Tampa Bay Rays - RaysUp Barbecue with Kansas City, & Beer with FIFA

363 RaysUp BaseballBiz

Mark Corbett: [00:00:00] Welcome to BaseballBiz On Deck. I am Mark Corbett and with me of course is the Mr. Mat Germain on yet another wonderful day just enjoying baseball as much as we can. And my gosh, I gotta tell you, Mat, though, I g- I'm feeling a little barbecued f- uh, barbecued the last few games with Kansas City here in town with the Rays.

I don't know about you, but it, it has not been my favorite stretch of games at this point. 

Mat Germain: June, Mark. June has not been my favorite month for the Rays this year. It's, it's good they had a buffer to built in because, uh, they're, they're chewing through that pretty, uh, pretty significantly so far. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah, let's see.

So we've already played three games. We're playing the f- uh, fourth game tonight. Oh my gosh, so we've already lost the series. We've lost three games. This isn't a rubber match, I'm sorry. This... But, so tonight though, we've got Griffin Jax pitching, and he's, you know, he's done a passable job I guess with it.

I haven't looked at all the numbers. The good news [00:01:00] is the Rays are actually active on the offense. Uh-oh, what's going on? What's going on? What's going on? 

Mat Germain: Did you just see Chandler Simpson's catch? 

Mark Corbett: Yes. 

Mat Germain: Yes. So he dropped one the, any inning prior that was right at him. Oh, yeah. A- and you know he felt it was gonna be the last out of the inning.

So he's... A- and what I like about it is Chandler bounced right back when he went to the plate. Got a, , got a single, , didn't look down on himself, didn't look frustrated, just carried on. And now he just made a, an excellent catch, so it's good to see g- young guys bounce back like that.

It's great. 

Mark Corbett: Absolutely. , I always wonder about that as far as keeping a certain positive attitude.

Tonight, uh, Doug Waechter was interviewing Caminero. Mm. And there is such a positive vibe coming out of that young man, and I was so glad to see that. I don't know, he's still, I believe, leading for the, [00:02:00] uh, third base position in the All-Star Game. Heard the other day he had actually slipped as far as the gap between him and the next guy, but, uh, I don't know where he is at the moment, but I think he's still leading that.

I hope he stays there. Not sure when all that voting closes. Do you, uh, have that one on your list? I don't either. 

Mat Germain: No, I don't, no. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Mat Germain: But I know it's, it's not far off, and it ne- really, he should lock it down. Like, he should be, you know, one of the guys that heads there, if not the starting third baseman, then, you know, somebody that's, that's still there and then takes over.

Mark Corbett: Yeah. Yeah, I, I guess he would probably still, uh, wanna be in the Home Run Derby. But, uh, who knows? 

Mat Germain: Some, some people are saying no to it, so it'll be interesting. Like, I think the home run leader said no. 

Mark Corbett: Wow. 

Mat Germain: Uh, so it, it's one of those things where some believe that it changes your swing. Some believe it's an, uh, like instead of having a day off, so to speak, you're getting yourself worn out.

Um, so there's a lot of [00:03:00] downsides to actually taking part in a derby, especially the way the format is. Mm-hmm. Although I will say the format is not as, uh, uh, as demanding as it used to be. Do you remember the one that I think Bobby Abreu won? Like it, that format that they had then was crazy. Like, you just basically kept going until, you know, the, the sun was coming down.

I think they had people coming out for breakfast and they were still going on. It, no, it was a significant amount of- Oh, gosh ... of rounds and everything else. So at least they've lightened the load on that front. 

Mark Corbett: Well, I'm glad to hear that part, 'cause I, yeah, I, I've always wondered about the All-Star Game anyway, Mat.

I mean, sometimes it's like you, well, will a team allow a player to play in the World Baseball Classic, you know? Mm-hmm. Will a team want their players to play in the All-Star Games? Because these are times when the, those players are not representing the team. They're putting that, uh, they're putting that energy and potential for in- injury into another market that, [00:04:00] uh...

So I, I've understood when people certainly don't wanna do some of these things. But so, so what's going on right now? It is five to two Rays. Here we are on Wednesday night in the bottom of the sixth. Yep. Got one man on base, no outs. And Johnny DeLuca, oh my gosh. I gotta say, Mat, I am so glad to see Johnny DeLuca back.

Mm. I mean, that warmed my heart. As soon as I saw him come back, I said, "Yes." Yeah. There's, there's an energy there, and, uh, and there's a double play. 

Mat Germain: And he's not holding back on the field either. Like, he tried a diving b- uh, play there the other night where he almost got to it, and he, it bounced just short of his glove or- Yeah

bounced out of it. But, uh, you can tell that the legs are there, the range is there, and the effort's there, so he's not holding anything back, which is great. , The Rays are definitely in need of, uh, of somebody that can produce at the plate as well. So hopefully, , he gets back into the swing of things and starts adding to their [00:05:00] lineup because they're, they're having a hard time, Marc, in, in pushing runs across the plate right now.

And, , I don't know what the solution is. Like, they have such a wide array of options, none of them being optimal. I feel like they're, it's like you've got too many cards in the deck, and you've gotta start, you know, deciding what you're going with. A- and the Rays are kind of at a crossroads right now, where they have to decide, you know, who are we keeping through the deadline and who are we dealing through the deadline or letting go?

