Rays Keep Rolling – March to ALCS & World Series - RaysUp

BaseballBiz On Deck

Rays continue to win series: Mets, Tigers, & a strong start against the Royals.

Cincinnati Reds’ Chase Burns strikes out the Yankees' top batters in the first inning.

Chandler Simpson is back in the majors, though his defensive growth remains key

2021 Rays roster that won 100 games - who remains

Contrasts between veterans like Clayton Kershaw & players who never make it to free agency.

Impact of MLB Cutting Minor League Teams

Manfred’s reduction from 160 to 120 minor league teams has affected player development—especially for international players.

Lost opportunities for Latin American players

Rays’ workaround: sending talent to the Australian Baseball League (e.g., Junior Caminero).

Latin American Pipeline Challenges

Limited playing time in complex leagues like the FCL (Florida Complex League) due to rehab assignments and draft influx.

Some Players that are promoted too quickly, risking their development.

Discussion on Rays’ strategic patience and international development system.

Reduction in the number of minor league teams reduced the number of Latin America players

Mat’s strategy for Merging minor league teams with collegiate teams

Comparing the path to the majors of Jac Caglianone to that of Junior Caminero

Australian Baseball League

Propose 2 collegiate teams associated with each MLB team

Ideal scenario of Yankees & Rays fighting it for the ALCS championship with the keys to George Steinbrenner Field given to the winner

The Rays have gone “Old School” including bunting, running the bases

Unknowable pitch of Chris Bubic’s “Ghost Pitch” – reminiscent of Brent Honeywell

Yankees v Reds sneak peek – Elly De La Cruz

Mat observes - pitchers that have a, a strong reliance on split fingers or sliders & throw them the hardest, tend to have the most surgeries

Need to keep the Bullpen happy

Trade Deadline - 8 to 10 days out before we see Trades start to come in

Shortstops across Rays Minor Leaguers - Adrian Santanam Gregory Barriosm Carson Williams – also playing 3rd base as Ha-Seong Kim is currently SS

Rays path to replace Wander Franco includes trading Luke Raley trading for Jose Caballero has proven well worth his versatility from SS or anywhere on the field

Praise to Rays Scouting & Analytical teams for discovering new talent

Fun new team names for proposed expansion teams to
Vancouver, The Killer Whales, Nashville, The Nashville Whiskies

What if the Kansas City Royals renamed themselves the Kansas City Monarchs

A Montreal Expansion team could be the Montreal Royals these would reflect back on the history of the game in the Negro Leagues & Jackie Robinson

Losing the Expos names removes the stigma of the past

A trip to Kansas City to see the Royals & Negro League Baseball Museum

Alan Alford at Rickwood with Dusty Baker

Jack Stack’s as a must stop in Kansas City for Barbecue

Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen’s has increased variations of his pitching

Avoiding predictability in pitching – Taj Bradley

Tampa Baseball Museum with Larry Rothschild & Dave Magadan Coaches Corner

We will soon see X-Rays now with the Athletics, Jeffrey Springs + Jacob Lopez who is leading K/9

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

Special Thanks to Scott Holmes for the music Stomps & Claps