RAYS POSTCAST: The Tampa Bay Rays CAN’T GET GOING in a loss to the New York Yankees

RAYS POSTCAST: The Tampa Bay Rays CAN’T GET GOING in a loss to the New York Yankees

This is the Rays postcast, your instant game reaction for the Tampa Bay Rays, part of the locked on podcast network, your team every day. Hello and welcome to Tampa Bay Race Post, your spot for instant RA reaction after every single Rays game. My name is Jonathan Shields. Make sure you go follow me on Twitter, Johnny10 Shields. And on the most wildest one of the most wild days in what’s been one of the worst months in franchise history were the Tampa Bay Rays. They finished they finished the road trip going one and six. And I I’m just running out of loss of words for what this team is right now. And you know and now they’re buyers at the deadline technically. So I mean we’re going to we’re going to get into everything. But, you know, regardless of what happens tonight, the Rays are going to be four games back from uh from a playoff spot because the Mariners and Rangers play each other. So, you got two months to play. You’re four games out of a playoff spot and you got the defending champions coming to town. We’re about to see exactly what this team is made made of coming up right here. But, we’re talk about how Pepio struggled mightily in a game where the team needed him more than ever. How the bat showed some life whether though it was just in one inning. how it was just a brutal day with the injuries, with the rain delay, all the above. And you know, we’re going to talk about two months left in the season. Can they turn around? And we’re going to look ahead to the Dodgers series. But first, um, we’re going to talk about the struggles that this team has been going through as a whole. This is what you’ll be talking about. So, there’s two stories that the Rays have been going on during this stretch. Either they get a lead and the bullpin blows in or the starting pitching implodes. This one, it was option number two. the starting pitching implode. Ryan Pepio was kind of as bad as I seen him and um I thought that you know this was going to be a game where he would come out and kind of show the Rays why he’s their opening day starter and he did not do that unfortunately. You know it was really unfortunate. Four innings, six hits, seven earned, three walks, four strikeouts. Um and that’s just going to bring us to our turning point in the first inning. Time to reveal where the game was won or lost. It’s the turning point. The mix of the first and second inning. and you get the Stanton home run, three runs in the first inning. It’s a gut punch, but not the end of the world, but it’s the Rice home run in the second that made it 69. From there, it’s like, okay, you know, the Rays every game are probably going to score around three runs. So, hopefully, you never really know with the way it’s been going, but so that doesn’t kill you. He’s going to have to the margin error after that is just very slim, but after the three-run home run home, I’m going to make a six nothing, you know, it’s kind of wraps from there. And then, you know, you get the Yandi injury in the first inning. You got the Chandler injury in the first inning as well. Then the Aronda injury, which the Yandi and Chandler, there’s nothing to be concerned about there. They’ll be fine. The Ronda one is the one that we’re going to have to wait and see, you know, what’s going on. All while José Cabro is getting traded. And I thought the Rays didn’t get enough back for him. I think what José Cabo brings is incredibly valuable. And now, you know, he’s going to be a menace to the Rays on the base pass and with his versatility. So, I’m pretty surprised they trade him in division for kind of a lackluster return. But, you know, the the guys on the main channel, we’ll get into the entire trade deadline. We’ll just talk about it briefly as we go through. But, um, you know, in the fourth inning, you know, it was good to see that the bats show some life, specifically Chris Morell getting a double. Surprised that, you know, he was still here. I don’t think anyone would have taken him to be completely honest with you. But, you know, now you go into um, you know, you you have two months left, right? You have all of August. You have all of September. There are what? 26 plus 26. 52 games left in the season. More than enough time to make up those four games. And the Rays have the ability to make up those four games. Can they do it? Can they piece together some some wins to do it? The effort in the first three innings in this game was embarrassing. It looked like they came out and didn’t want to be there. And I get it. You lost a tough game in extras the night before and you know, they just got out came out and got dog walked in the first three innings. And you know, the rain delay didn’t help the momentum. the Rays had. But, you know, now the the front office did exactly what I thought they’d do and not and they did a little bit more to buy. I mean, you know, Griffin Jax, are you kidding me? One of the probably 10 best relievers in the league. And then the Hower guy from Chicago who’s he’s a rental. He’s under contract for one year. So, they’re putting some faith in this team to come through for them. So, you know, I don’t know what this team’s reaction is going to be to all that, but I would hope that it boosts some life in them. You know, it’s tough. The Raiders won’t have an off day till a week from today. They got to fly home and face the Dodgers who had an off day today. They’ve been sitting down in Tampa Bay area, resting, ready to go for tomorrow. And the Rays are coming off their toughest road trip the entire season. So, we’re really about to see what this race team is made of going against the play play the defending world champions. And you know, it’s going to be a battle to say the least. And you know, you just got to start chipping away. You know, you look now you’re four games out of a playoff spot. Okay, just look at winning series, winning gaps in the schedule. So, you know, there’s 26 games in in August and September. You know, there’s 52 games left. What What’s the road for for the Rays to get in? You know, I think you at least got to go like 30 and 22. I think that’s at least the bare minimum what you got to do. And, you know, the Rays have not done themselves any favors uh play playing their worst baseball of the season right now. So, um, just disappointing end to a disappointing month and the worst month that the Rays have had since I’ve been watching. I mean, it just embarrassing. I mean, the Rockies had two more wins than this month. Again, just felt like they’re in quicksand trying to get out of it and they just couldn’t. And it’s the same thing today. And again, doesn’t get any easier. Defending Chance coming into town. But, uh, if you guys are in the live, make sure you leave a comment. What do you guys think of the performance today? Um, you know, what did you guys think of the trades? Leave a comment about all that. Make sure you guys leave a like as well. You know, still a lot to get into. Excuse me guys. Long rain delay. Long long rain delay. And you know it is the Rays have to pass a lot of teams too. So now when you go look at the standings, the Rays are behind or tied with Cleveland, Kansas City R in the Rangers. Rangers and Mayers are tied. So you got three teams, four teams you’re going to have to jump to get in that playoff spot. So it’s going to be interesting to see what the Rays do. Man, I mean, it has been the worst month I’ve seen since watching watching this team. And this game specifically, it was like a microcosm of what’s been going wrong, right? It’s either the starting pitcher or the bullpen. Today was the starting pitching. And when both are going right, then it’s the bats. I mean, they just haven’t been able to time up a well-consistent game besides the first game out of the break against the Orioles, right? But they have been showing signs like the bullpen has shown sign. How about Joe Rock today out of the break, out of the rain delay? I mean, he was fantastic. That they have shown signs to why they can get it done. And you know the the bats have been coming around and you know they’re facing the Dodgers. The Dodgers are throwing Kershaw and Snell the first two games. So again Kershaw has struggled a little bit this year. Snell hasn’t pitched since like April. And then you know you get um you get Yamamoto which is brutal. He’s was an all-star this year. But so it’s going to be a tough ass to go beat the Dodgers. Go take two out of three from the Dodgers. But you know if the Rays you know want to step it up and make it worth it they can do it. So again, I’m surprised what the Rays kind of did at the deadline, but you know, everything everything is still in front of them. You have two months to go make up their season. You know, let’s go do it. Simple as that. So, we’re going to talk a little bit more about just how brutal this day was. Then, we’re going to look ahead and get your guys’ comments uh right after this. This episode is brought to you by 5Hour Energy. Time to fuel up and turn it up with five hour energy transfusion. It brings the bold grape, ginger, and lime flavor to your favorite baseball drink minus alcohol into a quick energizing shot. Whether you’re sinking birdies or just making memories with friends, this this one’s a hole in one for your energy game. Let’s be honest, some days at the ballpark or on the course or off, you need that extra boost to stay sharp and organized. And just like during today, today is a perfect example why you need a 5 hour energy. 