RAYS POSTCAST: The Tampa Bay Rays OFFENSE GETS SHUT DOWN vs the Atlanta Braves

0:00This is the Lockdown Podcast Network celebrating 10 years of your team every day. This is the Raze Post-Cast. Your instant game reactions with a Tampa Bay Raze. Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. Your teams every day. Hello and welcome back to the Tampa Bay Raze Post-Cast. You're a spot for instant Raze reaction after every single game. My name is Jonathan Shields. That's the Raze Drop the Last Game of the Road trip to the Braves. Three to one. And a game where the offense really just got shut down. My name is Jonathan Shields. Like I said, make sure you guys go follow me on Twitter at Johnny10 Shields. As the playoff season kicks in, make sure you guys are subscribed. And we're live on Raze Post-Cast after every single game including the playoffs. So make sure you guys are locked in for that. And this one we're going to talk about, despite the really disappointing effort today, it was still a successful road trip I thought.

1:02We're talking about Kevin Kelly. He's looking been struggling for a little bit now. But his struggles really kind of boiled over today. Martinez was absolutely fantastic. This might have been the best he's pitched all year. And that's really saying something. But first, we got to talk about how the bats for the race just went silent today. This is what you'll be talking about. You know, when you look at this game, you look at I thought the race had two really big chances in this game. To kind of get ahead early. The first was in the first inning where the race had three hits in the inning and didn't get a run, which is extremely surprising. Of course, that ends with the Chandler Simpson double play, you know, which if it wasn't for a few other moments in this game, which could have been our turn, attorney point in the game right there. Chandler is extremely hard to double up and the race had a chance again to potentially take a big early lead. Not just for nothing lead, but to expand on that inning and potentially have a big ending. And then the other big the other big chance that the race had was in the sixth inning.

2:07And I thought that was just a great play by Perez the pitcher on that bump from Chandler, the race challenge. It was upheld and outside of that, I mean, the race offense was completely silent. You know, the race unfortunately probably do for one of the games like this after performing so well offensively throughout the road trip. But you know, it's hard to score one runner, no runs and win. And that's what the race were kind of dealing with today. But again, I'm not some of them worried. One thing I'm worried about is once again going forward with the offense in this middle infield going in the playoffs. You know, we haven't talked about it a little bit one because most of it goes rich. He's been really good, but the offense in the middle infield going into playoffs is my number one thing I'm concerned about. Because everywhere else uncomfortable offensively up the middle with the middle infield. I'm not and I'm not saying that's the reason for the race last days just when especially not the walls really provide anything offensively. It just shows the lack of depth that the race have up the middle really in their system right now in terms of guys ready to come in and play. Unfortunately, Carson Williams is a bust right now is not looking too good.

3:09And then you know going forward, you know, Nick Magigaw has played a lot of games in them. I'll be in he's a fine player. But you know, I mean, like no one has a great player just just sitting there in your fourth, fifth, sixth outfield in your in your organization ready to go. But you know, that's something that the race kicked around the deadline just really couldn't get done. But you know, the offense as a whole, I feel like if the race were losing the playoffs is going to look like this when you get against and president. I've been like an elite pitcher. The race have done did better against elite pitchers throughout this throughout this road trip. Like with the Grom and a few of the others, but you know, my biggest fear is when you face the Yankees and when you face the Red Sox and you're facing elite pitching because that's what the race is going to be facing elite pitching, especially in their starting rotation. How often the race can be able to put together really good at bats to give the race four, five, six runs consistently in the playoffs because that's what the race are going to need to win. If the race score four runs every game playoffs with our pitching staff, I think the race that really good shot. Had going really far, but you know, games like this just remind everyone now like scoring one run getting shut out is not some panic button.

