2025 Tampa Bay Rays Were NOT CONSTRUCTED For Playoff Baseball

2025 Tampa Bay Rays Were NOT CONSTRUCTED For Playoff Baseball

The playoffs have begun and the Rays are looking from the outside. You are Locked on Rays, your daily Tampa Bay Rays podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome into the Locked on Rays podcast. Locked on Raays is part of the on podcast network, your team every day. and we are Kevin and Ulissiz and we have been lifelong Rays fans podcasting about the Tampa Bay Rays since 2019. Later on today’s show, we discuss a key departure in the Rays front office. In a few minutes, the Rays new ownership group has a great opportunity to build goodwill with the fan base. But to start, the MLB playoffs are a reminder that the Rays weren’t built for October. And we’re going to talk about all that thanks to FanDuel. Right now, new customers can bet just $5. And if your bet wins, you’ll get $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the app today. Yeah, the playoffs are making it clear that this race team wasn’t built for October. Kevin, uh, watching these teams, what happened in NLDS game one, I think was very succent. Uh you have a team that is able to turn the tables on one of the best pitchers in the National League and Christopher Sanchez. Um and you go from throwing Otani as a starter, then you go to glass now to Vessia to Roki Sasaki. That’s just another type of baseball. That’s just like another type of uh of talent uh scope that the Rays just don’t have. Like you the the Rays are going to throw out their Mesa Montgomery. A guy who can’t, you know, find the strike zone and you’re going to have to pitch your fourth uh in line. So what instead of Luis Heel against the Blue Jays and the Yankees get stumped by the way. um your fourth pitchers who Shane Boss on uh game one. It’s just this team showed amounts of brilliance in the 25 and9 run, but they also ultimately in 162 game sample size showed they just weren’t made for this October. No, they weren’t. And the way that some of these playoff teams are built, it kind of underscores how much more work the Rays have to do to get to that point. Even just squeezing in as a wild card. And again, this team finished 77 and 85 and you had a combination of injuries, young players, inexperience, turnover, all that. And then I’ve watched bits and pieces of the playoffs and you see even in the wild card or the divisional series, the environment, the pressure, the stress. How do our 21, 22, 23, 24 year olds handle that if and when they get to that point? And between the the offensive abilities and pigeon abilities of some of these teams that are in the playoffs, it just shows there is is there there’s quite a gulf that the Rays have to try to overcome. And hopefully they can take some steps in 2026 to get to that point. But we’re we’re seeing teams like you mentioned, the the Dodgers that are they’re super teams. They’re monstars. They’re they’re just absolutely loaded from top to bottom. Um, it’s not just a matter of, you know, the Rays have always been built on depth and we we trust our 25 or 26 guys. Well, it seems like with a team like the Dodgers, you have not just 26 really good players, but 26 superstars sometimes. It’s It’s crazy because like you’re like, “Oh, okay. I got Show Otani out. Okay, I got Muki Betts out. Okay, that was rough.” And then you’re like, “Okay, to Oscar, I I can handle him.” Boom. Three-run bomb. And then you’re like, “Damn.” Okay, well, who’s next? Freddy Freeman. What the bleep, man? Like, it’s just another type of level. And look, don’t get me wrong. I think honestly that four or five um lineup that the Rays can put together is really, really good. Like, you got Yandi Diaz, Brennan Laauo, Junior Camo, Jonathan Randa. you feel really good about those four guys, but there’s a difference in talent level and pedigree and fear around the league of those four names to when you put them against the the Dodgers or even, you know, the Phillies too, right? The Phillies have some some some names in there, too. And they couldn’t handle the Dodgers in game one. The Yankees got stumped on by the Blue Jays 10 to one, but this is the same team that the Rays couldn’t beat when they had to beat them in a twoame home stand at in their own home and the Rays couldn’t get it done. Uh it’s just it it there’s differences that are very tangible and also those that you can see with your eyes and I know uh new age baseball people hate that so um ear muffs here but you can you can notice these things also with your eyes. You might not have to have a a percentile graph to to tell you oh okay they’re uncomfortable they’re they’re it’s 10,000 people not 40,000 people yelling at you. Yeah, and things can turn on a dime. And with some of the Rays pitchers that were giving up home runs left and right, you step into a team like the Yankees or the Blue Jays or the Dodgers or the Phillies and uh you you can be in big hole pretty quick and you know some of these teams they’re able to erase out of that hole. I don’t know if the Rays would have been prepared for that. I’ll just say this about the playoffs. I’m hoping and praying that we don’t see the Yankees or the Dodgers in the World Series. You know, give it I’ll take the Blue Jays at this point. I’ll take the Phillies at this point. I just don’t want to see the Blue Bloodoods, the superpowers. It It’s just to me and I know the I know that the television uh you know the everybody the national media wants it. They want Yankees, Dodgers, but to me, it’s so cliche. I want to see somebody new in there. I Brewers, Tigers, give me that. I That would be great, right? Uh if you if you get some new blood in there. Uh Seattle obviously couldn’t couldn’t come up with that big hit yesterday and um or Saturday rather, and um they’re they were left