Sports Day Tampa Bay

The Rays lost ALCS Game 3 in Cleveland 3-2, and Rick says their offense is in a bad place: three hits, 13 strikeouts from a team that rarely strikes out, and a "big three" of Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda, and Junior Caminero that still hasn't shown up. Caminero struck out four times, and Rick and Steve wonder whether his shoulder is bothering him after the collision with Johnny DeLuca or whether he's simply pressing in his first real postseason, chasing pitches he normally lays off. They credit Gavin Williams and Cleveland's pitching and defense, note that Griffin Jax held the Guardians to three runs through five innings (which most people would have taken), and point out that Chandler Simpson's stand-up triple briefly gave Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead. With rain in the forecast and the Rays needing at least one win in Cleveland to get back to the Trop, the hosts even discuss how a rainout could line up Drew Rasmussen for Game 4. Meanwhile, the Brewers finished off the Dodgers with a 6-4 win, and Rick calls Milwaukee the quietest 100-win team ever and one that will be tough for anyone in the World Series.Rick also returns to last night's debate about whether Tampa Bay is a bad baseball town. Neither LCS game was sold out (the Dodgers were about 7,000 seats short of their announced crowd), and he wonders why only the Rays got criticized. He points out that Tampa and Hillsborough County leaders committed roughly $2 million to a ballpark, and says you can't judge fandom on attendance or tell people how to spend their money.On the Bucs, Baker Mayfield tried to throw after Wednesday's practice and it didn't go well, so he's out for Sunday and Jalon Daniels will make his third straight start against Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers. Rick thinks Baker will return at Carolina, but argues that the Dallas win means little if the Bucs can't follow it with one against Pittsburgh. They discuss T.J. Watt, Todd Bowles' calling Rodgers a "nightmare," how the Bucs could rattle him the way they did in the 2020 NFC Championship Game, why Jacob Parrish and Zyon McCollum are playing great, and whether the Bucs can finally win at home. Then it's a quick look at the Broncos' overtime win over the Seahawks, a happy night for the Lightning (Victor Hedman wins it in overtime against the Kraken, Steve flags that they blew two third-period leads and went 0-for-3 on the power play, and they're now 9-0-2 all-time against Seattle), and a college football weekend loaded with ranked matchups, including Florida at Texas and Florida State at Miami.Segments:Rays lose ALCS Game 3 3-2: three hits and 13 strikeoutsCaminero's struggles and the Rays' "big three"Game 4 rain possibilities and the need to win one in ClevelandBrewers sweep the Dodgers; the World Series outlookNeither LCS game sold out: Rick's defense of Tampa Bay baseball fansBucs-Steelers preview: Baker Mayfield is out, Jalon Daniels starts againStopping Aaron Rodgers and winning at homeBroncos beat the Seahawks in overtimeLightning beat the Kraken in overtime: Victor Hedman's winnerLightning schedule: Canucks Saturday and a Western Conference runCollege football weekend: Florida at Texas, FSU at Miami, and a stacked slateSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

The Rays play ALCS Game 3 in Cleveland at 1 p.m. today, moved up because of bad weather, and Rick and Steve open with the series, the NLCS, and a Dodgers "conspiracy theory." With the Brewers up 4-2 in the eighth inning of NLCS Game 3 as they recorded and on the verge of a 3-0 series lead (and Dave Roberts leaving Blake Snell in too long, which lets Kevin Cash off the hook), the guys picture a small-market World Series, with a stop to remember that the movie Major League was filmed in Milwaukee County Stadium, where the Packers used to play a game each year and the Bucs visited. Back in the ALCS, Griffin Jacks gets the ball in Game 3 with Nick Martinez available in relief and likely to start Game 4 on Friday, and Rasmussen on Saturday. They also congratulate Chandler Simpson and Taylor Walls, both Gold Glove finalists (Walls is up against Bobby Witt Jr.), Junior Caminero as a finalist for the Players Choice AL Outstanding Player award, and Shane