WEBVTT - RTR's 2026 World Series Preview 0:00:13.330 --> 0:00:19.669 It's time to raise the roof for our 2026 World 0:00:19.970 --> 0:00:24.890 Series preview. You heard me right. In case you don't 0:00:24.950 --> 0:00:28.450 believe what happened back earlier this week, the Rays are 0:00:28.670 --> 0:00:33.269 in the World Series. They clinched the AL pennant, their 0:00:33.320 --> 0:00:37.080 third AL pennant ever. They're playing the Brewers. This might 0:00:37.120 --> 0:00:40.640 be one of the greatest World Series matchups of all time. 0:00:41.060 --> 0:00:45.020 This is for the baseball sickos. the baseball purists, the 0:00:45.040 --> 0:00:48.420 true baseball fans out there, and for us, because we're 0:00:48.450 --> 0:00:50.340 Rays fans, so it kind of, you know, works in 0:00:50.380 --> 0:00:53.430 the realm of things. But we have plenty to talk 0:00:53.470 --> 0:00:56.390 about on this podcast. First off, welcome back to the pod, everyone. 0:00:56.830 --> 0:00:59.750 I'm your host, Alex Murphy, with me, my co-host today, 0:00:59.870 --> 0:01:03.130 Gibby and Evan. And I know I'll be seeing Gibby 0:01:03.170 --> 0:01:06.869 at the Trop for the World Series. Evan, I'm sorry 0:01:06.890 --> 0:01:08.929 that I wish you could have found a way to, 0:01:09.030 --> 0:01:10.890 I mean, I know you're a busy man with work, 0:01:10.910 --> 0:01:13.230 so I, you know, It was probably going to be 0:01:13.250 --> 0:01:15.020 impossible to try to get off as it is. 0:01:15.110 --> 0:01:18.300 No, and it's during the week too. I will be 0:01:18.340 --> 0:01:20.840 watching with my older brother, which will be nice. Games 0:01:20.860 --> 0:01:24.340 four and five, which will be a nice treat. But no, 0:01:25.500 --> 0:01:27.179 it's going to be... When do you fly down? 0:01:27.220 --> 0:01:27.560 Sunday? 0:01:28.110 --> 0:01:32.170 Monday. Okay. If everything works out, I'll be basically arriving 0:01:32.190 --> 0:01:34.770 about three and a half hours before the game starts somewhere. 0:01:34.830 --> 0:01:37.029 Oh, that's a risky move. 0:01:37.690 --> 0:01:41.880 Well, screw it. I took what I could get. 0:01:42.180 --> 0:01:44.160 Hopefully there's no delays there. 0:01:44.400 --> 0:01:48.400 Yeah well knock on wood good weather good weather i 0:01:48.440 --> 0:01:50.440 need all the vibes and there is literally a wood 0:01:50.480 --> 0:01:52.360 table next to me so that was actually really really 0:01:52.400 --> 0:01:53.620 convenient for the timing there. 0:01:54.860 --> 0:01:57.280 But yeah i've been knocking on a lot of wood lately. 0:01:57.280 --> 0:01:59.560 Yeah a lot are you are you how many games 0:01:59.600 --> 0:02:01.120 are you going to give me are you going all 0:02:01.140 --> 0:02:04.710 three uh i think two right now okay. 0:02:04.750 --> 0:02:06.350 Where are you where are you gonna be for those 0:02:06.410 --> 0:02:09.910 games me yeah i don't know uh it's. 0:02:09.830 --> 0:02:12.139 Gonna be around Should be around. I'll be around. 0:02:12.160 --> 0:02:15.100 You know, honestly, I think even during the World Series, 0:02:16.020 --> 0:02:18.100 I think the best part about it is like the 0:02:18.120 --> 0:02:19.960 fact that they have a 360 degree concourse. I think 0:02:19.980 --> 0:02:22.180 that really helps to allow just for anyone to go 0:02:22.240 --> 0:02:24.560 anywhere because I know that people love the upper deck. 0:02:25.060 --> 0:02:27.120 I know people, of course, love sitting in the outfield. 0:02:27.160 --> 0:02:28.870 They love sitting on the lines. They love the 200 level. 