wanting. So, no, it it’s it’s it’s it should be a fun uh October. I I don’t know how much Rays fans are going to be plugged in. So, put it down in the comments. Will you be watching the playoffs this year? Because uh I think some people might have just tuned out completely and if they’re football fans, they’re now moved on to football. But if they’re not really into it, uh like I I’m not, then are you sick of baseball and you just want to unplug or are you still wanting some more baseball and you’re actually watching the playoffs? I think that that’ll be really interesting to know. But from loud stadiums to loud fans, let’s talk about the new ownership and what they owe to the fandom already. The NFL season is here and FanDuel has an offer that you do not want to miss. Right now, new customers can bet just $5 and get 300 in bonus bets if you win. That’s right. Pick a bet, put down five bucks, and if it hits, you’ll unlock $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. Uh, it undoubtedly makes watching football even more exciting when you’ve got a little extra something riding on the action. And whether you’re a casual fan or love diving into the stats, FanDuel, they make the game day experience so much better. So, what are you waiting for? Visit fanuel.com to download the FanDuel app today and get started. Thank you so much for tuning in to Locked on Race, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Kevin, let’s talk about the new ownership. Uh um there was a great article by uh Mark Topkin on the Tampa Bay Times and the questions that need to be asked to the the new ownership. But I I want to zero in on one. Uh Mark remember uh reminded us that when Stu took over in October 2005, he offered free parking for the next season, right? Uh I think it is imperative that Saludski and and the ownership group that is coming in does something similar for fans. I think it it it you have to show goodwill to people. You have to introduce yourself in a positive manner. Um, even if that’s going to knock off a little bit of that profit margin that first year, I I think it’s ultimately if you went to business school or if you know just about life, goodwill is a thing. It’s a thing for businesses to try to do something positive and then they’ll get way more in return. Ultimately, I think that’s needed because our fandom, Kevin, has been publicly shamed uh regarding the stadium issue, for example, for the last 20 years, right? Um and it has been shamed about the lack of attendance uh nationally and regionally for the last 20 years. um they have been publicly shamed uh by their own ownership uh saying we’re going to split your season in Montreal or um well the hurricanes are happening so the thing that we said that you know we’re here to stay we’re no longer here to stay. It’s just been one after another after another. And this new ownership has a great opportunity to present themselves in a positive way. And doing something as simple as free parking would go very very far for this fandom. Yes, I I would love also to have uh Junior Kimro extension or bringing in JT Riyomuto or something like that. But if you’re not able to do that at this particular juncture, I think you need to help the rank and file fan base, especially those with families. And something maybe it is free parking or heavily discounted parking because one of the complaints that we’ve had and so many other fans have had is the cost of going to a ball game, especially if you have a family. It gets really expensive between the parking, the tickets, the concessions, all that. And then uh you know, if you add in merchandise, you want to get a t-shirt or or a ball for your for your kids, it it really adds up. Um, and I think that this new ownership group can be creative with something. If you don’t want to reinvent the wheel and do the free parking, you know, the car pool, four people in a car, free parking, I’m fine with that. I would also consider and suggest uh look to what the Miami Marlins have done. I went to a Marlins game a few months back and they actually have a specific concession stand. It’s labeled the 305 concession stand where you can get a hot dog, a beer, a soda, popcorn, pretzel bites. Everything on that menu is $5 or less between three or $5. I think something like that that you can make it more affordable and appeasing for the fans to to come back and you can promote it. You can market it and see if you you maybe don’t lose all that much money out at the end of the day. If if you can tell somebody that, hey, you can go to a game for a relatively inexpensive number. You know, it’s all about th this fan base has been jaded over the last several years by Stu Sternberg. So, you can come in and do something that that builds that goodwill again. And I think it’s really important and and I I would hope and implore them to do something like that. They got a lot of creative people in that organization. I would think that they can figure something out. And it’s not rocket science either, right? like it’s trying to make it easier for people to go to the stadium. It’s it’s trying to make it a more enjoyable, happier experience for families to go. Like you’re saying, if you go with a family, say you have two kids, wife, husband, whatever, dude, you’re not getting out of there unscathed. Yeah. From your from your bank account. And we’re not asking, oh, ticket should be $5. No, we we know the reality that we live in, but because we know the reality that we live in, and we know that if you buy seven things at Publix, it’s going to cost you $80. Yes. Like our now like our new normal. Okay, you buy seven things, you’re in the express lane and it’s 80 bucks. Well, don’t don’t do that for the for the baseball game. Like, you are making your money. Like, give us something so that we can wash away that that public