Author: Jacob Cisneros

My passion is baseball and writing, and I love that I can intertwine the two together. I am currently enrolled at Chaffey College, my Major is English. My favorite team is the Los Angeles Angels, my favorite player happens to be the number one player in baseball, Mike Trout.

Minor League Teams Are In Jeopardy And Advocates For Minor Leaguers Is Trying To Help

While every fan is having fun enjoying the riches of having sports back, especially Major League Baseball. Many minor league players are worried about their future and the idea that minor league teams may be cut.

This is where a relatively new organization called Advocates For Minor Leaguers is stepping in and trying to help players that are in need of financial relief and some type of hope for their future.

One of the team members of the organization, Raul Jacobson, was a former minor league player himself and his contributions to the team are coming a long way in support of players themselves. He is currently trying to pass the Bar in order to become a lawyer and with that, he will be able to help minor league players even more.

“I was an undrafted free agent, so I knew I was at the bottom of the totem poll in the Mets eyes, when I was a player I got a notice for this class action about this minor league wage class action lawsuit and I didn’t want them to give them any reason for them to cut me.”

This was Jacobson’s first look at someone taking a stand for minor league players, but like many now, he was afraid of the power that the Major League organization had and he didn’t want to give a bad impression. He would end up playing professionally for about two seasons until he would end up pursuing a law degree and also reaching out to Advocates For Minor Leaguers.

“About a year ago I was like you know what? I have nothing to lose, I’m going to reach out to Garrett Broshuis, he’s just like me former minor leaguer, current lawyer, he has literally filed my dream law suit.”

This is how Jacobson would go on to work with the organization and help them in their quest to fight for higher wages for minor league players, however, having a lawsuit would only do so much and if they wanted to make a significant impact, they would have to think bigger, such as a union.

This is met with uncertainty from players however, as just like Jacobson was during his minor league days, players today are afraid of the organization they play under and don’t want to risk losing their only chance at the big leagues. While Advocates For Minor Leaguers is for providing financial aid for players that are struggling to make ends meet, Jacobson is also aiming at a bigger target for the future of Minor League Baseball.

“A lawsuit would only do so much it’s going to be a temporary band-aid essentially but it’s not going to change the system. To change the system we need some advocating for minor leaguers, providing them a voice that they’ve never had and like ideally that would be a union.”

So clearly there have been obstacles to get to a point in which wages are increased for minor league players and while a union would provide some much-needed strength, rallying all minor league players is something that Jacobson doesn’t seem feasible at the time. There is also various other obstacles that are in the way such as the greed from ownership, having all the minor league players on the same page, but there may be one that’s more significant than all of those, the backing of the MLBPA.

The MLBPA (Major League Baseball’s Players Association) is the union that represents all Major League Baseball players and they had already dealt with one battle in getting the 2020 season up and running.

“If you had Tony Clark and like Mookie Betts and Mike Trout into minor league locker rooms, they would sign up in a heartbeat (minor leaguers).”

So clearly representation is the main problem when getting major support and there may not be major movement until then, but if and when a huge Major League Baseball player gets involved then the wheels will start turning. Jacobson understands that and showing people that there are players that deserve that type of representation is one of the quests that advocates for the unionization of minor league players need to pursue.

In addition to the support from the MLBPA, the minor league players will also need support from their stories as well. While Jacobson understands the value of making it to the Major Leagues and with it comes to the big bucks and overall better quality of life. He noticed a difference between players from the United States and Latin born players.

“For the most part American baseball players are middle/upper-middle class so it’s one thing if you have a family to fall back on and their finances to fall back on. But the other 50% of pro baseball is Latin Americans who don’t have any resources to fall back on. So, what really made me want to do something and change the system was seeing my Dominican teammates have to pull their money together to go buy frozen food from Wal-Mart because they can’t afford three meals a day.”

These types of stories show you why Jacobson is pushing for change in the minor league system and why an increase in wage shouldn’t just be seen as a want, but a need.

