RaysUp 2026 World Series Week with Brewers Begins

World Series Week Begins Tampa Bay Rays & Milwaukee Brewers 2026

Mark Corbett: [00:00:00] Welcome to BaseballBiz On Deck. I am Mark Corbett, your host, and with me this week we have the esteemed honor of having the curator of the Tampa Baseball Museum with us again today, and that is none other than Mr. Josh Weaver. Welcome, Josh. How you doing, buddy? 

Josh Weaver: Good. How are you? Thanks for having me on the show again.

Mark Corbett: Oh, man, it is fantastic to have you here. You were here earlier in the year with Mat and I, and we were positing what would the future hold for the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2026 season, and you were the most optimistic of the bunch. Mat and I came up around 500 level. We figured, okay, they'll win half of the season.

They'll come in with 81 and 81. That'll b- maybe with that. You w- had higher numbers. I can't remember specifically what they were. Do you remember? 

Josh Weaver: Not exactly, but it was over 500. I think that was my guess is we would definitely end up over 500. And what they've done is just exceeded, I think, anybody's honest...

I think if anybody's honest, Mark, they're gonna... I don't think anybody would be like, "No, this is what we expected." 

Mark Corbett: [00:01:00] They're 

Josh Weaver: lying. I knew that my thought process was for them to go home after the last year of being over at Steinbrenner Field, not that, that was an off-season for them.

Yeah. Yeah. That, that whole thing, y- we both live in Florida. Last year was, and the year before, was so hard for so many people. 

And it included the team. That they were totally uprooted, but, you have people in th- in their family homes. My home was, in Crystal River, was flooded.

I think that people getting back home, and in this case, the team getting back home, I kinda thought, they may do okay this year. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah, - this city, this area had been through so much difficulty, tragedy. You think about the Trop after Hurricane Milton came through here and tore the roof off, and that, it was just symptomatic of what was a much bigger, deeper problem with all the people in the surrounding communities.

Everybody has been trying to bounce back. And if you had told me a year [00:02:00] ago, before we had new owners that all this would transpire, I would've laughed at you. But I, one- once this new ownership group came in, Ken Babby, Mike - Cosgrove, Pat Zalupski, they have just turned things around as far as the energy that's coming out of the Rays', Tropicana Stadium.

And the- I, 

Josh Weaver: I agree with you 1,000%, Mark. And not only that, I... You and I both still know some folks that, that work at Tropicana, me more recently having worked there. And my friends that, FanHost, for example, they talk constantly about the energy, and there is... It's palpable. You and I have both been to games.

We've been to games together, through different e- different events. But what's happening there is, it's special. It's... they've taken the old stadium and... I don't know how you feel about this, Mark, but when going to the stadium now is, it's an event, and that's the way it always should have been.

I think maybe with [00:03:00] Ken maybe partly having, minor league teams, I think, people have said that's helpful, and I think it has been. Because he, you know, doing minor league games, you need... getting people in the seats, you gotta be creative, and I think the Rays have done a good job this season.

I think they've had some really good giveaways. I think that always helps. I think, and of course, the product that they put on the field. And I know we'll probably talk about this later, but, the ownership group was smart enough not to destroy the team- Sure ... before the trade deadline. 

Mark Corbett: - To that point, let's look at that team.

My gosh. And it was interesting 'cause I'm looking at all the crossovers when I see this, Josh. And see, looking at players who've been involved with both teams right now, meaning the Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. We look at Ozzie Timmons. He had been the first base coach with us for so long. And then lo and behold, he's suddenly with the Milwaukee Brewers as a bench coach.

I believe that's what it was. Yeah. Yeah, or was it maybe as a h- a [00:04:00] batting- assistant batting coach there as well. And then lo and behold again, way back in two... Is it 2018 we had Willy Adames and Jake Bauers with the Tampa Bay Rays. And I re- remember seeing both of them on a cover of that special publication they hand you when you come into the place, Inside Pitch, and it had them both on jet skis together.

I thought, man, that's gonna be, that's gonna be fun watching these guys come up through the Rays, for years to come. And that, that didn't happen so much with Jake. Jake had a lot of bounce around. We can talk about that in a minute too. But he seems to have found his place. My gosh, he is the MVP, for the National League Championship Series.

And that ain't that's nothing to s- to disregard by any stretch of imaginations. And well-deserved. A lot of hard effort on his part 

Josh Weaver: And I think, and you look at our side, I know you're gonna talk about Freddy later too, but, it, and I'll have to be honest with you, Mark. I was not convinced about [00:05:00] the trade in getting Freddy Peralta.

