May 7, 2025 • 36 mins
We're six weeks into the 2025 MLB season and it does not seem like the Rays have figured out Steinbrenner Field at all. Now 9-14 at home, Tampa Bay continues to struggle at home, but there might be some positives along the way!
We welcomed on our friend Ethan Penn AKA Running From The OPS on social media to talk about what's going well and what's not with this team.
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!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:12):
It's time to raise the roof for our latest regular season
episode. Welcome back everyone to the
pod. I'm your host, Alex Murphy with
me today. We have a special guest in the
podcast. We've had him on before.
Hopefully we're going to get himon many times moving forward
this season. You guys know him.
If you guys don't know him on social media at this point, you
live under a rock. It's Ethan Penn AKA running from
(00:35):
the OPS on Twitter slash X Ethan, how have you been?
I know it's been a little bit since we last talked, but how we
doing man? Doing good, just wrapped up
school, hopefully graduate at the end of the year and nothing
better than just coming on and talking to baseball this
morning. For sure, for sure.
Also Congrats on on finishing things up.
When are you supposed to? When is the graduation
everything supposed to happen? Around August, so hopefully
(00:58):
around August I'll I'll be readyto graduate which.
There we go. There we go.
Well, yeah. So from happy news to sad news
or I, I don't even know if we want to consider it sad news.
But in talking about the Rays, because the last time that we
recorded this podcast, it was right before, actually, it was
just me, but it was right beforethe Royals series.
The Rays ended up getting swept by the Royals and then ended up
(01:18):
taking two or three against the Yankees.
Now we are in back at home in Tampa.
The Rays lost the first game of their series against the
Phillies. Ethan, started with last week.
What are your thoughts about just what this team is?
I know it seems like we really don't know and I'm I know
injuries play a big part in that, but especially last week,
were there any trends, anything like that that you ended up
(01:40):
seeing? I would say just overall
recently, this is probably the first race team I would say
since watching, I don't know, since like maybe 2004, 2005,
they're not striking guys out the last like 1516 games.
Their K numbers are way down andI know a lot of it is like, you
know, getting ahead of the count, starting off with that
first pitch strike, but you're seeing a lot of guys in two
(02:02):
strike counts just not putting guys away.
And that's just separating I think the race from a lot of the
better teams at baseball right now.
Until they do that, they might start struggling even a little
bit more because you got to put guys away in two strike counts.
And just the the pitch sequencing recently has been has
been very odd. I do think it'll improve, but
that's something that I've seen the last 15 or so games, they
haven't been striking guys out. Is there like, do you know
(02:24):
there? I mean, you mentioned the kind
of the pitch selection is that would that be the biggest thing
like guys like Taj maybe aren't you know, having that out pitch
to be able to use like he's usedbefore or Drew or anyone else?
Yeah, I would. I mean, I would like the stuff
and everything looks fine like IVB, like their horizontal
vertical brakes, stuff like that.
But I think, I think it's just the pitch selection and even in
(02:46):
Taj's last outing, like he was, he was really good.
But he Taj needs to get ahead and counts when Taj gets behind
and counts as we were seeing a lot of damage done on him giving
up a lot of extra base hits, himwalking guys on the splitter,
not looking sharp. So I think for a lot of these
guys, it's just it's just getting ahead and counts, right.
I mean, even Drew last night, like when he was I think he had
three, three walks last night. It was just more so falling
(03:09):
behind and counts a lot of I think he had back-to-back thirty
pitch innings. So the stuff for all these guys
is there. I think they'll have no problem
striking guys out, you know, down along the road, but I think
some pitch sequencing needs to be to be looked at because they
haven't been putting guys away. Yeah, that is pretty
uncharacteristic for Drew to to I like I know he was able to get
(03:29):
nearly through 5 innings yesterday, but it definitely
seems really uncharacteristic tosee him in that sort of way
knowing the kind of pitcher thathe is and what he's shown early
on this season. Again, we're talking about a guy
who was like 2 years removed from or, you know, was like a
year removed from from not pitching at all and surgery and
all that stuff. So I'm sure that the race want
to aid with caution or? Last night was his first start,
(03:52):
not finishing five. I mean, it was just I mean, the
Phillies are a tough ball club And we, I mean, another reason
maybe why the K's are down is just because the Royals don't
strike out a lot. San Diego doesn't, Arizona
didn't. So those are teams that the
Yankees do. But those are three teams that
really, you know, don't are, arenot really susceptible to the
case. But yeah, Drew last time as the
first outing, he hasn't finishedfive.
(04:13):
I mean, to his credit to a very tough Phillies ball club.
Yeah. Were you frustrated?
Because like when I watched the,I remember going back to the
Royal series, specifically when I watched that series, I felt
really frustrated. And I felt this way many times
this season about just opportunities that the race have
had to try to capitalize and it just hasn't what happened.
I know runnerson scoring position or with runnerson
(04:35):
scoring position, their average has actually been one of the
better in baseball, which is surprising considering where
this team was last year. But then you look at the guys
who have come up the most with that.
And I know Evan Klosky just put out, if you guys don't know,
Evan Klosky, one of the best minds in the area in terms of
just covering the Rays from ATB perspective.
(04:56):
I think he said like the guys who have come up like Walls has
had like the third most at bats of any race player with runners
in scoring position this season.So like the guys who have come
up with runners in scoring position, maybe like the average
is there, but the actual qualityof player that's at the plate
has not always been consistent throughout.
And like I said, going back to that Royal series, I just felt
(05:18):
very frustrated with having opportunities to do something,
to do damage, and then nothing comes of it.
I mean I would even say like allowing guys that haven't been
doing well offensively just to continuously get at bats.
Like right Taylor Wall saw multiple at bats in that series
with runners in scoring position.
And you can even go last night like Ben Roark vet, you get 2
runners on. He's still getting in at bat
(05:39):
against the lefty and he's hitting under 100 right now and
he has had I think a splashdown with a raise of like 150 and no
dare discredits him. He's obviously a fantastic MLB
ball player for his specific niche, but I think you got to
give some of these ABS to guys that are more susceptible to
getting hits with Rogers in scoring position.
I I think there were a couple instances in the Royals series
(06:01):
where we saw it was like, how isthis guy getting in that bat?
1, the matchup wasn't good, and two, the production hasn't been
there this year. Yeah.
And then, and then we're also seeing guys regrets like, like,
like Cameron Meisner, who what was it like 3 for 36 or three in
his last three for 30 days? Yeah.
I mean, just like, did you expect something like that to
happen with a guy like that, knowing that a hot start, unless
(06:24):
you're like Aaron Judge, a hot start like that is
unsustainable. Yeah, I mean, I, I mean,
obviously he was going to regress.
There's no way he was going to hit 370 all year.
The K thing is a little concerning because this is a guy
that's had like A20K rate in theminors, but I'm not really too
worried about it. I don't think this is where it's
going to be like he's consistently doing this.
(06:45):
And I mean, even on Twitter, like you see too, right?
I think there's so much negativity going around the
team, like when Joshua comes back, when Hassan Kim comes
back, when Rishi Plasios comes back, Shane Mcclanahan and even
some of these guys like Brandon Laos starting to get some extra
base that he had a double last night.
We saw an opposite field home run in the San Diego series.
I think this team is capable of playing a lot better baseball.
(07:07):
And I think it also starts with those those guys striking guys
out, putting them away, not allowing them to put the ball in
play, you know, with two strikes, with two outs and
getting extra runs. I mean, even the Phillies last
night had multiple two strike hits to to get bronze across the
board. Yeah.
And then also with that, you have a bunch of guys and I, I
don't like the the idea of usinginjuries as a way to like as an
(07:31):
excuse, but I think it's important to bring up the
injuries for the race perspective because again, I
think that they're good enough to be able to rattle off wins
with the guys that they have on the field.
But the guys that they don't have on the field is pretty
significant. Josh Lowe I know is going to be,
what was it Thursday? He's going to be making a rehab
stint or starting his rehab stint in Durham.
Kevin Kelly's still a couple weeks out, Mangum's a couple
(07:53):
weeks out. That one's a killer as of right
now. Like, who would have thought
Jake Mangum would be as much of A sparkle?
I mean, I was hoping he would bebecause I was really happy that
we got him on the pod and I think he would have been it
would have been great. But like still like, who would
have known that that would have been the case?
Kim still a ways away from coming back.
Shane is still a ways away from coming back.
Like Richie, I don't even know. Like no one has any idea what's
(08:17):
going on with Richie. What was it DeLuca was taking T,
what was hitting off a tee? So like a lot of those guys,
especially guys in the outfield that were either starting pieces
or guys that replace the starting pieces are getting hurt
and and aren't available. And I'm just like, what's your
confidence level at with the guys currently on the roster?
