WEBVTT - Rays Lose the 2026 World Series 0:00:13.460 --> 0:00:19.850 It's time to raise the roof for our second-to-last 2026 0:00:19.850 --> 0:00:24.030 season podcast and our second-to-last World Series podcast. Welcome back 0:00:24.050 --> 0:00:27.910 to the pod, everyone. I'm your host, Alex Murphy. Of course, 0:00:28.070 --> 0:00:33.130 part of the Just Baseball Network. It's a weird vibe 0:00:33.150 --> 0:00:36.370 right now. I'm recording this the day after the Rays 0:00:37.190 --> 0:00:41.229 officially lost the 2026 World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. 0:00:41.250 --> 0:00:45.520 They lost game five. 4-1 at Tropicana Field. Lost a 0:00:45.540 --> 0:00:51.979 series 3-1. And it's just... I'm... And we'll get into this. 0:00:52.020 --> 0:00:54.380 We're going to have our group pod. So me, Gibby, 0:00:54.400 --> 0:00:57.680 and Evan. This is just going to be some clubhouse interviews. 0:00:57.740 --> 0:01:02.090 And then the postgame presser with Kevin Cash in the 0:01:02.110 --> 0:01:05.830 interview room. But I'm feeling a lot of emotions right now. 0:01:05.890 --> 0:01:09.429 But I think the most important one is just being 0:01:09.530 --> 0:01:12.150 proud of what the Rays were able to accomplish this year. 0:01:12.190 --> 0:01:12.449 This was. 0:01:13.300 --> 0:01:17.160 An incredible run from this team. A run that not 0:01:17.200 --> 0:01:21.300 many people outside of the Rays Clubhouse expected. And it 0:01:21.360 --> 0:01:24.619 was incredible to be there. It was incredible to experience 0:01:25.270 --> 0:01:29.710 throughout the entire season, whether regular season or playoffs. It 0:01:29.750 --> 0:01:32.010 was incredible to be there for the World Series. Thank 0:01:32.030 --> 0:01:34.970 you guys so much for allowing us to even have 0:01:35.150 --> 0:01:38.210 an opportunity like this to do something like that. I mean, 0:01:38.510 --> 0:01:42.170 I can't believe that I covered... the world series. And 0:01:42.220 --> 0:01:46.970 I represented raise the roof on the biggest stage in baseball. And, uh, 0:01:47.470 --> 0:01:50.490 I met so many people talked with so many people, 0:01:50.510 --> 0:01:53.190 a lot of us, a lot of them know who 0:01:53.230 --> 0:01:55.510 we are at this point and have interacted with us. 0:01:55.570 --> 0:01:57.850 And I mean, that's just a testament to you guys 0:01:57.910 --> 0:01:59.570 and the support that you guys have given us. But 0:02:00.490 --> 0:02:03.970 I do want to make sure that we get into, uh, 0:02:04.070 --> 0:02:07.310 this podcast and the interviews that, um, we're done in 0:02:07.350 --> 0:02:10.600 the clubhouse. And also, as I mentioned in the, in 0:02:10.639 --> 0:02:15.540 the interview room for the Rays. So starting out, we have, 0:02:15.880 --> 0:02:18.290 of course, manager Kevin Cash. I asked a couple questions 0:02:19.030 --> 0:02:21.550 in the interview, and if you guys heard the podcast 0:02:21.590 --> 0:02:26.850 yesterday before game five, I asked questions to Cash, Ben Williamson, 0:02:26.910 --> 0:02:29.250 and Johnny DeLuca. I'm going to have some individual snippets 0:02:29.270 --> 0:02:33.050 of those coming out on social media soon. But starting 0:02:33.070 --> 0:02:38.040 out with Kevin Cash, designated hitter Yandy Diaz, outfitter Johnny DeLuca, 0:02:38.100 --> 0:02:44.290 third baseman Junior Caminero, outfielder Chandler Simpson, outfielder utility man 0:02:44.370 --> 0:02:50.190 Ryan Vallade, first baseman Jonathan Aranda, right-handed pitcher Drew Rasmussen, 0:02:50.770 --> 0:02:54.649 relief pitcher Brian Baker, relief pitcher Cam Boozer, and starting 0:02:54.970 --> 0:02:58.510 right-handed pitcher Nick Martinez. That is the order of which 0:02:58.560 --> 0:03:01.919 these interviews will be happening. All