0:02:29.750 --> 0:02:31.810 But just like being able to have the mobility to 0:02:31.850 --> 0:02:33.989 walk around is going to be cool. I have no 0:02:34.090 --> 0:02:36.400 clue just because I wasn't there for the ALDS and 0:02:36.410 --> 0:02:42.859 the ALCS. I don't know where the auxiliary media seating 0:02:42.919 --> 0:02:46.239 is because there is no way that Raise the Roof 0:02:46.320 --> 0:02:51.400 is getting priority access to the legit press box. I'm sorry. 0:02:51.460 --> 0:02:53.400 That's not happening. Oh, come on. 0:02:53.880 --> 0:02:54.240 Yeah. 0:02:54.260 --> 0:02:55.320 I don't know if we have. 0:02:56.500 --> 0:03:00.450 I don't know if we have that motion yet, Twin. 0:03:00.830 --> 0:03:02.530 We don't have that level of status yet? 0:03:03.050 --> 0:03:03.470 No, no, no. 0:03:03.470 --> 0:03:05.389 You're going to be watching it on TV, buddy. 0:03:06.770 --> 0:03:09.829 Yeah, yeah. I'll be outside the ballpark. I'll be at first. 0:03:09.930 --> 0:03:11.810 The actual auxiliary seating is actually. 0:03:12.950 --> 0:03:15.460 It's actually just a beach. 0:03:15.740 --> 0:03:17.019 But I don't know where it's going to be. I 0:03:17.020 --> 0:03:17.980 don't know if it's going to be up in the 0:03:18.020 --> 0:03:19.500 upper deck. I don't know if it's going to be 0:03:19.520 --> 0:03:22.300 the same place as it was down the line. Who knows? But... 0:03:23.530 --> 0:03:24.870 It is going to be a hell of a lot 0:03:24.889 --> 0:03:28.310 of fun. I haven't seen Duke since so long. He's 0:03:28.330 --> 0:03:31.450 the guy who basically is like the guru. I don't 0:03:31.590 --> 0:03:35.330 know how to describe him, but he is the guy 0:03:35.390 --> 0:03:38.240 that essentially allows everything to work as is in the 0:03:38.250 --> 0:03:41.040 press box. And I haven't seen that man since last year. 0:03:41.420 --> 0:03:43.360 And I was really hoping to see him in August. 0:03:43.400 --> 0:03:46.080 Things didn't work out, but I'm excited to hopefully run 0:03:46.120 --> 0:03:49.120 into him and say what's up on Monday. 0:03:50.040 --> 0:03:56.510 Hell yeah. That'll be an unforgettable experience. so close to 0:03:56.570 --> 0:03:59.330 it what we're recording this just before three o'clock on 0:03:59.370 --> 0:04:00.670 Friday five more hours. 0:04:00.470 --> 0:04:04.450 Guys I know five more hours this is nuts it's 0:04:04.530 --> 0:04:07.200 like it's insane to think that we're at this point 0:04:07.220 --> 0:04:10.040 now I mean this is the second I will say 0:04:10.060 --> 0:04:13.780 it's pretty sick that this is the second different World 0:04:13.800 --> 0:04:15.420 Series preview that we've done with. 0:04:15.320 --> 0:04:20.060 This podcast Have you gone back and listened to the 0:04:20.120 --> 0:04:20.310 first one? 0:04:20.320 --> 0:04:22.610 I can go. I mean, oh, we definitely sound like 0:04:22.670 --> 0:04:24.610 dog shit back then. I'm not going to lie to you. 0:04:24.970 --> 0:04:27.350 There's no way that we sound anywhere remotely close to 0:04:27.390 --> 0:04:32.170 being good. We also somehow have 21 pages of content 0:04:33.290 --> 0:04:35.310 back in the day. So let me go back. This 0:04:35.370 --> 0:04:36.240 is as we do this. 0:04:36.330 --> 0:04:36.630 Wow. 0:04:37.220 --> 0:04:39.360 We got no viewers back in the day. Or maybe 0:04:39.380 --> 0:04:40.279 this is from the other thing. 0:04:42.040 --> 0:04:43.599 Where do we have it? Oh, God. 0:04:44.860 --> 0:04:47.120 World Series preview episode 14. 0:04:47.120 --> 0:04:49.559 That's crazy. Wow. 0:04:49.940 --> 0:04:55.960 October 20th, 2020. So nearly six years to the day. 0:04:55.980 --> 0:04:57.830 That is crazy. 0:04:58.610 --> 0:05:01.650 Like, think about that. We're like, I think we're almost at, 0:05:01.810 --> 0:05:06.630 I mean, we're like 308 right now. This will be 308. Like, 0:05:06.870 --> 0:05:09.180 that's a long ass time. That's a lot of pods. 0:05:09.720 --> 0:05:10.300 Six years. 