Teams 500+, NLBM, Legends in Kansas City & Rays 3 M's

352 BaseballBiz

Mark Corbett: [00:00:00] welcome to BaseballBiz on Deck. I am Mark Corbett, and with me of course, is the man, Mr. Germain applause. Plus Plus, plus plus. How you doing today, buddy? 

Mat Germain: Followed by a gong. I'm doing well, buddy. I'm, yeah, I'm enjoying the spring. 

Mark Corbett: Are we, is it 30 games? We're into this season already. 

Mat Germain: I, it feels like 600, I don't know how many did we play in this season?

No, I'm just kidding. No, it's been, you know, you can feel you're into the season now, like it's not, the first week anymore. So, yeah, it's fun. It, you're starting to see some storylines, some surprises, some fallbacks, and even Mark. I, I don't think I've ever seen this many manager firings of prominent.

Clubs. This quickly, like, I don't know if it's the money involved and, and the pressure from the, maybe, I don't know, but something is up with the managers and, um, I guess the other ones must be on notice Now they're like, all right, who's next? [00:01:00] 

Mark Corbett: He's billionaires are itchy these days, I gotta tell you, man.

And, and it's funny that you, I'm seeing not, uh, not seeing as much movement actually is. Far what's coming from the front office where decisions are being made about money and instead we're seeing it on, on the management staff. Well, don't get me wrong, you know, there's responsibility there, but like you said this much so early, uh, I heard that you know, Alex Cora, who is the manager of, was the manager of Boston Red Sox, that he had even been offered the opening, recent opening with the Phillies.

Mm-hmm. And he rejected it. One source said because he was actually gonna spend some time with family, or did he just not like the Phillys job? I don't know.

Mat Germain: You have to wonder, like I Alex Cora is now with, he was with the Astros before the, the Red Sox, right? 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Mat Germain: I think personally he has to create a barrier between one and the next kinda wants to take that breath to kind of reset where he wants to land [00:02:00] next.

It's not easy to make, like, think about it, he spent the entire off season formulating a plan, getting things together, working out in his head what he was gonna do with the team and who's gonna have what roles, and, and got comfortable with the coaching staff, got everything on the table, got it set up, started this season, and then to just jump in after a couple of weeks onto a new team and have all of the pressure without any of the preparation.

And you're the new guy, you're setting the, like, no, it's just not fair to him, to be honest and to the team, right? Like, you want somebody that's been through that process with the team. So it makes way more sense. I think personally, it shows some questionable decision making on the Phillies part to have offered him the job to begin with.

That's the way that I took it. I was like, well, what, what is wrong with Don Mattingly? He's sitting right there. He is been with the club. 

Mark Corbett: Come on, Don. Yeah. Or he's been bouncing around a little bit. Anyway, so give, give Donnie a baseball a [00:03:00] nice seat somewhere. Let him do some work. I gotta tell you though, Matt and I realized when they're cleaning house at Boston Red Sox land.

I get it. But Jason Veritek. Okay. I mean, let's, let's talk. We're talking legend. Okay. He we're talking. If you look at the fiber of what the Red Sox has been in the last half century, that's a name that always comes to mind for me, that I look at Ortiz and the Pedro Martinez, but Veritek, and to say that you're, well, we're just gonna put him in another position.

I thought, you don't treat a guy. Like that. I mean, with the kind of cache and the, the love amongst the Red Sox community. And I, I, we're gonna get somebody here from the, some of the fandom, because I can't speak to it as much as they can, but I, I can only guess what their passion is about Jason Vertek.

Mat Germain: Yeah. Well, my mind automatically, when I hear that, it automatically goes, okay, well who are the legends that they could bring [00:04:00] back in to kind of soften the blow, right? Yeah. Like Justin Pedroia comes to mind, like having him as part of the organization in some way. I'm not saying he jumps into the manager's role, 

Mark Corbett: right.

Mat Germain: Uh, but. There, there's ways that the Red Sox can keep some of that aura. You know, you have, Pedro Martinez is an analyst now and he's doing a lot of media work, but he, you know, he's one of those guys that would be fun to see in a pitching coach slash manager's role. Oh yeah. But I, I don't know which direction they go to be honest.

I like long term, I think there's a lot of smart people out there. There's some changes in the rules in MLBI also think that are forcing teams to reevaluate where they put the focus. Right. And, and, and what skills they're looking for in a manager side. 'cause now you're, you're managing completely different things than you used to.

Like how do you manage, well what are your thoughts on the ABS system? What are your this, what are your, that like [00:05:00] all the. Extra things that they've added recently, all of a sudden you have to weigh in a different way. So I, I don't know, it, it'll be interesting to see who the Red Sox hire, 'cause it's gonna set the tone for the next four to five years with what we thought was gonna be a really tough team to beat.

They have a lot of sophomore slump guys, which happens with guys, especially when they sign big deals. Uh, RO Roman Anthony's having a tough time and, and some of their, like the guys that came up last year that we thought were gonna be elite from the get go and then hold their position and be the next stars are now still in AAA struggling.

So, you know, it hap this, that's baseball. Yeah, that's happens so often. Carson Williams with the Rays is another example, like top prospect of the team. You know, he is having a hard time breaking through and, and getting that full-time gig. It's not easy, so the managers are wearing it early. But like I said, the decision making quick, like, you know when the old, the cartoons, he used to have the guy on the stage and then [00:06:00] you have the, the hook comes out and pulls 'em off.

That's what it feels like. Like the show just started and boom, they're out. 

Mark Corbett: Well, it's, but it's still. Odd Matt to see that to me, 30 games into the season, or 20, whatever it was by the time they made that call. And, and to see 'em do it with someone like Cora in completely clean house without taking note that yes, there's other issues that are going on and is that the farm system as et cetera.

There's a lot of things and I don't have the wherewithal to go into the, the details of that, but like I said, we'll get somebody out here who can and, uh, talk a little bit more about that. Couple other things. I'm gonna just hit on the topics. For today,

we should probably take a look at what's going on with the standings and who's doing what. I come back to some things that you said about NL Central recently. Uh, I like your reference too, about the Rays and the Triple M or Mm. Good. I'll say something about [00:07:00] that. My visit to Kansas City and some things that I saw as well.