shaming. It really was public shaming that that that Stu and the ownership did at times to to the fandom. Uh so I think they need to start on a good path. They need to kind of have a a new beginning so that they can definitely have a before and after of the the Sternberg ownership to the Salutki ownership. Something as simple as you know, oh you have your your car with four people, free parking. That used to happen, by the way. I know for you youngans don’t remember that. And you could bring your own I believe you could bring your own food and water in. Reme I remember that like in high school in early days in college, maybe just high school actually. Um you could you have your you had four people in the car. That’s free parking. Like that’s awesome. I know that I went to games in in college with with with USF friends and um we didn’t pay parking because we had a whole full card. like you could do those like that that helps. I think they need to do something like that. I appreciate Topkin uh putting that reminder out there because it’s needed, man. You need to have a a before and after Sternberg and Zalupski and just get some goodwill power because ultimately Kevin, yes, you need goodwill from the politicians. So, you’re going to be shaking hands and you’re going to be asking for funding a thousand%. But don’t just stop there. like feed also the race fandom as well or you know create some sort of unique partnership with a business to get cheaper tickets. I remember I believe I was in college when this offer was made uh if you went to 7-Eleven during certain Friday games you could get a ticket for $711. You you can’t beat that for being able to see a major league pro uh product. So whether it’s 7-Eleven or K’s furniture or a car dealership, having some sort of creative outlet to be able to lower the ticket price, I think would be uh very important. Um so we’ll we’ll see what they do. Remember uh they they had a great thing at Steinbrer, the the $20, you know, rush tickets. You can just get them in and standing room only. Well, guess what? We’re at this we’re we’re at at the trop now. You don’t need to, you know, banish us to use our feet and our legs for three and a half hours. Uh, put us in the worst seats for the raise rush tickets. Put us, you know, uh, behind the open the tarps. Open the tarps if you want. All right. Open one tarp section, you know, behind like 303 or 305 and and then we’ll we’ll be there. But something needs to be done to get people in the door. Like get us excited again. I think I think the fandom is aching to be excited. like the drop opening that that people want to go back to the drop. We want to go back to the trap. We love AC in June and July, baby girls. So, get us in the door. Yeah. And I think uh you know, Kin Babby and and some other folks within the organization, they’ve they’ve worked or owned minor league teams. And minor league teams, if we know anything about them, are extremely creative. Yes. Of bringing people into the gates because they can’t just rely on, hey, it’s a a major league superstar that you’re going to see. And here’s the thing is you’re you’re taking a family of four or six to a game. There’s no guarantee you’re going to enjoy that game. It it could be a five nothing shutout. So, if you can do anything to help appease that, especially as the team is trying to get back into playoff contention, I mean, it’d be a little bit more understandable if, hey, we’re not going to really do much for the fans because, hey, we just won 98 games. But you’re not in that position. You’ve had two straight losing seasons, so you got to try to build it back up again. So, exactly. Um, meanwhile with the raise, uh, front office moves have begun and more shuffling is likely to happen during the off season. Most people can’t name all their financial accounts or even what they’re worth, whether it’s 401ks, properties, or investments. And when you don’t have the full picture, you can end up leaving money on the table. So, let’s not do that. And you can avoid that by using monarch money. It’s an all- in-one personal finance tool that brings your entire financial life together in one clean, easy to use interface on your laptop or your phone. Even when you’re on the go and you want to know what’s going on, you can just look at the Monarch Money app and there it is. So, do not let financial opportunity slip through the cracks. Use code locked on MLB at monarchmoney.com in your browser for half off your first year. That’s 50% off your first year at monarchmoney.com using promo code locked on MLB. Thank you for listening to the locked on race podcast and making us your very first listen every day. We appreciate it. We are of course part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. Assistant General Manager Carlos Rodriguez. He is departing and that signals more turnover can and may happen before opening day. Um Rodriguez in a statement said, quote, “I’ve decided the time is right to step away and transition to explore other opportunities. While it’s difficult to step away, I’m excited to see what the future holds and am confident the organization is in great hands and moving forward.” And if you’re wondering, hey, I I’ve heard the name Carlos Rodriguez. I I I really don’t know much about him. Well, he had an incredible 15-year career with the Rays, including the last four as vice president, assistant general manager. And let’s not forget or let’s remember that he was involved in the signing of key players such as Jose Alvarado, Jonathan Aronda, Wander Franco, Christopher Sanchez, and the trade for Camo. He was also very involved in the expansion of the Rays Academy in the Dominican Republic where if you want to win major league baseball games, you better have roots set up in the Dominican Republic among other Latin American countries