Step right up to the ballpark of insider baseball chat, where Cardy, alongside his special guest Mark Corbett from the BaseballBiz On Deck podcast, affectionately known as Corby, dissect the undervalued yet powerhouse team, the Tampa Bay Rays. In a game where David often outplays Goliath, we tip our caps to GM Eric Neander and his player development system that's been rounding the bases in the MLB with strategic finesse. It's a bittersweet symphony for the fans as Rays fans beloved players get traded, but it's all in the game of long-term wins. Grab your peanuts and crackerjacks because you'll get a front-row seat to understanding why the Rays' playbook is one to dive into .
Get ready to warm up your armchair manager skills as we tackle the strategic intricacies behind crafting the ideal starting rotation for the Rays. From the curveballs of injuries to the fastballs of new prospects, we cover it all with a perspective that balances innovation with player health. Corby digs into the mound of pitching wisdom, and Cardy weighs in on the heavy-hitting role analytics plays in the game's evolving strategy. Wondering if Manager Kevin Cash is calling the shots or if it's the numbers game doing the pitching? We're breaking down the scorecard on how decisions off the field affect the heroes on it.
Our conversation doesn't stop at the between the lines ; we're stealing home with a chat on the progress and challenges for women in baseball. From the Rockford Peaches of yesteryear to the modern pioneers knocking it out of the park, we're here to cheer on the establishment of a women's baseball league. We're rounding the bases with tales of resilience and the inspiring impact that women's sports leagues have on the dreams of the next generation. Make sure to catch more innings on Corby's Women in Baseball episodes over at BaseballBiz On Deck, and remember, whether you're a die-hard or a rookie to the baseball scene, this episode's lineup is playing for keeps.
You can follow The Cardy Show on Linked in . Twitter @CardyBrent or Instagram @TheCardyShowPodcast
Step right up to the ballpark of insider baseball chat, where Cardy, alongside his special guest Mark Corbett from the BaseballBiz On Deck podcast, affectionately known as Corby, dissect the undervalued yet powerhouse team, the Tampa Bay Rays. In a game where David often outplays Goliath, we tip our caps to GM Eric Neander and his player development system that's been rounding the bases in the MLB with strategic finesse. It's a bittersweet symphony for the fans as Rays fans beloved players get traded, but it's all in the game of long-term wins. Grab your peanuts and crackerjacks because you'll get a front-row seat to understanding why the Rays' playbook is one to dive into .
Get ready to warm up your armchair manager skills as we tackle the strategic intricacies behind crafting the ideal starting rotation for the Rays. From the curveballs of injuries to the fastballs of new prospects, we cover it all with a perspective that balances innovation with player health. Corby digs into the mound of pitching wisdom, and Cardy weighs in on the heavy-hitting role analytics plays in the game's evolving strategy. Wondering if Manager Kevin Cash is calling the shots or if it's the numbers game doing the pitching? We're breaking down the scorecard on how decisions off the field affect the heroes on it.
Our conversation doesn't stop at the between the lines ; we're stealing home with a chat on the progress and challenges for women in baseball. From the Rockford Peaches of yesteryear to the modern pioneers knocking it out of the park, we're here to cheer on the establishment of a women's baseball league. We're rounding the bases with tales of resilience and the inspiring impact that women's sports leagues have on the dreams of the next generation. Make sure to catch more innings on Corby's Women in Baseball episodes over at BaseballBiz On Deck, and remember, whether you're a die-hard or a rookie to the baseball scene, this episode's lineup is playing for keeps.
You can follow The Cardy Show on Linked in . Twitter @CardyBrent or Instagram @TheCardyShowPodcast
Welcome to the Cardi Show. Great to have a friend of the program. Another card-carrying member of the Cardi Show family, mr Mark Corbett from the Baseball, is on Deck podcast. Hey Corby, what's going on bud?
Speaker 2:Man, brent, I'm having the time of my life Just can't get much better than this. It's baseball season is here. I'm just waiting, waiting, waiting. Get a little trickle with spring training. The time of my life just can't get much better than this. It's baseball season is here. Just wait and wait, and wait. Get a little trickle with spring training and then suddenly, all of a sudden, bam, it's here. And, by the way, bam. Thank you very much to Ronald Blue Jays for coming and visiting my friends here at the Tropicana and making a split. Our opening week, brother, our first four games and our opening day take it away from us, it's. It just hurts so much. What can I say?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I bet it does. I mean I think I was joking with you we're called the Toronto South for the first time in a long time. I mean anybody who knows the uh Jays playing at the trot. They're about 25 games historically under .500 when they're there. That's an arbitrary number, I just made up. They don't play really good when they're in Tampa. This Rays team is interesting. Every year, corby, like clockwork Dakota, sends out projections Other places, steamers, all these analytics sites, so fan side aid, fan graphs, they'll put the Rays. What third, fourth or a Yankees? This year was Yankees Jays Orioles I think it was Rays Red Sox that most projections I saw. Why, every year, mark, do they continue? Does baseball continue to put the Rays in the middle of the pack and the Rays continue to defy the odds their first or second? What the heck, Mark? Talk to me.
Speaker 2:I mean I could say it's just a personal prejudice against Tampa Bay. I think they still look at us, they realize we're an expansion team for 25 years now and it's just I don't know, know, it just seems to fall off the radar. A sudden question whether or not you've got so much media on the east coast and I mean northeast coast, and so much also, when you think about on the west coast uh, I mean think of california how many, how many teams you have to cover right there. You're not going to have the same kind of coverage for the Rays that you would and what. Probably the Royals don't get much either. There's a few others, but I think they've been cheated, if you will, as far as an assessment. In some ways that just makes me so damn happy, because let's just show them what you can do, boys.
Speaker 1:Yeah, pretty much. I mean you also look at their player development system. How many organizations have continued to try and model the Tampa Bay Rays development system? You look at Baltimore with Mike Elias coming from the Astros. Boston's now got Haim Bloom. Of course wants to work for the Rays. The Dodgers still have guys coming out of the pipeline and we know freeman's there, which is going to be a problem for a long time. What is it in particular that sticks out to you as a fan? You've been watching this team since they came to town. What is it about their player development system that puts them above everybody else?
Speaker 2:patience, patience and they will just take the time to develop a player. We have got so many folks in the farm system that we probably can pluck up here right now. I know one, matt Germain, who works with me on baseball biz on deck he's been talking about Joe Rock is somebody to look for, he told me a couple of years ago. He said you know, look for Curtis Meade, watch him. You, you know, he's given me these names early on and it is a good nurturing system. But above and beyond having a great farm system we have, we have eric neander as the gm, always more than that now, but he's the guy who makes those decisions. I always used to joke if you're another team and the phone rings and they say, hey, it's eric and neander from the rays. They say, hang up, because the trades he's done has been so well.
Speaker 2:Uh, we took chris archer, who was pitching with us and doing well for a long time but was starting to wane, and we traded him. What was it with the pirates? He got tyler glass now in austin meadows and tyler is here. He's done very, you know, very well for a while. And then Neander saw an opportunity. You know, maybe it's time to let him go somewhere else someplace where his own hometown, and play for the Dodgers, but at the same time get something back. Neander has been very good about who he brings into the system. So you know, if you're a Rays fan, you will lose so many of your favorite players after a couple of years. It kind of hurts. I mean, evan Longoria was gone. Kevin Kiermaier oh good heavens. Man had a place just installed into the Tropicana Field for his own little shrine. The way the people treated him around there. But he's going to change the map before he sees him wane.
Speaker 1:After all this time you mentioned all these players that have left Longoria. I even remember Carl Crawford. He was a mainstay for a long time. Those guys that leave are you now comfortable with guys leaving, knowing that you have guys coming up that you can just pipe in at any time?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, like I said, sometimes it's a personal thing. If there's a couple of players, if they left, it would just hurt me personally to see them go. But I have faith in Eric Neander and making decisions that hard decisions, and if he's taking somebody out, I know he's gonna be bringing somebody up. And quite honestly, brent, we are looking at what happens with players. You get them cheap early on, you get them before arbitration, and I think that's part of the Rays' equation too. They keep them young and as soon as they start to mature, getting up near arbitration, they can negotiate a little more. We can usually find a player who's just as strong, that's coming up and needs just a little more maturity or a lot less, and I think that's part of the Rays' operation as well. So I trust that Eric Neander will always bring up something strong if he's taking away something that I prize myself personally.
Speaker 1:How important is Brandon Lyle going to be to the 2024 Rays? The healthy Brandon Lyle.
Speaker 2:Oh gosh, brother, I hope he is. He'd be a great help. I mean, as a leader, he's already a great help for the team. He'd be a great help. I mean, as a leader, he's already a great help for the team and he has an attitude that just sings high above, before anybody else I can think of. Plus, he's just he continues to give and give and give the energy there and when he was on his game. It is great.
Speaker 2:I question whether we'll have him by the end of this year. I just don't see that. I could see where DeAndre would trade him, because if he's not at 100%, unless there's some other commitment to him, I could see him going, much like I saw Pardon me, much like I saw Willie Adamas, who was everybody's beloved shortstop with the Rays. He's like oh no, they're going to get rid of him. And Matt says Mark, look, look who you've got in the pipeline. I said yeah, yeah, it's again you're going to lose a guy. But man, there's so much more we're able to do and it's really working out for Willie and I'll still love him and watch him and pull for him anytime, except when he's playing the race.
Speaker 1:It's fun times, my friend. Yeah, it is fun times. I'm going to give you a chance to grab a water break because you look like you need a drink, so listen. Here's the interesting part that I've noticed throughout the years with the Rays is that they're one of the first teams you remember Ben Zobrist who had 15 different positions, and versatility was a big part. I watched this four-game series. Yandy Diaz isn't playing third base anymore. I'm seeing Lau just hang around second base. He's not playing right field. Now I see Almad Rosario, who's a guy that was a career shortstop, kind of playing right, so they're moving him around a bit. Is the positional flexibility thing? Have the Rays moved past that? Are they more inclined to keep guys to one or two positions? Do you think?
Speaker 2:Well, there is some flexibility. Yandy's pretty much been at first for a while and you got to watch out when you're talking about Lau and Lowe, because we've had Josh Lowe at right field for a long time but Brandon Lau has been hovering over second and, man, we miss Josh Lowe. We've got Ahmed Rosario. If you look on this list on the roster they'll probably put him down as a shortstop, but he's been playing right field since Josh Lowe has been out and I mean Brandon Lau. It's hard to keep up with him, but Brandon and they're my team, brent and they're my team. I mean, it is a mess sometimes, but they've done pretty well. And you look at third base, we have isak paredes and he's doing that. We've got the eight. What's? Uh?
Speaker 2:geez ramirez as the dh yes and there's flexibility because, like before, seeing Randy Rosarino at right field, now he's left Seeing Ahmed Rosario, who shows up again as shortstop on some roster papers, but he's been playing right field. There's flexibility. Kevin Cash will make moves when he needs to.
Speaker 1:What do you make of Jose Cabrera? I thought you know that was an interesting pickup. They got him from the Mariners. Obviously Franco is probably not coming back to baseball and hopefully, so Interesting pickup. Obviously you got Walls. He is down for a bit. I like the intensity he played with. Obviously there was the shoving match with Cabrera. Cabrera served his time, so I'm sure they've moved past that, but I was impressed. I'm not going to lie. He looks like he's going to be a pain in the ass to play against.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, I got to tell you, cabrera, good Lord, put that guy. Come on, somebody put a leash on that man. He's insane. I saw that. I said, dude, yeah, you, you cover third base, you know, but bachette's gotta taken care of it's done, and then you charge toward third, put your fingers on the man's face and caballero, as he did, was like, puts his hands up, like what, why, why. And I was just so glad it didn't go beyond that. Uh, but caballero, geez, man, man he's. Yeah, I looked at him. I thought man, he could be almost like in a Rose Arena as far as what he does with stealing bases and being very impactful offensively. And he seems to have a really good grasp over when he's working around the shortstop position as well. So I thought he was a great grab. You never know with some of these players how it's going to be when they come back from wherever to inside Tampa Bay, but he has really shined and I'm looking for a lot from him this year.
Speaker 1:Another guy I'm sure you're looking for a lot from is Jose Siri. We talked about Kiermaier earlier being one of the all-time great centerfielders for the Rays. I mean, Siri's got great speed. I think he's got a little pop in his bat. He could be an impactful guy down the stretch. What's the weak point?
Speaker 2:What's holding him back from being that guy? I don't know if I'd say weak, but I get what you're at, siri. I was watching him the other day in a game and it reminded me I hate to say it of Rafael Devers. You ever see Rafael Devers when he's at bat and if it doesn't go his way, he just starts talking to himself and getting upset about it. Siri had a bad throw the other day and he's out there after that, out in center field, and the camera goes on him and he's talking to himself and he's like he's doing this with his arm I'm saying where he's like he's actually pitching or throwing the ball in and it's like I don't know. I mean, I love Siri for a couple reasons. One, he's a great athlete. Two, he is a showman a little bit of that. One of the you'll like this one, britt.
Speaker 2:I think it was Tricia Whitaker, one of the ladies who works down there in the well and talking to all the players on the field, and they did an interview with jose siri and one of the questions was one of those rapid fire ones was if you were not a ball player, what would you like to be? He said actor. You know, it's performer dude. You know baseball performance art, that's what it really is. So I I look for, I look for just a little bit more sharpness from him, and and I want the showman out there, but I want him also to be as tight as possible to make sure things are happening. So he just needs to tighten it up a little bit.
Speaker 1:How do you see the rest of the year working out for the rotation? You got some big injuries right now. Mclean hands out, Bradley's out. Do you think you're going to see more bullpen days? Do you think that's going to roll? Uh out for the race well, okay, let's, let's stop.
