The Boys Are Boppin' at Home (RTR Ep. 224)

We welcomed on friend of the podcast Jake AKA @TBRaysCentral on Twitter to give his thoughts about the surging Rays, a successful home stand in Tampa and the upcoming road trip, starting tonight in Boston.

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

(00:11):
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, our
Co host Gibby and Evan Lynch will be on soon.
We do have a special guest with us today who I'm sure if you're
you, if you've been in the rays spear, especially on Twitter in
the last couple months, you've seen him sore to meteoric

(00:33):
heights of his account, But we have Jake AKA TV race central
with us. Jake, First off, Congrats on all
the success that you've had early on and welcome to the pod.
How you doing man? Doing good, man.
Thanks for thanks for having me.Yeah, of course.
Having you on the pod, you've been one of the premier, it's, I
don't want to say premier voices, but you've been one of
the emerging voices within the the Rays community in recent

(00:55):
months. So I wanted to ask you, I guess
how everything got started with the account, how you've gotten
to this point. What do you think has been the
biggest thing that's allowed youto be able to grow as rapidly as
you have? Yeah, I mean, I've, I've been on
Ray's Twitter for a while now. I've been, I've been a lot of
social media for a while. Like I, I run a Dolphins page.
I've been running that. It's been pretty success,
successful over the years. I just, I don't honestly, I

(01:17):
really don't know what like randomly maybe make a page, but
I just made one because I, I always love talking baseball
with my friends and stuff like that.
So yeah, I just made a page probably what, 2-3 months ago
and it's, I really didn't expectit to gain this much traction
this, this soon. But yeah, it's been really fun.
I just love talking baseball. So yeah.
Did you grow up a race fan? Like born and raised.

(01:38):
Yeah, I'm born and raised in Tampa, so I've been a raised fan
basically my whole life. So yeah, it's been pretty cool.
What has been the most enjoyablepart for you so far about about
running it and seeing what's happened with it?
Honestly, just like just like getting my thoughts out and just
communicating with people like you guys and all the some of the
other pages and just so it's a good community, the activity's

(02:01):
great. It's a lot of nice people.
So yeah, just like portraying mythoughts out there.
So yeah, that's that's really, Ijust love talking baseball.
So that's kind of what, what I what I'm enjoy most about it.
What is your favorite part aboutthe race community?
That's probably what it is. It's a very like close, close
knit group. There's, I feel like most of the
people in the community are on the same page.

(02:23):
There's obviously people that are on the other side of that,
but yeah, I feel like most of the people are on the same page.
It's like it's like, yeah, it's a really close group.
I feel like at the end of the day, all most of the people
trust what the Rays are doing and just at the end of the day,
they're all Rays fans. So.
Yeah. Yeah, 100% agree with that and
definitely I resonate with that plenty as we get into this

(02:46):
episode of more the meat and bones of this episode.
You, you've of course followed what the team has been doing so
far this season, especially thisweek.
The Rays went five and one at home in the recent homestand.
They played a set. They actually swept the Texas
Rangers for the first time in a while. 2018 I believe was the
last time they swept them in a series and then took two out of
three against the Marlins. Saturday's game, a little bit

(03:07):
unfortunate with how things ended, but still very, very
successful homestand. They've had two really
successful homestands in a row now.
They went seven and two when they had that nine game set a
couple weeks ago and now going five and one here.
The Rays are five games above 500, the three games above 500
at home, which has been a drastic change from where things
were the start of the season. Jake, wanted to get your

(03:29):
thoughts specifically about thislast home stand, what you saw
from this team, what you think that they did really well and
what contributed to this continued, you know, hot streak
that they've had at Steinbrenner.
It's really been the same thing for weeks now.
Pitching has been great, defensehas been awesome all year.
The starters have been phenomenal, bullpens pretty
solid. And then the lineup, I think

(03:51):
really the top five with Jlo B, Lau, Yandi, Aranda and junior.
That top five is, I mean, this is as good as we've seen a raise
like top, middle, top and middleof the lineup in a while.
So and it's it's always good. Saturday, the game they lost
Morel and Jansen, two guys who have kind of had uneven seasons.
Seeing them both at Will Marellato Ramon, seeing Jansen at a

(04:13):
home run, It's good to see contributions from the whole
lineup. So it really just in all all
phases of the game, they've beenreally good.
So there's a lot to be optimistic about this team, man.
Yeah, looking at what happened in that in that Saturday game.
And of course, Saturday was the day that Evan Longoria signed
his one day contract with the Rays, officially retired as a
right. That game was wild because up

(04:34):
until or when up until Brandon'shome run in the eighth inning, I
think that that's that's when itwas all nine runs in that in
that game had been contributed specifically from the 789
hitters in the lineup. As our Co host, Evan Lynch
joins. Evan, how you doing, man?
Good. How are you guys Sorry.

(04:55):
Good. Sorry for the late late
appearance here, but. You all good?
You all good? Yeah, we're talking about we're
talking about the the last homestand and you can join in.
But yeah, I mean, it was wild seeing 789 in that lineup
perform as well as they did, knowing that to an extent that's
really been the weakness of the team.
And you see morale, who's been struggling mightily this entire

(05:16):
season, hit two bombs, Jake, as you mentioned, Jansen hit a
bomb. Taylor Wallace had another bomb,
which is shocking for him because other than I think it
was the 2023 season, he hasn't hit more than one home run a
year. And if he has, it was like, like
two or three at the most. So the fact that he had another
one is a major deal. But yeah, I mean, specifically
that game was kind of wild. Looking at the the top of the

(05:39):
lineup has been really, really good.
But this time, the bottom of thelineup really showed and it was
very impressive to watch. Yeah, man.
Yeah, I think that's really, I don't have really many concerns
with the team right now, but I will say right now, until Kim is
back, the like Miser's been really struggling for a while.
I think Jansen's like the best part of that bottom third of the
lineup. But Mangum, he's he's been

(06:00):
pretty tough to watch since he came back.
He still brings a lot of stuff to the team.
But yeah. And then obviously with Walls,
you know what you're getting from him offensively.
And then cabbies been really a great utility guy, good against
lefties, but against righties iskind of exposed.
So that's kind of why getting Kim back is so huge.
So but yeah, like I said, the top five is great.
And then just getting Kim back to the lineup should be really
deep. And then I've been hoping

(06:23):
Palacios or like DeLuca can comeback soon to lengthen it even
more. So yeah, it's a lot to be
optimistic about. Yeah, Evan, in that game, that
Saturday game, cuz you were there for the weekend.
Yes. And you saw two of those games.
Like, was it wild to see that? Like no one was really doing
anything in the top of the lineup and then the bottom three
guys were just going off. It was, I mean, it was possibly

(06:45):
the the most unusual game I've seen maybe ever.
Just it was one of those. It just felt like it was drunk.
Like I don't know how else to kind of describe it.
But I mean, the fact that I think, I think Morrell, Jansen
and Wallace had combined seven home runs coming into that game.
Seven or eight. I think it's around that number

(07:08):
and they had four combined in that game.
Like it just doesn't, it just didn't make sense.
And they were all like, it wasn't like it was short porch
or whatever. I mean, I think all of them
were, I mean, Morrell. 'S first home 1.
Was that that right there? I know we'll probably talk about
Morrell a little bit. That right there is like the the
perfect example of why the rays kept him like 113 off the bat,

(07:30):
almost 80 bat speed, like his raw, his raw traits are there
like, and to me, that's why I was a little disappointed he
didn't start yesterday. Like I think if you're if you're
keeping him on the roster, especially with the way Meisner
has looked for a while and if they trust Mangum and centre,
which they've started on I think4 four games since he came back
in centre. So if you trust Mangum and
centre to play there, I would like to see Morrell get a little

(07:52):
bit more consistent playing time.
Like and even during that game he got trust me, I'll never get
I'll never be upset with pinch inning Jlo from Morrell.
But even then, like you're pinching a guy with 114 mile an
hour bomb a bomb the next at bat.
And then what he did. I think he had a double the
second I bat like it's definitely it's it's really an
interesting like this Morrell, this whole thing with Morrell

(08:12):
the last year has been pretty bizarre to me.
But it's it's really interesting.
So it's going to be interesting to see what happens going
forward with Morrell. Yeah, it was, it was, I mean, it
was the the Longo retirement day.
It was just, I don't know, it was just such a weird.
Game all the it's for the Marlins was, I mean, that was
one of the most frustrating games I've watched in a long

(08:33):
time. It was.
We've had a lot. And we were, yeah, I mean, I
mean two huge hits by them. We were about to combine 2
inches away from making a play on them.
Obviously Mangum almost made it an unbelievable catch and center
I think on the bases clearing ortwo RBI double by Jesus.
And then morale was almost was almost there on a catch in left

(08:54):
field there. But I mean, give the Marlins
credit. I my brother, we I went with my
brother who is a Marlins fan. So I was like, I was glad that I
went to Friday and Saturday's game.
So like I wasn't obviously glad that the race lost, but I was
glad that each of us got to see a win.
At least that was kind of the consolation there.
And it was a great game. It was a great game.
I'm glad the race fought. They were, I mean, six run 5th

(09:15):
inning, I think for the Marlins to go up 10410 five South or 10
six, I think it was. So I'm glad that we fought, got
back. Caminero almost did it in the
bottom of the ninth. If that didn't go right to the
third baseman, maybe Yandi scores from first, maybe not,
but would have been fun to watch.
But that's OK. We won the series yesterday.
So glad that we were able to do that.

(09:35):
Yeah, seeing them fight back like that, like that kind of is
a sign of a good team. Like, and a lot of it was a
bottom of the order. Like that's as a sign of a good
team. That game was also weird because
Jesus Sanchez killed them. Former Ray Xavier Edwards.
I mean, we got to talk about what he did in that.
Yeah, the bottom of the 10th. That was.
I mean, I think he's found a home at second cuz I've been, I

(09:58):
like following the Marlins cuz obviously they Bendix and then a
lot of the former Rays, I think he's found a home at second.
Like that was too ridiculously impressive place.
So yeah, it was kind of a weird X-ray kind of revenge game.
So yeah. The the Marlins, like I know
that this year they're not gonna, they're not good and
they're not going to be good most likely, but they have some
good pieces on that team. I mean, Augusta Ramirez, I think

(10:19):
is his last. Year he Rakes.
He's unbelievable. He's sick.
Al Stowers didn't even play at all Stairs.
He's a good player, so they got.And Norby is good too, and he's
an eighth right now. I think he's struggling right
now. But and then if Edwards keeps
doing what he does in the field,like, I mean, they have, they
have some good pieces. Obviously, they kind of have to
figure out the rotation a littlebit.
Sandy. Who knows what happens with him?

(10:43):
Yuri Perez is back to today. He's like, in my opinion, one of
like probably stuff wise, one oflike the top 10 starters in
baseball, like. And Weathers has been
unbelievable. He didn't obviously play very
well on Saturday. But he also got nailed in the
freaking skull. Yeah, that was.
That was that was I mean I'm so glad he's all right, because I
mean that was probably I mean, how hard do you guys think that

(11:04):
throw was like that was probablylike he wasn't lofting it.
He was throwing it pretty good. It's.
Probably at least 60 or 70 milesan hour, yeah.
Yeah, I don't know if the catcher has a good arm, but I
mean that he. Hit him right off the Dome
piece. It was crazy.
I mean, he couldn't, I, I don't mean this in a bad way, but like
he couldn't have done that if hetried.
Like he, like he. It was right in his head.

(11:24):
I've literally never seen anything close to that and and
partly it was, I feel like it was a little bit of weather's
fault like you kind of got. You got to duck down that night.
You can't or like get out of thelake.
But I, I. Also, I also noted, all right, I
like noticed throughout the restof the game, I think he I think
that was like to start off the game, he did the same thing
though, like he like kind of walked away slowly.

(11:46):
And I think it might have just been a bad, I don't know.
It was it was very strange because I agree.
I was like I was kind of a nonchalant way of getting out of
the way and but then I noticed he kept doing it.
So I was like, maybe it was justa bad throw.
I don't know. But yeah, and just really just
strange game overall. Really.
Honestly, I was expecting like we've I'm very high on the rays

(12:07):
against righties this year against the lefties.
Like we'll probably talk a little bit about the deadline
stuff. I think that's the one thing
they'll they'll be looking for is like a right-handed bat.
If it's lefties. Well, I was expecting weathers
to to shove against them. So see, I know he I mean, he, he
probably borderline had a concussion, but like seeing that
they they got him out early and he they hit well against him.
That was pretty encouraging for me.
Yeah. And then meanwhile, while all of

(12:30):
that stuff was happening, I was up in Nats game watching Jacob
degrom not throw a complete gameshut out.
And I was really sad about that.He was a dog.
But like, he only threw 81 pitches through 7 innings.
And I was like, the game was over at that point.
The Nats had no shot. But I was really disappointed
because I wanted to see, I wanted to see the ground
finishing because like he could throw 19 pitches in two innings.
Like he could have thrown a Maddox.
I mean, it was possible. I was just.

(12:52):
Especially with this stuff too. He literally just hasn't
anything. Oh, he, I mean, he made, he made
the Nats look silly, like they did not look comfortable at all.
I mean, even James Wood, who's arguably like a top 25 player in
baseball right now and is definitely making a case for the
All Star game, should be in the All Star game for sure.
And you know, could make or could make a case for starting

(13:14):
too. He did not look comfortable in
the batter's box against degrom.Like I just could tell.
I don't, I guess just considering degrom his age has
hit he. Was throwing 99.
That's not even, that's like he's not going if he really
wants to go Max effort like he'sthrowing one-on-one still.
Yeah, I was like, how many injuries has he had?
Like how many surgeries has he had?

(13:35):
At this point, he's still throwing 99.
Yeah, that's insane. Nuts.
Yeah, He's, he's ridiculous. Yeah, I mean they so the Nats
gave away like a shirt. It was cool, but like the shirt
was definitely not 2 size. It was like 2 sizes too small,
which is incredible how you can screw that up, but that's
another story for another day. But yeah.
Speaking about the shirts shirts, the Longo shirt they

(13:56):
gave out was really cool. That was.
Cool. Yeah, that was, that was a nice,
I mean, I planned, we planned this trip before that
announcement was unveiled. And so that was a nice little
treat, being able to see that. That's a that's a pretty lucky
Yeah, I was like. I couldn't make that up, but
that's. Really cool.
I think the whole thing was really well done, I thought.
I, I, I was kind of the under the assumption to be like a

(14:18):
ceremony on the field. So it was kind of nice that, but
maybe he didn't want that. I think it's going to be next
year at the drop. And kind of when his jersey gets
retired, which I assume will. Have yeah his Jersey's
definitely getting retired if ifeverything works out with the
drop because I know that they just approved like another
$5,000,000 in in in repairs for the stadium and we're still like

(14:40):
they're still getting done all the pieces because I know that
they had gotten done like half the pieces of the roof and
they're still working on that like that will be whenever the
Trop gets repaired and is fully done, which could bleed into the
start of next season because at this point it's it's June and
July and they really haven't started on anything for the most
part than like the tarping that they.

(15:01):
Did I think they said they're going to be starting on the
road? So they'll probably have it
probably could be like a nine game road trip to start.
But I, I, I all, all things thatI've heard that it's going to be
ready for, for, for like basically the whole season.
Ideally, yeah, who knows. With the Rays in the stadium
situation, who knows? Yeah.
So like when the whenever that happens, Longo's definitely

(15:22):
getting his jersey retire. And I, I think it's based on
what I saw from from Topper, it's going to happen next year.
Yes, it'll be next year. With with same thing with like
him being inducted into the RaceHall of Fame because that took a
hiatus for this season because of the whole stadium situation
and the whole hurricane. So that's what I believe is
going to be happening. But yeah.
We very we were able to, we wereable to drive to and from the

(15:45):
game right by the trop and I waskind of surprised how nothing
has really seemingly took. Place in terms of very long
process because I think they've had to get like everything you
have to get everything like fully, fully like good to go
before you get into it so. And obviously the logistical
part in terms of local government, obviously that takes

(16:06):
a ton of time, so. Yeah.
But the good thing is, is, is that things will be starting
soon. And also the good thing is, is
that Longo got a chance. Yeah, you had another moment.
We were lucky enough that everything worked out.
Last we were probably in. That series and and he was there
that was like that felt interesting, way more
interesting than this time because this time was obviously

(16:26):
the the end of it, like this is the end of his career.
This that and the other thing last year was like Longo hadn't
signed anywhere the entire year.Came in in July, signed all the
autographs inside of the team store, threw out the first
pitch, came up, talked with the media, talked with radio and
Duane and BA and all that. But like he hadn't fully retired

