Tampa Bay Rays, MLB All Star Game, the Draft, New Owner & Thank you Sue

• All-Star game
• Junior Caminero came in 2nd to Cal Raleigh in Home Run Derby
• 2025 All Star game was entertaining 
• Clayton Kershaw mic’ed up on the mound
• Let’s mic up the 3rd & 1st base coaches for every game
• 3 Rays at the game, Drew Rasmussen, Jonathan Aranda & Junior Caminero
• Rasmussen history of 3x arm injuries & he continues to play a great game
• ABS system with Tarik Skubal pitching to Manny Machado
• How will we see ABS being used in the future 
• The last taboo & MLB rule crossing may be the ABS,  Is this the last major rule change that we can expect?
• Rays new home – Tampa Councilman says Darryl Shaw is open to building in Ybor
• Second hand news – $1.7 billion 
• Where do the Yankees land if the Rays take over George Steinbrenner Field
• Rule 52 – Proximity of team locations with Yankees Single A & Tampa Bay Rays
• Tip of the cap to Rays’ Stuart Sternberg on working with the community over the years
• Stu’s a genius at building a front office that others owners have tried to replicate
• Pittsburgh Pirate fans would love to have Stu as their owner
• Stu brought youth into the Rays with Grit & Glow 
• The Rays were credited with getting one of the top 3 draft results
• Rays have used a very specific approach to the draft - Start with Heavy hitters at the top and then onto the pitchers
• Expect to see more of the 2021 Rays Draft class begin to emerge in The Show
• Short term extensions on top talent like Drew Rasmussen 
• Draft picks have included Taitn Gray & Brendan Summerhill
• It’s a long path in baseball – Josh Lowe’s early struggles but evolved 
• Women in Baseball Week & Ryan Woodward upcoming features of Women 
• Sue Zipay of the AAGPBL passes away – a true force in woman’s baseball
• Sue continues to be the motivation for so many to grow the game of women in baseball much like the Caballo Blanco story – Ultra runner – “Born to Run” – legacy continues
• Prep for 4 games with Rays & Yankees

You can find Mat at @matgermain.bsky.social or reach Mark at  baseballbizondeck@gmail.com BaseballBiz on Deck, at iHeart Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and at www.baseballbizOnDeck.com 

Special Thanks to Scott Holmes for the music Stomps & Claps

Transcript

303 Tampa Bay Rays_BaseballBiz On Deck

[00:00:00] Mark Corbett: Welcome to BaseballBiz On Deck. I am Mark Corbett, and once again, I am here with Mr. Mat Germain. How you doing Mr. Mat? 

[00:00:11] Mat Germain: I'm just an allstar. That's, that's basically where I sit right now, right? The Allstar break is upon us, and all of us are supposed to be breaking, uh, you know, into a, a lull of the summer.

[00:00:23] But, uh, I think everybody's enjoying his breath of, you know, breathe in, breathe out, see where we stand, and, and move on from there. 

[00:00:32] Mark Corbett: Well, I have enjoyed the heck out of it. What I did see of it, I mean the, to see Junior Caminero do so well with the All-Star Home Run Derby. My gosh. You know, he went there, he said he was gonna go and have fun.

[00:00:46] Not that he wouldn't try to win this, but it wasn't like the aspiration, I think the experience is what he was looking for. But man, he, he did pretty d on good. I mean, was it, was it Cal Raleigh who actually, uh, won, I think.

[00:00:57] Mat Germain: Hmm. The, basically, the way I [00:01:00] put it on, uh, blue Sky was Junior Caminero has six years to hit home runs like Cal Raleigh, right?

[00:01:07] He's got six years to catch up to that. , So when you're looking at it from that point of view, like that's just a really impressive show by, uh, by Junior Caminero. 

[00:01:18] Mark Corbett: You know, then I, I, it's, it's great to see him there. Like you said, the future is bright for him. I couldn't help but watch Pete Alonso being a Tampa guy, you know, he's went to Plant High here and I hated that he was playing for the national team, beating the well.

[00:01:35] Putting three up on the board. Basically he was hit that home run and brought what, three RBII think. Yeah. Two brought in, I think two other people out on base. So he put three of the six runs up, you could say, for the national team. And I was looking, he has been of the last seven years that he's been an MLB, well, five of those years he's been an all-star.[00:02:00] 

[00:02:00] The first year, he was rookie of the year. Then there's two years he wasn't selected, and then the four. Since then, he's been selected as an all-star and he, he proved a reason to be there. I'll say that much for him. 

[00:02:13] Mat Germain: Surprisingly, the game was actually okay, like I, I thought, I really enjoyed the, the pace of it and the, , the little peaks here and there of, of the talents that are on the field.

[00:02:24] Nobody pushed, pedal the metal by any means, but I just mean like, it, it actually was a decent baseball game. It wasn't a blowout, it wasn't a. 17 to 14 game, like it was what, seven, six, I think it was the final score. So, you know, the, the guys actually put on a good show, like if people went there to that game.

[00:02:46] They felt like they got their money's worth with what they paid. And uh, and they got to see a lot of cool moments. There was the, the one where they had Clayton Kershaw actually talking to the guys in the broadcast booth as he's pitching and [00:03:00] supposed to saying, throw him the splitter. He goes, I don't throw a splitter.

