A new column from Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports details a number of players that could see their careers come to an end because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Steve Carney wonders if a certain Rays pitcher may decide enough is enough and hang it up after 2020. Plus, South Korea isn't the only country looking to start up their baseball season.
Steve Carney talks about two ways that we can talk about baseball: playing MLB The Show, and watching KBO, which is still on Pace to return in late April. Tyler Glasnow then speaks about the agreement between the league and players association regarding service time during the shutdown.
There was no baseball played at Tropicana Field Thursday, but Steve Carney brings you two different perspectives of the day, as his boss John Mamola talks about playing the Opening Day matchup against Pittsburgh on MLB The Show 20, and Rays manager Kevin Cash discusses roster decisions and how he has kept in contact with his players during the COVID-19 shutdown.
Today should have been Opening Day in Major League Baseball, but the COVID-19 pandemic has kept players away from camp for a couple of weeks. Steve Carney talks about what makes Opening Day his favorite sports day of the year and some of the things as a reporter he finds most enjoyable and amusing.
Steve Carney ran into former Rays first-round pick Richie Shaffer on Twitch streaming MLB The Show, and it got him wondering: what ever happened to Shaffer and Casey Gillaspie, two first-round position players picked out of college, and why did neither of them pan out?
Steve isn't talking about four players that were from Oakland, but rather three Rays that had massive success at the Triple-A level, winning the International League MVP award, but being unable to replicate that success at the big league level: Kevin Witt, Dan Johnson, and Russ Canzler
He may have only been with the Rays for a season and a half, but Tommy Pham's influence will be felt by Rays players and coaches, as well as the fanbase, for years to come. Steve tells his favorite stories about when Tommy was traded to the Rays, his time on the field, and how upset his teammates were when he was traded to San Diego.
Steve goes through the first big trade the Rays made in order to bring success to the franchise: dealing Delmon Young to the Minnesota Twins for Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett.
Steve Carney takes a break from Rays stories as he remembers his friend and former collaborator Scott Ledger, who passed away Tuesday. Steve and his former intern Charles "Gonzo" Gonzalez discussed creating a local nighttime sports show with Scott and how important the nearly 30-year veteran of Tampa Bay radio was to each of them
After having perfect games by Mark Buehrle and Dallas Braden and a no-hitter by Edwin Jackson in the span of the previous calendar year, we wondered when the Rays would throw their own no-hitter. Steve Carney tells his recollection of Matt Garza's gem in July of 2010 and why of all the pitchers in the Rays rotation, Garza was the most likely to throw one.
Steve starts the show with the announcement by Commissioner Manfred that Major League Baseball will abide by the CDC advisory against having any gatherings of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks. We then get into the (very) short time Manny Ramirez was with the Rays in 2011. Steve remembers the introductory press conference he had with Johnny Damon, how he liked to mess with certain members of the media, and how he helped the Rays win the American League Wild Card.
Steve Carney remembers how twice in a one month span back in 2013, he saw two different pitchers get hit on the head by line drives at Tropicana Field. Get the inside scoop on what happened to JA Happ and Alex Cobb.
Steve Carney talks about having to ask the difficult questions to players in the clubhouse, and the one time that he asked James Shields the wrong question at the wrong time, and the consequences it brought for him.
With baseball officially on hold, Steve is telling stories from his nearly 15 years with Rays broadcasts. Today, he remembers the night of September 28, 2011, known now by a single two-word phrase: Game 162.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused Major League Baseball to suspend the rest of Spring Training and push Opening Day back a minimum of two weeks. Hear Rays general manager Erik Neander's comments from after the announcement. Plus, Steve has decided the podcast will continue on despite the lack of games, and gives you an idea of what to expect while we wait for the sport to resume.
With the NBA suspending its season, college sports playing in front of empty stands, and other leagues looking at what their next move might be, Steve discusses what Major League Baseball should do with the start of their season.
The Rays had Tuesday off from Spring Training, so Steve decided to take a second crack at trying to predict the Opening Day 26-man roster. How close will he be to getting it right?
