The Rays have landed in Milwaukee for the World Series, which begins Friday, and Rick and Steve start by sizing up a matchup between two teams that have never won it all. They revisit how the Rays went 1-2 against every NL Central opponent early in the season, why Tampa Bay isn't favored, and a stat from Hard Rock Bet that Tampa Bay has had six championship-round appearances since 2020, more than any other city. Rick reflects on how far the franchise has come from displacement at Steinbrenner Field and a rebuilt Trop to the sport's biggest stage, and the hosts debate whether the Brewers' eight days off will cause rust. They also wonder if Junior Caminero's long-awaited homer will be the start of one of his streaks.
The pitching plan is a big topic. Jacob Misiorowski (16-5 with 252 strikeouts) is expected to open for Milwaukee, and Rick wants Drew Rasmussen to match him. Steve makes the case for starting Nick Martinez in Game 1, giving Rasmussen an extra day of rest in Game 2, and saving Freddy Peralta for Game 3 at the Trop, where he has been spectacular. Rick says he has plenty of faith in Martinez. They also point out how rested the bullpen is, with Brody Hopkins, Griffin Jax, Steven Matz, and Cole Sulser all needing work, and remind everyone that winning one of the first two games on the road would put the Rays in great shape for three at home. They remember the loudest moments at the Trop, from the Kiermaier-Adames-d'Arnaud relay against Houston to the crowd pop on the final out of the ALCS, and Rick explains why this series should be a treat for fans who love the strategy of baseball.
In a mailbag question from Craig in Vegas, the guys discuss whether Yandy Diaz's number should be retired. Steve rattles off the numbers (second in team history in on-base percentage, tied for second in batting average at .291, third in hits, fifth in runs, doubles, and home runs) and they debate the difference between the Rays Hall of Fame and retiring a number, with Evan Longoria, Carl Crawford, and Ben Zobrist as points of comparison, and compare it to which Lightning players will get numbers retired. After a note on $881 average secondary-market ticket prices, they turn to the Bucs: Baker Mayfield practiced with a glove on his throwing hand and looked accurate, though the velocity wasn't there, Emeka Egbuka is in concussion protocol with a foot injury, and about 20 players are on the injury report (five with illness). They also react to the viral stat that the Lightning are the last Tampa Bay pro team to win at Raymond James Stadium, the Lightning's 6-2 win in Vegas behind Andrei Vasilevskiy, Nikita Kucherov's tying Stamkos for the franchise points record (1,137 in 194 fewer games), the case that Kucherov is the greatest Lightning player ever, Mike Evans' injury, and the Chris Godwin question: Rick looks at his lack of targets and wonders whether the Bucs should consider trading him before next week's deadline.
Segments
- Rays arrive in Milwaukee for the World Series
- The Rays' history against the NL Central and the Brewers' rest
- "Champa Bay": six championship rounds since 2020
- Caminero's homer and whether he stays hot
- Misiorowski vs. Rasmussen and the Game 1 starter debate
- Bullpen rest and the 2-3-2 format
- The Trop's loudest moments
- Why this World Series is a strategy lover's dream
- Mailbag: should the Rays retire Yandy Diaz's number?
- Ticket prices and World Series revenue
- Baker Mayfield returns to practice with a glove
- Bucs injury report and the Carolina game
- Lightning's last-win-at-Raymond-James stat
- Lightning beat Vegas 6-2; Kucherov ties Stamkos and the greatest-Lightning-player debate
- Mike Evans and the Chris Godwin trade question
- Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza
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