[00:03:06] Mark Corbett: You know, and that's the insane that makes the, the game fun. But like you said, it was still competitive. I mean, the score six to six at the end of the ninth and, and they go into a swing off to actually see who's gonna win the game. And so that's the part that makes it silly and fun, but. One thing. Well, Kershaw Yeah.

[00:03:26] I love the back and forth with, with them out there. You know, when they try to do the mic up of the players, you know, Matt, during the regular season, sometimes it just eats right through me. 'cause I, I figure the, the player's concentration is paramount to what's happening in the game and, but during this game, sure.

[00:03:44] Go ahead, mic 'em all up. 

[00:03:47] Mat Germain: I think there should be a rule where it's miking up the people that are in the dugout. Right. But without putting 'em in danger as well. 'cause they're not paying attention or anything. Yeah. But, uh, but I think it should be limited to that on the field. I mean, if [00:04:00] you want to give it to the first base coach or the third base coach, which I think would be interesting as well, but.

[00:04:05] You're right. Like there's a lot of things that can happen on the field pretty quickly, and just that one misstep or that one lag can mean a lot to that player or that play. So the, the thing is, with baseball though, it's 162 games. A lot of people don't mind the little misses and, and everything else.

[00:04:23] That's why they tolerated umpires all this time. Right. 

[00:04:27] Mark Corbett: Well, isn't that the truth? Well, and oh. 

[00:04:32] Mat Germain: I took a swipe. I'm sorry, I thought 

[00:04:34] Mark Corbett: No, no, no, no. We, you know, it's, it's, uh. It's been nice though to watch this game and to see three of the Rays actually participating in it. Seeing Drew, and I know they didn't put up any runs while he was up there.

[00:04:48] I don't, I don't necessarily know if he struck anybody out, but I think that there was no runs, no walks on him and see. Aranda, I think, think he had a [00:05:00] hit. I'm not sure he had a run and I believe a cam and Arrow. Did as well. 

[00:05:04] Mat Germain: Just think like I, I want to go back to Drew. So here's a guy that's had how many surgeries?

[00:05:10] Three. Yes. Think about what that means to him. Like, yes. He has a small, you know, upgraded deal with the Rays that'll see him get paid, you know, a few million. So at least if he does have another incident and it does end his career as a pitcher, then at least he'll, he'll have that money to back him up.

[00:05:30] But this experience to go from, you know, all the troubles and tribulations that he's had all the way through, to finally get that kind of recognition, to be in an all-star game, like I just love to see that. And I'm really happy for Drew. I know he works his tail off regardless of what injuries come up.

[00:05:48] So, you know. Kudos to him, and I'm really happy. And the same thing goes for rda. You're right, like Aranda is nice to. I, I've watched him very closely, all the [00:06:00] way up through, and I always thought he was an underrated prospect as he was coming up. And so to see him finally, like a lot of teams after last year could have given up on Aranda and not given them the opportunity to actually, you know, do what he can do.

[00:06:14] Especially when you have the depth of first basement that the Rays had. They could have just used the Yandy and you know, used Brandon Lowe at short. DH and not really use the Aranda, the, to maximize his bat, but instead they gave him that opportunity and, and he gets to run with it and ends up in the Allstar game.

[00:06:31] So they, as much as we gripe about who's in the Allstar game and who isn't, I'm really happy to see those two in the Allstar game, especially. 

[00:06:41] Mark Corbett: It was great to see a lot of the young folks out there as well. You know, one thing we got to see in the All-Star game that you probably could have seen in spring training, but you won't see the rest of this season.

[00:06:56] Pardon me? And that was Terry Kubel pitching to [00:07:00] Manny Machado and Tap, tap on the top of that cap. What is that? Oh, that's right. That's the a BS system. First time ever Major league baseball season that, that's been put into play. Pardon me. And that was just, I think people were ready to fall over to laughing just 'cause it was so unique and new to see it happen.

[00:07:22] And that that first challenge, if you will, was actually, whoops. Guess what? The, um, didn't get this one right. 

[00:07:30] Mat Germain: Well, the scary part that I think people are understating in a lot of ways is that it's so successful in AA that the players get it right so much of the time that that it's, it's almost like, okay, well if the triple A folk are getting it right, that often major league players, some like the best in the game, are gonna be calling it out.

[00:07:52] Now. It'll be really interesting to see. You know, their success rates over time. So we get the first year, the second year, the third [00:08:00] year, but eventually you're gonna see some sort of trend and, and you know, are they gonna start rating players on how well they can get those calls? Right? 

[00:08:10] Mark Corbett: Well, you know, I could see them.

[00:08:12] I mean, who knows. I wound up being a dag on analytic before it's all said and done. And think about this though, is you have what, two challenges in a game and. I guess you're, if you lose it, if you're wrong, it's the same thing here. I guess you've got two of those in the game as far as being able to challenge a, b, s, so you can't just continue on and on and on.

