A Closer Look at the Rays' 2025 Home (RTR Ep. 220)

We're not even two months into the 2025 season and the Tampa Bay Rays have already played more than a quarter of their home games in this most unique of seasons.

We brought on Taylor Jennings AKA Tampa Bay Tay (@TayVictoria8 on social media) to give her thoughts as a frequent visitor of Steinbrenner Field in their early going!

Thanks so much for listening! You can follow RTR on social media @RaysTheRoofTB and be sure subscribe to the podcast!

A big shout out to our partners, SeatGeek, In The Clutch and JKS Prints! Use code RAYSTHEROOF for $20 off your first SeatGeek purchase, 10% off anytime with In The Clutch & $5 off at JKSprints.com!

As always, Rays Up!

Episode Transcript

(00:12):
It's time to raise the roof for our latest regular season
episode. Welcome back to the pod
everyone. I'm your host Alex Murphy with
me as always my Co host Gibby. Gibby, how we doing?
I know it's been a bit since I've seen you less, but
everything holding up good. Oh yeah, everything's,
everything's pretty good other than obviously the raise home

(00:33):
woes. But you know, that's kind of
been mitigated this last series.So we're doing a little better.
Alex. If you would have asked me maybe
like 3 days ago, I would have been pretty devastated.
But we're doing pretty good right now, Alex.
I agree. I agree.
Yeah, definitely much better vibes over the last couple days.
We have plenty of things to talkabout on this latest episode.
We also have a special guest whoI'm going to introduce in just a

(00:54):
second. And actually perfect timing for
that because with everything that just went on with USF
softball, if anyone didn't see, they just won the American
American Athletic Conference tournament, which was hosted at
USF, which is cool. So they'll be headed to the NCAA
tournament in the Tallahassee Regional, which is obviously
Florida State. So perfect timing if you guys

(01:16):
don't follow her on Twitter and on social media, I don't know
what the hell y'all are doing. Seems to be at I think her
second home has become Steinbrenner over the last month
and a half, two months or so. But our friend Taylor Jennings.
Taylor, welcome to the pod. Thanks so much for coming on.
How you doing? I'm doing good.
Thank you for having me, I appreciate it.
Yeah, just so I guess thoughts about Florida State and USF in

(01:38):
the same region or for the I know FSU softball has been very
dominant over God knows how manyyears at this point.
A while when I was there, when Iwas a student, we won a national
championship. So I've known them to be very
good for a while now. So that's very exciting that
they're hosting it kind of a bummer that, I mean, for me,
that's in Tallahassee. I'd like to go and see them, but

(01:59):
it'll be cool to have USF in it as well.
Auditized, you know, in this area.
They've had a they've had a rough season, I would say.
I mean, they're still good, but you know, they've they in the
past, they've been significantlybetter, I would say.
But you know, they're still a strong team and I think that
they'll do well. So we'll see how it goes, but
it'll be a lot of fun to watch. Both softball and baseball have

(02:21):
been really good lately, so that's been fun to watch.
Yeah, for sure. Gibby, have you gotten your to
any USF softball games this year?
Not this year, but I have gone in the past.
Yeah, I was gonna say those games are fun.
The I mean the stadium. 'S beautiful, Yeah.
And I mean, we have a coach who was literally like one of the
Olympics coaches, like for the USF softball or for the USA

(02:42):
softball team. Sorry.
So I mean, yeah, it's a it's great program.
And I mean, they had like an elite pitcher last.
I forgot her name, but I was watching, I watched a game where
she was starting and it was, it was pretty good.
I'm glad we're winning something.
Well, yeah, plenty of excitementgoing on there.
Can't wait to see what happens as the regionals begin upcoming.

(03:03):
But let's get on to the Rays 2 series where they ended up going
two and four at home over the course of the week.
Ended, started really badly, ended much better than it
started. Taylor first wanted to get your
thoughts about how the week went.
I know you know, Philly's definitely a tough opponent.
They had chances to win in that in that series, especially the
last game. But just wanted to get your

(03:24):
thoughts about what you've seen from this team over the last
week or so. You know, I honestly, I've been
hopelessly optimistic in a way. Like, you know, I try not to get
too down about this team and, and things that I'm seeing, but
overall, like I feel like there are a lot of positives that I'm
seeing and I know it's not translating necessarily,

(03:46):
especially during that Philly series.
I mean, that really, really sucked.
I think the whole, the whole entire series, the fans, the
environment, everything, it honestly felt like a breath of
fresh air for them to kind of get out of town and for us to
welcome the Brewers into town. But overall, I, I would say that

(04:07):
it's really tough because like Iwas saying, I don't think
overall like they're showing their potential.
I, I don't know if it's the stadium thing that we keep going
back to or, or what it is, but there are a lot of like outside
factors I feel like that are going on.
And they've said themselves thatsome things are getting into
their head and I think they're better than that though.

(04:27):
So that was, you know, really irritating to see, especially
during that Philly series. But you know, they bounced back
this last series and, you know, we'll take it.
So hopefully going forward with this road trip, we can still
kind of get some answers and seewhat's going on.
It's kind of getting a little annoying to keep saying like,
let's get some answers, let's see what's going to start

(04:48):
clicking and what's going to start working.
But I'm still kind of in that point right now.
Yeah, Gibby, what were your thoughts about the last week
again? And it was like, I, I wonder how
much differently the week would have gone had they won the last
game of that Philly series. Because you go into that in the
first two games of the Brewers series, you go 3 and 3 instead

(05:09):
of two and four. You know, I mean, from what you
saw, how'd you feel? Oh yeah, I mean, I just got a
second what what Taylor said there.
I mean, she was right on the ranthe money about like the the fan
experience. You know, I was very glad when
the Brewers came to town becausethey were just there wasn't as
many and you know, they're all very nice.
They're all from Wisconsin that and that's all.

(05:31):
But yeah, it was it was a littlebit of a demoralizing series
just from the get go. I mean, you kind of crawl back
in that game a little bit, but it just shuts the door.
And then just every Phillies fanjust cheering.
And it was it was almost at the same ratio of of like visiting
fans as like Yankees games are. So it was, it was, it was a very

(05:55):
surprising showing from, from the Phillies fans, cuz usually
it's not, it's not like that at the Trop.
It's a little bit more balanced at the Trop.
So it, it was definitely interesting to see that.
And then that last game, yeah, getting just Molly whopped like
that, that comeback, the 8th inning, 3 run Homer.
Yeah. It was just, it wasn't a good

(06:17):
time in the ballpark that that day, but Friday came around and
Friday was definitely a good time.
I think Taylor Wallace has really come around.
I really I and I know, I know, Alex, I know you're smirking.
Hey. Hey, I said if he hits 220 with
a 600 OPS, I'll take that. The bar has been lowered so.