of them, as I mentioned, 0:03:02.320 --> 0:03:06.740 either in the clubhouse or in the interview room, um, 0:03:08.000 --> 0:03:12.600 I can't put into words quite yet what this season 0:03:12.660 --> 0:03:17.020 is like because it was just so incredible in so 0:03:17.060 --> 0:03:19.320 many ways, and I know it ended on a sour note, 0:03:20.250 --> 0:03:22.709 and the Rays deserved better in the World Series. I mean, 0:03:22.750 --> 0:03:25.970 just a lot of self-inflicted errors led to this, but 0:03:26.010 --> 0:03:29.770 this season was special, and we shouldn't take it for granted. 0:03:29.810 --> 0:03:33.760 I mean, third pennant in franchise history. They're the only 0:03:33.860 --> 0:03:38.420 team expansion team in MLB since 1993 to have gone 0:03:38.460 --> 0:03:41.620 to three World Series, which is pretty remarkable in itself. 0:03:42.100 --> 0:03:45.300 They'll win one soon. They'll win one someday. But for now, 0:03:46.190 --> 0:03:48.370 we just have to think about what could be instead 0:03:48.410 --> 0:03:52.130 of what is. But we're going to take a quick break, 0:03:52.510 --> 0:03:54.750 and we'll be right back in this latest episode of 0:03:54.830 --> 0:03:55.290 Razor Roof. 0:04:00.730 --> 0:04:06.030 Congratulations to the Milwaukee Brewers. Mark Antonacio, Matt Arnold, his staff, 0:04:06.570 --> 0:04:10.630 certainly Pat Murphy, that coaching staff, and maybe most importantly, 0:04:10.790 --> 0:04:13.890 all the Brewers players. That's a heck of a regular 0:04:13.930 --> 0:04:17.760 season that they went through and showed why they were 0:04:17.800 --> 0:04:20.740 the best team and world champs now throughout this postseason. 0:04:20.779 --> 0:04:22.640 So congrats to the Milwaukee Brewers. 0:04:23.020 --> 0:04:25.600 And congrats to the Tampa Bay Rays, American League champs. 0:04:25.880 --> 0:04:26.960 Incredible season for you guys. 0:04:26.990 --> 0:04:27.290 Thank you. 0:04:29.279 --> 0:04:30.979 Kevin, just in the moment, how do you balance the 0:04:31.020 --> 0:04:33.500 disappointment of losing the World Series with the season that 0:04:33.520 --> 0:04:34.020 got you here? 0:04:34.200 --> 0:04:36.380 Yeah, I don't know if I have the best words. 0:04:36.420 --> 0:04:40.599 I think that just incredibly grateful for the guys all 0:04:40.640 --> 0:04:43.020 season long. I mean, you cover us and you guys 0:04:43.350 --> 0:04:45.950 follow us. It's a special group. I'm guessing you guys 0:04:45.970 --> 0:04:48.950 feel the same way. They're banged up and hurting right now, 0:04:49.230 --> 0:04:53.550 but just grateful for the way they carried themselves all 0:04:53.570 --> 0:04:56.849 season long, winning a bunch of games. And it's as 0:04:56.950 --> 0:04:59.090 close-knit as a group as I've ever been around. 0:05:00.310 --> 0:05:01.930 Kevin, did you have a chance to share anything with 0:05:01.970 --> 0:05:03.510 the group as they're kind of coming off the field? 0:05:03.630 --> 0:05:07.690 Just kind of that. You know, I'm crushed right now, disappointed, 0:05:08.310 --> 0:05:12.430 but it's easier to handle because of what we all 0:05:12.510 --> 0:05:15.280 meant to each other throughout the course of this season 0:05:15.339 --> 0:05:17.120 and certainly this last month in October. 