[00:08:36] And question. Can you imagine if they did have it like that? If could challenge everything and you would, uh, my gosh. I don't know. It'll be interesting to see how it measures up any kind of assessment on an umpire too from, uh, the BS system. I'd like to find a little bit more about how that's working in AAA as far as what they're doing with that information above and beyond [00:09:00] actually going on the field.

[00:09:02] Mat Germain: It'll be interesting to see the team strategies because you know, you're almost forced to outlaw anybody using it on the first pitch, second pitch, even third pitch of a net bat, like unless you're up two strikes and the third ones happens to be a strike, then really. Like you're just doing it for once.

[00:09:21] You have like a two, two count, a three, two count, those kinds of things, and you, and you get that, you know, one pitch that is, is really going astray. Um, that's when usually I think you'll make that call. So it'll be interesting to see, you know, players that use it at the wrong time, they're gonna get raked over the coals by people.

[00:09:41] And so it's gonna become a, a talking topic. Um. That we haven't had to deal with before in the past. So it'll be a lot, a pretty interesting scenario of Do you think it's the last major change when it comes to the on field stuff that we're. We're [00:10:00] crossing over the last taboo, basically, where all the unspoken rules of this, that, the other thing.

[00:10:07] Right. And we've broken most of them to, uh, to this point. Um, we've even made the basis bigger for crying out loud. Yeah. To be basically easier. So is this the last one? 

[00:10:21] Mark Corbett: I have to believe it will be for some time. I mean, unless there's. Only thing I could see, maybe some sort of safety issue. Uh, I was, I mean, I, I keep thinking a hundred biggie the other day in the dugout.

[00:10:35] Well, it's been a few weeks now and it's not really a rule, but what other changes might be made? Uh, would, would we do anything with the depth of the field looking for any uniformity and, no, I, I think with what you've got there, probably it's gonna be the last one for a long time. I think you're right. 

[00:10:56] Mat Germain: I think the only other one I could see is like this whole torpedo bat [00:11:00] issue.

[00:11:00] You know, depending on how crazy it gets, how much they push the limits, y yada yada, yada. I could see something happening with that. But yeah, I think this is the last, uh, major issue that they'll tackle. I, I am curious to find out, like the Baltimore Orioles keep messing around with their fences the way that they are.

[00:11:20] Like it basically turned it into Lego. Yeah. Doing and redoing it. Like there's gotta be some sort of rule where if you change the fence, it's a 10 year period, right? You keep it for 10 years, you want to change it up to 10 years, that's fine. But at least then we have some form of measured approach to it instead of yearly.

[00:11:42] Mark Corbett: Yeah. You know, you, you bring up. The changes like Lego and I, I suddenly have had this image of like Donkey Kong trying to see, you know, with moving the one level down to the next level and everything else. And, and is that what they're going to, that's what they need to do. They need to have an AI [00:12:00] system set up that can actually contract or push back out during the game at different points and.

[00:12:09] Maybe we need to tie it in with a fan contest that a fan gets to, to select for the day what the measurements of the field be, and they can be pushed in and out. I don't know. Heresy. Heresy. 

[00:12:23] Mat Germain: Here's an idea. So we get into extra innings. The fences come down five feet, and then they come in 10 feet. Just to make it easier for people to hit home runs.

[00:12:37] Right. 

[00:12:38] Mark Corbett: That is so, that has a solid chance, man. I like that one. 

[00:12:41] Mat Germain: There you go. I like that you're changing the game. One, one rule at a time. 

[00:12:47] Mark Corbett: Well, do you wanna talk draft or you wanna talk Rays? 

[00:12:51] Mat Germain: Uh, we could do either or. Um, I do think that, uh, that, that there's good things to talk about in both. Let's do the Rays [00:13:00] first just to get that one out of the way.

[00:13:02] Mark Corbett: Yeah. Wow. I mean, we're looking at, I read the article in The Athletic on Monday. I saw Craig Ter had said something about it as well, and I see that there are naming a, that there's not an unnamed source that says this deal is going down. This $1.7 billion deal is gonna go down with St. Stu and the gentleman from Jacksonville, and I'm saying.

[00:13:24] Okay. Yeah, I'm hearing the soap opera music in the background. Start rolling. It's like, geez, you know? And then people start coming up to me the next day or so, I say, Hey Mark, what's really, don't talk. You know me? Don't talk to me. Don't talk to me. It's not done. Yeah. , You see this happening in the media all the time.

[00:13:42] So one place cited an unnamed source and suddenly everybody's picking it up and saying, Hey, guess what's happening? And as it was said in the athletic, but the athletic has said, just an unnamed source. And I just get, wait till you got something, get some real meat. But in the meantime, they [00:14:00] got Ken Hagan, the councilman from in Tampa, and he's talking about it.

[00:14:03] Of course he was talking about it three weeks ago too, when we thought it had it all worked out. And he's even saying that, uh, I think Darryl Shaw, the developer, is reconsidering about having that woman's uh, uh, stadium down here for the soccer and maybe that would be the place for the Rays. She, I'm dizzy, brother.

[00:14:22] I'm absolutely dizzy. 

[00:14:24] Mat Germain: So here the, there's a couple of considerations. Like, you're right, I, I will not believe it until it actually happens. And my question would be why is it taking so long? Like it doesn't take this long to have lawyers draw things up. Right? I get the, the polies. May put certain wrinkles, like especially with the renovations and the storm and where they're gonna play.

