solid plate skills and pitch recognition.

Isaac is comfortable taking his walks, and now he has a swing that will make pitchers want to walk him.

Source link

The post Xavier Isaac promoted to Triple-A following swing change appeared first on How To Beat A Bookie.

Top 12 RBs for 2026 in Fantasy Football | Dynasty Fantasy Football Podcast Ep. 892

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 15:09:07 +0000

2026 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings: Top 12 Debate

The top of the running back board looks loaded, but agreement disappears quickly once the Dynasty Nerds crew gets past the biggest names. Rich Dotson, Matt O’Hara, and Garret Price break down their top 12 running backs for 2026 and debate which stars have a real path to finishing as the overall RB1.

Listen to This Episode:

🎧 Apple Podcasts

🎙️ Spotify

▶️ YouTube

Who Can Actually Finish as RB1?

Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Christian McCaffrey headline the conversation, but the hosts believe De’Von Achane belongs firmly in the mix as well. His receiving usage and explosive ceiling make him one of the most intriguing names near the top of the position.

The easy choices end there. Once the rankings move deeper, roster situations, injuries, workloads, and age create plenty of disagreement.

Where the Rankings Get Uncomfortable

Cam Skattebo produces one of the biggest debates after landing surprisingly high on one host’s board. Javonte Williams also gets serious top 12 consideration, while Jonathan Taylor brings concerns after another massive workload.

The crew also weighs the championship appeal of James Cook, the upside of Omarion Hampton, and several veterans who could either reward fantasy managers or fall outside the elite tier.

Explore more tools and resources to stay ahead of your league.
Rookie Big Boards
Rookie Mock Drafts
Dynasty Rankings
Dynasty Nerds App
IDP Hub

FFPC: New Users: Use promo code NERDS for $25 off your first FFPC Startup Team!
Check out the Ugly Company:

EAST RUTHERFORD NJ SEPTEMBER 28 Cam Skattebo 44 of the New York Giants during the first quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Chargers on September 28 2025 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford New Jersey Photo by Rich GraessleIcon Sportswire

Source link

The post Top 12 RBs for 2026 in Fantasy Football | Dynasty Fantasy Football Podcast Ep. 892 appeared first on How To Beat A Bookie.

Open Thread: Rays seek New Stadium approval

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 14:19:02 +0000

The Rays go before the City Council on Thursday morning and the County on Friday morning seeking approval of the New Rays Stadium project on Dale Mabry as part of a redevelopment of Hillsborough College.

You can watch the City Council proceedings here, the Rays are agenda item 80.

Later today, you can also tune in at 11:10 to the local Fox 13 affiliate for some live commentary from our own Dr. Elizabeth Strom.

Source link

The post Open Thread: Rays seek New Stadium approval appeared first on How To Beat A Bookie.

Top prospects for Toronto Maple Leafs

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:31:26 +0000

How acquired: Selected with No. 1 pick in 2026 NHL Draft

2025-26 season: Penn State (NCAA): 35 GP, 15-36-51

The 18-year-old (5-foot-11, 170 pounds) was named the Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year for 2024-25 after he had 129 points (41 goals, 88 assists) in 56 games for Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League. Instead of remaining in the WHL, he opted to join Penn State to learn how to “compete against men.”

McKenna’s learning curve to that end was promising. After grinding out 19 points in his first 18 games, he rebounded with 32 points in his final 17 games and looked more comfortable with every outing.

The Maple Leafs expect him to step right into the lineup. Don’t be surprised if he gets power-play time and, at some point, becomes the playmaking wing that captain Auston Matthews lost when Mitch Marner joined the Vegas Golden Knights last July.

“Obviously the brain and the talent is evident,” Toronto general manager John Chayka said. “Just the instincts, and his raw ability, I think are interesting.”

Projected NHL arrival: This season

Source link

The post Top prospects for Toronto Maple Leafs appeared first on How To Beat A Bookie.

2026 IDP Keep Trade Cut

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 06:58:31 +0000

Welcome back, IDP Nerds! Last week was a big one with the release of the latest edition of The Glossery, featuring over 725 players ranked across offense and IDP for SuperFlex and TE Premium dynasty leagues. Rankings are a useful tool for assessing player value, but they don’t always tell the full story when it comes to managing your dynasty roster.