0:05:17.140 --> 0:05:19.279 You talked about Rass heading into this game. What did 0:05:19.300 --> 0:05:20.480 you think of the way that he kind of gritted 0:05:20.500 --> 0:05:21.700 through it and the performance he had? 0:05:22.240 --> 0:05:24.040 He's a stud. That guy is a stud. 0:05:24.339 --> 0:05:27.400 I mean, his stuff was as sharp as it could 0:05:27.440 --> 0:05:30.760 have been. We had gone into the game saying it 0:05:30.839 --> 0:05:35.360 was 60 pitches or four innings. Stuck to that. That 0:05:35.400 --> 0:05:37.540 was the easiest call in the world to take him 0:05:37.600 --> 0:05:40.400 out of the ballgame. We've worked very hard with all 0:05:40.430 --> 0:05:44.510 of our pitchers and pride ourselves on doing right by them. 0:05:44.930 --> 0:05:49.610 We knew this was a big ask, but appreciate Drew 0:05:49.630 --> 0:05:54.060 Rasmussen so much for taking the ball, wanting the ball, 0:05:54.580 --> 0:05:55.740 and going out and doing what he did. 0:05:57.450 --> 0:06:00.410 Kevin, for the younger guys on this team, you know, 0:06:00.450 --> 0:06:01.990 what's it going to be like talking to them just 0:06:02.029 --> 0:06:05.200 about trying to, I guess, process everything of what happened 0:06:05.220 --> 0:06:06.780 tonight and, you know, processing the loss? 0:06:07.140 --> 0:06:10.000 Yeah, I mean, we'll have some conversations for sure in 0:06:10.020 --> 0:06:12.660 the coming days, but I think there's going to be 0:06:12.680 --> 0:06:15.620 a lot more processing of some good stuff than the 0:06:15.640 --> 0:06:20.870 bad of maybe just losing this ballgame. They accomplished a lot. 0:06:21.170 --> 0:06:24.470 I'm incredibly proud of them, and like I said, just 0:06:24.650 --> 0:06:26.910 it was– an honor and grateful to be around them 0:06:26.930 --> 0:06:27.620 all season long. 0:06:28.920 --> 0:06:30.320 I think you had alluded to this the other night, 0:06:30.339 --> 0:06:32.660 just your offense needed to kind of get going, and 0:06:32.720 --> 0:06:36.159 obviously your numbers overall for the series weren't that good. 0:06:36.220 --> 0:06:38.080 What do you think that was mostly. 0:06:37.779 --> 0:06:38.190 From their end? 0:06:38.200 --> 0:06:41.159 Milwaukee Brewers pitching. I mean, it's as simple as that. 0:06:41.220 --> 0:06:42.870 We got a bunch of good hitters over there. They've 0:06:42.880 --> 0:06:46.550 shown it all season long. We ran into a team 0:06:46.610 --> 0:06:50.289 that had very, you know, tonight elite starting pitching, very 0:06:50.330 --> 0:06:53.290 good pitching, and then as good as a bullpen as 0:06:53.450 --> 0:06:54.290 maybe I've ever seen. 0:06:55.320 --> 0:06:56.980 I don't know how quickly you left the dugout, but 0:06:57.020 --> 0:06:59.300 a lot of the players stayed and watched the celebration. 0:06:59.339 --> 0:07:02.490 What do you think was running through their minds? 0:07:03.529 --> 0:07:06.010 I can't speak for them. I guess they all process 0:07:06.089 --> 0:07:09.490 it a little bit differently. If it's something that you 0:07:09.550 --> 0:07:11.870 log in the back of your mind that you want 0:07:11.890 --> 0:07:14.710 to experience that, we want to experience that real soon 0:07:14.750 --> 0:07:20.040 here in the coming seasons. If we're better for that 0:07:20.180 --> 0:07:22.630 person or that individual that chose to sit and watch it, 0:07:23.580 --> 0:07:24.400 I can appreciate that. 0:07:26.090 --> 0:07:27.630 Kevin, I know it may be hard to think about 0:07:27.670 --> 0:07:30.810 in this moment, but 106 wins most ever in franchise 0:07:30.830 --> 0:07:34.500 history from regular season to postseason, ALE's champs, the pennant. 0:07:34.620 --> 0:07:37.460 What will you appreciate most when you can reflect on 0:07:37.720 --> 0:07:38.660 how special this season was? 0:07:39.120 --> 0:07:44.660 The quality of players, the quality, the character. They were talented. 0:07:44.880 --> 0:07:47.860 Nobody can argue that. But the quality of the individuals 0:07:48.080 --> 0:07:50.360 in that room that we got to be a part 0:07:50.460 --> 0:07:51.300 of on. 0:07:51.260 --> 0:07:51.940 A nightly basis. 