Why Momentum Is Leading The Charge In Creating Content For The Younger Generation Of Sports Fans

The media company “Momentum” was started by Cincinnati Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer and one of his best friends and content creator Taiki Green. I got the opportunity to talk to Taiki about his experiences and how Momentum was created

For Taiki, baseball seemed to always be with him as he started from a young age playing the sport and being good enough to even play the sport in college.

“I played baseball all the way through when I was like four or five. Started playing then, played all the way through technical college, I had a scholarship for the University of New Mexico as a left-handed pitcher.”

He explained that baseball had always been in his life even when his career shifted and got opportunities to work in the sport from different capacities. His journey in baseball would end up taking him to DriveLine Baseball, which is a facility that helps players rehab and possibly helps other players revive their playing career in hopes of reaching their dreams.

“I worked there as a trainer initially, when I hurt my shoulder after New Mexico, I went to Driveline to rehab and while I was rehabbing I was working part time helping around the facility and what not.”

This eventually would lead him into a career opportunity that he didn’t see coming as he states, “In order for me to visualize guys’ mechanics, I would just take a video of them and just kinda analyze through slow motion.” He then would take it a step further by adding some notes and edits that would be easier for players to look at and interpret in order for them to perform better.

“Some of the guys that I was meeting at the facility were just super interesting characters, guys that were journeymen, you know played in the big leagues for two or three years and then got hurt or were out of baseball for like five years and wanted to make a comeback.”

One of those players, Casey Weathers, was able to benefit from Green’s videos as he filmed throwing 98 mph which eventually led him to a job as a coach for the Cincinnati Reds.

Taiki then started transitioning into more of a media role with Driveline after asking the team over there if it was okay to which they were perfectly fine. He then started taking it more professionally and started doing freelance work which eventually helped get him to work on a documentary for Beyonce. It also led him to work with various sports companies like EPSN and FoxSports which when asked about that experience.

“FoxSports hired me as a producer, they wanted some like young person to bring ideas in for them. So I worked for them for a short little, like six months, just kinda helped generate ideas for their programming. Things to kinda help liven up the audience and bring new fans versus the old.”

This would end up leading him to work on a piece with former Indians pitcher, Trevor Bauer, during the World Series run in the 2016 season.

What people may not know, is that Taiki is good friends with Bauer, and it eventually led them to start discussing about making a platform that was better suited for the players and their personalities. He ended up taking a drive with Bauer to Sedona, Arizona, while Bauer was there for Spring Training and he was dealing with some media issues at the time.

Bauer’s agent, Rachel Luba, had mentioned something about starting up their own platform that’s specifically meant for the players, which is where some of the discussion happened between Taiki and Bauer. After months of discussion between both of them about starting something up due to their busy schedules, Momentum was finally created in January 2019 with Taiki being the only running everything at the time.

Eventually, the platform started attracting the attention of fans and also content creators that were wanting to work for the platform. This led to the hiring of more people, even though Taiki had mentioned that their plan at the start was to take it slow.

“We have like 6 full time people and then probably like four to five sub contractors, so it’s a small little team still, but we’re still able to do a lot of stuff now. Even with Corona(COVID-19) we’ve been able to pivot which has been nice.”

Even with having more staff, Bauer is still definitely the star of the channel as most of their content is focused around him. Taiki had praised Bauer’s work ethic and his commitment to the platform as he helps Taiki with ideas and producing content, all while being a full-time professional pitcher at the big league level.

“You know he’s having a historic year this year and he’s texting me at 3:30 in the morning like ‘Oh should I do this in the vlog tomorrow?’ Yeah man, but you should also just sleep.”