Speaker 2:This is a good one. And because I'm looking at, what would our starting rotation look like if there were no injuries? You would have shane mcclanahan, you'd have shane boss, you'd have drew mass mucin, you'd have taj bradley and jeffrey springs. All of those guys are out. So what do we have? We have zach eflin, who is amazing uh, savali, I'm still need to learn some things about him and ryan pepio see for these. To me, these, some of these guys are there's still something to learn. Zach latel, who's been with us, and I know he'll, he'll be great. Tyler alexander I don't know, but man, we, if we had the other guys there, if we had zach eflin, mcclanahan, boz rasmussen, bradley and springs and have a six-man rotation, that would be absolutely killer. There would be nobody who could stand up against the rays with that definitely not.
Speaker 1:And uh, it's interesting, though, and you're seeing a striders down, uh, with a ucl tear. Why is it down the ucl tear? It just seems like all these pitchers that decided to add a pitch during an off season they're paying a price for it. What's your take on that? I mean, you got some talented guys, uh, in the organization. What's your take on guys adding new pages and possibly, know, screwing up their arms? I mean, the arms, it's a delicate body part these days.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, you know it's. It's interesting. I was listening to an interview with Chris Bassett the other day and the guy Rose I can't think of his first name, chris Rose, thank you. Well, he was interviewing Mr Bassett and he spoke very clearly about what he sees in the game. I mean, bassett's had Tommy Johns and I think anybody who watches this game enough realizes this need for velocity, if you will, that the team's expectations are. The team's expectations are, and Bassett was saying something to the effect.
Speaker 2:You know, 91, 92 is, can you achieve most of the same stuff than if you're throwing 97 to a hundred? Probably, especially if you've got the talent, you know, if you know how to pitch, if you've got more than just a fastball and a changeup. You know I was watching when the Rays were playing against Nate Eovaldi. Oh man, there's a pitcher who has my respect and he's learned a lot. He's gone through that pain. But coming back to the injuries it goes back to again.
Speaker 2:This is part of similar. I already had this match, but something that Chris was saying and that is that if you're looking at talent, think about if it was just it's six years before you're getting arbitration. So if you can get talent cheap. Are you really going to be worried about their health Because you've got more talent coming up behind it, so you know? Are you going to have an arm that's strong all the way up to 39 years of age? Charlie Morton's 40 out there and just still kicking it. But are you just more concerned saying I can bring up new pitchers so I'm not going to be overly concerned about their health, and I truly believe that health is a secondary issue for a lot of these teams, the way they treat these pitchers. There's no other reason there could be that much damage to to pitchers that we see today. Brent.
Speaker 1:That is a very, very interesting take. You know it's interesting because you're right. Analytics, even 24 months ago, aren't what they are today. When you, you know, when you look at uh, rotations and vertical movements and whatnot, you know the interesting part with that is, uh, you know, when you focus on velocity, okay, I have a guy like nate pearson who can throw a hundred. Um, nate pearson shouldn't be adding a splitter during the offseason. Nate pe, who's had injury histories, a laundry list of injury histories, should not be tinkering with anything. If it's fastball slider, it's fastball slider. If it's fastball slider changeup, that's it why you're throwing a splitter.
Speaker 1:I don't know what you're doing, but I'm a big believer that if you are a pitcher and if you're throwing 95-96 and you can, can locate it. And if you can locate the four corners, to me that's four different pitches. If you know where to put it, you don't need to be worrying about a sweeper, a slur, um, whatever, like you. Just, you just have to be smart about it. It's crazy to me and I think a lot of it too. I hear about this all the time is analytics, the analytics departments, right manager has no say pitching coach, he's just there to say, okay, no problem, I'll relay the information. It's crazy analytics, the race and analytics. To me they go hand in hand. Um, do you think that's an accurate statement or do you think there is a little more traditional baseballism going on with the organization, with Kevin Cash? Do you think Cash has autonomy? I guess is what I'm trying to ask.
Speaker 2:Well, you know, I asked that question in 2020 in the World Series, like Snell, yeah, and he'll tell you he has autonomy. I believe he does, but I think there is certain expectations. Kevin has now had manager of the year twice. He I don't know if he's the longest tenured with the race. He and madden is yeah, yeah, he's fast man, I know, yeah, yeah. So you're looking at a guy who knows how to basically have a strong team and I'm sure he listens to the front office. But I don't have a good answer for you on that one, brent, because I do believe what I was saying earlier.
