Anthony Favata, CVP

#28 Tampa Bay Rays: The Top 3 Pitchers Drafted Since 2013 Heading into the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) season, the Tampa Bay Rays rank 4th in total wins since 2013. Despite operating with a small payroll, the Rays have consistently built winning teams, making the playoffs in five of the last six seasons. Their approach to constructing pitching staffs has influenced the entire league, from utilizing openers to deploying a rotating cast of high-velocity arms. Since 2021, the Rays have relied on an average of 34.5 pitchers per season to meet their innings demand. However, the Rays’ strategy diverges from the traditional model of developing starting pitchers. As revealed in this case study, they have produced just one traditional starter among their top three draft picks since 2013. Injury Rate: 38% Since 2013, the Rays rank 4th in total days missed by their MLB pitchers, with 12% of their annual payroll allocated to injured pitchers. Among the 34 pitchers analyzed in this study, 17 arm injuries occurred among 13 pitchers, leading to 10 surgeries, with an average of 294.5 innings pitched before surgery. Shane McClanahan, the Rays most successful pitcher in the case study, went down with TJ Surgery in 2023. Notable cases include Brendan McKay, the 4th overall pick in the 2017 MLB draft, has had shoulder surgery, thoracic outlet syndrome, and Tommy John surgery. McKay has missed most of the 2024 season due to recurring arm issues. High school draftees Michael Mercado (2017) and Nick Bitsko (2020) also faced early setbacks—Mercado had shoulder surgery after just 71 innings, while Bitsko required surgery only months after being drafted. MLB Pitchers: 7 The combination of Ryne Stanek (2013), Brent Honeywell Jr (2014), Easton Mcgee (2016), Brendan Mckay (2017), and Shane Mclanahan (2018) has pitched at the MLB level, with Brown throwing 66% of those MLB innings. Total MLB Innings Pitched (MLB IP): 607 Shane McClanahan has logged 404 MLB innings for the Rays, proving a reliable top-three starter when healthy. However, beyond McClanahan, the Rays lack another starting pitcher with significant MLB innings, and no pitcher drafted since 2019 has progressed to the major league roster. Cost Efficiency – $/MLB IP: $60,142 The Rays' initial investment in signing bonuses equates to nearly $60,142 per MLB inning pitched, ranking them 25th in return on investment in terms of innings. Between 2013 and 2020, the Rays paid over $31 million in signing bonuses, averaging $1.4 million per player. Since 2021, they have spent $4.1 million, with an average bonus of $348,674. The Tampa Bay Rays have achieved consistent success despite a small payroll, but their unconventional approach to pitching has drawbacks in terms of injury rate and lack of starting pitchers.

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The whole WNBA experience needs to be rethought before the league loses its newly found embracement. #sportsjournalism #sportsnews #sportsmedia #sportsmanagement #sportsbiz #sports #sportsevents #sportsentertainment #sportsbusiness #sportsindustry  #sportsmarketing #sportsfan #business #sportbusiness #sport #sportmanagement

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The growth of Tennis within the multicultural demographic has been dramatic. The Hispanic/Latino population has seen a 90 percent increase over the last three years. Black/African-American participation has increased by 46 percent in the previous three years, and Asian/Pacific Islander participation has increased by 37 percent in the last three years. Read more of my latest article...📝 #MulticulturalMarketing #Tennis #GlobalMarketing

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New deal between Kraft Sports + Entertainment and Sports Illustrated Tickets, including naming rights for the pavilion at Gillette Stadium's 1-year-old north entrance pavilion. Seeing SI Tix doing a lot of naming rights, capitalizing on the brand affinity/journalism history: https://lnkd.in/eYBzfWXS If you need a refresher on the new north side of Gillette Stadium, here's the big story I wrote last year; it's one of the better renovations I've seen in terms of accomplishing a clear goal that made the stadium and fan experience better in multiple ways: https://lnkd.in/eG9wByey

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The cutthroat power struggle within US Soccer is plunging the sport into a downward spiral, with MLS at the forefront of the controversy. Accusations of MLS deliberately sabotaging the USL in a bid to cling onto its dominance are rife, exposing a desperate grasp for power. This calculated move by MLS comes as no surprise, considering its ongoing assault on the USL's modest strides in lower league soccer. The recent demise of USL San Diego serves as a grim reminder of the ruthless tactics employed by MLS to crush any potential competition. Such ruthless maneuvers not only stifle the growth of the sport but also erode the very essence of healthy competition that soccer thrives on. Instead of nurturing an environment of fair play and rivalry, MLS's actions reek of a monopolistic agenda aimed at controlling markets, ultimately tarnishing the integrity of the beautiful game. https://lnkd.in/eEmjB5db

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