(06:37):
Significantly, do we have to delete every We have to delete
every Taylor Wallace tweet if you get.
No, no, no, no. OK, OK, let's relax.
There he's. Still hitting like 210.
Yeah, I know. But yeah, we're about that like
the order of the season. And I mean, it's about the same
as last season. I mean, it's like we're in that
500 range. And, you know, they're looking

(07:00):
for answers. They're digging deep into the
into the prospects already. There's already so many people
who have like walked off a game who haven't, who weren't,
weren't on the team like a monthago, like Travis Jankowski.
So yeah, it's just been everything.
Everything's a little chaotic, but it's fun.
It's fun. That's Ray's baseball.
It's it's chaos all the time. You're telling me I wanted to go

(07:23):
back to what to what Taylor saidabout it being worse.
As someone who grew up in the Philadelphia South Jersey area,
I feel like I probably have the best understanding of what fans
are like, having been to plenty of Phillies games.
But I'm curious to see like why it was worse.
Well, I don't know if it was because I went to the the

(07:43):
Yankees series. I've been to plenty of them and
don't know. I think it was more of, and I
was talking to some Phillies fans trying to get like the lay
of the land, like what are you doing here?
Why are you here? And a lot of them honestly had
travelled. I would say like over half of
who I talked to travelled said that, yeah.

(08:03):
Said that they, when they saw that the Rays were, or that the
Phillies were playing the Rays in Tampa, they were like, we
have to make this trip. So a lot of them made the trip
just to say that they, you know,saw a game at a spring training
facility. So like that kind of made sense.
But then you also have you mix that in with like the people who
already live around here who arefrom Philly.

(08:24):
And so it just seemed like a lot.
And then also, I mean, not to get into like fandoms and stuff,
but they're just generally more knowledgeable, I would say, and
like into it. Then I would consider Yankees
fans from this area because likeeveryone who went to the Yankees
series is from here. I would guess they didn't travel

(08:44):
like Phillies fans travelled. And so you just kind of get a
different perspective on like how into the game that they are
and how much they know. Excessive.
Sometimes I'm. Not yeah, no, they they follow
every single pitch. They're super into it.
They get a little too into it, Iwould argue, but it's just a
different kind of It's one thingto be outnumbered, it's another
thing to just be like completelyshut out, can't say anything,

(09:07):
can't do anything. So it's just like a different
type of outnumbering. Yeah, it was smothering.
Like it was like, I mean, you know, at the Yankee series, you
know, the Rays, they'll still the race fans, they'll still
cheer. They'll still I, I didn't hear a
peep from the crowd. And I, I feel like the, the
operators, they weren't like doing a lot of like the normal

(09:28):
chants just because they knew it'd be like if they did a Let's
Go race, it would just be a Let's go Philly's chant.
So yeah, it was, it was a hostile environment for sure.
But I mean, not like the people were like bad or anything.
I mean, they were they. Were.
They were. There were.
Probably some bad people there were there were definitely there
definitely had to have been somebad eggs.
There was some bad, there was probably some bad vibes

(09:49):
somewhere, but I didn't see much.
But other than, you know, peoplejust trash talking the general
trash talk Philly fans do. But yeah, I mean, it was it was
OK. But yeah, I I agree with Taylor.
It was the most hostile I've ever felt at home it.
Was the worst I've ever felt at a game, a whole series.

(10:09):
I went to all three. I don't know why I did that to
myself. Oh yeah.
Oh yeah, I, I feel you there because I, I also did the same
thing so. Yeah, well, hey, brutal.
At least they were able to salvage the the homestand with
the winning, winning to the Brewers.
Yeah. And yeah.
And it was weird because when you look at the Phillies series,
a lot more high scoring games. I know the they they had a

(10:31):
chance in the first game, Thingskind of got out of hand late and
they weren't able to bounce backfrom that.
But if you look at the Brewers race series, it's it was 4332
and then 4/2 today. So chances even today in order
to get a series sweep. So I wonder what kind of the
biggest differences were. I know the Brewers lineup isn't
as potent as the Phillies lineup.

(10:51):
You don't have guys like Kyle Schwarberth and and Trey Turner
playing a lot better recently. And Harper, Yeah.
I'm just curious what the biggest difference was.
But Gibby, starting with the I mean, just what did you feel
about the Brewers series? I mean it, the team just decided
that it's like today, like the day after that last Phillies
game, they're like today we haveto win.

(11:12):
And I don't know, it was just very motivating.
I mean, and it was kind of like everybody teaming up to get the
win. You know, I think he, Andy Diaz
had some scores in that inning. But I mean, Taylor Waltz was
impressive all weekend. I mean, that's who you really
have to talk about offensively. I mean, you know, the numbers
probably cooled off this last day, but the first two games

(11:33):
he's hitting about 4:50 between those two.
I mean, that's a really small sample size to say 450 on.
So take it with a grain of salt,but he did play really good this
weekend when we did need people to step up.
So it was very good from him. I mean, and then Chandler
Simpson, he was kind of cooling off for a little bit, but I
mean, today he showed some really good speed and yesterday

(11:55):
he did too, and good bat, so that's really good.
And then Brandon Lau, he's been kind of struggling, but he did
have that one shot. Is that the first game?
Friday, Yeah, so. He's hit 190, right?
Yippee. Yeah, yippee.
And he's got his K rates not great.

(12:16):
Here, let me check this. 42 out of one 3730.13031% K rate 30.6
Not great. But yeah, I mean, the series
just, it just went infinitely better.
And they just, they were doing the classic Rays approach, which
is just like scratching and crawling every way possible to
win. I mean, walking home that guy, I

(12:38):
mean, even the Saturday game, I was, Oh my God, I was praying up
and down that that game would not go to extras.
And then when Caballero got caught at second, I was I, I, I
screamed. It was, it was, it was bad
because you sent in the pinch runner and, and he just, he just
didn't get it. And I was like, oh, he's gonna

(12:58):
get thrown out, isn't he? I literally thought it in my
head. It's like that subconscious, you
know, thing in the back of your head that you think during the
base and then it came out and true and.
I was like, oh, I shouldn't havethought that, but it happened
and then Cameron Meisner stole the base.
Which that didn't make any sense.
It's like I think Cabbiero's a little faster than Meisner.
I don't, I don't know how that work.
Maybe just got a better jump andthen Jankowski just comes

(13:21):
through with it. So he had a huge weekend too.
I really like him. He's a good addition that that's
my thoughts on. Overall.
Yeah, Taylor, your thoughts on the on the Brewers series?
Yeah, I think kind of going backand looking at the Philly
series, what I've noticed about Ray's home pitching, I think the
pitching staff is great. That's not an argument.
I do think that they start to kind of show their vulnerability

(13:47):
a little bit when I feel like when they're at home from what I
what I've seen. And so when you have a series
like the Phillies where they're,you know, they're hitting the
ball, they're driving the ball, Kyle Shore, where like everyone
can hit and especially the long ball.
You know, the offense obviously has gone silent or goes cold.
But if they're in these games where I feel like the pitching
staff is confident going into the game, they can keep the runs

(14:09):
low, It kind of generates some something, you know, like some
people are getting on base, people are stealing their
manufacturing runs in a way thatthey they kind of just
completely shut down if they already know that they're kind
of out of the game. And I, you know, that's a lot
of, like I said, there's factors, there's mental factors

(14:30):
and all this stuff. But I just feel like when they
when they know that they can keep it close.
And they did a really good job today answering every single
time. I mean, that's, that's what I
want to see. Yeah.
I don't want to see them, like see a lead taken away from them
and just fall flat. We need to get on base.
We need to move the runner over and we need to get them home.
And they showed that today despite the loss.

(14:50):
But yeah, just depends on how these games get started.
I think that this is the first game and I don't know how long,
but that we had scored first in a while.
So it's just trying to kind of just generating some kind of
momentum, I guess. And like you said, these two

(15:12):
games were close, but they were enough to get them done.
I also think that some things went our way this series where
they haven't at all recently. So we got some breaks.
We took advantage of them. And then people, like you said,
Travis stepping up. I mean, I I like him too.
And this is kind of what he's here for.
And, you know, kind of the same vibe we had with Meisner.

(15:34):
I know he's fell off a little bit, which stinks.
I'm a big fan of his. But you know, it's the next man
up thing. That's why I'm not completely
out on this team. It's just because every time I
feel like I am, there's some guywho, you know, shows me a little
bit of hope today, you know, yesterday it was Travis.
So overall, I just think it's how they approach the game, how
they go into the game. I think that the talent is

(15:56):
there. I think the mindset has ate them
up. But overall, you know, I think
that was the biggest difference.Yeah, 100% agree.
I will say I'm speaking on the pitching.
I want to give some flowers because I've done it multiple
times, but I want to give some flowers to Zach Letelle for
really bouncing back. I mean, he's looked very solid
in his last couple starts. And I know at some point that

(16:18):
Sheen is going to come back whenthat is as of this point, he was
put on the 60 day. So it's going to happen later,
but he'll be back soon, soon enough.
So like I wonder how long they keep Zach, like if they keep him
until chains there, if they keephim after.
But he's definitely improved. I will say he's definitely

(16:39):
improved his trade stock significantly over the last
couple starts if they want to trade him, because I don't think
that there's anyone else in the rotation that is as expendable
as him just because of the otherguys that they have.
I mean, you know, Shane Boss, Drew Rasmussen, Taj Papio, those
guys were either guys that they acquired in trades or guys that
are home, you know, home grown guys.

(17:00):
And I don't think that any of them that they want to get rid
of. So like that just leaves Lattel
as the guy that would be moved if they were going to move
anyone. So I, you know, the more that he
continues to do this and I mean,he's, he's eating up innings in
a way that is way more efficientthan what we've seen with some
of the other guys who ended up becoming those and the eating
type guys. I know I talked about this, I

(17:21):
think last episode, Savali kind of turned into one of those guys
and he just fell off a Cliff. TA was horrible at that last
year and carried the perfect game into like the 8th inning
and then just kind of fell off from there.
Lattell is really the best example that we've had in recent
years of a guy who's able to eatinnings and also be effective at
the same time. Yeah, so definitely loving what

(17:44):
I'm seeing out of him. I know you guys mentioned
Meisner Walls has looked really good recently, which is
shocking. I'll just say that because I've
been not expecting a lot out of him and he's definitely played a
lot better recently, which is good because they need that
because I don't know when the hell Kim's coming back.
So and they need as much as theycan.
I know Aranda had a three hit game today.

(18:04):
Trying to think of what else Jankowski's been very good
recently as you guys met. Chandler had the two double s
today. One of them was definitely not a
double, but because he's Chandler Simpson and he made it
a double, that's insane to watchfor both of you.
What is it like watching him? So it's like literally every
time he hits the ball, you literally cheer for him to run
because you think he can literally do anything.

(18:27):
Like today there, there was a play today where where I I said
to someone or someone was like, oh, I didn't make it.
And I'm like, yeah, man, he's not that fast.
It was like a little ridiculous for him for them to expect him
to like make that play. I forgot which play it was.
But I mean, that's what it's kind of like he's just like he's
just got like this aura about him where it's just like he's

(18:49):
the Flash or, or like, like he'sa superhero or something.
But it's really, it's really good.
Yeah. I, I love, I love.
There is a positive, definitely a positive uproar when he's up
to yeah, up to that. I will say, like, as exciting as
it is to watch him and obviouslyhe's soup, you know, he's so

(19:09):
fast. I'm not saying anything.
We don't know. But what I kind of like is I
kind of wait to see like what the chaos is going to be because
defenses just like don't know. Yeah, they panic.
They panic and it just happens, you know, like just because they
don't know what to do. So that's kind of fun.
That's what I like to look forward to because I just know
he's going to make them uncomfortable and I want to see

(19:29):
how they react. But also I'll say something cute
that happened yesterday. I was down on the 1st baseline
and there was a bunch of kids standing there, you know,
wanting his attention before thegame as they were warming up and
stuff. And this kid was like, you were
my favorite player. You're faster than Eli.
I swear to God. Like it was so cute.
And he, he takes time with all the kids.

(19:51):
He make sure all the kids know that like after the game he'll
sign for them and stuff. So he's definitely got in the
eye of like the younger fans andjust the way that he's playing,
it's so unconventional. No ones used to it, so I think
it's just fun to see the excitement and honestly like
we've been getting so much PR with him on, you know, national,
you know, sports talk and sportsmedia, so that's fun too.

