Best Podcast in Baseball · St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Can a former Ray pierce the Cardinals' clouded forecast?

·49 min·4 clips

Mark Tompkin lost his wife's school, his workplace, and his office building to hurricanes in Tampa Bay.

This episode of Best Podcast in Baseball features host Derek Gould and guest Mark Tompkin, a longtime Tampa Bay Times reporter, discussing the uncertain future of the Tampa Bay Rays. They explore how the Rays' situation might inform the approach of Haim Bloom, the former Rays executive now leading the St. Louis Cardinals' front office. Tompkin details the extensive community damage from hurricanes Helene and Milton, which forced the Rays to relocate from damaged Tropicana Field for the season. He notes the team experienced a bizarre year, being the best team in baseball for six weeks and the worst for about twelve weeks, with eight players making their MLB debut. A handshake agreement is in place to sell the team to a new ownership group, with a transfer of power expected by the end of the season. The city of St. Petersburg is obligated to repair Tropicana Field under the lease, but there are concerns about mold, rust, and standing water inside the facility. Tompkin reveals the Rays might open their 2025 season in St. Louis if their stadium isn't ready, as part of a planned three-city road trip. The long-term stadium deal for a new ballpark and surrounding development, agreed upon last July, was scrapped by the Rays after the hurricanes due to financial complications. Tompkin describes a persistent "stadium fatigue" in the region and a degree of fan apathy, partly due to a perceived divide between Tampa and St. Petersburg residents. He recounts how a previous "split season" proposal with Montreal genuinely convinced him of ownership's willingness to relocate half the team. The area has a deep baseball history with many spring training teams, leading some locals to identify more as fans of clubs like the Yankees than the Rays. Tompkin characterizes Haim Bloom as a thorough and earnest executive who excelled at every task with the Rays, eventually leading to a rivalry with Eric Neander for the top job. He suggests Bloom's experience in both the low-revenue Rays system and the high-pressure Boston market uniquely prepares him for the Cardinals' role. The tone is conversational and insider-focused, blending personal anecdotes with detailed organizational reporting. Listeners interested in the business of baseball, team relocation sagas, and front-office strategy would enjoy this episode. Those seeking pure on-field analysis or game highlights might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

A Cardinals front-office talk that widens into Tampa Bay's unusual baseball identity.

A Cardinals question opens the door to a broader conversation about what a front office led by Haim Bloom could signal after his long Tampa Bay run.

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Want a Cardinals forecast with Tampa Bay experience behind it?

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