[00:14:47] Do they continue? Maybe there's a negotiation time with St. Pete to get out of that lease a hundred percent and just say, stop. Or the renovations, we don't want it. Like whatever is needs to happen on that front, that could be the reason [00:15:00] for the delay. Right. And, and. To that point, I give it a lot of credit, uh, because it can't be easy sitting in that room with that, you know, the, the St Pete, uh, hierarchy that did all they could do to bend over backwards for everyone and then end up, you know, on the salty side of it.

[00:15:20] But the other side of that, that I kept thinking is, okay. So are they also negotiating how everything is going to play out with Al Lang, the redevelopment of the area, what's gonna go in instead? Because if Stu Sternberg has $1.7 billion to spend and the rowdies. There's an opportunity there for them to build a stadium that is state of the art, you know, with part of that funding, whether it be in Central St.

[00:15:53] Pete or elsewhere. So let's play this out. So let's say the rays move to Tampa, which it seems likely, like you said, [00:16:00] because of a lot of different ingredients, then the Yankees need to be bought out of their affiliate. Right? Right. So if you give them a lang. And then the rowdy's moved to Central St. Pete and build a stadium there for the rowdy's.

[00:16:17] Everybody's covered and the rays just have to use the steinbrenner field as a, a plus facility. 

[00:16:26] Mark Corbett: Mm-hmm. 

[00:16:28] Mat Germain: Arts to that mark. So, yeah, say 

[00:16:31] Mark Corbett: that again please. 

[00:16:32] Mat Germain: There's a lot of parts to that, like it's, it's. A lot of hearsay, a lot of possibilities, but it's one scenario that would point to why it's such a long, convoluted process.

[00:16:46] Mark Corbett: Well, here's a question to put on top of that. The complexity of that also is that it's not just an owner wanting to buy the team and he gets to do what he wants to do with it. Pardon me? There are obligations [00:17:00] like you're pointing out with uh, St. Pete and the Trop, and then even if everybody gets on board and has a working, working relationship there, then you still have.

[00:17:10] I can't remember, like 25 or 28 of the teams have to agree upon this change. So that's another thing right there. So there's a dependency there. And I liked what you brought into the whole equation. I saw you put on earlier today about still giving the Rays of presence in St. Pete, you know, with the spring training, but there are still a lot of moving parts, even when the.

[00:17:39] If everybody says, yes, we're done. It's not going to happen immediately. So I see them still. I don't know if they'll be at, I don't know if they're going to be at Steinbrenner Field for a while, or if they're actually gonna try to use the Trop, you know, during the interim. But what will it take to get Steinbrenner Stadium as far as a location, [00:18:00] or we're just gonna have to rent it each year for the next two or three years until we get something built again.

[00:18:06] Mat Germain: So there, there is like an article on Dre's Bay that points out why, uh, I think it's called Rule 52, the Proximity Rule. Um, which means that historically what has happened in Miami, it was the same thing and, and a couple of other locations where they essentially bought out whatever affiliate was there.

[00:18:29] So they paid the price that was determined by formula that they use. Which would be substantial, but it would be more than worth it and, and I know some people came back and said, oh, it might not be worth it, blah, blah. What does it mean if it's just 10 miles away? Ask the Tampa fans that aren't going to see the Rays.

[00:18:48] That's that's the significance. Yes. It would be a generational change to the population of Tampa to be able to get access to the Rayss and not have the option to go to the [00:19:00] Yankees affiliate. It is an actual. Mental shift in, in that population that will grow up now with, with, you know, kids and kids and their kids and their kids all the way up to, to finally build some sort of long-term, you know, pride, pride in the franchise in Tampa, which is what needs to happen.

[00:19:22] And it needs to, it's okay that spring training takes place in Florida. We all know that it's gonna build some sort of, you know, oddity. When it comes to fandom in the, in that state, it really does. And I get it because if you're near that, that's what you grew up with and then you're just gonna gravitate to it.

[00:19:38] Right? Um, there's a. There's a very intimate relationship that those fans have with players when they get to see them at spring training and they get to, you know, break bread with them in a way that in other sports, I don't think really happens. It's the uniqueness of baseball, right? It's the one opportunity that they get to do that.

[00:19:58] So that's why it's [00:20:00] so important because if you're a kid in Tampa and you're rubbing shoulders in spring training with all those Yankee players. Well, guess what? You're gonna become a fan of the Yankees regardless of whether or not the rays are actually from Tampa. 

[00:20:13] Mark Corbett: Oh, yeah. 

[00:20:13] Mat Germain: So it needs to happen, mark. It needs to happen where the rays end up in Tampa.

[00:20:18] The Yankees move that affiliate somewhere. Now I'm saying St. Pete and, or like whether in Central St. Pete or in uh, Al Lang. I think those are two options that will not hurt the rays in the same way that having them still at Steinbrenner Field would. 

[00:20:37] Mark Corbett: Yeah, there's just gotta move around some of these chess pieces.