(20:12):
I just like how he's, it's just,I mean, no one else is doing it
like him. So it's fun to kind of just see
what that looks like and he's getting his flowers.
And for us, it's just something that we get to watch every day,
so that's cool. Yeah, that's all.
Any visiting fan talk, that's the only player they talk about
is Chandler. They know Chandler Simpson.
That's about it. Well, I mean, that's great for

(20:33):
him. Yeah, and he's not like, I mean,
he's just playing his game, Yeah.
He's just. Yeah, exactly.
That's how he and he knows it too.
I mean, if you ask him, he's just like, I'm not conventional,
but like I can make it work, OK.I love it.
I, I love that he's weird. I think that's like the best
part about him. Speaking of weird, we finally
got to experience what it's liketo have a rain delay at a Rays

(20:54):
game. Because I noticed.
Ever. We finally had a rain delay.
I love that the Rays had commemorative ponchos for it.
That's what everyone likes. They don't really like baseball,
they just like baseball adjacents.
So we not only had one rain delay, but we had two rain
delays over the last two games, which was three different than
three. They pushed back the game

(21:16):
yesterday, they delayed it in game and then they pushed back
today's game. Yeah.
I guess, I guess I should have said two different games that
experience. Yeah.
So you guys, I don't know, I would assume both of you guys
were there for it. Well, I, I know, yeah.
I think, I think definitely bothof you guys were there for at
least one of them, if not two ofthem.
So what was it like? Because no race fan has ever

(21:38):
experienced that until this year.
It's cool they teach you about clouds on the on the scoreboard.
You noticed that too. Yeah, I noticed that they're
like it's this is a serious cloud as there's no wispy and
that and. Now, like NASA facts and.
Yeah, exactly. I thought that was cool.
They were prepared. I I think it was pretty.
It was all right. I mean, no one had to.

(21:58):
Like you didn't have to go under.
They didn't, They never made everybody go under.
It was just like, if you want togo down, you can't.
But so it wasn't ever, like, crowded.
Because there was lightning. Well, I guess where I was
sitting, I could see the lightning.
So I was like, oh, that's where it gets a little dicey.
Like I don't really care about the rain.
But you know, lightning's never good.
But they never like made that a big deal.

(22:20):
Like I didn't say anything or like takes.
When it is in the proximity theywill like call it.
So I guess it just close. I saw, I saw that, I saw that
one lightning strike and it was really close and I thought it
was in the range, but I guess not.
It's a little ominous just the way that the, you know, Florida
thunderstorms, that's how they are.
But overall, like, I think what's really cute about it

(22:41):
right now is that everyone's like, oh, we got our
commemorative ponchos. Like we were at the first rain
delay. I'm telling you the 10th rain
delay. Yeah, yeah, it's not.
It's not cute. I don't want to talk about like.
It wasn't cute today, honestly. It will not be, but it'll be
part of it very soon, very, verysoon.
So that kind of stinks, but is what it is.

(23:02):
I just find the whole thing funny because of of course, like
the race have experienced plentyof that on the road, but it's
never been at home. And when it's been at home, it's
not been what we know is a traditional rain delay or a
weather delay. So like watching it and seeing
all the reactions to things and the fact that they were prepared
for it is even funnier. I mean, obviously it created

(23:25):
great PR because basically all that stuff tug off like
wildfire, whether people made fun of it or not.
I mean, like it's it's, it's, it's the first one.
Like, what do you want them to do?
They played in a Dome for the last 26 years of their
franchise. So or 2627 years.
So it, it like it is what it is.If it's the first one, it's the
first one. But yeah, I, I, I had no clue

(23:45):
about the whole meteorology thing.
I think that's great. That's I'm.
Going to tell you what I learned, but they were playing
it. Yeah, there were a lot, a lot of
facts I did not retain. Yesterday, like the rain was
never that bad. So it was like kind of fun,
like, ha, ha, you know, I got a little rain.
But when it's like a downpour, it's going to be, I don't know
where all those people are goingto.

(24:06):
I mean, they're obviously going to go into the concourse and
that's going to be sticky. Wait, am I misremem?
I thought it rained harder on Saturday because I felt like I
was. Well, I felt like I was getting.
Held on. Yeah, I feel like I got hailed
on. I'm already undercover so I
personally was not. Oh yeah.
OK, yeah, but it was like a good5 minutes, you know, 520

(24:28):
minutes. But I think when it comes down
like a true Florida storm, it's going to be, we're going to.
Yeah, for a little bit. Yeah.
And the ponchos will not help. I still have mine in my little
bag. Yeah, yeah.
I was going to say, I assume youwait.
Gibby Gibby, do you have yours around?
I have. Yeah, I have two of them.
I didn't use it. I I wanted to stay strong.

(24:48):
Well, I was gonna say, I feel like it's probably a better.
Idea than not using. It.
Yeah. I mean, I don't think I'm ever
gonna use it. Yeah, it's just like a cool
stick. Yeah, it's like memorabilia.
Yeah, I would keep it for the keepsakes thing.
It's the same thing as the wholelike.
This one's yours, Alex, once youclaim it.
Once I claim it, I can. You claim it on.

(25:10):
Like they were cute when they were handing them out.
It did feel like, yeah, like he's little.
Welcome to the first rain delay.That's that's, that's pretty
funny. That's.
Very you're right, Taylor, That won't be funny in like.
A month. Two days in a row already.
So before we go into the break, is there anything that you guys
are looking to see this team kind of carry into this road

(25:33):
trip from the last two series? Just the kind of battling, you
know, Taylor said this earlier, just the kind of battling and
the one upping the other team, once they score, you know, you
score leg up on them. You know, just keep keeping
yourself in a game and not letting it get to the point
where it's like you're putting in.
You're not high leverage guys tonot win a game.

(25:55):
So yeah, just battle the whole time.
And you know, and the pitching needs to get more strikeouts.
We have not had a game with above like 6 strikeouts in the
last two series. We are not getting any
strikeouts ever. It's crazy.
How many series? For the last like 2 series it
was the Max strikeouts was like 5 I feel like.

(26:16):
That's a Stein burner thing again, like just because the way
that they're pitching, like Drewgot most everyone on ground
balls. I mean, it was ground ball,
ground ball. And I it that seems intentional
to me because I think that they're afraid to get that ball
up and out. I, I feel, I feel the same, but
I feel like there's the opposingteams are just telling the

(26:36):
players put everything in play, just put everything you can in
play there's. A common con to it for sure, but
I just see them being timid and they're taking the timid route
and that's what's happening thatway.
So I don't know. It's interesting for me, I think
going into this, I mean, obviously there are some some
bright spots in the lineup. I don't know if T Walls keeps it

(26:57):
up. I don't know.
I'm not going to I'm not even going to speculate on what
happens with with him this upcoming road trip.
But you know, Johnny, he's doinggreat glimpses of of be Lao
glimpses and things like that. But I think the biggest thing is
you're going you're going on theroad, which has proven to be not
a terrible thing for this team. And you're going up against two,

(27:21):
dare I say, mediocre teams. And so it's like if they can
really cash in on this upcoming road trip, I think that that'll
be monumental going, you know, once they return.
So they just need to even thoughthey lost today, they kind of
need to keep the momentum, they need to keep those bright spots
in the lineup going. I think overall the pitching if

(27:41):
this if the starting pitching keeps them into a game like it's
just there's no. It's they're doing the job.
Yeah, they're doing that. Right.
There is no excuse. So I do feel like this is just a
good moment that they have to. It's funny because when they
went to San Diego, I was like, Ihad no faith.
I will just say I publicly say it, but I was like, yeah, no,
we'll be lucky to salvage a game.

(28:02):
But now knowing what happened then and kind of just seeing
them play at home and the piecesthat we've been seeing, I'm
really hoping that this road trip continues the streak that
they're kind of on. Nothing like spectacular, but
also take advantage of these twoteams where they where they are
right now. And hopefully that'll bode well

(28:23):
for them once they come back. So that's the biggest thing for
me is just don't I? I know that they know what what
they need to start getting going, so this is the time to do
it. All right, Well, we are going to
run our Siki Gad. It's code, raise the roof at
checkouts, get you $20 off your first purchase.
So we will run that out and we'll be right back in this

(28:44):
latest episode. I've raised the roof.
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Thanks so much to SeatGeek for sponsoring us.
And let's get back to this latest episode of Raise the
Roof. And we're back on this latest

(29:32):
episode of Raise the Roof. We've already talked plenty
about Steinbrenner. We have two good people on who
have been to plenty of games. I wanted to get both your
thoughts about what the Steinbrenner experience has been
like through 2530. Game Taylor is the guest.
I want to start with you. How has it been like?
What is whatever your experiencehas been like so far?
My experience overall has been good.

(29:54):
I think every day I kind of feellike I learned something new
about, you know, the stadium andwhat people are saying.
It's been really interesting because you hear the opposing
fans or the visitors and they'reall, you know, chatting to
themselves about, Oh my God, this is a spring training
facility. And like all that kind of
conversation. And honestly, the first series

(30:15):
opening week, I was just so happy to be back.
You know, to have baseball the offseason was God awful.
So just being somewhere to see live baseball was such a relief.
But as the series have gone on, I feel like I've been able to
kind of more nitpick the stadiumand explore it and just kind of

(30:35):
see like what the vibes are. I will say that I think that
it's been a good thing for the Tampa area.
I've seen a lot of kid, kids. Can I call myself that?
I've seen a lot of people my agewho are coming out to the games
either to socialize or to watch the game.
So I think that's nice. I've been hearing a lot of
people just stop by after work and things like that.

(30:56):
So it's been nice to kind of seelike a different crowd, if you
will, the the field itself is perfectly fine in the stadium.
Obviously, I don't think the Yankees would do anything
poorly. So it is like nice that that is
what we have been given to us for this season.
There's a lot of different air for it to be like a smaller park

(31:16):
or the park is not, but like thestadium, it does have a lot of
activities, if you will, for people who may just be there to
socialize or to watch the game. Obviously there's no bad seat
there. So that's been nice.
I think I've sat what feels likein every section and I can
confirm there is no bad seat. But there's also like fun things
like you can sit in the bullpen clubs and have all inclusive

(31:39):
meals and just eat and drink your way through the game.
The lodge boxes, the the Viva ledge where you can go on the
outfield. You can also just stand like 80
or 90% in the standing room onlyaround the outfield, which is
cool because a lot of people just go out there and hang out
and hope that they get a home run.

(31:59):
So it's been, there's a lot to it.
Like I do feel like there's a lot of just different.
Like sometimes I don't even makeit to the other side of the
stadium because I have everything I need on one side.
So overall, I think it's been a really good experience.
I think the funniest thing is that I feel like having gone to
the Trop for nearly three decades now, which is kind of
crazy, is that I feel like overly confident.

(32:22):
I would say that as soon as the balls hit at the Trop, I can
tell you where it's going to land.
I have no idea. At Steinbritter.
It's been a learning process. The fact that I have pictures on
my phone of the flags. I have so many pictures of the
flags because I'm just so curious about, you know, wind
direction and when it's picking up and when it's laying down,

(32:42):
just like stuff I never really considered before.
So that's been interesting. Just that level of it, too.
But overall, like each series that goes by, like, yes, we're
renting it, but it does feel like it's, you know, it's our
home. It is what it is for this
season. And yeah, I think as these
series goes, a lot go along and it's not necessarily me fighting
with Philadelphia fans or New York fans.

(33:03):
I think it'll, you know, continue to be.
It's a good place to go and I don't dread going.
Obviously anytime I went there and I think that people are
enjoying it. I've seen a lot of familiar
faces go more than once, which is I think it's good.
But like I said, I also think that it's just been kind of like
a social thing and people have been making it out there.
So overall I give it a B. I think that's, I think that's a

(33:26):
pretty fair grade. That's a fair grade.
Gibby, you know better than me, so how do you feel?
That no, you're right, it does have a lot of different
sections. I mean, it certainly looks
better than other minor league comparisons in the major
leagues. No, I'm not gonna I'm not gonna
name names, but you might be able to assume just maybe.

(33:48):
But it has been a really good experience.
I think people have been enjoying it.
I see some complaints during like the day games.
It's like, oh, it's so hot. But there is a lot of ways to
get away from it. And you know, there's other
places stays and there's some ofthe areas will eventually get
shaded. So you can sometimes move
yourself. So I mean it, it definitely has

(34:11):
its promises. I think a lot of people just
enjoy like seeing everything andlike having the full spectrum of
light shine upon you other than rather than like, you know,
someone said to me they they weren't a big fan of the trop,
which, you know, there's a lot of people who aren't.
It's understandable. And he said the trop feels like

(34:34):
a Walmart to him and I and I've,I haven't been able to get that
one out of my head because it's,it's kind of funny because like
now it's going. To be in my head.
Yeah, so so so that was good. But you're right, Taylor.
No one knows where the ball is going.
Like everyone reacts to every ball, every fly ball.

(34:57):
It's like, oh, oh, it's the one and it just.
Dies, yeah. But there's definitely balls
that should go out that just diein the in the warning track,
which is like, especially in left field, which is like the
kind of unfortunate part of the stadium, which like you kind of
see during the game when when like a player kind of like
thinks it's a home run or, or it's pretty sure it's a home

(35:20):
run. And it's like, oh, it's not like
they're getting, it's not like they're they're, they're wrong.
Usually they know when it's a home run, like, like off the
bat. And then there's some other
factor in the stadium that may be affecting you or may not be.
You know, it could not be. I'm no meteorologist, but yeah,
that that's part of it. But the vibes were good.