So there's plenty of good things to talk about. Is there something you would like to start with? 

Mat Germain: No, I, well, I threw out some stats, which, which I thought were kind of interesting in terms of the the reason why the Rayss are having some successes early. But again, that falls into that whole m category.

So I'll hold off until we get to that. 

Mark Corbett: Well, let's take a look at what you said a couple weeks ago, both on the show, and in your social post. And that was talking about NL Central. And I don't have it in front of me at the moment, but I think, I think every team in there is above 500 at the moment.

I don't think you're gonna find that in any other division at the moment. You'll find like the what NL West you have a couple or 700 and everybody else is like four or three beneath that. 

Mat Germain: Right? And then the a l East as a, as a comparison only has two teams. [00:08:00] Above 500, and the American League only has four teams above 500.

So you have the entire American League that has four teams above 500 and 5 teams in the NL Central are above 500. You know, and, and not only that, they, they all have a positive run differential except for one, there's one team that has a, a negative run differential. So that just shows like, well, they're all off to a hot start, which is great.

Right? And, and there should be. Not like able to stay away from being sellers at the deadline. So then you, you're, you're positioning them all competitive against one another when it comes to who they're going to reach out to for what, right? Yeah. So there's gonna be certain targets that come into play when, as the deadline years, even as the draft years.

'cause you can still use some of those draft picks and those NL Central teams have a lot of those competitive balance picks that some of the other teams might be interested in. So it's [00:09:00] going to be very intriguing to see, some of those teams that have been in the background for a long time that suddenly are in play.

How many tips do they push towards the middle? Because they, you know, they feel that weakness or they want to prove themselves now that they have a shot. It is just really interesting. A lot of of them have really great managers like Terry Fona, et cetera. Uh, you have some of them that have superstars in the making that are just breaking through.

You have some of them that are sort of older teams, but they're kind of seasoned and like the Cubs come to mind. Like, yes, they do have some youth, but a lot of them are are old, established veteran, you know, stable leadership. So there's the mix in there in NL Central is really fun to watch.

And I hope it continues through the season to the point where they're all still competitive and they're all bouncing off each other because it just brings. The focus of the league, which tends to be coastal, east and west the majority of the [00:10:00] time back towards the center. And I think that's gonna be a lot of fun to watch.

I, I don't know which, which one comes out on top. Mark, I really don't. I think there's a lot of, uh, cases to be made for every single team on that list. 

Mark Corbett: Well, it is interesting because you're talking about the strength of the National League and that one, uh, when you look at the American League, I was watching, by the way folks, it is the 29th of April today.

I was watching the game, afternoon game for the Rays, and I heard one of the gentlemen say, well, let's see. Hmm. The Rays have won the last 13 games against American League teams. I was like, oh, he does that tell a story and it falls right into what you're talking about. 

Mat Germain: Yeah. I didn't realize that, to be honest.

That's, 

Mark Corbett: yeah. 

Mat Germain: It's interesting. Yeah. I thought they got pummeled by National league teams for the most part, but apparently the rays are doing damage too. 

Mark Corbett: Well, you what? Let's face it. What they [00:11:00] had two sweeps, right? And then, uh, this series they just wrapped up in Cleveland. They wound up with two of the three and mm-hmm.

Today was, I dunno if you had a chance to watch today's game, but it was, it was kind of sad though. You could tell the weather as such. I could only think if we still had Pete Fairbanks, what he would've felt like with those cold fingertips out there. And today it is been interesting to, you know, being in a dome, you know, playing in a dome and seeing these teams with rain delays and the cold and all of that.

And it makes such a big difference, man, to be able to have a constant weather, temperature and weather. It sure is nice. And it is certainly a mitigating factor in some games. 

Mat Germain: Right. But when the off season kind of completed, I, I pointed out some things and, and I know a lot of fans were angry that they trade away Brandon Lau and, and they were sad to see Josh Lowe go away.[00:12:00] 

And, and Jake Mangum was a lot of people's favorites because he's a, a, you know, Grady kind of player, 

Mark Corbett: right? 

Mat Germain: But, uh, the things that I pointed out are coming true, like the OBP is higher, right, with the team that they have right now. And that's adding pressure onto the other teams. 'cause they have more people on the bases all the time.

They're sacrificing those runners ahead as much as they can. The batting averages are up significantly as well. And they're they're able to actually rank in the top eight in those categories, stolen bases, OBP average and um, SAC Buns. So, which is making the floor higher in terms of run, scored every single game despite whatever pitcher they're facing.

Could be the top guy in a rotation, could be, uh, an excellent reliever. They're able to scratch across enough runs and get through the starter on the other, uh, opposing team. That's one [00:13:00] thing I noticed last year with the Blue Jays and the reason they had so much success with the approach of, of providing tough at bats constantly.

You're wearing down the starter, you're getting 'em out, and you're attacking the pen afterwards, and they get that consistent performance from pens. Normally there you find some cracks in there and you're able to attack those, those cracks and score some runs. So the rays are making the best of it.

Like the game, they won one. Nothing. I was watching that one. Yeah. I was like, man, you know, Nick Martinez was on fire. He was just, the, the movement on the pitches and the locations were never really risky. Like, there, there was just a lot to love. And I can remember in the spring telling you like, I don't know about this guy, because the way, the way he looked in spring was not this, I 

Mark Corbett: I had a guy come into the Tampa Baseball Museum. He says, this is just, this is a waste of money. This, this Martinez guy is a waste of money. I don't know what you're gonna do, why they got him, but there we go. And so, I, I [00:14:00] always love it that when a player just far exceeds the expectations of some, some other folks.

Yeah. My gosh. Your 3M, let's go ahead and hit 'em, dude. 

Mat Germain: Right. So, so that's Nick Martinez, right? He's, he's on fire. He is just really starting to, starting to earn some love, I feel. And, and the, the, the whole demeanor, like Shane McClanahan is amped up, right? Yeah. But he's not a, a. A cheerleader per se. He will, he will give the guys the backings, but he is more like a fierce competitor, like , a dragon or whatever.