And I have to be honest, and I was totally wrong. 'Cause, I'm like, 'cause I w- wasn't his ERA when he left the Mets and came over to us like a 4.99 or something like that? 

Mark Corbett: It was sad.

Josh Weaver: And, the thing is I guess we should, I don't, I'm sure some people probably already do, Kyle Snyder, if he's not called the pitcher whisperer, he should be.

What he d- I don't know what it is about him that makes people great. But he can turn people... he, and I think, Freddy mentioned this too. I talk about, our MVP of the American League Championship Series. What Freddy did is impressive. And, and- Yeah ... I think it's, and he said it's the culture of the Rays and the fact that everybody embraced him.

But I still think there's something really special about Kyle Snyder 

Mark Corbett: And what would that be? 

Josh Weaver: I don't know. 

Mark Corbett: Put it in a [00:06:00] bottle and sell it, right? 

Josh Weaver: Yeah I think if he knew himself, he would probably just keep it under wraps and make sure it was well hidden in some vault somewhere.

Mark Corbett: Yeah he's been amazing, Kyle really it's... And, even Chad Mottola as far as hitting. 

Josh Weaver: Yeah. 

Mark Corbett: And if you look at Peralta, by the way On YouTube, look up for a Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays ejection. And let's see, it's Siri? Siri when he was playing for us. And who's the pitcher for the Brewers?

Peralta. And Siri gets a home run off of him. The next at bat, Siri gets dinged in the butt, and there's... JomBoy has a video up of the whole thing. So it's kinda neat hi- historically looking at, Peralta on the mound for the Brewers and that him play- doing that kind of play. But what's also fun is watching, how his coach p- Pat Murphy stood up for him.

He really stood up for Peralta [00:07:00] 

Josh Weaver: And, I think that's, a- and I think Kevin, and I think probably my favorite line, and I may not say it quite correctly, but when the Yankees pitchers were hitting us, our guys. Yeah. And then what did Kevin say? "I got a whole stable of guy of horses that can throw 95, over 90," something like that.

Mark Corbett: Yeah. "I got a stable of guys, all of them can throw over 95 miles per hour." And 

Josh Weaver: he said to me one- Exactly, Mark ... period Exactly. And you want that in your manager. 

Mark Corbett: Oh, yeah. 

Josh Weaver: That's exactly it. Yeah. You want... 'cause, sometimes people I think, 'cause Kevin is quiet, but, he does get fired up and I think, that time he knew. He's like, "I'm pro- I'm protecting my guys no Mater what." And so he, I think Kevin has been just great for the Rays. I know some people talk about, "Oh, I don't know." But, my question would be, if we didn't have Kevin Cash, who would you want?

Mark Corbett: Oh, yeah. 

Josh Weaver: I, there's nobody that comes to mind. 

Mark Corbett: He is the longest tenured [00:08:00] manager with a single team right now, and what's interesting too is if you look across the way and Pat Murphy, while he hasn't been the manager except for what, maybe two, three years, he was actually the bench coach there, you know, I think before that.

So when Timmons was there, I think he had something to do with the batting as a batting coach. I'm not, I can't remember specifically. But the idea being, of course, that Pat Murphy had been there for some time, and I think he had even known Craig Counsell, who was the previous manager prior to that back a lot, days like being with Notre Dame or something.

I'd have to check it all out. Oh, wow. Yeah. 

Josh Weaver: So that's going way back. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah, so there's quite a bit of history when you look at that. And let's see. Freddy Peralta, looking at his history here. Brewers 20- 2018 through 2025, and then traded to the Mets in January 2026. Guys, come on, that's just a couple of months ago for all practical purposes.

And then we got him on August 2nd, [00:09:00] 2026, and he has recorded 70 wins and a 3.59 ERA when he was with Wil- when he was with Milwaukee. Now,... Did you realize Drew Rasmussen was also part of the Brewers organization? 

Josh Weaver: I for- I had forgotten about that, Mark. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 2020 to 2021, he was traded to Tampa Bay in a deal involving Willy Adames.

And man, he's just- That was 

Josh Weaver: a big deal for both teams. For relatively small market teams, that was a big, that was a big trade. 

Mark Corbett: It was a big trade. But it's amazing when you look at that. So the, those two pitchers right now on our side are as amazing, and then when you look across the way in the other dugout and Jake Bauers to me I love all these little pieces of the puzzle that can- Right

continue to move around. And, it, this... People who are talking about these two teams are being rather unique, and it means basically they're playing baseball that r- that a lot of the other teams have long since forgotten. It's not like it's a new [00:10:00] brand of baseball. This is baseball using all the tools at hand, whether it be bunting, whether it be stealing.