[00:20:39] And I do like the idea, pardon me, I do realize I should say the idea of a, uh, the location and having to move because of agreements with you can be within what's, what is the distance? I think it's 15 miles. 15 miles, yeah. Yeah. That I can't [00:21:00] imagine that the MLB couldn't make this happen. It's, there's too much value here.

[00:21:05] There's too much possibility, and I can cannot see Stu not moving forward with this. And certainly the new ownership will wanna move forward with it, but we'll see what comes from that. So here's 

[00:21:17] Mat Germain: the other complication with it right now is the, the trade deadline is less than two weeks away. Who pays the bill for anybody that's brought aboard.

[00:21:28] Right? Mm-hmm. Who decides what bill's tolerable? It isn't. Can Stu just go into spending spree now? 

[00:21:35] Mark Corbett: Oh my gosh. No, I, I'm sure he won't do anything like that.

[00:21:42] It's, uh, it would go against him, especially out here. He wants to own a, keep some, maybe some percentage of the Rays. Uh. Some sentimental piece, like a FFO medal or something like that, I don't know. But, um, 

[00:21:56] Mat Germain: depends on whether or not he wants to jump in on any of the expansions [00:22:00] once they get announced.

[00:22:01] Yeah. And also the, I think the other delay between now and September that could be happening as well is dealing with the whole Wander Franco contract, geez, is another complication. Right. So there's a lot of checks and balances that have to be put in place to account for, for things. But to be honest, mark, like if, if the reports are true and he's getting $1.7 billion, like everybody needs to tip their cap to him for having done the whole song and dance between, what is it, 2004 to now?

[00:22:36] What is that? A 20 year period for 1.7 billion. That's a lot of, Wiley business savvy. 

[00:22:44] Mark Corbett: Oh, there's, there's no doubt about that. If, if nothing else. We know the stew gets out the measuring stick and fi figures it out as best he can. You wouldn't be from where he was to what he looks like he's gonna get, uh, if he wasn't a savvy businessman.

[00:22:59] And you know, [00:23:00] I, it bothers me. I see some people saying things like, well, you know, I, we, we'll get an owner here. Who actually cares about the community, the Rays, do a lot of things for the community. Okay, now. Do you think they should do more? Maybe. Who knows, but I've always felt like they've been involved in the community.

[00:23:16] They're, they've, they've done things, whether it's through charities, whether it's drives, whether it's different activities, and so whatever else you wanna say about Stu Sternberg. I think you have to give a tip of the hat for that too. 

[00:23:29] Mat Germain: He's brought like pride. In so many ways, the rays are the model franchise in Major League baseball, literally in terms of building a winner.

[00:23:42] Mark Corbett: Mm-hmm. Right. 

[00:23:43] Mat Germain: That literally. So just that in itself, forget everything else. Forget all the noise, all the budgets, everything else, everybody wishes they could operate as well as the Rays when it comes to gathering talent in whatever way, shape, or form that is. Nobody [00:24:00] else has hired front offices as consistently as Stu Sternberg that are as successful as the Rays.

[00:24:06] Nobody. Yep. Like it's just a fact. Like they, his p his hires get poached over and over and over again. Yeah. And they get used in some of the most prominent franchises in Major League baseball. He is a genius. At building a front office. That is where he's made, I think, the biggest impact in baseball. And he's responsible for having changed, I don't know, a half dozen to a half dozen rules.

[00:24:36] Like, you know, when you're pushing the limits of that front. I'm sorry, but that means that you're, you're enabling your franchise to operate at the maximum capacity Pittsburgh fans would. Would drop everything to have Stu Sternberg as their owner. They would, they would roll out the red carpet for Bob and kick him down that red carpet all the way down [00:25:00] to the curb and say, Stu, please take over our franchise.

[00:25:04] We'll take you, we'll sign a contract with you for 50 years as long as you do what you did in Tampa, like so. I will say the Rays fans have been spoiled by Stu. I have no idea what this new ownership is going to bring. I am a huge fan of how he operated the team itself. How he did the public affairs aspects is a completely different thing.

[00:25:29] But like you said, in terms of a social aspect, he treated everybody with respect, except for the fans themselves threatening to tear away half of their franchise. Right. And put it in Montreal or do this like, yes, I get that. But I mean, in terms of community, in terms of, you know, whether you're Greek, Canadian.

[00:25:48] Uh, L-G-B-T-Q, uh, Cuban, Spanish, it doesn't matter. You're respected by the Rays and you're welcome with the Rays. And to me, that's definitely worth more overall than, [00:26:00] uh, than what a lot of franchise are showing. 

[00:26:02] Mark Corbett: Yeah. Yeah. But it is kind of funny when you, you look at it though, and you talk about the depth of what he gives there and that.

[00:26:10] But when it actually goes directly to the fans as far as giving us some love, man, it, it is never been quite as well as, as the other. But, um, and he brought 

[00:26:20] Mat Germain: the glow, he brought the gring glow. How do you like, that's the best, you know, uh, third, what is it called? City Connect jerseys. Yep. Yep. He brought that, he brought, like he brought youth into the Rayss by being able to be open to a concept that a lot of people would've turned their noses to.