(08:40):
What's your confidence level at compared to if we were to add a
couple of guys that are currently on the ILI?
Mean, I, I don't think, like I said, I think the team has cable
performing like a lot better. Like there's some of the line
UPS that they're rolling out. Even with all these guys hurt.
It's like this. I mean, this line up is capable
of of beating A-Team And really last night, I mean, even with,
you know, angler didn't have hishis best outing.
(09:02):
But if that didn't happen, like that's a four four-game going
into the 9th inning. Like the, the roster that is on
the field. Granted, if they're playing
Caballero more at shortstop and allowing him to get more ABS,
having Aranda consistently hit no matter if it's against a
lefty or righty and just giving,you know, more bats to a guy
like Danny Jansen. Like I, I don't think this team
(09:24):
is, is as bad as as people are making it out to be.
And I think they're capable of performing a lot better.
I mean, the pitching is going tobe good.
The bullpen's been kind of shaky, but the race always have
a good bullpen and the lineup ismore than the capable of putting
up runs. I mean, Yanny Diaz, the last
like 20 or so games is hitting over 300 with like a 400 on
base. Like he's starting to heat up.
Brandon Law will start to heat up.
Junior Caminero's nowhere near to his Max capability right now.
(09:45):
Once he gets going, it's going to be special.
So I I think this team is more than capable capable of of
winning games until some of those big guys come back.
Yeah, and I will say it was veryindicative over the weekend when
they play the Yankees. I think that that's the caliber
of team that we can see out of the Rays, a team that can win
close games and then a team thatcan also blow A-Team out and get
some runs on the board. I know it got a little bit shaky
(10:06):
there as the game went on after they went out.
What was it like 7172 in that game?
Yeah, I was. I was like, I really hope we
don't blow this because Twitter would have gone nuts.
Yeah, like that was a little bitshaky.
I know people are starting to have more heart palpitations by
the day when it's when watching Pete, Pete Fairbench on the
mound. Personally, I don't really see
(10:28):
that as much because I'm kind of, I guess I'm used to it at
this point. But like also I can understand
it to an extent. But yeah, like that series
against the Yankees, I think is a really good look into what the
Rays can be moving forward. Like, was there anything?
So going away from the Royals series, let's let's go away from
that. How encouraged were you by how
they played in the Bronx? I I thought that was fantastic,
(10:51):
to be honest. I mean, Judge, I mean, and this
is with Judge, like hitting a home run.
The last game I think he went 2 for four with the walk.
Like the fact that they were still able to go into the Bronx,
especially having a really bad series against the Royals, going
in there and and, and taking that series against a really
good Yankees ballclub where theyfaced Max Freed.
Like, I think that's very encouraging.
(11:12):
And I think to your point, like you just spoke about, I think it
is an overall perspective on what we can see from this team
going out and scrapping and winning close games, playing,
you know, great defense is one of the best defensive teams in
Major League Baseball. And Taj Bradley, granted, didn't
get a lot of KS 7 innings against the Yankees.
It's one of the best offenses inMajor League Baseball.
So I think, like I said, there is some negativity.
(11:35):
I I, I get it. I watch the games too with, you
know, with some of the people making their opinions on
Twitter. But yeah, the the New York
series is really, really encouraging.
I think this is more, you know, of what we can see from this
team. Yeah.
And then also with that, Taylor Walls had a four hit game and
yeah, I, I think, I think pigs flew in the Bronx personally.
(11:56):
And then we go into yesterday and I I guess the glove flip.
I I don't understand that. Like there was a clear play to
first base that he could have made to get a shore out and
considering that his momentum was pushing him towards first
base. So I don't understand the whole
thought process there. But like that was frustrating
because like he had such a good game on Sunday, easily his best
(12:17):
game of the season in terms of just overall production.
You'd probably. Go close your.
Game honestly, yeah, I mean might be wait, did did you say
like the best game in his career?
I would, yeah. I mean, I would say so.
I mean, I think that's his second four hit game and I mean,
he played great. I don't know if that was like a
Taylor Rolls really Legacy game.That was insane.
Yeah, yeah. So like you have that and then
(12:38):
like 2 days later you have this and it's just really frustrating
because like you just want like I'm not even asking for a lot.
I was put in the raised discord.I was like if he just hit like
220 and gave us like a 600 OPS, like I'd be more than fine with
that. And like, the bar has lowered so
much over time and it's just so brutal because again, like, if
he's going to play on this team,I want him to be successful.
(13:00):
Regardless of I think everyone does.
Yeah, right. Yeah.
So like to watch him just sufferas much as he has and especially
with runners who's growing business, I feel like if he
wasn't up to the plate as often in those situations, we wouldn't
especially this season, we wouldn't have the same feelings
about him as maybe we have had like as, as we currently do.
(13:22):
So like I'm sure that that helpsilluminate it.
But again, it's just it's frustrating.
I don't want to keep, I definitely don't want to try to
dwell on him any more than that.But the catching position has
also been incredibly brillo. As you said, word vet has been
awful this season. Jansen has been nowhere close to
where the Rays expected him whenthey signed him during the
offseason. So like, you have multiple
(13:42):
positions now that again, the same thing as before, multiple
positions that are underperforming.
And as of right now, the Rays don't have solutions for it.
Yeah, I've been very disappointed with with Danny
Jansen, but I think, I mean, I think he's more than capable of
turning it around and even the the series on the West Coast,
like he had so many balls hit right to the warning track and
(14:04):
even against the Royals right tothe warning track.
Like realistically, if the wind hasn't bump been bowing in at at
Steinbrenner, like should probably have at least three or
four home runs. I know that as a whole, they
can't throw runners out. I think that's really not good.
The Rays do steal a lot of bases, but also completely
negates it when you're allowing almost 1 1/2 stolen bases per
(14:24):
game. Yeah, it's not good at all.
Yeah, and I mean, he's a, he's agood pitch caller, he's a good
blocker. But like, also to the point,
it's like, why aren't these guysstriking guys out?
Like Taj Bradley has had, I think back-to-back games with
under 3 KS. Yeah, that's that's weird for
him. That's like, really weird for
him. I, I don't know, like I said, it
has to be pitch sequencing because the stuff is, is there,
(14:46):
but you got to wonder if maybe it's game calling at the same
time. But yeah, I think Danny Jansen's
more than capable of playing better.
And Ben Rorfit does call a good game and he's a good pitch
framer. But yeah, it, it's more of the
same of what we saw last year. Like I, I don't want to repeat
the 2024 Rays where there was times where they could have
potentially strung, you know, togo together a couple wins, but
(15:08):
having lackluster shortstop and and catcher, you know, success
is, is obviously hurting this team.
Yeah, and then of course everything like the outfield,
you know, the injuries definitely just continue to pile
up on that as someone who doesn't live in the area, but
someone who has seen like who has been down enough and has
(15:29):
also seen what the hell is goingon this decent.
Like it was this expected that the wind was going to be like
this and they were going to haveto play like that because again,
you're someone who's from the area enough.
But this is the first time that any team outside of like the
Tarpon to I don't know if anyonegoes to their games.
And this is like when they were at Steinbrenner before, Like
(15:49):
just no one across the board. I checked like I think last
year, the Florida State League averaged like less than 800 fans
a game. The like, like per game for any
team across the board. So like, has this been always
what it's been like in terms of how just the elements in the
weather has coincided with Steinbrenner?
(16:10):
Because clearly like the Rays don't haven't figured it out yet
and it's been in like just over a month at this point.
Yeah, I mean, yeah, I would say to an extent, but I I mean, I
know you watch the games too. Yeah.
Even the ball that junior hit last night, like I thought that
ball was gone. And he's had two or three this
year. Danny Jansen has had.
(16:30):
I mean, you could probably make like a one minute compilation of
Danny Jansen warning track shotsat Steinbrenner.
It's it's ridiculous, like, and a lot too is like some of those
minor league games are played a little bit earlier.
So the win like might not be as much of a factor.
I didn't expect it to be this bad.
Like there's so many games whereboth teams should be leaving the
(16:52):
yard and they're and they're notdoing it because the win has
absolutely killed the baseball. Yeah.
Now, I will say I think it's interesting if we compare
consider like they're not I, I found out that the dimensions of
Steinbrenner and the dimensions of the Yankee Stadium are not
carbon copies of each other. They're like almost the same,
but not the same at the same, you know, at the same time, I
(17:15):
think we have to take more into account what exists at Yankee
Stadium and what doesn't exist at Steinbrenner, which is seats.