McClanahan as a Comeback Player of the Year nominee. The Rays need at least one win in Cleveland, and the hosts discuss how the Guardians struggled at home this year, why an early lead matters, and how a sloppy fielding moment helped Tampa Bay in Game 2.Then Rick takes on the question that comes up every time the Rays host a postseason game: is Tampa Bay a bad sports market? After the upper deck was opened for the first time since 2016 and crowds were in the low-to-mid 30,000s for Game 2, New York radio hosts were quick to pile on. Rick explains why he disagrees: mid-range seats at $150 each, parking, and food turn a game into a $500 night for two and $1,000 for a family of four, in a service and tourism economy with a transient population and plenty of fans who root for the teams they grew up with. He talks about how pro sports have priced out the average fan (Packers, Steelers, and Canadiens fans filling the seats Tampa Bay season ticket holders sell), why people shouldn't tell others how to spend their money, and the pull of an 85-inch TV at home. Steve adds that winning cures most of it, noting that Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and the Braves once struggled too, and the guys end with the greed of professional sports and a nod to the Lightning's marketing.The final stretch turns to the Bucs. Baker Mayfield wasn't at practice, Todd Bowles said he was scheduled to throw Wednesday afternoon, and Jalen Daniels handled the starting quarterback's press conference. Rick wouldn't be surprised if Baker returns to practice on Friday and is listed as questionable, explains Baker's "50 percent of me is better than 100 percent of somebody else" mindset, and weighs the argument for waiting until the Carolina division game against the argument for playing him now. They break down why the Steelers game is so important in a division where nobody has more than two wins, how a Deron Bland drop saved Daniels from a costly throw in Dallas, a tougher Pittsburgh defense with T.J. Watt, Aaron Rodgers' history in Tampa, and Bucky Irving firing up his offensive line before the Cowboys game because he was "so tired of losing." The Lightning host the Kraken at 7 p.m. looking to bounce back from the loss at the Rangers.Segments:Rays-Guardians Game 3 moved to 1 p.m. in ClevelandNLCS update: Brewers on the verge of a 3-0 lead and the Dodgers conspiracy theoryA small-market World Series? Milwaukee County Stadium and Major LeagueGriffin Jacks starts Game 3: the pitching plan for the weekendGold Glove finalists Chandler Simpson and Taylor Walls; Caminero and McClanahan honorsWhat the Rays need in ClevelandIs Tampa Bay a bad sports market? Ticket prices, a service economy, and winningBaker Mayfield's thumb: will he play against the Steelers?Why the Steelers game matters in the NFC SouthBucky Irving's fire and Aaron Rodgers' history in TampaLightning vs. the Kraken tonightSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

We have a series. The Rays beat the Guardians 3-1 in ALCS Game 2 to even the best-of-seven at one game apiece, and Rick and Steve walk through a nervy night at Tropicana Field. Parker Messick, the Plant City native, kept the Rays in check and got a couple of double plays until a pair of Rays challenges overturned one, Chandler Simpson (back in the lineup) beat out a high chopper, Victor Mesa hustled to third when nobody covered it, and Jose Ramirez let a Ben Williamson grounder skip through his legs for a 1-0 lead. Liam Hicks then ripped a slider to center for a 3-0 advantage. Freddy Peralta did the rest, throwing the fastest pitches of his career with more than 70 percent fastballs, working out of traffic with a changeup he couldn't control, and extending a run in which he has won eight straight starts and allowed one run or none in every outing. Brian Baker earned his 34th consecutive save, and Steve has the stat of the night: the Rays are 89-0 when leading after eight innings this season, including the postseason, a mark only eight other teams since 1900 have matched.A big chunk of the show is Rick's defense of Kevin Cash against after-the-fact criticism of his lineup choices, from the Chandler Simpson-against-lefties debate to Taylor Walls' glove, plus whether the Game 1 decision to send Rasmussen out for the seventh had anything