Those are things that haven't always been done before. Are making a long at-bats. E- even Jackie Bauers had a long at-bat, I think, with the Dodgers. I think he had a 12 or 13 at-bat during during the National League Championship Series. And the Rays, they're doing that as well.

So we, I hear some of these national broadcasters talk about this. It's like, guys, these are doing it for less because they're more innovative, and they're really just playing all the aspects of the game that's available to them 

Josh Weaver: We had some folks in the museum today they were Yankees fans. And of course I don't think any Yankees fan would have thought that the Rays would've swept them.

, I know it's a cliche, but it goes back to the old Moneyball, what the Brewers have to do and what we have to do. You've got the, these giant, conglomerates if you [00:11:00] will, with the Yankees and, the Dodgers obviously.

It's like and the fact that you look at the payrolls and what they put together, and it, this, it's the way we have to do it. And I think when people come in the museum, almost to a person they have respect for the Rays because of what you just said, Mark. They make it work. They... And I think and I've always said for folks that come in the museum, that the 2018 was the best team in my personal opinion.

No disrespect to the 2020 team, because that was a great team too. Obviously went to the World Series during a, a COVID shortened season, but I think that 2018 was just special. But I don't know, Mark. This team we're watching this year, they will definitely, I don't know how you feel, but they are definitely putting that 2018 t- giving them a run for their money as far as the best Rays team ever.

Mark Corbett: Yeah. Yeah, even Kevin Cash he'll i- indicate that this team is... He doesn't disparage [00:12:00] the 2018, but he says this is a unique team and the energy that's there cannot be denied. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. So let's, I'm gonna talk to you a little bit about the museum here in a minute, but- Okay

is there anything specifically you wanted to address as... Oh, I know what I wanted to ask you. Looking at the World Series, what it takes to get here. Wild card, division championship, a c- whole championship for everything with your league championships, and then the World Series.

So all these different games post-season, a lot of wear and tear on the arms. When was it that was there a time when the World Series was just played by the t- two top winning teams? You had the American League champion and you had the National League champion, and it wasn't like, oh, they've au- their records, whatever they were after 162 games or whatever the, or however how many games there were in those seasons, that was the two teams that were gonna face off.

They didn't have- ... to go into all this other post-season stuff. And it's funny [00:13:00] to me because if I look right now at the the two teams that are in the World Series, you actually have the two that had the best records in their leagues. So we could tell all the rest of them go home and it's just started right now after the post-season.

Just- 

Josh Weaver: And not only that, you mentioned ... and it was a fascinating ... You and I were just talking one day, and it was a fascinating con- concept, I thought, as far as the division, now that we have, divisions and division winners. And you look at, the, the, some of the other parts of the American League the Central and the West, especially, the fact that you have a team at 500 that won the division.

Isn't that right, Mark? I mean- Yeah. And then you have the Yankees. That's one of the things that this gentleman and I were talking about today. You have the Yankees and even Boston with pretty good records, and they're both wild card teams. It was interesting, until you pointed that out.

We know it, but like you said, back in the day, you had two teams. The other thing that I think is fascinating with all this is [00:14:00] you have to take the records now with a grain of salt. 

Because, to your point about how many, you have the wild card and all the division and then the ALCS and then the World Series.

Think about what these guys did back in the day and the number of home runs they had, if it was Mantle or whoever, you go back in time. And to me, you really can't look at those the stats from back then and the stats today and be like, "Okay you know somebody that's a more modern player," of course they're gonna have more home runs because there's more rounds.

Or there's, or they're, it ... RBIs or whatever the case may be, innings pitched, because there's so many more rounds. So I think that, it's harder to take a look back, but I do think you're right. Back in those days ... take Al Lopez for example. He was always chasing the Yankees.

And he was so well-respected, that you and I both know this, that he has zero World Series rings. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Josh Weaver: But he's in the Hall of Fame. He [00:15:00] just happened to have been in that time from 1949 to 1964, pretty much in that space too, that the Yankees won the pennant every year except for the two years that Al Lopez broke through.

And, you look at somebody like that and you, it ... You're never in my ... maybe not never, but I can't see in today's modern era of getting anybody in the Hall of Fame that's a manager with zero World Series rings. Like Tony La Russa, we know he's got three. Pretty much if you have three you're a lock-in, for sure.

And then there's people like, obviously Bobby Cox and what they did in Atlanta. That's a special case. And you have Earl Weaver. But it's, it is ... the divisions and all the, the wild cards, I'm just glad that we had a bye because y- as the last two previous times we went to the playoffs, we lost in the wild card series, so I'm glad we had

we were in first place and we got to sit back and watch everybody else battle. 