Right. Where where everything is
located, there's no Bleacher seats in the outfield, there's
no, there's no triple deck configuration down the line,
nothing like that. So I think that that changes up
the jet stream significantly to where home runs will go out
(17:38):
there more consistently. When you have what you have at
Steinbrenner, which is essentially just an open air
outfield where there, there are some things built up, but not
nearly to that extent. I wonder if that is the
reasoning for why everything is so different, because it's just
you have one one way of a jet stream in the Bronx, and then
you have a completely different one just based on how everything
(18:00):
is configured in Tampa. And I wonder if that's the
reason why maybe that caught theRays off guard, considering that
they've played in the Bronx so many times that, you know, maybe
that's really the key is whatever exists there does not
exist here. Oh yeah, I mean, 100% even the
Guardians last year got a lot oflike, I guess slack from it.
(18:21):
They created their own jet stream in their ballpark to
increase home runs. So 100% not having, you know,
those I guess blockers for the wind, you know, your triple
backs, you're having seats in the outfield.
I think it's definitely affecting the flight of the
ball. I mean, there's, there's no way
around that. Yeah, I mean, and that's
definitely brutal. And like, like I said, we've
seen teams be able to exploit itand be able to be successful.
(18:45):
But at the same time, the Rays just whatever, for whatever
reason, just haven't figured it out.
So I guess if they like they've played 23 games there, which is
the most out of anyone in baseball, I'm almost positive.
So that's more than 1/4 of theirgames at home have already been
played this season. So at some point they have to
figure it out Like it's been we're a month, you know, we're
(19:06):
like 6 weeks into the season at this point.
Clearly it hasn't really worked out that well.
They're 9 and 14 at homecoming into tonight's game as of this
recording, because we're recording on on Wednesday.
So none of that's going well right now, but hopefully
somehow, someway, they'll figureit out over the course of time.
Yeah. I mean, I just think this team
is cable playing a lot better. I really do believe that and a
(19:32):
lot of I think some of those balls like especially maybe in
like like day games potentially coming up during the season,
like you'll, you'll see the ballleave the the yard a lot more.
Yeah, yeah, for sure. Now going into the rest of this
Philly series and then over the weekend, because I'm pretty sure
the Brewers are coming in, let me go check up ESPN to see the
pitching probable. Also side note, did you see that
(19:52):
the Utah finally changed the name for their hockey team?
Did you see the new jerseys? I have seen the jerseys, but for
those that don't know if they didn't already see it, the Utah
Hockey Club, formerly the Arizona Coyotes, will now be
called the Utah Mammoth, which is unique.
Those jerseys are sick. It's I'm glad it's not another
(20:12):
team name that ends in an S We're getting away from the team
names that end in an S like likewe just had to Seattle Kraken.
Now we have the Mammoth like we're getting more unique team
names. And I'm a big fan of that.
I'm not a big fan of how they got to Utah, but I am a fan of
of the name specifically. Yeah, I know it's sick.
Oh yeah, the the one with the one with the mammoth on the
front. Both of them, even the Utah with
(20:35):
like the like horizontal linings, they're, they're clean
jerseys. Yeah, I just, I can't get over
just how they got there. I will say the Utah with the
Tusk looks sick. Yeah, the alternate logo.
I'm a fan of that. That, that looks really good.
I just they could have gotten toUtah in a different way and we
could still have hockey in the desert.
(20:56):
But we have we don't. So it's it's annoying how things
work. OK, well, let's go into the rest
of the series. So we have Shane Boz against
Christopher Sanchez today. We have Ryan Pepeo against Jesus
Lizardo tomorrow. And then over the weekend, it's,
I'm trying to think Zac Latell against Jose Quintana, Taj
Bradley against Freddy Peralta and then Drew Rashmussen against
(21:19):
former Rays prospect Tobias Myers.
A little bit of an interesting situation there.
But going to the rest of the series and then we can go into
the Milwaukee series. What like the Rays have two
lefties that they're going to befacing.
We've already, we already know specifically this season the
Rays have had their struggles against lefties.
What needs to be done in order for them to to try to squeak out
(21:41):
a win against either of these guys?
I think the main thing against aguy like Jesus Lozardo, you got
to make contact earlier in the earlier in the count.
And I think this is probably that they'll, it's something
they have to probably prep for and they're like pregame
meetings now. They're doing that a lot this
year. You cannot let Jesus Lozardo get
to 2 strikes and throw the sweeper.
It's one of the most devastatingpitches of baseball right now.
So I think a guy like that, Amber, the fastball early, you
(22:05):
know, take pitches clearly out of the zone, get yourself a
hitters count and try and do damage early because when you
get to 2 strikes against him, especially this year, he's
borderline unhittable. Yeah, I definitely agree with
that. Lizardo has been really, I mean,
even like he's always had stuff and it just seems like over time
he's really mastered his craft and then also found a way to
(22:26):
like rein in himself so that whatever erratic stuff was
happening when he was in Oaklandstarted to dissipate way more
when he was in Miami. And now that he's been traded to
creating one of the best pitching stabs in baseball, I
think he's really found himself not especially not as like a as
like a number one in the rotation, but what it's like a
#3 #4 right now behind Wheeler and and and Nola and I guess
(22:49):
Sanchez would be in front of him.
Yeah, I mean, you could even. Christopher Sanchez is like
what? Probably the best #4 starter in
baseball. Shout out Ray's legend
Christopher Sanchez. Man, that one stinks.
Man. I wonder, I wonder who the Rays
got in that trade. You know, you really gotta
wonder. I wonder how he's doing at the
Major League level, you know? I, I, I think against the
(23:10):
lefties, I think it's just making contact early.
I will say though, against the Royals, I don't know if you
watched that game, Major League debut for the lefty, every time
that he fell behind and counts dude, they they ended up getting
on base. So I think this is you.
You have to make very solid contact early on the counts,
especially with a guy like Christopher Sanchez who had I
(23:32):
think 20 whiffs, let alone on his change up this year in one
start and Jesus Cesaro who has one of the best sweepers in
baseball. I think this is you got to
capitalize early on the fastballand not get to two strike counts
against both those guys because they are devastating.
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And let's get back to this latest episode of Raise the
Roof. Yeah.
And these are also two series against, or, you know, two more
games left against a good team that's going to be a playoff
(24:36):
contender. You have another team coming up
who I don't know where Milwaukeeis in the standings, but
Milwaukee's been a perennial playoff contender for the last
decade to 15 years. So both of those teams are very
good going into because I don't know if we're going to be able
to record. I mean, hopefully we'll be able
to record before the Brewer series or sometime in the middle
of the Brewer series. But I mean, in that series
(24:56):
specifically, you have a couple of interesting arms.
I think Myers is the most interesting arm out of the bunch
considering that he was the one who who got the garnered the
Rays Junior Caminero out of thattrade.
And now he's bounced around. He's on Milwaukee now.
He's pitching really well with Milwaukee.
What have you seen out of him? Because I know that you follow
you. You follow the greater scheme of
(25:18):
or the greater scope of baseballmore than I.
Yeah, not so much him, but I know talking to Overdue Sports
on Twitter, he's a big Brewers fan.
Just mixing his pitches a lot better this year.
The stuff is seeing an increase,but just mixing his pitches.
And do we face Frey Peralta on that series?
Yes, yeah, that, that'll be really fun to watch.
(25:39):
Freddie Peralta has been absolutely insane this year.
And he's, I mean, you can make an argument he's like a top
three underrated pitcher in baseball.
That's a match up I'm really looking forward to.
But yeah, Tobias Meyer mixing his pitches differently, just
finding more success inside the strike zone and and his stuff is
playing a lot better. Yeah, Peralta's been a really
interesting guy over the years because like he's all I I feel
(26:01):
like he's always had the stuff and it's like more recently he's
really started to figure himselfout and put together some really
good years. Like I know 2021 is probably his
best year above anything, but yeah, the way that this year is
trending already, it's going to be his best season because I
know he put up basically like a four war that year.
So if he can do anything, he he's basically already had a 2
(26:21):
war and he's not even through 10starts.
So I mean kids been an absolute that that's the he's going to
face off against Taj that game. So that'll.
That's like a mark on the calendar that's I love that
pitching match up. Yeah, that should be really
interesting, especially with like if Taj can rein things in
and start getting those swings and misses, that is going to be
(26:41):
a really fun match up. IA 100% agree with you on that.
What about their offense though,Because I know that it's not.
I mean, you lose Willie in the offseason, which is, you know,
one of the one, one of the biggest offensive contributors.
I think that Yelich has started out 2025 pretty well.
But like, other than that, I mean, like Bryce Tarrang comes
(27:03):
to mind. Like there, there's not really
anyone that I would think would be like, Oh my God, this team is
going to be this, this ferociously deadly offense.
Right. I mean, I would I would just
circle Jackson Cheerio. Yeah, I forgot about.
Wow, I'm an idiot. No.
Pitch, pitch around Jackson Cheerio.
Don't get William Contreras. Don't let him get hot.
(27:23):
I I mean, I think this is a series that the Rays like could,
could definitely win. I think, like I said, if Taj
just throws first pitch strikes and gets ahead and counts, I
think he should do fantastic against the Brewers.
But yeah, circle Jackson Churio,circle Christian Yelich, Bryce
trying has been really good to start the year.
But I mean, yeah, their offense is definitely not as good as as
it was last year. I mean, Willie Domas hit what,
(27:45):
30 plus home runs last year, so they're definitely missing that.
But yeah, circle Christian Yelich, circle Jackson Cheerio
heading counts. I think this is a series the
Rays are more than able to to win.
Yeah, I'm looking at a Terranx having a solid season, Cheerios
having a solid season. Yellow, which is batting 200
with a sub 700 OPS, is not great.
Hoskins is. I I complete there, there's
(28:06):
guys. Has been really good.
Yeah, I forgot that they had him.
Like, I should have known that they had him.
He's batting like 270 with 800 OPS.
Jake Bauer somehow is has an 860OPS and has three bombs this
year. Like, of course, Sal Frelich has
been very solid. Not really like crazy power, but
he's got 7. He's got eight extra base hits,
(28:27):
including two triples, which lead the team.
So pretty impressive that trailer's got 13 already.
And I'm Jackson Cheerio's so good.
And I mean, this is a guy that Ithink could win MVPS over the
course of his career. He's still so young and and I
think potentially even improve on what he did last year in the
second-half. Like Jackson, Cheerio's arguably
one of the best outfielders in baseball right now.
(28:48):
He does not walk though. No, it's it's it's bad even like
Michael Harris are like one and two of like worst walk rates
over the last two years like he's got.
Two walks this year. Yeah, that's, that's, that's not
good. It's like, it's almost like
Jacob Wilson, like they they both make contact really early
and counts. You know, we're going to, Yeah.
I was going to say Jacob Wilson the dog this year, man, I really
(29:10):
wish, you know, honestly, I I can't, I can't say I wish I was
an A's fan because that would bethe worst thing to say.
But like, the A's are damn good this year.
It's just the everything else, the team is great.
The everything else surrounding them is horrid.
Horrible. Yeah, no, the A's are.
I mean, we, I'm not going to go super deep into it because I
talk about the A's for an hour, but the A's are so fun to watch
(29:32):
with Lawrence Butler. Jacob Wilson, he's.
Got 6 points this year. Yeah, yeah, he's, I can't say
enough about Jacob Wilson. He's, he's insane.
Like, doesn't strike out, doesn't swing a miss on
fastballs, which is incredible for a guy that's, you know, very
young and in his rookie year. But yeah, the A's are a really
fun ball club to watch. Yeah, too bad they're not in
Oakland. Brutal.
(29:53):
Yeah. Yeah.
So 2 very interesting series coming up, some very interesting
pitching matchups. I'm curious to see how Papio's
going to do. I think that's a guy that I'm
definitely going to try to circle on the calendar more
often because I know that he gotthe opening day started, was
kind of just out of necessity considering that Shane wasn't,
you know, available. But I feel like he's a very.
(30:15):
And you can, you know, talk moreabout him, but I feel like he's
a very interesting guy, especially if he can kind of
reign things in and get back to where he was last year.
This is a guy who I feel like could be a very solid #2 #3
starter. And he hasn't.
I wouldn't say he hasn't fully looked like that this year, but
he's definitely shown plenty of signs that he can be that.
(30:35):
Oh yeah, I mean, last year we saw it in the Colorado game, you
know, striking out 10 plus that course is unbelievable.
He had a start against the Red Sox where he had an Immaculate
inning, 10 + K's. Ryan Peppio has like one of the
best fastballs in baseball, getsa ton of IVP on it, carries
very, very well throughout the zone.
It was a top 10 fastball in all of Major League Baseball last
year and he was really good lastyear and he didn't even really
(30:58):
have command of his change up. So like I said, another one of
those guys get ahead and counts,allow your change up to play
inside and outside the strike zone.
His his sliders looked really good this year too.
So yeah, Ryan Pepio has the makeup to be like, I would even
say like a top 25 to top 30, sort of like his makeup is
really good. And his, I mean, there's,
(31:18):
there's games where he can rely on his fastball because it's
such a dominant pitch through the zone, especially at the top
of the zone. Yeah, fully agree.
OK, before we end the podcast, we usually do our pick a player
for this series and you can be, it can be one throughout the
rest of the week. It can be one for just a Philly
series, whatever it might be. We usually do a pitcher and a
hitter. So feel free to pick.
(31:39):
Who would your guy like? Who would you pick as guys to
watch out for? Guys that you're kind of riding
for over the next couple games? Do you want me to do Phillies or
Milwaukee? No both, but just raise guys
specifically any. Yeah, I would.
I mean, I think Junior Caminero could have a couple of decent
games against some lefties. I think getting ahead in the
(31:59):
count, I think he's more than capable of handling a first or
second pitch, fastball and driving out of the ballpark.
And I think in the Milwaukee series, I think Brandon has a
great series Brand Lau, the batsare getting a lot better.
He's first double the year. Last year he had the opposite
field home run in San Diego. I think he gotta look for
Brandon Lau to get going on thatMilwaukee series.
I think what Shane Bass starts tonight.
(32:21):
Let me see. Yeah.
Yep. Baz is on the mountain tonight.
Yeah, I think, I think Shane Bozcould definitely have a very
solid start. And I mean, we just kind of
touched on it too. The Taj Bradley, Freddy
Perrault's matchup, that's like a must circle.
I think you can see Taj Taj Bradley going going out there,
you know, 6 plus KS over 66 inning baseball.
(32:41):
I think he could have a fantastic start.
So definitely junior these next two games against lefties Shane,
Shane boss tonight. I think he can have a bounce
back start and Brandon Lau against the Brewers.
I think Brandon Lau could definitely get going next
series. Yeah, well.
I always pick B Lau because that's my guy, and I'm sure that
if he was watching what's going on with Maryland baseball right
now, he'd not be happy with it considering what he experienced
(33:04):
when he was in college. But yes, B yeah, I'm definitely
riding with what you're talking about with B Lau.
The problem is he's so incredibly St. he and it's it's
it's I I feel it's become more polarizing over time, which is
really concerning. But again, just hoping for the
best there, hoping for a lot of success out of him on the
pitching side of things, man. I mean, I would say angler just
(33:27):
because I know that Kat and and we've talked about so many times
in the podcast where like if a guy just doesn't have a good out
and cash will throw him immediately back out there to
try to get that confidence back up.
But Garrett Clevenger, I'll go with him.
I know his fastball's been picking up this year.
It looks like he's got some really plus stuff and whatever
he did last season, I think he'sreally improved upon that and
(33:49):
he's become a much better reliever and, and a much needed
reliever for this team. So I, if there's anyone that I
would pick in terms of that, I'dprobably go with him.
I, I try to switch things out. Also, I wanted to give my
flowers to Lattell. I know that he's very I feel
like he's very much like the oddpitcher out in this rotation,
but like he just tossed 7 and looked like an absolute stud.
(34:13):
And like again, he's not a guy that is going to give you
anything crazy, but like for what he's worth and what he's
been over the last couple years with this team, he has been more
than enough of a serviceable pitcher and considering.
The most valuable pitcher on theteam.
Like, yeah, I know the stuff isn't there.
He doesn't get K's, but like you, you can't discredit what
he's done. He's been way more than the race
(34:35):
could have asked for the last, you know, year and a half now.
Yeah, and considering that they had Savali and TA, and they both
use them as starters, like Letelle blows both of them at
the water, he's not even close. So yeah, I just wanted to get my
flowers to the top. But with that being said, it's
going to conclude things in thislatest episode, the podcast.
Ethan, thank you as always for coming on.
(34:56):
Appreciate all that you do and obviously your insight.
Wanted to make sure that we obviously give you a plug to
make sure everyone can follow you.
Where can people follow you? What you got going on?
Just OPS under score baseball and X and I started a show with
Toby Shulman. It's called Inside the Diamond.
You can find it in my bio. We've been trying to do that
(35:18):
once a week, but yeah, just mainly Twitter and and the live
show. Perfect.
All right, Well, again, Ethan, thank you so much for coming on.
We appreciate it as always, man.Continued success.
And I know we'll get you on plenty more times this season.
And for everyone listening, it'sgoing to conclude things in this
latest episode of Raise the Roof.
We appreciate you guys, as always for your support.
If you guys don't follow what wegot going on on social media,
(35:40):
we're at Raise the Roof TV pretty much everywhere.
That's Twitter slash X Instagramblue sky and then also raise the
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(36:01):
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Helps us out too. With all that being said, thanks
so much for listening in. As always, Raise up.
