"Rays"ing Prospects In Brazil

I enjoy reading articles like this. Teams are always looking to expand their reach around the globe and it sounds like Tampa has made some inroads in Brazil. They are basically using the same formula most teams have used in other countries like the Dominican Republic and Venezuela: Build a beautiful state of the art facility, attract the best coaches around the game to the area, reach out to the community to build up interest in youth organizations, and then highly publicize the first official signing to the parent club.

Here's some more commentary about the deal from the East Windup Chronicle.

One of the key players in the deal is Gerry Hunsicker, who is Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations for the Rays. I've had a few encounters with Mr. Hunsicker. First of all, like me, he's a Saint Joseph's grad, which makes him a super beast. But more importantly, in 2004 he came and spoke to one of my classes in school. Why, might you ask, would the (at the time) General Manager of the Houston Astros be speaking in an academic environment? Well, obviously the class was called the Business and Tradition of Baseball and Hunsicker was one of the many speakers my professor had arranged to visit us that semester.

My second encounter with Gerry came in March of 2006 down in Florida at Spring Training with my brother, AI. The photo above is AI pictured with Rays GM Andrew Friedman. You'll notice that Mr. Friedman has some bunny ears attached to his noggin. Who's fingers could those be? That would be a Mr. Gerry Hunsicker's.

At least someone is continuing this age old tradition.