to do with Blake Snell (Steve and Rick both say no). They look ahead to Game 3 in Cleveland on Thursday at a 6 p.m. start, why the 2-3-2 format makes that game so important (the team that wins it takes the series about 70 percent of the time), the odd choice of Griffin Jacks over Nick Martinez to start it, and how much the Rays miss Shane McClanahan. They also trade views on who closes if Baker is unavailable (Kevin Kelly, Cam Boozer, a high-velocity Hopkins, or Ian Seymour), why the "big three" bats of Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda, and Junior Caminero still haven't broken out, a Mutombo-style finger wag, and the cost of postseason tickets and what that means for the crowd (and whether Game 6 on Monday could start at 5 p.m.).Then it's the Bucs. The President was set to attend Sunday's Steelers game and isn't now, which has Rick relieved about traffic and security, and Mike Alstott gets some love as one of the most popular athletes in the area after hyping the Trop crowd. The big question is Baker Mayfield: he'll try to throw this week, Todd Bowles says Jalon Daniels is the starter "right now," and Rick explains why a competitor like Baker doesn't want to watch someone else do his job, while also noting that Daniels got away with a near-disastrous throw in Dallas that would have been a pick-six had it not been dropped. The show closes with the Lightning's 4-1 loss at the Rangers (outscored 9-2 by New York in two games but undefeated against everyone else), their four-game win streak ending, and a schedule that's all Western Conference teams for the rest of October.Segments:Rays beat the Guardians 3-1 to even the ALCSHow the Rays scored: Messick's double plays, Simpson's infield hit, Ramirez's error, Hicks' two-run singleFreddy Peralta's fastball-heavy night and his streakDefending Kevin Cash: lineup decisions, second-guessing, and Rasmussen in Game 1Game 3 preview: Griffin Jacks, the 2-3-2 odds, and the absence of McClanahanThe Rays' pitching development and Brian Baker's 89-0 perfection after eight inningsWho closes if Baker is out, and where the big three bats standFan experience: ticket prices, attendance, and the Game 6 start timeBucs vs. Steelers preview: no presidential visit, Mike Alstott's popularity, Team Tampa BayBaker Mayfield's attempt to return and Jalon Daniels' near-mistake in DallasLightning fall 4-1 at the Rangers and look aheadSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

The Rays open the American League Championship Series tonight at Tropicana Field against a Guardians team that came back from 0-2 to beat the White Sox, and Rick and Steve break down the matchup. Cleveland's payroll is lower than Tampa Bay's, the Rays went 5-1 against the Guardians this year (including three shutouts), and Drew Rasmussen takes the ball in Game 1 with the team having won his last 13 starts. They talk through the 2-3-2 format, Shane McClanahan being shut down for the rest of the season, whether Ian Seymour becomes the fourth starter or follows an opener, why Junior Caminero hasn't exploded in the playoffs yes, and Mark Topkin's story on how many Rays and Guardians have crossed between the two organizations, from Kevin Cash and Stephen Vogt to Yandy Diaz and Richie Palacios. Steve picks the Rays in six. They also check in on a Brewers-Dodgers NLCS Game 1 that was tight in the eighth, a Dodgers team chasing a third straight World Series, and the looming lockout and payroll debate, with Rick offering a "bucket list" reason to get to a postseason game.Then it's the Bucs' mini bye week. Rick and Steve revisit Todd Bowles owning the fourth-and-1 decision from Thursday (and the 99-yard Dallas drive that followed), then turn to a Sunday of head-scratching coaching decisions: the Eagles kicking off to the Jaguars' returner with 11 seconds left in London, and a Commanders-Giants 27-27 tie in which Washington let the clock expire in field goal range in overtime. At 1-4 the Bucs still sit in a winnable NFC South, with the Steelers coming to Tampa, Baker Mayfield trying to play through his thumb injury, and Bowles saying Jalen Daniels is the plan. Rick also gives them a "puncher's chance" against Aaron Rodgers.The hosts also celebrate Mike Evans' big night for the undefeated 49ers (seven catches, 114 yards, a touchdown