It's time to raise the roof for our latest regular season
episode. Welcome back everyone to the
pod. I'm your host, Alex Murphy with
me today. We have a special guest in the
podcast. We've had him on before.
Hopefully we're going to get himon many times moving forward
this season. You guys know him.
If you guys don't know him on social media at this point, you
live under a rock. It's Ethan Penn AKA running from
(00:35):
the OPS on Twitter slash X Ethan, how have you been?
I know it's been a little bit since we last talked, but how we
doing man? Doing good, just wrapped up
school, hopefully graduate at the end of the year and nothing
better than just coming on and talking to baseball this
morning. For sure, for sure.
Also Congrats on on finishing things up.
When are you supposed to? When is the graduation
everything supposed to happen? Around August, so hopefully
(00:58):
around August I'll I'll be readyto graduate which.
There we go. There we go.
Well, yeah. So from happy news to sad news
or I, I don't even know if we want to consider it sad news.
But in talking about the Rays, because the last time that we
recorded this podcast, it was right before, actually, it was
just me, but it was right beforethe Royals series.
The Rays ended up getting swept by the Royals and then ended up
(01:18):
taking two or three against the Yankees.
Now we are in back at home in Tampa.
The Rays lost the first game of their series against the
Phillies. Ethan, started with last week.
What are your thoughts about just what this team is?
I know it seems like we really don't know and I'm I know
injuries play a big part in that, but especially last week,
were there any trends, anything like that that you ended up
(01:40):
seeing? I would say just overall
recently, this is probably the first race team I would say
since watching, I don't know, since like maybe 2004, 2005,
they're not striking guys out the last like 1516 games.
Their K numbers are way down andI know a lot of it is like, you
know, getting ahead of the count, starting off with that
first pitch strike, but you're seeing a lot of guys in two
(02:02):
strike counts just not putting guys away.
And that's just separating I think the race from a lot of the
better teams at baseball right now.
Until they do that, they might start struggling even a little
bit more because you got to put guys away in two strike counts.
And just the the pitch sequencing recently has been has
been very odd. I do think it'll improve, but
that's something that I've seen the last 15 or so games, they
haven't been striking guys out. Is there like, do you know
(02:24):
there? I mean, you mentioned the kind
of the pitch selection is that would that be the biggest thing
like guys like Taj maybe aren't you know, having that out pitch
to be able to use like he's usedbefore or Drew or anyone else?
Yeah, I would. I mean, I would like the stuff
and everything looks fine like IVB, like their horizontal
vertical brakes, stuff like that.
But I think, I think it's just the pitch selection and even in
(02:46):
Taj's last outing, like he was, he was really good.
But he Taj needs to get ahead and counts when Taj gets behind
and counts as we were seeing a lot of damage done on him giving
up a lot of extra base hits, himwalking guys on the splitter,
not looking sharp. So I think for a lot of these
guys, it's just it's just getting ahead and counts, right.
I mean, even Drew last night, like when he was I think he had
three, three walks last night. It was just more so falling
(03:09):
behind and counts a lot of I think he had back-to-back thirty
pitch innings. So the stuff for all these guys
is there. I think they'll have no problem
striking guys out, you know, down along the road, but I think
some pitch sequencing needs to be to be looked at because they
haven't been putting guys away. Yeah, that is pretty
uncharacteristic for Drew to to I like I know he was able to get
(03:29):
nearly through 5 innings yesterday, but it definitely
seems really uncharacteristic tosee him in that sort of way
knowing the kind of pitcher thathe is and what he's shown early
on this season. Again, we're talking about a guy
who was like 2 years removed from or, you know, was like a
year removed from from not pitching at all and surgery and
all that stuff. So I'm sure that the race want
to aid with caution or? Last night was his first start,
(03:52):
not finishing five. I mean, it was just I mean, the
Phillies are a tough ball club And we, I mean, another reason
maybe why the K's are down is just because the Royals don't
strike out a lot. San Diego doesn't, Arizona
didn't. So those are teams that the
Yankees do. But those are three teams that
really, you know, don't are, arenot really susceptible to the
case. But yeah, Drew last time as the
first outing, he hasn't finishedfive.
(04:13):
I mean, to his credit to a very tough Phillies ball club.
Yeah. Were you frustrated?
Because like when I watched the,I remember going back to the
Royal series, specifically when I watched that series, I felt
really frustrated. And I felt this way many times
this season about just opportunities that the race have
had to try to capitalize and it just hasn't what happened.
I know runnerson scoring position or with runnerson
(04:35):
scoring position, their average has actually been one of the
better in baseball, which is surprising considering where
this team was last year. But then you look at the guys
who have come up the most with that.
And I know Evan Klosky just put out, if you guys don't know,
Evan Klosky, one of the best minds in the area in terms of
just covering the Rays from ATB perspective.
(04:56):
I think he said like the guys who have come up like Walls has
had like the third most at bats of any race player with runners
in scoring position this season.So like the guys who have come
up with runners in scoring position, maybe like the average
is there, but the actual qualityof player that's at the plate
has not always been consistent throughout.
And like I said, going back to that Royal series, I just felt
(05:18):
very frustrated with having opportunities to do something,
to do damage, and then nothing comes of it.
I mean I would even say like allowing guys that haven't been
doing well offensively just to continuously get at bats.
Like right Taylor Wall saw multiple at bats in that series
with runners in scoring position.
And you can even go last night like Ben Roark vet, you get 2
runners on. He's still getting in at bat
(05:39):
against the lefty and he's hitting under 100 right now and
he has had I think a splashdown with a raise of like 150 and no
dare discredits him. He's obviously a fantastic MLB
ball player for his specific niche, but I think you got to
give some of these ABS to guys that are more susceptible to
getting hits with Rogers in scoring position.
I I think there were a couple instances in the Royals series
(06:01):
where we saw it was like, how isthis guy getting in that bat?
1, the matchup wasn't good, and two, the production hasn't been
there this year. Yeah.
And then, and then we're also seeing guys regrets like, like,
like Cameron Meisner, who what was it like 3 for 36 or three in
his last three for 30 days? Yeah.
I mean, just like, did you expect something like that to
happen with a guy like that, knowing that a hot start, unless
(06:24):
you're like Aaron Judge, a hot start like that is
unsustainable. Yeah, I mean, I, I mean,
obviously he was going to regress.
There's no way he was going to hit 370 all year.
The K thing is a little concerning because this is a guy
that's had like A20K rate in theminors, but I'm not really too
worried about it. I don't think this is where it's
going to be like he's consistently doing this.
(06:45):
And I mean, even on Twitter, like you see too, right?
I think there's so much negativity going around the
team, like when Joshua comes back, when Hassan Kim comes
back, when Rishi Plasios comes back, Shane Mcclanahan and even
some of these guys like Brandon Laos starting to get some extra
base that he had a double last night.
We saw an opposite field home run in the San Diego series.
I think this team is capable of playing a lot better baseball.
(07:07):
And I think it also starts with those those guys striking guys
out, putting them away, not allowing them to put the ball in
play, you know, with two strikes, with two outs and
getting extra runs. I mean, even the Phillies last
night had multiple two strike hits to to get bronze across the
board. Yeah.
And then also with that, you have a bunch of guys and I, I
don't like the the idea of usinginjuries as a way to like as an
(07:31):
excuse, but I think it's important to bring up the
injuries for the race perspective because again, I
think that they're good enough to be able to rattle off wins
with the guys that they have on the field.
But the guys that they don't have on the field is pretty
significant. Josh Lowe I know is going to be,
what was it Thursday? He's going to be making a rehab
stint or starting his rehab stint in Durham.
Kevin Kelly's still a couple weeks out, Mangum's a couple
(07:53):
weeks out. That one's a killer as of right
now. Like, who would have thought
Jake Mangum would be as much of A sparkle?
I mean, I was hoping he would bebecause I was really happy that
we got him on the pod and I think he would have been it
would have been great. But like still like, who would
have known that that would have been the case?
Kim still a ways away from coming back.
Shane is still a ways away from coming back.
Like Richie, I don't even know. Like no one has any idea what's
(08:17):
going on with Richie. What was it DeLuca was taking T,
what was hitting off a tee? So like a lot of those guys,
especially guys in the outfield that were either starting pieces
or guys that replace the starting pieces are getting hurt
and and aren't available. And I'm just like, what's your
confidence level at with the guys currently on the roster?
(08:40):
What's your confidence level at compared to if we were to add a
couple of guys that are currently on the ILI?
Mean, I, I don't think, like I said, I think the team has cable
performing like a lot better. Like there's some of the line
UPS that they're rolling out. Even with all these guys hurt.
It's like this. I mean, this line up is capable
of of beating A-Team And really last night, I mean, even with,
you know, angler didn't have hishis best outing.
(09:02):
But if that didn't happen, like that's a four four-game going
into the 9th inning. Like the, the roster that is on
the field. Granted, if they're playing
Caballero more at shortstop and allowing him to get more ABS,
having Aranda consistently hit no matter if it's against a
lefty or righty and just giving,you know, more bats to a guy
like Danny Jansen. Like I, I don't think this team
(09:24):
is, is as bad as as people are making it out to be.
And I think they're capable of performing a lot better.
I mean, the pitching is going tobe good.
The bullpen's been kind of shaky, but the race always have
a good bullpen and the lineup ismore than the capable of putting
up runs. I mean, Yanny Diaz, the last
like 20 or so games is hitting over 300 with like a 400 on
base. Like he's starting to heat up.
Brandon Law will start to heat up.
Junior Caminero's nowhere near to his Max capability right now.
(09:45):
Once he gets going, it's going to be special.
So I I think this team is more than capable capable of of
winning games until some of those big guys come back.
Yeah, and I will say it was veryindicative over the weekend when
they play the Yankees. I think that that's the caliber
of team that we can see out of the Rays, a team that can win
close games and then a team thatcan also blow A-Team out and get
some runs on the board. I know it got a little bit shaky
(10:06):
there as the game went on after they went out.
What was it like 7172 in that game?
Yeah, I was. I was like, I really hope we
don't blow this because Twitter would have gone nuts.
Yeah, like that was a little bitshaky.
I know people are starting to have more heart palpitations by
the day when it's when watching Pete, Pete Fairbench on the
mound. Personally, I don't really see
(10:28):
that as much because I'm kind of, I guess I'm used to it at
this point. But like also I can understand
it to an extent. But yeah, like that series
against the Yankees, I think is a really good look into what the
Rays can be moving forward. Like, was there anything?
So going away from the Royals series, let's let's go away from
that. How encouraged were you by how
they played in the Bronx? I I thought that was fantastic,
(10:51):
to be honest. I mean, Judge, I mean, and this
is with Judge, like hitting a home run.
The last game I think he went 2 for four with the walk.
Like the fact that they were still able to go into the Bronx,
especially having a really bad series against the Royals, going
in there and and, and taking that series against a really
good Yankees ballclub where theyfaced Max Freed.
Like, I think that's very encouraging.
(11:12):
And I think to your point, like you just spoke about, I think it
is an overall perspective on what we can see from this team
going out and scrapping and winning close games, playing,
you know, great defense is one of the best defensive teams in
Major League Baseball. And Taj Bradley, granted, didn't
get a lot of KS 7 innings against the Yankees.
It's one of the best offenses inMajor League Baseball.
So I think, like I said, there is some negativity.
(11:35):
I I, I get it. I watch the games too with, you
know, with some of the people making their opinions on
Twitter. But yeah, the the New York
series is really, really encouraging.
I think this is more, you know, of what we can see from this
team. Yeah.
And then also with that, Taylor Walls had a four hit game and
yeah, I, I think, I think pigs flew in the Bronx personally.
(11:56):
And then we go into yesterday and I I guess the glove flip.
I I don't understand that. Like there was a clear play to
first base that he could have made to get a shore out and
considering that his momentum was pushing him towards first
base. So I don't understand the whole
thought process there. But like that was frustrating
because like he had such a good game on Sunday, easily his best
(12:17):
game of the season in terms of just overall production.
You'd probably. Go close your.
Game honestly, yeah, I mean might be wait, did did you say
like the best game in his career?
I would, yeah. I mean, I would say so.
I mean, I think that's his second four hit game and I mean,
he played great. I don't know if that was like a
Taylor Rolls really Legacy game.That was insane.
Yeah, yeah. So like you have that and then
(12:38):
like 2 days later you have this and it's just really frustrating
because like you just want like I'm not even asking for a lot.
I was put in the raised discord.I was like if he just hit like
220 and gave us like a 600 OPS, like I'd be more than fine with
that. And like, the bar has lowered so
much over time and it's just so brutal because again, like, if
he's going to play on this team,I want him to be successful.
(13:00):
Regardless of I think everyone does.
Yeah, right. Yeah.
So like to watch him just sufferas much as he has and especially
with runners who's growing business, I feel like if he
wasn't up to the plate as often in those situations, we wouldn't
especially this season, we wouldn't have the same feelings
about him as maybe we have had like as, as we currently do.
(13:22):
So like I'm sure that that helpsilluminate it.
But again, it's just it's frustrating.
I don't want to keep, I definitely don't want to try to
dwell on him any more than that.But the catching position has
also been incredibly brillo. As you said, word vet has been
awful this season. Jansen has been nowhere close to
where the Rays expected him whenthey signed him during the
offseason. So like, you have multiple
(13:42):
positions now that again, the same thing as before, multiple
positions that are underperforming.
And as of right now, the Rays don't have solutions for it.
Yeah, I've been very disappointed with with Danny
Jansen, but I think, I mean, I think he's more than capable of
turning it around and even the the series on the West Coast,
like he had so many balls hit right to the warning track and
(14:04):
even against the Royals right tothe warning track.
Like realistically, if the wind hasn't bump been bowing in at at
Steinbrenner, like should probably have at least three or
four home runs. I know that as a whole, they
can't throw runners out. I think that's really not good.
The Rays do steal a lot of bases, but also completely
negates it when you're allowing almost 1 1/2 stolen bases per
(14:24):
game. Yeah, it's not good at all.
Yeah, and I mean, he's a, he's agood pitch caller, he's a good
blocker. But like, also to the point,
it's like, why aren't these guysstriking guys out?
Like Taj Bradley has had, I think back-to-back games with
under 3 KS. Yeah, that's that's weird for
him. That's like, really weird for
him. I, I don't know, like I said, it
has to be pitch sequencing because the stuff is, is there,
(14:46):
but you got to wonder if maybe it's game calling at the same
time. But yeah, I think Danny Jansen's
more than capable of playing better.
And Ben Rorfit does call a good game and he's a good pitch
framer. But yeah, it, it's more of the
same of what we saw last year. Like I, I don't want to repeat
the 2024 Rays where there was times where they could have
potentially strung, you know, togo together a couple wins, but
(15:08):
having lackluster shortstop and and catcher, you know, success
is, is obviously hurting this team.
Yeah, and then of course everything like the outfield,
you know, the injuries definitely just continue to pile
up on that as someone who doesn't live in the area, but
someone who has seen like who has been down enough and has
(15:29):
also seen what the hell is goingon this decent.
Like it was this expected that the wind was going to be like
this and they were going to haveto play like that because again,
you're someone who's from the area enough.
But this is the first time that any team outside of like the
Tarpon to I don't know if anyonegoes to their games.
And this is like when they were at Steinbrenner before, Like
(15:49):
just no one across the board. I checked like I think last
year, the Florida State League averaged like less than 800 fans
a game. The like, like per game for any
team across the board. So like, has this been always
what it's been like in terms of how just the elements in the
weather has coincided with Steinbrenner?
(16:10):
Because clearly like the Rays don't haven't figured it out yet
and it's been in like just over a month at this point.
Yeah, I mean, yeah, I would say to an extent, but I I mean, I
know you watch the games too. Yeah.
Even the ball that junior hit last night, like I thought that
ball was gone. And he's had two or three this
year. Danny Jansen has had.
(16:30):
I mean, you could probably make like a one minute compilation of
Danny Jansen warning track shotsat Steinbrenner.
It's it's ridiculous, like, and a lot too is like some of those
minor league games are played a little bit earlier.
So the win like might not be as much of a factor.
I didn't expect it to be this bad.
Like there's so many games whereboth teams should be leaving the
(16:52):
yard and they're and they're notdoing it because the win has
absolutely killed the baseball. Yeah.
Now, I will say I think it's interesting if we compare
consider like they're not I, I found out that the dimensions of
Steinbrenner and the dimensions of the Yankee Stadium are not
carbon copies of each other. They're like almost the same,
but not the same at the same, you know, at the same time, I
(17:15):
think we have to take more into account what exists at Yankee
Stadium and what doesn't exist at Steinbrenner, which is seats.
Right. Where where everything is
located, there's no Bleacher seats in the outfield, there's
no, there's no triple deck configuration down the line,
nothing like that. So I think that that changes up
the jet stream significantly to where home runs will go out
(17:38):
there more consistently. When you have what you have at
Steinbrenner, which is essentially just an open air
outfield where there, there are some things built up, but not
nearly to that extent. I wonder if that is the
reasoning for why everything is so different, because it's just
you have one one way of a jet stream in the Bronx, and then
you have a completely different one just based on how everything
(18:00):
is configured in Tampa. And I wonder if that's the
reason why maybe that caught theRays off guard, considering that
they've played in the Bronx so many times that, you know, maybe
that's really the key is whatever exists there does not
exist here. Oh yeah, I mean, 100% even the
Guardians last year got a lot oflike, I guess slack from it.