That’s where Keep, Trade, Cut comes in! This week, we’re stepping away from the massive rankings and focusing on individual IDP dynasty decisions. I’ve identified three players at each position: defensive line, linebacker, and defensive back. We’ll look at one player to keep, one whose current trade market presents an opportunity, and one player I’m comfortable cutting from dynasty rosters. Let’s get into this year’s IDP Keep, Trade, Cut, and identify nine moves dynasty managers should be considering before the season gets underway.

Start Building Your Dynasty

Defensive Line | Keep Trade Cut

Jonathan Cooper | DL49 | KEEP

2025: DL34 | 12.64 FPPG | 61% Snaps | The Glossery: 354 Overall

We start with Jonathan Cooper, a key piece of one of the NFL’s best defenses. The veteran EDGE rusher has taken a bit of a backseat to the emergence of Nik Bonitto, but that shouldn’t take away from what Cooper continues to provide for IDP managers. He has recorded at least 50 tackles and 8 sacks over three straight seasons, finishing as the DL20 and DL34 over the past two years.

That type of consistency isn’t always easy to find at defensive line. Cooper played 61% of the defensive snaps last season and scored double-digit fantasy points in 68.75% of his games. Cooper currently sits around DL42 in preseason dynasty ADP, and that’s why he’s an easy keep for me. The return you’re likely getting in a trade doesn’t match the production he can still give you. With offenses forced to account for Bonitto on the opposite side, Cooper should continue to see favorable opportunities and has a chance to reach double-digit sacks for the second time in his career.

Austin Booker | DL61 | TRADE

2025: DL97 | 15.56 FPPG | 80% Snaps | The Glossery: 398 Overall

I’ve been higher on Austin Booker than the consensus since the start of last season. If you’ve followed my IDP content, you’ve likely heard his name more than once. Most recently, he was featured in my 15 IDP Breakout Candidates for 2026, and he remains one of my favorite young defensive linemen to target in dynasty leagues.

Booker’s DL97 finish doesn’t tell the full story after injuries limited him to just nine games. His 15.56 fantasy points per game would have ranked as the DL25 over a full season, and he scored at least 14 points in 66.6% of his games. He was at his best when fantasy managers needed him most, finishing as the DL5 overall from Weeks 15 through 17 with multiple 20-point performances.

I’m always looking to acquire players before the breakout, not after. Booker still sits behind Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo on Chicago’s depth chart, which should help keep his price reasonable. I’m willing to bet on the 23-year-old’s production and upside now before a bigger role potentially makes him much more expensive to acquire.

Zaven Collins | DL104 | CUT

2025: DL74 | 9.59 FPPG | 47% Snaps | The Glossery: 598 Overall

IDP managers, 2026 is the year we finally cut bait with underperforming assets. Zaven Collins is a player we once had high hopes for after his 2022 season, when he recorded 100 tackles and 2 sacks while playing 98% of the defensive snaps at inside linebacker. Unfortunately, his move to EDGE hasn’t produced the same fantasy results.

Since changing positions, Collins hasn’t played 60% of defensive snaps in a season, and that number fell to just 47% in 2025. He’s recorded only 12 sacks over five NFL seasons and finished as the DL74 last year, averaging 9.59 fantasy points per game. Being listed as a starter only means so much when you’re playing fewer than half of the defensive snaps.

Collins is now 27 and entering the final year of his contract while younger players continue to work into the rotation. The defensive line is already a rotation-heavy position, and we don’t need to use valuable dynasty roster spots on players capable of disappearing from the box score any given week. At this point, I’m comfortable moving on and using that roster spot on a younger player with more upside.

Kaden Ellis Photo by Rich von BibersteinIcon Sportswire

Linebacker | Keep Trade Cut

Kaden Elliss | LB43 | KEEP

2025: LB24 | 14.46 FPPG | 100% Snaps | The Glossery: 289 Overall

Kaden Elliss returns to New Orleans after flourishing with the Atlanta Falcons, averaging 126 tackles per season over the past three years. The veteran linebacker should step right into the role left behind by Demario Davis, who departed in free agency after finishing as the LB17 at 36 years old last season. Elliss gives IDP managers a reliable, consistent option with a strong LB2 floor.

I’ve stressed over the years that age isn’t always the biggest factor in dynasty IDP fantasy football, especially at linebacker. We’ve watched players like Bobby Wagner and Lavonte David remain highly productive well into their 30s. Elliss has shown no signs of slowing down and played 100% of the defensive snaps last season while finishing as the LB24.

At 31 years old, Elliss isn’t going to bring back a massive return on the trade market, and that’s exactly why he’s a KEEP for me. Let him continue piling up tackles and fantasy points while other managers chase the next young breakout linebacker. This is a perfect example of valuing proven FPPG over youth and potential.