4:14Okay, the race offense I want to emphasize this has been really good as if late, but you know, it's just remind you that the race offense has this kind of performance in them. And I think more than any other team that's going to be in the playoffs in terms of teams that are actually going to be contending. I think the race offense is the most most likely to have multiple performances like this, you know, but again, I thought once again the bottom of the lineup yesterday was awesome and then today, you know, you really couldn't get that much that much going and then there was really nothing going until the ninth inning and Victor Mesa continues just to be an absolute dude. I mean, just continues to be such a spark for this offense as he belts another Homer, you know, the right center and then Chandler walking thought you had something going there. You know, being able to pull a rendez-hack spout off the bench is a big boost, but you know, a ronda sneakily once again is struggling in his last handful of games, you know, only one hit in the brave series. He's actually really good in the Texas series, but you know, his average back to 77 after it was in the 280s for a good amount of time, but I struggling is unfair for rondik.

5:16He was really good in the Texas series, but you know, he's getting a little bit big with this swing. I feel like sometimes, but again, not necessarily not necessarily worried about that, but you know, they're eventually brings us to our turning point, which comes in the eighth inning. Time to reveal where the game was once or lost. It's the turning point. It was the eighth inning and look, Kevin Kelly, he's been so good all year and outing like this, it was probably coming, you know, he gave up to earn Texas earlier, but he didn't he just didn't look as sharp and especially Texas, he didn't look as sharp and if you look at his splits, kind of, kind of home in a way, but most of the other pictures, but he's, he's much better. He's much better at the top. I mean, at the trapeze, a point five three, R a on the road, he's a three seven, one year, and that rear to said today, I mean, his to just think of where high sun came, of course, high sun, ice on came with the dagger hit, by the way, fast, why want to get up and ended up really kind of right down the middle and 91.

6:25It's just not going to get it done his, his location has been missing a little bit, he looks a little bit uncomfortable out there, but again, I anticipate him bouncing back because he's been awesome all year, specifically at home and the race have a long home stand coming up, but, you know, it's, it's tough when your second best relief picture goes out there and gives up three earned, and this was a really winable game for the race. I felt like from a majority part of the game, the race really outplayed the braves and they just couldn't get that one big hit to get it across, but and having a chance to sweep that team, I mean, the third best team, the national league and the best team in their division and having the chance to sweep that team on the road and really make a statement. And you know, the race, I mean, it wasn't all kept Kelly spotting square time score one run is not going to get it done most times, but you know, the having that big eighth inning and it was the bottom of the braves lineup, just like the bottom of the race lineup yesterday, that got it started for them, but we're going to talk about Nick Martinez, we're going to talk about one of the positives from the game with the team is we're going to touch a little bit more on Kevin Kelly and we're going to talk about why this was a successful road trip nonetheless for the race all that and more right to this.

7:27This episode is brought to you by Amazon a big thanks to our friends at Amazon for this limited ad break this back school season spend less on your kids with Amazon well, I know how crazy the back school shopping experience can be it starts with a few items on the list and suddenly your shopping for supplies clothes lunch gear tech and about 10 other things you didn't see coming and adds up fast. When you're buying supplies to fireself asking how a calculator became one of the most expensive items in the car, I was expecting math to start cost me more money to before the school year even began. It feels like there's a life lesson in their somewhere I'm still trying to figure it out on the teachers file arrives on some of every item feels like it feels completely reasonable on the phone and you add everything together and you just realize how much stuff one kids needs one kid needs for one school year. So remember with Amazon slow back school prices just spend less on your kids because every dollar you don't spend on them is the value haven't spent on them. Shot back school Amazon and spend less on your kids. Today's episode is brought to you by the Dell XPS I'm West Goldberg from locked on NBA daily and locked on heat.

8:27So what does it feel like to have a better laptop like the Dell XPS powered by Intel core with a premium design that's thin and light it feels smooth with a responsive touch screen it feels fast and precise. And with long lasting battery life it feels like non stop energy with a laptop that can keep up built for those who want better the Dell XPS built for you. If you guys are in the life, please make sure to leave a like and comment as we get to our player of the game for the race today. Mr. Nick Martinez. This is the locked on player of the game. Aficion is the word I use with with with Martinez Day six and a third two hits no walks three strikeouts 68 pitches and I see a lot of comments already saying they pulled them too early. Yes and now like I'll let them go there but it was two lefties coming up and Boozzie actually did fine. I don't think Martinez is going to go back out there for the eighth anyway when Kelly went in there. So I mean I don't think this losses on Kevin Cash but yeah I mean he was rolling.