Mark Corbett: Since we have you here recounting all this history for us, I do wanna point out again, you are the curator for the Tampa Baseball Museum at the home of Al [00:16:00] Lopez. Now, with the World Series coming up, are there any special things that people who are either in town for the games or just wanna catch up on baseball in the area, is there anything special going on at the museum this week?

Josh Weaver: Yeah, so we're doing, we've had... Our staff is working on a temporary exhibit that's pretty much done, and what we're doing is focusing on the 2008 World Series, the, the 2020 World Series, and obviously, gearing up for the Rays.

And so we have a temporary exhibit on the Rays that started, that came out today, and we'll keep that at least... if they win the World Series, we may keep it up for, until Christmas. And then the other thing we're doing is we're doing a special where instead of normally the, the general admission price is $12 per person for an adult and six for a child, and kids five and under are free.

But in this case, we're doing $8 [00:17:00] for adults and $3 for kids. So that's gonna go through the entire World Series, and will even to November 1st. So i- maybe if folks are back in, in town after maybe they go up to Milwaukee or we have people from Milwaukee. The other thing we're doing is we are gonna be staying open.

We're not open, usually open Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, but because of the World Series and the fact that we will be home at that point, we're gonna be open starting today through this weekend, obviously, and then through the following weekend through that Sunday. So we're actually expanding hours in addition, so we'll be open, like I said, which not, was, we've never a- to my knowledge, unless it's a special event, we've never been open on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday before.

So yeah, we're doing a lot of different things to try to get people in the museum. Today, for example we had a good turnout today. So it's, so I think it's working. I think the press are interested in what's going on. We [00:18:00] may have some press come by tomorrow. So yeah, we're doing a lot of different things and, but that's really the biggest things is the temporary exhibit expanding the days to have full coverage through the entire World Series having the museum open is pretty, pretty cool event.

And then obviously the pricing. So those are probably the big things we're doing right now. 

Mark Corbett: I'll make sure I put a link at the end of the notes denoting where they can find the museum. That's, was it like on 19th Avenue in Palm, somewhere around there in Ybor? 

Josh Weaver: Yep. Yep. And it's a good location and it's next to a lot of good restaurants.

Mark Corbett: That could be a problem. 

Josh Weaver: But y- yeah and like I said, we're, And the good thing is we actually now have parking in front of the museum. It's city pay parking, but the good thing is we actually have parking right in front of the museum. And usually during the week it's not too hard to get those spots.

So if people were interested in coming to the museum, and I believe we're gonna keep the hours for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday [00:19:00] will be, like, most of the day is 10:00 to 4:00. 

And then Sundays we're open 11 to 5. But yeah, it's... And we're hoping to get, folks in and it's kinda cool to see the old, the 2008 program Auggie brought in and the 2020 program.

And, for Rays fans, this is the first time in, you know, since 2008 that we've hosted a World Series, 'cause obviously COVID. So we're hoping to get some folks in and it's already starting. No, thanks for mentioning that, Mark. No, glad to. Yeah. So what's the pricing again? So for this an adult ticket or admission, if you will, is $8.

Kids six to 17, so you know, the, the kid range is $3, and then kids five and under is free, and kids five and under are always free. 

Mark Corbett: Ah. That's pretty dang ol' good. I like that price a lot. Like that price a lot better than what I've been seeing. I was checking for tickets over at the Trop, standing room only.

[00:20:00] Oh my gosh, what was it? Was it 4,000... No. No, eight hun- $800 and some change, 'cause there's fees, so it's like probably another 10% on top of that. So imagine, boys and girls, if you wanna go to game three at the Trop, you gotta be able to pony up around $883 for standing room only. That tells you the popularity of this, and it's a little crazy to say the least.

And the numbers as far as the cost for game one and two in Milwaukee are much higher. So f- some people from Milwaukee decided, "I'm gonna skip my Brewers games here at home, and I'm gonna go ahead and go down to Tampa. I'll fly down there, I'll get a hotel, and I'll watch games three, four, and five, and I could do it much cheaper than buying one ticket for the, the Brewers at the," what is it, American Life Stadium or whatever.

And it's like- ... it's that's kinda sad when a local fan can't do that. It's, tickets are always a tough thing anyway. The Brewers, I'm not gonna [00:21:00] go into it 'cause like it's probably been said too many times, but there was like a forever ticket that people bought for $1,000 years ago, and suddenly a lot of people wanna redeem it, and the ticket said best available seats.