So Nick Martinez is more of the, the pal guy, right? The guy that'll will cheer everybody. I think Rich Hill was a little bit like that before that. Charlie Martin Mor was a calmer version of that. But, but like, always positive, always upbeat, always looking at the, the, the, the glass half full. So that's that.

And then you have, she McClanahan who's the story of the year in terms of comebacks. He's actually looking like he's regaining some of the [00:15:00] command and control that he needs to be successful. And, and the last few outings, he's looked really encouraged with his own performance, which you need, you need to get some positive momentum along the way.

Not saying he is gonna be pitching any 99 shutouts tomorrow, but again, he's very consistent and he's giving the Rays a chance to win every single time he's out there setting up the pen. Well, and, Steven Matz, I, I think probably from the time they got him, like he's just been a glue guy.

Yeah. Like everything that I'm hearing about him is, is always like, um, trying to get people under his wing, trying to make sure that everything is done in a professional way, that people are taken care of. I, I don't know, like the, I can't remember the, a time when the rays had as calm and as professional a rotation through and through without the big questions of youth.

And Jesse Schuls has come in and looked [00:16:00] outstanding like , the few times that he's been on. So, I don't know Mark, like, I think we're, we're onto something and I mentioned that when we were talking to Josh and I said, you know, if the Rays starting pitching shows up, they have the pen to dominate, so then everything is, is open game.

Like at that point, my expectations, you know, go ahead. It's just that we had seen so many years of she McClanahan tailing off Yeah. Of j Rasmussen getting injured, that there's a lot of fragility and it's still there. But for having seen what I've seen from Nick Martinez and Steven Matz all of a sudden that's kind of altered as well because now I'm like, okay, probably they could mitigate a lot of those risks.

Now, having said that, what's behind them? We'll see, and we'll talk about that another time. But I also want to add one thing. Mark Gavin Lux hasn't arrived yet. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. So where's, where's that million dollars going on? 

Mat Germain: He's, no, but he, he's in aaa. He's doing the work and he's [00:17:00] starting to get his timing down.

Mark Corbett: Okay. 

Mat Germain: So my question to you is, we've seen Ben Williamson now like play all over the infield, play hard, make excellent plays. He's, he's a, a much better bat, or at bat as well than Taylor Walls, who is extremely struggling at the plate. So when Gavin Lux is ready, is that the transaction that happens? Does Gavin Lux come up and Taylor Walls go to aaa?

If I were managing a hundred percent, that's what would happen. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah, I, I don't think you'll see him send Ben Williamson down. Yeah, we've all always had questions about Poor Taylor. 'cause I mean, just seems like, uh, he hasn't been able to stay strong at the, at the plate and I mean, under 200 most of the time, if I'm remembering correctly.

So, 

Mat Germain: I don't know. 

Mark Corbett: I, I, go ahead. 

Mat Germain: 1 3, 1 53 with a. I don't know if it's 35 WRC plus or 48. So basically, you know, it's not good, but [00:18:00] I, he needs to stay left-handed. Every time I see him hit left-handed, I'm like, he's having success. He knows where the ball's going. Just stay left-handed. There's a, isn't it Cedric?

Mul Mullins. Cedric Mullins did that. Maybe he's needs to have that conversation with Taylor and say, listen, I did it. It led to success for me. I kept on the left side because 80% of the pitchers are right-handed. That's why I chose that side, and I just went with it and it worked out. So I think Taylor would, would do very well for himself to, to go down that road or else he's gonna lose the spot and who knows which other, the team is gonna bring him up to give him one.

Right. 

Mark Corbett: Geez, man. He, yeah. Yeah. Hey, uh, you know, , talking outside of the Rays, looking at the x-rays. I posted something the other day because it's been interesting to see how some of these young guys are doing. And quite honestly, I wasn't sure where Josh had landed. Josh low, Josh low, not low.

[00:19:00] And there I am in, in Kansas City watching the Angels and the Royals play. And then I see him come into the game. He didn't start out with it, but by the third game, he was, he was doing pretty good. It was good to see that, see him there and you to see, uh, let's see. Oh my gosh. What, what was it that, uh, Nathaniel did the other day?

He, uh, he had a walk off, said three home went three runs in at the end of a game. Anyway, it's good seeing, seeing some of the rays out there doing so well. Mm-hmm. Jakey bars, that's what it was. Jakey Bauers. , You know this one? Yep. Jakey came and broke up a no hitter, didn't he? Or was at least, yeah.

No hitter. Wow. Is it s Skubal. Skenes Skenes. I keep getting them. I don't know why. Brother Skenes Skubal. Yeah. So Skenes was looking really good that day, and Jakie Bauers comes in and breaks it all up. Wow. It's fun watching the guys. And I still have people say, [00:20:00] well, who's your favorite team? I say, well, of course it's the Rays.

But I, I, I like following the, the guys that have been there. I mean, it's hard for me to have a loyalty to a team anymore, but, uh, I certainly, certainly have a loyalty to watching some of those good players we have now and those that have left. And speaking of that, the RaysRazor gonna be facing an old, uh, friend next week here, or in a couple of days.

, The Giants are coming to town and we will be facing our good old buddy, Mr. Willie Adames. Let's see who's in company with him. We got, uh, Devers and there's, who's another, oh, can't think of the other one. A moment. But anyway, it should be a lot of fun. 

Mat Germain: Yeah, Matt, Matt Chapman is also part of their team. And, and, um, I think the, uh, the, the interesting part for the Rays is gonna be can they maintain the momentum they've had so far?

Like it is been impressive, like in terms of, you know, building yourself a little bit of wiggle room to, [00:21:00] to have fallbacks and goals and yada yada. But if they keep this momentum going, they start building, you know, even more me momentum than they have now. They're gonna be forced to make some moves to, to kind of add things up and, and, and say, yeah, we're, we're in it for this year.

Like, we're not looking beyond and, and trying to work out what we can do, the rays have, have waited too long, sometimes in some seasons, and waited till the deadline, and then they get the bigger ask and a costlier ask when they do want a player like Nelson Cruz or something like that.

And it gets to be too much for too little and too short. So hopefully they, if they are able to get another, I don't know, let's say they get another 5, 6, 7 games above 500 than where they're now, like make that that early, like we just saw managers get fired, like make that early move that says, you know what, this year is going to be lit and we'll see how it goes.