9:28He would like to see him keep going there but you also got to be cognizant of you need him at his best a month from now you know and I know this hard to hard to realize during the game when he is 68 pitches going to take it out but he was great. I mean it's just typical Nick Martinez in the zone soft contact he's you know he's your dad's favorite picture actually not being floated out there a lot right now. Because he doesn't have the big strikeout stuff he doesn't have the 90 amount of power fastball but he knows how to pitch he's a professional pitcher and I say the feel like I say this every game he's been the biggest off season edition the race have had this year and that's really saying something because he has been so important to this team and that shows again today why he was so important because man he was he was great. He won one of the few bright spots on the team today you know and then again Boozard on the thing was necessarily bad but did give up some hard contact but right now the race don't have any other lefty options and they're open with with with Clevanger hurt right now you know see more might eventually slide in there but you know I don't know I don't know it's it's tough and they're going to be asking a lot out of Boozard until Clevanger comes back but you know it again Nick Martinez deserves to get a win for his start today because man he is a great player.

10:39He's a great start today because man he was absolutely fantastic but other more on Kevin Kelly you know when you still look at the stats stats are great and again I'm not necessarily worried about Kevin Kelly but the raise bullpen seems to be teeter in a little bit right now and better to happen now than a month from now but you know the raise again need them down the stretch because I don't anticipate the Rockies being the Yankees so the race are probably going three up into the homestand which you've told me that I was taking you know once that leads to two one then you start going to work when you have three games I still a good amount of games at hand it's really four and let's see if you can get a win. The raise gets swept in New York in the four game set up there so but it's not just count I think it's a whole bullpen problem right now where the bullpen is teeter in a little bit we saw this once I think right after the all start break where they're not in a rep before the all start break one of the bullpen I wasn't great and we're kind of seeing it again right now but still a successful road trip I mean if you told me the raise go four on three in this home on this road trip going through Texas and Atlanta I 100% take that and I think you guys would as well despite how disappointed this loss was but you know that's that's just kind of how the

11:39cookie crumble sometimes but again we talked about this a lot the stretch that the raise have right now is brutal when you when you go through and you have you know Texas Atlanta Houston the A's Boston New York Philadelphia and the season once again that's a brutal stretch the brutal stretch to end the year and you know well we'll see how the raise do but I think it really starts with having a strong six games against Houston and the A's to start the homestand I think if you win both both of those series you really put yourselves in a big spot and let's talk about this Astro series which tomorrow the race I'm not announced or started even though sometimes they announced it after the game so if you guys are have seen them announce the stuff started tomorrow please let me know but they'll be going up against Ethan Peco the young right hand to picture this can be making his fifth start and he's been fine he had one kind of blow up starting in C Yankees where he give a five earned over four and a third now I saw that he's given up two runs or less and every single ending you know the walks are there he has ten walks and just 17 endings and the race been really good

12:39about taking their walks but you know with the young picture you anticipate the race being able to jump on them a little bit and really good after him and obviously with the Astros you got to worry about you got to worry about your done average with everything that he's capable of as well but well on Saturdays can be Drew Rasmussen going for the race is Peter Lambert you know Peter Lambert has been around for a little bit now I'm named that all you guys should be familiar with during his time in Colorado but so far this year for the Astros A and A with the three six seven year right he pitched against the race early this year was really really good he went five and two thirds only give a three hit six strikeouts over that time he's coming off giving up three earned over seven and he's against the diamond backs but again really solid veteran picture and then on Sunday the race will go throughout Ian see more there first is Hayden was enski and again another young picture for the Astros who again has has been around for a little bit you guys might remember him when he was with the Cubs and you know he's just got back in late July and he's been really good for the Astros so the race pitching staffs can need to be at their best this week this weekend against the Astros because yeah the Astros maybe don't have the Garrett Coles and the Justin Berlanders that they had when when they were when they were rolling but you know they still got some really good pictures that can that can cause as often as trouble and the race offense doesn't have time to get into trouble you know they got to kind of kick things into gear now and it starts on tomorrow night hopefully you know against a young picture where I think the race could definitely take advantage of this week