Evidently best available seats did not mean the same thing it did 20 years ago, so quite a bit of conflict. And I'll just tell you, if you wanna know more, look it up. I'm not gonna berate them anymore on this. They've already been chewed up enough on social media, but, so it's worth going to. And I was glad that Karen and I went, d- and during the American League Championship Series, the first game there in, at the Trop, and that, the excitement, the volume of the crowd, there's just nothing like it 

Josh Weaver: And, a- and it's funny because, you're talking about the price of tickets and getting a ticket to a Rays game, and, 40,000 plus for all these games pretty much.

And the fact that you also have the third deck open. Yeah. That's how we end up with... as Mark, for many years [00:22:00] the Rays have not had the third deck open. So it's good to see the fans coming out to support the team. And I think that maybe people are starting to realize that this is special, what we're watching.

Mark Corbett: Yep. 

Josh Weaver: Because it's... I don't know. I'm not gonna predict... I hope we win the World Series. But what's kinda cool, and I know you probably talked about this, you and Mat have probably covered this quite a bit too, is the fact that with these two teams you're going to get a first-time World Series champion, which is...

Either way, hopefully it's the Rays for us, but if not, it, it is, it's gonna be what it's gonna be. But it's not like we're coming at, the, it's the 27 World Series champion Yankees going back to the World Series. Or even the Cardinals with all their run and, more recently what the Dodgers have done.

.. People have been talking about this for a while, when people saw towards the end of the year like, "Wow, wouldn't it be an, in a good, great baseball world to have the two teams that are playing in the World Series [00:23:00] playing?" 'Cause it's kinda nice to have a refreshing two teams. And the fact that, like I said, I hope it's the Rays, but regardless, even if it's not, I'm not gonna be hating on the Brewers for winning the World Series because it's never happened for them either. 

Mark Corbett: No. Yeah. I'm with you there, my friend.

I always say, while I love the Rays and I'm big... I love baseball as much or more. So seeing great things happen for teams and especially those who've worked hard for years to get there. Yep. I am gonna be so happy if, when the Rays do win this. Yandy hasn't told me yet that's gonna be the case, but I think he will-

by game six. And but- 

Josh Weaver: Do you know what? That's good too, Mark. The fact that we've got people that are like, like Yandy be like, "Yeah, we're gonna win." And you know what? How many times have we heard other teams' players say the same type of thing? It's kinda cool that Yandy went out there and just said it, and he did it.

And they did it. [00:24:00] 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. He said that with extreme confidence, and that was no braggadocio about it. And then Mater of fact, the next day, Junior hits his home run, but Yandy couldn't let it stand by itself, so he had to come back out and hit another home run.

Josh Weaver: I was gonna say, real quick and Yandy's kind of come roaring back. I know he's been quiet during the playoffs, but the fact that he's hitting and hitting home runs and, we need... not that we don't have a complete team , Chandler Simpson is, and Yandy, are my two favorite players.

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Josh Weaver: And what's funny is the two guys have two of the highest batting averages in the league, as and the w- the weird thing is how they went about it. You wouldn't... yandy, you're like, yeah, I could see that. But I don't know that anybody would be like, Chandler's gonna be in one of the top three at the end of the season with batting averages.

I don't know that anybody would have predicted that either, Mark. But it's what these guys have done and the complete package and the fact that, the Rays ownership, said let's tweak it a [00:25:00] little bit." Getting Hicks, getting Peralta, getting the pitcher Wells. 

Wells is...

they don't talk much about him. He's done really well, too. 

Mark Corbett: And- Did 

Josh Weaver: they bring him 

Mark Corbett: in and he f- she pitched to one batter in Cleveland and... Yeah, did his work, did it well. 

Josh Weaver: But I think that, they were smart enough to realize l- if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Let's just tweak it a little bit.

And- ...'cause the chemistry, you... We talked about that earlier. There's just something about this team that I haven't seen, I don't think, since 2008 

Mark Corbett: Yeah, I can't remember if I said this when, with Mat last week or not, but w- was it Shehadi? She was trying to get one of the players to talk about the three big ones.

The three big ones come up and here it was, he said, "Tres pequenos," meaning three little ones. It's like no. Junior. Junior, yeah. So let's clear it up real quick. We're not talking about big ones. And the other one's saying, "No, there's no heroes on this team. They're all working together."

And I think that is part of the strength of this team, [00:26:00] is that they see themselves as a team. They don't see themselves as any ego building personality. So I think that's really helped a lot. So I'm glad Kevin and all of them are just putting on a great show for all of us, and hopefully, within a week here we'll be raising the banner again with the World Series.

And so I'm excited about this, my friend, I really am. 

Josh Weaver: So- And I think with the timing, I was just gonna say, Mark, with the timing and, our friends in Canada, especially Montreal know all too well. 

