RaysUp - Bang-up with Milwaukee Brewers & looking for Randy & Yandy

231BaseballBiz On Deck RaysUp Tampa Bay Rays & the Brewers 231 Mat Germain

[00:00:00] Mark Corbett: Welcome to BaseballBizon deck. I am Mark Corbett and with me, of course, is Mr. Mat  Germain, and you can always find him on Twitter. I think I forgot to say this last time, Mat , @Mat_Germain_ on Twitter's X. com. He's there. And of course he's here today.

[00:00:27] Mark Corbett: How you doing, Mat ? 

[00:00:29] Mat Germain: I am trying to not turn into Bob Uecker from major league right now. It's essentially where I sit. 

[00:00:37] Mark Corbett: Or you, yeah, well, he sits in, in, in a frozen stance up in the 400s in a seat too, but, uh, I feel more like him. They're just sitting there petrified right now. Uh, the 90 year old man is walking around, but the statue, they have him up there to 400s, but I do get that.

[00:00:56] Mark Corbett: So let's, let's talk about Bob's major league acting history and how that compares. 

[00:01:05] Mat Germain: Oh man, the, the, the amount of, uh, of drinking that you can do if you're, uh, if you're one that lets your emotions get the best of you when things are going bad, I think are some of the things that you could, you know, delve into.

[00:01:21] Mat Germain: If ever you, uh, you get too depressed about your baseball team, 

[00:01:33] Mat Germain: I'm not a drinker at all, so, uh, fortunately, I'm never gonna head there. But I just mean in terms of the general feeling and emotion, like, when you watch your team struggle as much as we have recently with the Rays, It's not like they're doing what the White Sox are doing.

[00:01:49] Mat Germain: It's not like they're doing what the Marlins are doing, but I think we've been a little bit spoiled, I guess, in terms of how the Rays normally win and lose. And they usually play to a certain standard and are well below that standard right now. So I think that's the frustrating part. 

[00:02:06] Mark Corbett: Yeah. I had these, these, uh, psychic nightmares, you know, after this past week, you know, I, I kept hearing these, the phone ringing in my sleep and I'd pick it up and it said, uh, Hello, this is White Sox.

[00:02:18] Mark Corbett: Can Eric Neander schedule a game with us right now? Hello, this is the Miami Marlins. We'd like to schedule a game with you guys and kind of help out our win loss record. Can you come down here right away? You know, it's just like good gravy. I look at the Marlins. They lost seven in a row. Was it a jazz jazz got so upset the other day with a call at the plate that he barked and barked at the umpire.

[00:02:44] Mark Corbett: He goes all the way back to the dugout and still barks. Got a warning twice and 

[00:02:49] Mat Germain: he continued on just feel sorry for him. They didn't want to kick him out. 

[00:02:53] Mark Corbett: Yeah. Yeah. It's so sad. So finally they ejected him after two warnings. Oh, and even then they couldn't start the gaming until. Until jazz actually left, and I'm feeling a little bit like jazz right now.

[00:03:04] Mark Corbett: I just want to whine and complain and say, dang, what the heck's going on? But I know it's not the empire's fault. 

[00:03:13] Mat Germain: Oh, you know, it's the way that they're losing. So there's something extremely frustrating about seeing the same product put on a field over. And over and over and over again and having the same results and realizing that your team is not making the changes that you want it to make because it's just not working.

[00:03:35] Mat Germain: And, and they have to change. So if you don't change anything, it could take forever. There's some players that go through one, two, three month droughts. Um, so it's not, it's not an assured thing that just because you're leaving them in their positions that they're going to end up coming out of it. Um, I have a feeling that You know, there's probably enough people now that are going to be screaming in, in Kevin Cash's ear that the lineup will start to look different.

[00:04:02] Mat Germain: I think the return of some players will allow for that to happen without him actually saying, okay, this is why we're doing it because we're getting pressured by everyone. I think, you know, when you add guys like junior Caminero and you add guys like Josh Lowe and Johnny Aranda, and you have excuses, quote unquote, of putting new guys up in the top of the lineup.

[00:04:22] Mat Germain: But the more worrisome thing is, is the way that it's happening. They're not even competitive at bats a lot of times when you're watching Randy or Rosalina or Harold Ramirez. Uh, they're both, you know, swinging at that stuff that they never used to. They're expanding the zone. They're not, um. They're not making contact and with any sort of oomph.

[00:04:46] Mat Germain: Um, and so I think like Harold Ramirez has one of the lowest exit velocities this year, um, overall. And then you look at the way that defensive roles play in that, you know, you're like, well, how long is he going to stick around? So there's a lot of questions being, you know, and I think the turnover is going to be exciting to watch and a much needed excitement for the race.

[00:05:09] Mark Corbett: Well, it's going to have to happen. I mean, we were talking earlier this season, you know, looking at, uh, the impairment, if you will, with pitching, because we have a full rotation of fantastic pitchers who are all in the IL right now, and. As much as I wanted to whine about that, I always had to say, well, even if we had all those guys doing a fantastic job right now, it would not Mat er if, if offense didn't deliver the goods.

[00:05:39] Mark Corbett: So, and I don't know what it's going to take. Chad Mottola, the batting coach, he must be put, our hitting coach must be Pulling all of his hair out right now. I mean, I know he's worked with these guys. I've seen him do fantastic work with a lot of players coming up and it has to be maddening for him and for them.

[00:05:56] Mark Corbett: Uh, and sometimes I think I look in the player's eyes, some of them, I feel like there's, there's a, there's a, There's something lost. I don't, I don't see the energy. I don't see the vivacity that I once did last year in, in some of their eyes. I don't see them running all the way down to first. You know, there's, how many times have you and I both seen a play where the shortstop bobbles it over the first, you know, there's, you can possibly get that first, yes, there, the, the ability for them to get the ball over to first before you is great, but do you slow down because of it?

[00:06:30] Mark Corbett: Geez, crackers. 

[00:06:32] Mat Germain: Right. You're, you're hitting on a lot of great points and I, you know, Yandy Diaz used to be one that smiled a lot. You would see him smile, whether it was at the plate, whenever he's talking to somebody at first base. Uh, today I saw him or is it last? Yesterday's game where he was on second base with with Willie Adamas and he wanted nothing to do with Willie He Willie was trying to tease him or say hey, hey, what's up?