14:08there's some opportunities there but let's get to the comments we'll go to Gary here he says in spite of the defeat today at five and three this Arlington Atlanta four and three at this Arlington Atlanta road trip has been success the race in the last 26 road games are 19 to seven hopefully this will continue with as a advance of the post season yeah unfortunately that's what the race can remember for like it's going to be great for the division but unfortunately everything's going to come down to that five game series of the five the best of five series in the ALDS so that's what the race got it start looking for once they put a lot of the distance that we could go to the division as we go to max series as I understand the match of vendors but playing with that Aronda hits mace of June even plushos today to me was a mistake sweep would a long way come the Yankees yeah you know Hicks and in Mesa were were were Hicks in plushos were never going to play today just because their splits against lefties are so bad but yeah I don't necessarily disagree with you with the rest of them but as you go to Sarah here says hope was hoping that home run was be it was going to be the turning point everyone needs to hold their breath and cross their fingers and toes for the Yankees blues yeah let's hope that they do because if the Yankees lose today then you start running out of time I mean this is one where the Yankees are going to see this result and play till tonight where I think they're going to go all in trying to trying to go get this win tonight as we go to gear here says do do not think there's ever been a year like this where there's such in balance whereas the top teams on one side of the bracket besides the raised Yankees and Boston's or any team you believe in absolutely not I mean white socks guardians Astros like in a playup setting absolutely not.

15:36If the A.L. is going to win the World Series is going to be an A.L. East team for the third straight year is going to represent the A.L. in the World Series we'll see. Siouwan Saks says I thought Nick Martinez was pulled too early despite the two yeah I mean I get Kevin Cash reasoning for it and I understand why people are upset so I kind of I see both sides of it but I lean more with Kevin Cash with it even though I'm always have the pictures and a group I'm always kind of let them go but you've got to think of a month from now that's what you need Nick Martinez like we don't necessarily need Nick Martinez as a player. We don't necessarily need Nick Martinez in the afternoon on September 10th we need him and game two the A.L. DS on October 12th or whenever it is right but we'll we'll see but again as you go Jack Curie says it's a bummer but I'm not mad at a well played game winning series in a winning road trip that's how you guys look at it like yes today today was unfortunately and it was a tough it was a tough loss for the raise but again you're not going to win every game right and you got to look big picture and I know it sucks when you lose it. Especially games like this which were really won a ball for the race like I thought today was really won a ball for the race but you still got to look big picture a big picture when you when you go for it.

16:44Three on really tough homes really tough road trip when you go to Texas we haven't won like four years you go to Atlanta who despite that before this was rolling like the one seven or a one point and the best team in the division all this stuff and to go win a series in Atlanta in Texas. I mean if you told Kevin Cash that before you know you you 100% would have taken it we see bucks get scoling in the house I appreciate all of your comments as well. Yeah of course all the games all the games mean something but we're not going to win every game in baseball and unfortunately that's just that's just kind of how it is but again I appreciate all you guys joining in make sure as they would like comment subscribe before you guys get out of here remember. If you guys are new here please subscribe wherever you're watching we are going to be lab after every race game including the playoffs to get the instant fan reaction from a fan type type of a type of experience make sure you guys roll with us all throughout the playoffs because you know this race team definitely is different on the chance to do some big things so again make sure you guys leave a like and comment and subscribe seven o'clock first pitch tomorrow seven 10 first pitch tomorrow and we'll be right back live after that game hopefully talking about a race once you guys then.

18:06I'm going to listen find the all night locked on MLB game night every game every night until a world series champion is crowned get local analysis on a national scale find MLB game night on locked on MLB on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts.