RaysUp - MLB Clenching, Hot Rods take off, Looking for Pete Alonso

Mat_Germain_ & Mark at BaseballBiz On Deck take a look at the closing of 2024 season and the future of the Rays.
Tampa Bay facing hurricane Helene strong winds, storm surges – stay safe
2019 Rays won 96 games and spent 60 million
2024 Rays exceed $100 million and they don’t make the playoffs
Rays strategy to spend less and perform better has been proven
Winning streak was needed
Missing LH Bats
Jonathan Aranda, shining star at the end of the season for Rays. His hitting abilities can make a difference for the Rays future

Rays are pleased with Siri defensively & hope for more consistency at bat

Siri is a good value for $1 million – but keep your eyes open on who may be coming up through the Rays Minor League 

Bowling Green Hot Rods won their league championship

Chandler Simpson – 103 Stolen bases with the Montgomery Biscuits

Minor League love to Mike Birling & Durham Bulls organization for hosting the All-American Women’s Baseball Classic October 11 – 14th

WBSC – Women’s Baseball World Cup Championship. Japan won the Gold, The US won the Silver and Canada the Bronze.

Canadian, Sena Catterall won 3 WBSC Individual awards  - Most Stolen Bases (6), Most Runs Scored (9), and Best Defensive Player

MLB Wild Card Standings who has Clinched a spot for the post-season,
National League Division winners include the Brewers & Phillies. Dodgers are leading the West with 94 wins. Top NL Wild Card contenders include: Padres, Mets, Diamondbacks. The Atlanta Braves nipping away with 1 game back behind the D-backs

American League Division winners include the Astros & Guardians with the Yankees as the likely AL East division champs.  The Baltimore Orioles have clenched a playoff spot with the Tigers, Royals and maybe the Twins & Royals as potential playoff teams.
Cinderella Stories?  - The Tigers are looking good and what about those Mets
X-Rays still likely in contention from the Brewers, Matt Arnold, Willie Adames & Jake Bauers, Tobias Meyers, Hobie Milner & Tyler Black
What will 2025 look hold for the Catching position

Logan Driscoll’s potential for the future  - 

A look back at past catchers & injuries with Wilson Ramos, Travis d’Arnaud & Mike Zunino

Kenny Piper has a lot of power and gets a lot of key hits in clutch situations

Dominic Keegan  - could he become an option – maybe starting at AAA for 2025

How will Catcher’s framing skills be impacted by an electronic strike zone

Maybe the catcher will become a 2nd DH position

Pitchcom, collisions at the plate, electronic strike zones may change catching position to a Utility Player

Shohei Ohtani – can a DH Offense only player be a MVP winner. Will the 50 home runs / 50 stolen bases be enough for Ohtani to win the MVP.

Even Babe Ruth could not overcome what Ohtani has been achieving

Who could be other AL MVP considerations – Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr., Gunnar Henderson

“The Ohtani” award

Ohtani will want to return to the mound.

Thanks to the Rays Minor Leaguers including the Bowling Green Hot Rods 

Build MLB popularity by putting all team levels under 1 roof 

Australian Baseball League

A gift the Rays with a 6-man rotation

Mat would like to see a real team leader on the team and recommend Pete Alonso. What a difference it would make for the Rays’s franchise.

Arizona Fall League will see Xavier Isaac & Tre Morgan from the Rays

All-American Women’s Baseball Classic being held in Durham, October 11-13

Several of the players will be from the WBSC women baseball champions will be there to play
 You can find Mat on Twitter x.com @Mat_Germain_   

Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music “Rocking Forward"