Speaker 2:I don't think sometimes an organization puts the health of a player first, and if you can teach a player how to pitch, you teach a pitcher how to pitch as opposed to throw throwing with so much velocity. And has analytics made that something? Yes, it's made it measurable and it's made it part of the game. I suppose I don't know enough about gambling, but they they probably have it out there as a measurement that you could probably, uh, bet on as well. It's a what will be the average velocity of this pitcher today?
Speaker 1:yeah, who knows?
Speaker 2:who knows?
Speaker 1:what are the rotations on Garrett Cole's fastball or his slider? Give me the over-under on that.
Speaker 2:Give me some spin, baby, give me some spin.
Speaker 1:Well, you know, if it's tarred with something then it doesn't count. You get your money back. Looking at the start of the other teams in the American League East, obviously you've got the Jays that are around the 500 mark just under Yankees, Out of good start. Red Sox About a good start. The Orioles I've had a good start. Out of the teams I just listed, who do you think the biggest headache is going to be for the raise in 2024?
Speaker 2:Ooh, juan Soto. Yeah, yankees, I don't know. I'm thinking right now they've got a lot to prove because they've been in the basement for a couple of years and maybe not the basement, but pretty damn close, I don't know. I mean the Orioles, the youth of that team has been something to see, yeah, and there's a lot there and I think you guys have got such a great. Well, let's take a look at what you have as far as your pitching rotation. Let's see who do we have as far as the Blue Jays?
Speaker 1:I had it up here earlier, so you've got Jose Barrios, who's made two really good starts. You've made Chris Bassett, who's had two really not so good starts. Yusei Kikuchi won a game yesterday I think it was five and a third shutout innings over the Yankees, and he always pitches well at the Yankee Stadium, so that's good. Kevin Gossman's been fourth in the rotation because of the shoulder stuff, so he goes tonight, but he had a good start, as you know, in game four against Tampa. And Bowden Francis didn't have a great game in his first game against Houston right as we record this. So those are the five guys that we're dealing with, and, of course, manoa.
Speaker 1:We don't know what Manoa is going to be. He's trimmed down, looks good. Ricky Tiedemann he's's also in buffalo. He's the top prospect. What is it going to be? We also got paulo espino, who we just called up, who is the journeyman guy. Through his 89 can locate it, though he can locate and location his keys. So it's a it's an okay rotation. When they get going, it was probably the best in 2023, but you got to think there's going to be regression yeah, that kind of happens sometimes and but I'm looking at you, know what your lineup I've seen.
Speaker 2:Let's see you got george springer, vladdy jr, boba shett, justin turner my gosh for your first four guys. That's just killer. Uh, some of the other ones I've seen there what dalton varsho, alejandro kirk, and he's he always amazes me. Kevin kiermaier yeah, ikf himself, and I'm. I want to hear what you maybe you have to say about him. And kevin biggio what about, uh, mr ikf himself?
Speaker 1:ikf is an interesting guy, right, because he's a guy who can play all over the place. Problem is, when you got a guy like ernie clement and you had a guy like otto lopez and the 16 other guys in buffalo that can play, uh, those, all those positions, I don't know why they need to spend 15 million on ikf doesn't make any sense to me.
Speaker 1:Uh, two years, seven and a half, I don't get it. Uh, I do think ikf is going to be sitting a lot more than he's playing, though towards the end of the year. Uh, tonight, as, as we record this, on April 6th IKF sitting, ernie Clements playing second and Justin Turner, at 39, is making a second start at third base.
Speaker 2:Boy, oh boy, I feel good as a Jays fan. Yeah, justin Turner's done pretty well for you guys. I mean, thus far he's a great hitter. Yep, yep, yep. I mean I didn't care for much for him in 2020, but hey, that was me looking at him as a Dodger and running out there onto the field with his COVID going on. But outside of that, I don't hold any grudges. No, no, covid.
Speaker 1:No, yeah, no, it's interesting. It's Boston. I think everybody's overlooked them, but right now they're 6-2. You know they got a lot of young talent that's stepping up. I know Trevor Story got hurt yesterday. That guy is I don't know what it is about former Colorado Rockies shortstop. So Kowalski Story, I mean, those guys are always due for a couple of ILelts at least. So, uh, boston's interesting. They intrigue me, I hate to say it. I I get that 2013 vibe when it comes to them, where everybody counted them out and then they won the world series. Right, they added, uh, liam hendricks. They still had kenley jansen, you, you look at their rotation Pavetta, bale, houck, cutter Crawford I'm missing somebody. It could be Garrett Whitlock, I don't know, but pretty interesting. Where are you sitting? On Boston, I don't know what to think.