So one of the first moves they just did towards that end is they brought some pitching on board, which I like, 'cause they need more pitching depth and pitching options. , , but they DFA'ed Dom Keegan in order to get, uh, Chris Roycroft , from the St. Louis Cardinals. Now, Roycroft is a typical, , Kyle Snyder project.

, He's 6'8", 230 pounds, or at least that's what he's listed at. And I'm sure he's 250, 260, [00:06:00] somewhere around there. But, he's, it's interesting because his pitch mix, when you look at the Baseball Savant page, it look, it, the, the first name it, it says that he's most similar to is Manuel Rodriguez. 

Mark Corbett: Hmm.

Mat Germain: Was that Dominic, you know, but reliever that the Rays had who's been injured for a long time. So is there a way that they can envision him using, you know, the similar kind of profile as to what Manuel Rodriguez was using? Now, they have a different pitching angle. Manuel Rodriguez is more over the top. Uh, this guy, uh, Roycroft, is from the side.

He's at 24 degrees. Mm. So he's not completely from the side, but he's like a few ticks down the clock. And, and so when I think of him, automatically my mind goes back to Aaron Slegers. Do you remember he used to throw for the Rays back in 2020, 2021-ish? 

Mark Corbett: So you're reaching back here a bit, buddy, yeah.

Mat Germain: Yeah, yeah. He was 6'10" and, and a little bit taller. Mm-hmm. But, but he had the exact same pitch mix as what [00:07:00] Roycroft has, but he was a ground ball machine because he used his, his sinker really effectively. And I think the Rays will have some way for him to change the shape of his sinker so that it's more effective.

And the other thing that he had, which worked for, to his advantage, especially against left-handed hitters, was a changeup., And Roycroft to this point hasn't used any. I think if they can inject that into his pitch mix some way, somehow. Now, I don't know why he hasn't used it to this point.

Maybe he just can't, you know, do it or, or doesn't have the feel for it. So I'll be really interested to see if they're adding something like that to his, , pitch repertoire. , But hopefully the information they feed him helps. Um, I don't think they would designate somebody like Don Keegan for no reason, unless they already had a deal in the works, something, , arranged prior to DFA'ing him so that he ha- he goes somewhere.

But Don Keegan was, consistently in the top 20 Rays prospects- Yeah ... over the last two or three years. [00:08:00] And for some reason his, his work behind the plate hasn't wowed the Rays enough for them to call him up. He looked good at the plate in spring training, but the problem is that if you're gonna not trust the- catching, his next, , position is first base.

So I envision the Rays potentially dealing him to a team that's needy of a first baseman. 

Mark Corbett: Gotcha. 

Mat Germain: And some teams that come to mind are like the Mets, for example, uh, you know, trying to replace a little bit of the Pete Alonso and, and deepen their roster a little bit without having to call up some of the guys in AAA.

Maybe they like the fact that he can be catcher/first baseman and they can use him more behind the plate. I don't know. But the Rays essentially are starting to make some changes to add depth to pitching, which is, , I will take it. , That's definitely something they need more of. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. Yeah, there's no doubt about that. This week, this week it's looked like we haven't seen enough effectiveness [00:09:00] as far as men getting on the bases and making it all the way in. And I'm... I mean, sometimes we'll get two guys on base and sometimes we have one out and no outs, and then suddenly they're still there after three outs.

And I don't know what it's going to take. Today, t- you know, they're looking b- much better today than they have the last three games, probably before. But I, I don't know what it's going to take. I mean, it, o- only so much those sweaty guys swinging their T-shirts can do to, you know, get this game going. And 

Mat Germain: You had to bring those guys up, eh?

Mark Corbett: Oh, yeah. Gotta find a little humor somewhere in this game, brother. 

Mat Germain: Yeah, but I, I always relate it back to the slugging, right? Yes. And, and you look, just looking at June, right? For, for Rays slugging. Now, league average is .400, okay? So we'll just start there. That's the league average. So how many guys in June are above the league average?

So you have Cedric Mullins at .407, Yandy Diaz [00:10:00] .453, Junior Caminero .461, Ryan Vilade is at .581. Those are the guys with significant number of at bats in June that are above, , .400. So you got four guys out of nine in the lineup. All right, so who behind them Is there, like how far of a drop-off is it? So Nick Fortes is down at 333.

Mark Corbett: Mm-hmm. 

Mat Germain: And then you've got a couple of guys at 310 with Taylor Walls and, uh, Jonathan Aranda. So Aranda being down that low is a little bit surprising. Yeah. And everybody else is under 300, Mark. So th- like, the, there's such a steep drop-off right now. Does- doesn't mean it's gonna stay the, you know. Lineups get cold.

They do. They, they, they feed off each other and they get into that funk and, and it happens. Better now than, than in September, right? You don't wanna go into a funk right before the playoffs because then that kind tends to drag down, uh, your playoff performance. But, , I think [00:11:00] the Rays must be recognizing right now that they need an injection in the lineup somewhere.

Now, having said that, Jacob Melton is in AAA right now. He finally made the move up. He's looking great. I was watching the game before we talked and , he was really strong at the plate, hitting pitches that are outside of the zone and away, like reaching for it, so his timing is really good.