Sometimes situations can make a team and sometimes they can break a team, and you know what I'm talking about in this case, the Montreal Expos. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Josh Weaver: That '94 season, they, there was issues already, surrounding the team, and there had been for years and years. But they were on a such a roll that year and, they didn't get the stadium and, now they're the, they're in Washington.

But I think with the Rays, this, with them, the new ownership group [00:27:00] coming in and, at least the first rounds of votes from the county and the city, I think all of that is going the right way. And the fact that they're in the World Series, I don't think you could ask for a better script, because I think this will help solidify making sure that we keep our team in Tampa Bay 

Mark Corbett: Let me ask you personally, what are your plans? Here we are, it's Thursday night, the night before the first game of the World Series, and that's gonna be tomorrow night, October 23rd. Where will you be at 8:00 to watch the game? 

Josh Weaver: We will be on the couch watching the ga- well, okay, I have to be honest with you, Mark, I will be listening to the game because I'm gonna stick with our radio guys mainly because we don't have cable.

And, a- and listen to Andy and the guys do their show. It's actually been a fun way to watch the post, or listen to the postseason. So we're definitely gonna be glued to our TVs. I'm hoping [00:28:00] against hope that maybe somehow I can score a decent priced World Series ticket, which I don't know that those things exist.

They may be, like a four-leaf clover out there. So that's what we're gonna do. How about you? What's your plans? 

Mark Corbett: I'll probably be sitting on the couch here. I gotta tell you, after watching the division series and the championship series, I really s- wanna just turn the daggone sound down because , the national guys I don't think they know enough about the sport, or two, they don't know enough about these teams and these players.

And they talk about what... I always talk about like there's some sort of outlier, but Karen and I'll be sitting down, I guess watching it on... I bought Fox streaming for one month and I'll turn it off after this. I did the same thing with HBO Max. I got HBO Max so I could watch the division series and the championship series, and I think I canceled that earlier today 'cause that's all gone, obviously.

I've got the MLB.TV, which, obviously if I wanna watch it the next day, it's great. But no, man- You know what [00:29:00] you 

Josh Weaver: could do, Mark, is you could turn the sound down and put our radio guys on. 

Mark Corbett: That's exactly what I was gonna say. If I could get my radio reception out here, I would. And if I tried to listen to this radio on iHeart, they block it out.

They block it out. They block out the game and they put some ESPN thing on instead. So if I wanna listen to WDAE on iHeart, if I had to have- I didn't 

Josh Weaver: realize ... 

Mark Corbett: yeah. Yeah, blo- it blocks me out, so weird. That's the way it goes sometimes. Anyway. 

Josh Weaver: But I do think it's, no Mater what or how we're watching, it's gonna be if you're there in person, so those, those people that are gonna go to the Trop and see our Rays play, I think they're in for a show.

I think it's gonna be exciting, and we hit on this a little bit earlier, but, the Trop looks good. You know- Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah ... I know people like, I think it's a sport for people around the league to bash Tropicana Field. But, and then when people go there, I've had p- several people come in the museum and [00:30:00] say, it's way better than I thought it was gonna be."

And I... And once people g- if they come in open-minded to the Trop, especially with the staff that's there and what they've done to, with the new roof, I think it's brighter in there. I think it's more, way more energetic this year. I think people are gonna be s- pleasantly surprised, and, what they're witnessing on TV is great for everybody, to see that place full of people.

Mark Corbett: Oh, yeah. 

Josh Weaver: Woody Plus- For sure ... which is, it's really good to see. 

Mark Corbett: That's a good point to mention also as far as the first couple of games. The Trop during the Division Series and also Championship Series, they had people come in. They bought tickets to for food, to watch it on TV. I think Brett Phillips is a big guide to everybody there when they just at they're there.

Let's see. I'm looking at one here- thing here saying fans can purchase tickets. See, the co- pardon me. The Cando's Clubhouse will also be open until first pitch. Fans can purchase tickets for [00:31:00] $10 and pre-pay for parking online at raysbaseball.com/postseason. G- gate one. And that will take them to the seating bowl to watch the game on the video board.

So you can still sit in the Trop and watch the game that's taking place in Milwaukee. And so I would say definitely check the Rays website because this can... It could get gobbled up right away. Fans seeking an enhanced experience can purchase a $35 option for access to the Rays Hall of Fame Bar and Grill with all you can eat food, or a $60 option for access to 162 Landing with a buffet of ballpark fare plus soda, seltzers, beer, and wine all included in the price.

Now, I gotta tell you, Josh some of these sold out. I think like the $60 option sold out at a, a couple of the viewing parties the last go around. So check the Rays before you go. Check their website, call them, and... But man, that sounds like a heck of an [00:32:00] offer. 