Taiki says this to show the dedication that Bauer has to their platform, so put in the work ethic of Taiki in combination with his friend in Bauer, they have a killer combo that can take their channel to new heights. The vlog that Bauer had mentioned, is their vlog that is filmed by Bauer as to give fans an inside look into what a season looks like with COVID-19 as no one has ever seen something like it. It helps answer questions on what fans may have about players and how they are dealing with the new season and it’s this type of content that helps separate them from being any average platform.

As far as their channel goes, building up a reputation and following is huge when dealing with any social platform, and Momentum is trying to do just that as they are still relatively new when trying to reach out to players for content. As they are continuously looking for ways to produce new content for their viewers, they have also done something that is definitely new to this side of the sport in an effort to grow the game and interest fans with entertainment.

The future is definitely bright for Momentum as the channel keeps growing and relationships with players and faces of Major League Baseball find their platform and are willing to help. This is an all-in effort to grow the game as a whole and appeal to a new generation of baseball fans, and it shouldn’t go unnoticed.

Why The Unwritten Rules Need To Be Silenced

After watching the absolute bomb Fernando Tatis Jr. hit for a grand slam, Texas Rangers manager Chris Woodward clearly didn’t like it. This led to a backlash towards Tatis Jr. with his teammate, Manny Machado, being thrown at and having a lesson in the Unwritten Rules of baseball.

After the game, Tatis Jr. made an apology for swinging on a 3-0 count and hitting the grand slam when his team, the San Diego Padres, were already leading the Rangers 10-3 in the top of the 8th inning. It was said that he missed the sign to take the pitch which would have resulted in the count going to 3-1.

However, he fully committed to swinging and he should have no regrets with it as the point of the game is to win no matter what. Assuming he doesn’t hit that home run, what if there is a consequence for the Padres? Like if the Rangers make a comeback, or what if Tatis Jr. doesn’t lead the league in home runs anymore just because of an unwritten rule.

The point of the game to my understanding is that your team has to battle to the last inning, to the last out, so unless something changed, what is the problem? There was no need for Woodward to get upset over it, and there is no need for Padres manager, Jayce Tingler, to get upset over his player hitting that home run as he states in an interview, “It obviously wasn’t the right call.”

Whether Tatis Jr. missed the call or not, Tingler shouldn’t have made the call to have him take the pitch, to begin with. If he truly missed the call, then this problem should fall on Tingler for making the call, by basically taking the bat out of his star player’s hands, and the only problem Tatis Jr. made was missing the call which is just a communications problem with the team.

Players and the media alike all took stances on the issue of the unwritten rules by posting their reactions to the whole ordeal on social media. Most of them took the side of Tatis Jr. which should make the player feel better about what he did, which was only helping his team win.

This goes back to growing the game of baseball for the next generation of fans which is something Major League Baseball has been trying to address. If the league wants more fans to enjoy the game and attract more athletes to its sport, then it needs to fully support the shift in how young star athletes are changing the game for the better. It also needs to recognize what kind of example this situation is setting for younger fans of the game that wouldn’t know any better. It shouldn’t have to fall on others to teach them about unwritten rules, because they shouldn’t even exist.

The response to the Texas Rangers and any player that was upset with this? Play better, the response to Tatis Jr. for hitting a grand slam to help his team even more ahead? Don’t apologize, you’re doing your job, and doing it well, very well.

The weirdness of prospects debuting in 2020

Imagine you are a Major League top prospect, you are walking onto the field and you hear the cheering of crowds, you look up and there’s no one there. You realize that family and friends aren’t there and are cheering you on from home, this is the reality of the 2020 Major League Baseball season.

Since the Major League Baseball season has started with no fans in attendance, up and coming star players are making their Major League debuts without their family and friends in the stands. While players are supposed to be focused on the game at hand, it has to make people wonder what young players are finally having their dreams come true thinking about when they see no fans in the stadium.

To have to look up into the stands and not see crowds of cheering fans for their debut and not meeting their family and friends after the game. Of course, this season is not the same given the concerns with COVID-19 and safety being the most prioritized thing at the moment.