He's just, when he moves around in the outfield, you get the sense that the Rays outfield is going to improve once he arrives in terms of range. So if, if Cedric Mullins could slide over to right field, then Johnny DeLuca go to left field once in a while, they start mixing guys around a little bit more.

Um, you know, you get a, a sense that the Rays , are, in sometime in probably early July, will be forced to make a move of either using Jake Melton, in the lineup and in with the Rays or using him as trade bait. 

Mark Corbett: Hmm. 

Mat Germain: So there's always those two angles to it, right? Even though they acquired him, it doesn't mean [00:12:00] that he's the long-term option.

Is there, for example, room in the budget to go get a Byron Buxton? You know? I, I'm just throwing it out there- No, no, no. Why not? Yeah ... you know, if you... Yeah. So somebody like that, that has more pedigree, that is more about today, you know, i- if they, the Rays were willing to go that far, then you're really adding that fifth piece that we were talking about in the lineup, right?

Yeah. You've got Caminero, you've got Diaz, you've got Aranda, you've... So you're, you're starting to build a lineup that is fearsome because now you've gotta navigate some significant- ... bats in order to get through it. If the Rays decide to go with Melton, sure, he'll be productive, but he's not gonna be, I don't think anyway, a- as productive a- as Byron Buxton.

Byron Buxton. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Mat Germain: Wow. So it depends on what the Rays want to do, right? Like, is there somebody else out there that we're not even talking about? There has to be options that they know. They, they always bring one out of the woodworks that we're not even [00:13:00] talking about. But, but Buxton is out there, and he is being asked about it, and I, I don't know how he would feel about going to play for the Rays specifically.

Mm-hmm. Maybe his visions are more with the Yankees, with somebody else, and the, the, the Twins have been known to make huge deals with New York franchises in the past. Um, so I don't know. I... Maybe the Dodgers again. You never know 

Mark Corbett: with these things. No, you, you really don't. I mean, the Dodgers, God knows what they're gonna do.

I mean, they've, they got more money than anybody, and they're willing to spend, spend, spend, and defer, defer, defer. Well, it looks like they wrapped up, uh, the sixth inning here, and it looks... I don't think they... I don't think Kansas has put up any more on the board.

I think it's still five to two. Mm-hmm. But, uh, gotta keep this moving. Gotta keep it going, boys and girls, so let's win this one. And we're gonna face these Royals again here, like, within a week. I believe we're going to Kansas City shortly. [00:14:00] Yes. And I'm thinking, my gosh, they're gonna be sick of us, and we're gonna be sick and tired of them.

I mean, four games here and- 

Mat Germain: Are the Rays gonna play better with a r- with a belly full of barbecue? That's the question. I don't know. Are they? Like, that's, that could help. Maybe that's the key to the, you know, to the winning streak starting again, is get some barbecue into you. 

Mark Corbett: Jeez. They had, - Doug Waechter was there having chicken fried rice as a special just during this homestand.

I'm not sure what the significance was of that, but there you go. No, you know, I was at, uh... Where was it? The Machete. I think that was when I was in Kansas City, The Machete, and this long, long... It's like f- I don't know what I was on it, but it was like, no, no, no. Especially when I was looking at it maybe the seventh inning, Mat, you know, that's not the time to really take on some massive piece of nasty food and, and see how you do.

Uh, 

Mat Germain: literally- So I think you would've gotten a kick out of me going to, uh, to some of the restaurants Kansas City because [00:15:00] I was, like, on a streak. I went there , with, , a bunch of military people. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Mat Germain: And it was basically like, "Okay, we need to try all of the barbecue." You know, like it was one of those kind of things.

Like, like it's not just, oh, we need to taste it. No, breakfast, barbecue. Uh, lunch, barbecue. Gosh. Supper, barbecue. We, we were sweating so much meat by the end of that visit. It was crazy. Um, but I, I think like the, the one place where I went to where I was like, "Okay, this is what I expected exactly," uh, you know, there, there...

It, it's... It depends. I think everybody has a different kind of sweet tooth in terms of- 

Mark Corbett: Oh, yeah ... 

Mat Germain: uh, you know, some like the sour, some like the sweet, some like the thick, gooey, some like the charred, dry. So it depends on really what you like. But Jack's Tax I think has the, best mix of like catering to what your best likes are.

Mark Corbett: Mm. 

Mat Germain: So you had the options of everything [00:16:00] was there, and everything was done well. So there was no real downside to anything there. Now, they don't give it away. It's definitely, you know, you're gonna pay for it, you know, when you're, when you're there. But I, I came back with, uh, I think three bottles from there in terms of spices-

and, and sauces. And, uh, and I think I, I still have a little bit of one. Oh, 

Mark Corbett: I love it. Yeah. Yeah. That'll be ripe by now then, eh? 

Mat Germain: Yeah. Yeah. Yes. 

Mark Corbett: Oh, gosh. You know, when I think of barbecue, when I was doing sales years ago, there was one place I went to, it was just amazing. I probably talked about this before. It was like they had an outdoor corral of barbecue grills, okay? I mean, it was large grills. And you came in there and you told them what meat you wanted, and they put it on the grill. Mm. And then they, they weighed it, and you went in, you paid for what you bought. You could've b- And you could've been getting everything.