(35:41):
The start of the season was really good.
I felt like everyone, the way tothe season started.
Everyone was really excited about the stadium after that
point. And yeah, I mean, people are
continuing to go. You're right.
It is a different crowd. It's a little bit later.
I feel like there is a little bit more of an adult crowd
during those week games rather than during the more weekend

(36:02):
family crowd. So it is a it is a little bit of
a vibe change for the Rays. I feel like it's always the same
kind of crowd, like a more of a family crowd always going to the
trop. And then this one is kind of
like, you know, there's a lot ofCo workers, workers, just people
getting off work just like Taylor said.
So yeah, it's been good and I think all the state and here's

(36:24):
the thing about the food at the stadium, they don't try too
hard. They don't put fucking doughnut
on top of the milkshake and thenand then put 2 cookies inside of
it or, or have a have 3 foot long hot dogs, dude.
They keep it simple, like, like,you know, like chicken tenders
and like just they have good food for like an OK price.

(36:45):
So there's that. And there's none of this like
extraordinary stuff that you seeat stadiums nowadays that it's
kind of just getting grotesque at this point.
I almost puke when I see some ofthose posts when it's like, it's
like the worst food I've ever like.
I would never eat that in the stadium.
I have a first person experiencewith that because I've only been
to 1 Texas Rangers game. It was in 2019, the last season

(37:08):
that they played at, at Globe, what was a Globe Life Field
before it became Globe Life Park, whatever, Rangers Ballpark
in Arlington, formerly known as Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
And I was like, when I was there, I wanted to try to go get
a boomstick because that that was like the big thing.
And it was like because of Nelson Cruz, they had the
boomstick. So what I ended up?
Going to mention the boomstick. Wait, wait, wait.

(37:30):
No no, no no no. So it gets stupider.
So instead of getting the boomstick, me and my brother
each got separate foot long hot dogs that were like covered in
Nacho cheese and all this gar I own.
Like, I was close. Like, it was not good.
Like I ate it and I did not enjoy my experience at all.
It did not taste good. It was not what's the price.

(37:53):
I I would have much rather had tenders on Omaha.
Like do not recommend. Yeah, yeah.
It's not too fancy. They do like up in the bullpen
club where it's like all inclusive.
They do have some other options that are not crazy, but you
know, I got an empanada and churro like that so it's no

(38:17):
frills, but it's everything you need.
Yeah, yeah. And I like.
What what what the new colony pizza?
I know that's a thing there and they have like what is it?
I don't even know what it was like hot oil pizza.
I I don't know what the. Yeah, it's like thin crust or
thinner than to be normal and they put like a hot, hot oil on

(38:38):
it that makes it a little spicy.But they also have just like
cheese and pepperoni, which is akind of a good.
I haven't taken advantage of thehome run deal because you can go
to the call, I live right by theColony Grill and you can get
BOGO pizza. But the problem is like, why do
I need BOGO pizza? But yeah, they have that deal
going too. Tomorrow.
I know. Yeah, I'll try it.

(38:59):
Yeah, OK. So it definitely seems like I
think overall, and again, I'm going to get my sense of it
coming up when I go in June, butit definitely seems like it's
it's a good enough experience. It's like it's not a Gibby.
I'm going to mention the team straight up.
It's not like the Athletics where in Sacramento they didn't
have the opportunity to customize the stadium because

(39:22):
there is a AAA team also playingat the exact same stadium.
That is the primary team in thatstadium.
No offense to the Athletics because they're not the ones who
have played there for the last however many years that that the
Rivercats have played there. So there hasn't really been a
lot of opportunities for them toactually like customize the
stadium and make it their own. The Rays on the other hand, that
no one cares about the Tampa Tarpons.

(39:44):
No one even cared about them when they were actually in the
stadium. They didn't get any fans.
No one goes to Florida State League games.
No offense to anyone in the Florida State League.
I've already talked about this before.
They've averaged like less than 800 fans a game all of last
season per game everywhere. So like it's it's not just the
Tampa Tarpons thing. No one cares about that league,
which sucks because there's a lot of great players in that
league. But again, it looks a lot worse

(40:05):
when you're playing in spring training stadiums.
They're playing on a backfield with like bleachers.
So it looks a hell of a lot better for them.
But again, because the Tarpons don't exist there, the Rays
don't have to cater anything else to them.
They can cater the stadium to themselves as much as possible,
which I also think has created, I'm sure a much better
experience. Let's say if they didn't have
that, maybe it would be. Like instead of like a seven or

(40:28):
eight at 10, it would be closer to like A6 or A5.
Yeah. So I think that that's also
helped tremendously because you're seeing the same sponsors
that you saw in the Trop. You're seeing a lot of the same
things that that that you saw inthe Trop.
You're seeing the raise up, the signage everywhere.
You're seeing the murals that exist up on the walls as you go
to the concourses. You know, the sunburst is

(40:50):
because I didn't even think thatthat was a removable thing where
they had the Yankees logo on theteam store as you walked into
the and now sunburst. I didn't that was removable and
turns out it is. So like it's another kind of
small touch that I think has really helped to elevate the
status of of what it is because we all know that this is not, I

(41:13):
mean, even the team knows and it's already shown to the first
however many games this season that it's not going to be
normal, but it's going to be as normal as they can make it.
Yeah, that's the best way to putit.
It's interesting though, becauseI've been, I had been to for
Yankees games a few times. So I had experience with it
obviously being a Yankee Stadium.

(41:33):
And then now, I mean with all the signage that you're talking
about, like I don't really even think of the Yankees at all.
Like I don't, I know obviously the situation, but I don't even
consider them at all. I will say the one thing that
they unfortunately couldn't cover were the rows.
Row has the thing and I was staring at it last night and I

(41:56):
was just like, I don't even care.
Like it's just, it's not even that big of a deal.
They have done so much that it'slike so small, something like
that. So as far as I'm concerned,
like, like I was saying earlier,it's our stadium and then like
you said, it's the best that they could do and they're making
the best out of it. So overall it's it's interesting
and I feel like just the curiosity gets people to the

(42:18):
stadium. So I'm all for it.
And, and like soon enough, if everything goes well, the Rays
will be playing at the Trop again.
Because I know I don't know whatthe hell is going to be going
on, but supposedly the the money, yeah, fingers crossed the
money will be in place because Iknow that they already put the
money in for the roof. So hopefully the money will be

(42:38):
in for everything else in order to get it ready for 26 opening
day. So that's going to be an
interesting transition too, for people who maybe got used to
this. You know who got used to
Steinbrenner this year are goingto have to get used to going
back to the trop again, and I wonder how that's going to react
to the same sort of way. That'll be something that will
that we will get to when that comes.

(43:00):
It's obviously in nowhere close right now, but it's definitely
an interesting conversation. The Rays will not be on the
roads going back to the Rays. The team will not be at home
this week. They'll be on the road.
They have I have the pitching matchups up.
They have a pair of games against East Division opponents.
They have three in Toronto and then they have three in Miami.