Mark Corbett: I'm ready for it, brother. I, I am absolutely ready for it. But you know, we've talked with managers in [00:22:00] the past on here, and I can't remember if it was with Larry Rothschild or another casual conversation talking about managers know that they have an expiration date. Right. It's like, you know, you walk into that job and you know you have an expiration date.

When you walk in there, there are no guarantees. And the decisions to keep a manager seem to be, can be quite fickle. And, uh, I mean, in this instance, like I said, going back to the Red Sox for a moment, just it seems like yes or it's not growing, going out of a, a strong season. But I was still surprised. But, but, but, but, but, but that's all I'm all of is buts right now.

Mat Germain: I, I saw something else about the stadium. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. Detail. Detail, 

Mat Germain: which I don't know, I don't know if it means anything much, but apparently the, the team reduced the public funding request to about 1 billion which is a lot less than, you know, I think [00:23:00] it trims it by about 150, uh, million, which is still a good chunk of change.

But the Hillsborough Borough County officials say that still falls short by about 75 million of what they were, , trying to get trimmed off. So I, I guess the figure then becomes their willing to do 925 million. Hmm. 

Mark Corbett: Um, 

Mat Germain: which is kind of interesting, right? If you read it backwards, uh, they, they say that that's the gap.

Now is that enough of a gap to stop any deal from going ahead? I have no idea. 

Mark Corbett: Well, I was thinking about that. Let, let's see if you could hit three or four ballrooms budgets together, you could probably get enough. 'cause let's see, four ballrooms would be, see eight. Oh, that'd be one point. Uh, 6 million, billion dollars.

So I think that we can probably get that. 'cause I know that I've heard the taxpayers aren't going to have to pay 1 cent here in the US for that. [00:24:00] Oh, no, no, no, no, no. That was the original statement. Scratch that. Oh, let's getting back to it. 

Mat Germain: Yeah. Ballroom at every park, Mark Ballroom met every park 

Mark Corbett: and we will all be secure.

Oh gosh. You know, it is funny. It's, it's about security. 'cause I'm, I never know 'cause of traveling up to Kansas City, you know, where, what you're going to, um. I have to go through as far as TSA and then at the park as well. And now see being a bit of an older gentleman these days, I, I wear compression socks and I certainly do when I fly.

And that's one of the first things I get pulled every time. Man, they Alright. What you got down there? I got, I got them cankles baby. No, it's, but you know, it's, it's still, uh, it's still going. You know, they're very, very thankful for those folks and at the ballpark it just seems like time and again, it depends who you're walking up to, whether they're, you're going to [00:25:00] be checked out much or not.

So, uh, but they all did a great job and I, I will kind of talk about Kansas City now. It's, it was a great trip, Karen and I took, and it's probably one of the best baseball trips we've done because quite honestly, Matt, as much as I wanted to see the Angels and the Royals play because. I wanted to see Trout and Salvador Perez.

Mm-hmm. You know, both of these guys legends, both franchise legends and, but the guy I really wanted to see isn't on the field anymore. Well, actually, I dunno if he ever would, but a gentleman who has made history and who keeps history in front of us. And that's Mr. Bob Kendrick. So my main objective going to Kansas was to see those games.

But prior to that, the main objective was actually to go to the Negro Baseball League Museum. Um, that was just [00:26:00] amazing. The, the displays, the history. And I was actually moved to the point of becoming actually a little emotional at one point, reading some of it. And have you been there, sir? 

Mat Germain: Yes, I have. Yep.

Mark Corbett: Now 

Mat Germain: I went as part of an air crew that flew down from, uh, from Canada when I was doing my, uh, my getting my wings. 

Mark Corbett: Wow. You know, it was, it's, uh, you walk in there and they have that mocked up smaller field and they've got the green walls up there, the old wooden walls. And I put my hand on it and I didn't know if this is just something they got from a lumber yard when they built this place, or if it was something for, it was truly part of history.

But when I touched it, I felt like I was, I was part of that moment. It brought me into that moment for a second. And, and whether that be something. Facsimile or, or the real thing. My experience was [00:27:00] real and it really drew me in to also being from Florida in the area here, very much pay attention to Buck O'Neal.

Mm-hmm. You know, buck O'Neal, we grew up in Sarasota, you know, was surprised. Racism and everything else. They kind of pushed him out anyway 'cause they wouldn't allow him to further his education at one point. And to know the work that all that he did. He was the manager with the Monarchs and everything else.

And how instrumental buck was in getting that museum, putting it all together, getting the people together and, you know, he was the face of the Negro League museum. When you think about the, the documentaries and everything else, the history of the leagues and those teams. Oh gosh. It was something, man, it, it really was, uh, it was really.

Moving. And like I said, it was unique experience. 'cause I, I would've loved to have said hello to Bob Kendrick and said, well, maybe I stop by his office. But soon as we walk in and start heading toward the, the entrance to the museum, [00:28:00] I see him there all dressed up, ready to go to luncheon. And I said, Hey Bob.

You know, like mm-hmm. Like, we're all buddies or something. It felt like that there, I mean. But, so he took a few minutes to chat with me and we talked about the new stadium. Uh, what's happening there? 'cause he's got him tied in, in a lot of different luncheons and with that sort of thing, but also the, the growth of the museum.

So it was, uh, it was very important to me for that. And once we had finished there, it was cool. We, we left here around. Six in the morning. We got up around three six in the morning flying out to, to Kansas City. We're driving around eight 30 central time. And lo and behold, we're able to get into our hotel room by about 11, if you can believe it.

Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, it just, things started falling in place. I mean, going to the Negro League Museum and Bob Kendrick walking out to leave as we walk in. So I'm thinking, well, [00:29:00] what's the, what are the games gonna be like Friday Night Fireworks and, yeah. You know, and they've got, you've, you've been there.

They've, they've got this big giant, uh, like a shield scoreboard with the little royal caps on top of it. And that thing is immense. And the displays that they're able to do with that through the game. Mm-hmm. Oh man. Well, they want people to make noise and such. It, it just, you know, blows you right out. But they also, they have the Kaufman fountains that the, you know, Mr.