0:05:10.880 --> 0:05:11.140 Jeez. 0:05:12.200 --> 0:05:15.000 And yet we're still the same trio of dumbasses and 0:05:15.020 --> 0:05:17.400 the Rays are still somehow a competent baseball team. 0:05:17.620 --> 0:05:19.460 And Yandy Diaz is still here. 0:05:19.860 --> 0:05:22.360 Yandy Diaz is still here. That's the constant. 0:05:22.480 --> 0:05:25.670 That's the fucking constant, dude. Yandy Diaz is still here. 0:05:25.730 --> 0:05:27.469 It used to be Bilal and then things. 0:05:27.350 --> 0:05:29.890 Changed in the offseason. Yeah, sorry about that. 0:05:29.970 --> 0:05:31.029 Pete was on that team too. 0:05:31.050 --> 0:05:33.010 Yeah, no, it was Pete. Yeah, it was all three 0:05:33.050 --> 0:05:36.270 of them. And now it's– wait, because Walls came up 0:05:36.370 --> 0:05:38.550 in 21, so he automatically wouldn't have been there. But 0:05:38.650 --> 0:05:40.370 he is– he has become a constant. 0:05:41.690 --> 0:05:41.850 Yeah. 0:05:42.670 --> 0:05:44.570 Wow, is it 2021? 0:05:44.570 --> 0:05:46.970 Yeah, because he came up with the Adamas thing. He 0:05:47.010 --> 0:05:50.690 came up and then he got traded with the Adamas 0:05:50.710 --> 0:05:51.590 trade and all that stuff. 0:05:52.610 --> 0:05:55.839 Wander made his debut in 2021 too, right? 0:05:55.880 --> 0:05:57.839 Yeah, but Walls made his debut earlier. 0:05:57.920 --> 0:05:59.400 Earlier, okay. 0:06:00.120 --> 0:06:03.180 I mean, we are dating ourselves significantly just because of 0:06:03.240 --> 0:06:05.560 how long that we've been doing this. But it's insane 0:06:05.580 --> 0:06:10.100 to think about. Yeah, 21, he played 54 games. Somehow 0:06:10.180 --> 0:06:13.480 this season was his best season by B-Work even though 0:06:13.500 --> 0:06:21.780 he posted an incredible 71 OPS +, which meant that, 0:06:22.500 --> 0:06:25.480 according to this metric, he was 30% below league average 0:06:25.520 --> 0:06:29.710 as a hitter. Somehow posted a 3.5 B-War, which is, 0:06:30.490 --> 0:06:32.890 if we're Brandon War, if we're comparing it to our 0:06:32.950 --> 0:06:40.870 boy and noted postseason fraud, Brandon Lau. Sorry, Brandon. He, uh, 0:06:41.190 --> 0:06:43.520 the best season he posted with the Rays was a 4.6. 0:06:43.510 --> 0:06:50.260 So he is, Taylor Walls this year was one win 0:06:50.320 --> 0:06:54.660 less valuable than, than Brandon Lau's best season with the Rays. 0:06:55.320 --> 0:06:55.860 That's crazy. 0:06:56.120 --> 0:06:56.779 That is crazy. 0:06:57.380 --> 0:07:00.760 That's kind of, Ward's kind of crazy. Well, I will say, 0:07:01.060 --> 0:07:02.560 if you look at, we'll never change this. 0:07:03.279 --> 0:07:06.230 I know. There are constants in life. And one of 0:07:06.250 --> 0:07:08.630 them is Taylor Walls being unable to hit the baseball. Um, 0:07:09.150 --> 0:07:11.120 But I do think that they should just let him 0:07:11.160 --> 0:07:12.840 bunt the entire time. But I was going to say 0:07:12.880 --> 0:07:16.440 on top of that, Arum, who I'm sure I'll be 0:07:16.480 --> 0:07:20.980 seeing him amongst the media scrum, he talked with Walsey 0:07:21.800 --> 0:07:24.530 during media day and he basically went over, or like 0:07:24.570 --> 0:07:29.570 Walsey kind of went over his defensive routine and just 0:07:29.610 --> 0:07:32.310 like his upbringing defensively and stuff like that. And I 0:07:32.350 --> 0:07:34.450 do think it's interesting because he talked about it earlier 0:07:34.470 --> 0:07:37.060 in the playoffs, the way that he does things and 0:07:37.100 --> 0:07:40.660 the way that he goes about thinking about And I think, like, 0:07:41.400 --> 0:07:44.540 when you look at this World Series as a whole, that's, like, 0:07:44.580 --> 0:07:47.620 a perfect way of describing what the Rays are, is 0:07:47.760 --> 0:07:49.490 a team that knows, and so many people have said 0:07:49.510 --> 0:07:55.290 it before, a team that knows how to, like, exploit 0:07:56.030 --> 0:08:00.100 the strengths of players to the, like, get the most 0:08:00.260 --> 0:08:03.830 out of a player's strength. So we know Walsey, for example, 0:08:03.890 --> 0:08:07.150 is not a good offensive player. That is a constant. 