(43:21):
The so-called best series in baseball as dubbed by me, the
Citrus Series. Because as we all know what what
is better than watching the Raysand Marlins play baseball?
So many other things, but whatever going into the series,
the pitching matchups for the next week, we have tomorrow
night, or actually this is Sunday as of as of this

(43:41):
recording. But on Tuesday when the Blue
Jays series starts, we have Shane Boz against Jose Barrios,
Wednesday Ryan Peppio against Chris Bassett, Thursday Zach
Latale against Kevin Gozman, andthen in the Miami series,
Fridays Taj Bradley against Max Meyer, Saturday Drew Rasmussen
against Edward Cabrera, and thenOK, what the hell happened, and

(44:04):
then Sunday Shane Boz against Sandy Alcantra.
So some interesting pitching matchups in there for sure.
I'm seeing a couple that I really like.
Both Shane Boz matchups are pretty interesting.
Gibby, starting with you, what are you guys looking for in
these Rd. series? I know the race have been much
better consistently on the road this year than at home.
Yeah, This team is, I mean, likewhat you just said, it's kind of

(44:25):
proven these, I mean, at least this last home way series that
they're kind of a road warrior team.
And I mean, we were a little worried about this team being on
the road for a very long time inthe later months of the season
like June, July. But seems like maybe our words
have subsided there a little bitif they can keep up this kind of

(44:45):
the waste streak they got going,just at least with series wins.
Obviously you can't keep up the sweep consistently, but it would
be good to get a serious one, especially against Toronto
coming up. Obviously just keeping Vlad
Guerrero down, getting our strike UPS back, strikeouts back
up because I think people are putting the ball in play a

(45:06):
little too often. I mean, we are we do rely on
like weak contact and all that stuff.
But I mean, obviously that stuffcan still produce errors and
unexpected things in baseball that tend to happen or you know,
there's like overthrows that from Junior Caminero that's been
happening a lot. So I mean, just getting our
defense back together and a little bit more a little less

(45:28):
sloppy because it has been a little sloppy, even though we
did win this last series, there were some mistakes on defense
keeping that up. And then yeah, I mean, just the
hitters keep hitting. Yand he's really turned around
since the beginning of the season.
Obviously we knew he would come back.
I mean, he's freaking Yandi Diaz.

(45:49):
He's he's pretty menacing again.So that's really good to see.
And then Taylor Walls keep it up, buddy.
And just and just, you know, moving runners and getting
everybody home runners in scoring position obviously is
always a struggle, but we've been a little better.
So just keeping up with that honestly would be good.

(46:09):
Yeah, Taylor, any specific keys to, to, to, to either of these
series? Any anything, any trends that
you're looking for? Yeah, I'm definitely excited to
see Shane take the mound Tuesday, that he needs to get
his his mind right. And this is a prime opportunity

(46:32):
against Toronto to kind of just get back to that Shane who
started the start of the season.So I'm excited for that kind of
turning point for him and then hopefully leading into the Miami
series as well. I'm also hoping, I know B Lau
had his home run Friday, but I'dreally like to see him.
I know he's streaky. We know it.
I'm I'm hoping for the coming out of the slump part of this

(46:56):
streak that he's been in. And I know that he loves to face
Chris Bassett. So maybe that second game is
something that we can look forward to and hopefully he can
kind of get things moving. I'm especially especially
looking forward to and I just feel like it's in due time, but
Cameron Meisner just has to get out of this.

(47:17):
I just it's he's so close. I think that, you know, they've
kind of figured him out. Don't throw him anything
straight because that's the onlything he can handle.
But I do think that he's he'll hopefully come out of his slump
in this series. That's my hope.
I hope T walls keeps doing what he's doing.
I mean, I don't know what that is, but I'm hoping that it's

(47:38):
it's going to stay here a littlebit longer, especially with, you
know, Kim being back maybe next month.
Maybe that's kind of what this is like, you know, some kind of
something in the back of his head that's, you know, pushing
him right now. But I think that I think that
this team, if they can piece it all together, this could be a

(47:59):
good this could be a good road trip.
They all have been good Rd. trips.
So they just have to keep it going.
I think pitching will kind of get back to being a little bit
more or less vulnerable and a little bit more calm and, you
know, putting together good, good outings, quality starts and
hopefully the bats will just start to piece themselves
together. If that means power, I don't

(48:20):
know, or if that just means manufacturing some things
happening. I look forward to it.
I think that this this could be good back-to-back series for us
before we come back home to Houston.
So hopefully I'm not just being overly optimistic.
No, no, I completely agree with everything that that you guys
are saying. I think that there's a lot of
there's a lot of really good opportunities because I think
that that the Blue Jays are a vulnerable team.

(48:41):
The Marlins are of course a vulnerable team.
SO2 series and and this is A andI'm pretty sure the Blue Jays
just swept the Mariners in Seattle before coming back.
So I wonder if there'll be any let down games for them,
especially because of the whole time difference of them having.
I wonder if that's going to playa factor at all, the fact that
they've been on such a good streak.
I wonder if they get complacent a day or two, the Rays end up

(49:03):
stealing a game or two from them.
They end up, you know, winning that series sets them up really
well for Miami. And then they continue what
they've been doing in Miami. I know the Rays have dominated
the Marlins in the Citrus seriesas of recently.
So I'm not going to say I'm expecting that to continue.
But signs have shown, many signshave shown in the past that that
the Rays have been very dominantagainst the Marlins both in

(49:25):
Miami and in in the Tampa Bay area.
So hopefully things to look forward there, forward to there
in a positive light going into our pick a player.
Taylor, I'm going to start with you.
Anyone that you're pinpointing over these next couple days?
Yes, I feel like it's an obviouschoice to pick Johnny, but I'm
hoping that he keeps up his streak.

(49:46):
I mean, because it's honestly just kind of impressive at this
point to me. But like I said, Beelao, I think
he turns it around in Toronto. I really do.
And like I was just saying I I have my eye on Cam Meisner.
I think with Josh looming, be a great time to just see him kind
of click like he was a little bit earlier.

(50:07):
So definitely I think just like Bilal, if he gets going, we've
seen the Yandi come out and start being, you know, a little
bit more like Yandi. And I just think that second
threat in the lineup and not to say that it's just those two,
but I just think that he if he gets going, I think there's a
lot that we could be, you know, talking about.