Kaufman had Mrs. Mrs. Kaufman had built there. And that was, you know, that was part of amazing too. 'cause these things are constantly glowing. They're, there's flames being shot out across the, the fountains as well, you know, and then Friday night fireworks after the game, it was just stupendous to watch. So it was a very, very colorful, eventful evening.

And, uh, but. To see the teams [00:30:00] and for me to go see those two legends that are still in the game. I mean, it's like, you know, watching with Cleveland, looking at, uh, Ramirez. And so he's going, he in the same genre or at least the same, uh, I should say, stature that he's in. I look at Mike Trout and I look at Salvador Perez.

Yeah. And these guys, they're something, you know, and Trout's still out there in center field grinding away doing what he does and watching that man come in so speedily still to come in and catch a ball. I, it was just, it just, you know, knocked my socks off literally. And, but if I looked at the games quickly, I'll say, game one Friday, Mike Trout

when his, his at bats three times, they walked him Salvador Perez, he had four at bats, he had zero hits and no runs. Now come to game two on Saturday. Trout has four abs and one hit. Perez has five at bats, three hits, [00:31:00] two runs, one home run. 

Mat Germain: Hmm. 

Mark Corbett: So, yeah, that was, that was a nice little game for him. Game three, now Trout has five at bats.

One run, one hit, one walk, two rbis, and one home run. So there's a lot of excitement. However, at that point I'm in the airport, so, so I didn't get to see that. And, uh, Perez had five at bats. One run, one hit one RBI, but that's also the same game that Josh Lowe, who was playing for the Angels with four bats, had three hits and one run.

So, , a lot going on there, Matt. And, uh, I gotta see Travis d'Arnaud play as a catcher for, in the third game, watching most of it on the tv. Nonetheless, it's, it was, it's a fun weekend to watch that particular series. 

Mat Germain: Absolutely. No, Bobby Wit Jr being there too. Oh. And a bunch of other, you know, up and coming star players that are, that are making a name for themselves on both sides.

I mean, there's, there's a lot of, uh, I mean, Vinnie Pasquantino, I don't know if he played as [00:32:00] well, and, you know. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah, I'd, I'd say, 

Mat Germain: yeah, go ahead. 

Mark Corbett: No, no, no. I, I love it because you know, Pasquantino, they call him PaSquatch. Yeah. As a nickname. And I didn't realize it during the game when he got up and he got on base, and when he did over there against the wall for distant wall, I see a door open and this.

What is that? It's an ape. No, not, oh, it's Sasquatch. A Sasquatch walks down about 60 feet in one direction, does it about turn, walks back and goes into the door. And I guess anytime the Pasquantino or PaSquatch does something, well, he's basically the little man in the clock who comes out and notify the rest of us, what they call.

It's all those little things, man, that, that make baseball fun. And Matt, or we've had Jane Levy on here before and she talked about the, uh, the outfield experience. With her and Janet Marie Smith where they, they talked about [00:33:00] what that's gonna be like. I had no idea what was gonna be in the outfield experience.

I walked out there, they got a small little putt putt thing back in the back. They've got batting cages for kids. They've got to, uh, uh, what they've got a, uh, carousel for the kids to ride on. And it was just different types of foods being served out there. It was like, oh my gosh, where'd this little park come from?

By beside the baseball field. Yep. It was, it, it, everything about this experience was, uh, was pleasant and enjoyable. Yeah, 

Mat Germain: that's where I, uh, I went, uh, religiously. I was there for three games and each game I, I got two beers. There are two, I guess they're two double beers, so it's actually four beers and then, and then a tray of barbecue.

Right. And then I go sit down and I'm like, oh, yeah. And, and nowhere of a lie. It was so good that by the time I was done and like, I sat there for three, four, or five more endings. I was like, do [00:34:00] I get a second tray? Like, am I allowed? No, I can't do that to myself. 

Mark Corbett: Oh, 

Mat Germain: it's a great experience. I thought the people in the crowd were great.

I don't know what your experience was, but, , made a lot of, of good, uh, one day friends there. And, and, uh, I, I think it's a good environment. People are friendly. I didn't see any, anybody yelling obscenities and doing all kinds of crazy stuff. So, I don't know if it gets , more testy when you get the cards in town or if you get another rival that's kind of nearby.

I think that stadium was well built, just not in the right place. And it's too bad 'cause I think it would've have lasted, you know, if it was right in the, in the city in the same exact way as it's built right now. It, it'd probably keep it around for another, you know, I don't know how many years, but now they're gonna build a new one.

And I want to know if you told Bob Kendrick my idea to, to rename the team to the Monarchs and then he can throw out the first pitch and have a museum somewhere in the stadium, like, I, [00:35:00] 

Mark Corbett: I failed to do that, so shame on me. Shame 

on 

Mat Germain: me in the two minutes you were talking to him. It never came up. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah, no.

Can you believe it, brother? Yeah. It's, uh, you know, I, I'll have to write a long letter, you know, and send down some citruses way, see, uh, you know, buy into a good attitude with that. He's, but he's, man, he's nothing but positive energy. If I ever saw, it's like, 

Mat Germain: oh 

Mark Corbett: man, I walked in the room, I fell, you know, if, if you're feeling a little bit down, you didn't even have to touch his cloak.

You know, it's, 

Mat Germain: it's true though. There's, there's people that are like that. They have positive aura and they just draw you right in and, and right away you like, if, even if you were grumpy, you know, you, you're kind of, oh, I guess I, I can be okay now. Like, 

Mark Corbett: yeah man, no, that city's got, it's gonna be going through some change.

'cause we even talked about a month ago, about the 2028, the chiefs and also the royals, their commitments to that area [00:36:00] are gone. And the chiefs already were very actively, you know, putting something together and getting out completely. Yeah. 

Mat Germain: Yeah. Let's talk about that for a second though. 'cause I'm, I'm Canadian.

Our football scene is completely different than your football scene. And I, I know football is a religion in a lot of areas of, of the United States. I get it. It, you know, the, the thing that I still can't wrap my head around is that you only have a set amount of games in a season. 

Mark Corbett: Right. 

Mat Germain: And yet you're building these monstrosities of billions and billions.

And bi The one in Vegas is just blowing my mind in terms of like, I know they use it for other things in Vegas than they just the football. So it's a tad bit different than in other areas, right. But like Dallas and other ones like. It just gets to be, I don't want to use the word obscene, [00:37:00] but it's obscene.

Mark Corbett: It is, 

Mat Germain: yeah, 

Mark Corbett: it is. I mean, there used to be multipurpose stadiums and then they stepped away from that. And the idea of spending that much money for something where you have so few games that you're going to be doing it does seem crazy. , As moral human beings, you have to be cognizant of how you, uh, take care of the gifts you've been given.

And, and some of that is not riding a moral high horse here. 'cause I'm certainly not one to do that. I don't have to. But the thing of it is, is to know about taking care of our fellow man. And sometimes it seems like, are we doing this at the cost of how we might help somebody else? And I, I, I find it hard.

To hand over more, more money to billionaires who already got enough to build these damn things. 

Mat Germain: The reason I say that, mark, and the reason I bring it up is 'cause I go, I've been [00:38:00] to both the old Yankee Stadium and the new Yankee Stadium. 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Mat Germain: I've been to places where they've done stadiums over again, and I like the old one better.

Mark Corbett: So 

Mat Germain: my question is, why are they spending things to make things colder and more expensive and less inviting, to be quite honest. Yeah. You know, that's what it ends up coming across and I hope, I don't know what the plans are for the Kansas City, and I don't know how the thing for the Rays will turn out, but in a lot of ways, I look at what the Rogers Center was for the Blue Jays, right?

They decided to not tear it down and to refurbish the inside. To me that is a more practical, more ethical and, and way less expensive proposition. They spent 500 million, I think, to revamp the inside instead of spending 3.5 billion on a new one and charging [00:39:00] taxpayers for it.

There's a, there's a conversation to be had, and it should be widespread, and it should be loud from the people that are suffering and not able to afford to go to a game. Like even if you're a passionate baseball fan and you're making a living and the cost of groceries and gas and everything else is going up, and you're trying to wrangle your kids and family to a game because you want them to have that experience, and all of a sudden you're, you're the price that you're, you're gonna pay per ticket is gonna go from 30 bucks to 75 bucks just to sit in a, a shinier location that is not as warm, that is not as inviting like.

Are you really, , getting more for your money, and then they're taking it from your taxes, which is gonna cost you more on your property taxes. And then you're this, and then you're, that. It just doesn't make any sense when you do the full calculation. So, I, I don't know the, the, the solution, I don't have the solution.

I get the need for a new [00:40:00] stadium I'm watching. Welcome to Wrexham in, they're building a new cop stand, right? Like they're, they're literally doing something that I think is valuable there, because the old one was so decrepit, it wasn't usable anymore, and they had to tear it down and it was whatever. That's a different story, but I see the billion spend and then any NFL just brings it to light because it's so few games.

It just doesn't make it. I watched the old Norte Dame movie there, or, um, with, uh, Rudy, right? And I see all the crowds sitting on these benches and, and they're all throwing snow and doing this and doing that. Like, they all get crazy during whatever. And to me, that builds an ambiance and you're all in it together.

You're at war together. You're not meant to be comfy, cozy, and heated. Like, no, that's not the way that you're supposed to be. So I, I'm on my, uh, my, you know, stool right now, screaming in the air like an old man. I guess I'm getting old Mark. 

Mark Corbett: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, [00:41:00] no. We got me for that. So, no, you're supposed to be the young energized, you know, dad who, uh, who brings all this positive energy.

So I, I don't know what you think you're doing. 

Mat Germain: I gotta turn the switch. 

Mark Corbett: Uh, gosh. Let's see. What other Dessan insanity do we have written down here, Mr. Matt? 

Mat Germain: I don't know, like when those things start coming out. But I'm curious about the power of the schedules. Right. And, and whether or not there's any teams that have an edge based on what's happened so far.

'cause I feel like the Rays haven't run into many ales teams other than the Yankees yet. And, and like they haven't they haven't felt to me like they've been challenged much either though, in, in a weird way. Like the, the guardians just seem flat this year. Like they don't have the bats going.

They had key moments where they could have broken it open against the rays. The rays got them to shut it down and, and Jose Ramirez, you know, getting it [00:42:00] to within 10 feet of that, that center field wall was a testy moment, but. I feel like that there's intrigue there. Like I don't know what's working and what isn't.

If, if Kevin Cash is just putting the right, uh, pulling on the right buttons if the catchers are just more comfortable. If the team is more comfortable. I don't know what it is, but, but what I've seen with the front four in terms of the lineup mm-hmm. And the consistency from those guys, it seems to set the tone for the game.

And you put that along with the starting pitchers that we mentioned before with the M's. And the improvements in the pen with Baker. Now suddenly, coming in there and, and taking over that, that, uh, closer's role. I, there's a lot to like, and I don't know where it heads, like you're talking about, you just went to the Royals.

They're not off to a great start. And, and the old, , rays, uh, Mac Charles having a hard time over there trying to get them going. , If they keep [00:43:00] faltering for any spend of time, Jonathan India just went, underwent surgery and he's probably gonna be out for the entire year. But, , there's a case to be made where they would have some trade pieces that the rays would be interested in.

So, I don't know, like we're, we're just getting into May. It's way too early to be considering major trades, but which other team than the Rayss mark, do you feel right now looking at the landscape is, has been most intriguing to you? 

Mark Corbett: Ooh, i'm, I'm gonna stay close to home on this and I, I won't say intriguing, maybe disturbing and I shortsighted on my part.

I really expected more with Blue Jays now. I understood they took a hit with some people. 

But I expected this team to do more. If I see beyond that, I, I'm still feel like I've got, I look a little deeper about, about what I wanna see more of what's gonna happen with the Astros this year. But the Blue Jays we know, I mean, losing Bette and some other [00:44:00] things that are happening and his Vladi juniors, he's happy there.

I don't know that the vibe is positive. There's once was, you know, coming back from a World Series. But, uh, I don't know if I actually call that intriguing. I'm say I'm a little disappointed and surprised. We gotta get Brent back on here. 

Mat Germain: Yeah. I think that the, the interesting one to me that, that I feel like is, is starting to you know, build momentum to the point where you're suddenly going, okay, well they're, they're contenders.

It's the athletics. And the athletics have elite players that nobody talks. They, they just, they tend to sit on the sidelines, be quiet. Everybody remembers them as Oakland. Oh, you're Oakland, you're coming into town. Oh, okay, we're gonna win two outta three. We're gonna sweep, we're gonna do whatever. But they've, they've got some guys like Nick Kurtz, I don't think gets enough appreciation across the league for, for what he does the same thing with Shea Langeliers, [00:45:00] like those two guys.

, are elite players right now at the plate, like they're really setting the tone for, for that team. And now you add in Carlos Cortez, who, I, I could mention that guy probably to 90% of the fans at the stadiums that we go to. And they wouldn't even know who he is. Yeah. Because he doesn't get any media coverage.

Right. And, and so he's got an OPS of of 111. , You just put that on the Yankees and he'd be the talk of the freaking league. Like they, they'd be talking about him everywhere, but you don't hear about him. So you go down to those guys and suddenly , you're going down to Lawrence Butler, and Tyler Soderstrom and Brent Rucker.

And , they're way under , their performance. And they're still prominent good bats. Like they're dangerous lineup that nobody talks about enough. And, and so I just feel like they're probably the most intriguing and here's why. Mark, they have a stadium. Being built. Shovels are in the ground. They [00:46:00] know the money is coming.

Mark Corbett: Yeah. 

Mat Germain: So if they decide to add someone, anybody, even if it's a long-term contract that that person has. Yeah. And there's a lot of them that would be there to be had. I mean, look at the Mets. The Mets are the perfect example, right? How, how much are they itching to offload some of this baggage that they've built on over the years?

You know, there, there's other ones that we'll be able to point to over time, but to me, they're the most intriguing team. 'cause they have the budget to add whoever they want. They can go across the league and say, we will take the most expensive, we'll take Ohtani right now. Okay. Dodgers get on the phone.

No, maybe not to that level, but you know what I mean. Like, they have no, no budget right now that would actually force them to say, no, we can't afford that. Because they know the income is coming from that stadium. 

Mark Corbett: Oh yeah. 

Mat Germain: So. It's really interesting to see what they're going to be able to add. And there's a few x-rays on there with Jeffrey Springs and, and, uh, Jacob Lopez and a couple of other guys.

But I, [00:47:00] I, I've been watching some of the later games 'cause I end up, you know, sometimes finally getting down at, at a certain thing. So I watch the beginning of their games or the mid part of their games, depending on when they're playing them. And the Pirates have caught my attention where I'm like, oh, I have to watch them now.

I have to watch them. Maybe it's also fantasy based 'cause I have a lot of their players on my teams, but I find they're ones that just keep an eye on through the season because they're, they're fun to watch, they're hitting the snot out of the ball and, and I wish that they got the media coverage that they deserve.

Mark Corbett: Well, you know, part of the media coverage for the a's has been all about the stadium and about where they're playing this year. Yeah. It seems like that's easier. It's an easy target. So. But since it's an easy target, let me ask you, what do you, what do you think it's like for them to be playing in a, you know, not a major league stadium, sort of like the Rays last year playing over George [00:48:00] Steinbrenner.

Mat Germain: So it's one of those things where now that they have experience with it, they've gotten comfortable, right? Yeah. In that, in that environment. So it does give them a bit of an edge in, in terms of like, when they're welcoming people, , from other areas. But to be honest, every team goes and plays spring training games.

Yeah. 

Mark Corbett: It's 

Mat Germain: not like they're, they're not used to that, um, that kind of environment. And I, I don't know, mark, it's one of those things where , they're 11 and five at home. They're 10 and four away, so there is no home advantage. Gotcha. They're dominating on both sides. So the A are. Really interesting.

Like they're very, very, very, um, fun to watch. And, and I think that there's, uh, there's a lot to kind of monitor there and, and see where they wind up. So, I don't know., It'll be interesting to see what they're able to add. And, and I feel like, 'cause [00:49:00] they came into my head the, this week because when I looked at the four teams that are above 500.

So you've got the Yankees, the Rays, the Tigers, and the A's, and everybody else is under 500, or was, I think the Mariners now are at 500. 

Mark Corbett: Gotcha. 

Mat Germain: So anyways, it's, it's one of those things where and maybe the guardians are, now that they beat the rays today, I have to catch up on my standings mark. 

Mark Corbett: It changes by the minute.

Of course. That's, that's what the games are all for. Right? See, bring it up real quick while we're here.

Okay, you're talking about the Guardians. You're right, they're 16 and 16. It is five, they're 500 and the Tigers are 15 and 15 also at 500 and the a's are five 17 and the Mariners are 500 16 and 16. So yeah, 

Mat Germain: the Dodgers are just one game ahead of, or half a game ahead of the Padres. 

Mark Corbett: That is amazing. I 

Mat Germain: love it.

That is a really fun Rays to watch and the, [00:50:00] and the D backs are not far behind and they decided to keep Ketel, Marte this, this off season and not trade them. So it's nice to see how that's allowing them to stay in that race. And, I hate to point out. Positives in a negative, but the Rockies are not as far behind as we thought they might be,

which sometimes can be enough encouragement, right. For the crowds to show up and still watch them through the summer. So, 

Mark Corbett: yeah. But you know, it's 'cause between them and what's thought would happen with the, uh, the White Sox, but the White Sox are doing better than I would've thought. They're, they're, uh, thriving by comparison from previous years or 14 and 17.

Yeah. And, uh, but yeah, the Rockies man, but those two I always expect to see deepened through the basement. But the Astros, the Astros are 11 and 19. Matt. 

Mat Germain: They, they don't have the system to keep plugging away. And for a long time, [00:51:00] they got lucky with health and always finding one hitter and one pitcher that they could plug in that were, that was enough to sustain them because they had the steady core.

I still think that they probably should have brought back Alex Bregman, but I don't know what that relationship was and why they wanted, because what it could have happened then is they could have signed Alex Bregman and dealt Isaac Paredes to find another piece that they needed somewhere else. But, uh, right now they decide to keep Isaac Paredes for now there's a trade asset that somebody could go after , and supplement their team.

But I think that the Astros are gonna have a rough year. They're gonna get a good draft pick out of it afterwards. It'll be fine. I'm looking forward to seeing what, who the rays grab with the second overall pick. There's a lot of mock drafts that are saying that they're gonna take a catcher mark.

Mark Corbett: Huh? Well, I'd like to, I would like to see what that looks like, because, , was it Fortis and Fiduccia and, um, I, I, I think I [00:52:00] have a little more He hmm. Faith in Fortis, but, uh, I think if both of 'em got replaced tomorrow, I wouldn't be surprised either. 

Mat Germain: Right. But, but the point is more like the early the early favorite, I guess for the Rays was Grady Emerson.

Right? He was the guy that everybody was pointing to because he's a, um, a shortstop, which everybody loves to pick near the top of the draft. And he's also very toolsy young. He's supposed to be a bit like Konner Griffin in terms of overall tools. , Once he gets. Fully developed and, and out of the way.

I'm not saying it's gonna be as, uh, highly projected in terms of power and everything else, but oh, his overall game is supposed to resemble, , full development. Something like Bobby Witt Jr. So if you're, if you're looking for that kind of impact, that shortstop, it's hard to pass up on that. But because of the seasons, right, everybody always forgets that the, the off season projections, you know, they get [00:53:00] tinkered with because of what happens in season.

And Von Lockey, who's a catcher for Georgia Tech, has been just hammering the ball and getting himself right up there. And, and so there's a lot of people and evaluators that are saying, okay, here's an organization that has never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever had an elite catcher. Right? And, and they finally are able to land one, which.

To be honest, in today's day and age, with the defensive shortcomings of the position itself, not really mattering as much as they used to because of ABS, et cetera., You can work on most of the aspects of the defensive parts of the game in terms of blocking and, and, and everything else where you can get comfortable with a lot more players than you used to.

So it'd be interesting to see if they did grab onto 'em and if he can stay healthy, if he can be like a Adley Rutschman or better,

Mark Corbett: Ooh, that'd be great 

Mat Germain: style of [00:54:00] addition for them because the rays, and we know they can develop short stops. We know they can develop outfielders and we know they can, you know, work with some guys in certain positions and styles, but the catching position has just been one that's eaten away at them over time.

Yeah. And you could see when Nick Forte was hitting the ball, that lineup was churning, like it, it just fed all the way through the lineup. So. The more that they can grab on to something like that, the better off it'll be. And they, like I said, bef to you before, they have two more that are coming in through the system as well.

So does that impact our decision? Do they look at Caden Bodine and Nathan Flewelling and say, you know what, like we're happy with those guys and we'd rather go with the shortstop. So I don't know. Just throwing that out there. Mark. 

Mark Corbett: You know, you, you mentioned ABS and it's changed the game. 

Mat Germain: Mm. 

Mark Corbett: For a positive as far as I'm concerned.

Mat Germain: Yes. '

Mark Corbett: cause if there's some very, some calls are very errant that need to be [00:55:00] corrected and some's like, oh my gosh, a 10th of an inch. Okay. Yeah. But it made a difference in the play. It made a difference in the game. And in today's afternoon game with the rays, you could tap your hat all you wanted. It didn't matter.

System was, was broke, paused, whatever they, it's so it's become an integral part of the game. And fate will arbitrarily pull it from you and make a difference maybe whether or not you have a winner or loss now that have come to expect to have it there. Just saying. 

Mat Germain: Yeah. And, and the timing of these things, like I've seen guys call, you know, tap on their heads in the first inning and, and suddenly they lose one and then they lose that another one in the second inning and they have none more for the rest of the game.

This is what I'm saying where, eventually Mark, I think what you'll see is, , the ABS be used constantly. , You're going to get there. It's just, it's a slow wheel, it's a slow process. I think the [00:56:00] umpires are starting to recognize how fine the margins are as well. And, and that. , The speeds and the brakes and everything else.

Being at such a, it is just impossible for them to be expected to be perfect. Yeah. And, and the system itself, the, the, the consistency of the system is what is most important to me. A strike should be a strike. A ball should be a ball, and it should be the same thing for everyone. As long as that happens, we're all in a better place, including the players.

Then the performance is really based. On the greatness of that player and not on the eyeballs behind them. Right? 

Mark Corbett: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, we've talked before about that the great players will take that first inning and figure out what the heck the, is the zone for that particular umpire, you know, even though it's supposed to be the same all the time.

And,, yeah, I don't know. It was just kinda interesting to see that it probably could have made a difference on one call if Aranda was able to get a different call than [00:57:00] what he got from the umpire earlier, but he couldn't ask for it because the system wasn't working. So, 

Mat Germain: yeah. 

Mark Corbett: And I've, we've, you know, we've already started to become, depend on some of this, what can I say?

Mat Germain: Yeah, it's, 

A little bit crazy how, uh, how long it's taken to get to this point mark, but like you said, I'm very happy the system's in place. I hope that it continues and, and based on the, the performances so far. Even from the umpire side where they're very dry and and short and curt about it.

As I said before, I think it just takes pressure off their shoulders. They're like, yeah, nobody's kicking sand on me. Nobody's getting in my face and spitting all over me. Hey, I'm in a better place. Yeah, I'm wrong sometimes. Nobody's gonna point any fingers. I'm not. I do think, though, mark, at the end of the season, no umpire wants to be in the bottom 2, 3, 4,, umpires when it comes to the calls, I think that is going to be a driving factor for them.

, I do this all the time at work [00:58:00] Mark, where I, I like to highlight people's performances. And just put them out there. And just that in itself is enough to have people want to keep themselves accountable because then they're able to, , measure themselves against others.

And that's what the umpires will do. They'll measure themselves against the others. There's no arguing about it. , It's all fact., It'll be interesting to see , how improved the umpire performances are next year compared to this year because of the ABS system coming into place. 

Mark Corbett: And there you have it, folks, we've, yes, once again taking you through another hour of the greatness of baseball and how it is continually evolving around us.

. We wanna thank you again for joining us here today on BaseballBiz On Deck, and Mr. Mat Germain. And I look forward to talking with you Allall again real soon and sharing all the joys and love of baseball. So until then, have a great week.

Mat Germain: BONG!