Barry M Bloom, Sportico
@boomskie.bsky.social
Have been an award-winning sports columnist and reporter writing about professional sports since 1976, a voter for the National Baseball Hall of Fame since 1992. Have won nine awards from the San Diego Press Club for columns, news stories and features.
Durant a no-show as his Rockets clobber the Suns in Phoenix. Where was he? "Everyone can fill in [the gaps] any way they want," Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. My latest for substack.
Return to Phoenix: Durant Missing In Action
PHOENIX — Kevin Durant’s much anticipated return to what is now called Mortgage Matchup Center Monday night didn’t occur as planned.
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November 25, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Durant a no-show as his Rockets clobber the Suns in Phoenix. Where was he? "Everyone can fill in [the gaps] any way they want," Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. My latest for substack.
Yankees face a long offseason trying to rebuild with better contact hitters, better pitchers and fielders. Free agent shortstop and former Blue Jay Bo Bichette should be on top of their list. My latest column for @forbes.com
Yankees Need Help In Playing Style And Substance
The Yankees need to add contact hitters, a top-line shortstop, another outfielder, a couple of starting pitchers and two relievers. They have all winter to do it.
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November 23, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Yankees face a long offseason trying to rebuild with better contact hitters, better pitchers and fielders. Free agent shortstop and former Blue Jay Bo Bichette should be on top of their list. My latest column for @forbes.com
The NBA has been ravaged by injuries and the Suns are no exception. Suns coach Jordan Ott says injuries "are on steroids." My analysis on substack. Thanks to colleague Lev Akabas for his analysis.
Suns Injury Situation Reflects Alarming NBA Trend
Win Over Minnesota ends eight-game losing streak vs. Timberwolves
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November 22, 2025 at 3:53 PM
The NBA has been ravaged by injuries and the Suns are no exception. Suns coach Jordan Ott says injuries "are on steroids." My analysis on substack. Thanks to colleague Lev Akabas for his analysis.
I loved Randy Jones. He was an all-time character and personality. It dawned on me that this is the ninth Padres commemoration of life I've written starting with Alan Wiggins in 1991. What a history.
Remembering Padres All-Star Pitcher Randy Jones
Jones was the first Padre 20-game and Cy Young Award winner and a two-time All-Star back in the 1970s. He won 20 and 22 games each during the 1975 and 1976 seasons.
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November 20, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I loved Randy Jones. He was an all-time character and personality. It dawned on me that this is the ninth Padres commemoration of life I've written starting with Alan Wiggins in 1991. What a history.
With the hiring of the untried Craig Stammen to manage the Padres I can't help but feel this is A. J. Preller's last stand. Craig is his ninth manager, including three interim. Hope I'm wrong. My column for @sportico.bsky.social
Padres’ Stammen Hire Stands Out in MLB’s Odd Round of Manager Picks
Craig Stammen is the ninth San Diego Padres manager to work under A.J. Preller since he took over as president of baseball operations in Aug. 2014.
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November 13, 2025 at 2:53 PM
With the hiring of the untried Craig Stammen to manage the Padres I can't help but feel this is A. J. Preller's last stand. Craig is his ninth manager, including three interim. Hope I'm wrong. My column for @sportico.bsky.social
At first blush, the Suns are looking good this season with their Locomotion offense and Devin Booker leading the way as everyone touches the ball. It's fun again so far at Mortgage Matchup Center. My latest column for @sportico.bsky.social
Devin Booker’s New Chapter: Lead the Suns’ Rebound From Disaster
Booker’s play under a new untried coach and equally inexperienced general manager has been promising for the whole team.
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November 12, 2025 at 2:11 PM
At first blush, the Suns are looking good this season with their Locomotion offense and Devin Booker leading the way as everyone touches the ball. It's fun again so far at Mortgage Matchup Center. My latest column for @sportico.bsky.social
It's almost five days after the World Series ended and so Thursday the free agency season begins. No Ohtani, no Soto, labor negotiations pending. Should be a different one. My latest for @sportico.bsky.social
MLB Free Agency Opens With More Questions Than Answers
Cody Bellinger, Alex Bregman and Pete Alonso will be back on the free agent market this offseason, sans the shackles of the qualifying offer.
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November 5, 2025 at 8:26 PM
It's almost five days after the World Series ended and so Thursday the free agency season begins. No Ohtani, no Soto, labor negotiations pending. Should be a different one. My latest for @sportico.bsky.social
MLB is in a great place right now. "Baseball, with what happened in this World Series, has a chance to keep growing now," Magic Johnson said. With collective bargaining coming let's not screw it up. My latest column for @sportico.bsky.social
MLB Labor Strife Could Interrupt the Dodgers’ Magic Kingdom
Labor negotiations are on the horizon in 2026. All signs point to them being contentious. The fear is another lockout will occur when the CBA expires.
