Tampa Bay Rays Surge Ahead in American League East Standings
The Tampa Bay Rays currently lead the American League East by four games over the New York Yankees, surpassing expectations with their outstanding performance.
Video Transcript
Bob, let's get into the first half of the season there as we get ready to come up on the, All-Star Game here.
How about the Rays?
And I keep asking you this each and every single time we get you here.
They're up four games now in the American League East on the Yankees.
Not that the American League East is blowing people away right now, but, you know, you and I both were sitting there saying, "Dude, this is gonna be a project year for the Rays."
Incredible on what Kevin Cash has done.
Even you have to be surprised with where they are right now and what they're doing.
I believe they're nine and one over the last 10.
Oh, absolutely.
You know, when the Rays', front office people and lake people did a mild projection, I think they come u- came up with 92 wins.
And I think even people in front office go, "92 wins?
You gotta be kidding me."
You know, how about 85 wins or something.
So no, huge surprise.
And, you know, the way the Yankees are t- tumbling right now and the way the American League is so down, I think the, Rays are reversing course.
I wouldn't be surprised at all to see them ultra aggressive and say, "You know what?
Let's go for this thing.
we got a chance because, you know, we don't have the Dodgers in our league.
We don't have the Phillies.
you know, we can beat the Yankees.
We're four games up, so why not go for it?"
Eric Neander, is he underrated as a general manager in Major League Baseball, you think?
I mean, you know, Andrew Friedman, everyone knew what he was all about in pouring the cement there with the Rays and how they built that small ba- ball baseball organization, him and Joe Maddon.
Is he another one of these guys?
I find it incredible, Bob.
Think about it.
So they replace Andrew Friedman with Eric Neander.
They replace Joe Maddon with Kevin Cash and are getting the same result.
I mean, you don't see that and especially in the American League East, which is incredible.
Really a testament to baseball operations.
No, absolutely.
Very, very underrated.
I think just 'cause it's in Tampa, he's not in, you know, LA, New York, or Chicago.
and you know, look all the managers, you know, that, that have come from that system.
You know, look at the, GMs that have come from that system.
So, you know, it's almost like a f- a feeding ground for all the other teams.
So no, a magnificent job.
but you know, w- what they got about three or four managers that have come from Tampa already, a couple GMs.
So yeah, they're, they got the right people, and people love working there, for sure.
What has happened to the National League West outside of the Dodgers?
That thing looks like it's starting to implode right now, most notably what the Padres are doing right now.
What's happened to the West?
Yeah.
I mean, the Dodgers might as well have a party right now.
When they got this thing sewed up, they can might as well set out their pitching rotation for the playoffs.
14-game lead, 15 over the Padres, so it's a mess.
I mean, the Padres have completely fallen apart.
That pitching staff, you know, outside Michael King, you know, nobody can pitch.
Machado still can't hit his weight.
you know, it's up and down that lineup.
There's holes everywhere.
So it'll be interesting.
This, this a franchise that sells out a lot of games.
The fans are starting to get upset here.
you know, new ownership coming in.
These new owners may come in and have a hard time, getting sellouts if they keep playing as badly as they are.
I mean, they're starting to get booed at home.
Do you think that they could move either Machado or, Tatis Jr. there with the new owners coming in?
That's not Peter Seidler any longer.
God rest his soul.
I mean, this is a whole new group here, and like you said, they may want a clean slate here.
And for w- you know, we- you and I talked a little bit.
AJ Preller has a losing record since he's been the general manager there in San Diego.
Could we see sweeping changes happening there with that team?
Well, the trouble is you're gonna be stuck with those contracts.
No one's gonna take Machado.
He's making $35, $40 million a year.
He's still got like seven years left of that thing.
same with Tatis.
I think Tatis is more movable if you eat some of the contract.
Bogart's, you know, unmovable.
You know, Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, on and on.
So big-time contracts that they can't move.
you know, I, I think they're, you know, right now, you know, they got that, that closer.
Mason Miller gave up a lot to get him.
I think they may have no choice but to listen to offers at the deadline and say, "You know what?
It's not working here.
we may have to wave a white flag and, and, and sell."
Absolutely.
You know, you, you said this a year ago about the Phillies.
You think they run down the Braves by the end of the year f- and win the National League East?
I think they very much, very could.
you know, I think they definitely make the playoffs.
They're gonna be, be there one way or the other.
I think Atlanta is aggressive at the deadline.
I think Atlanta could get Scoob if Atlanta gets Scoob, well then I think they'd be okay 'cause they need some pitching.
But I think the, I think the Phillies are right in there.
very good team.
They, they really need Aaron Nola to step up.
They owe him a lot of money.
If he can just step up and be a solid number four guy, then I think they're in good shape, and I think that's a team that could give the, Dodgers fits in the postseason.
15 seconds here.
What's happened to the Yankees?
Aaron Judge.
I mean, if we didn't know how valuable he was before, we sure do now.
I mean, it's a completely different team without this guy.
Clubhouse, field, presence, complete different team.
That's how much he means to that franchise.
Absolutely, man.
They're q- no question, they're not playing very good baseball right now.
And man, I'll tell you what, the Rays are just pushing further away.
We'll see what happens by the end of the year
