Mat Germain & Mark Corbett review the Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training and get ready for the 2024 upcoming MLB season
Keep up to date with Mat’s tweets on X.com @Mat_Germain_
Thanks to Mat Germain for bringing the knowledge, wit and wisdom to the show. You can catch his commentary & advice on Twitter x.com @Mat_Germain_
Mark can be found on Twitter @TheBaseballBiz & at http://www.baseballbizondeck.com
Just remember to subscribe, follow and rate the show. Thank you.
Mat Germain & Mark Corbett review the Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training and get ready for the 2024 upcoming MLB season
Keep up to date with Mat’s tweets on X.com @Mat_Germain_
Thanks to Mat Germain for bringing the knowledge, wit and wisdom to the show. You can catch his commentary & advice on Twitter x.com @Mat_Germain_
Mark can be found on Twitter @TheBaseballBiz & at http://www.baseballbizondeck.com
Just remember to subscribe, follow and rate the show. Thank you.
Tampa Bay Rays - 224 BaseballBiz On Deck - Spring Training #RaysUp
[00:00:00] Mark Corbett: Welcome to BaseballBiz On Deck. I am Mark Corbett, your host. And with me today is my co host, Mr. Mat Germain, the man who is the detective when it comes to undercovering all the ugly truths in baseball and finding out the facts about what really makes a good game.
[00:00:25] Mark Corbett: Hey, Mat, how you doing today, my friend? I'm having a great time. How about you? I am just loving it, my brother. you know, I know you're up there in, in beautiful Canada and I, it has been interesting. I'm just going to kind of jump in here looking at a couple of guys who've gone up, you know, in the last year.
[00:00:43] Mark Corbett: So we, we saw KK go up there and then. From the Reds, Joey Votto, who's a Canadian native is, if I remember correctly, it's like, wow. it's, and did you, did you see what Joey did on this first at bat with the blue Jays the other day?
[00:01:03] Mat Germain: Yeah. Home run on the first pitch that he saw. And, I don't think he even, he believed that he kind of thought it was a double.
[00:01:10] Mat Germain: So, great to see Joey get, Get some love in Canada. And, you know, everybody's kind of hyped to see, you know, whether or not he can actually earn a spot on team, but it's a great story.
[00:01:23] Mark Corbett: I hope so. I know he's 40 years old, but I think it has got more spirit than a lot of folks in the game. So I really hope to see him do well, man.
[00:01:31] Mat Germain: Oh, you never wish him wrong for sure.
[00:01:33] Mark Corbett: No, no, no. You know, but we were talking before the show about Spring Training and I had the opportunities in St. Patrick's day to go see the play the pirates in Bradenton. That's always interesting. You know, being able to be that close to the team, being up.
[00:01:51] Mark Corbett: It's so much more personal, you know, you're good. You're able to see some of the main players, but in a, a Spring Training game, you don't expect to see the full top nine contingent up there in the batting row in the batting sequence. One can't speak in the batting lineup, but the, the thing of it is, You know, you get to see all these new guys.
[00:02:15] Mark Corbett: It's, it's so exciting. And, but Siri, okay, for that particular day, got to see Siri, got to see Brandon Lowe. Lau? Lowe! Lau (pronunciation). Yeah. The reason I say that is because they actually put up, Josh Lowe's photo up on the, on the board. Yeah. Yeah. Brandon Lowe. So that was kind of cool. And, you know, you see Isaac Paredes and Siri.Siri was out there and the crowd Spring Training crowd, Mat, as Siri does this wonderful hit, he's going first, he's head sick and he's thinking about third.
[00:02:54] Mark Corbett: And as he goes around the corner, this ball is coming in from the outfield and Siri just stops at second and waves his hand. No, no, no, no, no. The outfielder doesn’t throw it. And the fan behind me shouts, “Kiermaier would have gone on to third.”
[00:03:11] Mat Germain: He's got an arm.
[00:03:14] Mark Corbett: You gotta love them. Anyway, it was, it's a lot of fun and seeing all those guys out there and see the new names. And even today, I think seeing who was it? Zagara. a pitcher’s name. A name I'd never heard of. You dig deep Mat, I mean, I talked about you being the detective and you dig deep on a lot of these names and tell me about some of the ones that you're seeing possibly coming up.
[00:03:39] Mat Germain: well, I think everybody's kind of getting their eyes opened about a lot of different ways. I wouldn't, you know, prospects are, are. Arms, especially I think a lot of people are focused on the arms because the have some open spots. I guess we can say, but Jake Mangum is one that's been opening a lot, a lot of eyes because he's leading the in a lot of categories.
[00:04:01] Mat Germain: I think he's leading them in average. on base percentage OPS and stolen bases this Spring. So, when you talk about somebody that's making a statement in Spring, he's certainly getting, getting bad done. So whether or not he breaks camp with the Rays is, is, I don't want to say it's irrelevant. What, what he's done so far, Is going to leave a mark on on the coaching staff and kind of get them to say, what we needed another outfielder.
[00:04:31] Mat Germain: We need a switch hitter. somebody that can cover all three outfield spots. Well, he's your guy. some another one that's opening up a lot of eyes from today really is Manuel Rodriguez. I think, he's the kind of guy like some people might have been surprised. He was protected from the rule 5, but I wasn't.