0:08:07.630 --> 0:08:09.790 The reason why he's been here for six seasons or 0:08:09.830 --> 0:08:12.690 parts of six seasons is because of the fact that 0:08:12.710 --> 0:08:16.300 he's so good defensively or he's become such a good 0:08:16.330 --> 0:08:19.520 defensive player that the Rays have kept him around regardless 0:08:19.560 --> 0:08:21.780 of who else has come through. And I think that's 0:08:21.820 --> 0:08:25.120 a perfect way of describing this World Series from a 0:08:25.180 --> 0:08:25.920 Rays perspective. 0:08:26.460 --> 0:08:28.780 Yeah, I mean, both those... I watched that video that 0:08:29.220 --> 0:08:32.480 Auron posted today and... and the other press conference that 0:08:32.520 --> 0:08:35.740 Wallace had, I think before the ALCS, about him taking 0:08:35.820 --> 0:08:38.360 everything into account in terms of who the pitcher is, 0:08:38.420 --> 0:08:39.480 who the hitter is, what. 0:08:39.400 --> 0:08:40.370 Pitch is selected. 0:08:40.450 --> 0:08:42.770 Obviously, he has pitch comp too, so he knows what's coming. 0:08:43.530 --> 0:08:46.830 But I thought that was so cool. It's not a coincidence. 0:08:46.990 --> 0:08:50.890 It's not luck that he's the best defensive shortstop. He 0:08:50.929 --> 0:08:55.430 takes all those extra precautions, those extra tiny little steps 0:08:55.480 --> 0:08:59.340 that might seem small. I mean, they are small, but 0:08:59.380 --> 0:09:02.250 they could be the difference between hit and a diving 0:09:02.270 --> 0:09:04.239 stop and throw to first and getting and getting him 0:09:04.280 --> 0:09:06.640 out so like and and it is kind of like 0:09:06.679 --> 0:09:09.880 a cool like example of what the Rays are like 0:09:09.960 --> 0:09:13.860 overall they take each little advantage that they can get 0:09:14.320 --> 0:09:16.900 to overall win ball games and I think that's kind 0:09:16.940 --> 0:09:19.370 of what Walls does each play he takes every little 0:09:19.400 --> 0:09:22.170 advantage he can get to get the out and I 0:09:22.210 --> 0:09:24.110 I it was like a six minute answer like it 0:09:24.130 --> 0:09:26.370 was really cool what Walls said and like it was 0:09:26.390 --> 0:09:30.079 just cool how open he was and It was cool 0:09:30.100 --> 0:09:30.400 to watch. 0:09:30.990 --> 0:09:33.170 I liked that. Great question by Aurum. 0:09:34.350 --> 0:09:37.069 Yeah, Gibby, when you look at this World Series coming 0:09:37.110 --> 0:09:39.209 into it, because I think that the Walls, again, I 0:09:39.230 --> 0:09:42.730 think the Walls quote, the Walls answer, just talking about 0:09:42.770 --> 0:09:45.350 him is a great way of describing it. When you 0:09:45.370 --> 0:09:49.380 look at this World Series, what are the first things 0:09:49.440 --> 0:09:51.160 that come to mind for you? What are the first 0:09:51.200 --> 0:09:52.750 things that that you think. 0:09:52.610 --> 0:09:57.460 About um i mean yeah i mean it's just gonna 0:09:57.480 --> 0:10:01.500 be who's gonna be the less sloppy team who's gonna 0:10:01.800 --> 0:10:04.640 play the better defense uh taylor wall is a huge 0:10:04.679 --> 0:10:06.520 part of that i mean there's a reason why he's 0:10:06.559 --> 0:10:09.440 like one of the main guys in every mound visit 0:10:09.559 --> 0:10:13.359 it's because he's taking into account like whatever the pitchers 0:10:13.400 --> 0:10:15.830 doing he's got pitch coming his ear too so he 0:10:15.870 --> 0:10:20.069 knows what's coming um so, so yeah, it's just about 0:10:20.530 --> 0:10:24.089 which squad is better defensively. Who's going to make, who's 0:10:24.130 --> 0:10:27.910 going to make the fewest mistakes and whether that's, you know, pitching, uh, 0:10:29.130 --> 0:10:33.040 just not pitching bad pitches or, you know, just being 0:10:33.100 --> 0:10:36.520 defensively aligned and having a guy like Taylor walls there, 0:10:36.540 --> 0:10:39.500 it gives the raise a major advantage. So there's a 0:10:39.540 --> 0:10:41.859 reason why he's been here all these years. It's not, 0:10:42.100 --> 0:10:44.360 it's not for nothing. It's not because he should not 0:10:44.400 --> 0:10:50.130 be named is gone. Um, He's got a real stake 0:10:50.230 --> 0:10:53.170 on this team. And even the bats come through more 0:10:53.210 --> 0:10:56.090 because he is such a punting threat that you're almost 0:10:56.150 --> 0:11:00.910 giving him easier pitches that he can then turn around 0:11:00.980 --> 0:11:05.340 and get easy singles from. So, I mean, yeah, Taylor 0:11:05.360 --> 0:11:07.699 Wall is a huge part of it, a huge part 0:11:07.720 --> 0:11:11.740 of this team. Just the defense in general. And it 0:11:11.780 --> 0:11:14.130 all kind of flows through him. I mean, when you 0:11:14.150 --> 0:11:16.610 just hit it, when it goes in the general direction 0:11:16.630 --> 0:11:18.770 of the shortstop, you just know it's going to be 0:11:19.590 --> 0:11:23.920 an out double play. It's just kind of a guarantee 0:11:23.960 --> 0:11:27.040 at this point. So, I mean, you see it on 0:11:27.960 --> 0:11:34.679 the opposing team's faces. Like, during the ALCS, the Guardians 0:11:34.700 --> 0:11:37.570 kept hitting it to Taylor Wallace. And, I mean, they 0:11:37.610 --> 0:11:39.870 just looked anguished every time they did it because they 0:11:39.890 --> 0:11:43.000 just knew... They're either going to get double play or 0:11:43.040 --> 0:11:44.760 they're going to get out. 0:11:45.700 --> 0:11:46.900 So, yeah. 0:11:47.960 --> 0:11:51.640 And the roster as a whole, you just need someone 0:11:51.840 --> 0:11:56.969 who can get Jacob Mizorowski off the mound. You got 0:11:56.990 --> 0:12:01.109 to get a guy who can hit freaking 103, something 0:12:01.150 --> 0:12:07.230 like that. Which, Junior has not been hitting the fastball 0:12:07.250 --> 0:12:08.069 so much recently. 0:12:08.150 --> 0:12:09.790 But Yandy. 0:12:10.900 --> 0:12:15.339 Has had some tremendous bat speed here in the postseason 0:12:15.400 --> 0:12:18.780 as of late. So, I mean, could be him, could 0:12:18.800 --> 0:12:20.990 be Junior. Junior still has one of the fastest bat 0:12:21.000 --> 0:12:24.929 swings imaginable. But I imagine we just have to run 0:12:24.990 --> 0:12:27.430 up his pitch count because it's going to be hard 0:12:27.470 --> 0:12:33.230 to get runs off of him. Just the kind of 0:12:33.890 --> 0:12:37.850 momentum he's in right now is just kind of unmatched. So, 0:12:39.170 --> 0:12:42.070 it'll be a good game one. And I'm excited for 0:12:42.110 --> 0:12:47.910 Nick Martinez. Nick Martinez's opportunity here in game one. I 0:12:47.950 --> 0:12:51.670 kind of like giving Rasmussen an extra day and then 0:12:51.720 --> 0:12:56.600 having Freddie possibly pitch game three. I mean, that's probably 0:12:56.660 --> 0:13:00.400 the best decision. I wouldn't want Freddie to just go 0:13:00.460 --> 0:13:05.100 straight into pitching at Milwaukee. I don't want him to 0:13:05.140 --> 0:13:08.830 pitch at Milwaukee until he absolutely has to, basically. I 0:13:08.850 --> 0:13:09.770 think that's my opinion. 0:13:12.230 --> 0:13:17.110 I think I saw that possible storyline happen on Wednesday. 