0:07:52.870 --> 0:07:53.110 Kind of. 0:07:53.890 --> 0:07:56.210 Along those lines, Kevin, Nick Martinez was warming up in 0:07:56.250 --> 0:07:58.590 the bullpen. The last out goes on. Just what kind 0:07:58.630 --> 0:08:00.530 of impact did he make on this group, whatever the 0:08:00.550 --> 0:08:01.150 future may hold? 0:08:01.690 --> 0:08:04.040 I mean, we spoke to it all season long. I think, 0:08:04.160 --> 0:08:06.580 you know, he's kind of been the rock of our clubhouse. 0:08:08.920 --> 0:08:11.520 He definitely has. I mean, when you get the name Presidente, 0:08:12.480 --> 0:08:18.620 that's for good reason. Orchestrating all the dinners, the conversations, 0:08:18.800 --> 0:08:23.120 the card games, the way he carried himself. I felt 0:08:23.140 --> 0:08:26.380 like we were a better team, if this is the 0:08:26.420 --> 0:08:27.920 right way to say it. We were a better team 0:08:27.980 --> 0:08:30.380 when Nick was on the mound because of how much 0:08:30.620 --> 0:08:32.479 support that he had from his teammates. 0:08:35.120 --> 0:08:37.700 Looking forward for this team, I mean, there's a lot 0:08:37.720 --> 0:08:38.920 of talent on this team. A lot of talent is 0:08:38.940 --> 0:08:41.439 going to be coming back. I know it's really early. 0:08:41.480 --> 0:08:43.059 I mean, the last out just happened, you know, a 0:08:43.220 --> 0:08:46.530 couple minutes ago. Like, how excited are you for the 0:08:46.590 --> 0:08:49.030 future of this team, just knowing the guys that you're 0:08:49.050 --> 0:08:50.449 going to be getting back and the talent that you have? 0:08:50.670 --> 0:08:52.740 Yeah, how can you not be excited? And that goes 0:08:52.770 --> 0:08:55.280 for the guys that, you know, weren't able to participate 0:08:55.320 --> 0:09:01.540 because of injuries. Shane McClanahan, Pep, you said. But speaking 0:09:01.559 --> 0:09:05.600 of the guys that contributed to this postseason run, it's 0:09:05.700 --> 0:09:08.800 very easy to be excited, remain excited about the quality 0:09:08.840 --> 0:09:12.020 of players and people that we have coming. 0:09:15.660 --> 0:09:17.560 Probably unfair even to ask you tonight, but just the 0:09:17.620 --> 0:09:20.620 uncertainty facing the game right now and no team ever 0:09:20.660 --> 0:09:23.820 stays together anyway fully. How will you kind of go 0:09:23.860 --> 0:09:26.560 into this offseason knowing it's going to be a little different? 0:09:26.820 --> 0:09:32.469 Yeah. I guess the best I can say is I 0:09:32.510 --> 0:09:34.550 hope I'm managing next year. 0:09:35.950 --> 0:09:38.910 Anything else for Kevin? All right, Kevin, congratulations on an 0:09:38.929 --> 0:09:39.510 amazing season. 0:09:39.750 --> 0:09:40.110 Thank you. 0:09:41.470 --> 0:09:44.230 What are your emotions like right now after the season ends? 0:09:45.300 --> 0:09:47.440 What do you feel right now that the season is over? Sad, 0:09:47.460 --> 0:09:48.240 but at the same time. 0:09:49.920 --> 0:09:51.180 Happy for the boys. We did a great job. 0:09:51.220 --> 0:09:53.950 I think that we set the goal of giving the 0:09:53.990 --> 0:10:03.000 Spintrain to them. Yeah, obviously sad, you know, but I 0:10:03.059 --> 0:10:05.920 think also happy for every single person in this clubhouse because, 0:10:06.360 --> 0:10:08.240 you know, at the beginning of the year, we had 0:10:08.280 --> 0:10:10.819 aspirations of making the World Series and putting ourselves in 0:10:10.860 --> 0:10:13.000 a position to win, and look at us now. You know, 0:10:13.140 --> 0:10:15.079 we fell short, but we made it here to the 0:10:15.100 --> 0:10:17.110 World Series and gave ourselves a chance. 0:10:17.330 --> 0:10:20.200 Drew called the Brewers maybe the best team He's played 0:10:20.220 --> 0:10:21.559 in his big league career. How much do you guys 0:10:21.580 --> 0:10:23.819 just kind of tip your cap to them in a 0:10:23.840 --> 0:10:25.179 tough series? 