[00:04:51] Mat Germain: I've seen him pitch for Durham. this guy is going to be a double play machine. He's going to miss a lot of bats. He just does everything really well. So when they let Andrew Kittredge go, I think they had him in mind as a, as somebody, along with the pronunciation of Phil Maton, you know, that's the, we were talking about that before the show.
[00:05:14] Mat Germain: both of those guys kind of give you that warm feeling that the are going to have some depth in the pen. So those are the, you know, Spring performances that are fun to watch. the infielders, the have, have brought in, you mentioned one before when we were talking, Jose Caballero, and he's going to inherit the shortstop position.
[00:05:34] Mat Germain: I'm really excited about what he can do. I know he's not making as much contact this Spring as you would expect, but, he's just electric. His speed is, there's a game this Spring where he didn't even. get a hit and he still managed somehow to steal two bases. So he's one of those guys that's gonna add some value to the bottom of the lineup.
[00:05:55] Mat Germain: and some of the, the pieces that they have upcoming that are trying their hardest to earn spots like Ruben Cardenas and, Austin Shenton and they're able to do those kinds of, highlight real things and get those big moments in Spring, but it's still tough to make it onto the Rays roster, especially with a lineup as tough as theirs.
[00:06:21] Mark Corbett: Well, let's talk about Caballero for a moment, because you're talking about the shortstop position and the shortstop position has been kind of interesting over the last few years. I mean, we had Adamas, And we had Franco, we then all this, everything's around him. We had, Taylor Walls, he was coming in and he was kind of doing second base and shortstop, I guess.
[00:06:44] Mark Corbett: second base, we've pretty much been solid with Brandon Lowe most of the time there. And correct me if I'm wrong on all these, but then kept saying short stuff, we're going to be so full with it, but then Walls is out, Franco, obviously, he's out, and then you say, well, guess what? We've got, we've got Carson Mead (did Mark mean Curtis Mead or Carson Williams.)
[00:07:03] Mark Corbett: And. He's done second. He's done starts up. And now, now we're moving him to third. It's, infield. I don't think Neander has a whole lot of trouble of having some talent. I think it's sometimes just where to put it.
[00:07:16] Mat Germain: Curtis Mead is, is actually a natural third baseman. And, he's, I've always said from the beginning that his future home long term is going to be.
[00:07:27] Mat Germain: either at second base or first base. second base, I don't know how his range is going to play at the MLB level. I'll have to see him play there more than I have. He's a little bit like Jonathan Aranda on that. front where you, you love having the bat there at second, but the defense might not always be, you know, optimal at the position, but they've dealt with that with Brendan Lau.
[00:07:49] Mat Germain: Anyway, that's the way they've always operated, you know, generally at second base. But the interesting thing about Jose Caballero is that he can play a mean second base, like really, really Much higher level than Curtis Mead or Jonathan Aranda. So when Carson Williams and ends up being ready and he's, you know, gold glove caliber shortstop with tons of power, then he inherits shortstop.
[00:08:13] Mat Germain: When he comes up to the Rays, then they can move Jose Caballero around wherever they need them. And to be honest, he's athletic enough and fast enough that you could see him cover the outfield sort of like what they did today with, Randy or Rosarena and test them in center field. I could see them making Jose Caballero a super utility role guy in the future, once, Carson Williams demands full playing time.
[00:08:38] Mark Corbett: Yeah, it's actually, I say Carson, I'd say Carson meet him at Curtis meet earlier. He was playing third today, but yeah, Carson Williams. I mean, this is it. We've got some great talent out there. And like you're saying, if they can move Caballero around with that talent, I mean, when I saw him, the St.
[00:08:54] Mark Corbett: Patrick's day, He would get that ball and he would make it move. He would make sure that it got over to first wherever needed to be quickly. And before the show, we were talking to you about him stealing basis. He was aggressive, being him aggressive. I mean, he, he adds a lot of excitement to the game out there.
[00:09:12] Mark Corbett: So I'm really curious to see him evolve as well.
[00:09:17] Mat Germain: Yeah, I think that the speed the are going to show this year, assuming guys hold up and we don't get too many Josh low type situations with the hip, they could test 200 stone bases this year if they really push the envelope, more likely it'll be somewhere between 170 and 190, but that's a lot of stone bases and it really keeps them in the games and winning some of those close ones, especially and that's, that's part of the moxie, right, is being able to When the tight ones and they're the ones that are going to keep your record healthy.
[00:09:49] Mark Corbett: Yeah. You know, long ago, I think it was with Chris Smith on the show a couple of years ago and somebody, well, they put these rules in place. You're going to see like Ricky Henderson, stolen base record, you know, kind of disappear. Eh, yeah, I get that, but it sure has made for an exciting season this past year.
[00:10:07] Mat Germain: Just wait for Chandler Simpson. When Chandler Simpson makes it to the , then you're going to see some records break. Yeah, that guy is lightning. It's incredible.
[00:10:17] Mark Corbett: Well, he is definitely now on my radar. Chandler Simpson. what? He wasn't on my radar. And it looks like he's just out joining the Rays.
[00:10:28] Mark Corbett: Jake Odorizzi.
[00:10:29] Mat Germain: Yeah. An old name, , it just popped up, I guess, in Spring Training with the Rays this past weekend. So I always liked Odo on the mound. So I'm really curious to see how he does there as well. I mean, we're still looking for, to hopefully get Boz and Rasmussen back. And I really was concerned about losing.
[00:10:55] Mark Corbett: As you pointed out, I think we probably thought that was a good idea.
[00:11:00] Mat Germain: It was at the time. I, I think there's, there's signs that Kittredge, I mean, if he has another hiccup, you know, it could be, you know, really diminishing what he can manage on the, on the mound. The cards will probably still get a, you know, a good season from him.
[00:11:17] Mat Germain: It's not diminishing his ability. it's more of saying the had a more assured and health, condition. Conscious, you know, people to take his spot for order. Is he? I remember, like, I've written him up so many times. I just he's not a flashy guy. He's not. He won't. He probably won't even get you more than 8K per 9.
[00:11:39] Mat Germain: right? I'm curious to see if they decide to use him behind somebody like Tyler Alexander and use them in a bulk role. I think that would be making optimum use of what he can do, especially innings wise. So he could probably chew up three, four innings in that role. and then hand it over to the pen.
[00:12:01] Mat Germain: I just think, knowing how probably willing he is to take in information now compared to what he was way back when, I think they could get a little bit more out of them than, than most people expect. Expect, but do they really need to? I don't know what Taj Bradley and Shane Baz coming back.
[00:12:21] Mat Germain: Eventually, Jeffrey Springs and Jurassic. They just, how they used Rich Hill when they acquired him not last year of the year before. It's the same kind of deal with Jacob Odorizzi. They need them to help out, you know, between now and june and then we'll see if he's able to stick around. But when they gave him up for Jermaine Palacios, way back in, in 2018, I didn't understand it.
[00:12:44] Mat Germain: I didn't see the value in Jermaine Palacios. He had two strong seasons with the twins afterwards, and I was a little bit frustrated that they didn't really, get, you know, a decent prospect from, for him at the time. Yeah,
[00:13:00] Mark Corbett: Yeah. I mean, the whole thing is d generally the Rays make. Great trades. And it just happened to be one of them that didn't pop.
[00:13:08] Mark Corbett: well, let's step back for a second, Mat, and take a look at the pitching for the Rays, and I've got a list here, but I want you to tell me, what, what makes sense here? I'm looking, I think you may even put this together. Zach Eflin, Savale. Zach Littell, Ryan Pepeo, and Taj Bradley. But Taj, Taj is injured right now at the moment, isn't he?
[00:13:31] Mat Germain: Right. So what they're looking at right now is a choice, that they have to make between, Jake, Waga, Wagaspak. Wow. I hate saying his name. I really do. I call him Wags. Keep it simple. Yeah, Jacob Lopez and Jake Odo And I think, you know, there's an outside chance that they, they bring up, Uwasawa if they're more comfortable with that option.
[00:13:59] Mat Germain: But those are the four guys that are essentially working out for a bulk role unless the decide to give it to like a pen day sort of thing with, Tyler Alexander and Chris Davinsky splitting, you know, that start, that just diminishes your, your pen a little bit for a couple of other games, right?
[00:14:20] Mat Germain: So I, I think, you know, it really it's between the two Jake's, the Jacob or the three Jake's and Jacob's. So you've got Jacob Lopez, Jacob Wag and, Jacob Rizzi. So, it's kind of interesting the way that it's turned out. I don't know when we're going to see Jake Odorizzi on the mound. we'll have to see whether or not they want to get a couple of outings in in triple a for other guys and use Jake right from the start, or if they go the opposite.
[00:14:52] Mat Germain: I think they're really comfortable with what they're seeing from Wag (Jacob Waguespack) and they, they pulled them out of the game today. They were going to put them in and 9th for some reason, maybe it was a mistake and they didn't really mean to and they took him right back out. I haven't heard anything about him being injured or anything.
[00:15:07] Mat Germain: So, hopefully that's the case and, You know, they've really liked what they've seen from him and the progression from what they're trying to do. So, hopefully he can stay healthy and not, you know, be one another notch in the belt sort of thing where the dial just keeps growing. Oh, Lord. Yes.
[00:15:27] Mark Corbett: You look at all the starting pitchers that will not be starting this, this season. I mean, whether it be Verlander, whether it be Cole, all these other people that you normally would think would be maybe their opening day will not. And
[00:15:47] Mat Germain: I don't want to hear any other team complain about it because they have a full rotation on IL and then the elite one at that you got McClanahan, Springs, Rasmussen and Bradley.
[00:15:59] Mat Germain: I mean, come on, that that's as if it's the same as if the Yankees had Cole and also Schmidt and, uh. Cortez on the IL. You take those away from the Yankees. Where are they?
The Rays are still able to have, I don't want to say they're going to be elite because I still don't know where Pepiot stands.
[00:16:22] Mat Germain: I'm kind of on the fence there as to how quickly they're getting him to where they want to. I get glimpses of what they're trying to do. And I don't think they've used this pitch mix the way they will in game during the season. so I'm holding out. Judgment basically, but I really love what I've seen from Zach Littell.
[00:16:41] Mat Germain: To me, him and Civale, when I look at the two and three across the AL East, I'm like, they're right there. They're either just ahead or just behind most of the other teams, in the AL East. So I'm comfortable with that. So really for the , it comes down to that fifth spot and how, how far Pepiot can take his game.
[00:17:04] Mark Corbett: So you don't see us necessarily investing in a. Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell.
[00:17:11] Mat Germain: Well, I don't think we need to be honest. I don't like Jeffrey Springs is going to return at some point. And to me, you know, you're going towards the playoffs. You have a fresh arm. I'm not saying he's going to dominate right from the start.
[00:17:23] Mat Germain: And that's, you know, it's not reasonable to expect that. But you have him and Rasmussen coming where you can juggle some things around. And you're better off waiting to see where people are in July and make your move then. They still have enough talent to do that. They have a ton of double A talent coming.
[00:17:42] Mat Germain: We saw Yoniel Courette come in this Spring and show really well as a young guy, right? We don't know what his season is going to look like and how quickly he'll be able to make it up. we have Ian Seymour. We have Logan Workman. We have a whole plethora of guys that could really make leaps and bounds, you know, through the first three, four months of the year.
[00:18:04] Mat Germain: So on top of that, look, we're like, we're seeing this Spring. There's a ton of pitchers that are going to get hurt. Why invest so heavily in them right now when you're going to end up stuck with them if they get hurt as well? so to me you're better off waiting until June or July and make your move They are comfortable right now.
[00:18:21] Mat Germain: I'm sure with three of their starters probably almost comfortable with four they have Taj Bradley and Shane Baz coming back probably in May sometime. Those are two huge talents You're not going to want to block them You're not going to want to shove Shane Baz in the sixth inning, right? Or, or keep him in AAA where you're taking opportunities from other people.
[00:18:43] Mat Germain: It just doesn't make any sense. There there's teams where it makes sense because you're not stuck, you know, with your, your moves afterwards, but for the , it just makes no sense. After they're in the new stadium, maybe, maybe, maybe let's qualify that one more time.
[00:18:58] Mark Corbett:. Say Mat, walk me through the infield this year.
[00:19:07] Mark Corbett: I mean, we talked about so many different people who could be at second and third or at shortstop. I mean, whether it be Junior Caminero, whether it be Caballero, whether it be, jeez, Mead, whether it be, oh,
[00:19:20] Mat Germain: you tell me brother. So many options like it. So you have the mainstays, right? The guys that are not going anywhere are Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda, and Isaac Paredes.
[00:19:34] Mat Germain: Aranda's case, it has a lot to do with Raley and Josh Lowe being gone, like for now, like until Josh Lowe comes back from his injury. So they need his left handed bat in the lineup big time. The amount of contact and between him and Yandy Diaz will drive pitchers nuts, in terms of driving up their pitch counts.
[00:19:53] Mat Germain: You add Isaac Paredes, who tends to be in the same kind of realm. And then all of a sudden you've got a really, you know, lengthened lineup. So the, the guys that are fighting for spots really are Ahmed Rosario, who has no options. So he's going to be on the roster. that he can shift around and play multiple positions, but really.
[00:20:12] Mat Germain: I don't think most teams are comfortable with him very much in the infield. He'll get spot starts, I think, at second base, and the rest of the time he'll be in the outfield. I don't think we'd want to see him at shortstop, even though he can play the position. There's a reason why teams kind of let him go afterwards.
[00:20:30] Mat Germain: It hasn't been pretty. And the Rays could work on it with him and maybe he improves and to the point where they're comfortable with it. So that's fine. But really, the big battle, in my opinion, is between Curtis Mead and Harold Ramirez because you also want to have, the, the bat, of, Richie Palacios on, on the bench if you can, because, like I said before, the left handed bats are lacking with the Rays.
[00:20:56] Mat Germain: so. If you're able to squeeze one in there by having a bench roll, you know, where you can actually get a little bit more value, out of Richie Palacios by using him in his optimal spots, then, you know, it makes more sense to have Curtis Mead begin the year possibly in AAA. And then have him come up later on when he's really hot and they can decide what to do with the rest of the roster, because between him, Brandon Lowe and Harold Ramirez, you do have a DH option or you put Yandy Diaz there.
[00:21:33] Mat Germain: But, you know, it's, it's one of those carrying two right-handed bats that can only really play first base and second base or left field in Harold's case if you're comfortable with that him out there. And I've heard he's a little bit better this year than he's been in the past. so. I just think, with Richie Palacios probably making the lineup and Jose Caballero being an automatic at shortstop, that that's your really tough decision is, is who gets dropped off the roster between Curtis Mead and Harold Ramirez.
[00:22:08] Mark Corbett: Yeah. And, you know, it's like all the players you want to personally loving them and you hate to see them go, but I got a feeling, you know, that Harold, you know, Harold endears himself to people, some of the things he does with charity and everything else to boot. And there's just something about that smile that he has.
[00:22:24] Mark Corbett: It's kind of a quiet smile that endears him to a lot of people. And Curtis is, you know, he's the new guy. He's coming up and I think that everybody will appreciate him. It's just like, you hate to see a beloved character or a player go. And I got a feeling Harold's going to be gone by the end of the year.
[00:22:44] Mat Germain: Yeah, well, we'll see the injuries have a tendency of sorting some of those decisions out, you know, it happens so often where you think there's a battle and then boof, one of them ends up injured and the decisions made. Yeah.
[00:22:59] Mark Corbett: And you make a good point too about sending some guys down to AAA and having them ready.
[00:23:05] Mark Corbett: I mean, they're kind of the just in case guys.
[00:23:07] Mat Germain: Yeah. If you look at Curtis Mead , for instance, right? Like he's going to be, if he goes down to AAA for a little bit, he gets to turn double plays with, with Carson Williams down there. And we know both of them are probably going to be long term mainstays in the middle of the raising field.
[00:23:25] Mat Germain: So why not have them build a rapport together? In AAA, they've never played together before, and get used to one another at second and at short, and then bring them up, you know, at similar times, a couple months apart, whatever it may be. But there's nothing wrong with Curtis Mead getting the, the bat going and the confidence.
[00:23:44] Mat Germain: You know, they did something similar with somebody else recently, or they did it with Wanda Franco, really, even, you know, they brought him up in June, it, it bought another year of control and, and he was better off for it. Like, his bat was lightning, you know, by the time he was into that part of the season and he's better able to handle it.
[00:24:06] Mat Germain: But I just think at that point, you're also going to have Taylor Walls coming off injury. Probably trying to take up a spot as well. So it's going to be very interesting to see the in season moves that make this year, because they have some returning players that are going to force their hand with a 40 man roster.
[00:24:27] Mark Corbett: Yeah. And like you said, the injuries and seeing some people come back, walls having to fight his way back in.
It's interesting because once again, talking about AAA, the Rays have brought up their Bulls manager. Michael Johns. I'm wondering what kind of strength will he have in relationship with some of these young players that are coming up into the system?
[00:24:55] Mark Corbett: Is there a way where he can help them with the transition simply because he's worked with them before?
[00:25:00] Mat Germain: It's huge. Like he knows Jonathan Aranda so well now, and even Josh Lowe and a lot of the other guys that have come through, like, you know, there's just going to be a comfort there of working with them.
[00:25:10] Mat Germain: Right? And also the guy they're putting up in AAA, which is Morgan Enzberg. He's been with the majority of these guys as well. So when they go down to AAA, they're going to get that, you know, high level managing there as well. So, cool. You're right, though, that relationship with the younger crowd for generally the ones that have been around is going to be important.
[00:25:34] Mat Germain: but they do have quite a few players that are coming from outside the organization as well. So you have, like, Jonny DeLuca, Richie Palacios, Jose Caballero, all the, what you would call the supporting cast. Guys, and I'm glad Rosario as well. That's 4 guys that weren't really part of the organization and then he's just going to have to build a rapport with them.
[00:25:55] Mat Germain: But the managers and coaches are so good at that at, you know. Being quick to adopt and build a relationship with guys and I think that's part of the strength of what they do you hear people leaving and they want to come back. They want it. You know, they. They relish the experience because they, they did so well with that support cast and with the information they provided them.
[00:26:22] Mark Corbett: well, who was it? I mean, there's a lot of players. I wondered if we'd ever see him come back. He is interested in seeing Odo, but looking at these young guys coming up or from other locations, rather than Jonny DeLuca and Rosario to look at now, is DeLuca coming in injured?
[00:26:37] Mat Germain: He's injured right now. Yeah. He'll probably be, I think he might be a mid May to late May return.
[00:26:43] Mat Germain: maybe even as much as June, depending on how long it takes to get that strength back in his hand. It's a broken hand for him.
[00:26:50] Mark Corbett: What do we expect from him?
[00:26:52] Mat Germain: I'm expecting big things. I actually like him more than Manuel Margot for, for the future. Right. I think he can play all three outfield spots.
[00:27:01] Mat Germain: He's very quick bat. you can, you know, put in a decent, Uh, at bad every time, which is what Manuel Margot strength was as well, and he plays hard every day. And so somebody with a high energy level, which I think the needed a little bit more, especially late in the season. They needed to get a little bit younger and fresher, to push themselves across the finish line a little bit more
[00:27:26] Mark Corbett: and Rosario
[00:27:28] Mat Germain: Rosario is just 1 of those guys that the bat is going to benefit the bench so much. He's part of the reason I think have the best bench in in all the at least by a good margin. Really? Like the Orioles could possibly have the higher bench, but I'm expecting some sophomore kind of setbacks a little bit in their lineup. but.
[00:27:51] Mat Germain: Because of the experience, the steady nature of the at bats that Ahmed Rosario is going to give you and the, you know, whether or not you have Curtis Mead 's elite bat or Harold Ramirez, it doesn't really matter. Kevin Cash has tools to use off the bench. You look at Aaron Boone's bench as an example of what he's going to have to work with and you've got somebody like Trent Grisham, which, you know, you're not going to replace anybody in your lineup for him, as Waldo Cabrera.
[00:28:18] Mat Germain: Yeah, he's a nice player. He's young, low average, not really high on base and you've got Austin Wells, which is your catcher, you know, he might be catching half the time. So, when he's not catching, then, you're, you're not really going to use Jose Trevino as, as your. You know, next option and they don't really know who's going to get the other spot right now.
[00:28:38] Mat Germain: They have, you know, Brandon Belt as as an option. But I think when you look at the strength of the right now, for the 2024 season, there's the bullpen. The overall defense, the lineup steadiness, especially at the top and the power that they might have now with Randy Arozarena, you know, looking really strong.
[00:29:00] Mat Germain: He sees kind of thicker, and the speed that they have. Those are the three things. You know, three mainstay things you can bank on the starting pitching. We're going to have to wait and see. And I think Kevin Cash is the perfect person that along with Kyle Snyder to have controlling that, because they're going to need to be creative all season long.
[00:29:21] Mat Germain: And it's nothing new to them. It's just status quo really. So that's why I, the are one of the few teams where I can look at and say the rotation on paper looks lackluster and I know it's going to be elite. Just because I know the way the operate and I have faith in, in their, scouting, the, the, the analytics, the, the advice they get, the management they get through the season and how they're able to plug and play guys, when needed.
[00:29:50] Mark Corbett: Well, as we know, not much could be said about 162 games from what we see. And, Spring Training, but everything that looks, when you look across everything with the here, it says strength. It says longevity. It says depth. And a lot of teams can't say that. I mean, just like you're talking about the Yankees and some of their top performers and money has not paid off for them.
[00:30:17] Mark Corbett: I was looking at the PECOTA standings here from Baseball Perspective. And they've got the Yankees leading the AL East with 92 wins Toronto with 88, the with 87. 4, but Baltimore with 86. 6 and Boston was 78. 2. Wins projected.
I want to look at it after 162 games and see what any of this looks like, but I cannot see the Yankees doing as well as they're hoping.
[00:30:48] Mat Germain: They're a fourth place team in the AL East. They're not even, they're not even the top place. I like the blue Jays more, especially with the Turner on board. I think, he'll settle down a lot of the. I don't, I don't know if it's an immaturity or kind of an awkwardness in their locker room and kind of, not taking the game as seriously as they should game after game after game and kind of getting sidetracked, but I think he'll bring that steady presence they need and Joey Votto as well if he makes it, but they're starting staff until Kevin Gausman falls off, which I, there's, there's smoke a little bit in his arm.
[00:31:24] Mat Germain: and until Chris Bassitt slows down, if they have those two, they're going to be a threat to be, you know, steady. And I, I think they have the best pen in the AL East. So, they're not going to go, you know, bonkers and get past the and Orioles and be a significant length ahead. Would I be shocked if they won the AL East?
[00:31:44] Mat Germain: Not at all. I think they're more of a third place team because I do think some of their pitching will fall off sometimes during the season and they, their depth is young and not really high innings levels. So as the season goes on, they're going to be tired. They're going to have ups and downs left and right.
[00:32:01] Mat Germain: So, yeah, I think they're more of a third place team. The, the Orioles, I still think are going to possibly win if, if Corbin Burnes can shake off the Spring rust. Right. And they settle out the rotation in the back end, but I think they might win the least and the will be right there with them.
[00:32:19] Mat Germain: It'll be like maybe one or two games difference. so that's my expectation so far. I could change in 10 days. I'm still waiting to see the next volume Ryan Pepiot start, and I would love to be able to make my predictions. Yeah. After his first In season start, but I know we don't get that shot So, I just think like you said before the Yankees predictions are just crazy I don't understand what people are watching.
[00:32:46] Mat Germain: I don't I know Soto and Judge is fear fearsome But you have LeMahieu and Rizzo and Stanton weighing down that lineup and they are not elite players anymore They are league average so if you are Looking at those three and then the young guys that the have in the bullpen It's awesome. I like Volpe. He's got the tools to do really good things, but he can't carry the rest of the lineup on his own.
[00:33:10] Mat Germain: They need more guys, especially with how banged up they end up getting. And Aaron Judge has already got a core issue and a toe issue before we even start the season. So eventually it's going to wind up being Soto alone. Just like it was Judge alone before that.
[00:33:26] Mark Corbett: Yeah.
[00:33:27] Mat Germain: I don't get it. I just don't.
[00:33:30] Mark Corbett: No, and I mean, this goes to the heart of what you and I were talking about before the show, sportscasters, a lot of them work on either the East Coast or the West Coast, and they get familiar with the teams that are around there.
[00:33:43] Mark Corbett: If they're working out of a big hub like New York and the Boston area, not surprisingly, they're going to learn more about those teams. And. We played a bit, I'll play this bit now is, earlier you and I heard it and it's where, an MLB guy from his talk, one of the MLB folks is doing the reviews during the Spring Training and they're doing 30 teams in 15 days and they talk about the Rays and I'll play this for you right now
(MLB 30 in 15 segment detailing that Diaz & Paredes talent would be more recognized if they were in another market)
[00:34:16] Mark Corbett: . So if Yand played somebody else, he'd get some attention. That's what these MLB guys arye saying, man. I got to tell you, Mat, I don't know, I guess there's a little bit of ugly truth to it, but part of it goes back to what I don't know, self-fulfilling prophecy may be the wrong way to put it, but if you're not giving attention, except to those teams like the Dodgers and such on the West Coast that are really doing well, or you're looking at the team that you've historically expected to do great, If you haven't been paying attention to what's happened in the last few years, shame on you being the Yankees and the New York.
[00:34:56] Mark Corbett: It's there's a certain myopia, I believe that goes on with some of these broadcasters.
[00:35:02] Mat Germain: Absolutely. And when you think about it, like Yandy Diaz is three years younger than DJ LeMahieu, three years younger, like, and he's doing way more than DJ LeMahieu ever has. DJ LeMahieu can only dream of a season like Yandy Diaz had last year, but you'll hear DJ LeMahieu being an elite player for the Yankees all day long.