Steve begins by discussing what he likes and does not like about the newly-renovated TD Ballpark in Dunedin. Blake Snell also talks about his first start since having a cortisone shot administered to his left elbow. Finally, Major League Baseball has decided to close clubhouses to the media, and Steve explains why that's bad for him and for you.
The Rays finish off an unbeaten weekend with a tie on Sunday with the Pittsburgh. Hear from right-hander Charlie Morton, who threw on a back field. Also, a former big-leaguer finds success in the Tampa Bay region in another sport, and principal owner Stu Sternberg gives us two things to experience in Rye, NY if we had just 48 hours to spend in his old town.
The Rays split their squad and came within an eyelash of two 1-0 shutout wins. We discuss blanking the Orioles and settling for a tie against the Braves. Plus, the coronavirus has sports leagues in a panic, and some leagues are restricting access by the media. Steve discusses why Major League Baseball should follow suit. And we take a look at the future odds for the Rays as a team plus the individual awards for players
Brendan McKay finally gets to pitch in a Grapefruit League game, plus Aaron Judge has a broken rib from September, a visiting clubhouse manager gets fired for helping opposing pitchers doctor baseballs, and the Major League Baseball Players Association has a bone to pick with the Rays and other low-payroll teams
The Rays win their third straight spring game, defeating the Pirates. Former Baltimore Oriole Adam Jones gets on Steve for not seeing which Pirate player broke the scoreboard at Charlotte Sports Park. Ryan Yarbrough discusses his latest spring outing. The Rays release a statement about the gambler accused of threatening players, and Brendan McKay and Blake Snell will throw today
The Rays use two big innings to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays in Port Charlotte Wednesday. Also, minor-league infielder Kevin Padlo returned to camp after being leaving a couple of weeks ago with a non-baseball-related illness, and he tells us what exactly he was dealing with. And finally, Steve discusses federal charges against a gambler who threatened four Rays players last year
The Rays used some excellent play by minor-leaguers -- both pitchers and hitters -- to leave North Port with a win over the Braves. Steve also discusses both Blake Snell and Brendan McKay getting a chance to throw Tuesday, and what is next for each lefty. Plus, a breakdown of the catching situation and the four players that could have an impact in 2020.
The Rays leave Sarasota Monday with just a 3-3 tie, but experience a scary moment when minor-leaguer Garrett Whitley is hit on the face by a foul ball. Steve gives an update on his condition, and talks with Charlie Morton about his second Grapefruit League start. Then, we go in-depth into the relief pitching situation for 2020.
The Rays take out their frustrations of getting beat up by the Atlanta Braves by laying a thumping on the Minnesota Twins. We also hear from Blake Snell about getting a cortisone shot in his left elbow and if he expects to be ready for Opening Day, and if he starts the year on the injured list, Steve discusses how the Rays could cover the loss with their depth.
Saturday night was one the Rays will be glad to throw in the circular file, as the Braves beat them up 12-0. Steve discusses the few bright spots seen in the game, and Joe Ryan talks about starting his first Grapefruit League game today as well as his before inning routine.
The Rays traveled across the state of Florida to go up against Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals, coming home with a 8-1 win. Steve talks with uber-prospect Wander Franco on his two days with the big club, and commissioner Rob Manfred warns players to keep any marijuana usage away from the ballpark
The Rays play a pair of games Thursday, earning a win at home and taking a loss on the road. Hear from Tyler Glasnow, who made his spring debut in Port Charlotte, and get Steve's thoughts on Wander Franco, who played in his first Grapefruit League contest. Plus, retribution against the Astros appears to have started, and Congress wants Curt Flood in the Hall of Fame.
Both Blake Snell and Jose Alvarado got their springs underway in Wednesday's game against the Twins. Alvarado discusses the struugles results-wise, but how happy he was just to get back on the mound. Also, Giancarlo Stanton will miss Opening Day for New York, and Wander Franco gets ready to play today.