Speaker 2:Tanner Houck, I think he's definitely. He was good to watch the other day because I think he'd been out for a while past year or something for injuries and such. Yeah, and you know, the strangest thing about boston is I don't see alex verdugo all you gotta do is go to yankee yeah, all right, this isn't answering your question, but I've just.
Speaker 2:It drove me nuts watching the yankees of the day and not seeing that little red trimmed beard going around the face so he's nice and clean. Shaven for the yankees of the day and not seeing that little red trim beard going around the face, so he's nice and clean shaven for the Yankees.
Speaker 1:dude Can't stand him.
Speaker 2:No, I don't know, pardon me. I wish all the guys well, I really do. But Boston, I think they're probably underrated. We have such a great strong division each time and it's just too early to tell anything. Except my gosh the Rays. They're under 500. I think it's 357 or something right now, but you know what that means, though, with this part of the season we're only three games back.
Speaker 1:That's just it. You're playing their Rockies tonight and I think take advantage of that. You'll have to see what happens with the pitching. Doesn't mean somebody is going to get called up for Durham and Dominique. It could happen. It definitely could happen. When you look around the rest of baseball, the National League seems to be the hotbed of potential playoff teams. You look at the West. We talked about this a couple weeks ago in the program. You could have the Dodgers, the Giants, the Padres and the Diamondbacks all make the playoffs, kind of like the American League East. You could easily run four playoff teams from one division Atlanta, philly. You'd have to believe those two teams during the playoffs. Central is interesting Brewers, cubs maybe the cardinals make a comeback. I don't think pittsburgh continues to play above their weight. I think that's a tough ask. But what do you make of the national league? Because I mean, obviously the dodgers are the talk of the town, but to me you got to look at those other three teams in the last as well yeah, and you're looking out.
Speaker 2:If you're looking at West one, the one thing you know it's the biggest handicap in the world Oakland but we really won't want to talk about them, I guess. Uh, as far as the Cubs, it looks like they're going to be better this year. They're starting to show some, some promise, and I know there's a lot be tough. It's going to be tough, tough, tough for them. Marlins my gosh. I don't think they've got a win on the board yet.
Speaker 1:I was talking to Lou the other day. He doesn't seem very, very happy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I wouldn't guess so either. You know, just kind of jumping. Since we mentioned Lou and the Marlins, come on, guys down there, figure it out. Getm, I was ready to, ready to put in blue immediately. When I heard that kim ang was gone, you know, I said bring him in and that's come on. The reason jeter left and the reason she left was because they're either not willing to pay money or they're not willing to take the advice of people who know better. So I feel for lou as his Marlins fan and all that, but it's, it's going to be a tough, tough year for them. And yeah, the uh, the West West is going to be strong. I'm looking forward to seeing Blake Snell in a giant's uniform and see how that goes. And the funny thing about that, he's going to be with his old manager. He was the manager of the Padres last year, bob Melvin. So the more things change, the more they stay the same, brent.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean obviously we're going to see what Matt Chapman can do out there. Should be interesting. I mean, a right-handed hitting bat in that ballpark, oracle Park, hitting home run to left field is not easy. That's a tough ask. Getting the Asbury Bonds hitting it to right field ain't that bad, whether on steroids or not. Stay off the Roy's kids, it's interesting. I'm intrigued to see what the Giants do. I'm super intrigued to see what the Diamondbacks can do. Do you think I mean talking about Oakland? And obviously they're going to play in Sacramento? Should get some more fans out for a couple years. Maybe do you think I mean talking about Oakland and obviously they're going to play in Sacramento. Should get some more fans out for a couple years, maybe before they go to Vegas. Do you foresee this situation happening where you guys are in the next few years Sternberg's saying, hey, we're going to Nashville, hey, we're going to go to Portland, or do you think they're staying? Is that new stadium, corby? Is that a real thing? Like what do you mean?
Speaker 2:well, there's all kinds of paperwork that still needs to be signed. There is a public radio station here in tampa and they have a show called florida matters and they went down and they start talking about all the contractual agreements and who has to agree to what, and organizations that are actually facing off against this deal with Tampa. If Stu wants an out, I think he's leaving himself a chance for one. People ask me all the time about it at the museum. Or I'm out with baseball biz on deck doing promotions or speaking engagements, and they ask me about the trop every time. And I'll tell you, brent, what I tell them is I don't know, because I don't trust anything I hear anymore. I mean, and I know Penn's been put to paper on a lot of it, but it's not been complete. There's still some question about where some money's going to come from, who's going to pay for what. Most of that's been delineated out, but there's still a few places.