0:10:25.260 --> 0:10:29.000 Drew Rasmussen said that this team of the Cerveceros is 0:10:29.080 --> 0:10:30.850 one of the best teams, if not the best team 0:10:30.990 --> 0:10:33.150 he's played or faced in his career. 0:10:33.470 --> 0:10:34.350 What can you. 0:10:34.270 --> 0:10:36.949 Say about that team and the respect you give them 0:10:37.010 --> 0:10:38.170 for how they played? 0:10:38.350 --> 0:10:39.290 No, a lot of respect. 0:10:39.350 --> 0:10:42.690 I think Rasmus, to be honest, I think it's a 0:10:42.710 --> 0:10:43.110 very strong team. 0:10:43.150 --> 0:10:44.850 With that pitch and that batting that they. 0:10:44.790 --> 0:10:48.110 Have, you have to respect them for the way they play. 0:10:50.240 --> 0:10:53.000 Yeah, tremendous respect to them. You know, I think Drew 0:10:53.040 --> 0:10:55.040 was right when he said that. And, you know, just 0:10:55.090 --> 0:10:57.850 their ability to pitch, to hit, just to do everything. 0:10:57.910 --> 0:11:00.010 You know, you give credit to them because, you know, 0:11:00.030 --> 0:11:01.720 they were the best team all year and they showed it. 0:11:02.190 --> 0:11:05.010 Yanni, talk about the character and resilience. 0:11:04.910 --> 0:11:05.690 Of this club. 0:11:06.470 --> 0:11:10.740 You know, the way we play every day and being 0:11:10.780 --> 0:11:14.240 able to have the character that we had, our personality. 0:11:14.260 --> 0:11:16.340 I mean, we were always fighting with this group. 0:11:17.160 --> 0:11:30.050 Yeah, this was a special group. 0:11:30.250 --> 0:11:32.670 We always had a positive mindset. We were never down 0:11:32.730 --> 0:11:36.040 on ourselves, and every single day we were giving ourselves 0:11:36.080 --> 0:11:39.360 a chance, and it was a special group. All things considered, 0:11:39.420 --> 0:11:41.020 it was a special, special group. 0:11:41.280 --> 0:11:43.940 You guys were picked to finish last in the American 0:11:43.980 --> 0:11:44.380 League East. 0:11:44.920 --> 0:11:45.800 You won an AL pennant. 0:11:46.440 --> 0:11:47.959 How much pride did you guys take all year and 0:11:47.980 --> 0:11:49.780 just proving people wrong even to get to this point? 0:11:50.400 --> 0:11:52.480 They chose us last in the division, but we ended 0:11:52.500 --> 0:11:54.380 up being the best team in the American League. How 0:11:54.400 --> 0:11:55.939 proud are you that we were able to achieve that 0:11:55.980 --> 0:11:57.740 when the expectation before the year wasn't? 0:11:57.760 --> 0:11:59.630 I'm very proud. As he says, they didn't give. 0:11:59.470 --> 0:12:01.470 Us last place in our part, but the papers are 0:12:01.490 --> 0:12:15.650 to be broken, and that's what we did. Yeah, extremely proud, right? 0:12:15.710 --> 0:12:18.190 We didn't end at the bottom of the division. And, 0:12:18.410 --> 0:12:21.220 you know, those papers at the beginning of the year, those, 0:12:21.510 --> 0:12:23.600 you know, projections at the beginning of the year, you know, 0:12:23.700 --> 0:12:26.120 we had the chance to rip them, and we did. So, yeah, 0:12:26.160 --> 0:12:28.320 just really happy all around to the effort that we 0:12:28.340 --> 0:12:29.760 gave and how we finished the season. 0:12:30.179 --> 0:12:30.520 Thank you. 0:12:30.540 --> 0:12:32.760 You've been here twice now for the World Series. How 0:12:32.800 --> 0:12:39.240 tough is it to get this close? It's so hard. 0:12:39.260 --> 0:12:39.679 It's so hard. 0:12:39.760 --> 0:12:40.160 It's so hard. 0:12:40.840 --> 0:12:41.240 It's so hard. 0:12:41.300 --> 0:12:41.699 It's so hard. 0:12:45.470 --> 0:12:59.929 Yeah, it's difficult, but also, you know, I'm happy and 0:12:59.950 --> 0:13:00.750 I'm grateful, right? 0:13:00.770 --> 0:13:02.390 You know, a lot of players in their career don't 0:13:02.410 --> 0:13:04.600 make it to a World Series, so here I am 0:13:04.640 --> 0:13:07.179 in my second, and, you know, of course, disappointed that 0:13:07.300 --> 0:13:09.440 I wasn't able to win this one again, but in 0:13:09.480 --> 0:13:11.360 the grand scheme of things, you know, just grateful to 0:13:11.440 --> 0:13:13.820 be given the opportunity to compete at the, you know, 0:13:13.860 --> 0:13:14.840 at the very highest level. 0:13:16.450 --> 0:13:17.990 You've tested your option for next year. 0:13:18.030 --> 0:13:20.350 What do you look forward to with this team next year? 0:13:20.370 --> 0:13:23.530 A chance to be good again? No, I'm happy. I'm 0:13:23.570 --> 0:13:25.350 happy to be back here on the team. I think 0:13:25.370 --> 0:13:28.320 next year we have to keep working. Next year we can't... 0:13:28.360 --> 0:13:30.719 I don't know how to explain it. If this year we. 0:13:30.660 --> 0:13:33.320 Had a World Series, next year we have to keep going. 0:13:45.420 --> 0:13:47.839 Yeah, really happy to be back with this group. I think, 0:13:48.160 --> 0:13:50.660 you know, my main message to the group, for myself 0:13:50.700 --> 0:13:52.780 and for the rest of the group, this upcoming year 0:13:52.800 --> 0:13:55.130 is just to keep working. So I'm really happy. And, 0:13:55.370 --> 0:13:56.870 you know, this year we were able to make it 0:13:56.910 --> 0:13:59.209 to the World Series. So I think hopefully next year 0:13:59.270 --> 0:14:01.150 the mindset will be the same to get back to 0:14:01.210 --> 0:14:01.850 the World Series. 0:14:01.890 --> 0:14:03.790 But this next time around, you know, win it all. 0:14:05.980 --> 0:14:08.020 We're all just, you know, a bunch of kids at 0:14:08.040 --> 0:14:08.540 the end of the day. 0:14:08.580 --> 0:14:10.460 So, yeah, just super special. 0:14:10.580 --> 0:14:12.199 John, you guys were picked to finish last in the 0:14:12.240 --> 0:14:14.490 AL East, and you guys won an AL finish. How 0:14:14.520 --> 0:14:16.870 much pride did you guys take all year long to 0:14:17.110 --> 0:14:17.790 prove people wrong? 0:14:18.410 --> 0:14:21.490 Yeah, it just goes to the, you know, the group 0:14:21.550 --> 0:14:24.230 of guys we have and the talent. I think that's, 0:14:25.130 --> 0:14:27.530 you know, at the beginning of the year was definitely 0:14:27.570 --> 0:14:30.430 under the radar. Um, didn't finish how we wanted to, 0:14:30.510 --> 0:14:32.180 but just being able to do what we did is, 0:14:32.380 --> 0:14:34.420 is very special. So you just got to take the 0:14:34.460 --> 0:14:36.739 victories and, and appreciate what we've done. 0:14:37.020 --> 0:14:40.180 Johnny offensively in this series, it wasn't as explosive as 0:14:40.220 --> 0:14:43.200 we had seen throughout the entire year. Was it something 0:14:43.240 --> 0:14:45.260 they were doing? Obviously that staff. 0:14:45.000 --> 0:14:45.930 Is really good. 0:14:45.970 --> 0:14:48.730 Was it just that difficult to generate runs against them? 0:14:49.210 --> 0:14:49.330 Yeah. 0:14:49.350 --> 0:14:53.970 You got to give credit to them and that bullpen starters, everything. Um, 0:14:55.650 --> 0:14:58.570 They're a really good baseball team and at the end 0:14:58.590 --> 0:15:00.530 of the day we didn't do what we needed to 0:15:00.570 --> 0:15:04.859 do to come out on top so that doesn't feel 0:15:04.900 --> 0:15:06.840 good but at the end of the day they beat 0:15:06.880 --> 0:15:09.380 us fair and square so just kind of regroup and 0:15:09.780 --> 0:15:12.920 appreciate the victories and appreciate the ride that we had. 0:15:16.880 --> 0:15:20.040 All the season will stay in my heart, all the season, 0:15:20.060 --> 0:15:21.620 not just this one but the one from last year, 0:15:21.740 --> 0:15:22.240 the 24th, the 23rd. 0:15:24.720 --> 0:15:30.450 Yeah, every season in my heart is going to be, 0:15:30.810 --> 0:15:32.830 you know, every season is going to be in my heart. 0:15:33.070 --> 0:15:34.650 So, you know, I don't look at this season as 0:15:34.710 --> 0:15:36.870 a disappointment. They're all different. You know, they all have 0:15:36.890 --> 0:15:37.830 their own characteristics. 0:15:37.870 --> 0:15:39.750 So I'm just going to carry this one the same 0:15:39.790 --> 0:15:42.300 way I carried 2025, and I'm going to carry this 0:15:42.380 --> 0:15:44.580 one the same way I'm going to carry next year 0:15:44.600 --> 0:15:47.500 in 2027. So, yeah, they're all different, but they all 0:15:47.660 --> 0:15:48.860 are in my heart in a special way. 0:15:49.380 --> 0:15:51.920 Junior, what did you learn during this postseason run? What 0:15:51.940 --> 0:15:53.000 was something that stood out to you? 0:15:54.290 --> 0:15:59.170 Yeah, you know, some things were different, right? You know, 0:15:59.200 --> 0:16:02.200 I look kind of at the fan base, you know, 0:16:02.220 --> 0:16:04.700 just the style that we played this year and, you know, 0:16:04.760 --> 0:16:06.140 overall just the kind of. 0:16:20.840 --> 0:16:23.220 The overall game was just a little bit different, you know, 0:16:23.260 --> 0:16:23.720 this season. 0:16:23.740 --> 0:16:25.880 So, yeah, I kind of just take back and look 0:16:25.920 --> 0:16:27.960 at where I was last year and, you know, just 0:16:28.060 --> 0:16:30.120 with a whole new perspective of, you know, what baseball 0:16:30.140 --> 0:16:33.200 could be. So, yeah, it was a good year all around, but, yeah, 0:16:33.260 --> 0:16:33.820 we move forward. 0:16:35.040 --> 0:16:37.230 You said yesterday you're quitting for three months. 0:16:37.370 --> 0:16:40.650 Are you taking a required MRI or anything after the 0:16:40.670 --> 0:16:42.310 season or any care treatment? 0:16:42.330 --> 0:16:53.010 Now it's time to enjoy the season. Yeah, look, right 0:16:53.050 --> 0:16:55.250 now it's just a matter of enjoying the offseason, right? 0:16:55.290 --> 0:16:58.270 We'll kind of, you know, talk between ourselves in regards 0:16:58.310 --> 0:17:00.610 to that, but, you know, not really worried. Now it's 0:17:00.650 --> 0:17:02.470 just a matter of, you know, looking back at this 0:17:02.510 --> 0:17:04.670 season and feeling good about it and, you know, enjoying 0:17:04.690 --> 0:17:05.169 the offseason. 0:17:06.530 --> 0:17:08.290 How much do you feel like you grew as a 0:17:08.330 --> 0:17:11.290 leader as the season went on? How much pride do 0:17:11.310 --> 0:17:14.389 you take in the fact that everybody in this locker 0:17:14.430 --> 0:17:17.260 room respected you and the amount of work you put 0:17:17.300 --> 0:17:17.990 in all year long? 0:17:18.020 --> 0:17:20.280 The most important thing is that just as I respect 0:17:20.300 --> 0:17:23.740 all the players here, they respect me too. They all 0:17:23.760 --> 0:17:26.120 respect me. We're a family, we're a team. I don't 0:17:26.140 --> 0:17:29.740 consider myself a leader here. We're all leaders and that's 0:17:29.760 --> 0:17:30.760 what we carry with us. 0:17:32.470 --> 0:17:34.369 Yeah, I think the biggest thing is, you know, when 0:17:34.390 --> 0:17:36.840 I look at this clubhouse, everybody respects me and I 0:17:36.880 --> 0:17:40.420 respect everybody. You know, there's not really a one specific 0:17:40.460 --> 0:17:42.720 leader because we're all leaders. We're all a family in 0:17:42.760 --> 0:17:46.440 this clubhouse, and we showed that the entire season. So, yeah, 0:17:46.480 --> 0:17:48.379 just looking back at it, you know, this was a family. 