Josh Weaver: And, if you can't be in Milwaukee, what a cool place to see the game, and be around Rays fans.

It's a g- I think it's a good... I know a lot of teams have done this in the past, and I think it's a good idea. It brings people together and... I guess for us it would be, let's just win it at home. What do you think, Mark? It Game five, baby.

Mark Corbett: Game five. 

Josh Weaver: Abso- how many game...

do you think it'll go the full seven, or do you think maybe we... What do you think we'll end up at this series? 

Mark Corbett: If we're gonna win it at home, it would have to be by game five, right? 'Cause six and seven- Yep ... are gonna be in Milwaukee. Correct. I could see it being a game six much as the last one, but I want this puppy in five 'cause I wanna be able to celebrate it here.

And we'll see what they're able to deliver, but there's plenty of positive energy with the Rays. But by that same token, there certainly is with the Brewers. And I also say though, if you're looking for a [00:33:00] place to watch the game, find some friends, go to something like this over at the Trop.

God knows there are community centers and bars, it's restaurants, et cetera, where you can watch these games with camaraderie with other folks as well. So I'd recommend, checking out your locals for that as well. 

Josh Weaver: Yeah. A- and I think that, the... I think the towns and I think it's both sides.

I think Tampa, is excited. I think St. Pete's excited. So all of Tampa Bay is ready for a World Series championship. And I think that if there's any team that I think can do it, it's this team. I know the Brewers are good, but so are the Rays. I mean- Amen. And you said it earlier, the fact that it's cool to see the two best records in baseball as far as the two division, the two leagues actually going face to face.

And it being, I know I said it earlier, but there is something I think very special about this. Whichever team wins, it'll be the first time they've ever won a [00:34:00] World Series. That's refreshing. I don't know how the rest of the country feels about this, but I know, I'm sure, like you said before, Mark, I'm sure that it, in Milwaukee they're thrilled.

And that's a pretty cool baseball town, and I like their stadium.

But the first time I ever went to a retractable roof stadium was their stadium And, it's funny that in some ways they're set up similar. You pretty much have to get to both stadiums by car.

And if you ever get a people in Milwaukee, 'cause there's people in Milwaukee that don't know this. There's a, actually a baseball museum. It's called the National Bobblehead Museum. 

So I would encourage people to look it up. And it's not just baseball. In 2020 the, that next year, we went up there, Kay and I went up there, and they, when you go in, they have the four major sports.

So they had... That was the year, obviously, in 2020 when the Bucs won, and then obviously the Lightning won. And it's too bad that year we didn't have the RaysUp there too, but they had... So t- half of the, the teams were Tampa Bay teams. And it's just a unique place, Mark. 'Cause I [00:35:00] would, I've always collected bobbleheads, always enjoyed them, but these, they have Beatles bobbleheads

It's not just baseball or sports. So a kind of a shout-out to the folks at the museum up there. let's give one more 

Mark Corbett: shout-out to the Tampa Baseball Museum. Tell us again about what's 

Josh Weaver: going on there.

Oh, yeah. For sure. Like I said, with what we're doing this week into next week is pretty unusual, that we're s- gonna stay open, and we'll be open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. And we're gonna have a temporary exhibit that's pretty much put together. There, I'm gonna add a couple things tomorrow to it. And ironically, one of the, the things when people come down, the, there's a Rays jersey on top, and then the other side has a Brewers jersey, and the Brewers jersey just happens to be Ozzie's.

So you know, one of our Tampa guys. Obviously with Kevin being from Tampa and Ozzie being from Tampa, that's huge at our museum because the, the museum focuses and features people from Hillsborough County. And it's, we've only ever had five managers for the Tampa Bay [00:36:00] Rays.

Lou Piniella managed the Rays, and he's from Hillsborough County, and obviously Kevin Cash. And the fact that Ozzie, and we've had other great coaches, and managers. Obviously Al Lopez himself. And the jewel of the museum is really in the building. I, it's, I know I tell this to everybody, but it really is, Mark.

The fact that this was the childhood home of Al Lopez, and the fact that- There's only four like it in the country at this point. So there's ours, the birthplace and museum in Baltimore for Babe Ruth, the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum in Greenville, South Carolina, and the Hank Aaron Museum in Mobile, Alabama.

