RaysUp! The Tampa Bay Rays are AL East champions!

377 BaseballBiz 9_23_26

Mark Corbett: [00:00:00] Welcome to BaseballBiz On Deck. I am Mark Corbett, and with me, of course, is the supreme intelligence himself, Mr. Mat Germain. How you doing, my friend? 

Mat Germain: I'm playoff bound, Mark. Playoff bound. 

Mark Corbett: Oh. 

Mat Germain: Playoff bound. 

Mark Corbett: Gosh. You know, boys and girls, if you don't know by now, Matt and I are serious Tampa Bay Rays fans, and this is a certainly a special Rays Up edition because this has been an exciting year.

And, you know, we both owned up to saying we thought the Rays would do well, but I never thought we'd be seeing this kind of great activity. And it just seems, Mat, so much because of the way this team has gelled as a single unit. That, I mean, you hear they, they get together to go out. I mean, the whole group early on, even at spring training.

Uh, they have trivia nights, I believe, together and other [00:01:00] events to where they are one unit, man, and they support one another completely 

Mat Germain: Yeah. And, and you know what's, you, if you think back, you rewind it a little bit and you think about when they brought in Mike Zunino, , Charlie Morton, Rich Hill, they're, they've always had this focus of getting gel players on board.

Mm-hmm. Like, that's always been a priority of the front office, particularly for the people they spend money on. So if you think of Charlie Morton being one of the highest paid Rays players ever. 

Mark Corbett: Yep. 

Mat Germain: Uh, and the same thing with Nick Martinez this year. They brought in these guys for a really good reason, because they need that kind of ingredient with the youth to calm the entire thing down.

And that, like you said, that, that's definitely worked. Yandy Diaz has said it in every interview. Junior Caminero, even though he doesn't have much experience, has said it in every interview. They all feel like they're, , on the train barreling down the track , at 100 [00:02:00] miles an hour all together.

There's not a, a rail car hanging- Mm ... , well behind. There's not one being dragged along. They are all together. And like I, I even think back to certain things, Mark. Remember, like when there was Pride Nights and people not wearing this, not wearing that, when there was this, that and the other thing.

You, I haven't heard a single thing this year- Yeah ... about any of that nonsense. A- and so there's been no drama, Mark. And, and, and the Rays are positive, positive, positive. 

Mark Corbett: Well, I, I agree with you wholeheartedly. A- and a world that's filled with trauma and drama right now, it is really good to be able to see a team like this hold it together.

And here we are right now. It is, of course, Wednesday, uh, September 23rd, and last night we did indeed win the AL East. And I was wondering how this was gonna work out, Matt. You know, the beginning of this year, [00:03:00] we started out with I think it was nine games on the road before we had our first home game. And, and we're, we're wrapping up the season with, with about, uh, seven or, or seven, I think, yeah, seven on the road.

I think it's four with the Yankees and three with the Phillies, and that's that. And that's it. And then we'll be waiting, oh, almost a week before we play again, and that'll be at the Trop. And that's the key to being a champion. You, you don't have to be there in that wild card week. So, oh, wow, it is so exciting.

But there's a lot of talk going on now, too, about Kevin Cash, will he get Manager of the Year once again? Eh, maybe so. You know, I, I, I think that they should have Team Coach of the Year, and then Martinez should be able to get that. Oh, my.

Mat Germain: Yeah. I, I wanted to touch on one thing that I find a little bit odd as well in terms of the playoff brackets, right?

Yeah. Because you're... Like, right now we're, we're kind of watching, okay, well, who's gonna rank where? Who's [00:04:00] gonna face off against who? Generally, there's a few playoff spots yet to be fought over and kind of decided. But just for example as to, like, something that they might wanna tweak in the CBA, because in my opinion, it's not very fair.

A- and, and what I'll talk to is, like, the Guardians right now are set to get a bye into the division series even though they have eight fewer wins than the Yankees Now, in my opinion, divisional things should not matter at all when you're talking about a bye. They shouldn't, because it should be based on the record.

Everything has been evened out enough now, Mark- Yeah ... that, that really in terms of, like, your playoff, your opponents through the season, it, it shouldn't really be divisionally based in my opinion. Like, it should be if the two best teams in the conference, in, in that- Mm ... uh, you know, league should be able to get that bye in my opinion.

That's it. So for the Yankees that we're facing tonight, [00:05:00] honestly, like, it is not fun to watch them have to go through the Red Sox. Uh, you know, probably that's how it's lining up right now. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Mat Germain: Uh, and so, you know, and meanwhile, the, the Guardians get to sit there and watch, and they're gonna wait for the, the White Sox and Astros.

I mean, when you're talking about the, like, the, the power dynamics of that. So between three AL East teams, which are the best in the American League in my opinion- 

Mark Corbett: Yep ... 

Mat Germain: there's only one that's gonna come out and be in the ALCS guaranteed. Whereas on the other side, you've got the three weakest teams going into the American League playoffs.

And they get the fire. So I think that's a, that's an example that if I was part of the CBA talks this year, like, you know what? We might wanna tweak how we're ranking the people going, or the teams going into the playoffs. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah, I mean, let's face it, there's, uh, if your division is weak and you're weak, why should you get a step up over other [00:06:00] teams that are performing well?

And that, that's exactly it. I mean, look, the American League West right now, the Astros and Ra- Rangers are neck and neck for that top position, and both of them, they're slightly beneath 500. Beneath 500. The Red Sox are 535, Yankees are 573, we're 611. And that just to even think of anything, like the Guardians, 522.

So yeah. Yeah. No, I, I agree with you. They shouldn't have that advantage of having the week off because of, oh, they're the highest, the second highest in the American League divisions leaders. Eh, yeah, no. No, no. I agree with you, brother. It's just, it's kind of ugly. 

Mat Germain: Yep. 

Mark Corbett: I don't know. I would really be curious.

I'm, I'm really hopeful that this CBA does have some decent changes to it, and I'm hoping they see it get done obviously. Mm. But right now Coming back to the game for a moment, we're, we're, uh, in the bottom of the third, [00:07:00] and oh my gosh, his bases are loaded. Yeah. The Yankees are le- Mason Englert 

Mat Germain: time.

Mark Corbett: Leading three, yeah, Mason Engelhardt's got... Is it Engelhardt or Englert? I can't remember. Englert. Englert. Yeah. Thank you. Yeah, he's, you know, e- and they, they just brought him up too. Oh, by the way, we're bringing you up from Durham. Oh, all right. 

Mat Germain: To be fair, he was doing an excellent job, and he has been in MLB like a, a few times where he's done well in the past, and I believe this is a grand slam.

Mark Corbett: Oh, sweet mother of Pearl. Yeah. That's exactly what that is. Hmm. 

Mat Germain: Do you, do you think this game matters in the least? 

Mark Corbett: No. You know, I mean, you have to be competitive, but you don't have to worry about it. It... W- we're s- we're clinched, and- Yeah ... no- But I 

Mat Germain: think, like, like we said before, the important part is the Rays are getting to clock Gerrit Cole.

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Mat Germain: And the Yankees are getting to clock somebody that they're [00:08:00] not going to see in the playoffs. So who's coming out on top here? I- I would, I would- I'm sorry, but it... There's some intelligence in there, right? Well, 

Mark Corbett: you're the- Or so- ... supreme intelligence, so there we go. I wouldn't 

Mat Germain: go there. 

Mark Corbett: That's right, man.