0:13:17.130 --> 0:13:21.140 I read that the Rays were thinking about throwing Martinez 0:13:21.179 --> 0:13:23.060 out there for Game 1 and Rasmussen out there for 0:13:23.140 --> 0:13:25.960 Game 2. I think it was just a foregone conclusion 0:13:25.980 --> 0:13:28.800 that it would be Rasmussen. He's not on short rest. 0:13:28.820 --> 0:13:34.900 It would still be five full days. He started on Sunday, right? Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. 0:13:34.920 --> 0:13:37.449 That's four full days plus most of the day Friday. 0:13:37.470 --> 0:13:43.790 But After hearing the idea, I think this is pretty genius. 0:13:43.850 --> 0:13:45.840 I think it's a really smart move. I think Martinez, 0:13:45.880 --> 0:13:50.300 he's the leader of the team. I trust him on 0:13:50.320 --> 0:13:53.679 the road. Maybe not more than Rasmussen, but more than 0:13:53.720 --> 0:13:57.290 anybody else on this pitching staff. We don't need a 0:13:57.309 --> 0:14:00.050 long outing from him. If he can go five innings, 0:14:00.090 --> 0:14:02.410 give up one or two runs, that's all we need. Mizorowski, 0:14:02.490 --> 0:14:07.329 he averages just under six innings per outing this year. 0:14:07.370 --> 0:14:08.120 So it's not like. 0:14:08.950 --> 0:14:11.890 unless Mizorowski like just absolutely shoves tonight, it's not likely 0:14:11.929 --> 0:14:14.840 that he goes more than six. So if we can 0:14:14.860 --> 0:14:17.520 get him out before the sixth inning, that would be 0:14:17.540 --> 0:14:22.600 a win. Scrap, scrape across one or two runs, like just. 0:14:22.500 --> 0:14:23.260 Steal this game. 0:14:23.420 --> 0:14:26.890 If we could steal game one, obviously that's kind of 0:14:26.930 --> 0:14:28.990 all we need anyways. Plus we have Rasmussen going for 0:14:29.010 --> 0:14:29.430 game two. 0:14:29.510 --> 0:14:30.570 Like, I don't know. 0:14:30.590 --> 0:14:32.350 I think it's, I think it's smart to just not, 0:14:32.430 --> 0:14:35.570 not quote unquote waste a Rasmussen start, but you know, 0:14:36.250 --> 0:14:38.460 deal him out there when he's going to get to Mizorowski. 0:14:38.500 --> 0:14:41.690 So when we don't need seven or six or seven 0:14:41.730 --> 0:14:43.850 innings from our starter. Um, and I just, I think 0:14:43.890 --> 0:14:47.370 it's a good matchup and it puts us in a 0:14:47.390 --> 0:14:50.390 position to really win one out of two in Milwaukee, 0:14:50.410 --> 0:14:50.890 which is what. 0:14:51.010 --> 0:14:51.609 What you need. 0:14:51.690 --> 0:14:55.270 Obviously winning two would be awesome, but winning one out 0:14:55.290 --> 0:14:58.340 of two would be just as like almost just as good. 0:14:58.380 --> 0:15:01.280 I feel like, um, And if you put Rasmussen out 0:15:01.300 --> 0:15:02.900 there for Game 2, I think that gives you a 0:15:02.960 --> 0:15:05.930 much better chance to do that than pitching Rasmussen Game 0:15:05.930 --> 0:15:09.570 1 and then Martinez in Game 2. It's outside the box, 0:15:09.630 --> 0:15:12.390 and it's a classic Rays decision where it's like, oh, 0:15:12.530 --> 0:15:14.830 they're doing something that you wouldn't think of, but I 0:15:14.870 --> 0:15:17.600 really do like that decision. The only thing that kind 0:15:17.630 --> 0:15:19.760 of makes it a little bit confusing is later in 0:15:19.780 --> 0:15:22.500 the series, like Rasmussen not being available until Game 6 0:15:22.500 --> 0:15:27.280 or 7, and the series maybe not going that long. 0:15:27.320 --> 0:15:29.590 That would kind of stink, only getting one start from him, 0:15:29.780 --> 0:15:32.800 but I guess I think that's kind of a, we'll 0:15:32.840 --> 0:15:37.440 come to that bridge when it happens or if it happens. 0:15:37.480 --> 0:15:39.720 So no, I really like the move by cash and 0:15:39.860 --> 0:15:41.940 I'm excited to see, I think Martinez is a great, 0:15:42.000 --> 0:15:44.700 just great presence to have on the mound and game 0:15:44.760 --> 0:15:45.440 one of the world series. 