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November 4, 2025 at 1:23 PM
MLB is in a great place right now. "Baseball, with what happened in this World Series, has a chance to keep growing now," Magic Johnson said. With collective bargaining coming let's not screw it up. My latest column for @sportico.bsky.social
My thoughts on the end of the 2025 World Series highlighted by the exploits of Ohtani and Yamamoto. Game 7 was an all-timer. "I have seen enough to know I have seen too much." Here's the wrap @sportico.bsky.social
Dodgers Win World Series on the Back of Series MVP Yamamoto
Yamamoto, the World Series MVP, became the first pitcher since Randy Johnson in 2001 to win three games in a single World Series.
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November 2, 2025 at 1:56 PM
My thoughts on the end of the 2025 World Series highlighted by the exploits of Ohtani and Yamamoto. Game 7 was an all-timer. "I have seen enough to know I have seen too much." Here's the wrap @sportico.bsky.social
The postseason has been all about Ohtani, but the international stage has never been any brighter for MLB as we approach Game 7 with a broad spectrum of attention in Canada, the US, Japan and Latin America. My latest for @sportico.bsky.social
Dodgers to Turn to Ohtani in Game 7 With World Series on the Line
The Dodgers won a classic Game 6 to stay alive. Now, they'll put the ball in the hands of their biggest star, with Shohei Ohtani pitching Game 7.
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November 1, 2025 at 2:07 PM
The postseason has been all about Ohtani, but the international stage has never been any brighter for MLB as we approach Game 7 with a broad spectrum of attention in Canada, the US, Japan and Latin America. My latest for @sportico.bsky.social
Because Como will get you a cheaper jacket? Shop at Costco either on line or in store. They have plenty of low price nice jackets.
I’ve had the same light jacket for like 13 years and I desperately need a new one. Been looking forever but I just found a perfect one. It’s $385. This is why I am voting for Cuomo.
October 31, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Because Como will get you a cheaper jacket? Shop at Costco either on line or in store. They have plenty of low price nice jackets.
I hated the intentional walk when Bonds was around and I detest it even more after what the Blue Jays did to Ohtani in that 18-inning game. Time to get rid of it. My latest column for @sportico.bsky.social
MLB Should Abolish the Intentional Walk After Shohei Ohtani Debacle
While Barry Bonds was intentionally walked a record 668 times in his 22-year career, the target in Game 3 was Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.
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October 31, 2025 at 4:17 AM
I hated the intentional walk when Bonds was around and I detest it even more after what the Blue Jays did to Ohtani in that 18-inning game. Time to get rid of it. My latest column for @sportico.bsky.social
On a team of high paid stars a minimum salaried rookie right-hander named Trey Yesavage pitched the Blue Jays to a win away of from beating the Dodgers in the World Series. My latest for @sportico.bsky.social
Yesavage Pitches Blue Jays to the Verge of a World Series Win
The 22-year-old pitcher, who made just $57,204 for his three regular-season starts this year, tossed a gem to bring Toronto a win from the title.
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October 30, 2025 at 1:51 PM
On a team of high paid stars a minimum salaried rookie right-hander named Trey Yesavage pitched the Blue Jays to a win away of from beating the Dodgers in the World Series. My latest for @sportico.bsky.social
I won an award from the San Diego Press Cub for this column I wrote in July about how MLB is losing its grasp on its own history because of new rules governing the ASG and postseason. Read it below @sportico.bsky.social
Baseball Losing Grasp of Its Own History in Era of New Rules
These changes to baseball—not just the All-Star Game changes, but the adjusted playoff format, eliminating Game 163, —come at a heavy price.
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October 30, 2025 at 1:35 AM
I won an award from the San Diego Press Cub for this column I wrote in July about how MLB is losing its grasp on its own history because of new rules governing the ASG and postseason. Read it below @sportico.bsky.social
Ohtani allows Guerrero homer. Goes 0-for three at the plate with a walk and two Ks. For one day he's not MLB's version of Superman as Blue Jays tie Dodgers. My latest for @sportico.bsky.social
Ohtani Turns Mortal as Blue Jays Tie Dodgers in World Series
After Shohei Ohtani set a record by reaching base nine times Monday, he was brought back to earth in a World Series Game 4 loss to Toronto Tuesday.
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October 29, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Ohtani allows Guerrero homer. Goes 0-for three at the plate with a walk and two Ks. For one day he's not MLB's version of Superman as Blue Jays tie Dodgers. My latest for @sportico.bsky.social
It was another World Series game for the ages Monday night at Dodger Stadium. Ohtani was on base nine times with two homers, two doubles and five walks, four intentional. Freeman walked it off with a homer in the 18th. My latest for @sportico.bsky.social
Ohtani, Freeman Carry Dodgers in 18-Inning World Series Classic
The Dodgers and Toronto tied the record for the longest World Series game, with LA winning 6-5 thanks to stars Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani.