Speaker 2:And here's a note I saw the other day too it's kind of jumping back to Oakland that there was the difference between what the A's management was saying and what Oakland was saying. As far as the city, yeah, the difference was $35 million. $35 million, yeah, so yeah, well, that came down to this. The mayor finally said you know what? You're using us as a stalking arse for Vegas. You're just continuing to use us to be able to jack up whatever you're getting with Vegas was what she had to say about that. And so much so that Manfred had said months earlier or something about, like, there wasn't really serious negotiations going on with Oakland, to where the mayor invited Manford to come and she could sit down and show him all the work and all the everything that had been going on at that point. So the more I think about what may or may not happen with the new trop. I hope it happens. I wish it didn't happen in in tampa instead of st pete.
Speaker 1:We're next to where it's at now, but I've had too many surprises thus far to say yes, brent, it's done, it ain't so we'll see, do you think they're shooting themselves in the foot by having you know, essentially, if all goes through having having the new stadium in St Petersburg?
Speaker 2:I don't even know where to start there. I think that St Petersburg is less of a start than if you put it in Tampa. I'll say that to start with the other problem, I think, with being in St Pete for people who want to come there, it's a longer drive than those who go to Tampa. Now a lot of people say, mark, it only costs you another half hour or an hour to get there. People around here expect things quickly, they expect it like that and they're much more inclined to watch it on TV. And the other thing we don't have a lot of natives in this area. We have people who've come from New York. We have people who come from Boston, who live here. These people have a lifetime with a team and unless they're playing at the Trop, they may not go there. This is not their home team. Some of them have been here for decades and that is, I think, a challenge for a city like this or any other vacation city or where seniors migrate to for the elephant boneyard and so transplant town, usa.
Speaker 1:Exactly what do you? I wanted to ask you. You've been working with some ladies. I'm going to get you to speak about that. I'll let you talk to me about the work you've been working with some ladies. Uh, I'm gonna get you to speak about that.
Speaker 2:I'll let you talk to me about the work you've been doing with the ladies oh, I gotta tell you I have had the distinct pleasure of working with some of the women from the american girls baseball, actually a couple of the players who with the all-american girls professional baseball league when you're looking, thinking back about the league of their own. Now. Suzape, who was a pitcher and a first baseman for the Rockford Peaches in the last two years of the American League All-American Girls Professional Baseball League it's a mouthful, but she has handed up a classic. The last couple of years she's got four team names of the original teams, like the Kenosha Comets, the Rockford Peaches, the Fort Wayne. I forget all of them, but anyway, the thing of it is she's trying to get some excitement about this to where you see the beginnings of a women's league and I would love to see that continue to build. The thing of it is is we're talking about women who have been involved with baseball, who have years in their life and have a lot to offer, but we need new blood coming in to help, support and come in and say, yes, I want to make this league happen and I don't think there's enough of that. There's efforts being made with an organization called Baseball for All, but I don't know that the objective is to have a women's league. They do a lot for having events where women can come and play.
Speaker 2:And when you talk about women in baseball, I had a conversation with a couple of today who came in at the museum and they were saying, yes, our daughter. It took a while, she's evidently 18. She said you know, she loves the game of baseball. When she first came to high school and she had to put down what she wanted to do for sports, she put down weightlifting and baseball and the athletic director looks across there and said I think you wrote this wrong. I think you meant softball. So she starts to scratch out and put it in there for her. She goes no, I meant baseball. The young lady had the yeah, they had the piece uh, sense to step out of the room, called mom said, hey, can you help me? And her mother reached out to the principal and got things going and you know. So she has that opportunity to play.
Speaker 2:But begrudgingly, I believe, and sometimes you take uh, you take a woman like stacy piagno who's plays for the sonoma stompers in in minor leagues. Okay, she's a pitcher. She came from saint augustine now. In high school she was allowed to play baseball, but they kept her on the bench most of the time, right? You know she pitched for the University of Tampa. She pitched, I believe, with the USA team as well. Women's team there's not. If a woman wants to advance in baseball by the time she gets to college, either there will not be a team or there will not be a scholarship. So a lot of good baseball playing women have their option is to go ahead and play softball, and it's a self-fulfilling prophecy. As long as we feed the machine, I think it's great. I think softball should be there for the women who want to play it, but I think they should also have the opportunity to play baseball.
Speaker 1:It's interesting's a very, very interesting discussion, because you look at the success of the wnba and now you're looking at the success of the pwhl, the professional women's hockey league. Like you know, these folks are packing stadiums to see these ladies play hockey. Uh, you know it's, it's becoming, it's becoming it's taken seriously. It's seriously enough to get TV cameras in there. It's serious enough that there's TV money involved. Um, and the fact that there is not a baseball league. And, like you, I've seen some women throw and I don't want to be in the box against some of these women because they are really, really good. And there's a lot of smart baseball women out there, talented as well.