Kaleb Elarms-Orr | LB45 | TRADE

2025: Rookie | The Glossery: 324 Overall

Here comes the spicy take that might get some IDP managers fired up. Kaleb Elarms-Orr has been one of the more talked-about linebackers in the IDP community this offseason. Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams’ injury history, along with new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard bringing in a 3-4 base defense, has opened the door for the rookie. Elarms-Orr has drawn strong reviews throughout the preseason, and we’re already seeing his dynasty value climb before he’s played a regular-season snap.

Full disclosure, I like Elarms-Orr and think he can be a very productive IDP. I’m just not ready to assume a 2026 fourth-round pick is going to walk into an every-down role for a team with Super Bowl expectations. Bernard and Williams are still there, and we’ve seen preseason hype get out of control before. This is where I’m willing to let another dynasty manager pay for what Elarms-Orr could become instead of waiting to see if everything breaks right.

Could this come back to bite you? Of course. That’s part of trading young players with upside. But if another manager is willing to send a future top-three-round rookie pick plus another asset because they don’t want to miss the breakout, I’m listening. I like the player, but I like taking advantage of the hype even more when the NFL role hasn’t been earned yet.

Ivan Pace Jr. | LB66 | CUT

2025: LB75 | 6.72 FPPG | 30% Snaps | The Glossery: 460 Overall

I don’t expect this one to be much of a surprise. The idea of Ivan Pace Jr. becoming a reliable dynasty linebacker has always been better than the actual results. He flashed as a rookie in 2023, recording over 100 tackles while playing just 62% of the defensive snaps. Since then, his production and playing time have continued to trend in the wrong direction.

Last season, the Vikings turned to veteran Eric Wilson over Pace, and Wilson finished as the LB13. Pace has had chances to earn a bigger role with injuries and a less-than-impressive depth chart in front of him, but he just hasn’t been able to make the impact IDP managers were hoping for. Minnesota spending the 51st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Jake Golday should tell us even more about how they view Pace going forward.

Sometimes you just have to read the signs and move on. Pace played only 30% of the defensive snaps last season, and his path to meaningful playing time isn’t getting any easier. Stop wasting a valuable dynasty roster spot waiting for something that hasn’t happened. At this point, I’d rather bet on a younger player with a clearer path to production.

Calen Bullock Photo by Jeffrey BrownIcon Sportswire

Defensive Back | Keep Trade Cut

Kevin Byard | DB41 | KEEP

2025: DB14 | 14.46 FPPG | 100% Snaps | The Glossery: 459 Overall

Kevin Byard has been one of the most reliable defensive backs in fantasy football for nearly a decade. He enters his 11th NFL season just 30 tackles and 4 interceptions away from reaching 1,000 tackles and 40 interceptions for his career. That’s an impressive level of production at a position where IDP managers are typically looking to the waiver wire for their next weekly starter.

Byard is 33 years old, but he’s still producing nearly 15 fantasy points per game and has signed a one-year deal to reunite with his former head coach, Mike Vrabel. Between his age and the depth of the defensive back position, you’re likely not getting much of a return for him on the trade market. That’s exactly why he’s such an easy keep for me.

Sometimes a player’s fantasy production is simply worth more than whatever you’re going to get back in a trade. Byard continues to pile up tackles and give dynasty contenders reliable weekly production. Some players treat your dynasty teams so well that you just ride them out until they hang it up. Kevin Byard is one of those players.

Upton Stout | DB55 | TRADE

2025: DB74 | 11.07 FPPG | 58% Snaps | The Glossery: 503 Overall

This might be one of my hottest takes this offseason, but Upton Stout is one of my favorite IDP trade targets heading into the 2026 season. Yes, I’m telling you to trade for a cornerback, so trust me, I haven’t lost my mind. Stout recorded 82 tackles as a rookie while playing just 58% of the defensive snaps. Fred Warner missing time likely forced the 49ers’ secondary to help more in run support, but regardless, Stout took advantage of his opportunities and was one of the bright spots on that defense.

The second-year defensive back has continued to draw positive reviews this offseason and is expected to play the “star” position in Raheem Morris’ defense. That’s enough to get my attention after what he showed us as a rookie. I’m not expecting Stout to suddenly become an every-week elite DB, but he doesn’t need to be that to pay off. Give me a few more snaps per game while maintaining anything close to last year’s production, and we have a player who can be a consistent starter for IDP managers.

The best part is Stout shouldn’t cost you much to acquire right now. He finished as the CB25 last season while playing just over half the defensive snaps, and I believe there’s top-12 upside in CB-required leagues if his role grows. I’m usually the guy telling you not to invest heavily at defensive back, especially cornerback, but sometimes you have to trust what you’re seeing. Stout is one of those players I’m willing to take a chance on before everyone else catches up.

Calen Bullock | DB92 | CUT

2025: DB72 | 10.44 FPPG | 96% Snaps | The Glossery: 621 Overall

Calen Bullock is probably the toughest cut on this list. He’s only 23 years old, has 9 interceptions over his first two seasons, and is a starting safety on one of the NFL’s best defenses. Those aren’t typically things that make you want to cut a player. The problem is Bullock played 96% of the defensive snaps last season and still finished as just the DB72 while averaging 10.44 fantasy points per game. At some point, we have to separate being a good NFL player from being a good fantasy asset.

The interceptions are great, but they’re not something I want to depend on for consistent fantasy production. Houston had three defensive backs finish ahead of Bullock in fantasy points last season and then added Reed Blankenship in free agency. The Texans also drafted Kamari Ramsey, adding even more talent to an already loaded secondary. If those interceptions come down and Bullock doesn’t see an increase in tackle production, there isn’t much of a weekly floor to fall back on.

There are simply too many productive DBs available for me to hold onto one hoping the fantasy production eventually catches up to the NFL talent. Bullock can absolutely continue to be a very good player for Houston, but I can find similar or better fantasy production on the waiver wire in most leagues. Don’t get attached to the name or the age. At a replaceable position like DB, I’m comfortable using that roster spot somewhere else.

Final Thoughts

That will do it for this year’s IDP edition of Keep, Trade, Cut. If there’s one thing to take away from these nine players, it’s that dynasty value isn’t always as simple as young players good, old players bad. Sometimes you’re better off riding out the production of veterans like Kaden Elliss and Kevin Byard. Other times, taking a chance on the upside of Austin Booker or Upton Stout before the price jumps can be the move that pays off for your dynasty roster.

We also can’t be afraid to make the uncomfortable moves. Trading a rookie like Kaleb Elarms-Orr before he’s played an NFL snap could absolutely come back to haunt us, but that’s dynasty fantasy football. The same goes for cutting a talented young safety like Calen Bullock. Every move won’t work out, but understanding when to chase production, take advantage of hype, or simply free up a roster spot can make a huge difference over the course of a season.

If you haven’t checked it out yet, make sure to take a look at the latest edition of The Glossery, where you can find over 725 offensive and defensive players ranked together for SuperFlex, TE Premium, and IDP leagues. Use those rankings alongside the advice in this article when making those tough dynasty decisions. As always, know your league, trust your process, and don’t be afraid to make a move when the value is there.

🔥 Take Control of Your Dynasty Today

Want to see where your lineup stacks up? Start building like the pros with our most powerful tools and resources:

👉 It’s time to take control of your dynasty and see where your lineups truly rank.

Source link

The post 2026 IDP Keep Trade Cut appeared first on How To Beat A Bookie.

Baseball gonna baseball: Rays 3 Tigers 0

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 20:57:10 +0000

In my mind, I had this game in the loss column even before first pitch.

The Rays offense looked half asleep yesterday against a lesser pitcher, and today they would be facing Troy Melton, he of the 1.86 ERA. Those of you with good memories will recall that Melton had pitched a gem against the Rays back in June, going eight innings and scattering a few hits. He’s a pitcher, Brian Anderson reminded us, who is good across the game but actually gets better second and third time through the line up, so it’s not like you can just wait until he tires out to get your offense going.

And for the Rays, Freddy Peralta had looked a little better in recent starts but you really had to squint to see the effective pitcher he’d been prior to this year.

So just based on the pitching matchup, this game had the worst win chances for the Rays of the series.

Of course, then, they won. Because you never know with baseball.

The Rays first got on the board in the second inning. Simpson singled, and DeLuca doubled him home. DeLuca got to third on a sac bunt and scored when Cedric Mullins hit a ball down the line for an RBI and what looked like a double for the speedy Mullins. Alas, though, Mullins overshot the base, and was tagged out.

The Rays got their third run in the sixth inning. Jonathan Aranda doubled, and Junior Caminero singled, to put men on the corners.

Liam Hicks seemed to get all of a pitch but it fell just short of a home run. But the park contained it, and he had to settle for a very long sac fly that scored Aranda. Rays 3, Detroit 0

Peralta got through 6 innings and wow was he good today. No runs, no walks, two harmless hits, and ten whiffs. I don’t know whether this is Rays finding tweaks or the Tigers not matching up well against him or just the randomness of baseball but whatever the explanation, more of this please. It was a really effective, efficient, keep your fielders engaged as you mow through batters kind of outing. If this version of Freddy Peralta is sustainable then I will maybe allow myself to think this team could get somewhere in the postseason (if they make it there of course, let’s not court the evil eye with overconfidence).

Maybe good pitching is contagious; after Peralta left the game the final three innings were covered by Kevin Kelly and Tyler Wells, who preserved the two-hit, no walk game. And the whole thing done in just a blink over two hours! Be still, my heart!

In sum, the Rays come away with a series win, thanks to perfect pitching, sharp defense and just enough offense

Source link

The post Baseball gonna baseball: Rays 3 Tigers 0 appeared first on How To Beat A Bookie.

Rays release detailed list of community commitments ahead of New Stadium votes

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 19:55:55 +0000

The Tampa Bay Rays have published a “Community Benefits and Legacy Plan” emphasizing “A long-term partnership among the Tampa Bay Rays, Hillsborough County, and the City of Tampa” through various commitments to the region should the new stadium plan be approved this week by the city and county.

The proposed plan prioritizes affordable housing, anti-displacement, public safety, transportation, local hiring, small business opportunities, youth sports, literacy, and long-term accountability to deliver lasting benefits for Hillsborough County and Tampa residents. The full document is published below.

It should be noted that there are fourteen categories of commitments to the region in addition to reporting an measurability for all of the promises, but none of these are contractually obligated unless negotiated into the binding agreement between the Rays and the public entities — a process that continues throughout the week, with the city scheduled to vote on Thursday and the county on Friday.

The Rays have always believed this project must be about more than a new ballpark. It must be about what the ballpark partnership can do for Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa, and the people who call this community home.

This Community Benefits and Legacy Plan brings the Rays proposed commitments together in one place, with a focus on neighborhood stability, jobs and workforce opportunity, youth sports, education, local business participation, community access, and long-term accountability. The goal is simple: make sure the benefits of this project are felt not only inside the ballpark, but across Hillsborough County and City of Tampa for years to come.

Final obligations, definitions, remedies, and implementation schedules will be governed by the definitive documents, while this plan reflects the Rays commitment to a community partnership that is visible, measurable, and built to last.

Community Benefit Allocation

Consistent with the definitive documents, 65% of the benefits provided through this plan will be directed to Hillsborough County and the remaining 35% to the City of Tampa. Program design, annual planning, and public reporting will reflect this allocation, while allowing individual initiatives to operate where community needs and delivery partnerships make them most effective.

Countywide and citywide impact, with transparent geographic reporting
Long-term programs that build on the Rays existing community work
Measurable outcomes, public accountability, and continuous community input
Collaboration with government, education, labor, nonprofit, and neighborhood institutions

1. Mobility, Transit and State Partnership

The Rays will work collaboratively with Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa, the State of Florida, the Florida Department of Transportation, HART, and other transportation partners to improve access to the ballpark district and surrounding communities.

Coordinate roadway, signal, pedestrian, bicycle, safety, and first/last-mile planning
Explore expanded gameday and event transit service, park-and-ride options, and transportation-demand management
Pursue available state and federal transportation funding in coordination with public partners
Support safe, accessible connections for residents, employees, visitors, seniors, and people with disabilities
Integrate transportation planning with neighborhood needs and adopted regional mobility priorities
Invest in infrastructure improvements for local transit projects such as the HART bus stop improvements

2. Youth, Career, and Workforce Development

The Rays will connect residents, including young people, students, returning citizens, and residents facing barriers to employment, with pathways to quality careers. With a reimagined Hillsborough College campus as part of the district, this partnership will create a direct connection between classroom learning, internships, hands-on training, and jobs.

Paid internships, apprenticeships, job-shadowing, and career-exploration opportunities connected to sports, hospitality, construction, technology, media, and business operations with focused efforts to hire within underserved communities
Partnerships with Hillsborough College, schools, workforce-development organizations, unions, and employers
Job fairs, skills training, credential programs, and referrals for ballpark-related and broader regional employment
Support for quality jobs that provide living wages, responsible workplace standards, and opportunities for advancement
Transparent reporting on participation, placements, retention, and advancement where reasonably measurable
Emphasize skilled-trades apprenticeships and workforce placement opportunities for the ballpark and mixed-use district through State of Florida-certified apprenticeship programs

3. Small, Local, Economically Disadvantaged, and MWBE Business Opportunity

The Rays strongly support meaningful participation by minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs), as well as small, local and economically disadvantaged businesses, in contracting, procurement, professional services, and other opportunities associated with the ballpark partnership.

The purpose of this commitment is to expand the pipeline of qualified MWBEs and other eligible local businesses, improve access to significant economic opportunities, and provide transparent evidence that outreach and participation efforts are producing measurable results.

Conduct intentional outreach to MWBEs regarding prime-contracting, subcontracting, procurement, and professional-service opportunities
Provide early and accessible notice of contracting and procurement opportunities
Offer vendor education, technical assistance, matchmaking, and capacity-building programs designed to help MWBEs and other eligible local firms compete successfully
Use reasonable efforts to reduce unnecessary barriers to participation and unbundle opportunities where practical
Coordinate with County and City small-business programs, chambers, trade associations, and economic-development organizations that serve MWBEs and historically underrepresented firms
Establish participation goals, benchmarks, or other performance measures where authorized by applicable law and the definitive documents
Report annually on outreach, participation, awards, spending, location, and economic impact, including MWBE-related information to the extent collection and publication are legally permissible

The MWBE commitment will be implemented to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including Florida law, and consistent with the definitive documents. Program standards may use objective criteria such as geographic location, business size, annual revenue, and demonstrated economic disadvantage, while targeted outreach and capacity-building efforts will ensure that MWBEs receive timely information and a fair opportunity to compete.

4. Affordable and Attainable Housing

Affordable-housing initiatives will prioritize households earning 60% to 80% of Area Median Income, with clearly defined affordability levels and an emphasis on housing that enables residents to live, work, and participate in the communities they serve. This geographic limitation applies to the affordable-housing initiatives established through this section and does not prevent anti-displacement, home-repair, tenant-stability, or property-retention assistance from serving existing residents in neighborhoods near the ballpark district.

Partner with qualified public, nonprofit, and private housing organizations
Consider preservation, rehabilitation, new production, homeownership assistance, and other locally appropriate strategies
Encourage long-term affordability, resident stability and access to employment, schools, transportation, and services
Report annually on supported initiatives, geographic distribution, affordability levels, and households served

Affordable-housing initiatives funded or supported through this plan will be located outside the ballpark district itself and elsewhere throughout Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa.

5. Anti-Displacement and Community Preservation

The Rays will work with the County, City, and qualified community partners to help existing residents and neighborhood businesses share the benefits of investment and remain connected to their communities.
Incorporate anti-displacement considerations into annual community-benefit planning and neighborhood investment decisions
Support housing-preservation, home-repair, tenant-stability, homeownership, and property-retention initiatives delivered by qualified partners
Provide timely information, technical assistance, and connections to available resources for neighborhood businesses affected by construction or redevelopment
Coordinate with neighborhood organizations and public agencies to monitor material housing, business, and cost-of-living pressures near the project
Establish concrete implementation milestones and publicly report supported strategies, locations served, and measurable outcomes
Support preservation of historic community spaces

6. Youth Sports Development and Community Fields

Baseball and softball should be within reach for more children across Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa. The Rays will expand access to safe, high-quality fields, equipment, coaching, and year-round programming, so more young people can play, compete, learn, and grow through the game. Building upon the youth-development park model previously advanced in Jacksonville, the Rays will work with public and nonprofit partners to identify, improve, and activate community baseball, softball, and multipurpose athletic facilities. Projects shall include field construction or renovation, lighting, dugouts, batting areas, accessible features, equipment, maintenance support, and surrounding park improvements.

Prioritize communities with limited access to quality youth-sports infrastructure
Support free or affordable leagues, clinics, camps, coaching education, and equipment access, including expanded softball opportunities for girls and young women
Create mentoring and apprenticeship connections alongside sports programming where practical
Create opportunities for Rays players, coaches, alumni, and staff to engage with young athletes
Encourage year-round use through partnerships with parks departments, schools, and community organizations
Establish objective project-selection criteria and report annually on locations served, participation, and outcomes
Facility and program development for the Yellow Jackets and Belmont Heights Little Leagues

7. Neighborhood Investment and CRA Extensions

The Rays will collaborate with the County, City, and community partners on equitable neighborhood investment beyond the immediate ballpark site. Consistent with the definitive documents, this plan expressly emphasizes the extension of the East Tampa CRA, West Tampa CRA, and Drew Park CRA as an important component of the broader community-development partnership.