0:17:48.500 --> 0:17:50.419 You know, there was not one leader. And so we 0:17:50.440 --> 0:17:52.080 all take pride in leading in our own way. 0:17:54.220 --> 0:17:54.890 Thank you, my man. 0:17:54.930 --> 0:17:55.240 Thank you. 0:17:57.930 --> 0:17:58.850 That every pitch matters. 0:17:58.930 --> 0:18:01.369 There's a lot of weight on every play, every pitch, 0:18:02.270 --> 0:18:05.250 every decision that you make on the field has weight 0:18:06.050 --> 0:18:09.150 calculated up to a win or loss in a ball game. 0:18:09.800 --> 0:18:12.720 So definitely taking that experience with me, and I'm glad 0:18:12.740 --> 0:18:14.440 I was able to experience this so early on in 0:18:14.460 --> 0:18:18.199 my career, and I'm definitely going to use that from 0:18:18.220 --> 0:18:18.500 now on. 0:18:18.760 --> 0:18:22.640 Chandler offensively in this series, it wasn't up to the 0:18:22.660 --> 0:18:25.580 same explosiveness we had seen throughout the season, just Was 0:18:25.640 --> 0:18:27.690 it something they were doing? I mean, obviously that pitching 0:18:27.710 --> 0:18:30.050 staff is really good. Just what kind of happened in 0:18:30.090 --> 0:18:30.390 your mind? 0:18:30.850 --> 0:18:33.470 Yeah, just definitely wasn't able to get a lot going 0:18:33.510 --> 0:18:35.990 throughout the series. Definitely credit to the arms they have. 0:18:36.050 --> 0:18:39.630 I mean, they definitely have some great arms throwing through 0:18:39.690 --> 0:18:42.900 their bullpen. They were able to make pitches and execute 0:18:42.940 --> 0:18:44.899 a lot, and we just weren't able to do so. 0:18:45.180 --> 0:18:47.120 You kind of mentioned it, to go through a World 0:18:47.160 --> 0:18:49.020 Series run so early in your career. What can you 0:18:49.040 --> 0:18:51.180 take away from this to apply later on as either 0:18:51.220 --> 0:18:53.100 motivation or to show what it takes to get here? 0:18:53.220 --> 0:18:56.020 Yeah, just the grind of it and what it takes. 0:18:56.180 --> 0:18:58.240 I mean, the hard work you have to put in 0:18:58.280 --> 0:19:00.260 through the regular season to even make it to the 0:19:00.280 --> 0:19:03.420 postseason and the teams that you have to go through 0:19:03.440 --> 0:19:06.050 to make it to the World Series and ultimately win 0:19:06.090 --> 0:19:08.230 or lose one. So definitely going to take away the 0:19:08.270 --> 0:19:10.869 grind from it and then apply that to everything else. 0:19:12.580 --> 0:19:14.080 All of you guys have talked about the belief that 0:19:14.100 --> 0:19:16.480 you guys had in Port Charlotte from the very beginning. 0:19:16.520 --> 0:19:17.120 What was that? 0:19:17.440 --> 0:19:19.460 How could you guys tell that you had a group 0:19:19.560 --> 0:19:20.780 that no one else could see. 0:19:20.619 --> 0:19:21.820 Was what's going to happen? 0:19:21.880 --> 0:19:25.940 I think just not having egos, knowing our roles, and 0:19:28.020 --> 0:19:29.960 just showing up to the field every day, willing to 0:19:30.000 --> 0:19:32.820 do whatever you can to win. And we did that. 0:19:32.880 --> 0:19:35.520 And I mean, this group will go down as one 0:19:35.540 --> 0:19:37.760 of the best-raised team in history, in my opinion. 0:19:38.920 --> 0:19:39.520 That's fact. 0:19:40.770 --> 0:19:45.260 Ryan, you've been on different teams. You've bounced around. What 0:19:45.340 --> 0:19:46.820 made this group so special? 0:19:47.270 --> 0:19:49.250 Is it uncommon to have a group that is as 0:19:49.550 --> 0:19:51.560 tight-knit as this, as selfless? 0:19:52.180 --> 0:19:53.800 Yeah, I think it is uncommon. I don't think you 0:19:53.840 --> 0:19:55.659 see it much. But I think that's what made this 0:19:55.680 --> 0:19:58.399 team special and one of the main reasons why we 0:19:58.760 --> 0:20:01.480 were playing to the last day of the season, you know. 0:20:03.580 --> 0:20:05.960