Andrew Battifarano, a writer for milb.com, wrote an article about prospects making their debuts in this crazy and weird season with interviews from three different players.

“It’s been pretty crazy, but it’s also been a dream come true,” stated Tyler Stephenson of the Cincinnati Reds. “I would say to get the opportunity to get up and make my debut and obviously with everything that happened, it’s just, it’s really just been crazy.”

Craziness seems to be the word of choice within this conversation as Stephenson gives his take on his debut experience with no fans. However, he does recognize the significance of getting called up to the big leagues which no one can take away from him as he earned his way there, as he was ranked the third-best Reds prospect in their system. He hit a home-run in his first at-bat in the big leagues as he recalled his moment by stating, “This is a pretty surreal moment, After it went out, I was like, ‘Wow, that just happened.'”

For a player like JT Brubaker of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the emptiness of the ballpark didn’t seem to faze him when he made his big league debut. In the same article, Brubaker stated, “It’s a little different, but once you stepped over the line and are actually playing the game and playing against another team, you kind of don’t notice it. You got the fake crowd noise going, but you’re really focused on what’s going on.”

As mentioned before, these players still have a job to do regardless of the circumstances of the situation and Brubaker clearly understands that. However, these players have all come from different backgrounds and stories and need to be shared with the fans as they get to know their rising stars.

Time will tell if next season is going to look similar to this year, however, if fans are allowed to be back in the ballpark, teams should do something for these players making their debuts with no fans. COVID-19 has taken away a lot of things from people, and this just adds one thing to look at on the list.

While these players probably shouldn’t expect some type of special treatment, teams should look into giving these types of players some ovation in front of their fans. This season certainly hasn’t looked any others compared to the past and for some, it means not being able to look up into the crowd knowing your family is cheering you on in the stands.

Strike Out For A Cause program is giving back to community and players in uncertain times

The program Strike Out For A Cause is a non profit company that provides help to families within the military and to those in need. With difficult times due to COVID-19, the program has been finding ways to better serve its community and giving back.

Terrance Tucker is one of the founders of the program, he is also the clubhouse manager for the Lake Elsinore Storm who are a minor league affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The mission statement of Strike Out For A Cause focuses on creating memorable experiences for everyone in their community, competing in healthy activities, and providing funding for the people they serve. Tucker is firm on the programs mission as he states “Our nonprofit organization is aimed towards providing military families with experiences that are memorable and fun that are obviously free for them. One of our ways that we create and raise funding is through hosting events where we get everyone included to exercise our mission which is to play it forward to pay it forward.”

Tucker’s journey into baseball came at an early age when he got to be a bat boy for the San Diego Padres. “That first day on the job changed my life, being among the atmosphere, in that locker room with future hall of famers and All-stars and just heroes in the game, really showed me how to serve in my own way.” He described his experience of being the bat boy as always finding ways to help the team out and limit their distractions which seems important when any ball player wants to focus on their game. He praises the Padres organization during that time as he mentions that the players gave back to same amount of respect he was giving them which helped him feel comfortable.

He shared a story about cleaning the clubhouse one time where a player took notice and gave him encouragement about what he was doing and reassuring him that everything would pay off in the end. That story seemed to stick with him as anyone can see that within his programs mission by providing people with a service that others can be inspired by. After being the bat boy for the Padres for at least 6 years, he decided he was ready for a different kind of challenge and he then went to pursue a job in the minor leagues with the hopes of growing from it and working his way back up.

“My first experience in minor league baseball was my least favorite experience, but my most humbling experience. I realized what the game really consisted of, it wasn’t just the limelight’s, it wasn’t just the glory, it was really hard work and dedication that allows those players up there to really enjoy and rejoice for what they work for.” After working some time in Indiana, he got the opportunity to work with the Lake Elsinore Storm to which he said he fell in love after a meeting with the organization and learned their concept. “I fell in love with the ability to grow with the players, to grow with the organization, to grow with the community.”

He’s enjoyed his time with the Lake Elsinore Storm and this season would be no different, however, with the shutdown of the minor league season due to COVID-19, the organization and himself had to think things a little differently. “From a Storm standpoint, since minor league baseball has been suspended or cancelled, it has jeopardized us tremendously. With not allowing us to have games or any fans involved, we’ve been having to rely on things that fall within the CDC guidelines.” One of those things that fall within the guidelines and has seen more popularity with the shutdown of movie theaters is drive-in movies at the the stadium, which helps support the team itself and provides things to do for the community in a safe environment.

His program Strike Out For A Cause and the Lake Elsinore Storm have a good relationship that focuses on giving back and helping others. They recently have a baseball tournament set up for any minor league, college, or independent league players that are looking for a sense of competition and a chance to develop at Storm’s stadium. “If you’re gonna tell me that we’re gonna provide an opportunity for young future leaders to do what they do best and do what they love I’m not gonna be one to say no. We worked with the Lake Elsinore Storm obviously and we’re following the guidelines to keep our social distance and practice whatever we need to practice.” This is just another chance for players that are having their dreams being put on hold to shine and to prove to others that they have what it takes.

As far as the program goes for Strike Out For A Cause they are obviously finding new ways to help the community and impact people’s lives, this time for the players with the tournament. The program wouldn’t be possible without their proud sponsors such as Buildster and JJ Landscaping, who help them receive the funds necessary for their events. This tournament wouldn’t also be possible without the the community that it serves, as players that are local to the area will have an opportunity to get a competitive feel and develop in their own way. Strike Out For A Cause is helping lead the way for its community and finding ways to give back anyway that they can, and even with a pandemic going on, they are finding alternative ways to help.

Minor League Players may benefit from playing in Independent League

With the Minor League season shut down due to the pandemic caused by COVID-19, some players are opting to play in Independent leagues. There are various risks and rewards for these players, however, players make just be willing to chance it.

While Major League teams are showing some support to the minor league system by paying them $400 a week, there being no season drastically kills their development. With that in mind, some minor league players that have an itch to play and continue with their progress may decide to play in independent leagues which is something that may come at a cost. The cost being that while they will get to play if they join certain leagues, they are risking injury which can cost them not only their developmental progress, but their career as well.

Major League teams will not continue to support injured players that choose to play in independent leagues, or indy ball for short, because the players will only be benefiting themselves. This is where the risk and reward factor comes into play as while players can get work in while playing indy ball, should they get injured they risk losing the financial support from their Major League associated teams and possibly their only shot at the Major Leagues. Players that choose to play indy ball also won’t have the backing of the Independent Leagues themselves as they will only be getting continued pay from Major League teams with indy ball being severely underfunded.

Add in the additional risk of still contracting COVID-19 as we are still in a pandemic, with Major League Baseball dealing with it in their own way. Some Major League players have shown growing concern with how the league is handling the situation and preventing the spread of this virus with the possibility of players still being at risk. This is another factor that could negatively impact the independent leagues as well as minor league players that choose to participate. Of course, only time will tell if both independent leagues and other major sports are still safe to continue with caution still being at an all time high as the world deals with COVID-19.

Another complication in this whole mess is that some indy ball players may be cut in order for minor league players to play. The shutdown of minor league baseball has increased the competition overall with many baseball players looking for opportunities to show that they belong in the sport and deserve a shot. Many players will look for any chance to play and that will drive some players out due to heavy competition which is something minor league players may not mean to do, however, development for them may be more important.

The devastation of COVID-19 has definitely impacted the sports world drastically and Minor League Baseball was no exception with players looking for any hope to reach their dreams. The shutdown of the season has left many players on the outside looking in as Major League Baseball continues to try and get a season in, and many lives are impacted as they are wondering how they can stay on top of their game. For some, indy ball may be a risk that they are willing to take.