Support and advance the extensions of the East Tampa, West Tampa, and Drew Park Community Redevelopment Areas as denoted in the definitive documents, subject to applicable law, required public processes, and governmental approval
Ensure that all three CRA extensions receive clear and consistent recognition in implementation planning, public communications, and accountability reporting
Coordinate CRA-related initiatives with adopted redevelopment plans, identified community priorities, and the requirements of the definitive documents
Advance parks, public spaces, corridors, infrastructure, small-business vitality, and other neighborhood priorities identified through established planning processes
Maintain clear separation between the Rays contractual community-benefit commitments and governmental decisions legally reserved to the County, City, or CRA governing bodies

8. Literacy and Education: Expanded Reading with the Rays

Reading with the Rays is one of the team’s signature community programs, and this plan would allow the Rays to bring that work to more students, families, schools, libraries, and community centers across Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa.

Expanded programming may include player, coach, alumni, mascot, and front-office participation at local libraries, schools and community centers; book distributions; reading challenges; family literacy events; incentives; and partnerships with educational and literacy organizations.

Coordinate with County and City library systems and Hillsborough County Public Schools
Reach students and families across the full-service area, with geographic participation tracked annually
Use the visibility of Rays baseball to celebrate reading achievement and encourage lifelong learning
Complement—not replace—the team’s existing literacy investments and community partnerships

9. Veterans and Disabled Veterans Engagement

The Rays will establish two committees that elevate the experience, service, and leadership of veterans throughout the region.

Tampa Bay Rays Veterans Advisory Committee — The committee will advise the Rays on veteran employment, recognition, community partnerships, service initiatives, ticket access, and other opportunities to support veterans and their families.
Tampa Bay Rays Disabled Veterans Committee — The committee will focus on accessibility, employment pathways, adaptive recreation, ballpark experience, community programming, and partnerships serving disabled veterans and their families.

Membership, terms, and operating procedures will be established using transparent and legally permissible criteria. The committees may coordinate where appropriate while maintaining distinct attention to their respective missions.

10. Hispanic and Latino Community Advisory Board

The Rays will establish a Hispanic and Latino Community Advisory Board to help guide outreach, engagement, and implementation of community-benefit programs serving Tampa’s Hispanic and Latino residents, families, businesses, and neighborhoods.

The Advisory Board may include representatives from Hispanic and Latino civic, business, faith, education, workforce, nonprofit, and neighborhood organizations. The group will provide input on community priorities, culturally appropriate outreach, bilingual communications, local hiring and workforce opportunities, small business participation, youth programming, family access, and other initiatives.

11. Expanded Family Ticket and Community Access Program

Building upon the Rays existing community ticket initiatives, the team will expand access to complimentary and affordable tickets for families and community organizations throughout Hillsborough County and Tampa.

The expanded program will serve under-resourced families, students, youth-sports participants, veterans, first responders, and nonprofit organizations. It may include game tickets, transportation assistance where feasible, concessions or meal support, and special ballpark experiences.

Distribute opportunities through qualified community partners using clear eligibility and allocation practices
Preserve affordable and accessible ways for local families—including residents with disabilities—to experience Rays baseball
Consider community-suite access and special recognition opportunities for charitable and civic organizations
Track distribution, attendance, and geographic reach while protecting participant privacy
Complement—not replace—the team’s established ticket-donation and community-access programs

12. Public Safety and Labor Engagement

The Rays will maintain regular communication with the public servants and workforce organizations essential to safe, successful ballpark operations and community trust.

The Rays will convene twice-yearly meetings with representatives of County and City police and fire unions. These meetings will provide a regular forum to discuss public-safety coordination, workforce priorities, community engagement, ballpark operations, and other issues of mutual interest. The Rays will convene twice-yearly meetings with representatives of County and City police and fire unions, including the Hillsborough County Firefighters Local 2294, Tampa Firefighters Local 754, and the Tampa Police Benevolent Association.

Coordinate with appropriate County and City public-safety leadership without displacing formal governmental authority or collective-bargaining processes
Engage organized labor and workforce partners on training, career pathways, workplace standards, and major operational considerations
Document meetings and agreed follow-up items while respecting confidential, security-sensitive, and labor-relations matters
Prioritize New Tampa Police Department substation presence and Tampa Fire Rescue substation presence within district

13. Health, Wellness and Inclusive Recreation

The Rays will use sports and community partnerships to promote healthier, more active communities.

Support youth fitness, nutrition, mental-wellness, and preventive-health programming
Develop an All Abilities Rays Advisory Board for continued advocacy and the advancement of adaptive and accessible sports opportunities for people with disabilities
Collaborate with parks, schools, health systems, and community organizations
Connect wellness initiatives with youth sports, veterans’ programs, and family ballpark experiences
Continued support for autism and other sensory challenged persons within the ballpark, including sensory friendly rooms

14. Community Advisory and Governance Structure

The Community Benefits Program will be jointly administered by the Rays, Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners and a Community Benefits Advisory Committee, that will represent the City of Tampa and help inform implementation, review progress, and strengthen accountability.

Review annual priorities, performance measures, and geographic distribution
Receive implementation updates and provide nonbinding recommendations
Support coordination among participating institutions and help identify emerging needs
Operate under written procedures addressing appointments, terms, meetings, conflicts, and public reporting
Maintain flexibility to broaden participation as programs and community priorities evolve

Measurement, Reporting, and Accountability

The credibility of the plan will depend upon clear implementation standards and accessible reporting.

Prepare an annual implementation plan identifying programs, delivery partners, and expected outcomes
Publish an annual community-benefits report describing activities, expenditures or in-kind support, participation, geographic distribution, and measurable results
Report performance against the 65% Hillsborough County and 35% City of Tampa allocation established in the definitive documents
Use reasonable verification, recordkeeping, and audit rights appropriate to each commitment
Provide processes for identifying performance gaps, developing corrective actions, and resolving disputes
Review the framework periodically so programs can adapt while preserving the overall value and intent of the commitments

Annual Community Report Card and Public Accountability

Transparency and accountability will be central to the implementation of the final Community Benefits Agreement. The Rays will develop and publish an annual Community Report Card providing Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa, and the broader community with a clear, accessible account of progress against the agreed-upon programs and commitments.

The report card will be delivered concurrently to the County and City and made readily available to the public. It will use consistent measures so residents and public officials can evaluate performance over time and understand what has been completed, what is underway, and where additional action is required.

Identify each final contractual commitment and its responsible party, implementation schedule, current status, and upcoming milestone
Describe activities completed during the year, residents and organizations served, expenditures or in-kind support where applicable, and measurable outcomes
Report the geographic distribution of benefits, including performance against the 65% Hillsborough County and 35% City of Tampa allocation established in the definitive documents
Report MWBE outreach, technical assistance, participation, awards, and spending to the extent collection and publication of that information are legally permissible
Report on the status and applicable milestones associated with the East Tampa, West Tampa, and Drew Park CRA extensions denoted in the definitive documents
Identify delays, performance gaps or unmet milestones, explain the cause, disclose the corrective action, and anticipated completion date
Provide supporting information in a format that is understandable to residents while preserving confidential, security-sensitive, and legally protected information
Include a process for the County, City, Community Benefits Advisory Committee, and members of the public to submit questions or feedback regarding reported performance

The final scope, programs, performance measures, and reporting requirements of the Community Benefits Agreement will be mutually agreed upon in writing by Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa, and the Tampa Bay Rays. Once those commitments are finalized and incorporated into the definitive documents, the responsible parties will be contractually bound to perform the commitments assigned to them. The annual Community Report Card will provide the public-facing tool to show progress and hold all parties accountable.
Implementation and Definitive Documents
This plan is intended to serve as a clear public framework for the Rays long-term community partnership with Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa.
The definitive documents will establish the binding commitments, responsible parties, eligible costs and in-kind contributions, implementation schedules, reporting requirements, verification standards, cure provisions, and other enforceable terms. Where a program depends upon governmental approval, appropriations, third-party participation or changes in law, implementation will remain subject to those requirements.
Community-benefit commitments are intended to supplement—not supplant—previously allocated County or City capital projects, public-safety priorities or community investments, except where the applicable governmental body expressly determines otherwise through its lawful public process.
Existing Rays charitable, literacy, youth-sports, and ticket-access programs will continue according to their applicable terms. Commitments described as expansions are intended to build upon and add value to that established work, rather than suggest that the underlying programs are being introduced for the first time.
The Legacy
A community partnership measured not only by a new ballpark, but by stronger neighborhoods, expanded opportunity, healthier families, and lasting civic value across Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa.

Source link

The post Rays release detailed list of community commitments ahead of New Stadium votes appeared first on How To Beat A Bookie.