(50:29):
So I'm putting all my cards on him for some reason.
So that's my guy this weekend, hopefully or not this weekend,
this week. I hope that I don't jinx him.
I don't like picking player. I don't like doing these kind of
things because then the oppositehappens, something terrible.
But I was gonna say we do. It happens.
To us all. At this point I I live and die
by anything I say, so I usually just like don't say anything

(50:52):
True, but we'll I'll just pick him so that I'm not increasing
the odds. I like.
Got you got. You.
I like it, Gibby. Who are your people for this
week? Give me Christopher Morrell,
because you know, he's been kindof slow.
He had a really good start the season, kind of been slowing
down a little bit. Him and Caballero both kind of

(51:13):
been slowing down a little bit. Caballero especially.
I mean, I just need him to come through a little bit more.
And then obviously Morrell, he is clutched sometimes and he
does come in in big moments, butjust a little bit more would be
nice. And then pitching wise, I'll
just pick Shanster Guys jersey back there, finally get to wear
it and watch him play on TV, so that'll be nice.

(51:37):
You talking about Mcclanahan or boss?
Cuz Shane isn't. Bad.
It's boss. Yeah, no, I was gonna say it's
gonna be a long time before you get to wear that.
Yeah, sorry. Yeah, Boss pitching on Tuesday.
Sorry, got my shades mixed up. Yeah.
So I'll pick Shane Boss instead.How about that?
Yeah, I like. I'll watch and I won't wear this

(51:58):
jersey. Hey you're you'll wear it
eventually, just not right now. I mean Shane boss, he had a
pretty bad Addy last time so. Yeah, I know he's not.
Gonna need him to turn around. I know, I know.
He really needs to turn around, especially two really good
pitchers that he's gonna be facing this week.
I always go with Bilo and I really need him to have a big
series, a couple, just like a couple good games to get back in
the mojo. I mean, he's hitting 190.

(52:18):
He's supposed to be one of the best hitters on this team and
supposed to be, you know, a guy who's like a perennial MVP
candidate. I mean, he's had two top 10 MVP
finishes and he's hit 190 right now with like a 550 OPS, which
is horrible. So would love to see some
production at him. I don't know how many games
warts gonna play in this series but I mean talk about brutal.

(52:41):
I feel so bad for the guy after what he did last year.
Like considering how bad the race struggles were a catcher
for him to to do what he did andbe as productive as he did, not
having done that at any stage ofhis career prior to last year.
It sucks to see him playing as he's playing right now and I
would love to see him play a lotbetter, especially this week and
kind of just continue that momentum moving forward.

(53:03):
And then on the pitching side ofthings, I am well, Angler isn't
there anymore. So cuz he got option back, I'll
go with Monty cuz he's he's he'scontinuing to show flashes of
success. Obviously that that fastball
plays a fastball plays really well.
If you're throwing 99100, that'sthat's big time stuff.
So if he can continue to find ways to make that play, continue

(53:25):
to string together scoreless outings, dominant outings, keep
hitters at Bay, keep, you know, subdue rallies, whatever it
might be, it'll be great for this team moving forward.
And they need it for the bullpenbecause I know that they've
already dealt with some struggles there.
So big stuff for them. It is Mother's Day today.
Happy Mother's Day to everyone. I know the Rays didn't find a

(53:45):
way to win for all the moms out there, but Mother's Day is
always a great day. I know they didn't have any
specific Mother's Day hats this year.
They always usually do some sortof a Mother's Day hat.
But they still have the pink bats.
They still have basically pink everything, arm leaves,
catchers, gear, batting gloves, I'm sure sliding gloves and
everything like that, cleats. So definitely guys were decked

(54:05):
out across the league. That was awesome to see.
Got out all the moms out there. I didn't really get a chance to
watch watch the race game today,but we had a good time.
Did you guys do anything for Mother's Day?
I went to the race game, yeah. That's great.
That's very odd, friend. My, my mom went out of town so I
didn't spend it on her. But it's funny because last

(54:26):
Mother's Day I missed it becauseI went to a race away game.
And then Father's Day I will miss Father's Day because I'm
also going to a race away game. So I'm the daughter of the year.
Hey it's it all works out in theend.
Somehow, some way, it all works.Out I'm the only child, so like,
I'm the best and the worst. It's fine.
Yeah, yeah. But yeah, again, happy Mother's

(54:47):
Day to everyone out there. You know, you guys are the best
and we love you all. And hopefully the Rays can
deliver more wins in the future for you guys.
I know they weren't able to do that today, but we're hoping the
best for the future. Any other baseball news that I'm
missing that has come up as of note recently?
Not really. I'm blanking on stuff.

(55:08):
I feel like all of them are Oh yeah but black but but black no
longer. Today, yeah.
Yeah, and then the and then the 21.
Nothing lost and getting shot at.
Like they won last, they won today.
I don't know. The thing that's funny is, is
what not only did they lose 21 nothing, they also got shut out

(55:30):
by like a rookie in a second start, like he threw a not
complete game shut out. But yeah, no, they did win
today. So clearly they did. 9:00 to
3:00 and then. Well it was bound to happen at
some point. I mean the dude, they haven't
had a winning season since 2018.It's interesting, though,
comparing them to the White Sox last year, like they're even,

(55:50):
you know, Yeah. They're all they're at an even
worse pace. It's it's insane.
Like how's that possible? I don't know.
Well, hopefully. Two years.
That is a statistical anomaly. Speaking of the White Sox
myself, shout out Pope Leo for being an executed.
White Sox fan that is another baseball he.
Actually is a big one that yeah.And he was on that's.

(56:13):
So cool. I can't believe he was on TV.
In one of the 2005 World Series in the.
Holy Spirit. That, that that's why the whole
situation. Yeah.
No, that's super. I don't know.
That's so cool, right? Or is am I just thinking?
No, it is. I mean, it's awesome.
Like a fan. I don't know, it validates me a

(56:35):
little bit. I just think it's sick just
because of the whole vibes of like the, I don't know, just the
whole vibes of everything. And then seeing him and you're
just like, wow, he's a White Soxman.
Dude's really suffering, but he's dedicated.
Thank God he's not a constant. Testimony.
Is that not a testimony? That's a testimony.
The suffer, I mean, and his his family's like local here.

(56:58):
Well, Port Charlotte, but still.It's close enough.
It's hey, it's Rays related to an extent.
He's probably his brother, has probably been to some games.
That's pretty cool. That's pretty cool.
Yeah. There you go.
Well, with that being said, I think it's going to conclude
things on the slaves episode of the pod.
Taylor, thank you so much for coming on.
We really appreciate it. We want to give you the chance

(57:18):
to plug everything that that youhave going on.
Where can people find you out onsocial media?
Pretty much always on Twitter. I don't call it X, but it's at
Hey Vic 8. I'm on there constantly, so if
you want to find me, that's where I'll be.
Yes, yes, well, again, Keller, thanks so much.
We really appreciate it and for everyone listening, we
appreciate you guys listening tothe pod.
As always, if you guys want to follow us on social media, it's

(57:41):
at raise the roof TV on Twitter slash X Instagram and Blue Sky,
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(58:01):
Anyone who knows a baseball fan or a race fan that wants to add
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