You could've been getting steak, sausage, uh, turkey, whatever you want. They [00:17:00] did it. And then you went in there and they had free bottled beer and free beans, which was a mistake. And the... Yeah, but it was one of the greatest barbecue experiences I had as far as just good food. What was interesting about it too, Mat, was the name of the place.

It was called The Hard Eight. And that was because supposedly... Oh, gosh. And supposedly it was one, it was one in a 

Mat Germain: twice- I know what you're looking at, Mark. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Mat Germain: It's called the eye roll. 

Mark Corbett: Oh, gosh. Yeah, boys and girls, the reason I had to stop is, eh, they're showing us the Tarps Off crowd. And, you know, I thought...

I was, I was amused at first, but I'm, I'm getting to the point it's like, eh, plumber's pants, 'cause it's probably similar on top of that too. 

Mat Germain: So- Some of the bellies are just glorious. They're, they're wearing them in all their glory. And, uh- Oh my gosh ... and, and it, it's fun to see the shapes. Like, some of them look like melted marshmallows, other [00:18:00] ones looked fit.

Mark Corbett: Oh, I love it that they don't care. 

Mat Germain: They don't. They really don't. No. 

Mark Corbett: Oh my gosh, there it is again. My... Whoa. Oh. 

Mat Germain: Yeah. So the... Did you enjoy a Father's Day, and, and did you have... Uh, like, I personally always have ribs when, when it comes- Mm ... to Father's Day. I find, like, that's the go-to thing. But the other thing, Mark, that I'll ask is, what's the biggest steak you've ever eaten?

Mark Corbett: Hmm. Geez. That's been long ago. 

Mat Germain: Did you ever watch The Great Outdoors with John Candy when he's eating that, like... I can't remember if it's a 92 ouncer or something like that. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Mat Germain: Yeah, and he's gotta eat the, the fat at the end. 

Mark Corbett: Oh, gosh. Yeah. There was one, I can't even remember all of it, 'cause it was a crazy night in Vegas.

So, uh, you know, 

Mat Germain: the- Oh, what happens in Vegas, Mark, I 

Mark Corbett: don't- That's it, brother. What, what about you? 

Mat Germain: I think 48, uh, ounces is the most I've ever eaten, and that was when I got my wings. Um, there's a place there in Winnipeg called The [00:19:00] Keg, uh, which is... You know, they, they do some really good steaks. I like, I like it with the horseradish sauce.

Um, and they... My... It was off the menu. It was like, "Okay, well..." Yeah, I, I said, "I want the biggest steak you have." And they said, "Well, we have one that's off the menu." And all the guys were like, "Do it. Do it." And I was like... It became a peer pressure thing, right? I was like, "Okay, fine. I-, I'll, I'll tackle it, and I'll see how I do."

Ma- Mark, w- steak is one of those things, like, I don't know why. Steak and sushi, like, when I eat them, I can eat as much as I want. Like, there's no, there's no... Nothing that stops me from eating more of it, uh, except for my gluttony button that says, "You know, okay, that's enough." 

Mark Corbett: Oh, I hate you. 

Mat Germain: But, but there's other things that I eat, like pancakes for instance, where I'm like- Yeah

okay, after three or four, I'm done. Like, I don't need to have more. I'm good. So, yeah. 

Mark Corbett: No. Wow. No, I... Yeah, I tell you what, that's, um, I'm just trying to think what [00:20:00] I really would enjoy. I mean, Father's Day didn't do much here. Most of the kids are elsewhere, and, and had such a great birthday like a week before in, in Kansas City with them.

Uh, I consider that part of the Father's Day, so it was... That was a lot of fun, lot of fun, and, uh, it's a lifetime event. But, um- 

Mat Germain: Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah So you did it all at once. That's great. 

Mark Corbett: W- we're getting ready to pack up and move next door. We're gonna save $300 for the same exact apartment. I love it, man.

Great. Some algorithm, some algorithm says- Yeah ... "No, you, you can't give you a discount, but we can give you the one next door." Said, "Oh, wow, great." Okay. Oh. But anyway. 

Mat Germain: So back, back to the Byron Buxton thing, Mark. The- Yeah ... the last thing that I'll throw out there about it, and the reason why I'm intrigued about it for the Rays purposes, is that he's only making 15 million a year And for somebody of his caliber- Right

right? And, and for his age, experience, et cetera, he's the perfect fit for the Rays outfield. Mm-hmm. And, and I don't think the Rays have to [00:21:00] give up, like, their elite top level prospects, but I do think that they'll have to give up something that hurts that's MLB ready, 'cause I don't think the Twins wanna throw in the towel long term.

So that's why Jacob Melton comes to mind. Mm-hmm. And he's signed for three more years. Like, so you get them for two more after this, so 2027, 2028, you still have Byron. So, at 15 million a year. So he fits within that whole transition from Yandy to whatever comes next, right? Um, assuming Yandy sticks around for another year or two, then, you know, you're able to enjoy them together, and then you can move on if you feel like you're ready at that point.

Mark Corbett: Well, like Cedric Mullins, I know we got him at least just for this year. And then I look out there, I see Chandler Simpson, I see Jonny DeLuca, and I don't know... so you're thinking we could still keep them, we get rid of somebody else and bring in...

But no? Who? 

Mat Germain: I, I'm thinking Cedric Mullins, Jacob Melton, and something else for [00:22:00] Byron Buxton. 

Mark Corbett: Mm. 

Mat Germain: That's what I'm thinking is, like, I, I don't know what that something else is. Yeah. I don't know how, how they value Jacob Melton as part of the deal, et cetera. So it depends on how they view each player. Cedric Mullins, we get to keep them active for this year.

A- and having Jacob Melton actually deepens their, their outfield for the long term. And then they get to whatever else. So in theory, it could be the 33rd overall pick that the Rays have coming up. Yeah. You know, I'm just throwing something out there. Like, they're, or it could be a prospect or it could be an arm or it could be whatever.

But, um, the Twins are one team that the Rays have dealt with quite a bit, uh, over the years. Tosh Bradley is the latest one. Joe Ryan- Yeah ... before that. So . it's not like the, the front offices aren't talking. Uh, and, and I feel like the Rays have to be a little bolder in, in how they, they structure their, their lineup this time around, uh, if they're wanting to make a, a real push.

And I feel like with Shane McClanahan being healthy, with [00:23:00] Griffin Jax being found as a, as a viable starting option and, um- And what they have in terms of the, the young pitchers coming up, Brody Hopkins and, and Ty Johnson, then you, you know, you don't wanna waste the last few good years , of Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero together.

No. , And Jonathan Aranda blossoming into a, , a strong bat. So make the most of it and go out there and if you add Byron Buxton, my feeling is, assuming he stays healthy, which is always one of those things with Byron. Last two years though, Mark, he's been good. So, you know, I don't know how , the Trop would impact that or not.

, I think I'm looking and searching for the Rays to make that move that strengthens their lineup. And other than moving on from Taylor Walls or other people that are in the lineup consistently that are under- underperforming, outside of that, that's one of the few ways that I can think of that they can improve it, is by adding to the outfield.

You know? 

Mark Corbett: Well, we'll see what [00:24:00] happens. Right now we are at what? At the top of the eighth, two outs, and the Royals have got, uh, Thomas up. Clevenger's pitching. 

Mat Germain: Mm-hmm. 

Mark Corbett: And he's throwing some heat. So y- do you, have you seen more with it? It seems like we're bringing in relief, uh, earlier in the game in this past week.

I mean, it's been a need. I mean, Drew was having a little rough time. Shane was having a little bit of a rough time. 

Mat Germain: Absolutely. But that's, that's, again, that's related down to the, uh, innings pitch issues that they're gonna run into. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Mat Germain: And I mentioned that on, um, on Blue Sky this week. Like, they, they can't expect all of these guys to be healthy for 150 to 180 innings.

Right. None of them did it last year. Zero. Not one. Except for Drew. Drew Rasmussen I think was at 160, 70-something. 

Mark Corbett: Mm-hmm. 

Mat Germain: Uh, you know, historically he hasn't been. So it's one of those where [00:25:00] the Rays know what's coming, and they know that there's a train coming in terms of that. The Giants are dangling a lot of arms out there right now in terms of Robbie Ray and a couple of others.

They're saying that they're not , trading certain ones, like Webb. , But I, I, I feel like if the price was right, they probably would. , I don't know that those are all options that attract the Rays, though. I, I get the feeling that if they're gonna add money, um, to the roster, they're probably gonna wanna do it in the lineup because that's where they're weakest.

But at the same time, if you're gonna add a pitcher, are you, you know, what are you gonna bank on, and what are you looking for? Are you looking for one of those guys that can start a playoff game? If you are, that's gonna cost you. You're not gonna get- Yep ... a young guy to do that, right? 

Mark Corbett: Yep. 

Mat Germain: So, so I'm wondering, Mark, what are your feelings on how much ownership is willing to open the vault a little bit, you know?

Mark Corbett: I think they need a win. I think they need a big win. And I'm not [00:26:00] just talking for themselves or for the fans, but from a economic point. If they want to close this deal in Tampa for a stadium, they need to be putting the money down, and I think they realize that. That this is, you know, i- this may not be who they are three years from now, but right now 

Mat Germain: let, let, so let, and with that in mind, let's say that they actually acquire Byron Buxton. 

Mark Corbett: Okay. 

Mat Germain: And they sign Junior Caminero to an extension. If they do those two things, how does that change things in Tampa? 

Mark Corbett: Well, the, if s- if you're seeing more points up on the board for Tampa, then it, then it matters a lot.

Mm-hmm. It, it gives a bit of juice. It's... Nobody wants to sit there and see a game one and two runs, you know, on each side. You gotta have some pop. Now, you don't like seeing 12 runs from the competition go up there and you've got one or two, but you wanna see some pop. Uh, nobody wants to [00:27:00] see just low-scoring games.

So yeah, I think those two things would certainly make a big difference if it means the team is going to do it, and the team has to do better with fielding. I mean, with... It s- it seems like there's just been a little bit of sloppiness going on this past week, and I, I don't know. I don't know. Just- 

Mat Germain: I th- I think the tarps are blinding the players personally.

So here's my other question related to that, Mark. What's the female equivalent to tarps off? 

Mark Corbett: Uh. 

Mat Germain: Is 

Mark Corbett: it 

Mat Germain: tarps? Is it an extra tarp on, like, all over their face so they don't have to look at the tarps? 

Mark Corbett: I d- 

Mat Germain: Is it...? 

Mark Corbett: I, n- you've, you've lost me on that one, brother. I, I got you. Yeah. No. No, 

Mat Germain: yeah, it's- I don't know what it is.

But we have to think about it. We have to come up with one. We have to sell it to people so that they can fill the right field, uh, outfield, with women that are doing whatever it is that they wanna do out there. What is that? What is that thing that would drive them to wanna [00:28:00] gather in the right field stands?

Mark Corbett: I don't know, but it's gotta be something. , It could be something that has less to do with the amount of clothing a person's wearing. I think we could- Right ... we gotta find- Right ... something. I mean, um, y- 

Mat Germain: Something more dignified ... 

Mark Corbett: thank you. You know, uh, trying to... Something, some, I don't know, some, some special hat with sparkles on it coming off from a, you know, the, every time we get a hit.

, Something along those lines. W- w- w- you know, you could say, "Well, 'cause it's kinda sexist right now. We, we've got something for the men, but we don't really have something for the women." I mean, some could argue, "Well, you still could use this with women." I said, "Oh." 

Mat Germain: And, and in center field can be for everyone.

Mark Corbett: Yeah, there you go. 

Mat Germain: Yeah. Yeah. So there you go. I mean, we can have sections for everything. 

Mark Corbett: Well, as long as they don't wind up putting up there with the, uh, left field, with the no fatty sign for the guys. 

Mat Germain: No, no, no. We welcome all shapes and sizes, Mark. 

Mark Corbett: There you go. Yeah. Well, let's talk about welcoming into something completely different, and that's [00:29:00] going on in Boston- Mm

and with the soccer. 

Mat Germain: Yes. 

Mark Corbett: Boston, the breweries have been drained. This, is it Scotland that's there, I think? They said they, they can't keep up, man. They, they cannot keep beer in there fast enough with all that FIFA of drinking going from, uh, European countries. But yeah, so that's, that's something in and of itself.

Do you 

Mat Germain: know why, Mark? I'm gonna tell you right now. Please. Because the alcohol content in the United States is lower than what it is in Canada and in Europe. Mm. This is why Americans look silly when they go abroad, 'cause they have a few beers and suddenly they're like, "Whoa." And, and, and it's because of how the alcohol content is calculated, and I can't remember exactly how it, it, it comes out.

But because of what they are calculating into the percentage, it turns out that American beer is a lot weaker- terms of impact [00:30:00] alcohol-wise than in Canada and uh, Europe. So what happens is that they get there and they get the same, you know, buzz on. They need to drink a lot more, and they're able to drink a lot more.

They're able to drink longer. They're able to, you know, to have a bigger night basically each time that they, they order one. So, and, and the World Cup is a special event. Like, it- you're talking about, you know, ta- it takes tailgating to a new level. You're, you're starting to tailgate at 9:00 in the morning, and, and it carries on right through, like, to 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 in the morning.

Mark Corbett: Wow. And, 

Mat Germain: and people really, , dive into it when they make that commitment that they're gonna go and pay, you know... Some people are paying $5,000 for a ticket- Sh- ... uh, which is kinda crazy. And you know what blows my mind about it all, Mark, is sometimes you'll see two countries where you know the majority of their population are dirt poor, and yet the stands are full of their fans.

Like, I'm like, how did they afford to go there, to do the trip, the, the hotels, the... Like, I, [00:31:00] I, I, I couldn't afford it. Yeah. I couldn't afford to do it in Canada. To fly to Vancouver and do that? Oh, my goodness, that'd be crazy. So, you know, I tip my hat to the people that are that much in love with it, that they save for years, and they make a commitment to actually go and have the party and the fun.

For them, it's a trip of a lifetime, and, and- 

Mark Corbett: Yeah ... 

Mat Germain: I tip my hat to them. 

Mark Corbett: . Well, let me ask you. I know in Vancouver it was, uh, you guys playing Qatar. 

Mat Germain: Mm-hmm. 

Mark Corbett: And then also, was it that game or the one after? You, everybody was wearing red in the stands, and I was like, wow. Man, what an impression that made, just a visual, seeing all those fans in red, and that was an amazing game.

And you all, let's see, you all defeated Q- uh, Qatar. And then let's see. Today- 

Mat Germain: Yeah ... 

Mark Corbett: I think they lost to, is it, was it Switzerland? 

Mat Germain: Yep, but it wa- yeah, here's the, the way I'll preface it. So- The best Canadian player is Antonio Davies, and [00:32:00] he plays for, uh, a, a team in, uh, in Germany and, and he's their best player.

He's a striker and he's vicious, but he's injured. So he hasn't played a game yet, but he is on the roster. He's gonna get to play in the next game apparently, the coach just said. It'll be his first game. What they've had so far, the first game, they actually kept, uh, Kyle, uh, Larin on the, on the bench for the majority of the first game because he had been struggling up to that point.