0:15:46.060 --> 0:15:48.180 I completely agree with both of you on it. I 0:15:48.260 --> 0:15:51.080 think that, and I was like thinking about this to 0:15:51.140 --> 0:15:53.480 myself earlier today. If you think, if you look at 0:15:54.260 --> 0:15:57.000 just how it's going to be constructed based on this, 0:15:58.200 --> 0:16:02.860 I guess this reconfigured rotation, If Martinez doesn't get the 0:16:02.920 --> 0:16:06.170 job done in Game 1, be it, you know, he 0:16:06.190 --> 0:16:08.090 just is a little bit worse than what he is 0:16:08.150 --> 0:16:12.590 normally if Mizorowski shoves, as you mentioned, Evan. Which, I mean, 0:16:12.610 --> 0:16:16.190 Mizorowski has not, he's not someone who goes far into games. 0:16:16.230 --> 0:16:19.230 And I think that a big strength of the race, 0:16:19.270 --> 0:16:22.360 specifically in Game 1, is for them to exploit. 0:16:24.120 --> 0:16:26.200 Just the fact that he throws so many pitches, work 0:16:26.260 --> 0:16:28.440 deep counts, try to force him to get you out 0:16:28.840 --> 0:16:32.660 instead of you getting yourself out. You know, just trying 0:16:32.680 --> 0:16:35.200 to work that, like a 3-1 count, a 3-2 count, 0:16:35.260 --> 0:16:37.900 a 2-2 count, foul off a couple pitches, whatever it 0:16:37.940 --> 0:16:40.920 might be to get to that point. But let's say 0:16:40.960 --> 0:16:43.850 Martinez doesn't do well in Game 1, you've set yourself 0:16:43.920 --> 0:16:46.830 up perfectly to regain momentum back going into the trot. 0:16:47.150 --> 0:16:49.550 You have Rasmussen going Game 2, and then you have 0:16:49.570 --> 0:16:52.860 the ALCS MVP and Freddy Peralta going Game 3. So 0:16:53.280 --> 0:16:56.540 not only have you put yourself in a great spot 0:16:56.620 --> 0:16:59.460 to go get it 1-1, go back to the trot, 0:16:59.840 --> 0:17:02.560 you put yourself in an even better spot to go 0:17:02.660 --> 0:17:06.220 up 2-1 after Peralta pitches in Game 3. So I 0:17:06.280 --> 0:17:11.540 think that that as well, and let's say Mizorowski doesn't 0:17:11.580 --> 0:17:15.670 pitch well tonight, then, you know, things could get even 0:17:15.710 --> 0:17:19.230 crazier from that point. But I think that this allows 0:17:19.290 --> 0:17:22.709 you to have the kind of flexibility that you need 0:17:22.830 --> 0:17:30.649 in a rotation. And unfortunately, that means that Rasmussen and Peralta, 0:17:30.780 --> 0:17:32.960 I guess it's also a good thing too, because I 0:17:33.020 --> 0:17:36.780 think this series is going to go the distance, gives 0:17:37.280 --> 0:17:42.479 your team the chance of having Rasmussen and Peralta be 0:17:42.520 --> 0:17:45.950 your game six and your game seven starter. like thinking 0:17:45.990 --> 0:17:47.270 about it from that perspective. 0:17:47.310 --> 0:17:47.590 Yeah. 0:17:47.670 --> 0:17:51.330 Yeah. You might lose a little bit in the, you know, 0:17:51.390 --> 0:17:54.470 in like the four or five area, but I think 0:17:54.490 --> 0:17:56.720 that you regain that up top. And as long as 0:17:56.740 --> 0:17:58.780 you can find a way to get stuff done at home, 0:17:59.859 --> 0:18:01.900 then you're in a good spot. I, I, I agree 0:18:01.940 --> 0:18:03.260 with both of you guys. I like the idea. 0:18:03.940 --> 0:18:07.420 And, and I mean, Mizorowski, he's been awesome this year, 0:18:07.440 --> 0:18:10.290 but in his two starts in playoffs, he's been human. 0:18:10.470 --> 0:18:12.510 Like he, I mean, he's not unhittable. 0:18:12.750 --> 0:18:13.530 He's not unhittable. 0:18:13.690 --> 0:18:14.330 He had two stars. 