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October 28, 2025 at 3:25 PM
It was another World Series game for the ages Monday night at Dodger Stadium. Ohtani was on base nine times with two homers, two doubles and five walks, four intentional. Freeman walked it off with a homer in the 18th. My latest for @sportico.bsky.social
Max Scherzer at 41 is John Schneider's best choice for the Blue Jays to stave off the Dodgers in Monday's Game 3 of the World Series. It could be Max's last World Series start. My latest for @sportico.bsky.social
Scherzer Ready to Make the Most of Perhaps His Last World Series Start
Max Scherzer will make history in Game 3 by becoming the first pitcher in MLB history to start a World Series game for four different teams.
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October 27, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Max Scherzer at 41 is John Schneider's best choice for the Blue Jays to stave off the Dodgers in Monday's Game 3 of the World Series. It could be Max's last World Series start. My latest for @sportico.bsky.social
Yamamoto throws the first World Series complete game in a decade as Manfred regals media beforehand with his wisdom. My latest for @sportico.bsky.social
Dodgers Even Up World Series as Manfred Speaks on CBA, Olympics
Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto tossed the first complete World Series game in a decade and the first back-to-back postseason complete games since 2001.
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October 26, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Yamamoto throws the first World Series complete game in a decade as Manfred regals media beforehand with his wisdom. My latest for @sportico.bsky.social
Maybe, but the point is the fans didn't boo the US national anthem.
Might be me, but I felt a definite “Fuck you!” aimed at my president in that boisterous Canadian national anthem. 🤔
October 25, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Maybe, but the point is the fans didn't boo the US national anthem.
A sea change could be coming in baseball if the Blue Jays and their penchant for contact hitting succeeds in winning the World Series over the Dodgers. It did in Game 1. It's refreshing. My latest for @sportico.bsky.social
Blue Jays’ Contact Approach to Hitting Overwhelms Dodgers
The Blue Jays scored nine runs in the sixth inning, including a grand slam by Addison Barger, the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history.
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October 25, 2025 at 12:56 PM
A sea change could be coming in baseball if the Blue Jays and their penchant for contact hitting succeeds in winning the World Series over the Dodgers. It did in Game 1. It's refreshing. My latest for @sportico.bsky.social
David Roberts was making a point when he said, "Let's get four more wins and really ruin baseball." The Dodgers are getting plenty of help at both ends of the spectrum. My latest column for @sportico.bsky.social
The Dodgers Aren’t ‘Ruining Baseball’—They Have Plenty of Help
This World Series boasts teams with two of the best records in MLB and two of the top five highest player payrolls.
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October 24, 2025 at 1:14 PM
David Roberts was making a point when he said, "Let's get four more wins and really ruin baseball." The Dodgers are getting plenty of help at both ends of the spectrum. My latest column for @sportico.bsky.social
Touch 'em all George. You'll never hit a bigger homer in your life. Springer joins Joe Carter with the biggest homers in Blue Jays history. On to the World Series vs. Dodgers. My latest for @sportico.bsky.social
George Springer’s Home Run Enters History Alongside Joe Carter’s in ’93
Springer smacked a three-run blast to give the Toronto Blue Jays the lead and eventually the win in Game 7 of the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners.
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October 21, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Touch 'em all George. You'll never hit a bigger homer in your life. Springer joins Joe Carter with the biggest homers in Blue Jays history. On to the World Series vs. Dodgers. My latest for @sportico.bsky.social
I witnessed the greatest single baseball performance of all time Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Ohtani pitching 6 innings of scoreless, 2 hit ball with 10 Ks, plus hitting three homers. Here's my story for @sportico.bsky.social
Shohei Ohtani Went Where No Player Has Ever Gone Before
“Six innings of shutout ball and three home runs? That’s crazy,” Dodgers owner Mark Walter said after LA clinched a second straight World Series spot.
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October 18, 2025 at 1:09 PM
I witnessed the greatest single baseball performance of all time Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Ohtani pitching 6 innings of scoreless, 2 hit ball with 10 Ks, plus hitting three homers. Here's my story for @sportico.bsky.social
Ohtani's not hitting, but he has the Dodgers' clinching the NLCS on his pitching arm in Game 4 at Dodger Stadium Friday night. Let's see what happens. My latest for @sportico.bsky.social
Ohtani, Dodgers’ $700M Man, Takes the Mound to Clinch Amid Hit Slump
Ohtani, the Dodgers' $700 million man, will start Game 4 of the NLCS against the Brewers on Friday while working out of an untimely hitting slump.
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October 17, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Ohtani's not hitting, but he has the Dodgers' clinching the NLCS on his pitching arm in Game 4 at Dodger Stadium Friday night. Let's see what happens. My latest for @sportico.bsky.social