[00:26:39] Like imagine the Yankees going that far, right. They never would. The Mets even, you know, Steve Cohen would've turned his nose to that. So, yeah, I think, you know, there's a lot of good from from it. And I think when you, when you look at the record itself, you know, since he's been on board to now being one of the top five franchises [00:27:00] in wins, um.

[00:27:03] I think if you asked him, he probably would say he, he wishes he could have pushed in a little bit harder to get that World Series win. 

[00:27:10] Mark Corbett: Yeah. Uh, 

[00:27:10] Mat Germain: just to get that one or two different ingredients that would've pushed him over the edge. But regardless, it's still like the Cubs went, we since 1908 to 2000, whatever, before they won one.

[00:27:23] So there's, there's been longer stretches I guess. 

[00:27:29] Mark Corbett: I, I, I know, uh, occasionally out the Tampa Baseball Museum, we've got a wall over there. When with, uh, Joe Maddon was talking, nine. He equals eight. Nine men would finish up to the eighth postseason, get the World Series, and since said, well, and then he left us.

[00:27:44] He got a World Series somewhere else. I said, man. Be happy for the ride. Be happy for the ride. I said, yeah, I'd love to see that happen. But I was, it's exciting times. I mean, and the whole Longoria, , story about getting to the [00:28:00] postseason. There's so many great stories that have come in and a lot of this, like I said, once Stu came in, things did change.

[00:28:06] . Still , they weren't spending any of the money in the first place. I, I think that's why some of the managers who came in before Maddon weren't able to do much. Not that a wallet was open, wide open, but there was a different mindset and I think there was somewhat be more being spent than in the past.

[00:28:22] So anyway, to do, I think he's gonna go out and do all kinds of crazy trading and all of that and spend the money everywhere before the new guy gets here. Eh? Probably not. 

[00:28:35] Mat Germain: He better sign those draft picks though, mark. 

[00:28:40] Mark Corbett: So let's talk about those, dude. What's, what do you, what can you tell me what's some of the great stuff you've seen with the draft?

[00:28:46] Mat Germain: So, one of the first things I'll say is that the rays were actually credited with having one of the top three drafts, you know, in the game by MLB Pipeline, by Jim Callas. Uh, even Baseball America threw a lot of pRays at them [00:29:00] and a lot of it has to do. With, and then we've talked about this before, where they have.

[00:29:07] They have a model that they use for the draft since 2021. They go very heavy with hitters at the top. Then they, they do a whole swath of, of pitching. So when you're looking at their first seven picks, uh, six of them were hitters, including the top five. So you've got two short stops, a outfielder. Um, or two outfielders, a, a catcher that will probably end up at first base or in left field.

[00:29:35] Um, that's what, you know, the cards are saying. Um, and then they also have, uh, another outfielder that's, uh, expected to be a right fielder. So if you are looking at it, and then I did this where I built the team. Using just the draft picks from this year. Um, you know, their top pick was a short stop. Their second pick was the center fielder.

[00:29:57] So you're talking about a team that [00:30:00] loves to shore up the middle of the field, right? The third pick was a, a guy that could probably shift to second or third. So still again, you're probably up the center of the field. Then you've got a left fielder, you've got a catcher. So now you've built the whole center of the field and you've got a right fielder with a heck of a gun on.

[00:30:19] So what does that do for the, the Rays pitching when they grow up with all this team, all of them are stellar defenders. So all of those pitchers that you get afterwards are going to benefit from constant, steady, you know, above average defense. And they're all gonna grow together, used to winning because defense and pitching wins in baseball as at any level.

[00:30:43] So it's a genius concept, but if you look at it from 2021. 20, 22, 22, 23, 20. It is the same exact model mark every single year. They use this model to a differing degree that they might select the picture a little bit [00:31:00] earlier. Um, but weighted wise, it is exactly the same mindset and it's amazing to see. And I think at some point in time, somebody else is gonna try to copy it because I think ne like this second half of this year.

[00:31:17] And onwards, you're going to start seeing the fruits of that labor. And because that 2021 class is arriving, and so you're gonna see Bob Seymour, you're gonna see Carson Williams, you're gonna see, uh, all the guys that, you know, carried those pictures up the ranks. And I did a, um, account of, uh. They had 20 picks or 21 picks in 2021.

[00:31:41] 13 of them are still active. Uh, 12 of those 13 are still with the rays. The only one that's not is Drew Baker. That's with the White Sox. And so. You're talking about? What is that? I'm doing quick math. So 60% of the draft [00:32:00] picks in that class are either in aa, aa, and then there's one that is Kyle Mondo, who's an MLB Mason.

[00:32:08] Montgomery is in aaa, but he's on a 40 man roster, right? So long story short, they, you know, they were able to. Have two guys already in MLB, one guy that's a top 20 prospect, another two that are expected to have major league roles for a long period of time. So you're talking five out of 20. That is a really good percentage, right?

[00:32:33] Yeah. For, for most teams, that's something that's a good draft. Now, what is the question is what are their ceilings going to be? So how much of a star or how much of a, you know, career will they have? So we'll see. It's gonna be fun to watch, but the rays definitely, I think had a really good draft. And like I said, it's just about signing, uh, those players now.