Speaker 1:Uh, currently in the st marius canadian baseball hall of fame there is one woman inducted, uh by the name of helen callahan. That is, the mother to uh current buffalo bisons manager, casey candell. This upcoming june there will be a second woman inducted named ashley stevenson. She's currently a coach for the Vancouver Canadians, who are the high affiliate, now the Jays, and she was on the Canadian women's national team. So the opportunity is there and I love that story about the girl going in and saying, hey, I want to be a baseball player, cause I shared this story before you could walk into St Mary's and see Ashley Stevenson's picture on the wall and say, hey, hey, dad, I want to be just like her. Right, and that's to be, and that's mlb. The show including uh women as well uh women players as an option.
Speaker 2:I think that that's a great thing that they're doing yeah it's, I just don't want it to be lip service.
Speaker 1:No no.
Speaker 2:And I know MLB is doing some different things, like the Trailblazer Series, and quite honestly, I haven't measured deep enough to know what really is going to make a difference A little shameless self-promotion here. I do have some shows. If you go to Baseball Biz on Deck and it's called Women in Baseball. I've taken the shows I've done in the past that focus on that and I think they need attention. On there you will find, like where I interviewed two of the all-americans and the stories that they have to tell. You'll find tamra holmes, a lady who was also on the curse colorado Bullets women's baseball team as well as on the USA women's team, and with her and that team they actually played in the Pan Am Games in Toronto and won the Pan Am Gold in 2015.
Speaker 2:I got a conversation with her. I have a conversation with Perry Barber, who has been an umpire for 40 years and she tells her story. Another one with a lady who runs the Florida Boats, brooke Green, and she has teams that she's doing everything she can to get young women the opportunity to play baseball. The Florida Boats is comprised of five different levels of teams from five different age groups that she takes out and trains. She does clinics across the state. That is the kind of effectiveness and groundswell that we need more of and more attention to to give women more of a chance to play the game wherever they want to play it.
Speaker 1:Make sure you tune in to Baseball Biz on Deck. Let's find those, let's get those listened to and we can definitely have more discussion about it, because it needs to happen, absolutely needs to happen. Well, corby, a couple before I let you go. What are you working on next? What's on the radar for Baseball Biz on Deck?
Speaker 2:Well, there's a couple of things. One of them, you know it'd be kind of curious to see, and we look at the economics of baseball. What do you think? I want to find out what kind of impact the charter games have made over the last year as far as revenue, you know. Do you pay less to your stadium staff Cause you don't have them there as long? How does that impact as far as the food and economics on that? That's some some fun silly things like that. And uh, also, looking at it, what's happening as far as what owners want with new parks, where they want to have a real estate development around their park that basically the city pays for, that they can use above and beyond baseball? Those are just a couple things rattling around in my head at the moment that is uh pretty, uh interesting stuff, my friend.
Speaker 1:Very, very interesting stuff. I'll get a. I'll get a world series prediction, cory, I think it's a little too early for that, but give me, uh, give me a raise prediction. What do you think the rest of the year is possibly going to look like?
Speaker 2:lord brother, you know, last year I was really looking forward to hitting 100. I don't think that's likely. I think we're lucky they'll hit 92 wins for the year. You know, I would like to say they would be taking the division. I don't think that's going to happen. I really don't want to see it be the Yankees. I think Toronto and the Orioles both have a very strong opportunity there, but right now I would probably have to say Orioles or Blue Jays, yankees, us and the Red Sox. I hope I'm wrong, but that's my guess.
Speaker 1:I think you're wrong. I think it's going to be Orioles, yankees, rays, blue Jays, red Sox. We got nobody to hit the baseball. We got maybe a couple guys.
Speaker 2:Come on. Springer Turner, vlade, come on.
Speaker 1:Two of those guys are going to be in a hole In like 12 months. Yeah, vlade, we don't know, he could be somebody else's problem by the end of the trade deadline let's see, uh, where can the fine folks find you in the social media mark?
Speaker 2:well, they can find me at the baseball biz on twitter. They can find me at on baseball biz. Doc, let's try this again wwwbaseballbizondeck. I'm trying to say again wwwbaseballbizondeckcom. That's pretty much where you'll find most of what I'm doing. I have some things on Facebook occasionally and Instagram, but mostly on Twitter, slash X and baseballbizondeckcom. But yeah, it's always a blast getting to chat with you, my friend.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. It's been too long. Great to see you. Thanks for doing this. Appreciate it.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:Mark Corbett from the Baseball Biz on Deck. That's it for this week's edition of the Cardi Show. Subscribe and listen to anywhere you get your podcasts Until next time. Bye for now, thank you, bye.