Oh gosh. Uh. No, it's, it's, yeah, it's... You think about all the strategies. Mm-hmm. Oh, here's one for you then. Mm-hmm. So yesterday, you know, we had the, uh, two games play, one early afternoon, one the evening, few hours in between them. And I'm thinking to myself- I'd never say I'd like to lose a game, but I'm glad that we didn't get the clinch until the second game.

Yeah. Because imagine, if you will, the alcoholic celebration, you know, at midday if, if we'd clinched the game in that first game. I mean, the s- the celebration. I mean, right now I wonder if some of the guys are still at the Full Tilt [00:09:00] after last evening. But I could not imagine only having three hours between games and you're celebrating, you know, ge- clinching the AL East.

Oh, Lord. That's 

Mat Germain: an excellent point, Mark, and I hadn't even thought of it. All I could think of in my head is somebody tripping over first base and landing face first, breaking a wrist, right? 

Mark Corbett: Oh, wow. Yeah. 

Mat Germain: Uh, you know? But no, the... You're absolutely right. And, and what, what struck me most, like, you know you see sometimes people hugging, people having a good time, whatever, and like we said before, , it doesn't seem like they're really into it and , they're kind of just doing it 'cause it's the right thing to do at the moment or whatever.

But, like, you could see the, the relief and the joy and the, the... Like, even between Eric Neander and, and Kevin Cash. And Kevin Cash giving people, like, real hugs. Like- Yeah. ... like, meaningful hugs, I mean. Like, they're just like, "Dude," like, "I'm so happy for you," and yadi, yada. And, and apparently they're fighting for hugs from Cash.

Geez. So he's [00:10:00] turning into the Tito hug-a-bear. Uh, but, uh, it, it's, it's kinda fun to watch them 

Mark Corbett: It is indeed. And I said, this has just been such a fun year to watch the Rays. There's so much change, so much as far as the makeup of this team from what we've had in the past, the passion that all these players bring to it.

And I've gotta tell you, over the last few years, you and I have kept looking at what this team would look like and said, "Well, I don't know if Yandy's gonna be there. Well, I don't know if, , if, if Walls is gonna be there. ..." And man, oh man, both those guys have been critical to what's happening.

You know, Diaz, Yandy Diaz was having a tough time for a while, but it was great to watch him last night come in and contribute and make a difference in the game. And to me, that was just everything. 'Cause I thought, one, it reignites him. You know, I know Yandy's good. I know if he's having a, a down time for a little bit, he'll be able to come back.

But last night, to clinch [00:11:00] the series and knowing that he was a big part of the RBIs with that, that was huge. And, um, let's see who we got up right now. We, oh, we're down seven to zip, top of the fourth, and Aranda is up. Ooh, man. So- 

Mat Germain: Yeah, now I will say if the Rays are able to come back and win this one, now that would be something to crush the Rays over.

Oh. But what always strikes me when we wa- when we watch the Yankees at home is how many empty seats there are behind plate and around, like, just in the, what I would call the overly expensive areas. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Mat Germain: Um, and, and I don't know. Like, I know they're, the seats are sold and the people just had, don't, aren't in them.

, But anyways, Gerrit Cole looks okay. He lo- he looks like he's working through things and, getting the outs that he needs to get in this game. But looking at the Yankees and the Red Sox rotations, let's say you're forced to pick between the two. Who do you think has the advantage in the [00:12:00] series in a three-gamer?

Mark Corbett: Damn, that's a good one. I, I really don't know, Mat, 'cause I'm, I'm thinking my first thought is going to the Red Sox. I think the Red Sox have had consistently great pitching, and if their offense was just this, this little bit more stronger, they would be in a better place than they are. 

Mat Germain: Right. What I come back to, and, and this is my thing, is both of those teams have defensive issues.

Mark Corbett: Mm-hmm. 

Mat Germain: Trevor Story's had them. The Yankees have had them. But I will say that since they've called up some young players, those mistakes have been getting improvements over time. Now, how they behave in the playoff environment, that's an entirely different story. It's a different ballgame then. But the, the Red Sox are getting Garrett Crochet back apparently.

The poor, you know, he's supposed to come back maybe in a relief role. , But when you're talking about, like, the experience, the Red Sox have that in spades. [00:13:00] S- the Yankees have that in spades. The problem that I see from the Yankees' point of view is can they handle lefties? 

Mark Corbett: Hmm. '

Mat Germain: Cause without Judge in there, they're very susceptible to getting dominated by lefties.

So the Red Sox are more than likely gonna use Sonny Gray and two lefties- 

Mark Corbett: Oh, yeah ... 

Mat Germain: in that starting rotation. And so the Yankees are gonna have to figure that out and, and figure out a way to ... So I'm still giving the Red Sox an advantage, and we've got Chapman along with it as the- Hmm ... closer, you know, another lefty.

So I don't see , the Yankees making a late charge, but they will be facing an ex-teammate, which is always kind of interesting. Um, but yeah, so th- there's a lot of good stories in the playoffs, Mark. Like, when you're looking at the brackets and how they, how they figure out, like, uh, in terms of who's gonna be facing who, I mean, you got the Braves and the Dodgers who could see a rematch, uh, on the one side, right?

Assuming that the Braves are able to get by the, by the Padres. If, if they don't get by the Padres, then you've got the [00:14:00] Padres and the, the Dodgers. That's still a fun series to watch. Yeah. Yeah. You've got the Cubs and the Phillies facing off first, and whoever makes it out of that series faces the Brewers.

So can you imagine a Cubs-Brewers- ... you know, divisional series? Like, that's, that's pretty intense. 

Mark Corbett: Mm-hmm. 

Mat Germain: So you've got the whole Craig Counsell thing and everything else to play off of if that were to happen. , So the, these playoffs are turning out to be pretty interesting overall. I think there's a lot of things to watch and, , good storylines.

Mark Corbett: Well, I can't wait for it to get there. I mean, you know, we've kinda been keeping an eye somewhat on the Brewers anyway, s- everything we, how about how Pat Murphy is with that team and doesn't put m- put up with any nonsense, you know, to- Mm ... to looking at our, our, our boy Jakie Bauers still in w- still with them.

Christian Yelich, a veteran, still with that team. But they have done so well. You know, will it be a Brewers Rays World Series? I, I think it very easily could be. 

Mat Germain: Mm-hmm. [00:15:00] Yeah, both of those teams have the pitching to do it. And, and I do think that's gonna be the key, right? Where both of those teams have guys who normally would be starters who will be great assets in relief.

So in a shorter series or in a shorter timeframe or when they're pushing arms a little bit more than they normally would, then they're able to kind of pull that off. Like, um, I, yeah, I so wanna see it. I put it out there, Mark, this week. I said, "Baseball gods, if you're listening, make it happen because MLB needs it more than MLB knows."

Oh, 

Mark Corbett: gosh. 

Mat Germain: Like, I get that the ratings and whatever else with the Dodgers and Yankees would be the probably the highest overall. But in terms of drama and stories and, and allowing people to have a fresh World Series without the same faces and names constantly in it, it would be so refreshing for- ... the 90% of fans that are not Dodgers and [00:16:00] Yankees fans.

Uh, I think a lot more of those would tune in than, uh, than they would if it was just Dodgers and Yankees 

Mark Corbett: Well, I'm trying to think of, um, you're measuring across the league, and I think Yordan Alvarez is probably still kind of the guy that may be the MVP for, uh, the American League. You know, we've got some great action from Junior.

We've got some great action, too, you know, even looking at, chandler. 

Mat Germain: I still think Bob Witt Jr. deserves it, to be honest. 

Mark Corbett: Oh, yeah. Well, you know, I, I texted you earlier today, and I, I really haven't done the homework on this, but I thought of the teams that are not going to be in this postseason- Yeah

who are the players that we'd wanna see? Yeah, and Bobby Witt Jr. first one comes to mind. Paul Skenes comes to mind. Mike Trout always comes to mind. Uh, those guys right off the bat. And, you know, if I look at the Reds, I want Elly De La Cruz. Uh... 

Mat Germain: Do you wanna hear something interesting, Mark? And I was looking at this this week.

Randy Arozarena [00:17:00] is 10th in MLB among hitters in F-WAR. 

And Brandon Lowe is 15th. Like, think about that for a second. Oh, wow. Like, so the Rays, like, if you, if you think back to Wander Franco. 

Mark Corbett: Mm-hmm. 

Mat Germain: Randy Arozarena and Brandon Lowe, like, I always try to think in my head, like, the alternate universe, right?

Like, our alternate reality where what if they had done this, this, this? And, and I just keep thinking, like, what we're watching right now is great 'cause they're cohesive and they're not centered around one superstar and all that kind of stuff. But you always think, like, if they had kept everybody that's having great years now.

Now, obviously, they might not have had a great year- ... after they leave. We know that. Like, it's not, uh, a given. But it is interesting that the majority of people that I watch that left the Rays are having success, uh, except for the pitchers. The pitchers all seem to be broken. 

Mark Corbett: Jeez, [00:18:00] crackers. Yeah, it's, it's b- okay, well, talking about pitchers, let's talk- Hmm

about last night with Drew. 

Mat Germain: Yeah. 

Mark Corbett: Drew, oh my gosh, what was it? It was 6.2 innings, 114 pitches, I think 11 strikeouts. And I'm thinking, oh my gosh, the... what... A part of me is just crying in the other room. I'm thinking, oh my gosh, Kevin, take him out. Oh my gosh, it's 114 pitches? This man, we c- we cannot afford not to have him in, you know, in the playoffs.

I mean, in the... But be, far be it from me, 'cause they don't pay me enough or the supreme intelligence like you would know enough to say whether or not he should be in there. Uh, but he... Man, that was quite a performance at 114 pitches. Woof. 

Mat Germain: Yeah. If it wasn't for Cam Schlitter, I think he would be the Cy Young winner in the American League.

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Mat Germain: Uh, I do think they're one, two. Uh, you can make a case for Parker Messick just because i- [00:19:00] in my opinion, like the thing that Cy Young winning always puts into account, and this has been true for all time, they take into account wins. So when you're looking at Drew Rasmussen, he's got 16 wins. , Parker Messick's got, , 12, and, , when you're looking at, the majority of the, the pitchers that are going to win it, like Cam Schlitter, he's got 14.

14 is close enough to 16. Eh, you know, that's, that's not gonna allow Drew to compete with him. And the, and the thing that makes Cam Schlitter stand out is the 1.94 ERA. 

Mark Corbett: Mm. 

Mat Germain: And he's got 6.1 F-WAR, so a whole F-WAR higher than Drew Rasmussen. So more than likely Cam Schlitter's gonna win it unless he has a real bad dud coming up.

, But the Rays' pitching overall, I think we're seeing it like other than, than tonight. Uh, you know, even when they lost two-nothing yesterday in the ear- in the first of two games- 

Mark Corbett: Right ... 

Mat Germain: uh, the pitching was [00:20:00] outstanding. Oh, yeah. Like the Griffin Jax has looked great. Nick Martinez has looked great.

When Shane McClanahan's been healthy, that's been great. Um, I think the Rays are in a really strong position. Um, the question is, as we saw with Drew and the pitch count that you just mentioned, is there a reason for that? Are they preparing him to go that length in a- Mm-hmm ... a playoff game? And so, you know, I, I don't think Drew is one that's gonna shy away, and you saw in his face when he was talking to the players, I don't know what he was talking about when Kyle Snyder was coming out to, to talk to him.

But he was basically saying like, "You guys need to back me up. You guys need to back me up, 'cause I don't wanna come off this mound." "And he's about to try to come and pick me up, and I don't wanna leave." I'm pretty sure that's what he was saying. 

Mark Corbett: And- I, I think you're on the money there. 

Mat Germain: Yeah. And I think that's, that's good.

That's what you want. You want that bulldog mentality in a playoff game. So if they're able to get one or two [00:21:00] lengthy starts, it sets up their bullpen really well. Yeah. Because then they can really, um, focus the energies and, and not wear somebody out. Like remember the last time we were in this position, , Nick was the one that was being brought out constantly and always,, used up and by the time they got to the end of the playoffs against the Dodgers, he just didn't have anything left in the ga- in the tank.

And they knew him so well that he wasn't really able to, you know, to, to get the outs that he needed to get in the key moments. So I hope that now that they have a few, what I would call, you know, really intriguing, uh, leverage, uh, high leverage guys, uh, that they're able to mix it up a little bit and, and get the outs in, in certain ways so that they can have the longevity in the playoffs

Mark Corbett: Well, I tell you, Mat, this is, like I said, this is gonna be continue to be exciting. You know, let me [00:22:00] ask you, w- I think this is probably a silly question. It gets asked any time you get a team who gets a bye. Mm. "Oh my gosh, you're gonna be off for the better part of a week." Is, are they gonna be up to s- par, you know, if it...

Or would it be better if they're continually playing this week? So I, I, I think that, I don't know that that question really has any merit anymore. And I, I think that I may say that in general, but I think with this team, I think they've got the attitude that'll keep it, that'll keep them alive.

I don't know, what do you think? 

Mat Germain: It's a timing thing. So really when you, when from a hitting point of view, uh, pitchers can get their work in. Like, that's, there's a routine aspect of it, but I think, if I'm not mistaken, that essentially the way this works out is almost exactly on time of when the pitchers would have started anyway.

It, it, it just basically gives them one extra day of rest or one fewer day of rest. True. But most of them it's one extra. So [00:23:00] I don't see much difference on the pitching side. They can get their work in. They can do a, you know, a certain amount of things. They can pitch to live hitters and not have any issues.

The problem is the timing on the hitters' side, especially when you're talking about facing the best pitchers in, in MLB- Mm-hmm. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah ... 

Mat Germain: under the pressure of the playoffs. That's something that is really hard to recreate. So essentially, uh, the Rays are gonna be stuck playing themselves, playing against Durham, uh, making makeshift games where they can...

And, and Erik Neander mentioned it tonight. , They've got guys that are ready to help out, to chip in, to have everybody keeping everybody sharp, uh, without hitting them in the wrist. Uh, Oh, gosh. Right? 

Mark Corbett: Yeah, yeah. 

Mat Germain: Uh, but yeah, that's essentially it. And then, you know, game planning wise, like when to bunt, when to dive for balls, all that kind of stuff, the effort to go into the game, that's gonna be there.

So from a Rays point of view, you're right in terms of [00:24:00] defensively and, uh, what you're gonna see on the field game planning wise, that is gonna be, like, no problem. So it's just a matter of that slight, you know, instance of getting onto pitches. Hopefully they figure out a way to do that, 'cause that would be the one thing that I would say can hurt teams in the playoffs.

And it, what it makes, Mark, generally is when you'll see a slow start to their offensive side of things in game one. Once they get going, then everything comes back and it's a muscle memory and they're good to go. 

Mark Corbett: Well, yeah. With all the training they have, you would, you would hope that's the case. 

Mat Germain: Mm-hmm.

Mark Corbett: Matt. When I'm looking at- No worries ... the teams that we have and is there anybody that you look across the Rays universe and you're saying, "You know, I, I wish we still had that player with us"? I mean, we were, you were kind of addressing that somewhat ago about Arozarena, Jake Bauers, et ce- et cetera.

Uh, is there any player right now that you would say, "Ooh, I'd like to pluck them out of [00:25:00] there and bring them back for this part of the year"? 

Mat Germain: Christopher Sanchez. If you're talking, when we made that trade for, uh... Like this is the thing about having written about the Rays for so long. I wrote up Christopher Sanchez over and over again when he was in the ABL, in the Australian Baseball League.

He's one of the few pitchers, one of the first pitchers that went over to the Australian Baseball League, and he was outstanding. And I was like, "There's something intriguing about this guy." And, and I wrote him up and I put him in the top 10, I believe. Nobody else had him in there, and I was like, "There's something here."

And, and sure enough, they trade him for Curtis Mead because he was an intriguing arm. Right. And at the time everybody said, "Oh, Rays won the trade. This is exactly what they needed. They're focusing on bats, et cetera." But the, the arms, you know, that, that they trade away sometimes, it's because they, they feel like they're able to develop other people.

So I get it. You're, you're dealing from strength and you're getting, you know, [00:26:00] uh, some assistance in other places. But Christopher Sanchez would just be able to... You, you picture him next to Drew Rasmussen and, and it would be really hard for a team to overcome that. But, uh, if you were going on the hitting side of things, uh, that's a little bit tougher, uh, to, to sort out.

Um, I- Do you have a favorite, Mark, in terms of hitters? 

Mark Corbett: Oh, let's see You know what? I, well, just 'cause I love the guy and that's Longoria of course. But who was the... Who... Cannot think of the gentleman's name. He started with, with a B, and he was probably with the Rays before, before I was even in the, uh, in baseball.

Mat Germain: Ooh. Oh, yeah, yeah. I know who you're talking about. Yeah. Uh... It depends on, like, how would you do it? Like, are you going purely off nostalgia? Are you looking- 

Mark Corbett: Well, with Longoria, yeah, definitely going off nostalgia. You know, I've- Yeah ... if, if you're looking at hitters, I... as far as fun too, bit of nostalgia, was watching Wilson Ramos come up here, [00:27:00] and he wasn't necessarily the, the best hitter all the time.

But the, the excitement with the crowd chanting his name as he came up to bat, the enthusiasm that would ran through the stadium with him, that was fun, you know, as far as... But I can't say performance-wise who I would pick, and it's gonna drive me crazy. I... 

Mat Germain: Yeah, I think I would go with Mike Brosseau. 

Mark Corbett: Like, 

Mat Germain: like- Yeah

just because I wanna see him get pitched to by Aroldis Chapman. 

Mark Corbett: Oh, wow. Bring it on, baby. How many people, how many people you got in your st- stable who can throw over 95 plus? Yeah. No, 

Mat Germain: I- If, if, if we're going through ba- baseball history, like all of the Rays years- 

Mark Corbett: Yeah ... 

Mat Germain: it'd be Carl Crawford. 

Mark Corbett: Oh, true. 

Mat Germain: Give me Carl Crawford at the top of the lineup in front of everybody else that they got and, uh, and I'll go out there and win the World Series.

Mark Corbett: Jeez. You know, I [00:28:00] saw something today, and I gotta remember what it was. I think it was MLB and they were talking about the top 100 prospects, and I just saw- Mm ... that headline as I walked past. I was not surprised to see Grady Emerson was right there at the very top. Oh. And, uh, you, you've talked about it.

And I, I think of these young men who are pivotal in the Rays system now and probably just dying saying, "Damn, I wish I was there with the team right now." 

Mat Germain: Yeah, well some of them are. Caden Bodine apparently is hanging out with the Rays, uh, on a taxi squad, which I think is a brilliant move. He gets to live it.

They did this with Wander Franco, remember? When he was in double A and they were going to the playoffs, they brought him, and I think it was the Yankee. Exactly the same scenario as what they're doing with Caden Bodine, and they had him hang out with the team and they got him comfortable with it, the process, the training, the media, all the kind of stuff that goes around.

He got to talk to the team, do all the [00:29:00] scouting on the players, on, on the pitchers, et cetera. 

Mark Corbett: Right. 

Mat Germain: So that if an emergency came up and something really went sideways with one of the catchers, they, they literally Mark, any foul ball, we, you know, can take out a, a catcher. So, you know, he's in, in one of those key kind of roles where they know the bat can play.

Like- Yeah ... the bat is, is elite with Caden Bodine. So, um, it for hi- for them it was a matter of getting him up to par defensively and I guarantee you he's doing work with a lot of the pitchers, , that aren't throwing or the guys in the pen, Trying to get his skills and, and knowledge up of how they pitch, how their pitches look, all that kind of stuff.

, So it's great to see the Rays do that. And then, and I would not be surprised, uh, to see him start the season next year with the Rays. But Grady Emerson and, and Caden Bodine are, are essentially franchise player caliber guys. Oh, 

Mark Corbett: yeah. 

Mat Germain: Like, and then you're talking about, [00:30:00] okay, well who's number three? You got Nathan Fluellen.

Like you're, you're just swimming in leadership and potential when y- if you're looking at the Rays. So w- how many times have we seen the Rays overspend on catchers, right? Uh, like honestly, like we, we can go all the way back to Nick Schiopero, uh, getting Travis d'Arnaud in, Wilson Ramos. They were always short term, they were always long-term and high-risk.

Chris Betts is another one that they picked high. Um, there was another one that I can't recall his name. That's how bad it was. Oof. He was a first round pick. And there was an- another kind of investment they made. There was Ronaldo Hernandez, who they ended up trading to Red Sox. So how long did we see all this money, all this effort?

Oh, man. High draft picks, high international, you know, spent on catchers and then next thing you know, they, they make a couple of trades and, uh, one [00:31:00] key draft pick a- and which wasn't top of the list, and they end up solving, it looks like, the catching position for the foreseeable future. And, and it's so great to see, 'cause if you're building, and we're seeing it with the White Sox this year, if you're building out from the catching position, you're going to have a great team.

There's just no ifs, ands, or buts about it. , I can point you, Mark, to the, , the period of time from 2010 until the Rays finally made the playoffs again. That's like a black hole of catching position for the Rays. Honestly. Yeah. If you can name me a couple of catchers that were above average over that time with the Rays, I'd be very surprised, right?

Uh, and so you need that, you know, to, to start your team with that and a shortstop. So Grady Emerson, Caden Bodine I, I'm just giddy about that, Mark. It makes me feel like a kid as a prospects kind of, of person. Uh, and I hope Rays fans recognize what it's gonna mean to [00:32:00] open up a new ballpark with those two players as part of the team.

Mark Corbett: Thank you. Thank you. I agree with that. You know, it, it's kind of interesting too, because as Zalupski, one of the owners of the Rays, uh, they, at least was talking about spending a little bit more money I think than usual. Mm. And I thought, I'm not against that, but you've got a strategy that works, period, and it comes from a farm system, it comes from some real smart trades.

And I would not wanna get in the way of what Neander and others have built before him, because this is working. So when you look at Caden Bodoin, it's, it's great to know he's there. I'd love to see him pop up somewhere in the midst of us. I, I'd hate to think of it because of an emergency, but you know, we all know, you say, "You've got two catchers.

You know, what, what's gonna happen if one of them is out?" So yeah. Yes. Oh my goodness. See, we got up here- It is- Go ahead ... 

Mat Germain: it is interesting though, Mark, like in terms when you're tal- la- talking about Junior Caminero, right? 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Mat Germain: We've talked about so much dead money in [00:33:00] MLB based on long-term contracts. We're looking at Aaron Judge sitting on the sidelines, and he's still owed another $200 million after this year by the Yankees.

Jeez. He's gonna be 35, 36, 37, 38 for those years. Uh, you're talking about Shohei Ohtani's 32 years old. Apparently he may never pitch again for the Dodgers, so now he's a really high paid DH. He's still owed $692 million by the Dodgers because they, they've left that to start, I think in 2034 for him to get paid the high amounts.

, So you're talking about Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Joey Votto. There's so many examples if you go back in time of dead money on teams when they overspend and give a guy a huge contract. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., another example for this year, he's struggling like crazy. Yeah. He got paid the big money, a half billion dollars.

And so now the Blue Jays [00:34:00] must be sitting there going, "Oh, what did we do?" A- and, you know, is it another Albert Pujols sort of situation? So I understand the Rays being tepid in terms of signing Junior Caminero really quickly to a high, uh, long-term- Mm ... uh, you know, deal. But I, I, the feeling I get with Junior Caminero is he's not looking to get Shohei money I don't even know if he's looking to get, um, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

money. I think if you're giving him Mookie Betts kind of money, he probably would be okay with it because he also understands that if you're gonna build a team, you wanna have some money, you know, to spend on other players. Right. It doesn't generally mean that you're gonna have, uh, endless amounts to give to everybody.

, The Montreal Canadiens in the NHL have been really good at doing that recently, where they kind of got everybody together and they said, "Listen, we can overspend on you, we can overspend on [00:35:00] you, we can overspend on you, and then we're, we're done. Or we can keep all of you, and all of you take a tiny bit less money and you get to play together."

Uh, and so there, you know, there has to be that kind of angle from the Rays. I feel like they're the kind of team that can put in that kind of system and sit everybody down and have a really mature conversation without making it seem like they're taking money away from people, so not to, to actually, you know, impoverish anyone.

But there's, there's creative things you can do with deals, et cetera, to kind of compensate for those kinds of things as well. So I'm really curious too, Mark, in terms of how they're gonna spend that money, like who they're gonna spend it on. And, and I guarantee you it's not gonna be on extremely high paid free agents.

I think it's more likely going to be internally. Like, we're gonna keep these guys around a little longer than we would have, or we're gonna go [00:36:00] and pick up that guy at the trade deadline and say, "Okay, these are the areas we need help with." We're not gonna be shy like they were i- you know, between 2020 and 2023.

They were really shy about spending at the deadline and taking on a lot of money. Stu Sternberg, Kyle Bosh, I think that, that factually that I know of, at least five trades, uh, where it would've improved the team and their chances to win, uh, because the money coming back wasn't really leveling out to the level that he wanted.

Uh, the Cubs a few times in particular were one of those teams. , , That's really encouraging to hear the, the, you know, Patrick Zalupski, uh, point to that and say, "You know what? That's not gonna be an issue anymore. Rays fans can rest easy. We're gonna push the limits, , up a little bit." 

Mark Corbett: Yeah, and I think that actually makes people who, uh, see the money that we're actually giving the Rays to build a stadium here in Tampa, uh, I'm [00:37:00] hoping that that'll give them, you know, some, , what, comfort as well.

You know, it's... Let me ask you, are, were you pleased with, um- When they changed the wildcard, I mean, let's face it, the wildcard was one game, you know, not that long ago. It was one game and it was done. So but, you know, and the, the problem with that was you had one of the division winners could be out like that, and- 

Mat Germain: I, I want two more teams in the MLB, and I want seven-game series all the way through the playoffs.

Mark Corbett: Wow. 

Mat Germain: That's what I want. And, and I personally would cut the, the number of games played down to 155. I s- That's the way that I would compensate it. 

Mark Corbett: I, I like that. I think that's reasonable. I mean, because we, we tax these young men's bodies so much. Mm. And I'm really curious because if what of those pieces may be in play with the CBA, you know?

There's ... [00:38:00] They've got to make sure that there's rest, rehabilitation going on with players, you know, between games. Do you expand the number of pitchers that you have on a team? Yeah, I think you could, should expand and have another pitcher or two on the team as well. I mean, those are just- Uh- P- Go ahead.

Mat Germain: The other change I would make, Mark, and, and people are gonna hate me for this, 

Mark Corbett: okay? 

Mat Germain: They are. They are gonna hate me for this. Every single year, games four, five, six, and seven- 

Mark Corbett: Yeah ... 

Mat Germain: of the World Series are played in Vegas. 

Mark Corbett: Hmm. Yeah, they're gonna hate it. 

Mat Germain: Every single year. You can book it, you can market it.

It's going to be an epic, you know, Lavapalooza, whatever you wanna call it. But the, thing that I, I wanna kind of MLB to focus on is, is amping up [00:39:00] the, the acts that are involved with the World Series so that it starts not only rivaling with the Super Bowl, but beating the Super Bowl. 'Cause let's face it, if you've got f- if you make it to game seven of the World Series, that means you've had game four, game five, game six, and game seven.

That's four, whatever you wanna call them, halftime shows or seven-inning stretch shows. That's four pre-game shows, that's four acts after the game. Whatever it is that you wanna set up, set it up so that the way I would do it is whoever has the, the what you would call home field advantage- 

Mark Corbett: Right ... 

Mat Germain: right, they would get games two and three.

And whoever is the other team gets game one. So they still get to show it off in front of their fans, and I guarantee you plenty of their fans will travel to Las Vegas to go watch those games. Oh, yeah. Right? And it's the cheapest hotels, the cheapest flights, et cetera. So, and like, [00:40:00] I still think that you need to be smart about how you're spending your money.

There's, there's gambling involved in MLB now. Yeah. Uh, there's a lot of reasons to make Vegas the central part, and I would also move Cooperstown to Vegas or set up a new- ... set up a new museum that- Oh, my God ... that is akin to Cooperstown, you know, that, that, that is complimentary. Yeah. Whatever you want to call it, right?

Um, so I think there's so much intrigue about that because if you're always moving the World Series around and it's always a different place and there's always a different format, and the acts really can't know exactly who it's going to be far enough ahead of time, then you can't really plan for those mega acts, right?

So if I tell Metallica tomorrow- ... we are playing game six and you are the act for game six, et cetera, obviously you would probably make it game four because you want it to be for sure [00:41:00] that you're going to have that game, right? So game four really ends up being the game where the most fans would probably be in Vegas because they know the acts are gonna be the biggest.

But, uh, in my opinion, it would really make, \, like it would bring the entire baseball community together because it's something you can plan long term, even two, three, four years in advance and save up for it. Make it a family trip. Do whatever it is you need to do. But I think between that and making the playoffs longer series for each one, you're getting more games through the playoffs at home anyway.

So you're losing out, yes, okay, maybe game four, five, six. But a lot of times you see the World Series end at the other team's home field anyway, so they don't get to, you know, spend it with their fans anyway, so is it really any different? Well, at least then they have an opportunity to go to Vegas and know that they're actually gonna be able to afford it, able to get a hotel, able to get a ticket, et cetera.

And [00:42:00] so, uh, I don't know. I think there's a lot of good to that. Um, they could change it up if they wanted to. They could go to the Rays stadium that they're gonna build. They could go to another indoor or southern facility. But to me, Vegas just makes it easier because of all the tourism related and gambling related items that they bring in.

Mark Corbett: Yeah. Well, and because like you say, gambling is a big part of it now, even though my love for gambling is nil. But, uh, geez, Polymarket and Cashie or whatever it is all over the, the place, it's just like, uh, y- I, I always ... Well, I'm not gonna go down that road, but it would be interesting sometimes to see how did DraftKings feel when Polymarket really just kind of penetrated in there.

You know, what did some of the other ones- Yeah ... I mean, it really took their place. Hey, um- And 

Mat Germain: if you can't fit them in the stadium, you fit them into the sphere. Oh, boy. And they watch it from the sphere, right? 

Mark Corbett: Uh, yep, yep. Let's see here. I was looking, wanted to let you know of, just as a, a little self-promotion plug here again, I do have [00:43:00] that lecture I'm gonna be giving on, uh, Senaida Shoo Shoo Wirth at the Tampa Baseball Museum next week.

And part of that is really discovering the life of the player. Uh, b- so the reason I'm bringing that up parallel here is preparation. You know, I, the what do players do to prep for the game? And they actually had a set of rules. Max Carey, who was a Hall of Famer and was a big deal with the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, here are some of the rules that they had.

Two hours after each game, every girl is in her room. Okay? Uh, eight to nine hours sleep every night. No slacks may be worn in public. No smoking in public, and only one cigarette after a meal. No drinking. Yeah. No drinking. Balanced diet with largest meal of day at 4:00 PM. Practice at 6:30 PM, games at 8:00 PM, [00:44:00] lasting one hour, 20 minutes to two hours.

Let's, let's see. Oh, one player says, "Besides that, we don't have time to get in trouble. We're, we're either traveling, playing, practicing, or sleeping in our spare time, and we go shopping." So it's, it's funny, just the, uh, obviously the sex element- Yeah ... is all the way through there, but it's still nonetheless interesting to see the kind of 

Mat Germain: things they're doing.

Do you remember Mike Clevinger and another player who broke the COVID-19 rules, right? Ah. 

Mark Corbett: Oh 

Mat Germain: my gosh. Like, that's what that brings me back to is- Yeah ... is just like, you know, rules are made to be broken. 

Mark Corbett: Oh, yeah. 

Mat Germain: Yeah. And as soon as you put those boundaries in there, you know some people are gonna test them.

Mark Corbett: Well, you know, you s- even see that movie, A League of Their Own, and I mean, it's, well, that's not actually it. You see how a lot of those are broken there, too, so it's, it's pretty crazy. And the thing of it is, though, preparation for these athletes to stay healthy. I mean, tonight I, I [00:45:00] hope Victor Mesa Jr.'s doing well.

I saw him- Mm-hmm ... sliding back to get back to first, and but you gotta w- say what, what is the, uh, the regimen of these players? They're grown men. They're professionals who've been there, and they're, they're going to protect their career, but I'm still sure, I wonder how often a front office has to say something like to Clevinger when, in 2020.

But I, I, I really don't hear that happening very much these days. 

Mat Germain: I've, I've asked players about this before, um, and then I was kinda shocked because- When I first started and I didn't know anything about interviewing prospects and all that kind of stuff, I always thought they were gonna be treated well by the organization because the organization wants to bring up the best players.

Yeah. They wanna win, et cetera. And, and what struck me most was how crappy their diet was, just as an example. Because they were dirt poor, and the team really [00:46:00] didn't provide very much- 

Mark Corbett: Yep ... 

Mat Germain: for them to have, right? So they were always hungry, always looking for the next meal, always looking for a way to nourish themselves in the right way, right?

And, and it's not like sponsors are pouring all over them for a lot of, uh, of the players. So for example, when Wander Franco came in and he was buying meals, and he was buying et cetera, 'cause he had the millions of dollars that he was able- Right ... to kind of buy everybody, , and help everybody out.

But it kind of brings me to that aspect where, we're at the point now where that's shifted a little bit, where they're getting paid a little bit more. It's less of an issue for them to get lodging, et cetera, than it used to be. Although now with prices going crazy, I don't know who can afford anything anymore.

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Mat Germain: But, but the point is, you know, the, the things are constantly moving and changing and being reevaluated, and I think that's always something that's gonna have to, to, to be looked at overall. 

Mark Corbett: Well, I think that [00:47:00] as much conditioning as players have to g- to be or should have to take to get to that level, I'm not surprised of the steps that they will take.

I mean, how many different training facilities I know... Pardon me. Um, I know here in town, for instance, uh, where I've seen Vladdy Jr., you know, a couple years ago coming into a special training center. And you look also then what happened with his diet and the loss of weight. Now obviously his game isn't, isn't showing all that, that came from that, but it was for a bit.

And you talk about the, the young prospects coming up. Well, I've read time and again, I even can't tell you the story, but how many times they're getting hot dogs that are left over in the concession when they don't really have the money, and you're at that lower level, uh, league as far as any money. So, uh, you would think, you would think they'd wanna do more to build the health of those future players.

What I know? 

Mat Germain: Yeah. And, and I think they, they are now, you know, in, [00:48:00] in that level, especially de- it depends on the organization, though. Like, there's some that leave you alone more. I asked a few of them that came over, what was, I can't name, remember the name of the prospects. But they, they had come over from the Los Angeles Dodgers, and I asked them, "What was the difference between the two?"

Like, and some of them were saying, "Well, that organization left me alone, didn't say anything to me, didn't try to improve me. I had to do it on my own." Right? It was, like, a self kind of, uh, improvement model. 

Mark Corbett: Right. 

Mat Germain: Other ones were saying, "Well, that organization really, like..." You know, n- not, not the rules kind of thing as what you just pointed out, but were constantly leading the way and saying, "Hey, have you thought of this?

Have you thought of that?" And were constantly on their backs. Generally, the feeling I got is the Rays are sort of middle of the road, right? They'll, they'll kind of point you in the right direction. They'll give you ingredients to help you, but they don't wanna overwhelm you with those ingredients. They want you to give you just enough to keep feeding you, to keep you moving in the [00:49:00] positive direction that they're looking at, uh, so that you're, you're never starved for information, but you're always kind of improving.

So in nutrition, in terms of mental, , they were one of the first teams to bring in what's it called again? Mental performance coaches- Mm-hmm ... and, and that kind of stuff. Like, they're, they're, they're really focused on trying to get, , the right attitudes and the right, uh, mindset to help their team, uh, perform to the right level.

Mark Corbett: Well, it seems to be showing up right now, I tell you, when you're looking at this team where they're at. You think we'll get the 100 games before the season's over? 

Mat Germain: I think we'll fall just a tiny bit short. Uh, I would say, you know, 98 or 99, but, uh, honestly, Mark, it, it doesn't really matter. That'll, will mean that Kevin Cash has, uh, led the Rays to their two best seasons, uh, ever, more than likely.

Yeah. Um, and, and so he deserves a lot of praise. Um, you know, there was stressful moments. I [00:50:00] remember we were talking about him during the season, and we were talking about the color change of his hair. Yeah. And, uh, you know, how he seemed to be having, a rollercoaster ride, uh some struggles in terms of trying to keep everything focused and positive.

Um, and, and it's a long, grinding season, so you can't blame anybody for that. Yeah. There's gonna be ups and downs. But overall, like when it, when I just sit back, Mark, and I, I like to do this once in a while, is to just kinda say, "Okay, where does everything stand?" So if you're a Rays fan, you've got a new stadium, right?

That's, the shovels are going in the ground this month, so that's, that's in the books. 

Mark Corbett: Yep. 

Mat Germain: You're gonna have new investors and new TV deals, more money, like you pointed out before. You've got owners that are bringing back jerseys like they're wearing tonight. Which are very encouraged by the fandom. A- and, and anything that you bring up like that is going to be positively based.

Uh, they're, they're looking at all the concessions, they're adding promotions, they're [00:51:00] improving all of the fun aspects that you were talking about, the Pokemon nights and all that kind of stuff. But, you know, there's just a lot of, of good ideas and, and a wide variety of them overall. You've got great players, great leadership, great youth, a, a system that's top 10 in the league.

You've got the best record in the American League. You've got three players that are hitting in the top 10 hitters in MLB. You've got three pitchers that are in the top 30 in MLB. Uh, you've got one of the best closers in the league with the most saves. 

Mark Corbett: Mm-hmm. 

Mat Germain: Uh, there's just nothing but positives. And then you look at the financial aspects of it, and they basically don't have any commitments after next year.

So they've got a blank slate of how to spend money on top of it. So I just, I don't know. Like, I- if you're a Rays fan and you're not giddy at this point, , you're just not paying attention. You, you need to, you know, look around a little bit and, and recognize that there are a lot of envious fans across [00:52:00] MLB looking at the Tampa Bay Rays.

Mark Corbett: Yes, they are. And aren't we just loving every minute of it? Oh, gosh. Well, we, we talked, it was before the show, 'cause I heard that piece where Ryan Bass was interviewing, uh, Taylor Walls the other night. And, "Taylor, you know, I, uh, uh, before the season really got started and all, there was, there was a lot of folks who were saying, 'Well, they didn't really think you guys would be doing all this well.'

So, so what do you, what do you think about that?" And Taylor was like, "Well, for one, I always thought we would be doing well. So those other people, what they were thinking, they'll just have to figure that out thems- their damn selves." He didn't say exactly that, but, but it was. It's like, "Hey, I don't... I can't really be concerned about what they're thinking.

I know what I've thought about this team all along. They're gonna succeed." And it is such a joy to see it happen. Oof. But, uh, I, I don't know, brother. Yeah. It's, I, I never thought we would see a team quite like this. I didn't anticipate it this year, and I... So I'm [00:53:00] really glad. I think Nick Martinez is a big part of it.

I've said that before. Oh, here's a nugget I wanted to share with you. Today I was listening on the radio, and you talk about the different, uh, promotions and all. And of course, you know, once they clinch the, um, uh, being in the, uh... Geez, I can't think. Post-season, there was the shirts. They immediately were to don the shirts and all that.

Well, Dick's evidently sells those, too. So evidently one, there was a person who went, like, uh, two days ago to Dick's to get the shirt, and they had them up there at the front desk. So they just gave it to him, the cashiers. They had... I guess they've had so many people coming in for them, they just had them right up here.

So they pull it out, and the man looks at it and he says, "Is this what I think it is?" And the person behind the desk, the clerk, is like, "Uh..." He says, so then he unfolds the jersey It is for the AL East Division champs. Somebody broke it a little early, [00:54:00] man, broke the tape too early, so, so they got theirs. And thank goodness we won, otherwise he'd have a very interesting collectible.

But- 

Mat Germain: That's a bonfire waiting to happen, Mark. 

Mark Corbett: Oh, you know it. Geez. Geez. Oh. I hope the, I hope f- nothing happened to the person who's working there. I d- don't know how far that story got, but, uh, I heard, heard it get enough that, uh, who would I say? They were starting to get other media people calling in a- wanting more details on it, and the radio station's like, "Nah, not gonna be giving something to national media.

They'll just tear it up and make, uh, this person's life a holy hell." But let's see, where we are right now, and it is the top of the sixth. The Yankees are eight, we are two. Jonathan- Right ... Ronda's up, and who's pitching it? Is it Gearko still pitching? Yeah. How many- Cedric ... how many pitch... Hmm? 

Mat Germain: Uh, he's up to 81 or 91.

91. Uh, Cedric Mullins hit a home run off him just earlier, so- 

Mark Corbett: Hmm ... 

Mat Germain: uh, that's [00:55:00] encouraging. But that's one of those things that I'm talking about. Like sure, he, he's doing well and everything else, but they're just getting more comfortable seeing his pitches. Um, so I, I understand the Yankees needing to get him some work.

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Mat Germain: Uh, but you know, unless their pen is really in hard shape right now- 

Mark Corbett: Mm-hmm ... 

Mat Germain: like just get him off the mound after five and, and rest him until the, the next, game. Because I feel like he, he's one of those pitchers that, um, that knows what he needs to do on the mound. Like mechanically he's not gonna be surprised or rusty or anything else.

He's gonna put in the work before the next game. And so, um, I don't know. I think they're risking too much just keeping him in and allowing the Rays to, to see more pitches than they probably should. Like right now, that last pitch, he looked completely... He didn't really finish the pitch. He just kind of, uh, you know.

Anyways, it's one of those things that I al- There was one [00:56:00] year, remember the Rays, um- I can't remember which playoff year it was, but they started resting guys before- Mm-hmm ... the playoffs, and I was like, "This is the worst thing they could possibly do." Because honestly, it just threw off their entire timing, and sure enough, they ended up getting ousted by the Red Sox one, two, three.

Yeah. And, and I think that's the, that's the danger you run into. So I'm not saying you keep Gerrit Cole off the mound. I'm just saying that, you know, you wanna mitigate the length of games sometimes. And Drew Rasmussen, we were talking about before- Yeah ... and we're praising that. Like, that applies, too, right?

You don't wanna wear him out, but in his case, he's been held back the entire season. And so this was, like you noted, was the first time that they really pushed him to that level. And so you need to cross that barrier before you get the playoffs to be able to do it- Sure ... in the playoffs, right? Uh, so it's a different story with Gerrit Cole, who's done gone long games over and over and over again throughout his career.

So, um, he just [00:57:00] shanked another one. He just seems tired right now. Um- 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. I thought I saw somebody in their bullpen warming up, but I did see somebody in our bullpen warming up. Got Bro- Brody Hopkins, I think it was. Mm. I said, "Ooh." Glad to s- yeah, I don't know. You, I said, "You gotta know your guys. You gotta be able to keep them healthy and keep the arms healthy," and like I said, I was, I was surprised about, uh, about Drew.

But I, I, we'll see. So it's still eight to two. 

Mat Germain: Brody Hopkins and, yeah, Brody Hopkins and, and Ty Johnson are two guys that for the Rays I'm curious to see if they carry both in the pen for the, the playoff series that they end up having. Uh, just because they're unknowns, right? Exactly. For the majority of these other teams,

and that can play to your advantage sometimes. Um, and man, Brody Hopkins can dial it up, and that curve ball is so nasty. Ty Johnson's slider is ridiculous when he gets it, you know, to the right areas. , There isn't much people can do about it. So, uh, I'm, I'm curious to see what the Rays decide to do with [00:58:00] them. 

Mark Corbett: Alls I can say is I'm very excited about it. I know our boys are gonna do what they need to do here in New York, and it's, uh, I don't know that we're gonna get this one, like I said, being down by six in the bot- in the top of the sixth. But we're not worried about it, because we are the AL East champions.

We are there, and I'm confident. Mm. You know, being able to ha- start the, , postseason in Tampa Bay, ? I do love the new shirts, too, the n- the, uh, the new away shirts. And I, and I think it was probably smart of the owners, too, 'cause it, it has Tampa Bay on there. So it's not like they're going ahead and forgetting everything about being over in St.

Pete, since Tampa Bay is St. Pete, Clearwater, and Tampa. So I thought there was- Mm-hmm ... some wisdom in that, too. So we will see. 

Mat Germain: Yeah. So overall, Mark, we're looking at, uh, uh, Ian Seymour starting tomorrow. Mm. Freddy Peralta after [00:59:00] that, Griffin Jax, and Nick Martinez gets the last start. Um, so what does that mean about the first two games, you know?

Is it Drew Rasmussen and Ian Seymour one-two? 

Mark Corbett: I think it has to be if you're gonna p- have Martinez there at the very end of all this right now. I mean- Mm-hmm ... or do you just try to f-... I said don't give up a game, but do you actually put Martinez in this before the pl- uh, playoffs? 

Mat Germain: Or Freddy Peralta, you know?

Freddy Peralta is a... I, I don't know. The Rays have been able to figure out a lot of his, uh, uh, his issues since he got over from the Mets. 

Mark Corbett: Mm-hmm. 

Mat Germain: So if I'm looking at the Rays series coming up, like sure, you want a lefty in there more than likely, unless the team they're facing doesn't have problems with lefties.

Um, I think the Red Sox did well against Ian Seymour last time they faced him. But, um, yeah, so it'll be interesting to see. I don't know. Are you going to get tickets to the playoff game? And if so, where are you gonna [01:00:00] be sitting? 

Mark Corbett: I'm gonna sit where I can afford. 

Mat Germain: Oh. I don't blame you, Mark. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. I, I, I'm gonna go to at least one of the playoff games, but uh, uh, I may be sitting up in the 300s, but we'll, we'll see.

That's fine. It, it has been fun watching, to see people up there and- Mm ... talking about crowds, and you were mentioning earlier at the Yankees, a lot of those, uh, expensive seats, there's nobody sitting there. They're probably all bought up by corporate. And I was pleased to see as many people as did in the Rays last home games.

I knew it was almost the end of the season, the last time you're gonna see them home before the postseason. The fans were there. Now, it's a, I just hope that continues on, but I can tell you being there for a postseason, and I can't remember if it was Kiermaier or somebody who'd hit a, a home run and the volume of, had, in that stadium, in the Trop, I mean, it was surprising that, you know, those [01:01:00] girders up there weren't shaking.

It was amazing. The, the vibrancy, the energy, I look forward to being part of that, to be in that stadium and feel that again. 

Mat Germain: Right. And, and just so that we know as well, the, the 2026 season, uh, ends up being ranked one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10. So 11th overall in terms of attendance at The Trop.

So they averaged, uh, just under 17,500 fans a game, uh, this year. Now, with the deal being in place, I would guarantee you next year you're gonna see an uptick above 18,000. But, uh, I think, you know, it's, like you said, from what I've heard, people being in there for a playoff game, it's extremely loud at The Trop- Oh, 

Mark Corbett: yeah

Mat Germain: , When you do get it full. So hopefully they do pack the house. Hopefully they do, uh, continue the home field advantage that the Rays have enjoyed this season whenever they do [01:02:00] have, games at home. Uh, and then that gives them a leg up on the other, uh, on the other teams. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. Well, it's been a lot of fun.

It's gonna be weird not seeing, uh, you know, with D-Wayne and Brian Anderson calling the games. Mm-hmm. I always hated that part about the postseason, the guys you've been there all the year with and then suddenly they're not there. So check all your subscriptions to HBO Max, Peacock, whatever. I, I, I was getting ready to cancel HBO Max the other day until I realized they're gonna be part of the postseason as far as where I can watch the games.

Mat Germain: I don't have the volume on during the playoffs, Mark. 

Mark Corbett: Good man. Good 

Mat Germain: man. I don't. I, I really don't. A- and I think that's the best way to watch it, just because it does get so annoying. They know so little about your team, your players- Oh, gosh ... that it gets to be, that it really, um, condescending is the way that it feels.

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Mat Germain: Like, it's almost like you're babying people into the team. Like, you're, all of a sudden you're a rookie fan now, and you need to be taught [01:03:00] everything about this team. And you're just like, "Good Lord, like, just move on and, and focus on the game and, and tell us the, the things that we might not be thinking about, not be stating the obvious," right?

And that's what I feel happens too often. Uh, I remember talking to the, uh, the broadcaster of the Nationals, I won't drag this out too much, Mark, but he was livid about this, and that was, like, something he had been, um, you know, Bob Carpenter I think it was, uh, had been really going hard after, was to try to be able to have a national broadcast that was with the, um, you know, and, and at least, like, give you the option to tune into one or the other.

Yeah. Give, give fans the choice. Like, don't force them into one or the other. I just don't know how the financial aspects of that work, obviously- Yeah ... which is what MLB is worried about. , But I, I do feel you, and I agree that if you're [01:04:00] looking at marketing the game, you need to make sure your broadcasters are elite.

And if they're not, and it, I guarantee you, if you get grades on certain broadcasters that keep getting jobs for these games, I don't know how, I don't know who puts them in there. Uh, they have friends in high places is the only way I can think it. , But- Do more surveys to the fans- Please ... and really listen to what they want, because I guarantee you there'll be changes made if you do that.

Mark Corbett: Please. I mean, even now on the road, I've heard people mispronounce Junior Caminero's name. Mm-hmm. I heard one of them call him Camaro, and it's like- ... oh, good Lord. Come on, people. Now, it's... Somebody's just not doing their homework or they don't care. But anyway. Oh, so Brody Hawkins is on the mound. Look out.

Should be fun. Well- 

Mat Germain: Mad Dog does that all the time, Mark. Mad Dog mispronounces names all the time. 

Mark Corbett: [01:05:00] Yeah. Yeah, true. That's one 

Mat Germain: example. Yeah. 

Mark Corbett: That's part of his color and character, right? It is. Okay. 

Mat Germain: Yeah. 

Mark Corbett: All right. Well, I tell you what, brother, let's go ahead. I wanna thank you, Mat, bringing your supreme intelligence to, uh, everything with baseball.

Oh. Once again,

Mr. SI. But, uh, glad to have you here as always, man. It's always enjoy a good conversation with you, Mat, and this, uh- Absolutely ... let's go Rays. It's looking like it's gonna be a fantastic postseason. It is. And I can't wait for the next game. And yes, I will find a way to break into the Trop and for one of the postseason games.

Mat Germain: You can't do that. I wanna see a video, Karen with the camera, of you going over a fence. 

Mark Corbett: Hey, stranger things have been done, I tell you. Now, yeah, it'd been easier to do about 30 years ago, but yeah. Yeah, it could still happen. It could still happen. All 

Mat Germain: right. You know, me and my friends, we caught on the top of that fence, and I'd be there for a little bit until the security guard can help me down.

Well,[01:06:00] 

Mark Corbett: what's worse is if you... See, one time I was climbing a fence and I had jeans that were cuffed- Mm-hmm ... and I took a tumble, and my jeans- Oh-oh ... caught on that top hook of the chain link fence- That's terrible ... and I was just hanging. And I was so young, I couldn't touch the ground. But you'd think I'd learn. Oh, well.

Oh, 

Mat Germain: man. 

Mark Corbett: Oh, Mat. Well, thank you again, buddy. Um- No problem ... hope you have a wonderful week, and we hope all you all enjoy the, the games and the rest of what few days are left of this season. And we'll have a whole lot more to talk to you, with you about in just a week. 

Mat Germain: Yes. We'll be in the playoffs, and we'll be, uh, you know, evaluating the teams that the Rays are gonna face next.

So enjoy. 

Mark Corbett: All righty. Well, thank y'all once again, and we look forward to talking with you again real soon. 

Mat Germain: And the big playoff gong. Oh,

Mark Corbett: my. That was perfect.