(18:21):
They created their own jet stream in their ballpark to
increase home runs. So 100% not having, you know,
those I guess blockers for the wind, you know, your triple
backs, you're having seats in the outfield.
I think it's definitely affecting the flight of the
ball. I mean, there's, there's no way
around that. Yeah, I mean, and that's
definitely brutal. And like, like I said, we've
seen teams be able to exploit itand be able to be successful.
(18:45):
But at the same time, the Rays just whatever, for whatever
reason, just haven't figured it out.
So I guess if they like they've played 23 games there, which is
the most out of anyone in baseball, I'm almost positive.
So that's more than 1/4 of theirgames at home have already been
played this season. So at some point they have to
figure it out Like it's been we're a month, you know, we're
(19:06):
like 6 weeks into the season at this point.
Clearly it hasn't really worked out that well.
They're 9 and 14 at homecoming into tonight's game as of this
recording, because we're recording on on Wednesday.
So none of that's going well right now, but hopefully
somehow, someway, they'll figureit out over the course of time.
Yeah. I mean, I just think this team
is cable playing a lot better. I really do believe that and a
(19:32):
lot of I think some of those balls like especially maybe in
like like day games potentially coming up during the season,
like you'll, you'll see the ballleave the the yard a lot more.
Yeah, yeah, for sure. Now going into the rest of this
Philly series and then over the weekend, because I'm pretty sure
the Brewers are coming in, let me go check up ESPN to see the
pitching probable. Also side note, did you see that
(19:52):
the Utah finally changed the name for their hockey team?
Did you see the new jerseys? I have seen the jerseys, but for
those that don't know if they didn't already see it, the Utah
Hockey Club, formerly the Arizona Coyotes, will now be
called the Utah Mammoth, which is unique.
Those jerseys are sick. It's I'm glad it's not another
(20:12):
team name that ends in an S We're getting away from the team
names that end in an S like likewe just had to Seattle Kraken.
Now we have the Mammoth like we're getting more unique team
names. And I'm a big fan of that.
I'm not a big fan of how they got to Utah, but I am a fan of
of the name specifically. Yeah, I know it's sick.
Oh yeah, the the one with the one with the mammoth on the
front. Both of them, even the Utah with
(20:35):
like the like horizontal linings, they're, they're clean
jerseys. Yeah, I just, I can't get over
just how they got there. I will say the Utah with the
Tusk looks sick. Yeah, the alternate logo.
I'm a fan of that. That, that looks really good.
I just they could have gotten toUtah in a different way and we
could still have hockey in the desert.
(20:56):
But we have we don't. So it's it's annoying how things
work. OK, well, let's go into the rest
of the series. So we have Shane Boz against
Christopher Sanchez today. We have Ryan Pepeo against Jesus
Lizardo tomorrow. And then over the weekend, it's,
I'm trying to think Zac Latell against Jose Quintana, Taj
Bradley against Freddy Peralta and then Drew Rashmussen against
(21:19):
former Rays prospect Tobias Myers.
A little bit of an interesting situation there.
But going to the rest of the series and then we can go into
the Milwaukee series. What like the Rays have two
lefties that they're going to befacing.
We've already, we already know specifically this season the
Rays have had their struggles against lefties.
What needs to be done in order for them to to try to squeak out
(21:41):
a win against either of these guys?
I think the main thing against aguy like Jesus Lozardo, you got
to make contact earlier in the earlier in the count.
And I think this is probably that they'll, it's something
they have to probably prep for and they're like pregame
meetings now. They're doing that a lot this
year. You cannot let Jesus Lozardo get
to 2 strikes and throw the sweeper.
It's one of the most devastatingpitches of baseball right now.
So I think a guy like that, Amber, the fastball early, you
(22:05):
know, take pitches clearly out of the zone, get yourself a
hitters count and try and do damage early because when you
get to 2 strikes against him, especially this year, he's
borderline unhittable. Yeah, I definitely agree with
that. Lizardo has been really, I mean,
even like he's always had stuff and it just seems like over time
he's really mastered his craft and then also found a way to
(22:26):
like rein in himself so that whatever erratic stuff was
happening when he was in Oaklandstarted to dissipate way more
when he was in Miami. And now that he's been traded to
creating one of the best pitching stabs in baseball, I
think he's really found himself not especially not as like a as
like a number one in the rotation, but what it's like a
#3 #4 right now behind Wheeler and and and Nola and I guess
(22:49):
Sanchez would be in front of him.
Yeah, I mean, you could even. Christopher Sanchez is like
what? Probably the best #4 starter in
baseball. Shout out Ray's legend
Christopher Sanchez. Man, that one stinks.
Man. I wonder, I wonder who the Rays
got in that trade. You know, you really gotta
wonder. I wonder how he's doing at the
Major League level, you know? I, I, I think against the
(23:10):
lefties, I think it's just making contact early.
I will say though, against the Royals, I don't know if you
watched that game, Major League debut for the lefty, every time
that he fell behind and counts dude, they they ended up getting
on base. So I think this is you.
You have to make very solid contact early on the counts,
especially with a guy like Christopher Sanchez who had I
(23:32):
think 20 whiffs, let alone on his change up this year in one
start and Jesus Cesaro who has one of the best sweepers in
baseball. I think this is you got to
capitalize early on the fastballand not get to two strike counts
against both those guys because they are devastating.
Hi everyone, Alex here with a quick word from our sponsor
(23:52):
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And let's get back to this latest episode of Raise the
Roof. Yeah.
And these are also two series against, or, you know, two more
games left against a good team that's going to be a playoff
(24:36):
contender. You have another team coming up
who I don't know where Milwaukeeis in the standings, but
Milwaukee's been a perennial playoff contender for the last
decade to 15 years. So both of those teams are very
good going into because I don't know if we're going to be able
to record. I mean, hopefully we'll be able
to record before the Brewer series or sometime in the middle
of the Brewer series. But I mean, in that series
(24:56):
specifically, you have a couple of interesting arms.
I think Myers is the most interesting arm out of the bunch
considering that he was the one who who got the garnered the
Rays Junior Caminero out of thattrade.
And now he's bounced around. He's on Milwaukee now.
He's pitching really well with Milwaukee.
What have you seen out of him? Because I know that you follow
you. You follow the greater scheme of
(25:18):
or the greater scope of baseballmore than I.
Yeah, not so much him, but I know talking to Overdue Sports
on Twitter, he's a big Brewers fan.
Just mixing his pitches a lot better this year.
The stuff is seeing an increase,but just mixing his pitches.
And do we face Frey Peralta on that series?
Yes, yeah, that, that'll be really fun to watch.
(25:39):
Freddie Peralta has been absolutely insane this year.
And he's, I mean, you can make an argument he's like a top
three underrated pitcher in baseball.
That's a match up I'm really looking forward to.
But yeah, Tobias Meyer mixing his pitches differently, just
finding more success inside the strike zone and and his stuff is
playing a lot better. Yeah, Peralta's been a really
interesting guy over the years because like he's all I I feel
(26:01):
like he's always had the stuff and it's like more recently he's
really started to figure himselfout and put together some really
good years. Like I know 2021 is probably his
best year above anything, but yeah, the way that this year is
trending already, it's going to be his best season because I
know he put up basically like a four war that year.
So if he can do anything, he he's basically already had a 2
(26:21):
war and he's not even through 10starts.
So I mean kids been an absolute that that's the he's going to
face off against Taj that game. So that'll.
That's like a mark on the calendar that's I love that
pitching match up. Yeah, that should be really
interesting, especially with like if Taj can rein things in
and start getting those swings and misses, that is going to be
(26:41):
a really fun match up. IA 100% agree with you on that.
What about their offense though,Because I know that it's not.
I mean, you lose Willie in the offseason, which is, you know,
one of the one, one of the biggest offensive contributors.
I think that Yelich has started out 2025 pretty well.
But like, other than that, I mean, like Bryce Tarrang comes
(27:03):
to mind. Like there, there's not really
anyone that I would think would be like, Oh my God, this team is
going to be this, this ferociously deadly offense.
Right. I mean, I would I would just
circle Jackson Cheerio. Yeah, I forgot about.
Wow, I'm an idiot. No.
Pitch, pitch around Jackson Cheerio.
Don't get William Contreras. Don't let him get hot.
(27:23):
I I mean, I think this is a series that the Rays like could,
could definitely win. I think, like I said, if Taj
just throws first pitch strikes and gets ahead and counts, I
think he should do fantastic against the Brewers.
But yeah, circle Jackson Churio,circle Christian Yelich, Bryce
trying has been really good to start the year.
But I mean, yeah, their offense is definitely not as good as as
it was last year. I mean, Willie Domas hit what,
(27:45):
30 plus home runs last year, so they're definitely missing that.