(16:48):
yet. But there was this, I feel like
this mutual understanding of everyone that was there, that it
was going to happen soon. We just didn't know when it was
going to happen. And I feel like that one felt a
little bit more bittersweet because of the fact that like,
again, we didn't know when it was going to happen.
This we knew everything surrounding what what was

(17:09):
happening. But Longo never got a chance to
play as a member of the Diamondbacks or the Giants at
Tropicana Field. Like when he got traded.
That was the last time that he ever played inside of the Trop
in any sort of uniform. Like he never got a chance to
play I. Didn't even know.
Yeah, yeah, 2018 one that's like6 years because of like the West

(17:30):
Coast stuff. They didn't.
It only took it took them like acouple years for them to finally
do the whole every team is goingto play every team thing.
And and even at that point when the when he was on the
Diamondbacks, the Rays played them on the road.
I believe that that the giants might have played the rays at
home or at the trop at some point.
But Longo, I like he had multiple injuries with the

(17:53):
Giants. So like it never lined up to
where he and and even during COVID, if they were, if the
schedules and everything was going to line up during the
COVID season that that he was originally, you know, that the
giants were going to play there.That didn't happen because of
the because of how COVID works. So like it never worked out.
It was six years on two different teams and he never got
a chance to go back, which is even crazier when you think

(18:15):
about the whole thing. As our other Co host, Gibby
joins Gibby, How we doing? How we doing?
How we? Doing how we doing, We're
talking about Longo right now, but yeah, very like, it's just
weird. It just feels the whole thing
felt very, very weird. And you never got a chance.
And like these last two years, yeah, I feel like it's given a
lot of Rays fans closure of like, he was gone.

(18:36):
They didn't really love the trade.
I don't know if the trade was necessarily like if it was
necessary in the grand scheme ofthings, but still.
But yeah, this is this is the opportunity for them to have
gotten their closure and been able to see him and saw a bunch
of people crying. Evan, I you cried.
I teared up. OK, Gibby, did you cry?

(18:59):
I almost did. I almost did.
Oh wow, he's a real man. I see it so very.
It was, it was a very surreal thing.
And again, me and Gibby got to experience it and like see him
and I thought it was cool him inthe city connects last year.
Like there felt there was something that felt right about
seeing him in the city connects.Gibby, I don't know if you your

(19:21):
your thoughts about that. Oh, yeah.
I mean, I mean, yeah, it felt good to see him in those.
Just kind of like bringing in another new era of, of Ray's
baseball last year. So that was a good thing.
But, you know, his synonymous uniform will always be the the
bicycle, the white. Yeah.

(19:41):
Yeah, I mean he he looked good at me.
It is weird he did the bald now but yeah.
I wonder if he's ever like. I think the bald.
Fits him to be honest. It does not.
It does if it's his older aesthetic now.
Yeah, it does. I wonder if he'll ever want to
get into like a coaching I. Would like I was listening to
someone talk about that. I would be all for him.

(20:01):
How about how Junior learn underhim as a third base?
Like a third base? A defensive coach or something
or. That might be the most ideal
thing for juniors development like like that's I mean that I
mean, and I know we'll probably talk about junior what we've
seen from him defensively. The last I want to say a month
now has been pretty special. Like there's been a lot of
people that like earlier in the season said, Oh, I don't know if

(20:24):
he's going to be a future 3rd baseman, like, oh, we're moving
into first or future deeds. Like, I don't know, man, I think
it's he's 21 years old to think it was way too early to write
him off defensively. And what he like that backhand
he had on Longo Day, because I think that's a one area of his
defensive game that's been kind of like lackluster.
Like on the like backhanding, like he's been great going to
his left, but that backhand, I'mlike, yeah, he's all the way

(20:45):
here defensively like that. I was encouraging.
Turning double plays, I mean it like.
I mean M&B like lethal. And Walls too, I think the one
on Saturday as well, when I think Junior was going to his
left and Walls, like toe tapped second base, I think it was in
the first inning. After, Yeah, that was a huge,
that was a huge play in that game.

(21:06):
That was, yeah. And I mean, we could talk about
Tosh a little bit more if we want.
But yeah, I mean, his defense another another.
I mean, I think Aranda deserves a lot of credit about his
defense, too. I'm not sure.
I still have never. Voted Aranda for the All Star
game by the way. All Star game this is live is
one of the biggest. Developments of the season, in
my opinion, is Aranda's. Defense.

(21:26):
The one critique of his was thathe can't play defense.
That was what kind of kept him in Durham all this time and I
have really yet to see that be true.
I mean, the Pick on Fridays game, I think it was in the top
of the eighth or top of the 7th when Mead kind of realized he
couldn't. Get to 2nd.
That was huge. Probably play the game.
I think he's out all season in my opinion.

(21:46):
I think his defense has been good, don't get me wrong, but I
feel like he hasn't been tested a ton.
Just like digging stuff out. That was impressive.
So that was really encouraging. And it was probably the play of
the game because if we were up one run, if he doesn't pick that
either the run on 2nd scores or it's base loaded 2 outs.
Like, I mean, I just he's been, he's been unbelievable in
basically every aspect of the game, but.

(22:08):
Speaking of turning 2, what he does like getting getting the
ball, like getting rid of the ball quickly, turning 2, that's
probably the best part of his game defensively, like he's
really good throwing, moving, moving, like forward.
He's been good defensively. Man, Evan, so before we get into
because I do want to talk about the Rangers series as well
because what a special time thatwas.

(22:30):
That was awesome. What are your thoughts about
about Trop Tampa? It's it reminded?
I mean, obviously it is a minor league stadium, but it reminded
me going to games as at the Durham Bowl stadium, OK, It kind
of reminded me just of those times.
I think it's about the same size.
Yeah, it's, I don't think about that.

(22:50):
Durham has outfield seating, which kind of was a difference.
Like there is a little bit, obviously it's Steinbrenner, but
not a whole lot. It's not like an actual section.
It's more so just like kind of sparse rows.
But no, I liked it. I thought it was fine.
Obviously it was super hot on Friday.
It was, what was it, a 12/10 or 110 start, I forget.
And we were in the sun the wholetime.

(23:12):
Matt, Matt Gibby for the first time.
That's just nice. Yeah, yeah.
We met up. That was awesome.
I can't. I couldn't believe it was.
It's been. Yeah.
I think you said it in a moment,but it's like it's been five
years and this is the first timewe're meeting a.
Person. But that's outside though, like
I've talked about, like my Dolphins page.
Me and Alex were talking about it earlier.
I met one of my friends. We've been talking for so long,

(23:33):
since we were in like high school.
Just just meeting a guy you met online like that, that hits
different. It really does.
This guy actually exists. Like, yeah, exactly.
No. It was all a ruse.
Whoever you met was a lie is notreal.
It's like meeting someone in in 3D when you've only seen them in
2D, you know they actually look a little different.

(23:53):
So yeah, they definitely look different.
Yeah. So that's that's that's kind of
like The funny thing. But yeah, that was cool.
Yes, that was that was nice. And then I, I mean, even though
the race lost, they'd say Saturday was just more enjoyable
because when we were in the shade, we were in the Marlin
side. So bunch.
Of runs, yeah. Bunch of runs it was later.
You said that earlier, Evan. That game was drunk.

(24:13):
That game was full on Hammers, that was.
Some of that, some of that outfield defense was
questionable and just in that game.
That's what you're going to get with morale.
And we we were talking about earlier about like Mangum and
Meisner defensively in center. I mean, I don't even know if
Meisner would have gotten to, what was it the Jesus Sanchez
gap shot? I don't even know if Meisner was
getting to that. But yeah, the outfield defense

(24:35):
was suspect. That's what you get with morale,
unfortunately. But it was no like I think
Saturday was kind of more fun just because it was later in the
day, it was cooler. I was able to like actually look
around like I feel like Friday it was too bright outside.
You couldn't even look in the air at all.
So but, and the game was even, like I said, even though the
Rays lost, it was still an insanely good game, so.
Felt really electric there, too.The Friday, the Friday game,

(24:59):
probably no one was there. I mean, I was at work, so I was
like, I was kind of watching a little of them, like, yeah, this
game's really dead. And they felt kind of felt like
a boring game, honestly. Yeah, it was quick.
Obviously Lattell is efficient, so which I'm not complaining
about, Zach. Lattell is really good.
He's really good, he continued. Really good.
I'm just going. To say one thing I've I've been
very harsh on Zach Lattell. Oh.

(25:21):
I've been very harsh on Zach Lattell like all season.
Like for the first month and a half, like I was, I was saying
like Joe Boyle needs to be up for him, but I got to eat my
words there. Like Zach Lattell has been a
rock solid for months. I will say I do think he's the
odd man out, like at the deadline, because Joe Boyle is,
in my opinion, clearly ready. Like I've watched some of Joe
Boyle. 'S really good in Durham he's.

(25:43):
He is absolutely phenomenal and I think Ian Moore is is a good
player. So I think Zach Latell and if we
want to talk a little bit about the deadline going up, I think
the one guy the rage will trade Yanni and B Lauer are not
getting traded. Let me just I've been seeing
that. I don't think that's going to
happen, but I think Zach Latell is the one guy that would get
traded bearing like any substantial injuries.
And then I got some some right-handed that targets that

(26:06):
cuz. I burned up, but yeah, cuz guess
guess why you got I mean, he he we're selling high with him and
that's true. I think what we that's what we
do. He's a free agent, so you're not
gonna don't know why I didn't. Think about Latella is when I
was going on when I went on Justin's podcast cuz I threw out
like I threw out guys that cuz Idon't really think that like
anyone was gonna get traded in in all reality, but I threw out

(26:27):
like Yandi's been the guy who's been talked about for a while.
Pete's been a guy who's been talked about for a little bit.
So I was just throwing out like chalk answers that everyone
knew. But like in all reality, this
team is is not in a possession like last the last couple years
where they need to or the front office thinks that they need to
trade pieces like they're in a good spot.
I fully think like I am very, very confident they're going to

(26:50):
be buying like the way they've handled.
They've got Haas on Kim, they added Danny Jansen.
That's two. That was two of the worst
positions of the team last year.Substant 8 mil for Jansen.
What was it, 15 per for Kim? That's substantial for the Rays.
And then they kept Yanni, They kept B Lau.
Now they got Matt Theis too. That is it.
Is it Theis or is it theis? Yeah, that.

(27:12):
I love that move. That was that was awesome.
I love his on base. I've never, I don't think I've
ever seen a player with 211 average and 395 on base.
Yeah, I love it. That's kind of ridiculous.
That's actually a good point. That kind of tells me like first
of all, they were done with war vet, that we love war vet.
That experience had to end. So that was good.
That was a good kind of pre deadline move.

(27:32):
But I, I fully think they're going to be getting there's, I
mean there's like 8 or 8 to 10 outfield right-handed bats that
I'm thinking they're, it'll be like a David Peralta type move
from the right side. They're going to add some.
I mean, I think obviously we would have to give it more than
Mattel just considering his lackof control after this year.
But I guess, I guess the I've always been a huge Brent Rooker

(27:54):
fan. He's not going anywhere.
He just signed a deal. He's good.
He just signed. Him well and.
And and you have to realize. You have to realize.
And he doesn't play defense too,which is what the odds.
Like Andy's a full blown DH now,but.
And the Rays? The Rays would only buy for
somebody who can play defense aswell.
Exactly How about a full ray though?
This is a sneaky and I love our catcher situation.

(28:16):
Don't let me run. This is the best catcher
situation the Rays have had in along time.
Sean Murphy is a right-handed bat target for me because Drake
Baldwin for for the Braves, he like he needs to be the guy at
catcher like he's. Oh yeah, the Braves are kind of
asked right now. I mean, like if they continue to
be asked, then like they have noreason.
They. Sell and and Sean Murphy's
making 15 mil a year I think thenext two years like that's

(28:38):
doable. I don't know how it would work
with Jansen and dice like. I would rather I would rather
not them them not trade for something like that.
But I was going to say on the onthe A's thing, remember the A's
on in Oakland anymore, which means that John Fisher's
actually going to spend money onguys.
That's true. This is a shocking revelation
because he doesn't he didn't think that that the city of

(28:58):
Oakland existed. And now that he's not in Oakland
anymore, he has the obligation and the desire to want to spend
money so that his team looks slightly better when they go to
the the stadium site that still doesn't have a fucking anything
going on in it, you know, in Vegas.
But that's another story for another day.
They they got some good pieces though, like Sodorstone Butler,

(29:19):
they got some good pieces and the Wilson kids insane.
What was I going to say? I was in AI have like a list of
deadline targets. I'm just seeing if any of these
guys pique your interest. Taylor Ward.
I think is is going to be too expensive, although that would
be intriguing. Austin Hayes and Randall Grichuk
are like probably my 2 top targets.
Luis Robert, he's had a really bad year, but he can play set
like I think the one hole on this team when Kim is back, like

(29:42):
there's literally not a single hole in the team outside of
center field there. In my opinion, like going
forward, like the DeLuca, I think he's he's going to be off
for like 2-3 more weeks because he had another set back.
But like I think center field will be a good position to add,
especially a right-handed bat. Luis Robertson name Ramon Ramon
Lauriano for the Orioles. He's having a great season.
Like McCutcheon bring back I'm Ed Rosario.

(30:02):
Like I think the line up againstrighties looks really, really
strong. The line up against lefties,
it's been better lately, but it's still I think one piece is
needed there and that's that's Ithink that like I just named
like 5-6 guys. I think the Rays are going to be
adding one of them. I really.
I think, I think, I mean obviously we have another piece

(30:26):
I think is a right-handed left fielder, which obviously morale
is, but if his struggles kind ofcontinue, I think that's another
place that we could maybe investin.
I don't know who is, I don't know who would trade a left
field, a right-handed left fielder.
Obviously first guy comes to mind is Randy, but I don't know
how. Well, I think Randall Gritschak

(30:46):
be Randall Gritschak. The Diamondbacks I think have to
sell after the Corbin Burns thing.
Randall Gritschak has been like a target of mine.
I wanted them in the offseason as a from free agency.
I think he makes a lot of sense.And then the Morrell thing, like
at some point they're going to have to make a decision because
in a part time role is he going to bring you a lot of value?

(31:08):
Like I think they need to be playing in most days going
forward until Simpson is back because Meisner, the defense is
great in center, but he's been brutal at the plate for a while
now. Mangum, I think is starting to
we're kind of starting to see hefor me, he's just a little too
aggressive at the plate. Like he swings at everything and
a lot of it is just weak contact.

(31:28):
So hopefully he can get going, but I think I would like to see
morale play. I would love to see him play
tonight. I would like to see him play
consistently just to see. What I mean that two home run
day the other day was I thought that man, this man is coming
back finally. He's definitely chosen.
There's a 700 OPS right now, which is absolutely insane to

(31:49):
think when you think of the season he's had.
And he would have probably 9 or 10 home runs if the wind didn't
absolutely screw him at Steinbrenner.
So we we have to think that we have to put that in perspective.
So, and it's not like Meisner and Mangum are playing well
enough to to force Morel to stayon the bench.
I'm sorry, like that's just, that's the truth for me right

(32:10):
now. That's the way I see things.
Well, plenty want to talk about.We still need to talk about the
Ranger Series. We'll get into the Red Sox
series and more. What we're gonna do is we're
gonna take a quick break. We're gonna run our CG Gad, It's
code Raise the Roof in all caps to check out.
Saves you $20 off your first purchase.
And we'll be right back in this latest episode of Raise the
Roof. Hi everyone.

(32:30):
Alex here with a quick word fromour sponsor, Seegeek.
Seegeek is your one stop shop for tickets for everything from
live theater and concerts to sporting events like Ray's
games. Seegeek uses a color-coded scale
to show you where the best dealsare with green being good and
red being bad. If you haven't used Seegeek
before, we have a special deal just for you.
Use code Raise the Roof. That's Ray's spelled RAYS at

(32:54):
checkout for $20 off your first purchase with Seegeek.
Again, that's code Raise the Roof for 20 dollars off your
first Sea Geek purchase. Thanks so much to Sea Geek for
sponsoring us and let's get backto this latest episode of Raise
the Roof. Welcome back to this latest
episode of Raise the Roof. As I said before the break, we
were going to talk about the Ranger series.

(33:16):
Now is the time to do that because the Rays swept the
Rangers. It was a very fun series.
A lot of chaos and action going on.
Speaking of Taylor Walls got thegame-winning hit Wild there, so
I wanted to get everyone's thoughts.
Gibby, starting with you, I knowthat you got a chance to see the
entire home stand for the most part about the Rangers series.
What were you most impressed with?
I mean, if we all go back to that last game, I mean that was

(33:40):
junior commoneros bobblehead night.
And I mean he first at bat home run.
I mean just completely controlled that game like it was
it was all up to him. And then of course he gets the
the runaround at at the end and beats out the the tag.
What? It's time, right?
Just fire me up, dude. I mean, this dude is he is the

(34:04):
franchise and like going forward, like if anything really
happens to him, I don't know what I would do.
I don't know what I would do, but I'm not gonna Eve.
On us man, please. Yeah, no, no.
But anyway. But yeah, really impressed with
Junior. I mean.
He was the entire offense, him, him and and walls were actually

(34:26):
the entire offense that game. So impressive with walls too.
I mean he actually I. Mean I've never seen A2 run
infield signal. Before.
Yeah, exactly that. That was kind of crazy, I mean.
Rangers, I don't know what fumble.
The ball, yeah, they fumble the ball.
Then he just didn't throw it. And then I was just like, go,
go. That team just looks checked out
to me, like it was so sweet to sweep them and then just they

(34:47):
look just fully, yeah. They are not the team that we've
been seeing. No.
They used to dog us and they didn't.
They didn't feel like dogs. I mean, they did.
They literally swept us in. I don't know what it is about
Texas, but that's beside the point.
But they swept us a couple months ago.
That just kind of tells you how far along that's the Rays are
now than what they're in the season.

(35:08):
I mean, Adols Garcia didn't do anything this series, so
commenced to the pitching. I mean, just taking all their
any, anybody who had anything going on that team, just not
really letting them get anywhere.
That wasn't the games that were closed we won.
Yeah, your thought? Rasmussen started the series,
Yeah, I think he extended his, which unfortunately is no longer

(35:30):
active after yesterday. Because you went to it, right?
I didn't go yesterday. Did he pitch on Sunday?
He pitched yesterday, yeah. OK, well, OK.
Well, then you're off it. Don't put that on.
Don't put that on. That was Marlins.
That was Marlins Devil magic right there that first inning.
It's the first hit of the. Game there's devil Matt dude.
They do have devil magic dude. It was cuz Billy the Marlin was

(35:52):
there for Raymond's birthday. That's what it was.
Oh wait, it was Raymond's birthday yesterday.
It was Raymond's birthday. Oh, shout out, Raymond, no.
Shout out, Raymond. Dude, all the mascots were
there. It was actually so much fun.
Dude. You know what mascot?
Sorry, Evan, but the worst mascot is the Orlando City
mascot because he just creeps meout.

(36:13):
He's like a lion. Wait a second.
He's got, he's got like dreads and I don't, I don't know.
He like he, he's kind of, it's kind of weird.
It's too anamorphic. It's like.
What the Frick is this? It's like, yeah, it I, I.
Don't like he looks like he he, he doesn't look like a mascot.
He looks like a furry. Like if someone like that's what
I'm saying. That's what I'm saying.

(36:34):
No, that's sketch. I don't like that.
That's very all right. Sorry, Evan, you can keep going.
I think of that holy. Wow, I didn't even.
I didn't even know what the hellthe Orlando City was until I
looked this up. Well, they used to be the lions.
I just didn't know that the mascot looked like that.
I am not an MLS guy, but holy cow, I'm, you know, after seeing

(36:58):
that, I'm kind of glad I'm not wow that.
Jeez. Anyway, what were we talking
about? Oh, the Ranger series.
Yeah, Rasmussen. Rasmussen shoved again.
I think he extended his. I think it's second.
Innings, I think it was, which is.
Second best in franchise history, I think.

(37:19):
I think. Asmir is I think it was third
best, something like. That or I think he was an inning
away from like the franchise record.
He was an inning away for sure. Which if he got through the 1st
inning yesterday, he would have tied it unfortunately.
Like it didn't matter. So but yeah, kind of, I mean,
Junior had two home runs in the series, one on Tuesday, one on
Thursday, and then the Wednesdaygame was a little too close for

(37:42):
comfort. I think kind of it, we were all
kind of assuming it was over andBaz did the same exact thing
that he did in Houston. He was rolling first 3 innings
come first four innings, I guess.
So then I think maybe the third time around the batting order,
it just, I wouldn't say unraveled, but he just lost
control of it. I got one thing to say here

(38:03):
because he right the third time.2 issues with him are only going
to continue until he gets a slider working.
He adds new pitch, which I've been talking to some people by
maybe adding a sinker against righties or how I would say
sweeper, but I don't know if that's going to work.
But like, yeah, for him the third time issues, third time
through the order issues are areprobably not going away.

(38:25):
That's why I think they brought up Seymour originally.
I thought it was maybe to start against Boston or yesterday, but
I think Boz's leash tonight is going to be very short, like
four or five innings I'm talking.
And then Seymour is probably going to piggyback him that
that's the thinking because I think.
I like that. Sliders been so brutal.
The pen is tacked, so why not give Boz 4 to 5 on a short leash

(38:46):
and then give Seymour like 234 innings?
I think that I think that could be the plan tonight.
I like that a lot actually. I don't want a good job but.
No, no, I like that idea. Makes almost too much sense.
But but yeah, he gave up three runs in the fifth.
And I mean, luckily he was able to get out of it.
He got the win, which is great, and then Bilao tried to make

(39:08):
that a little bit too interesting in the 9th as well
with that complete, like, I haveno idea what the hell happened
on that play, but luckily he wasable to rebound.
He got the third out and we wereable to win the series.
Then everybody knows what happens on Thursday.
Crazy game. Freaking Marcus Simeon owns us.
The dude has the dude. Has five with the OPS on the

(39:29):
season. He hit what, 3 bombs that
season? I think he has five home runs in
the series. Wait, is he like the Jeremy
Penny of the of the of of the Rangers?
Is that what you're telling me? But at least at least pain is
good. Though yeah, Penny has been.
Like Penny is, I mean, Simeon's hit in 210 or he was at the end
of this game. I think he has five home runs on
the season and three of them, two of them were in this game,

(39:50):
but I think he had one in the series in Texas against us to
win also. He just hates us.
It was kind, I mean, and he ultimately made the kind of the.
Tampa distaste he. He made the brain fart in the
bottom of the. Night I really, that's what made
it so sweet because the guy who's been owning us all, like I
feel like he's owned us since hewas Toronto.
He owned us with Toronto. Yeah, so that was sweet when he

(40:12):
when he was the guy to. And even Oakland, I feel like I
remember him kind of destroying us as well.
So like, it's just something always.
Those random players. Yeah, it's, yeah.
It's like, I mean, Elvis Andrewsnot kind of same.
The Sandra Sharks. That's just kind of random that
Andrew's also Ranger in a but well, hey.
Let it be known. Let it be known he is not.

(40:33):
Neither of our, I mean Andrews is in the league anymore, but
Simeon is not leaving the AL or Major leagues in anything.
If you guys are voting for the All Star game, This Is Us.
This Is Us on our soapbox. Brandon Lau currently leads all
of Major League Baseball in homerun in second baseman in home
runs RBI and runs scores. So in case you guys cared and

(40:56):
you want to vote for someone vote for the best guy all right
have it back to you please unbiased opinion, completely
unbiased opinion He it's not it's not because he went to the
same school as Scott Van Pell and Aaron Wiggins.
Don't worry about that, it's completely unrelated.
It's. Because he leads in those
categories. What other second basements are

(41:18):
there? It's.
Labour, Altuve. Jazz Chisholm.
Nothing good. Isn't jazz third jazz is.
Well, this says he's second, buthe's he has nine home runs in
20. Is he even?
No, he's healthy again. He's got nine home runs in 24
OBR. He doesn't he not in as many
games, but he was awful. Yesterday.

(41:39):
Jazz is 1/3 baseman though. But.
Two series. It might be Glaber, it might
just be between Belau and Glaber.
I think I'm how is? Glaber at on here.
Oh, I hear it. Labour's got four home runs and
15 RB. No, he's got no, wait, where's
he? He's got five home runs and
thirty RBI. He's got a 775 OPS he's having,

(42:00):
he's actually been pretty good defensively.
But yeah, when you got thirteen home runs for a second baseman
you're that's pretty damn good for.
This. You're a dog.
That's what you are. Wolf.
Wolf. Yeah, it's been nice to see him.
I mean, he he just changes the offense when he's going for
sure. I like what they're doing with
Jlo lead off and then B last second.
That's kind of I like how they moved Yandi off lead off and I

(42:23):
think Yandi's getting going again.
I mean yesterday that was the best game of the season for
Yandi and that was the most vintage Yandi game.
First, I think it was the first inning.
He ripped the oppo single. He had the biggest hit of the
game, the two round home run oppo and then the the the double
and then the decision to bring Cabbie in was absolutely

(42:44):
phenomenal like that. 2nd 2nd inin the league only.
Been picked up or caught stealing four times last year, I
think it was 16. So that's a very big
development. That's you know.
Yeah, with Yandi, I want to see how good he does when he plays
because that game he played defense and he was actually
it's. A good point.

(43:05):
Like so I want to see, I know he's only had like four games
where he's actually played it's.Defense.
This year that might have been the 5th.
That might have been the 5th. So I want to see those.
I would like to see those numbers see.
I think it's a really good point.
I mean, it's all sample size forthe yeah defense games, but.
I think keeping Yandi off his feet though, I think that was a
very good decision. It is a good decision at.

(43:25):
First, I was like a Rhonda 1st going in the season.
I'm like, this could be concerning, but Iran?
Obviously he's and. Considering you don't really
need to platoon Aranda too, he's.
I get that lefty on lefty is usually the harder matchup
between versus righty on righty,but he has.
A 720 OPS against lefties, it's climbing.

(43:47):
He uses the whole field. I think Be Lao, we all love Be
Lao. I think when we see a lefty
against Be Lao, he looks overmatched.
Like, yeah, majority of the time.
I would like to see Aranda or Jlo play every day against
lefties. One of those two, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, So a lot of good things from the Rangers series,
we'll say that. Shout out to the Rangers defense

(44:08):
for not knowing what the hell they're doing.
Also shout out to Taylor Walls cuz he's been playing a lot
better recently. He's had a hell of a week.
Like he deserves a ton of credit.
Like he, I. Mean it could be triggered by
events that are going on outsideof basement.
It could be. It could be Hassan Kim is gonna
be back. I'm saying either in the Mets
series this weekend or Monday against the Orioles, that's.

(44:31):
He hit three straight, two hit games.
Like, I don't, I mean, I, I got to just got to give him credit,
got to give him credit. Like that's good.
That's what we've been wanting. We're not, we, we don't, we
don't want like, we're not asking for like Alex Rodriguez
when he was a shortstop. Like we're asking for a guy that
could just be serviceable. Like it's a very we, we are

(44:52):
asking for the barest of bare minimums right now.
We're not trying to go overboard.
We're not trying to go too crazy.
At the end of the day, there's areason they gave Steve Hassan
Kim the biggest free agent position player contract in
history. It's because Taylor Walls isn't
good enough. That that's just the that's the
harsh truth. But hey, it's good.
He's been it's good he's been stepping up lately.
It's probably his last week as like a he hasn't even been a

(45:14):
full time starter. It's probably his last week as a
starter. I can say I don't want to speak
for you guys, but I think the whole Rays fanbase is is a
static after that. Yeah.
I mean, yeah, exactly. It's just he does.
It's just what makes it, what makes it like, it's that he
always performs when he's in this situation, like like when
he's when his, when his job starts to get on the line then.

(45:37):
He starts to. Come out a little bit more it's.
Like. I have a question for you guys.
This is something I've been really like lingering with.
When Kim comes back, who do you guys want getting set down?
To me, there's only there's two,maybe three options for me.
To me it's just meter walls. You cannot send cabbie down
after having. Cabbie's incredible.
Cabbie's been great this year. After After how cabbie's left is

(45:58):
his defense at and left, right second and.
He's knocked any caught stealingso much.
Dude, Oh my God, yeah, Oh my God.
The caught stealing thing like him, because if we go back to
that, the the caught stealing thing specifically is the reason
why. Because what did he have like 46
stolen bags or four? He had 44 stolen bags, 44 and
then 16. So it was 44 to 60.
So 73.3 percent, 85 and yeah, right now 84%.

(46:23):
So it's climbed up 11% in one year.
That's really good. For A and his walk, his walk
rate I think is almost double. So like he's getting on base
more, which is half the battle. So I don't think you can say,
especially with those struggles that raise a bad against
lefties, you cannot send Cabbie down.
So needs Luke really, when you have Jose Caballero and that
ended. Up being a good trade, but for

(46:44):
me it's either walls or Mead. I think it's going to be Mead
getting sent down. Personally, I think I would
option Walls. I like Meads versus I think
Meads defensively, he hasn't played much.
Mead has been very, very solid defensively at literally every
spot, First, second, third. Last night or yesterday they put
Mead in in the 9th inning replacing Yadi because he's a

(47:05):
solid glove at first. So and he can, I mean, he's
shown he can hit lefties probably, but definitely better
than Walls. So I just wanted to get you guys
thoughts on that real quick. Evan Oh, Evan, who would you do?
Yeah, I agree. Probably Walsh and just
considering like, I mean, I think the biggest priority right
now is we need to improve against lefties and Wallace
doesn't help with that. And Mead, I know Mead isn't

(47:27):
great, but he helps more than that.
Like I mean, defensively, obviously Wallace is
unbelievable. I like got to give him credit on
that side of the ball. But like, it's just against
lefties. We're struggling.
We struggle so much that Mead ismore valuable in that.
Position And how often is Walls even going to be playing
shortstop when Kim is back? You sign everyday shortstop.
So and then I would say the third option because Cabbie is

(47:51):
so versatile, you could send down Meisner and have Mangum as
the primary center fielder. Cabbie is the backup center
fielder with Jlo and Morel as the two corners.
That's good they want to keep meeting meeting walls.
I could see that happening. Miser has just been brutal.
My it's been brutal watching Miser today.
It's. Literally the outfield version
of walls and and miser man, he'sa great dude.

(48:13):
The story to start the season for him is was truly remarkable,
but it's it's brutal now. You cannot have Miser.
Yeah, I mean, they just. They found out.
Don't throw him a fastball you know and even.
Even he hasn't been able to hit the fastball.
Yeah. And now, yeah, he's tapped out
on that too, so. Gibby, Gibby, what are the guys
would you send down if you had someone?

(48:34):
Yeah, I mean, it's, it's Miser. It's Walls, not me.
The Meads come around so much. So yeah, he's, he's, I think,
Meads. I just don't know.
Needed for this team. He's more versatile.
So yeah, when when the like whatlike what Jake said, I mean,
when the when everyday shortstopHassan Kim's coming up and we're
already paying him much, so muchand we already have missed like

(48:57):
half the season a bit almost of Hassan Kim.
We got to get that value. So I mean, push comes to shove,
it's it's probably Wallace or orMeisner, I mean.
I think, I think at the end of the day, it'll be both of them.
Like I mean when I mean Simpsons.
We still have. Simpsons five hits yesterday.
I watched that game. He's locked in.

(49:19):
And we still have Palacios we. Still.
And we had Joe Boyle and we got Joe Boyle and.
It's Ian Seymour, Shane back. I mean, this team, it's, it's
really hard not to be optimisticwith this team like.
They have reinforcements this year that they didn't have last
year because a lot of those reinforcements were either not
going to come back until this year or the reinforcements just

(49:42):
went. Good.
It was a lot. Deeper.
It's a lot deeper than I thoughtwe would be just because of how
effective the young guys are. Yeah, have been so far.
Like, I mean, I was thinking it was like, oh, position by
position early this season. It was like, yeah, we're decent,
but we're really thin at each position now.
I mean, now that some of the guys in Durham have been able to
come up, get experience and beengood, it's like, holy cow, like

(50:05):
this team is. It's been, I mean, they've been
a very impressive team overall. It's just that right-handed
hitter, like I totally agree. Just got to go get that
right-handed left. Fielder I think they'll be if
they could swap LATEL for for like a I would say Randall
Gertrick Arizona is not going toI'm thinking like.
We we would need to give up a product just.
I have I have an idea. Would be a rental.

(50:26):
Just I have an idea which Santos?
Mattel will be for a prospect, they'll get a prospect vac for
lattell, and they'll trade a prospect for maybe a tail award,
a Randall Grichuk, a Ramon Lauriano, Austin Hayes.
I would love Austin Hayes. But and and Mattel would be a
weird because it would have since he's a rental, it would
have to be a trade between two buyers.
Assuming we like they would it would be like no, no seller

(50:48):
assuming. Good thing with the raises, they
could tow the fine line between buy and sell.
But this year I think the only guy, the only guy they will be
selling is Zach Litell. And then I think they're they're
going to buy another reliever that will get some random
reliever, that reliever that is going to end up being really
good. And then they'll get, I think
they'll get one of those right-handed bats.
Well, segwaying us into our lastor before our last segment

(51:10):
actually, because I'll, I'll make this dumb joke before our
last segment. Deservedly a shout out once
again to the University of Tampabaseball team for winning their
10th national championship. Incredible back-to-back natties,
the winningest D2 baseball program ever.
Well deserved for them. For Joe Urso and the boys, JD

(51:32):
won his first title this year. I'm Skyler Gonzalez, who was who
was the national pitcher of the year last year has been a stud
again. Hopefully we'll be able to bring
you guys some content when when I come down in a couple weeks,
Hopefully we'll we'll be able tobring you guys some some UT
content. That'll be pretty cool.
So stay tuned for that. But wanted to send our Congrats
to them. The joke I was going to make
segwaying into our last segment of the podcast was what if the

(51:56):
Rays trade for Roman Anthony? I mean, I did dude.
Imagine having Roman. Anthony.
Joe Boyle. I'm just saying right now, I was
full. I was fully expecting Roman
Anthony to be called up for thisseries.
Like I just had a gut feeling. This is this.
Is a 5 foot home run Grand Slam?Dude this?

(52:16):
Dude, this. Is this is how this can prevent
the good prospects from debutingagainst them?
They just steal the prospects. I steal waltz in this in this
logic. That Red Sox organization is ran
so poorly. It is.
It is. It's an unserious.
And yet they have so many good guys on that team.
They're loaded, their their roster's loaded.
But the Bregman and Costas, I think we're catching them at a

(52:38):
good time. We're facing Baio.
I know because we're talking. No crochet.
No crochet. Crochet AO Giolito and Bueller,
all three righties I'm liking. I'm liking those odds.
I'm really liking those odds. In Fenway, Oh my God.
Yeah, Fenway, our favorite placein the.
And Bilao and Yandi E at Fenway.Bilao is going It should have an

(52:59):
unbelievable series. The It's always funny because my
brother lives in the Boston area.
Is he is, is he's going to any of the games?
He, he had a kid recently, so heoh, Congrats.
Congrats. But he's a race fan though, so
and and every time he watched iton Nessen, the Nessen guys like
are like they think they think that B Lau is the best player of

(53:21):
all time because he. Oh yeah, that's how we love it.
He own, him and Yanni own they're what?
They call it. I meant I meant you to see like
the line UPS over the three daysbecause what is this?
I think this will be 10 games ina row like about this series.
I think we're going to be seeinglike I wouldn't be surprised if
Junior gets an off day of B Lau.All the hub B Lau owns the Red
Sox. I don't know if he's getting an
off day, but we're going to. Vanessa guys are drinking my

(53:43):
Kool-aid, so that's. All About you would you would
have an unbelievable time with them in the OH.
Man, I would bring back the bodylike, oh, I remember when he was
at Maryland or I would get the going, be lit.
They might give up if if they were the GM, they'd be like B
Lau for Roman Anthony, straight up like.
Speaking of Speaking of Marylandguys, Lamont Way Junior is

(54:05):
available. I've been yelling.
I've been yelling to the treetops for years.
And you got Evan Gibby. You guys have heard me talk
about Lamont Way Junior before. This is the time.
You. You what?
You just got traded yesterday. Oh, fuck.
OK. Well, Angel.
Angel scooped them up on base. No.
Oh Sonic of bitch. Always them, dude.

(54:30):
Speaking of weird organizations,does anyone know what the angels
like do like? I don't.
Know dude, they're. Stealing by They're stealing by
Maryland guys, apparently. Lamont.
Wade Lamont Wade is like, I feellike is gonna be like 5 years
from now just gonna have like a random like monster season like
that they just can hit I. Just like I've been wanting,
like, I just want the Rays to pick them up because like, I

(54:51):
would just want the gauntlet of the pieces of all the Maryland
guys to come through the Ray system.
And it's not happening as I wantand it's making me really sad.
Well, good. Good for Lamont, aside from
that. OK, so as we were talking about
the Razer playing the Red Sox this week, as of this recording,
which is Monday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, the Razer
playing the Sox in Boston, Evan,we already kind of talk about

(55:12):
pitching matchups, but can you let people know about the
pitching matchups? Yes, I can.
Tonight, Monday it's Baz versus Brian Baio and then Tuesday,
yeah, it's a three-game, right? Yeah, Tuesday Papio versus Lucas
Giolito and then Wednesday it isZach Littell versus Walker

(55:33):
Buehler. So yeah, 3 righties.
Buehler's coming up, coming off a tough outing, I think it was
on Saturday against the Yankees,so he kind of got lit up, but
they they ultimately won the series against the Yankees.
So sorry, Buehler started Friday's game.
I'm sorry but. Their bullpen is taxed like to

(55:54):
the. There were a lot of runs.
There were a lot of runs in thatseries, both sides, so.
Admin It's the last two days that Bernardino do their lefty.
I think he's thrown more. He's thrown like 30 something
games already. I don't know what Core has
against him, but his arm is going to be shot.
By and and they played I mean I don't know how big of a deal
what like 6 hours is, but they also played the night game last
night so a little bit a little bit more tired.

(56:15):
Obviously we had to travel though, so that but.
It's probably it's only like an hour flight for them, not even.
But yeah, you're right, night game, that's a pretty big
difference. Yeah, so definitely very
interesting series. Not having crochet is a massive
advantage for the Rays. But again, they still have to
beat the guys that are on their mount, that are on the mount.

(56:35):
I mean, the Rays had a chance tosweep the Marlins this week,
this weekend. Marlins not one of the best
teams in baseball by any means, and the Rays couldn't do that.
So regardless of who's on the mount, the Rays got to find a
way to beat them. So Gibby starting with you keys
to this series, what are? They, I mean, just keeping the

(56:55):
Red Sox offense quiet. I mean, they kind of came out in
this in this Yankee series afterlosing a pretty brutal series to
the Angels. So they're kind of almost back
on track. So hopefully we keep them in the
ballpark, generate that weak contact.
We're already kind of used to a smaller ballpark with these kind

(57:16):
of dimensions where home runs can happen very easily.
So just that's going to be superimportant and the starting
pitching, just doing what they usually do.
And is Taj pitching this series?No, no good.
He'll pitch the first game. He needs the Mets.
I need him, he needs more time, he needs some.

(57:36):
Rest toss against the Mets is probably it's, I fear the worst.
I really, Yeah, that series is going to be tough.
It really is. That's going to be a tough
series for sure, but exciting. I think that's why this is such
a big series, because I'd be, I wouldn't be shocked, but I'd be
pretty surprised if the Rays winthat Mets series.
The Mets are very. Just win one.

(57:57):
Just win one. That's always.
And then when we have a three, three road trip, yeah, that's
it. And you're back.
I think we play the Orioles and I, I think Hassan Kim will be
back next Monday. That that's I, I don't know
anything. I'm just saying that's I've
listened to Neander talk the last couple weeks.
I think he circled that series too.
So having him back is going to be huge.
Yeah. I have pretty simple, I think, I

(58:20):
think, but I mean, Gibby touchedupon it there and then Jake
touched upon it earlier in the podcast.
But the bullpen is pretty exhausted.
So I think the key to the seriesis just starting pitching going,
getting through at least 5, getting through at least six.
Like, I mean, obviously, you know, Boss has the struggles in
the 5th inning, but if he can limit that, yeah, we should be

(58:42):
in good shape. Get the let the bullpen get some
rest. I mean, and yeah, that's about
me. Jake.
Yeah, kind of like what they said for tonight.
I will say I think Baz like fully owns the Red Sox.
Like his his, his numbers against them are really good.
So I'm very interested to see how he looks tonight.
Hopefully he can get deep in thegame.
If not, like I said earlier, I think he'll probably go four or

(59:04):
five innings. And then Seymour, I think this
is a good lineup for Seymour to face.
It's a good lineup, but all their good hitters are lefties,
Devers, Duran and William Brady.They're all lefty.
So that's kind of a loft sandingor a soft landing spot for
Seymour and then the rest of theseries who we got Letelle.
Oh, I also want to say one thingabout Pepeo.
This is the best Pepeo has looked, maybe as a Ray the last.

(59:26):
His command has been absolutely lethal.
And then obviously his change upis filthy, his fat, his Fastball
Canadian is on, and then he's kind of tweaked his slider into
more like a cutter. He's been going back and forth
between that. But yeah, it's been really cool
to see Pepio. So yeah, I feel good.
I mean, go two of the three hereand then win one game against
the Mets and should be in good shape going forward.

