RaysUp - MLB Clenching, Hot Rods take off, Looking for Pete Alonso

Mat_Germain_ & Mark at BaseballBiz On Deck take a look at the
closing of 2024 season and the future of the Rays.
Tampa Bay facing hurricane Helene strong winds, storm surges –
stay safe
2019 Rays won 96 games and spent 60 million
2024 Rays exceed $100 million and they don’t make the
playoffs
Rays strategy to spend less and perform better has been
proven
Winning streak was needed
Missing LH Bats
Jonathan Aranda, shining star at the end of the season for Rays.
His hitting abilities can make a difference for the Rays future


Rays are pleased with Siri defensively & hope for more
consistency at bat


Siri is a good value for $1 million – but keep your eyes open on
who may be coming up through the Rays Minor League 


Bowling Green Hot Rods won their league championship


Chandler Simpson – 103 Stolen bases with the Montgomery Biscuits


Minor League love to Mike Birling & Durham Bulls organization
for hosting the All-American Women’s Baseball Classic October 11
– 14th


WBSC – Women’s Baseball World Cup Championship. Japan won the
Gold, The US won the Silver and Canada the Bronze.


Canadian, Sena Catterall won 3 WBSC Individual awards  -
Most Stolen Bases (6), Most Runs Scored (9), and Best Defensive
Player


MLB Wild Card Standings who has Clinched a spot for the
post-season,
National League Division winners include the Brewers
& Phillies. Dodgers are leading the West with 94 wins.
Top NL Wild Card contenders include: Padres, Mets, Diamondbacks.
The Atlanta Braves nipping away with 1 game back behind the
D-backs


American League Division winners include the Astros &
Guardians with the Yankees as the likely AL East division
champs.  The Baltimore Orioles have clenched a playoff spot
with the Tigers, Royals and maybe the Twins & Royals as
potential playoff teams.
Cinderella Stories?  - The Tigers are looking good
and what about those Mets
X-Rays still likely in contention from the Brewers, Matt Arnold,
Willie Adames & Jake Bauers, Tobias Meyers, Hobie Milner
& Tyler Black
What will 2025 look hold for the Catching position


Logan Driscoll’s potential for the future  - 


A look back at past catchers & injuries with Wilson Ramos,
Travis d’Arnaud & Mike Zunino


Kenny Piper has a lot of power and gets a lot of key hits in
clutch situations


Dominic Keegan  - could he become an option – maybe starting
at AAA for 2025


How will Catcher’s framing skills be impacted by an electronic
strike zone


Maybe the catcher will become a 2nd DH position


Pitchcom, collisions at the plate, electronic strike zones may
change catching position to a Utility Player


Shohei Ohtani – can a DH Offense only player be a MVP winner.
Will the 50 home runs / 50 stolen bases be enough for Ohtani to
win the MVP.


Even Babe Ruth could not overcome what Ohtani has been achieving


Who could be other AL MVP considerations – Aaron Judge, Bobby
Witt Jr., Gunnar Henderson


“The Ohtani” award


Ohtani will want to return to the mound.


Thanks to the Rays Minor Leaguers including the Bowling Green Hot
Rods 


Build MLB popularity by putting all team levels under 1
roof 


Australian Baseball League


A gift the Rays with a 6-man rotation


Mat would like to see a real team leader on the team and
recommend Pete Alonso. What a difference it would make for the
Rays’s franchise.


Arizona Fall League will see Xavier Isaac & Tre Morgan from
the Rays

All-American Women’s Baseball Classic being held in Durham,
October 11-13


Several of the players will be from the WBSC women baseball
champions will be there to play
 You can find Mat on Twitter x.com @Mat_Germain_ 
 


Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music “Rocking Forward"