[00:06:58] Mat Germain: Well wanted nothing to do with him He was grumpy as all could be and and just you know It was talked about something on the tag, I guess when he got the second base and I was just like that's not you know There's something not right in the in the state of mind of both Randy Rosarena and Yandy Diaz I don't know where it stems from, I don't know why, they're getting all the opportunities they can to come out of things.

[00:07:22] Mat Germain: There are some things at the plate they're doing okay, like some, it's not all atrocious. It's just the, the, it has to be maddening for Yandy Diaz to have one of the highest exit velocities on average in the majors, but for all of them to be killing worms. It's just, it's really maddening. And it's like, what is it that you need to do to get that bat half inch lower?

[00:07:49] Mat Germain: The majority of the times that you're swinging, like that's all it is. It's a half inch, quarter inch, whatever it might be to get the right angle on, on, on the ball. I, I. Has to be really infuriating. So I'm less afraid of Yandy Diaz, but Randy Rosarena, just the spirit that he needs in order to compete, um, isn't there.

[00:08:11] Mat Germain: I thought it might come out when he went to Yankee stadium, nothing. There was just nothing. Uh, I thought it might come out when, when, you know, they're facing certain pay, uh, pitchers, uh, in certain situations, you know, he had two opportunities in the same game with the bases loaded or runners or two runners Nothing like there's just no excitement.

[00:08:29] Mat Germain: No, not even really solid at bats. And then that's, that's a really Frustrating thing. So that's why in my opinion Like for the last two weeks They should have had the hottest hitters at the top and what it would have done Is first of all you're getting more competitive at bats at the top of the lineup so that then you're driving to pitch counts Which is fine But when they're getting those opportunities that Randy's had, and that Yandy's had to drive runs in, you're actually getting them in.

[00:08:59] Mat Germain: So it lowers the pressure on Yandy and Randy. If they're lower down in the lineup, they're like, we already have runs on the board. I don't have to do all the work right now. I feel like right now, Randy and Yandy are trying to do everything for the raise because they know how many players they're missing and that they're the ones who are counted on to compensate.

[00:09:17] Mat Germain: And so it's playing mind tricks on them. It's just not getting them the right vibes. I'm curious to see how it turns out once they get the roster set with the main core players in place. Now, Brandon Lau's not returning for any time soon. I, I don't even know if he'll ever come back to be quite honest.

[00:09:37] Mat Germain: Josh Lowe, Johnny DeLuca, John Aranda, when they get back in there, The at bats will improve in terms of, of the number of pitches and, and Kevin Cash hopefully will have a better balance in the lineup overall. So then maybe they start, you know, thinking of things the right way or however they need to, to get themselves right.

[00:09:57] Mat Germain: Cause the rays are not going to be right without them. That's one thing we know for sure. You 

[00:10:03] Mark Corbett: know, and I know what you're saying about Yandi. And I do see that to see that situation, especially with Adonis today, because Karen and I actually, we went to, uh, we went to watch the games over the brewers this past week, saw the first one and pregame, we got there early enough to get to batting practice and Willie's out there and he and Yandi are just standing beside one another and talking for, you know, several minutes and laughing, arms around one another, all that kind of thing, you know, he, uh, Willie, I keep thinking of all that positive influence that he had with the team, you know, years ago when he was with the race, it is just, he, the camaraderie with all of them, he was talking with, you know, with players who weren't even on the team when he was with the race, but, and it was a real friendly sort of conversation going on and to see the, the turn, if you will, to, I won't say negativity.

[00:10:55] Mark Corbett: I just say what abruptness, uh, uh, just, just not even paying attention to, to the kind of friendship that they probably once had. And that's, that saddens me. Yeah. There was also, you know, we, we look, I see Jakey bars out there. It was fun watching him. Um, I'll tell you a little bit more about our visit to, it was a Bernie the bird, their mascot, you know, so he stands up there and you've seen this where he has this little chalet up like a 400 level with a big giant slide.

[00:11:25] Mark Corbett: So anytime they get a home run, he slides down it. All I could think of is your mascots not out here interacting with people. During the game, because he's sitting up in the chalet waiting for a home to come in. I'm kind of jumping around here, but it just, it just thought that it was kind of humorous. I, I thought if we put Raymond in a, uh, A dog pound, maybe at the top of the trap, it, every time we got a home run, he would bark and go down a slide.

[00:11:53] Mark Corbett: Uh, no, no, 

[00:11:54] Mat Germain: I want to catapult. Just kind of pull them into the air, like one of the stingrays and like have a, you know, a stinger come out or 

[00:12:04] Mark Corbett: Oh, I like that. Well, we we're gonna make her come back, right? We're gonna be playing a home soon here Is that where the mets? Oh, yeah, maybe we can maybe they'll take some of these ideas I don't think to blow them that quickly, but it would be interesting because they need a new vibe brother They need it and it's not there yet I'll tell you one more thing too about the milwaukee brewers And I saw today, as I was watching the game, that catcher, William Contreras, yeah, what he's, uh, I was reading here, he's got the best F.

[00:12:34] Mark Corbett: Y. A. R. among all major league catchers since the start of the 2023 season. The thing I was noticing today is, if I was batting, He is pretty good about trying to distract the batter. He moves around a little left and right. And sometimes he doesn't move. Sometimes it seemed like he almost brushes the dirt around the batter or moves his glove left and right across the ground to make some noise to distract the batter.

[00:12:58] Mark Corbett: It's like, Ooh, that's a different strategy. 

[00:13:04] Mat Germain: You're you're loud. I don't think there's any rules in there. There must be a line. You can't draw like you can't cross. Uh, the umpires must be able to say, you know, oh, you can't do this or this is going too far. Like, uh, but I think that the interesting part with with Contreras is that at the time that the brewers acquired him, I was screaming.

[00:13:24] Mat Germain: For the raise to acquire, uh, Sean Murphy from the A's and he was part of that whole deal. And I, man, I wish that they would have gotten either one and we could have put the catching position to bed at that point. Uh, I understand Sean Murphy might've not extended with the raise. So it was a different angle for them.

