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
Just remember to subscribe, follow and rate the show. Thank you.
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

• 15 days before St Pete council votes on new stadium
• 81 games - at halfway point
• Rays' hovering around 500
• Seattle Mariners winning 2 of 3 in series
• Importance of maintaining momentum into July
• Paul Skenes' pitching & comparisons to Randy Johnson
• Yandy Díaz's hitting streaks
• Great performances - Ben Rortvedt, Ahmed Rosario, & Randy Arozarena
• Praise for Jose Siri's defensive skills & offensive contributions
• Rays' batting lineup & how it has evolved
• Balancing the lineup & keeping pitchers honest
• Mat's perspective on Kevin Cash's managerial decisions
• Importance of team collaboration & decision-making
• Debate on pitching decision on Ryan Pepiot
• Analysis of managing pitchers' workload & maintaining their confidence
• Plays by Richie Palacios & Jose Caballero
• Caballero's aggressive baserunning
• Praise for Siri's showmanship & defensive prowess in center field
• Kevin Cash's Leadership
• Tenure & his approach to managing the team
• Cash's consistent performance
• Collaborative style & his role in the Rays' successes
• Speculations on the Rays' strategies for the second half of the season
• Importance of maintaining offensive momentum & making strategic additions at trade deadline
• Rays' prospects & potential moves
• Optimistic outlook for the Rays
• Washington Nationals & Rays, comparing their records & standings
• Nationals 38-42 record, similar to the Rays, despite having more losses
• Florida Baseball Biz Introduction to a new episode of Florida Baseball Biz featuring the coach of Tampa Jesuit High School, Miguel Menendez
• Doug Wechter & Gary Sheffield – parents in the stands
• Upcoming Opponents
• Overview of Rays’ upcoming opponents: Royals, Rangers, Yankees, & Guardians
• Analysis of Yankees’ recent struggles & the Guardians' strong performance
• All-Star Voting Deadlines
• Minor League Updates - Montgomery Biscuits clinching playoffs
• Highlights of players' performances in minor leagues, including Jeffrey Springs & Trevor Martin
• Yankees’ Challenges - Discussion on Yankees' roster issues & potential trade rumors involving Vladimir Guerrero Jr
• Rays Front Office Dynamics - Deep dive into the impact of front office decisions on team performance & fan engagement
• Different franchises’ front office cultures & their influence on success
• Analysis of ownership influence, focusing on Stu Sternberg’s management of the Rays & future expectations
• How long will Stu Sternberg remain the Rays’ owner after new stadium is built
• Steinbrenner model?
• Minor Leagues movement – Curtis Mead, DeLuca, Brandon Lowe

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 & and at http://www.baseballbizondeck.com
Subscribe, follow and rate the show. Thank you.
BaseballBiz is on iheartradio, Stitcher, Apple, and Spotify
Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music “Rocking Forward"

Rays' Current Performance:

The team continues to hover around.500 mark

Low attendance figures in Oakland

2020 season with cardboard cutouts in the stands.

Oakland A’s, and how they manage to stay afloat despite low attendance, largely through revenue sharing and TV deals.

Rays’ New Stadium Prospects:

Discussion on the upcoming new stadium for the Rays and its potential economic impact, including year-round restaurants and businesses around the stadium.

Concerns about the promises made by politicians versus what is delivered in the final plan.

Local Politics and the Stadium Deal:

Insights into recent local political developments, including Mayor Ken Welch’s controversial bonuses to city employees who worked on the Rays’ stadium deal, which were later rescinded.

Wild Card Possibilities:

Mat breaks down the Rays’ chances of making it to the Wild Card, comparing the American League to the National League in terms of competition.

The Rays only need to surpass a few teams, and their pitching staff gives them a fighting chance if they can regain some momentum.

Key Players and Performances:

Jose Siri’s fluctuating performance and the importance of maintaining hustle and focus.

Praise for Kevin Cash’s tough decisions to bench Siri to send a message, which paid off in the form of a game-winning run.

Shane Baz’s recent performance & the potential impact of his return to form on the Rays' playoff hopes.

Mat provides a hopeful outlook, suggesting Rays can make it into the playoffs, their strong pitching makes them a dangerous contender.

Dylan Carlson & Uceta bringing new successes to the team

Proposed Six-Inning Minimum for Pitchers:

Six-inning minimum for pitchers raises concerns about potential strain on pitchers’ arms.

The implications of forcing a struggling pitcher to stay in the game when they are clearly not performing well

Mat’s Take on the Rule:

Mat expresses his strong opposition to the six-inning minimum, stating that he might stop watching baseball if such a rule is implemented.

He argues that this rule would favor larger market teams that can afford to pay pitchers who can dominate for six innings and suggests that this is another example of MLB’s interference to favor big-market teams.

Strategic and Health Implications:

Proposed rule would eliminate some of the strategy in baseball and further disconnect the current game from its history.

A better approach to protecting pitchers' arms would be to adopt a six-man rotation, similar to the approach used in Japan,

Teams may be prioritizing financial savings over player health, by overworking young pitchers and avoiding paying them long-term contracts

Pitchers in Japan are managed differently, often throwing more pitches in non-game situations to strengthen their arms, but only pitching once per week in games.

Mark humorously suggests that MLB could learn from Japan by temporarily suspending a struggling MLB team and replacing them with a Japanese team to teach the other teams how to manage pitchers better.

You can find Mat on Twitter x.com @Mat_Germain_

Mark can be found on Twitter x.com @TheBaseballBiz & at http://www.baseballbizondeck.com

Subscribe, follow and rate the show. Thank you.

BaseballBiz is on iheartradio, Stitcher, Apple, and Spotify

Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music “Rocking Forward"
Notes in part from ChatGPT