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The Rays get down six nothing the first two innings. Yandi goes out after the first inning because he gets belted in the forearm with with a ball. Uh Chandler Simpson leaves in the first inning as well with his hand. Both are considered day-to-day and uh all things considering that is a win for this team. Now uh you keep going and then that that is when you know what happens with Jonathan Aronda says. So I mean it was it is just brutal. The Ronda one hurts. It it is it is tough to kind of comprehend what the race can do. Now, instead of Bobby Seymour being brought up, obviously we’re about to hear what’s going on with Aronda, but uh he’s probably the one of two guys you need in that lineup every day. And again, you look on paper what the Rays thought this lineup was going to look like. You know, Kim, Brandon, Laauo, Yandi, Aronda Junior, and a bulk of those guys, they’re only going to play about two and a half games together if the Aronda injury is as serious as I think. Now, I don’t know how serious as it is, whether you’re if you’re watching the replay, you’ll definitely know, but um it it’s just tough. It is tough to swallow that you know the Rays um you know give up that that lineup with only two games playing and it’s not them giving it up. It’s the way just the cookies have crumbled recently. But um let’s look ahead to tomorrow and it’s going to be on Shane Boss for the Rays who needs desperately needs a bounce back start or he had to bounce back start but needs a bounce back home start and he’s facing the Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw 4-2 with a 36 RA this year has not been unbeatable this year by any means. He had a almost a five erra in July. Gave up, you know, four earned, six hits, four earned against the Boston’s last time out. You know, he had a really good stretch in June, which helped lower that RIA. But in May and July, he was not as good, not his stellar self. So, it’s going to be interesting to see um you know, what the Rays um what the Rays can do against him. You know, obviously Kershaw pitched against the Rays way back in the the World Series. Uh obviously he pitched you know before that but um he pitched in the World Series 10 and twothirds innings, seven hits, three earned. Um last year I do not think he pitched. He did pitch against Rays. Five and the Rays got on him. Five uh five innings, six hits, five earned runs given up. So in that one, Junior had a good game. Morale had a good game against him. So did Duca. Um, so it’s going to be interesting to see what the RA lineup’s going to look like because I don’t think uh I I don’t think Kim can be activated till Saturday. So tomorrow it’s going to be probably Brandon Laauo and Josh Low in that lineup for the Rays. So it’s going to be interesting to see what that looks like. But now let’s get to your guys’ questions as we go to Gary says, “Really had a loss. Explain why the race played so poorly in July after what was for the most part such a promising month of June. What which gave the race fans a lot of hope they’re postseason contenders?” Yeah, I mean I don’t know if I if I’ve seen, you know, a flip like that uh ju just within two months. I mean, it is uh pretty pretty brutal. As we go to Matt, he says, “What do you think of trading Taj for Jacks?” I I love it, you know, and I’m not someone that is a Taj Bradley, you know, hater, but now the Rays bullpen options that they have. Griffin Jax, Pete Fairbanks, Garrick Clevenger, Brian Baker, Edwin Youetta. Those are your top five. Absolutely loaded. Mason Angler, who’s been ridiculous. Mason Montgomery, big inning today. Eric Orzy, hopefully they bring him back up from TripleA. Hunter Biggie, hopefully he continues to get healthy. Ian Seymour who’s been really good and Joe Rock who was really good today. I mean that that’s some filth coming out of the bullpen and it gives you some optimism that the Raids can start to turn this thing turn this thing around. So, um, as we go to Ezra, they said losing a base like Cabbie Herz. Yeah, it’s tough to send to the Yankees, man. I was a big Cabbie fan. I I was um I I was a a really big fan of him. I love the joy that he played with. I love the tenacity he played with on the base pass and how versatile he was. You know, he’s a little bit like Ben Zers when I was growing up. Ben Zers could play everywhere. So could Kabies. We go to Edward Matthews. Maybe a first- time commenter. If you are, welcome. What player of players on are leader the leaders on this team? You know, I think Yandi is definitely someone that everyone looks to uh pitching wise. I think Pete Fairbanks, Garrett Clevenger. Um so, so yeah, that definitely some of those. Let’s go to Kiss. Rays are making me depressed. Uh Rays are making me incredibly depressed lately, you know. Uh but you know, I still love the Razer. There’s nothing I’d rather be doing than covering this team every single day. Let’s go. Sean Bunner like the surprise Jackson. I love the surprise Jackson. I mean, came out of left field. I mean, the Rays were doing some trades here and there that weren’t too surprising. You know, I mentioned yesterday that, you know, the Rays