They're talking about doing the same thing for Mickey's out in Commerce, Oklahoma, but that one's not been completed yet. So our museum in Tampa is one of only four right now that I know of in the country that are player homes or birthplaces in Babe Ruth's case. So it's really a special place, and I think when people get in there...

we've had I know you had Larry Rothschild on your show. He's not from Tampa, but he really [00:37:00] has taken to the museum. Joe Maddon's been in several times, and I think maybe there's a kind of a camaraderie because, obviously they were both managers at one point, and our guys, we have some of the f- the featured items are Pete Alonso's cleats. I w- off the subject, but I wonder how the Mets are feeling right about now with y- to lose Pete Alonso and to use to lose Peralta. A- and how many home runs did did our guy from Tampa hit?

Pete Alonso, was it was over 40. I think it was 41, 42. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Josh Weaver: Yeah ... so anyway, so we have items that, that Pete Alonso has donated. We have jerseys from David Magadan, World Series jerseys. Since we're talking about the World Series, we have Tino Martinez's World Series jersey from 2000.

David's is when he was a hitting coach with the Red Sox in 2007. So we have some great items and, we have Tony La Russa, three-time World Series champion as a manager. We have Lou Piniella, 1990 World Series champion, obviously when he competed against Tony, [00:38:00] and these guys grew up on the sandlots together.

You can't make this stuff up, Mark. 

Mark Corbett: No. No. 

Josh Weaver: It- 

Mark Corbett: But I want to take a step back for a moment because something you said, and you're talking about how people take ownership. Ownership's not the right... They have, they're involved with the community, those who played on the teams, those who've managed the teams.

And even when you watched the last game with Cleveland and Tampa and you s- saw in the stands Tyler Glasnow from the Dodgers- ... a former Ray. Randy Arozarena, another former Ray. They are there to celebrate their former team and w- their achievements. They weren't there just as observers. You could tell they were there to enjoy the game, and to me, that is another p- part of the Rays that should be commended and celebrated, is that the people that leave here still love this place, still love this town, [00:39:00] and love the organization.

Josh Weaver: No I think you're 100% correct. And to me that was just 'cause obviously I don't know, I saw that Tyler was going first and I'm thinking how cool that Tyler went back to support the guys. And then of course Randy there. And you're right, Mark, and it's just really special and I think it goes exactly what you said.

And, what's a kind of a parallel is what the Tampa Baseball Museum means to the guys from Tampa. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Josh Weaver: We've had events with, like I said, David Magadan has been in several times. Lou has been a gr- great supporter for many years- Yeah ... of the museum, well before it was even a museum. 

Mark Corbett: Lou 

Josh Weaver: Piniella When it was still, in the reconstruction era, if you will, when they were remodeling everything and turning it, gutting it, turning it into a baseball museum.

And, the fact that, like I said, Larry Rothschild, he's not from here, but I- he appreciates the museum. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Josh Weaver: So baseball people, and especially the people that are from here y- the items that they're willing to donate to the museum. [00:40:00] And not only that, Mark, like what you're talking about with Tyler and Randy, these guys at the museum they give us the most important thing for them and anybody is their time.

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Josh Weaver: When we ask these guys to come in a perfect example, just real quick, Mark, is when we had David Magadan in. And we had a... It was a private event. It wasn't anything that's gonna make anybody a lot of money. It... We didn't put him out there and be like, "Oh, here's David Magadan, World Series champion as a player and a World Series champion as a, as, a coach."

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Josh Weaver: We... I asked him to talk to the kids because he went to Jesuit, he was an alumni, and talk to their state championship team from last year. And he did it, and that's, that to me is a strong credit to David and all these guys. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah and we're very lucky to have those people involved.

So to that point, though, I wanna stop and say thank you. After we'll let everybody get ready for their game, get their gear, get their chips and beer, and whatever else they need, whether they're gonna watch [00:41:00] it at home or listen at home, and listen to those guys on th- the radio and man, they're great.

You talk about Neil and Andy, they both do a wonderful job. So I wanna say thank you to them here as well as long as we're saying thanks. And also the TV team. We ... Being able to see when Brian Anderson and D- Wayne and Doug Waechter and the rest of them they've done such a great job over the year.

And it's ... I miss hearing their voices as the team advances, but it is so great to be here. Game one October 23rd, Friday, in Milwaukee, games one and two. Look out, Rays fans. Just remember, RaysUp. 

Josh Weaver: RaysUp. 

Mark Corbett: Thank you, Josh. I appreciate you being on the show today. You got any last words for everybody?

Josh Weaver: No. Let's go get 'em, Mark. Let's have these Rays. And I don't think we'll sweep 'em, but I'm gonna look ... I'm gonna go out on a limb and predict we're gonna win the World Series. 

Mark Corbett: All right, man. I y- I haven't talked to Yandy yet, but I got it. I'm l- I'm looking toward game six.

We'll see how it goes. Take care, my friend. 

Josh Weaver: You [00:42:00] too.