and a two-point conversion at Seattle with a cracked rib) and what it says about the receivers the Bucs have now. In college football, Florida gets beaten badly by South Carolina, Texas and LSU both lose, and Georgia gets past Alabama. They close with the Lightning's 5-3 win over the Islanders behind Brandon Hagel's three goals, tonight's game against a Rangers team playing without Igor Shesterkin, and the week ahead.Segments:Weekend recap and ALCS Game 1 preview: Rays vs. GuardiansPayrolls, the Dodgers' third-straight World Series bid, and Cleveland's comeback on the White SoxGame 1 and the pitching plan: Rasmussen, McClanahan's absence, and Ian SeymourCaminero, Jose Ramirez, and the Rays-Guardians crossover storyBrewers-Dodgers NLCS Game 1, the lockout debate, and a "bucket list" postseason gameBucs mini bye week and Bowles' fourth-and-1 decisionSunday's coaching gaffes: Jaguars-Eagles in London and the Commanders-Giants tieThe Bucs at 1-4: the NFC South picture, Steelers preview, and Baker Mayfield's thumbMike Evans' big night with the 49ersCollege football: Florida, Texas, Georgia-Alabama, and LSULightning beat the Islanders 5-3 and host the RangersSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

The Bucs are finally in the win column. Tampa Bay went into Dallas on a short week with an undrafted rookie quarterback and came away with its first road victory in 347 days, and Rick says it may have saved their season. Jalon Daniels was 19-of-25 for 189 yards and a touchdown (110.2 rating) and added 23 yards on the ground, but the star was Bucky Irving, who ran for a career-high 165 yards, including a 72-yard career long, as the Bucs rushed for about 240 as a team. The defense, playing without Antoine Winfield Jr., held the NFL's second-highest-scoring offense in check with three takeaways, constant pressure on Dak Prescott (no sacks, but 42 forced attempts), and just 50 rushing yards allowed by Dallas. Emeka Egbuka finally got involved, special teams didn't cost them a game, and Chase McLaughlin made all of his kicks. Rick and Steve also dig into the 14 penalties, Todd Bowles' controversial fourth-and-one call that nearly cost them, the Cowboys' shaky defense, and a surprising question: could Baker Mayfield be back when the Bucs host the Steelers after nearly 10 days off?They look at an NFC South where nobody has more than two wins and no one has played a division game yet, why Rick thinks Atlanta, New Orleans, and Carolina (with Bryce Young playing at an MVP level) are all beatable, and how the Bucs can claw back to .500. Then it's a busy sports night: the Lightning beat the Wild 3-2 to go 3-0 on their homestand as Dennis Hildeby makes his first start and John Carlson ends a 0-for-14 power play drought with two goals; USF falls at UTSA for a second straight loss under first-year coach Brian Hartline; and the Guardians force a Game 5 against the White Sox, with the Rays waiting for the winner on Monday. The hosts close with the story behind Jalen Daniels' mom joining his Prime interview, his foundation helping kids afford youth sports, and why the cost of youth sports has gotten out of hand.Segments:Bucs beat the Cowboys: why this might have saved their seasonJalen Daniels' second start and Bucky Irving's huge nightThe defense dominates without Antoine Winfield Jr.14 penalties, Todd Bowles' fourth-and-one decision, and the Steelers game aheadCould Baker Mayfield return? The NFC South picture without a division game playedUSF falls at UTSA; Brian Hartline's first-year growing painsLightning beat the Wild 3-2 and head to New YorkGuardians-White Sox Game 5 and the Rays' ALCS waitJalen Daniels' mom, his foundation, and the cost of youth sportsSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