But he's like their, their heart and soul guy, their gritty guy, the guy that you want in the playoffs, right? Like, he's, he's the guy that gets it done. So he came on the bench late, and he scored right away. I think it was, like, 30 seconds after he was brought on. So that started to ignite it. But Mark, I'm telling you right now, I'm, I'm gonna turn 50 this year.

I have never seen soccer at this level in Canada, ever, ever, ever. Mm. When I... Like, my entire life, we never expected anything out of the Canadian men's [00:33:00] soccer team. They're in the top 30 right now. 

Mark Corbett: Wow. 

Mat Germain: Uh, they, they have a spirit, they have skill, the footwork, the ball handling, all that stuff. Now all they're getting, basically, that they need to collect more of, is the experience to be calm in those biggest moments.

And as soon as they have that, like, the talent that they have on board, and like I said, they, they haven't played their best player. So there's a chance that they could surprise a few teams, because what they have over others is the willingness to take risks. And I don't know if you caught the England game, but it is the most boring base, uh, soccer that I've ever seen in my life.

A- and it's like, "Oh, we don't wanna make mistakes, so we're not gonna do anything." And they ended up blanking the, you know, against the team that they were playing. So it's- It's a style that's different and it's enjoyable to watch. So what you saw in Qatar with the six goals- Yeah ... was an unleashed offense that was just relentless.

It was corner after corner after corner, and kick after kick after [00:34:00] kick. It w- it was basically like facing the, the peak New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox lineups- Mm-hmm ... where you never could take a break, right? So , I really enjoy the World Cup for that, for the Canadian side of it, but Mark, all three hosts have made it to the next round.

Mark Corbett: Wow. 

Mat Germain: The US, Mexico, and Canada are, are going through. I think Canada's gonna end up playing South Korea. I don't know who the US is gonna end up playing, but, um, uh, it, it's a fun tournament and it's great that the, that all three nations that are taking part are getting to have their fans cheer for them- Yeah

and be a part of it. Um, I'm glad there's no major political- ... things that are throwing a blanket on things to this point. Hopefully that continues through the later rounds when the pressure increases on all the teams. Um, so as long as, as that continues, like, it's looking like a, a [00:35:00] successful event overall.

Mark Corbett: Wow. Well, I was so glad to see that for you guys, but I, I was curious 'cause after the loss, that meant that they would not be able to continue in Vancouver though, correct? 

Mat Germain: Right. Yeah. 

Mark Corbett: Where, where- It's gonna wrap ... so where are they gonna be going? Where's Canada? 

Mat Germain: I can't remember where they're playing. All I know is that they're playing the runner-up in Group A, and I'm pretty sure that Mexico's gonna win the, the group.

Mark Corbett: Yep. 

Mat Germain: So, uh, so I- that's why I'm saying South Korea looks like the, the team that they'll be facing. 

Mark Corbett: Wow. As long as we're talking about other sports, I wanna remind folks about the women's, uh, pro baseball league, which will be starting up in August, and that's gonna be in Springfield, Illinois, and also remind them that , the Women's Baseball Classic, the group stage will be in Rockford, Illinois here in about a month.

So we'll put links to that at the end of the show. 

Mat Germain: Do, do you know what I appreciate most about that, Mark? 

Mark Corbett: Mm. 

Mat Germain: It's new. 

Mark Corbett: It's new. 

Mat Germain: Right? Yeah. So what came out the last week? Toy Story 5. [00:36:00] Five, Mark. Five. 

Mark Corbett: Jeez. 

Mat Germain: They're, they're making Scream 8, Scream 9. Uh, like, I think Shrek 5 is in production. There's a, there's a...

Yeah, we need more new. How about that? 

Mark Corbett: Oh, yeah. I mean, it was, I think... Yeah, I know s- someone who saw Scary Movie the other day, uh- Yeah ... Scary Movie 5 or 16 or whatever it was, and they thought maybe it was Scream, you know, but it wasn't quite the same expe- experience. But- 

Mat Germain: Like, what I picture is like, I'll be on my hospital bed when I'm dying, I don't know what age, but I'll, it'll be like, "And now playing with, uh," I don't know what actor, it doesn't really Mater-

Mark Corbett: Oh, good Lord Oh. Well, you know- 

Mat Germain: Avatar 24. I don't know. Like, it's just getting to be crazy. 

Mark Corbett: It, it is, brother. It is. You know what I mean? And I blame it all on Sylvester Stallone and Rocky, 'cause he kind of set a, a pattern there that everybody else has decided to follow. And he's still out there playing a tough guy on some streaming thing called, uh, [00:37:00] Tulsa King, and he's pl- playing a, this rough and tough old fella.

Mat Germain: I'm pretty sure Star Wars was the first one. 

Mark Corbett: Ooh, true, true. 

Mat Germain: Was it Star Wars, Star Trek, I'm thinking Indiana Jones, Godfathers. I, I'd have to look at all the chronol- 

Mark Corbett: like- Yeah, yeah ... 

Mat Germain: like all the timings of when those movies came out to figure out which one broke the mold and, and set like a series of films.

Mark Corbett: I don't know when James Bond would've done, but that's- Oh, my God. I 

Mat Germain: forget 

Mark Corbett: James Bond. I don't know. I don't know. 

Mat Germain: Yeah. 

Mark Corbett: But no. Well, as let's see. We are now in the top of the ninth. The score is still five to do, five to two. Kansas City, looks like both teams have used one of their challenges up that, uh- 

Mat Germain: Mark's using his French, five to do, to do.

Mark Corbett: Yeah, five to do. I know, yeah. Yeah. See how- 

Mat Germain: Sorry I got that. 

Mark Corbett: No. No, you- But it makes sense ... well deserved, my friend. Well deserved. 

Mat Germain: That's- So Brian Baker is, is looking good as closer, isn't he? Yeah. [00:38:00] Like, he's... That's one place where he's been consistent overall, uh, or the Rays have been consistent overall, is, is getting some good, uh, work from him.

Uh, I don't know what... Like, I'm trying to pinpoint, I should look more into this for next week, but I need to look at how he's pitching differently this year than last year, because there's a, an attitude shift, though. 

Mark Corbett: Hmm. 

Mat Germain: Like, the way, the way he looks on the mound and the way he acts and the way he, you know, the confidence level that he has in what he's doing seems like it's different than what it was last year.

It was almost like last year he was pitching like, "Oh, excuse me, I threw a pitch." You know? Like, it felt that way. Um- Mm-hmm ... so the confidence level or, or the, uh, commitment to each pitch is different than, than what I remember from last year. So I'd be curious to find out what they did with him over the season, uh, the off-season, or what he put in in terms of work to get himself there.

And I say that, [00:39:00] and I think he just got lit up. 

Mark Corbett: Oh, wow 

Mat Germain: Rojas just hit one out. 

Mark Corbett: Oh, no. 

Mat Germain: Uh, but it, I think it, it only makes it, uh, 5-4, I think? 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. Yeah. Or, uh, 5-3, actually. 5-3. There you go. Uh, 3. I think it was 5-2. I could be wrong, but. 

Mat Germain: I thought there was somebody on base. Yeah. 

Mark Corbett: No, it makes it 5-3, so. 

Mat Germain: Hey, 

Mark Corbett: now. Come on, guys.

Let's, let's wrap this thing up. Let's, uh, you know, I don't wanna, I don't wanna see the bottom of the ninth. 

Mat Germain: Did you see Jac Caglianone take, uh, Shane McClanahan deep? 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. That 

Mat Germain: was nice. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. It's, it's great to see Jac Caglianone do well. I'd just like to see him do it well somewhere else.

Mat Germain: Yeah. He's a big boy. Like, uh, he, you know, you, sometimes you don't know how big somebody is until you see them in a certain setting. Yeah. So we've been used to seeing Yandy Diaz at the plate at the Trop. You get to see how big he is, and then you see Joc come on. You're like, "Woo," like that's a big boy. Like, he's got he's got some, uh, oomph behind that, [00:40:00] uh, that bat when it comes through.

Mark Corbett: All righty. So we're gonna say they're gonna win it, and I'm gonna call it now. 

Mat Germain: Sounds good. 

Mark Corbett: Yep. Yep. I- Any last words or anything you want to mention or cover? 

Mat Germain: Of anything I want to cover. The Bowling Green Hot Rods are 51 and 19. 

Mark Corbett: Ooh. 

Mat Germain: Dominating as much as can be. I threw out, , some statistics recently, , in terms of, , the number of guys that have an OPS over 800 with more than 100 at bats, you know, this season in the minors.

Rays have 15, and just six of them are above double A out of the 15. Wow. So it shows you some of the strength they have down in the lower parts of the minors. So all that to say that if the Rays are gonna deal some guys for talent, more than likely they're gonna dig into that a little bit and, and take away from that bunch if they're gonna be s- making some significant trades, , for the playoff push.[00:41:00] 

So that's all I'll throw out there. But Durham's turning things around a little tiny bit, and, uh, get out there and support your minor league teams. 

Mark Corbett: Absolutely. One last thing I want to mention too is tonight the Rays, they, I believe they did a tip of the hat to the University of Tampa who won their three-peat.

I think I may have talked about that before. Their three-peat for the NCAA Division II baseball, and St. Leo's, the women's softball team, Division II, they won theirs, and there's, there's other folks who are celebrating. I've got to find out about it all. Um, I'm very fortunate to get to, uh, on an earlier episode, got to talk to, Genelle Helen Garverick.

Sh- she, uh, her, her mother, Moochine Fernandez. It was interesting 'cause talking about around here how softball was back in the day, and the day being back in the old 1940s, and it's exciting to hear some of that. Plus, I found an intersection where Shoo Shoo Wirth actually played with [00:42:00] some of them as well.

Hm. And it's pretty cool. Anyway, all right, boys and girls, we're getting ready to go here. It is 1... Oh, let's see. Oh, we're gonna call it anyway. It's a win. 

Mat Germain: All 

Mark Corbett: right. You better get it right. It's a win. The people will walk out- It's a win for the Rays ... 

Mat Germain: in the stands. Yeah. 

Mark Corbett: All right. All right, Mat. Thanks again, buddy.

It's always a pleasure. 

Mat Germain: Not a problem. Have a good, uh, week and, uh, and we'll catch you next time. 

Mark Corbett: Sounds good. We look forward to talking with you all again real soon. 

Mat Germain: Bye.

Mark Corbett: Oh. 

Mat Germain: And we hear the voice. The voice comes on. I don't know if you like that