But yeah, circle Christian Yelich, circle Jackson Cheerio
heading counts. I think this is a series the
Rays are more than able to to win.
Yeah, I'm looking at a Terranx having a solid season, Cheerios
having a solid season. Yellow, which is batting 200
with a sub 700 OPS, is not great.
Hoskins is. I I complete there, there's
(28:06):
guys. Has been really good.
Yeah, I forgot that they had him.
Like, I should have known that they had him.
He's batting like 270 with 800 OPS.
Jake Bauer somehow is has an 860OPS and has three bombs this
year. Like, of course, Sal Frelich has
been very solid. Not really like crazy power, but
he's got 7. He's got eight extra base hits,
(28:27):
including two triples, which lead the team.
So pretty impressive that trailer's got 13 already.
And I'm Jackson Cheerio's so good.
And I mean, this is a guy that Ithink could win MVPS over the
course of his career. He's still so young and and I
think potentially even improve on what he did last year in the
second-half. Like Jackson, Cheerio's arguably
one of the best outfielders in baseball right now.
(28:48):
He does not walk though. No, it's it's it's bad even like
Michael Harris are like one and two of like worst walk rates
over the last two years like he's got.
Two walks this year. Yeah, that's, that's, that's not
good. It's like, it's almost like
Jacob Wilson, like they they both make contact really early
and counts. You know, we're going to, Yeah.
I was going to say Jacob Wilson the dog this year, man, I really
(29:10):
wish, you know, honestly, I I can't, I can't say I wish I was
an A's fan because that would bethe worst thing to say.
But like, the A's are damn good this year.
It's just the everything else, the team is great.
The everything else surrounding them is horrid.
Horrible. Yeah, no, the A's are.
I mean, we, I'm not going to go super deep into it because I
talk about the A's for an hour, but the A's are so fun to watch
(29:32):
with Lawrence Butler. Jacob Wilson, he's.
Got 6 points this year. Yeah, yeah, he's, I can't say
enough about Jacob Wilson. He's, he's insane.
Like, doesn't strike out, doesn't swing a miss on
fastballs, which is incredible for a guy that's, you know, very
young and in his rookie year. But yeah, the A's are a really
fun ball club to watch. Yeah, too bad they're not in
Oakland. Brutal.
(29:53):
Yeah. Yeah.
So 2 very interesting series coming up, some very interesting
pitching matchups. I'm curious to see how Papio's
going to do. I think that's a guy that I'm
definitely going to try to circle on the calendar more
often because I know that he gotthe opening day started, was
kind of just out of necessity considering that Shane wasn't,
you know, available. But I feel like he's a very.
(30:15):
And you can, you know, talk moreabout him, but I feel like he's
a very interesting guy, especially if he can kind of
reign things in and get back to where he was last year.
This is a guy who I feel like could be a very solid #2 #3
starter. And he hasn't.
I wouldn't say he hasn't fully looked like that this year, but
he's definitely shown plenty of signs that he can be that.
(30:35):
Oh yeah, I mean, last year we saw it in the Colorado game, you
know, striking out 10 plus that course is unbelievable.
He had a start against the Red Sox where he had an Immaculate
inning, 10 + K's. Ryan Peppio has like one of the
best fastballs in baseball, getsa ton of IVP on it, carries
very, very well throughout the zone.
It was a top 10 fastball in all of Major League Baseball last
year and he was really good lastyear and he didn't even really
(30:58):
have command of his change up. So like I said, another one of
those guys get ahead and counts,allow your change up to play
inside and outside the strike zone.
His his sliders looked really good this year too.
So yeah, Ryan Pepio has the makeup to be like, I would even
say like a top 25 to top 30, sort of like his makeup is
really good. And his, I mean, there's,
(31:18):
there's games where he can rely on his fastball because it's
such a dominant pitch through the zone, especially at the top
of the zone. Yeah, fully agree.
OK, before we end the podcast, we usually do our pick a player
for this series and you can be, it can be one throughout the
rest of the week. It can be one for just a Philly
series, whatever it might be. We usually do a pitcher and a
hitter. So feel free to pick.
(31:39):
Who would your guy like? Who would you pick as guys to
watch out for? Guys that you're kind of riding
for over the next couple games? Do you want me to do Phillies or
Milwaukee? No both, but just raise guys
specifically any. Yeah, I would.
I mean, I think Junior Caminero could have a couple of decent
games against some lefties. I think getting ahead in the
(31:59):
count, I think he's more than capable of handling a first or
second pitch, fastball and driving out of the ballpark.
And I think in the Milwaukee series, I think Brandon has a
great series Brand Lau, the batsare getting a lot better.
He's first double the year. Last year he had the opposite
field home run in San Diego. I think he gotta look for
Brandon Lau to get going on thatMilwaukee series.
I think what Shane Bass starts tonight.
(32:21):
Let me see. Yeah.
Yep. Baz is on the mountain tonight.
Yeah, I think, I think Shane Bozcould definitely have a very
solid start. And I mean, we just kind of
touched on it too. The Taj Bradley, Freddy
Perrault's matchup, that's like a must circle.
I think you can see Taj Taj Bradley going going out there,
you know, 6 plus KS over 66 inning baseball.
(32:41):
I think he could have a fantastic start.
So definitely junior these next two games against lefties Shane,
Shane boss tonight. I think he can have a bounce
back start and Brandon Lau against the Brewers.
I think Brandon Lau could definitely get going next
series. Yeah, well.
I always pick B Lau because that's my guy, and I'm sure that
if he was watching what's going on with Maryland baseball right
now, he'd not be happy with it considering what he experienced
(33:04):
when he was in college. But yes, B yeah, I'm definitely
riding with what you're talking about with B Lau.
The problem is he's so incredibly St. he and it's it's
it's I I feel it's become more polarizing over time, which is
really concerning. But again, just hoping for the
best there, hoping for a lot of success out of him on the
pitching side of things, man. I mean, I would say angler just
(33:27):
because I know that Kat and and we've talked about so many times
in the podcast where like if a guy just doesn't have a good out
and cash will throw him immediately back out there to
try to get that confidence back up.
But Garrett Clevenger, I'll go with him.
I know his fastball's been picking up this year.
It looks like he's got some really plus stuff and whatever
he did last season, I think he'sreally improved upon that and
(33:49):
he's become a much better reliever and, and a much needed
reliever for this team. So I, if there's anyone that I
would pick in terms of that, I'dprobably go with him.
I, I try to switch things out. Also, I wanted to give my
flowers to Lattell. I know that he's very I feel
like he's very much like the oddpitcher out in this rotation,
but like he just tossed 7 and looked like an absolute stud.
(34:13):
And like again, he's not a guy that is going to give you
anything crazy, but like for what he's worth and what he's
been over the last couple years with this team, he has been more
than enough of a serviceable pitcher and considering.
The most valuable pitcher on theteam.
Like, yeah, I know the stuff isn't there.
He doesn't get K's, but like you, you can't discredit what
he's done. He's been way more than the race
(34:35):
could have asked for the last, you know, year and a half now.
Yeah, and considering that they had Savali and TA, and they both
use them as starters, like Letelle blows both of them at
the water, he's not even close. So yeah, I just wanted to get my
flowers to the top. But with that being said, it's
going to conclude things in thislatest episode, the podcast.
Ethan, thank you as always for coming on.
(34:56):
Appreciate all that you do and obviously your insight.
Wanted to make sure that we obviously give you a plug to
make sure everyone can follow you.
Where can people follow you? What you got going on?
Just OPS under score baseball and X and I started a show with
Toby Shulman. It's called Inside the Diamond.
You can find it in my bio. We've been trying to do that
(35:18):
once a week, but yeah, just mainly Twitter and and the live
show. Perfect.
All right, Well, again, Ethan, thank you so much for coming on.
We appreciate it as always, man.Continued success.
And I know we'll get you on plenty more times this season.
And for everyone listening, it'sgoing to conclude things in this
latest episode of Raise the Roof.
We appreciate you guys, as always for your support.
If you guys don't follow what wegot going on on social media,
(35:40):
we're at Raise the Roof TV pretty much everywhere.
That's Twitter slash X Instagramblue sky and then also raise the
roof on YouTube. We're going to be getting more
podcast clips, game footage, anything that that we have going
on, we'll get it there for the podcast.
Continue to support us as you guys have been be should have
follow us or be should have followed be should have
subscribed. Be sure to leave us a review,
(36:01):
hopefully a five star review andshare this with your family or
friends. Anyone who knows a baseball fan
or a race fan that wants to add a podcast into their podcast
feed, we'd love to be part of it.
Also, one final shout out to oursponsors, Sea Geek and the
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so much for listening in. As always, Raise up.
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