The Tampa Bay Rays are headed to the American League Championship Series after sweeping the Yankees with a 4-3 win in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium, and Rick says the only downside is that they can't pop champagne in the Bronx a third time this year. The Yankees never led in the series. Rick and Steve break down the finish: a lineup tweak that sat Chandler Simpson but got Ryan Vilade's home run, Victor Mesa Jr.'s no-doubt two-run bomb off a lefty, a patchwork bullpen that held on (Griffin Jax, Cam Boozer, Kevin Kelly, Bryan Baker, and a calming visit from Kyle Snyder), and a Volpe "home run" that was overturned for fan interference. They also explain how a team picked to finish last in the AL East have won 101 games so far by bringing bunting back (a Wall Street Journal story says the Rays had more bunt attempts than any team in 10 years), playing the deepest outfield in baseball, and finding value on the margins. From there: Rays vs. the White Sox or Guardians on Monday at the Trop, a possible World Series against the Dodgers or Brewers, a 34-page MLB lockout memo (no Christmas cards to players after Dec. 2), and a comparison to Jeffrey Maier in 1996.The second half turns to the Bucs, who are 0-4 and headed to Dallas for Thursday Night Football with Jalon Daniels making his second start in four days. Baker Mayfield and Antoine Winfield Jr. are out, kicker Chase McLaughlin (9-for-9) is nursing a hip and leg injury but expected to play, and the Cowboys are averaging 30 points per game with CeeDee Lamb piling up targets. Rick and Steve discuss what Daniels needs to do better (reading blitzes and setting protection), why special teams can't cost them again, and why Rueben Bain Jr. could be the game-wrecker the Bucs need.Timestamps:0:35 – Rays sweep the Yankees; no more champagne at Yankee Stadium1:12 – Yankees never led the series; Rays clinch there for the second time in 15 days1:52 – ALCS opponent: White Sox or Guardians, with Game 1 Monday at the Trop2:11 – Third ALCS in franchise history: 2008 Red Sox, 2020 Astros3:16 – Chandler Simpson on the bench, Vilade's home run, Mesa's two-run blast4:04 – Yankees lineup change leaves Ben Rice out of the ninth4:31 – Rays bullpen: Griffin Jax, Boozer, Kelly, Baker, and Kyle Snyder's mound visits6:06 – Victor Mesa Jr.'s two-run bomb off a lefty7:21 – Bryan Baker's rise from "B bullpen" to leading the majors in saves9:01 – A team picked to finish fifth in the AL East9:41 – Rays bring fundamentals back to baseball: bunting, stealing, hit-and-run11:32 – Winning on the margins: pitching, defense, speed13:07 – The new ownership group and the Rays' AL East champion T-shirts14:20 – How the Rays' deep outfield positioning is changing baseball15:17 – Volpe's "home run" overturned: fan interference17:12 – Kevin Cash sticks with Jax for another inning18:21 – Lightning off to a decent start; three TVs needed for Thursday night19:12 – NLCS: Dodgers advance, Brewers up 3-1; salary cap talk looms19:58 – MLB's 34-page lockout memo: no Christmas cards after Dec. 221:05 – Fan interference and the 1996 Jeffrey Maier comparison22:49 – Rays' 101 wins; World Series would start on the road24:34 – White Sox, the Pope, and a Popemobile bullpen cart26:36 – Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza27:37 – Bucs at Cowboys preview: Chase McLaughlin's injury, Baker and Winfield out29:36 – Jalon Daniels handling the noise in his second start on a short week31:31 – A louder road environment; Cowboys' high-scoring offense and shaky defense32:40 – Reuben Bain Jr. as a game-wrecker34:48 – Special teams and a fair evaluation of Daniels' first start36:36 – How Green Bay saved its blitzes for the final drive38:05 – Rain in Tampa and the flight to Dallas38:49 – Contending with CeeDee Lamb, and what a Bucs win would change40:05 – Alabama-Georgia weather and wrap-up

Can the Tampa Bay Rays sweep the Yankees in ALDS Game 3 tonight? Rick Stroud (Tampa Bay Times) and Steve Versnick preview Rays-Yankees, then break down Bucs at Cowboys on Thursday Night Football.The Rays lead the Yankees 2-0 and can book a trip to the ALCS tonight at Yankee Stadium. Rick and Steve explain why the Rays' pressure style has worked all season, from a Yankees lineup with just five hits in the series to the best defensive outfield in the Statcast era. They also react to the New York tabloids' "Errors Tour" headline, talk about Max Fried's wife being due any day while he stays on to pitch Game 3, and dig into what makes this Rays team so fun to root for, including a possible ALCS against the surprising White Sox.Then it's on to the Buccaneers. After talking with Jalon Daniels and Zach Robinson, Rick lays out how a winless Bucs team on a short week can beat Dak Prescott and the Cowboys (hint: it starts with Rueben Bain Jr.), why Chase McLaughlin's hip and groin injury