[00:35:25] Mat Germain: You won't hear the same thing. Everybody will point to Yandy Diaz and say, Oh, we expect regression. Are you kidding me? If there's a guy who's more routine and steady as it goes, it's Yandy Diaz. He's the guy that I can bank on day in, day out the last two years that he's been the same exact guy in the lineup.
[00:35:44] Mat Germain: Every time he goes, shows up at the plate, his routine is down pat. Knows the zone. Controls it. Contact is always elite. I, I don't know. Like I, I had a conversation with somebody that's really well thought of about Yandy Diaz in his first place rank, his first base ranking, for fantasy purposes. And that was a I would take him in the top five to six first baseman, no doubt, because I know what I'm going to get.
[00:36:10] Mat Germain: I can forget about it afterwards and I know what I'm going to get. And if I have to trade him at the deadline, I get more fantasy value out of him doing that than I would drafting anybody else behind those guys. For a first baseman. So I think the are really lucky that he's there. I think he's showing Isak Paredes a lot of things and how to do, how to work, you know, counts and do things at the plate in the same steady mode.
[00:36:40] Mat Germain: And I think it's starting to rub off on Randy Arozarena as well. And when you look at the build that Randy has, maybe he's taking up the workout program that Yandy Diaz had in the off season, because man, he's, he's thick.
[00:36:55] Mark Corbett: Yeah. I saw that. I thought, okay, maybe, maybe it's just bigger uniform. He's wearing a baggy, but no, there, there was a thick body in there.
[00:37:01] Mark Corbett: It's like, Whoa, Whoa. We cross those arms and see it even more. So Randy- - - cheese and crackers, Oh my!
[00:37:08] Mat Germain: that we see like fly outs for Randy, where it was like maybe 10 feet from the fence. Right. And how many of those are going to go out this year? Because of that, it'll be interesting.
[00:37:17] Mark Corbett: it'll be fun to watch.
[00:37:19] Mark Corbett: That's for sure. My gosh. Speaking of fun to watch, are you in this NCAA basketball fan at all?
[00:37:27] Mat Germain: I always make a couple of brackets up just to see if I can throw darts blindly and, and land a few, but no, I, I can't, I don't have the. The time and basically to, to pay attention to it, but I get it. I get the hype.
[00:37:41] Mat Germain: I get the love of it. The tournament's great. The format is outstanding. I don't know how they do the rankings. I've heard, I was listening to the radio today and they were talking about how some of the teams may, may not have been the right ones to be in, but I don't know how that works, but, I do love the hype around it.
[00:37:59] Mat Germain: It's awesome.
[00:38:01] Mark Corbett: Oh, it is. Yeah. I was looking at, Dickie V, Dick Vitale, he is such a big Rays fan. You'll see him there. First you ever came, he can make, he's had some health issues, but he's, he's big, big Rays fan. I saw him post his NCAA projections today on Twitter. He had Kentucky up there, winning the whole shebang.
[00:38:16] Mark Corbett: I was like, well, yeah, it was kind of out there, but I like Dickie V. I'll, I'll, I'll put my little, 10 bracket. Maybe I'll throw them up there, but it'll be fun. I
[00:38:26] Mat Germain: love the Cinderella stories. I always gravitate to them. I don't know why I think that's the, to me, the, the March madness tournament is exactly why I'm, I'm like, open up the playoffs completely when it comes to major league baseball, when they expand, because you can't have Cinderella stories, if she's not invited to the ball, you know, she needs to be in there and then you have that Cinderella story and it's great.
[00:38:51] Mat Germain: Every time that you have one, people remember it.
[00:38:55] Mark Corbett: Yeah. It made for some interesting, World Series play. I mean, coming all the way up and postseason was just exciting as could be. So that's, that's one of the reasons I was thinking about it as well. But can you imagine, man, 64 teams being in a tournament, it's, it's gotta be exciting.
[00:39:11] Mark Corbett: So I'm looking forward to, the end of Spring Training, beginning of this new season. It's coming up soon. It's what, probably about 10 games out, if that's, uh. Maybe 10 days is no today's the 18th. What does it start on the 18th or 20, 29th
[00:39:27] Mat Germain: 28th? I believe I think 28th. I think it's a Thursday. Yeah, I think
[00:39:34] Mark Corbett: we're just 10 days out, dude.
[00:39:37] Mat Germain: It’s awesome. Like this is the time when, you know, the bats are starting to get warmed up and you're seeing the pitchers sweat a little bit more through their, through their outings. I'm also excited for the minor league season, to be honest, like people forget that, you know, April 2nd, AAA starts, so they have to make up that roster and get it sorted out really quickly.
[00:40:02] Mat Germain: Once the last decisions are made and, and get those few starts going, I like to see that because to me, I built, I like to see the strength of the AAA team because when I can actually. Put it together and see what they're working with. It tells me who the backup plan are that we are going to use at some point.
[00:40:21] Mat Germain: you know, you can't have a successful major league team without a strong AAA lineup, in my opinion, or you have a less likely chance of doing it.
[00:40:34] Mark Corbett: Well, and that's why if you're a Rays fan, you probably sooner or later want to go to Durham, North Carolina and watch the Bulls because you could see some of that talent that's coming up and sometimes the talent that's gone down sharpening their skills.
[00:40:47] Mark Corbett: So that's, I love Triple A. I love baseball anywhere for the show. I was telling you, I went to Louisville to watch the Cardinals play last week.
[00:40:56] Mat Germain: The Durham stadium's great too. They do a great job, like putting on a show and the weather there always seems to be, you know, just perfect baseball weather for some reason.
[00:41:07] Mat Germain: I watch a lot of their games and they always talk about the beautiful sky, and they have the sunsets and the sunrises and they, they do their, media things all the time. Like, I don't know, they, they have a certain way of doing their, their thing in, in Durham where you almost feel like you're at a major League baseball game.
[00:41:28] Mark Corbett: I have gotta make it, I gotta make it up here. And we got to get you and your family down here in Florida, man, for Spring Training and one of these upcoming seasons,
[00:41:36] Mat Germain: I'm considering it for next year, next year, I might actually venture down for a, you know, a good, strong week, week and a half. We'll see.
[00:41:46] Mark Corbett: know, we're talking about the minor leagues. That's one of the things I enjoy about here while you've got Spring Training. As soon as they leave, you know, you've got this, you've got all these minor leagues playing in those really nice, Spring Training stadiums. I'm within, half an hour to hour to watch most every one of the teams in here in the Gator, cactus league. no. In the grapefruit league, man, I have not had no sleep.
Jeeze Pete. Yeah. But it's, it's been good times and I'm looking forward to what happens this season. I'm excited about opening day, but it's been great to go out and enjoy this, close proximity to see some of the great stars and some of the guys that may be coming up, but you know, seeing Mangum, you know, seeing tones, looking at some of the other folks, Caballero, it's been real exciting being out there watching those guys.
[00:42:40] Mark Corbett: So we'll see what comes.
[00:42:43] Mat Germain: Yeah, I'm even, I hate to say it this way because it's going to come off bad, but I almost want the Rays to have to be struggling, you know, through the season so that when they end up near the end of the season, they're not coasting. it seems to me like the more you have to fight for your spot near the end, the more geared up you are for the playoff run.
[00:43:04] Mat Germain: and the have been really bad at setting themselves up for to be at their best on playing level entering the playoffs for whatever reason, they always seem to have this lack of of energy. The resting guys, they're not really playing the guys that, you know, they're going to be using the playoffs and then they end up, you know, having a little bit of a lackluster performance.
[00:43:25] Mat Germain: that's from 21 onwards, let's say, so. I'm hoping that they struggle a little bit more. Like, I want to see those bumps in the road and the guys scratching and clawing for wins at the end of the season. And then. Take that in with them to the playoffs and really go far and deep.
[00:43:44] Mark Corbett: Yeah, so you won't lose any sleep if we don't have 13 straight wins at the beginning of the season.
[00:43:49] Mat Germain: That's what i'm aiming at. I think fans are going to be all over that one. They are you're gonna hear it you're gonna hear it. Yeah I don't know. I always look at it this way. Like the have made the playoffs the last, five years in a row. And every single year through those, the AAA team has been well above 500.
[00:44:13] Mat Germain: the AA team has been, you know, near it or above. I think the talent is there. It's going to rise. There's going to be guys coming up that we don't expect and the will figure it out. And there'll be above 500, how far above 500. We don't know. but they'll make the playoffs. I have a strong feeling that they will, and there'll be a threat to anybody they play against.
[00:44:39] Mark Corbett: Exciting times. I'll say it again, Mat. I'm looking forward to this brother. Any other notes or any other considerations before we wrap things up?
[00:44:49] Mat Germain: Don’t sleep on the Boston Red Sox. I would say the more I look at their pitching and how the guys are performing in Spring and, you know, like anybody at their team, there is like, it depends on how their guys are young enough and not overly used to the point where you could envision their starters actually holding up fairly well, the ones they do have.
[00:45:11] Mat Germain: And I think it's almost a blessing in disguise that Giolito got hurt because they have guys that can step in and might be able to do better to be quite honest, which is kind of weird to say, but I really liked Tyler O'Neal's in addition. I think they have, Vaughn Grissom at second base is a strong addition to kind of build up their, their infield a little bit more and they have a good coach and Alex Cora.
[00:45:35] Mat Germain: So. I would not sleep on the Red Sox, you know, squeezing out a bottom of the playoff position if they add something in season because they're doing well sort of thing. but yeah, like I said, I think it's fun to see how the roster is going to shape out.
Keep your ears open and, the Rays. I have always predicted it'll make one or two moves, you know, as the season nears and are sorting out the last piece of the roster.
[00:46:04] Mat Germain: So we could also see something like that.
[00:46:10] Mark Corbett: Well, you never can give up on Boston. And Alex Cora is a great coach (manager), whatever else you may think about that team. And I don't know, man, it's going to be interesting. I think we've got an exciting time ahead of us with the, looking at this team, looking at these players, on those who may move up or down or be traded.
[00:46:27] Mark Corbett: There is a depth that most teams I don't think can, can beat their chest about like the Rays. So I'm excited about it. And man, oh man, it's going to be here soon. All right. I want to, I want to thank you, Mat. Once again, being here and we'll, well, thank everybody else for joining us today. So enjoy the rest of your day, Mat.