0:18:14.350 --> 0:18:17.330 He had, One start in each of the two series 0:18:17.390 --> 0:18:20.469 against the Padres, who the Brewers are the best team 0:18:20.490 --> 0:18:22.980 in baseball, but Padres easily could have won that series, 0:18:23.040 --> 0:18:23.900 first of all. 0:18:23.980 --> 0:18:26.060 They didn't catch a break the entire series. 0:18:27.740 --> 0:18:30.980 But in that start and then the start against the Dodgers, 0:18:31.260 --> 0:18:35.440 he had a combined 3.24 ERA, which is good, but 0:18:35.500 --> 0:18:38.310 that's still beatable in the playoffs, especially. He only had 0:18:38.310 --> 0:18:42.310 8.1 in the third innings, nine hits, 300 runs total, 0:18:42.410 --> 0:18:46.230 four walks, like 11 strikeouts, not that many out of 0:18:46.250 --> 0:18:48.930 two starts, I would have been mad. Like, his whip 0:18:48.970 --> 0:18:52.439 was one and a half, too. Like, it's not dominant 0:18:52.480 --> 0:18:56.580 numbers that the Miz could actually, like, his potential, I guess. 0:18:56.859 --> 0:18:59.940 Yeah. But also, I mean, the Rays literally just, like, 0:19:00.400 --> 0:19:02.959 if we're talking, I mean, the Rays are, like, I mean, 0:19:03.280 --> 0:19:05.500 I would assume that Mizorowski is going to win the 0:19:05.580 --> 0:19:09.970 NL Cy Young, barring something crazy. So the Rays will 0:19:09.990 --> 0:19:13.510 have faced... not only the future NL Cy Young Award winner, 0:19:13.550 --> 0:19:16.410 but they already face the future AL Cy Young Award winner, 0:19:16.430 --> 0:19:19.469 and we saw what happened against Schlittler. So if the 0:19:19.510 --> 0:19:24.320 Rays are able to put together at-bats like that, now, granted, 0:19:24.380 --> 0:19:26.409 this is going to be on the road. So I 0:19:26.430 --> 0:19:30.980 think it's important to note that Schlittler didn't have the 0:19:31.119 --> 0:19:34.280 home field advantage of pitching at Yankee Stadium when he 0:19:34.340 --> 0:19:38.970 pitched against the Rays. But regardless... If you can find 0:19:39.010 --> 0:19:40.750 a way to get to him like the Rays did 0:19:40.790 --> 0:19:44.679 against Schlittler, then I think that this game kind of 0:19:44.700 --> 0:19:47.950 takes an interesting turn towards the middle and later innings. 0:19:48.510 --> 0:19:51.910 Yeah no and I don't want to discredit what Mizorowski's 0:19:51.950 --> 0:19:54.670 done this entire season he's been freaking awesome like sub 0:19:54.670 --> 0:19:58.899 2 ERA um sub 1 whip 252 strikeouts and 174 0:19:58.900 --> 0:20:02.400 innings like that's insane insane numbers he's been the best 0:20:02.420 --> 0:20:04.419 pitcher in the NL like probably the he's been the 0:20:04.440 --> 0:20:06.880 best pitcher in baseball like he was better than Schlittler 0:20:06.900 --> 0:20:11.060 too like um But I'm just saying, he's been a 0:20:11.160 --> 0:20:12.900 little bit vulnerable in the playoffs. 0:20:12.920 --> 0:20:15.020 And I think the raise, like you said, against. 0:20:15.140 --> 0:20:18.300 Schlittler, they made him work a little bit more than 0:20:18.340 --> 0:20:20.859 he's used to. And I think if they can do that, 0:20:20.940 --> 0:20:26.510 foul off tough pitches, get a couple cheeky hits. I 0:20:26.530 --> 0:20:29.970 know getting cheeky hits against high velocity is tough just 0:20:29.990 --> 0:20:31.610 because there's not a lot of soft contact. 0:20:31.670 --> 0:20:35.149 But I don't know, just putting the ball in play. 0:20:35.210 --> 0:20:36.310 Keep doing what we've been doing. 0:20:37.140 --> 0:20:38.439 And I think we have a chance to get him 0:20:38.520 --> 0:20:40.460 out in the fifth inning or maybe even before the 0:20:40.500 --> 0:20:43.810 fifth inning. And I would like to say before moving on, 0:20:44.160 --> 0:20:45.990 what I was saying in terms of the Padres series. 0:20:46.070 --> 0:20:47.730 I mean, I've watched most of that series. The Padres 0:20:47.770 --> 0:20:49.409