Introducing Cork Gaines and Matt Birt

I’m proud to announce two more additions to the MLBTR Bullpen.  At this point I will probably not add anyone else.  However I am keeping all the applications on file and regret not being able to act on many excellent ones.  Thanks for all the interest in helping out.

Cork Gaines is the editor and lead writer for Rays Index. He is a Tampa native and University of Iowa graduate that is currently lost in New York City.  Despite this, he still maintains his status as a Tampa Bay Buccaneers season ticket holder and often makes trips back to the Bay Area just because he has an urge for a grouper sandwich from Hurricane and to see people wearing jorts. In addition to Rays Index, Cork wrote a chapter in the "The Hardball Times 2007 Season Preview". Outside of baseball writings, Cork has authored several scientific publications about whales and DNA that are written in a language even he does not understand.  Cork can be reached at corkgaines@gmail.com.

Matt Birt is currently a high school English teacher in Ohio, hoping to head to graduate school in the fall to pursue his doctorate in English Literature.  This is Matt’s first sports writing gig, though he has held a post at a small-town newspaper covering school board meetings and potluck dinners, and he can often be found about town in various restaurants and coffee shops writing and rewriting his fantasy baseball line-up (a compulsion only the fantasy baseball gods can fully understand).  His most bizarre baseball memory involves a Cincinnati Reds winter basketball barnstorming team, his best friend’s house, and Barry Larkin in bib overalls staging a wrestling battle royale with his two brothers, Stephen and Byron.  Matt can be reached at mattbirt.mlbtr@gmail.com.