[00:32:57] Mark Corbett: Yeah. You know, well, some of 'em wind up going to [00:33:00] college or they go do something else and wait, see what happens next year. I'm excited. I mean, I, I've seen some of these younger gentlemen, it's gonna be exciting future for the Rays, and my mind goes back to something you said earlier about how other teams learn to poach the front office of the Rays.

[00:33:16] So. You're talking about this whole strategy of how to select in the draft. I guess we might see more of that too slowly from the other teams. It might make it more competitive for them to be able to achieve what they want to because of that. 

[00:33:31] Mat Germain: Well, 'cause if you think of baseball, it's much, the risk is much higher to develop a pitcher than it is to develop a position player.

[00:33:41] Right. And if you're able to solidify your position players to the point where they're, they're cheap. Don't get injured much. Right? So Carson Williams is gonna be controllable by the Rays for six years as as their main shortstop. How much money are they saving as compared to a Francisco lender that they would've had to pay, right?

[00:33:58] As an example. [00:34:00] So now you free up that money to be able to focus that money on pitching short-term pitch. Right. You're not gonna go out and pay it a significant amount of money. So they signed Zach Littell to an extension. You know, they, they sign Shane McClanahan to an extension. They sign Drew Rasmussen to an extension.

[00:34:19] All small amounts and short term to minimize risk. So you're able to focus your money, especially if you're a franchise like Tampa in those areas. And then if you do have extra money, because you do have so many cheap players, you go out and spend a little bit more on a Danny Jansen or a Hassan Kim because you can free up the rest with all the other guys that you have coming through that are so cheap from the draft.

[00:34:43] So it's a genius concept and I, I really like the way they're doing it and I, what I especially like about this draft. Is they're very left-handed heavy when it comes to hitters. So the, the guy that they got, that's the, the best power hitter in the, [00:35:00] maybe in, in the draft, um, you know, is, is a switch hitter on top of it.

[00:35:04] Mm-hmm. Uh, and he's six foot five. He's a beast. Um, I think that he's gonna be somebody that's going to, he, he might have the highest ceiling of the entire group when it comes to impact that he could have at the plate. So Taitn Gray is his name, and, and he there, he's the guy they got in the third round. Uh, he is a high school guy, so again, there's a lot of time for him to grow into whatever he is gonna be.

[00:35:28] But if the Rays fans are looking for who's gonna arrive to the Rayss first, that's definitely, um, Brendan Summerhill, who's their, uh, CBA pick, uh, he's a, he's an outfielder that, you know, I think. He has all the tools to be like, uh, an all around player, like there's no weakness to his game, essentially.

[00:35:50] So he would be able to start maybe an A plus if they wanted to. They signed him early enough and then he would be able to arrive at MLB pretty quick, like you're talking? [00:36:00] No, maybe 2027. 

[00:36:02] Mark Corbett: Wow. Wow. 

[00:36:04] Mat Germain: So that helps, right? Like, and he, he's comparable to somebody. If the Rays wanted, like, know the Rays system, Aiden Smith is that kind of player, and he's the guy that they got from, uh, for Randy Arozarena from, uh, Seattle.

[00:36:18] Uh, and so when you're talking about five tools or four tools, if the hitting doesn't show up as as you expect, you know, they're, if you can play all three outfield positions and especially center field as a, at a plus level, then the rays will love you and, and they'll definitely, uh. Invest heavily in your future, 

[00:36:38] Mark Corbett: man.

[00:36:38] Oh man. The future. That's what we're looking at with the Rays. Whether we're talking about the draft, whether we're talking about the new ownership and the new location, we're going to be, there's just so much. I mean, yeah, I, I had that one image I put together of on a promotion with you had a crystal ball in front of you looking murky because as much as you can.

[00:36:59] [00:37:00] Fine through it. There is still this cloud, this mist of fog trying to come through. But Matt, you seem to have a, a, a fan that blows its way all through that. So ke keep sharing it brothers. Keep sharing it. 

[00:37:14] Mat Germain: Sounds good to me. I'd like to get an upgrade, but, uh, it's definitely not easy, but you go, you do, um, enjoy seeing the, uh, the ones that break through and, and, uh, you know, the path is so long for baseball players, like from the time they get drafted.

[00:37:32] Yeah. And they're all excited. Like, I still have a vivid memory of watching Josh Lowe get drafted as a third baseman, quote unquote, and, and you know, he looks so young and looks so fresh and like he's at the trop, he's getting his picture taken. You know, he, it is a whole. Uh, you know, lifetime ago now, it seems like because of, of all the things that have happened since, but you're, you're like, I remember the whole [00:38:00] path all the way up.

[00:38:00] Is he gonna be this, is he gonna be that? And whatever everybody was saying, and then he gets to aaa, everybody's down on him because he can't hit. And all the struggles that went through that. To the point where I'm like, you're like, no, the talent is there. He is gonna figure it out. Don't worry. It's coming through.

[00:38:15] And then boom, it happens. And you're like, see, I told you 

[00:38:19] Mark Corbett: it's good to, it's great to see that evolution, man. It, that's what another thing that keeps this game interesting. 

[00:38:25] Mat Germain: It is. Yeah. 

[00:38:26] Mark Corbett: Matt, I know Dixon, we talked so much about the Rays and the Allstar game and the draft, the ownership. There's something I'm working on right now is there's folks, it's called Women in , baseball Week, and they do it each year. , The whole idea is to spotlight different things going on with women in the game during that week.

[00:38:46] It doesn't have to be happening then, but spotlighting and trying to get a focus and a gentleman by the me of Ryan Woodward, who's been on the show before, is heading that up. I'm, I'm gonna have him on the show here, probably later this week. [00:39:00] So, um, keep your eyes out for that, that there'll be also, we have a show that went up just the other day and that is on, , with.

[00:39:09] Greta, Lang Henry, and that is where she's put together an organization called Level Op and doing some things with women there. The last thing I, I wanna say is a, a bit of sadness, a, a loss. There's a friend, a lady by the name of Zape, who was one of the All American girls professional Baseball League players.

[00:39:29] She was with the Rockford Peaches and while she was with the A-A-G-P-P. She also developed an all girls baseball and an all women's baseball tournament. And that's been going on for about three years. The last, the first couple years in Sarasota, and I guess it headed, uh, to Durham last year in this upcoming, but coming back to Sue, she, she was passed away 91 years of age Spitfire man.

[00:39:58] Spark plug [00:40:00] and she made things happen. I mean, I, I got to work with a little bit with her on that, uh, second year of the tournament and she ma she had an eye to make sure things were going on. And if somebody wasn't, she was sure to make sure to get 'em into a place where they needed to. But she is also the motivation for me, and I think a lot of others for women in baseball to, to make things happen.

[00:40:21] We can't stand still because of that. And if anything, you know her, uh, she motivate us. She has motivated us in life and she certainly has in her passing as well. So I did wanna bring those up, um, before we closed out the show today, Matt, and again, Sue is just a stellar individual man. 

[00:40:41] Mat Germain: So have you ever heard of Caballo Blanco?

[00:40:44] And I don't want to, it won't take very long. Um, oh, 

[00:40:47] Mark Corbett: what, what is that? 

[00:40:48] Mat Germain: He's an ultra runner who, um. Who went down to Mexico at some point and ended up following this tribe that was, you know, I say tribe, these [00:41:00] people that were living, you know, far away from everybody else in this canyon. And, and you know, they, they had a really hard time basically, but they were all super fit.

[00:41:10] Like they could run like the wind, they could, uh, there even with bare essential, uh, sandals on their feet. And that's how they ran was like very thin. And they could run like crazy. So he started running in, in that area. For whatever reason, he gravitated to it and he started this mar, um, ultra marathon where, uh.

[00:41:31] If the locals ran it, they would basically, and they finished, they got a certain amount of money or funding for food and whatnot, and all this stuff, you know, became a possibility for them. And they were, you know, poor. Uh, so they, they gravitated to it. And even like of all people of all, uh. Uh, you know, shapes and sizes from their communities came out and did it.

[00:41:56] And so a lot of ultra runners, including, uh, some of the best ones from the [00:42:00] US ended up going down there. And you'll find a story in, in, um, born To Run, which is a, a book that you can read that has, uh, ultra runners in there. So what he did basically was start this thing where Scott Jurich and a whole bunch of other people went down there and tried to run against them, and they ended up getting beat.

[00:42:18] By some of the people that were local. And so, you know, it just showed, and a lot of the things that they did was like the, their observed their diet. How much activity do they do every day? Yda, they had very, you know, different lifestyles completely cut off from most of the society. So, uh, you know, his, that marathon only grew after he passed.

[00:42:40] That's why I bring it up because it became sort of, uh. A bigger calling for people to go and support the cause, basically. And so now it's an even bigger thing and a lot of people go down there just to see what it's all about because they've read about it, they've seen it, you know, it ended up in a book and, and even though he ended up passing, they.[00:43:00] 

[00:43:01] The, the community still benefits a lot from it and is able to actually grow onto and build on his legacy. So hopefully that's what happens here is that, you know, that tournament that she started and, and all the movement that goes along with it grows, uh, based on the legacy of her and all her efforts.

[00:43:21] Mark Corbett: Wow. That's, that's a, a great way to. Go ahead and like said, establishing her legacy in setting the groundwork and actually the motivation for the rest of us to move forward. So that's a, that's a great story to, to kinda illustrate that. Thank you, Matt. I appreciate it, brother. No problem. All right, everybody wanna thank you again for joining us here today on Baseball Biz On Deck, and we look forward to seeing you guys next week.

[00:43:53] Matt, anything else we need to share with our boys and girls? 

[00:43:57] Mat Germain: Nope, just that at the end of the month, there's a four, uh, [00:44:00] game series against the Yankees, and I hope the Rays sweep 'em. s a.

[00:46:49] Extro guy: And just a reminder, if you enjoyed this show, go ahead like and subscribe to Baseball Biz on Deck. Also, you can find Matt at M-A-T-G-E-R-M-A-I-N dot B Sky Social.

[00:46:58] That's Matt at [00:47:00] M-A-T-G-R-M-B, sky Social or Market Baseball Biz on Deck at gmail com. You may also find Baseball Biz on Deck at iHeart Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and at Baseball Biz on Deck. Special thanks to Scott Holmes for the music.