um could have could have traded Cababie. Um you know, he was one of the guys on the short list to to get traded, but I don’t love what they got back for him. But yeah, as we go to Rainman, who says not really worried about the Dodgers pitching, it’s that that what they bought and paid for for that lineup. Yeah, you know, it’s obviously you’re concerned about that lineup, but uh you’re more hopeful that the Rays can put up runs to stay with them. The Dodgers are going to put up runs is it’s can you put up runs to keep up with them? And that’s why the Rays facing two lefties and Yamamoto who’s an all-star this year, you know, isn’t the most ideal situation. But, you know, I I have some optimism that the Rays have had success off Kershaw in the past, specifically last year that hopefully they can replicate that tomorrow because, you know, with this hopefully this getting Griffin Jackson, getting Hower, you know, bring some life into this dugout, right? And, you know, they’re four games back, there’s 52 games to play. There’s plenty of time to make that up. And they’re playing a lot of teams ahead of them. They play Seattle six times. They play who goes ahead of him? They play Cleveland, right? They play Boston. They play New York again. So, you know, it’s not the end of the world. You know, we’re gonna have to see now if the Rays are still playing 500 baseball months from now, then, you know, we’re going to have to have some conversations. But, you know, in a in a month that’s been as horrid as this one for the Rays, you have to try to find some optimism in order to kind of continue watching every day. Obviously, I’d watch the Rays every day, even if they basically lost every game. I love watching the Rays. But, you know, there is um a different type of optimism and excitement that can be injected in this club by looking back at like, man, we’re four games back and we’re going for it. You know, not going for it, but making moves to make us better. We didn’t tear down our team. Brandon Laauo’s on this roster. Yandi’s on this roster. Griff Griffin Jax is still on this roster. I’m just praying that we get good news about um Aronda going forward. So, it’s going to be interesting to see. But, you know, Pete Fairbanks stays with the race. Brandon Lavani Diaz and the fact that you got Griffin Jax one for one for Taj Bradley I think in my opinion is an utter steal. So um everyone is going to be on their kind of on their tiptoes waiting to see um what what happens with Aronda but you know I really hope that uh the the Rays you know can get some good news on that front. So as we go to Jordan Fer by the way always always commenting some some optimism. Love it. And he’s also I think that’s the just baseball cap. Good podcast over there as well. Uh now there there is clarity on the team. Second half will be better. Um I really hope so. I’m with you. I you know the Rays literally could not play as bad as they did. Sorry for the u the leaf blower right next to me. Uh cannot play as bad as they did this month. So there is you know some optimism going into the stretch against the Dodgers and the twoe road trip. You know I’ll be at the first few games in Anaheim. So hopefully I can bring the race some luck um when I’m there. But, you know, there are still things to look forward to in the in the last 52 games. 52 games left, guys. A lot of time to make up those four games. We saw what the Blue Jays did in a month, right? Not even three weeks. You know, the the Rays have a good week. The Rays have a good two weeks and they’re right back in this thing, man. They really are. So, um, don’t be too discouraged. I’m trying to be as optimistic as possible after a one and six road trip. Um, after Ryan Pepio had his worst outing of the year. But, um, you know, I’m trying to be optimistic. So, the best part about baseball, we get to flush all this tomorrow and watch our beloved race tomorrow against the world champions. So, hopefully some of you guys can make it out there, bring some energy in this team, and hopefully, you know, we see a different type of energy going in to these last 52 games of the season. So, again, if you guys are watching the replay, watching it live, make sure you leave a like before you get out of here, and I will see you guys tomorrow night. Thank you guys for watching.

The Rays lose the last game of the series vs the New York Yankees 7-4. In a wild game that saw runs, trades, and almost a 3 hour rain delay. The Rays got in a massive hole early. Ryan Pepiot gave up 2 home runs en route to allowing 7 earned runs through 4 innings. The Rays would fight back a little bit. They scored 4 runs in the 4th inning to make it 7-4. No teams would score after the delay as the Rays finish the road trip 1-6. The Rays have a tough task ahead of them as they welcome the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers to town starting tomorrow night.

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