and areas. So, uh, you know, this with the new ownership group coming in, we’re seeing maybe the first of several dominoes to fall, Carlos Rodriguez being one of them. Uh my understanding is the Rays will try to promote from within to fill that position, but there could be several more shakeups on the way. I think it’s natural, right? We talked about this be uh I think two weeks ago saying, “Hey, this could happen.” Boom. Carlo Rodriguez is out. So like it’s it’s not um a surprise that when a new regime is going to be implemented that you know people are going to either say you know what this is not for me or another opportunity or it could just be simple as what he said which is like I want to step away and I want to do something else like that’s completely um understandable. I I think front office moves would happen regardless of the new ownership. We’ve seen that time and time again how the rays usually get poached, right? Um Peter Bendix, for example, not too long ago. Exactly. Exactly. James Click with the Astros a few years ago as well. like you see that uh time and time again. But I wouldn’t be as um worried on the front office uh moves. I think the shakeup could be more in the dugout. Um Rodney Linatis is been uh bandied about as a possible manager for the last I don’t know eight years. It seems like it’s like every year they’re like, “Oh, Rodney Lanerys could be a guy who Well, there’s night three, four teams that are looking for a new manager.” Now, uh Skip Schumacher just got named the new Texas Rangers um manager, but there are plenty of other teams. The Twins are out uh uh without a manager. The the Giants are out. So, like there are opportunities there for Rodney to to take. I would be more worried about that than front office because I think the front office for the race obviously Neander is not going anywhere. He’s under contract and let’s remember that people in the front office if you’re going to get poached I think it’s uh a rule now within MLB that it has to be for a higher position. Correct. Like you can’t just go laterally for another team. You have to actually get a promotion. So that actually might be a preventative move that might allow the race to keep the front office more intact. But I would be more worried about the dugout. Yeah, you could give uh some of the other front office seuite employees a new title so that they don’t get poached by that organization. The other thing too is with the new ownership group coming in, you wonder if they’ll actually place a general manager under Eric Neander because they’ve previously had the setups of four assistants but no actual general manager under Eric. So that that could also change is just the hierarchal structure and the reporting structure, just the organizational structure, if you will. Um, the new ownership group might say, “Hey, I you know, it it it didn’t work out bad what you guys were doing before, but uh we we like this way better.” And, you know, I I can’t blame uh Rodney Lenaris. You get a manager opportunity, that’s once in a lifetime. You got to take it. And I don’t think the Rays are, you know, one of those teams that, you know, are try to hold some of these guys back. Like you you you find an opening somewhere that’s a promotion and a better opportunity. Hey, good luck. See you later. we we’re comfortable with the guys that we can hire from within. But I I would be under I would be under the understanding that over the next couple months, we’ll we’ll start to see more press releases like this of a guy or a girl uh getting moved or leaving or uh new naming, whatever it may be. There there’s changes on the come up, so to speak. So, yeah, it’s it’s it shouldn’t be a surprise. Hopefully, it’s not something that affects the race too much. Obviously, everybody affects the raise in their own particular way, but um I think it’s stable enough in the front office and you have that preventative meas measure of of titling that Yeah, it seems like the dugout shuffling would be more in in jeopardy. Yeah. Than the front office. A lot of work to do though, as we’ve mentioned time and time again, there’s the the what are you going to do to build a winner again? You’re moving back to the trop. What are you doing about getting a new stadium built? And I know, you know, some of that is more ownership versus front office related, but everybody’s going to have to chip in some way or another to to keep the ship rolling. So, uh, so yeah, that’s that’s where we’re at. Carlos Rodriguez, wish the best to him and, uh, curious to see what he’ll be doing, whether it’s within baseball or out of baseball. On that note, thank you for making us your first listen every day. We appreciate it. For your second listen, check out the Locked On MLB game night podcast. That is every game, every night, all season long on the Locked On MLB YouTube channel or wherever you listen to your podcast.

Kevin Weiss and Ulises Sambrano break down the Rays’ absence from October baseball, highlighting the talent gap between Tampa Bay and powerhouse teams like the Dodgers. The duo explores potential fan engagement strategies for new ownership, including affordable ticket options and family-friendly promotions. Key topics include Carlos Rodriguez’s departure from the front office, speculation on dugout changes, and how these factors might reshape the Rays’ future.
Will the Rays’ new ownership group successfully revitalize fan experience and build a World Series contender?
Tune in for expert analysis and insider perspectives on Tampa Bay’s crucial offseason moves.
0:00 Intro: Rays miss playoffs, looking from outside
5:34 Playoffs highlight gap between Rays and contenders
10:35 New ownership can build goodwill with fans
24:24 Potential dugout shuffling more likely than front office

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