explains the skipped 65-yard field goal, and why the 0-4 Bucs are still alive in a weak NFC South.0:00 Rays can sweep the Yankees tonight in ALDS Game 31:21 "Errors Tour": the New York tabloids roast the Yankees2:38 Why the Rays can finish it: Nick Martinez vs. Max Fried4:02 Max Fried's wife is due any day: would you pitch?9:07 How the Rays handle a hostile Yankee Stadium10:51 A pro-Rays crowd at the Trop: "first team to lose two home games on the road"11:42 Rooting for the team where you live (and the ones you grew up with)16:27 The Yankees' errors stat that hasn't happened since the Halladay no-hitter17:31 Why the Rays have the best outfield defense of the Statcast era19:25 How the Rays put constant pressure on a defense20:17 How this team compares to the 2008 World Series Rays21:56 New owners, Stu Sternberg, and the Dungy-Gruden parallel24:52 A magical season: trade deadline moves and a team with no agendas26:09 White Sox, the Pope, and the salary cap debate28:56 Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza30:07 Bucs: Jalen Daniels and Zach Robinson ahead of Thursday night33:15 Dallas' elite offense vs. its porous defense35:16 The Bucs' wild card: Reuben Bain Jr.37:26 Chase McLaughlin's injury explains the skipped 65-yard field goal39:05 NFC South math: why 0-4 isn't over42:32 CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott, and a crowded Tampa Bay Thursday night43:14 Wrap-up and sponsor

The Rays are one win from the ALCS after a 5-2 victory over the Yankees in front of a second straight Tropicana Field sellout, and Rick calls it an "infomercial" for why Tampa Bay won the AL East: Yankee chaos on the bases (four errors, maybe five, three in the first inning alone), patient at-bats that chased Cam Schlittler after two strikeouts, and a four-run fifth capped by Richie Palacios' eight-pitch, two-run single off a lefty. Steve has the stat of the night: Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, and Wells are a combined 5-for-20 in the series while the rest of the Yankees lineup is 0-for-38. Rick and Steve also salute Freddy Peralta, a "tremendous" Ian Seymour (nine outs), and a bullpen that's fully rested for Game 3 at Yankee Stadium, note that teams up 2-0 in a best-of-five series have won roughly nine times out of ten, and look ahead to a possible ALCS against a surprising White Sox team, with the Brewers lurking in the National League and a looming lockout debate over competitive balance. The Lightning also improved to 2-1 with another home win, this one over the Flyers, outshooting Philadelphia 36-14.Then the Bucs news turns grim: Antoine Winfield Jr. has a cracked rib and will miss two to four weeks, just as the team heads to Dallas on a short week to face a Cowboys offense averaging 30.5 points per game with Jalen Daniels making his second start in four days. Rick runs through the injury report and explains why the receivers can't get open (Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin are both slot types without a true outside threat like Mike Evans), compares it to other teams' number ones getting 14-plus targets every week, and notes the Bucs have played 10 straight one-score games and are 2-8 in them. From there, Rick takes a hard look at Jason Licht's recent draft classes round by round and wonders aloud if the roster is simply "not that talented," whether the Glazers knew it, and what the Todd Bowles hot seat looks like if the Bucs fall to 0-5. They also debate when a mid-season firing would even happen, why interim coaches are a bad idea, and what history says about teams that start 0-4 (only the 1992 Chargers recovered to make the playoffs).Segments:Rays go up 2-0 on the Yankees: chaos on the bases, Palacios' big hit, and the bullpenWhy the Rays' style works, plus Game 3 preview (Nick Martinez vs. Max Fried) and ALCS possibilitiesLightning beat the Flyers 36-14 in shots and look ahead to Minnesota and a New York road tripWinfield's cracked rib, Bucs injury report, and the Thursday night test in DallasWhy the Bucs' receivers can't get open and what Zach Robinson's offense is missingA round-by-round look at Jason Licht's drafts: is this roster talented enough?Todd Bowles' job security, in-season coaching changes, and the 0-5 scenarioSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza