BaseballBiz On Deck

Mat Germain & Mark Corbett – Somethings cooking in the Rays kitchen

• "Winningly Good”
• Marlins rough road
• Colorado Rockies – Pete Fairbanks. The balls are horrible.
• “That’s what happens when you don’t throw strikes”
• Velo down 2 MPH - Pete doesn’t do well in the cold
• Rays pen was out of sorts in first Rockies game
• Ryan Pepiot – 11K in 6 innings, was the trade worth it.
• Glasnow threw 14K in 7 innings
• Angels series - Is that Chris Farley shouting from the stands
• Ron Washington is working to invigorate the Angels team
• Angels will visit the Rays at the Trop – definitely worth getting a ticket to see future HOF’er Mike Trout
• Ron Washington coaching brought strength to Dansby Swanson & others when he was with the Atlanta Braves
• Will Blake Snell take the mound against Rays next week at the Trop
• Will they pull Blake in the 5th inning
• Austin Shenton – DH of the day
• Rays strategy had 2 righties and then a lefty lineup to shake up Angels pitching
• Off-balanced Rays batting lineup missing key left-handed batters, Jonathan Aranda, Brandon Lowe, Josh Lowe & DeLuca. Opportunity for Shenton to get his reps
• Jose Caballero- he is “Electric” – steal of a trade
  • Working hard & looks like a Gold Glover. Spinning & Throwing.
  • More speed than Franco. He is a 5 WAR Shortstop.
  • Golden Glove performances with Caballero & Yandy Diaz
• Siri is getting on base more effectively
• Strong arm of Rortvedt
• Zack Littell- came through with a tough first inning with the Angels
• Cleavinger & Poche a bit erratic in the bullpen
• Rays now above .500
• Marlins are not competitive
• eX-Rays Front Office move - Pete Bendix now with the Marlins
• Marlins Scouting dept found lacking, Need a Alex Anthopoulos approach to rebuild a productive team
• Tommy Pham & Brandon Belt, 2 Free Agents that could help the Miami Marlins be a stronger team.
• "tanking” strategy for 2024 Marlins?.
• There is a reason that Kim Ng left Miami
• Colorado Rockies weather Cold & Windy. How does it impact pitching speeds & finding ball trajectory
• Brandon Lowe injury - right oblique. Will the Rays keep Brandon?
• Judge was able to negotiate a contract with Yankess amidst injury history.
• Upcoming games at the Trop with SF Giants & Angels.
• Angels may see Littell and Civale again when they come to St. Pete.
• Will Rays see Blake take the mound.
• Rays rotation should fare well with Eflin, Civale & Littell against the Yankees
• Should Rays expect a sweep of the Giants at the Trop. What will it look like against Webb & Snell?
• Robby Ray, the new cheap team uniforms & pink underwear
• Rays Minor Leagues are looking good – starting pitching has been strong.
• What will it be like once Taj Bradley returns
• Mat has a lot of faith in this year’s Tampa Bay Rays

Thanks to Mat Germain for bringing his knowledge, wit and wisdom to the show. You can catch more of Mat on Twitter x.com @Mat_Germain_
Mark can be found on Twitter x.com @TheBaseballBiz & at http://www.baseballbizondeck.com
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BaseballBiz can be found on iheartradio, Stitcher, Apple, and Spotify

Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music “Rocking Forward”

RaysUp! Neil Solondz, pre-game, post-game announcer, podcast host & occasional play by play guy for the Tampa Bay Rays

• Working with Andy Freed & Dave Wills
• “Living in Life’s Candy Store” – Dave Wills
• Tampa Bay Rays strength of Finding, Evaluating & Teaching Young Players
• Team has been strong and in the running 4 years in a row
• Change with loss of Zunino, Kiermaier . . .
• Rays 2023 Potential Rotation – Shane McClanahan, Tyler Glasnow, Drew Rasmussen, Jeffrey Springs & Zach Eflin
• Zach Eflin – hometown boy – most of career with Phillies – Now 3 year contract with the Rays
• Rays Minor League players on the cusp to rise this year include Curtis Mead, Taj Bradley & Colby White & Kyle Manzardo
• Great Minor League team partners
• Post- Hurricane Ian damage - Spring Training – in Orlando for the first few weeks and then move to Trop for most of the home games.
• New 2023 Rays interleague printable schedule
• Rays have one of the longest & most tenured group of broadcasters
  • Neil praises Dave & Andy 19 years as Rays broadcasters as being 2 of the best broadcasters & kudos to the entire broadcasting team
  • Broadcasters Enrique Oliu & Ricardo Taveras - Spanish Radio Tampa Bay Rays
• Manny Navarro translator for the team
• What preparations Neil takes in preparing for the upcoming season
• What will the 2023 roster look like
• How will new schedule impact Rays “It’s not who you play it’s when you play them” - reflecting on Reds & Rays games in July 2022
• Tampa Bay Rays Podcast news & interviews with Neil Solondz
• Neil's Advocacy on Pancreatic Cancer Awareness. We all can help you can reach Neil on Twitter @neilsolondz

Notes:
Dave Wills & Andy Freed - Tampa Bay Times Story
Twitter: @AndrewFreed33 & @davewills34
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness
Neils Advocacy: https://secure.pancan.org/site/TR/PurpleStride/PurpleStride?fr_id=2692&pg=entry

General: https://secure.pancan.org/site/TR/PurpleStride/PurpleStride?px=1274265&pg=personal&fr_id=2692
Neil Solondz website
Rays Radio: https://www.mlb.com/rays/fans/radio
Twitter @neilsolondz
Photo of Neil Solondz used in Social Media
courtesy Will Vragovic – Tampa Bay Rays

BaseballBiz is also on iheartradio, Stitcher, Spotify, Apple & Google podcasts
You can reach Mark @TheBaseballBiz on Twitter & Brandon @SportsBlitzPod
Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music "Rocking Forward"

Brent Cardy, Analyst of all things Toronto Blue Jays visits BaseballBiz On Deck and gives us a peek into the 2023 season for Toronto & the AL East

• What does AL East look like – 3 team race – Orioles & Red Sox not in that mix
• Toronto Blue Jays Pitching
  • Alek Manoah, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman,
  • Kikuchi – strong mix with fastball, cutter & slider
  • Ryu –what will pitching rotation look like if and when he returns.
  • Chris Bassitt ditches PitchCom & calls his own unique 8 pitches
  • Kevin Gausman generating a lot of hit and miss
  • Alek Manoah maybe fighting his mechanics. Not the most beloved pitcher across the AL East
• Kansas City Royals pitcher, Ryan Yarbrough talked about
  "getting comfortable with being uncomfortable"
• Blue Jays lineup – George Springer, Bo Bichette, Vlad Jr, Alejandro Kirk, Chapman, Kevin Kiermaier, Whit Merrifield
• Kevin Kiermaier good solid player and fans love him.
• Dalton Varsho, Gold Glove finalist is a nice addition to the Jays – Toronto Fans appreciate a player who don’t say so much & play hard.
• Bo Bichette – Tampa Bay Native – a solid defender, a strong 2 strike hitter & a 3 year & $33 million contract.
• Long Road Trip - Jays season began with 10 games on the road before returning to Rogers Centre where renovations are being made to the facility
• Do shorter games mean less time to eat & imbibe alcoholic beverages.
• A drunk Solution: Extend the number of innings when a fan can drink. More drinks within a shorter period of time = more drunks per game? Bad math.
• Yankees legend & former Marlins Manager, Don Mattingly is the new Bench Coach for the Jays
• Balanced Schedule – what happened with Mets & Marlins fiasco
• Orioles – Rutschman, Urias, Bautista, Mateo, Mountcastle, Mullins & Hayes – will 2023 or 2024 be the year that Baltimore steps up
• Boston Red Sox in the basement & suffering, Devers & Verdugo looking good. Adam Duvall amongst the injured
• What do the Red Sox, Taylor Swift & The Tampa Bay Rays have in common?
• Will the Jays build up their bullpen? Everything else looks great
• Will the pitch clock impact pitcher injuries

Special Thanks to Brent Cardy on The Cardy Show
You can listen to Brent at https://thecardyshow.buzzsprout.com/1992683
BaseballBiz can be found at www.baseballbizondeck.com or on iheartradio, Stitcher, Apple, Spotify & Google podcasts
Mark can be reached by DM on Twitter @TheBaseballBiz

For information on the Tampa Baseball museum visit https://www.tampabaseballmuseum.org/
For more information on Mental Health you may reach out to the National Alliance of Mental

The Honourable Lou Schiff shares his wit & wisdom on the Marlins 2023 rise in the National League. Lou and Mark take a look at Luis Arraez, Bryan De La Cruz & Jorge Soler

• Marlins learning how to win this year
• Marlins new manager, Skip Schumaker is making a difference
• Cy Sandy or Sigh Sandy who will show up at the mound
• Marlins are a sleeper team, surprise team just like the Baltimore Orioles were earlier
• Unexpected downfall of the St. Louis Cardinals
• Glory of the Oakland A’s Vida Blue, Rollie Fingers & Joe Rudy
• Oakland A’s fans that feel betrayed
• Jazz Chisolm what happens when he comes back. Marlins are winning without him
• Luis Arraez - Rises Up
• At this point Marlins have not missed him
• Yuli Gurriel a leader to the team
• Where do you make space for returning players on the roster
• Corey Kluber example in Boston, Cy Young award winner moved to the bullpen
• Marlins Davis is making a difference
• Soler now 2nd in the league for Home Runs, may climb higher as Pete Alonso is temporarily out due to injury
• Marlins Radio - Kyle Sielaff’s call at the Miami Marlins & Chicago Cubs game – https://twitter.com/MarlinsRadio/status/1667996125108879360?s=20
• Miami fans love the game but are fickle
• Excitement of the WBC
• South Florida incredible last few months in sports – Owls, Hurricaines, Heat & Panthers
• Northeast does not see Florida as a place for a strong baseball team
• How do you stop the Mets from winning . . . give them a baseball bat Will
• Will Marlins unload Jazz for new prospect
• Oakland A’s have been playing at a 500 level for the last few games
• Sixto Sanchez will he come back this year – the roster is full – no need
• Trades this season Will Marlins unload Jazz and Trevor Story for new prospects
• Oakland A’s have been playing at a 500 level for the last few games
• Mark picks 3 potential Tampa Bay Rays for All-Star game – Randy Arozarena, Shane McClanahan & Yandy Diaz
• Is Zach Eflin human? – how did he evolve to where he is. Local boy?
• Fans are perking up in Miami & ready to return to see the Marlins
• Lou teaches Baseball Law classes at Mitchell Hamline & the St. Paul Saints
• Discover Lou at @BaseballandLaw
• Sneak Peak of Upcoming @BaseballandLaw stories include:
  • Farewell to Babe Ruth
  • PeeWee baseball and parents lawsuits
  • Dodgers beat up Chicago Cubs fan lawsuit
  • Count of 2 balls & 1 strike
• You can find Lou's BaseballandtheLaw book at
  https://cap-press.com/books/isbn/9781611635027/Baseball-and-the-Law

Special Offer on Baseball and the Law book - June Sale!!!!
Use code BBALL2023 at check out & get 1/3 off the list price
Sale ends 7/1
"It's something every baseball/law nerd should own"
@craigcalcaterra

Follow Lou on Twitter @BaseballandLaw for daily insights into the game
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Thanks

Tommy & Jimmy- baseball jobs lost, offered & pizza

1:45 - Germain gives us a deep dive into the Tampa Bay Rays farm system & who is coming up

2:50 – MiLBy awards – Rays Winners, Taj Bradley –
3:22 Taj Bradley has strong mound presence
Bradley reminds Mat of Shane Baz
xFIP explained - (Fielding Independent Pitching)

5:25 – Colby White ascends the Rays farm ladder through 4 levels in 2021. Could make a strong difference with the Rays pitching in next year.

6:04 – Depth of the Farm system reduces dependence on paying top dollar to experienced players.

6:45 – Most teams need a plethora of pitchers. Rays were strong with their pitcher depth compared to other teams. Not overtaxing the arms.

8:22 – Shane McClanahan – big ask to perform again so quickly in postseason

9:20 – Durham Bulls – MiLB Team of the Year. Mat takes on Baseball America staff on value of the Durham Bulls.

10:40 – Braves, their GM was courageous

11:00 – Arizona Fall League (AFL) – Scorpions – great games but not available to be seen. Why not?“ . . . a 6 team All-Star League”

12:00 - Curtis Mead, very close to being a major league hitter. Will the Rays trade him?

13:00 – Matt Dyer & Rich Hill trades with the Mets.

13:30 – TB Rays, Carlos Garcia – made AFL All-Star game

14:15 – How to break into the Rays Pen

14:45 – Joey Wendle – will the Rays keep this high quality and versatile player?
Other options – Keep Taylor Walls & possibly trade Vidal Brujan.
Joey Wendle brings the work ethic and commitment to the job.
Kevin Kiermaier, shouldn’t he be awarded thee Golden Glove award this year. Was something slowing him down early last season.

18:00 – CBA status – Collective Bargaining Agreement expires soon. How is this impacting team ownership on their decisions to sign, extend or trade this week. What are the Rays doing to the exterior of the Trop.

18:35 – Rays have taken down the images of the Rays on the outside of Tropicana Field. Dark dirge being played early? Let’s avoid the 1994 & 1995

20:00 – Truly – “Who’s on First?”
Where is First Base Coach Ozzie Timmons?
Third Base Coach Rodney Linaires is managing a Dominican League team that has Pujols as a team player.

22:00 – Rays need a seasoned veteran player leader with the team like Nelson Cruz, Albert Pujols, Rich Hill.

24:45 – Tampa Bay Rays Free Agents who should the front office bring back? Collin McHugh, Michael Wacha.
Loss of Charlie Morton cost the Rays money, wins and leadership for young arms.
Shane McClanahan – “I’m a Rookie” - sounded like a need for help.

28:30 – Stu’s tight purse strings restricted Erik Neander from building a stronger team

29:50 – Mat’s Favorite GM’s – Alex Anthopoulos & Erik Neander – courage to change the face of the franchise to empower your team.

32:00 – Mark’s Rays team – who he wants back. Nate Eovaldi, Charlie Morton, Hunter Renfroe, d’Arnaud

34:25 – Mike Zunino – Rays rather smartly re-signed Zunino. He is the forgotten man when it comes to catchers across MLB. “Zunino behind the plate . . he calls a great game” Will the Rays bring up Pinto this year to study under Zunino.

38:30 – Rookie of the Year, Randy Arozarena and Wander Franco are nominees. Franco is the best switch hitter since Chipper Jones.
Thanks to Mat Germain for visiting us on BaseballBiz
Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music "Rocking Forward"
You can reach Mark @TheBaseballBiz on Twitter
BaseballBiz is also on iheartradio, spotify, apple & google podcasts
@TheBaseballBiz on Twitter
Max is @Mat_Germain_ on Twitter.
#RaysUp