[00:13:43] Mat Germain: It was too much to pay for just him, but if they would have been able to land Contreras, imagine where they'd be now instead of But he's, he's excellent. He's been fun to watch and so is, uh, Tower Black. I was impressed with his debut from the Brewers. Um, good Canadian boy. So, I'm hoping that he'll make the next WBC start with, uh, with Team Canada.

[00:14:03] Mat Germain: Uh, but the fact that he got his first two hits as a left handed hitter against left handed pitchers, uh, is pretty cool. Including a double, you know. A double off the first hit. So, uh, I think the Brewers are in a good place. They have a really strong outfield overall, a young outfield that's healthy and chugging, except for Christian Yellich who kind of got sidetracked for a bit.

[00:14:27] Mat Germain: But, um, you can tell they are a, uh, a passionate group. Uh, they, they have an edge to them now that I don't remember them having before. And, and I think you know who that comes from, right? I think you're going to tell us. 

[00:14:42] Mark Corbett: Oh, brother. Well, yeah. I mean, Mr. Will, you're talking about the energy out there on the field.

[00:14:47] Mark Corbett: He's the one pulling them all together. There's no doubt about it. If that's, if that's what you're referring to and, uh, 

[00:14:53] Mat Germain: manager though, gives them in that. 

[00:14:55] Mark Corbett: Oh, well, geez. Yes. Okay. Right. I got him listed down here, man. Goodness gracious. Pat Murphy. Wow. You always wonder, you know, when a new managers come in because, uh, he, he didn't have all last season.

[00:15:09] Mark Corbett: Let's see. No, no, but he came in and I was wondering, he has had an ugly week as a manager. What was the Yankees? And before we came to town, the temp for Tampa came to Milwaukee, they played the Yankees and there was a play where. A hit goes on and at that point, judge had been on first as he runs to second slides in a second.

[00:15:33] Mark Corbett: And I think it was Willie had the ball tagged over at second and he throws to first, but the ball can't make it because none other than Mr. Judge slaps it down with his hand. You know, it looks like maybe it's part of just how he slides, but it looks also a little contrived and, and don't, you know, this is something that, and Mr.

[00:15:53] Mark Corbett: Murphy's just shaking his head and upset about all this. Hey, he gets ejected. You know, he, and he's had a couple of, uh, a couple of times this week where he's had the opportunity to be ejected again and man, oh, man, he, one thing you can tell about him is he stands up for his team as well. He should, but the other day too, when, um, who was, it was a Bowers up with bat and.

[00:16:18] Mark Corbett: He does a swing, comes all the way back around, hits forward catcher Pinto in the back of the helmet, and the umpire immediately stands up, ends the play, and when he does that, the play is supposed to be dead, the guy on third, the runner on third comes into home, and the Brewers go insane, because now the game is tied at the bottom of the ninth, and yes, we're going to be able to go ahead and win, and no, and no, because the umpire stopped it, and at that point, that crowd, I got to tell you, Being in there, I was about ready to just kind of find a way to ease out so nobody would see me with my Tampa Bay gear because they were angry and, you know, and Murphy to boot.

[00:17:00] Mark Corbett: So he got out there and had his words to say, and lo and behold, yes, he got ejected. So it's, he's got a lot of energy. This and like Sid, I was talking to you earlier about, uh, looking back what he's done as far as a manager getting booted out in the past. He, well, he's been booted. Twice this year that ties him with, um, national league managers, Bob Melvin and Derek Shelton for two ejections, ejections this far.

[00:17:25] Mark Corbett: And Aaron Boone, America league. No, Mr. Murphy had NC, but, uh, interim manager back in 2015 with the Padres and he had drum roll, please. No, that can't be, he was, he was ejected. It, I know, but, uh, I think it's a five times now. Yeah. Five times. So going at the radius now, I think he's going to be ejected 11 times.

[00:17:51] Mark Corbett: If you take that as a percentage for 2023 and that wasn't that just be insane. 

[00:17:57] Mat Germain: Yeah, and then you got to imagine like the brewers are probably not going to run away with the central so I'm imagining him in August and September being in a lot of divisional games and heated moments, there's a good chance he might reach a, you know, a dozen.

[00:18:13] Mat Germain: So it is. So there's a lot of different. Trains of thought with the, the whole ejection thing, right? Um, I mean, how many times did you see Dusty Baker get thrown out? Bruce Broachie, do you, does he really ever get thrown out? I don't know. I can't remember. I'm sure he has, and I'm sure it's happened. Uh, but, but they're not really, they're more of a calming presence.

[00:18:37] Mat Germain: And I think most people would say that that's the kind of manager you want. Now, on the other side of it, you have some that were a little bit more fiery, um, and, and more involved, but. I think most players would tell you that they see it as the manager backing them up. Um, so they always see it in positive light from their end of things.

[00:18:57] Mat Germain: Um, so I think it's fine. The whole thing is about getting things right and making sure the people get to have their say. So as long as it's done without, uh The Tony La Russa or Tommy La Sorda style kicking sand up, uh, up somebody's arms and, you know, I'm tucking the shirt and spitting on each other. Uh, yeah, you know, there's a line, I think, that's being drawn now.

[00:19:24] Mat Germain: It's fine. I think it's good. I like to see the fire. Kevin Cash has gotten fiery a little bit here and there as well recently. So I think it's, it's, it's part of the game and it's fun to watch sometimes, you know, uh, how invested they are and how passionate they are about getting their point across. 

[00:19:44] Mark Corbett: Well, and it provides an energy, you know, for the team, like it shows that they support them.

[00:19:50] Mark Corbett: So, um, uh, gosh, but you know, looking at the thing the other day with, with Siri, Siri hitting the home run. And you know, if it. I can get it that, uh, Brother didn't brought it wasn't real happy about that. And Siri had this kind of, Oh, what'd you want to call it? Soft shoe. He does after he hits it, he just kind of bows his head down, does a little shoulder shake, and then goes ahead and runs the basis, you know, nothing dramatic, but it, uh, it amazes me.

[00:20:21] Mark Corbett: That people get so upset with some of these people who hit home run, if they have a little celebration up there, what, what does it Mat er? But he went ahead and did that and what was it? A couple of innings later in Peralta beans him right in the hip and it's like, come 

[00:20:37] Mat Germain: on, dude. My mind was in a completely different place than everybody else's, you know, where my mind was.

[00:20:45] Mat Germain: Are you thinking about the Caballero? No, when that play was happening, I was like, here's a guy that was pulled from a game because of how he was playing, you know, just recently. 

[00:20:56] Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

[00:20:56] Mat Germain: Pretty much benched because of it. Um, had, had players, I believe, uh, come out and say beforehand, like listening to Jason Adam and some other interviews, uh, you know, call certain things that weren't being done right out.

[00:21:13] Mat Germain: Um, And, and just because when he gets back into it, he has a good swing and he crushed that ball. Don't get me wrong. It was definitely a pimpable home run. I'm just saying that if I'm in the state of mind where I know I have to prove myself to keep my playing time and I need to get focused in doing that, I'm probably not pimping the home.

[00:21:36] Mat Germain: I'm just happy to be on the field and being productive, uh, and not antagonizing anyone in a game that we're losing by a significant amount. It just didn't fit the moment or the timing it. To me, it showed a lot of immaturity from Jose Siri, where it was all me, me, me, me. And when players ran onto the field, they didn't really seem to be going to rescue Jose Siri from anything.

[00:22:01] Mat Germain: If anything, they were kind of going on and just being sure nobody else was getting involved. It was almost like he was out there on his own. And to me, it was almost a sad scene. It looked like the rays were running on the field, half asleep. Like they were like, what's going on? Like, why, why is this happening?

[00:22:17] Mat Germain: They weren't even really invested or involved in it. And that's what I saw. My mind was all on the rays. Lack of passion. Yeah, I, I, I, I'm still there this season. There's a lack of, there's passion from the players they've brought in that are new, the players that have been here for a long time. I don't know if it's tire glass now trade that's thrown them all off and they're not really, uh, believing in themselves for this season, but if that's the case, get rid of them.

[00:22:44] Mat Germain: Because they're not really going to help you this year or ever really, uh, so if that's really the what's happening in the background of things, and I'm not involved, I'm not in the room. I could just tell you what I see on the field, but there's a lack of. In the military, we say gaff factor. Right. And I think we know what that means, but, but it's, it's not there.

[00:23:06] Mat Germain: And it's just, I think some people have it and they're trying to keep each other accountable. And I, I think Zach Eflin is more of a silent leader. He's not going to be a raw, raw guy. And I also feel that Josh Lowe's presence has been missed. He's the glue guy. He's the guy that kind of keeps everybody, um, on the positive and even keel.

[00:23:26] Mat Germain: But, but that Jose Siri thing, that's all I could think was, wow, they're not even going to help him. They're letting him fight the entire Brewers team right now. They're kind of just, you know, I don't know. Well, that's what I thought. Well, 

[00:23:42] Mark Corbett: you know, if, if you look at that as kind of a lack of days ago approach, is it just 'cause they don't support Siri?

[00:23:46] Mark Corbett: They tell about really? Why, why is that such a big deal? I mean, the first thing I'm thinking while I was watching that, I thought, oh look, here's Siri going along first base. Uh, but you know, really? Oh yeah, I'm just gonna get my equipment. But at the same time, you know, uh, geez, you see the, what was his name?

[00:24:01] Mark Corbett: I can't think of his name for life. I mean, the picture at the moment. Uri. Ariba. Yeah. Anyway. You rebate. Thank you. Jeez. I better clean that up. Anyway, but Uribe. Yeah. I see him. And the first thing my mind runs back to is Jose Caballero and where he's coming to third. And there's the, there's another picture Cabrera facing, waiting for the runner.

[00:24:27] Mark Corbett: And that's just the same sort of setup. I thought, I said, Oh, geez, come on, really, really. And you knew, you knew that Syria wasn't going to let a comment pass or that brush pass without some sort of commentary and pitches punched, et cetera. But. It was not surprising to see all of the, uh, suspensions that came from that Siri actually was suspended for three games.

[00:24:52] Mark Corbett: They took him down to two trying to think who else was suspended. Uh, well, yeah, the brewers manager was suspended for a couple of games and Uribe definitely was suspended. I'm trying to make it, there's another brewer as well, but it's like, man. Guys, some of that stuff just has to stop. Maybe that's what it was.

[00:25:08] Mark Corbett: Some of the other raisers say, Oh, come on. Really, really one more time. I got to come out here and do this. Is it, is it really worth this? And then if Siri was getting hot. Well, we just had it pulled off for that alone. I mean, he's getting hit. You may have been off today anyway, but you know, he's suspended for two games.

[00:25:26] Mark Corbett: He's not going to be able to play against the Mets tomorrow. 

[00:25:29] Mat Germain: Yeah. Hey, I have so many thoughts on the roster and how it's made right now. And then, I mean, I don't know how you keep everybody focused, but I, I think you're always going to have distractions here and there, but I, I'm more talking about the cohesiveness of the team.

[00:25:45] Mat Germain: It's not, it's lacking right now. And it's not really, I know it takes time when you're bringing so many New faces and and arrays have had extra new faces because of the number of injuries. I get it It's not going to gel and everybody's going to be a little bit awkward at the same time So it's not because they're not nice people and they're not supporting each other.

[00:26:03] Mat Germain: They're just They're not as invested in each other as the otherwise would had they gone through things together, right? Right, but but I think the interesting part is to say, okay right now we've gone through April Is there any information you can take from April to say who you want to keep going forward and who you don't want to keep?

[00:26:23] Mat Germain: Going forward because now is the time to start making changes and you have you know A junior Caminero who's hitting balls harder than any raise You Layer is right now. He just hit one today at 114. 5 miles per hour, a double, which was just crushed. So you're not going to hold them back much longer. So you need to start looking at, okay, who are we keeping?

[00:26:45] Mat Germain: Who is essential? And sadly you kind of have to say, well, yeah, this guy's going to be healthy. This guy's going to be healthy, knowing that everything could change in a heartbeat, right? So. That's the sad part of where they are. So they have Shane Baez going on a rehab assignment on Saturday or Sunday. Uh, so he's going to be coming up.

[00:27:03] Mat Germain: To me, I'm hoping, hoping, hoping that he ends up in the pen, an elite pen option, uh, that they said they really need. Like, I don't want to see Erasmo Ramirez go on the mound. I, I, I'm not trying to be mean. I just, to me, he's a quadruple a player. He's not an MLB player. He's not a triple A player. He's probably a little bit too good, you know, veteran wise for triple A.

[00:27:29] Mat Germain: So he's somewhere in between, and it's just not working out toward a point where, you know, you're in a three zero game that today. Could the Rays had more momentum if they still were at 3 0 by the time they were in the 8th? Maybe, but they put Erasmus in there and the run gets, gets, get, uh, or the score gets run up and, and suddenly the Rays are completely out of it.

[00:27:50] Mat Germain: So, I There was, I want to call them ghost injuries, but, you know, putting Davinsky and Pache on, on IL with, with issues that you can't really say, you know, whether or not they actually exist. To me, it was giving them a chance to reset and change a few things and work on things, uh, which is fine. Um, Phil Mayton may end up in the same.

[00:28:12] Mat Germain: You know, ghost IL category pretty soon. If he keeps doing what he's doing, but he keeps being used in high leverage. So again, it's like what, so if you don't want to use Phil Maton and high leverage, then you need to have other options in there. And that's where Shane Boz and other guys come in. I would love to see Shane Boz as a high leverage reliever for the race.

[00:28:31] Mat Germain: I would love to see Brendan McKay as a hybrid leverage reliever for the race. The, the race, if you look back the last three or four years. Do an insanely terrible job at developing their own relievers. What I mean by that is their own prospects, their own guys. There's not a single guy in the pen right now that's a ray, that's been brought up as a ray.

[00:28:52] Mat Germain: None. So, so what are you doing? Like, and on top of that, you have guys that you tried to do as, as a starting pitcher all the way through who failed, who might've been able to be a good reliever if you allowed them the chance to prove that and to see if they can add a few miles per hour by being relievers.

[00:29:09] Mat Germain: But the Rays are very, very, very stubborn. And not changing the roles, and in a time that makes sense for them to prove they can do it, and to be elite at it. Because to me, a starting pitcher who goes into a lever, they can suddenly have more tools in their toolbox to actually use, on top of getting the extra miles per hour that they would get, you know, from being in a shorter stint.

[00:29:32] Mat Germain: So, It doesn't make any sense to me that the Rays can't develop their own high leverage or relievers in general, but they can identify them all across the league. Why? It doesn't make any sense. Either you're drafting the wrong guys, you're developing the wrong guys, you're developing them the wrong way, or you're not giving them the chance that they deserve.

[00:29:53] Mat Germain: So when I look at the raise right now, I know there's a lot of changes coming. What I'm saying is look internally. You have pieces right now that you can use in those roles in that way. Duncan David could be an excellent reliever. He might never make it as a starting pitcher right now. You've got 20 guys doing starting pitching in the system.

[00:30:13] Mat Germain: I guarantee you, not all of them are going to be starting pitchers and bigs. So you can pluck a few of those out and make them relievers, elite relievers like Mason Miller right now with the A's. Where did he come from? Right. He's dominating. And why? Well, he got the chance and he used to be a starter, but now he's a reliever.

[00:30:33] Mat Germain: So there's value to be had there. And I don't want to hear any excuses about Erasmo Ramirez being of value to the Rays. When I saw that move, I was, it told me so much about the Rays and where they are right now. They do not believe in their team for some reason. And, and they have the pieces to do better and I wish that they would, that's my rant, 

[00:30:58] Mark Corbett: I guess.

[00:30:59] Mark Corbett: No, well, and it's, it's a valid one. Um, but I would like to hear just a little more from you when you're saying if you brought Shane Baez, Baez back, what would you see difference bringing him back as reliever? What would he be doing differently as a pitcher on that mound? As a reliever. 

[00:31:18] Mat Germain: Well, let's say he he's starting.

[00:31:20] Mat Germain: First of all, he has to get lengthened all the way out. So through that process, he has to remain healthy, which has been a real challenge for him to stretch himself out, to have the, the, the, um, what do you call it? Stamina to actually get through five innings minimum. Right. And mostly you're trying to stretch him out to six.

[00:31:40] Mat Germain: So you're pushing your body all the way up to that point and your arm. Whereas if he was going to relief. You can target three innings. And keep him there maybe even two and say we're just going to train you at two and he has the frame Really of a reliever. He's not really the frame of a of a starter when you look at it He's never pitched 100 innings in his in a year in his entire time since 2018 I think his max might even be under 90 innings in a year So he's he never had the the the stamina to be a starter all the way through his minor's career So why are we pushing him to be a starter?

[00:32:17] Mat Germain: Why are we? You Forcing him into that category. Do it a little bit like the Dodgers with Julio Urias. He came up as a reliever. They gave him the MLB innings because the talent was there. He was able to get MLB guys out. They just gave him the innings in relief and eventually when he had enough innings that they could build on it, they put him in as a starter.

[00:32:37] Mat Germain: And that's fine because you have the, the mentality at that point of going, okay, I can, I know I can get major league guys out and I've done it extremely well in relief. And now you're just stretching that out a little bit longer each time, three innings, four innings, five innings. That's great. If Shane Boss can prove to me this year, he can pitch, let's say, 70 innings as a reliever next year.

[00:32:58] Mat Germain: You want to try him as a starter. Absolutely. I will be the first one to support him and say, yeah, give him one 20 and see how it goes. But but he's still going to be capped at 1 21 25. So I think the rays need to be realistic. Same thing with Brendan McKay. Brendan McKay right now can get major league hitters out.

[00:33:17] Mat Germain: For today, if they needed a lefty, he would be a better option than Chris Davinsky, he'd be a better option than Colin Poitier, he'd be a better option than a lot of the guys that they're looking at for the pen rolls, but he's in AA and I get it because he has to get his feet under him, it's his first year back to really being, getting guys out.

[00:33:35] Mat Germain: I'm just saying that eventually this year, they need to seriously look at him as a pen option. Not a starter. They don't have room in the starters. They have Jeffrey Springs coming back. They have Todd Bradley coming back. There's no room. And they also have Tyler Alexander, which he's looked good and bad on occasion, but he would be the, the long, you know, relief guy anyway, in your pen.

[00:33:57] Mat Germain: So 

[00:33:59] Mark Corbett: how's Drew doing anyway? 

[00:34:02] Mat Germain: And Drew's another one that might, he's more of a September, uh, arrival, I think, uh, and, and he's another elite. An option at that point, I think I don't think he'll be. But if they need him as a starter, if somebody goes down, Zach gets hurt, somebody, you know, something like that, that I'm guessing they could use him as a starter at that point.

[00:34:22] Mat Germain: I just think for his health and his career. You know, when he's gone through all the things that he's gone through now, it's time to kind of say, yeah, do I want to be Nate Eovaldi and then walking that fine line and pushing it to the last minute and seeing how it goes? Yeah. So I think he has to decide what he wants to do with his body.

[00:34:41] Mark Corbett: Gotcha. I don't want to see any young men come back to too hard too fast to be injured for the rest of their career or lack thereof after because of that. I mean, you and I've talked about that in the past. And like, so we'll do a whole show sometime just on it because it's, it's, it's a sad part of the beast, but I do want to reflect back on a piece.

[00:35:01] Mark Corbett: We were talking earlier about how some of the players. May not be as engaged this year simply because they don't have the familiarity with those pictures, a camaraderie, if you will, but man, oh, man, Pepio did pretty good leather night. Here's here's a new picture for the team, and he should have invigorated a bunch of the guys way as well.

[00:35:22] Mark Corbett: He was pitching the other day. Uh, he was dominant, man. 

[00:35:26] Mat Germain: Yeah, he, he's putting up stats, um, that are very, very, very similar to Tyroglass in overall. And I posted something on it in, um, on Twitter, just because I think it's important for us to whenever these trades happen and it's somebody that players really are.

[00:35:43] Mat Germain: Players fans really care about. I think it's important to kind of reflect back on it over time and to show it periodically. This is what they got back. This is the comparison. This is, you know, how it looks and why they did it. So, so far, Tyra Glass now has thrown one more game than than Ryan Pepio. So it's hard to look exactly, uh, at the number of innings pitched, but let's say Ryan Pepio did another six inning outing the next time he's out.

[00:36:14] Mat Germain: They'd be two innings apart in terms of how many, how many innings they've thrown. So Tyra Glass now hasn't pitched an extensive Number of innings more for those seven starts. So let's just start there. There are similar lane, right? Which for the race is great. It saves the pen just as much as tar glass.

[00:36:32] Mat Germain: Now would have. The second part is that there are ERAs tar glass now is at 2. 72. Uh, Ryan Pepio is at 3. 12. So there isn't much. And that's considering the Ryan Pepio actually had a really bad start in there, which probably shows the difference. But. You could almost say that right now they're in the same place, uh, in terms of what they can provide ERA and FIP wise.

[00:36:58] Mat Germain: Now the WIP is the really intriguing one. So, um, Tyra Glass now has a higher WIP at 0. 93 than Ryan Pepio's at 0. 87. That is extremely telling. And I, I've said it from the beginning of the year when we were talking about the pre season, the, Predictions. Uh, I think Taj Bradley and Ryan Pepio, along with Jeffrey Springs, are going to be the three top starters for the Rays by the end of the year.

[00:37:24] Mat Germain: I think that those will be your top three. Zac Efflin will be fourth and Aaron Savali will be fifth or somebody else. I think that's where it's headed. Um, because of the talent and the stuff I watched how Bradley start in AAA this week, extremely exciting stuff. It just, you know, you, you, you watch it and you're, you can see the rise at the end and why the hitters can't catch up to it.

[00:37:50] Mat Germain: And it's the same thing with Ryan Pepio. When we talked about it, he's like, it's like Zach Eflin, but with higher velocity. And so the guys are really not. Not squaring anything up against them. It's extremely hard to do. So if they're hitting their spots and are doing well that way, I think Ryan Pepio is going to make it.

[00:38:08] Mat Germain: You're right. He's going to make a lot of people excited. I think for the players, once they see him and Taj Bradley back to back, They might get it. They might be like, Whoa, we're in a different spot now. And I don't know if you've heard, but, uh, Grayson Rodriguez is put on IL by the Orioles with, uh, shoulder inflammation.

[00:38:27] Mat Germain: Uh, uh, the other Rodriguez in Toronto has been put on IL with a whole bunch of issues himself. So, While the other teams are getting less and less pitching, the Rays are adding more starting pitching. Eventually that could give them a huge asset to, to trade at a key time. Um, and, and they could end up, you know, getting another piece that they really need.

[00:38:51] Mat Germain: Um, I, I still believe in this team. I'm not, I'm not like, I think a lot of people are jumping off the bus right now because of how bad it's been. I think there's enough time left that as long as they actually, um, make the right moves. And the first one is getting junior Caminero. He just hit a two run home run 110 miles out per hour off the bat.

[00:39:14] Mat Germain: Um, So as we're talking, he's proving the point. He needs to be called up. We saw what Tyra Black did for the Brewers this week. The Rays can have that and more. And if you put him in the top three in the lineup, slide Randy Rosarena down to fourth or fifth, I don't care. But Esau Paredes and Junior Caminero back to back to me would be driving pitchers nuts.

[00:39:37] Mat Germain: Um, so. Do it. Just do it. Do you remember in Saturday Night Live, Chris Farley and Adam Sandler had a skit where, uh, he kept asking people if he could stay in their house. And Chris Farley would keep ramping things up more and more and more in terms of his reaction. Adam Sandler would be like, let me stay in your house.

[00:40:02] Mat Germain: I won't dirty anything. I'll clean up after myself. Chris Farley would be like, let the boy stay in your house. You know, and that's how I feel. I feel like Chris Farley, like trying to convince the Rays to really let it happen. Like, Get Junior Caminero up, change the energy of the team, bring a spark to the fans and the team.

[00:40:24] Mat Germain: I would love nothing more than for the City Connect jerseys to put on the first day that Junior Caminero plays. That would just be outstanding. You're, you're bringing in a new Jersey, one that you hit out of the park. Those things are awesome. I already ordered mine should be arriving by the end of the week.

[00:40:42] Mat Germain: Um, I think that is a marketing dream. What the rays have done with that. 

[00:40:48] Mark Corbett: I'd say I lived in fear of what they were going to deliver for city connect. Cause there's been some of them from some of the teams out there. It's like, Oh my gosh, why even bother? But I saw these, I was like, wow. Uh, I haven't ordered mine yet, but like you, I was talking to Karen, I said, honey, I said, we get home.

[00:41:04] Mark Corbett: I'm actually ordering some of the scare. It's, it's stupendous. I love the, I love the, the flames off of the Tampa Bay. I love the, uh, the manta ray, uh, stingray with the, what Skyway bridge built into it, or the. The other one on a skateboard, there's all, and the color is, is vibrant. I mean, uh, I think it was the best thing that happened in race this week was the uniforms, the new uniforms.

[00:41:30] Mat Germain: You're right. Yeah, I think the, when I ordered mine, it said there was only two left and I go on a Canadian site, obviously, so it's a different number of things for, you know, available. I was impressed by how much, you know, and they're not, they're not cheap by any means, but they make for good Father's Day gifts.

[00:41:50] Mat Germain: They make for good birthday gifts. And, uh, I think they're going to fly off the shelves, not just this year, but a whole bunch of years. I'd be curious to see if they can actually make them glow in the dark. Like kids would love it, fans would, they really would, there's gotta be a way to make that happen where they sell a version that glow in the dark and, you know, imagine every time that they win, they, they turn the lights off at the trop and the players are just glowing off the field.

[00:42:17] Mark Corbett: Oh, I love that, man. Yeah. We've been looking, yeah. But look for some marketing promotions. I like that better than throwing. Oh, 

[00:42:28] Mat Germain: I like the catapult, man, the catapult, put them in the city connect Jersey and just let it fly. 

[00:42:36] Mark Corbett: Put him in the trebuchet. Well, there he goes. Oh brother. No, but the other, I do love those uniforms, man.

[00:42:45] Mark Corbett: And I, it was good. You know, this road trip to Karen that took to see the White Sox and see the Brewers play, got to see, uh, obviously, uh, Adamus and got to see that, uh, Jakey Bars out there as well. And that's 

[00:43:01] Mat Germain: part of the stadium in, in, in terms of the, the Brewers, especially. 

[00:43:07] Mark Corbett: Well, uh, I don't know, I, I was more actually impressed with the scoreboard at the White Sox than about anything else, because to me, and I almost had to watch out because be distracted had so much information up there more than I've seen on the other scoreboard coming back to Milwaukee, though.

[00:43:27] Mark Corbett: Overall. I mean, it just had a good, clean vibe in there. Uh, I liked how much the fans were involved with it. The, the stadium itself and the, the Bob Euchre seat up there a way up in the high four hundreds and everybody getting their picture taken with him. The, uh, the brewer's little slide, the home run slide up there.

[00:43:45] Mark Corbett: Those are all just kind of fun things about it. And then of course I had to get myself a Johnsonville sausage, which I think I'm still paying for. And. It's yeah, 

[00:43:56] Mat Germain: oh man, that's fun. 

[00:43:58] Mark Corbett: It was good. 

[00:44:00] Mat Germain: The beer is good from what I hear too, in Milwaukee. 

[00:44:02] Mark Corbett: Yeah. And I didn't take advantage of that as a little chicken.

[00:44:05] Mark Corbett: I, cause you know, I, I wanted to set aside time for that, where I could actually really indulge and I did not, but, uh, I usually want to, if I go to a place like that, go and enjoy some of the breweries nearby, but that didn't happen this time out. 

[00:44:18] Mat Germain: Yeah, that's understandable. 

[00:44:20] Mark Corbett: I got to it years ago when I was in Green Bay and I was there for a week when I was working.

[00:44:26] Mark Corbett: I made sure I, yeah, I made sure I stopped by several of the breweries there and I've got the pint glasses to prove it. 

[00:44:34] Mat Germain: Yeah, I, uh, that's, that's on my bucket list to go watch, uh, Um, the game at Lambeau, I, I'd really, I'd love to kind of be part of that atmosphere and I would hope it was the coldest day of the year.

[00:44:46] Mat Germain: And I had to wear all these heating things and I wouldn't care. Uh, it's a pretty cool spot to watch a game. 

[00:44:55] Mark Corbett: It was, it was amazing. I was there, unfortunately, in a week when they weren't playing, it was kind of interesting. I'll, I'll be kind of quick about this. I raved. On a Sunday, Sunday after the, I guess the game, everybody had just sipped out of town and the fee I had to pay to stay there.

[00:45:10] Mark Corbett: That first night was just unimaginable. And the rest of the week was like 120 bucks. So the, that town, it's a small town in and of itself, but it really comes alive during the, the Packers games. But no, I would have to say I really did enjoy, uh, Millersfield. And I got to say the, the crowd, I've enjoyed them all in all.

[00:45:32] Mark Corbett: It got a little testy there a couple of times with some of the things going on the field and seeing things too. Like that young player was his name. Jackson Chorey, Chorey. I cannot say it properly. Churio. Thank you. Jackson. Churio, you know, watching what he's able to guess. He's just barely 20 years old.

[00:45:49] Mark Corbett: You know, I love this. Uh, what? He's got an eight year, 82 million contract, but you know, to see 

[00:45:57] Mat Germain: and offer something similar to junior Caminero. Cause he's going to be costly as well 

[00:46:03] Mark Corbett: as if, I mean, we're paying, we're paying Randy 8 million a year. I mean, and, uh, we're going to see what Jackson does for them for 8 million a year.

[00:46:10] Mark Corbett: So I don't know, but junior juniors can certainly perform well, and I'm looking forward to seeing him and a lot of the other people come on board. I heard one sad real quick that, um, today, and I didn't compare it with anything else, but they were saying that the Brewers had the second youngest team in the league.

[00:46:28] Mark Corbett: And. I don't know who would the other one be it was Oreos or somebody else, but the, um, I thought that that's, that's an exciting stat in and of itself, but you do have people like Adamus, who's a veteran these days to help be the glue guy, as you were talking about earlier to bring that team and to keep that team excited.

[00:46:48] Mat Germain: Yeah, and focused. And I think, you know, you can say some players are young, but they actually act like they're above their years. Like Contreras would be an example. Somebody that's actually more of a leader, you know, for his age than, than you would believe. He's acting like he's Yadier Molina out there.

[00:47:06] Mat Germain: Like, he's just that level of, of, of. You know, sheriffing everything around and making sure everybody's focused the number of times that he threw behind, uh, base runners and, and kept them in line. And it's just impressive to watch. There's a lot, uh, a lot of that the rays can learn from watching him play for sure.

[00:47:26] Mat Germain: And, and I've always said that if you want to grab on to catchers. Aim to trade with the brewers. They know catching better than any team in the league by far. Uh, and then it's, it's kind of funny because then you could say the cards develop, you know, outfielders. So if you want an outfielder, you go to the cards.

[00:47:46] Mat Germain: If you want a catcher, you go to the brewers. It's kind of weird. You go, you get your shopping list, you go to the grocery store, you get your baseball players,

[00:47:57] Mat Germain: teams got to eat. 

[00:47:58] Mark Corbett: Teams got to eat well and eating, they shall. We'll see what happens when our dear friends return to the citrus state in Florida. But I'm hoping that trop they're lighting it up and I'm hoping there's going to be when, after when, because goodness, we need it. And I hope there's a vibe that comes to that team that they sense from all the fans that's going to bring an energy and a positive action to the field that just seems to be lacking right now.

[00:48:25] Mat Germain: Yep. Oh, I know it's, it's one of those things where, uh, They need a change. Maybe the city connect will be the thing that does it. And it gives them a different vibe and more excitement and, uh, a few returnees, uh, hoping for a healthy Josh low above all else. And hopefully they get on the right track. 

[00:48:43] Mark Corbett: All right.

[00:48:44] Mark Corbett: Well, let me ask you now, since baseball is on deck with on deck with the Mets, any projections, any things we should be looking for with the Mets? 

[00:48:53] Mat Germain: With the Mets, it's kind of a mixed bag. They have a lot of, of injuries, sort of like what the Rays are going through. Uh, but they have, you know, they've gotten steady starting pitching overall.

[00:49:04] Mat Germain: Uh, I think the, the return of Diaz is kind of solidified the pen. Um, the. They have, you know, the core guys that we all know, Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, and they recently got J. D. Martinez, you know, finished off, um, he didn't really have a real spring training, so they got him a little bit later in the season, so he's getting acclimated to things, and because of that, uh, they had sent, uh, Mark Vientos, who I think is from Tampa Bay, uh, back down to the minors.

[00:49:36] Mat Germain: Um, and, and I think starting Marty came back as well, which is another reason he's down there, but they, they have a really solid team overall. I think they're going to be tough to play. Harrison Bader's there. They also, interestingly, they signed Mike Brossel to a minor league contract. So a little bit of a raise, uh, tie there.

[00:49:54] Mat Germain: And they also have Joey Wendell and Omara Narvaez who are both X rays on the team. Um, so yeah, it's not going to be easy by any means. I think the rays definitely have. The tools, you know, if they want to make the right changes to, to kind of win a few. And I think what might help them more than anything is the fact that they're going to face some lefties.

[00:50:17] Mat Germain: Um, so the, the Mets, you know, have, uh, Jose Quintana and Sean Manea going on the mound. The Rays are kind of built for that to attack left handers right now. Um, so I could see the Rays winning two out of three. I will say, 

[00:50:34] Mark Corbett: well, let's all be hopeful with that. I'd really look forward to seeing it. Uh, you know, didn't expect to be swept by the white socks.

[00:50:41] Mark Corbett: We were really bottom feeders when we got there and I'd hope to, to see better with the brewers. I, I think when we get back here to the sunshine state, like you're saying though, with those new uniforms, they pepped me up, at least, at least look at it on my, they'll get a couple of my dollars in the mail too, for some of that I am really, really looking forward to seeing.

[00:51:01] Mark Corbett: Homeboy Alonso there, but I hope we can kind of keep his bed somewhat silent and it should be a lot of fun, my friend. 

[00:51:11] Mat Germain: Yep. I'm hoping. And like you said, the new vibes, maybe, maybe Pete will also like the city connect Jersey so much. That whole sign here as a free agent. You never know. Yeah, it can happen.

[00:51:21] Mark Corbett: Ooh, boy. I love that one. Let me tell you. All right. You heard it here first folks. Mat 's predicting that Pete Alonso will sign with the Tampa Aries. All right. Don't put words in my mouth. Oh man. You know, that's all it is. That's what this is all about is conjecture and me making a statements that are absolutely not true.

[00:51:43] Mark Corbett: So we'll go with that. But the hope is, would it be fun? Yeah. We'll see how things come boys and girls. And I want to thank all y'all for being here today, a BaseballBizon deck. And you got any other things we should chat about Mat  before we close the door on this week. 

[00:51:59] Mat Germain: Uh, no, the, I think like every year I kind of go through this process, a kind of tempo of, of promotions and I think the, we're probably within a week to 10 days of, of some minorly promotions starting based on early performances.

[00:52:15] Mat Germain: So keep an eye out for those. 'cause the raise, have a few that'll be rising that are kind of interesting to see, um, including Carson Williams. Uh, Chandler Simpson, Braden Taylor, some guys have kind of opened eyes and deserve some promotions. So you'll start seeing those trickling in at the beginning of May, mid May.

[00:52:35] Mark Corbett: All right, everybody. I'm going to remind you all to do find out what's Mat 's talking about and thinking about, because he covers a lot when it looks at the minor leagues, what's upcoming as well as the raise every day, you can find him of course, on Twitter X. com @Mat_Germain_ .

[00:52:55] Mark Corbett: And you can find me Mark at the baseball biz. On Twitter as well. So I want to thank y'all for joining us here today. And we look forward to talk with y'all again. Real soon. Thanks a lot, Mat . 

[00:53:07] Mat Germain: Not a 

[00:53:07] Mark Corbett: problem. 

[00:53:08] Mat Germain: Glad to be here. 

[00:53:11] Mark Corbett: Just remember you can find us on Apple podcasts, iHeartRadio, YouTube, YouTube music, Pandora, Amazon music, and of course, here and there.

[00:53:21] Mark Corbett: Also on www.BaseballBizOnDeck.com  please go ahead and love us like this Like I said and leave your reviews also want to give special Thanks to X take our UX for the music Rocking Forward.