(59:46):
Yeah. All right, well, let's go into
our pick a player for this series.
Jake, as our guest, you'll be picking our players.
So if you don't know we, it's just you can pick one player.
You can pick a position player and a pitcher.
We usually try to cap it at like2:00 to 3:00.
But what in this Sox series, what players are you

(01:00:06):
pinpointing? For me tonight, I think it
starts tonight with Boss, like, like with the way Boyle is
pitching in, in AAA, like I think we could be start.
We could be tweeted about this. We could.
I think Boss in the bullpen makes a lot of sense because
Boyle is ready and I don't know if they want to give up on Taj
as a starter yet. I don't know if they want to
give up on Baz as a starter yet,but I I think they got to make a

(01:00:28):
room eventually for Boyle. So I'm pinpointing Baz.
He's had success against the RedSox.
So yeah, that should be interesting.
I really, I don't want to see many sliders.
I think just hammer fastballs, hammer curve balls and then work
the change up against the lefties.
And then for hitter, it's got tobe junior, right?
Like I want to see him go over over the Monster.
I, I, I just, I got to see it and then actually I will say 1

(01:00:49):
hitter for the Red Sox, Abraham Toro.
I don't know if you guys have been seeing what he's been doing
lately. It's the most weird Linsanity
run I've seen, but he's been having like a monster season the
last couple months. So that's a guy to pinpoint for
the Red Sox too. All.
Right. Evan, are you picking?
I actually I would take B Lau but however I can't do that

(01:01:14):
considering you have a retainer on B Lau but.
Yeah, I'm. Going to go with the Ronda
though. I mean it's kind of a basic
pictures because he is our best hitter, but I mean 3 righties
matches up well with them and I mean he's just he's just so damn
good. He's probably my favorite player
on the team and I just he's the man, but.

(01:01:37):
The guy who should be starting for for the American League at
first base in the All Star game.I actually want to say one more
player because I just said junior because I couldn't think
of the hitter because he's he's my favorite player.
Morrell, I think at least minimum he should be starting
two games this series. Meisner, I know his defense is

(01:01:57):
absolutely phenomenal in center field, but if they're
comfortable with Mangan in center, like I said earlier, put
Morel on left field. You have to see what you have in
him, especially before the deadlines in what, a month, A
month and 1/2? So you have to kind of you have
to know because Simpsons going to be back.
Dude had five hits yesterday. Simpsons going to be back.
So he's filling up either Miser Mangum or Morel spot.
So you got to see what you have in these guys.

(01:02:17):
You know, you know, Meisner isn't really the future in
center field. His hitting is just two subpar
Mangum, I think ideally in his role as a fourth outfielder.
So yeah, Morel is another guy. And then I just want to say one
more thing. Carson Williams, what?
He was sick yesterday or I watched that game.
Four hits. The first one went a minimum of
440. I think it probably went 450
left center. Second one was like a one O 8

(01:02:39):
rocket to center and then he hadlike a inside out to right
field. The third hit and the fourth hit
was a rocket to left. And he only has four strikeouts
this month. I mean his development is
probably the biggest thing for the rays outside of junior for
the next couple of years, in my opinion.
That's that's it. Yep.
That's agreed. Evan, do you have a pitcher?

(01:02:59):
And then my pitcher. Is you said?
Obviously, like I said, like we were talking about the bullpen,
it has is probably pretty taxed right now and you said it gave
up A2 run home run on Friday's game.
But yesterday he was incredible.I mean a 2A2 inning save from
him. I don't think he's ever done
that. I could be wrong there, but I
don't did. It once last year, but last

(01:03:20):
year. It's been.
Seldom it's, it's something thathe doesn't usually do and he did
it and he did it 6 up, 6 down. So I mean, hopefully he can kind
of build on that and continue because he hasn't.
I mean, obviously it'd be tough to replicate what he did last
year just because he was so good.
But he's falling off a little bit.
So hopefully he can kind of use that to build.

(01:03:41):
Some guys he. And his V low back up was good
yesterday. Gabby, what's good?
I we got to commend Eric Orsi. That's going to be my pick up
player. O73 ERA.
Are you kidding? Me dude let.
Me just tell you guys right now,I was on Eric Orsi the moment
they traded for him. I looked at I took one look at a

(01:04:02):
video of his splitter and I'm like, this is going to be I
think he between Manny and Pete,I think he's a 7th inning guy
now let Clevenger work against like a lefty heavy hole.
So you could have 789 Manny Clevand then Orsi's that like 4th
high leverage guy. I think Useta, I don't know if
he's in a pitch this series because he threw a lot
yesterday, but Useta and Monty let them get lower leverage

(01:04:25):
spots for now. Let them work through some
stuff. Orzi is phenomenal.
He's phenomenal, dude. So he's awesome, dude.
Gibby, That's a good pick. That's a good pick.
Gibby, Great pick. That's my picture.
The great pick. It really is.
I almost said it. I almost said it.
I almost said him. And I'm going to give my hitter,
I'll give it to Yande Diaz because hopefully he plays a few

(01:04:45):
games this series and get some constants and at bats.
He's just gonna dominate as always.
That's. A great pick cuz he had the I
think he had the best game of his season yesterday.
Yeah, classic Yandi right there.Yeah.
All right. So as always, Bilal Goterps,
hoping for good things out of him.
I'm also gonna pick Danny Jansen.
I would love to see a little bitof a bounce back from him.

(01:05:07):
He's shown a lot. Just hoping continued success
there. And then pitcher, let's go with
Kevin Kelly. I love that man.
I I've always had a little bit of a soft spot for him.
So would love to see continued success from him.
I don't know how often he's going to be used in the series
because I don't know how often he was used over the over the

(01:05:29):
homestand, but I think that he would be someone that would be
able to work in lower leverage spots coming up this on the
road. You could do, but he could.
The thing about Kelly is he can pitch in any spot.
Bases loaded, you're going to get a ground ball.
The one thing with Kelly is since he's came back, his
sweeper has been pretty rough. So that's like when when you're
watching Kelly look for his sweeper because that that's kind

(01:05:51):
of like the great equalizer for him because his sinker is so
good. It's always his.
He's always commanding it and low in the zone.
And then yesterday, I don't knowif you guys saw, he threw A4
seamer high for a with first strikeout.
That was awesome to see. So yeah, just keep an eye on a
sweeper. That's what I would say.
All right. Well, with that being said, it's
going to conclude things on thislatest episode of Razor Roof.
Jake, thank you so much for coming on.
We want to give you the floor tobe able to, you know, let

(01:06:13):
everyone know what you are, whatyou're doing, what you got going
on. Where can people find you at?
Yeah, it's TV race central on Twitter.
I don't even I, I, my name is Finn central on on my other
page, so I kind of just kept it central.
Yeah, my name is Jake. I just graduated from USF, so
yeah, I've. The Bulls.
Yes, Sir, Go Bowls. I've been having a lot of fun on

(01:06:34):
Twitter. It's been great connecting with
you guys and thank you for having me, man.
Yeah, of course, of course. All right.
Well, that being said, it's going to conclude things on this
latest episode, Raise the Roof. We appreciate you guys as always
for your support, everything that you guys have done for us.
We just had 2500 followers on Instagram.
So thank you guys. That means the world to us
there. We love seeing the growth on
Instagram. If you guys don't follow us
anywhere, it's at raise the roofTB on Twitter slash X blue sky

(01:06:58):
and Instagram, our YouTube channel.
Be sure to subscribe to us there.
It's just raise the roof. You can find podcast clips,
minor league clips, interviews that we've done in game stuff,
anything of that nature. You you, you can find that
there. And for the podcast, continue to
support us as you guys have been.
Be sure to like, be sure to subscribe, be sure to leave us
review, hopefully a five star review and share this with your

(01:07:19):
family, your friends, anybody who knows who's a baseball fan
or race fan that wants to add a podcast into their podcast feed.
We'd love to be part of it. A final shout out to our
sponsor, Sea Geek in the clutch and JKS Prince.
It's code raise the roof in all caps to check out for all those.
Be sure to save yourself some money.
Get get yourself some cool stuff, tickets, anything else
and helps us out in the process without that being said.

(01:07:39):
Thanks so much for listening andas always, raise up.
Raise up baby. Raise up baby.
Thanks for having me guys.