Tampa Bay Rays PULLED Nick Martinez at 68 Pitches Amid DOMINANT OUTING Against Atlanta Braves

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1:04day. Easy listening, Zimbrano, and I'm Kevin Weiss, and later on today's show, a battle of MVP candidates face off this weekend. In a few minutes, a playoff Earth on the horizon, but to start, Graves game three was a pitcher's duel until it wasn't. Nick Martinez was doing great, and Martin Perez as well, but, well, it wasn't to be Kevin. The decision was made after 68 pitches, 53 of them were strikes to take out Nick Martinez broke. He was doing whatever he wanted to that brave slime. Now, I'm not saying the race lost because of this decision. I'm not saying that at all, because you also have to score runs to win a ball game. And if you take out the Victor messad Jr. Solo shot at the end of the game, the race had no response. Right. To Martin Perez, but I will say, I was hoping for the answer to be something else than what we got post game, because yes, I understand Nick Martinez is basically an inning above his

2:12MLB career high at 166 this year. So this is like that vehicle where you're like, I should probably get no change after the game. What cash says, yes, it was a tough decision to take out Nick, but I thought with the left he's coming that it seemed like Nick had done his job at that point. At 68 pitches, I think he had more man. I think he had more. And then when you tell me, oh, but it was lefties, you had to bring in boozer. Michael Harris had no hits against Nick Martinez today. And Matt Olson did have a hit earlier in the game. So maybe you can make the Olson argument. And I'll say, okay, but I don't know. I feel like if we're saying you need to take care of Nick Martinez's innings because of his career high MLB innings in 2026, then I will say who's taking care of the innings from the bullpen? We can't always just say we're taking care of the innings from the rotation and never, ever, ever, ever say I'm taking care of the bullpen. You don't want it like how is that not a double standard?

3:15Remember when we talk about the Hall of Fame and say that the, what is that clause that we always, the character clause, the character clause. It's always used in a negative way, never to bump somebody up. This is the same thing. We're protecting the arms. Okay, if the rotation, but can we protect the arms of the bullpen too? You know, a little bit up there in age, I understand both perspectives, but the fact of the matter is, you know, if you were raised fan back in 2020, it might have given you a little flick, snap vibes of why are we pulling Nick Martinez, but man, you just cannot say good enough things about Nick Martinez. Maybe the, the raised signing of the decade or the last couple decades with all that he's performed this, he's, he's 2026 Greg Maddox. For the amount of money that you gave Nick Martinez and the amount of production that you've received from Nick Martinez, it has been really one of the best signings, if not the best signing for a one year contract that the race has ever had. Now I do wonder if Kevin Cash would have opted to leave in Nick Martinez if the race had,

4:20I don't know, a three or four run lead. Yes. Maybe that's also part of the equation and part of the situation, but it's one of those things. Either Indians are going to have to get eaten up by the starters or they're going to have to get eaten up by the bullpen. And I guess maybe some of the equation is whether you agree or believe what Kevin Cash is saying, who do you want? Quote healthier and ready for the playoffs. Would you rather have Nick Martinez, Cam Booser, Kevin Kelly or Legamima? In my opinion, I would rather have a very well oiled, oiled, changed Nick Martinez as best possible. I mean, if we're looking at it from a silver lining perspective, at least the race didn't quote unquote, waste a tether wells outing or a Brian Baker outing. But like you said, you listies, it's tough to win games when you only score one run. And that one tough man, especially when it comes in the ninth inning of a game that

5:22you're already losing, but I will, you know, you bring a point with who do you rather have in October healthy? Do you think can do we honestly think as race fans that if this game, let's say the same scenario, heck, against the Yankees. And into ALDS or against the Red Sox and the ALDS. I don't want to think farther from that. It's zero, zero, seven thinning. Nick Martinez is 68 pitches. Do we honestly think as race fans that Kevin Cash is saying, yeah, I'll leave Nick Martinez in there and I'm not going to touch my bullpen. No, I think you're right on the fact that he would probably pull Nick Martinez, but which sucks. And it's like, what are we doing? Right. Especially a guy that is so locked in as Nick Martinez. I don't care about how many or how few strikeouts Nick Martinez has. The fact that the, I, I was kind of tongue in cheek with Greg Maddox, but look at his whip. Look at how he's able to pinpoint a change up, a sinker, a cutter on the edges, pretty

6:24much wherever he wants it. How about Martin Perez? I mean, he was doing whatever he wanted against the race. The race had an opportunity in the first inning. They had him against the ropes. And unfortunately that double play with Chandler Simpson hitting which I think has happened maybe a couple of times this season. Right. So how fast he is, but then they just wondered that great opportunity. Yeah. And maybe that's the thought of like, Hey, odds are, look, you want to try to win every game. But at some point, you got to say, Hey, we got to pull out our big dog, Nick Martinez and see if the relief core in our offense can put something together. Because if Nick Martinez is left in, you know, through the seventh and going into eighth or whatever, we also have to remember that. There's a couple more starts that he's going to likely add to his resume. And before the playoffs start, he could be at what? 180, 185 innings, something like that. And then you're probably expected to pitch another, you know, if you go deep in the playoffs, that that could be, that's a lot of innings on a 35 36 year old arm. He's got 166 right now.

7:25How many starts does he have right now? If we have 16 games left, maybe three. So then if he's got three left, let's say he averages six innings per 18. Yeah. So that's almost 20. That's 184. And then the playoffs start at 184. It's, it's going to be a big season. So I, again, I understand the reasoning, right. But what I don't understand is a double standard of always saying we are protecting the rotation and yet who the heck is protecting the bull bet. And also in this situation, I want to ask. I would love to know this from, from cash itself is what would have made you keep Nick Martinez in that situation? 1020 lead, less pitch counts. Yeah. Not left. He's coming up or I would like to know that what, what, what would have made you say, no, Nick is my guy. And also if this situation were to repeat itself in the playoffs, what would make you say, Nick's my guy. I'm not touching my bowl. Like what is that variable in this formula that would say, I'm keeping Nick in the

8:31real estate and I'm keeping Nick in the playoffs. I would like to know that answer. No, that's a great question. And maybe it's like I'd mentioned, hey, if the raise were up three, four, five runs, yeah, you could keep Nick Martinez in, but maybe the, maybe it's a thing of Kevin Cash and the front office saying, no matter what happens, whether the raise are tied, at this juncture on September 10th, if the raise are tied, they're down by five, or they're up by five, we are going to try to limit the amount of pitches in the amount of innings that Nick Martinez throws. So we're so close. We're not going to, we're not going to jeopardize. We don't want that arm soreness or we don't want that I else. Then we've already got Shane McLean a hand now. We cannot be down another starter because you go down another starter. That just means the bullpen is going to be more taxed. You kind of have to just hit on the on maybe that's what it is. Like we're so close to the finish line. We'd rather lose a bullpen arm because of an injury we don't want to, but we'd rather do

9:37that than in Nick Martinez. So now that he's healthy, boom, okay, we'll just take it. I'm out right now. Maybe that's it. I just, I'd like to know that answer. I'm both well, you know that. And you knew that it was going to be a little bit of a wonky day offensively. Just by the fact that Chandler Simpson hit into a double play, which rarely if ever happens. And the way it happened where it's a throw to home and then back to first to get Chandler Simpson. And then he punted into and out as well where he just couldn't outhustle the throw. So which honestly, it's just a reality at that point on the replay. I'm with, I'm with the A on this and doing the, you could still see the white of the ball outside of the glove and Chandler's toes on the bleeping bag. So what happened in New York? Oh, that's right. It's in New York, the replay room. The internet was down for that short period of time, perhaps. But there it is. Hey, at the end of the day, though, the ray is won the series against the great job.

10:39And they did an impressive fashion. If you look at how many runs they scored versus how many runs the brave scored over the course of the three games, I don't think you, you can't be upset with this team. You went into Atlanta against a really good ball club and you took care of business. So and I mean, if we want to look at it overall on the whole, three really good outings by our starting pitching staff. Absolutely. Jacks to Freddie Peralta to Nick Martinez. That's a good sign going into the rest of the season and hopefully the playoffs. And maybe 2026 is the raise year for that. Well, you've waited all off season for this. Now it's time to make every NFL week count because FanDuel is making this your most rewarding season ever, whether it's backing a favorite team, building a same game, Parlay, betting player props, or making picks on the biggest matchups. FanDuel gives fans more ways to play throughout the season.

11:42And for anyone who's new to Fandool, there's an even bigger reason to make this NFL season count. And for new customers, it gets even better. Get $350 in bonus bets guaranteed when you bet $5 every day for seven days. Yes, that's right. That's right. Bet $5 each day and you would then get $50 in bonus bets every day for seven days. That adds up to $350. Visit Fandool.com to get started. Make this your most rewarding season ever with Fandool. And that's it. Thank you. Thank you for listening to the Lockdown Race Podcast and making us your first listen of the day. We appreciate it. We are, of course, part of the Lockdown Race Podcast, the number one sports podcast network out there. A two year playoff absence seems like such a long time.

12:44Bottles could be popping for the first time for the race since 2020. Within the next 24, 48 hours, we could see it happen where the rays are entrenched into the playoffs that they have their spot. Of course, they still have to win the division and hopefully get the buy and all that. But we are ever so close, ever so close to that playoff birth, which is a really good feeling if you're a race fan, of course. Now the key is, and I'm just going to check out the first one. And we know how trying the playoffs can be and how it can be a crapshoot and just sometimes the way the ball rolls and which team is healthiest, which team is hot at the right time. Having said all that, let's hope we don't have a repeat bummer of 2023 in 2022. Like 2023, you do everything in the regular season. You win 99 games, yet you're down in the wild card.

13:472022, pretty much the same thing happens against the guardians, the Rangers and guardians. They were the race Bugaboo those years. So I'm not saying or suggesting that, oh, the race absolutely have to win a world series this year. It's world series or bust. I'm just hoping that, hey, please advance through something. Give me some advance through the ALDS. Maybe get through the ALCS. I mean, if the race do wind up winning the division and having the best record in the American League, Ipso Factor based on that, this team should play in the world series. I'm sorry to say because like you jinx and all those things, but you look at what this team has done so far and how they played the game of baseball in 2026. It's a fun brand of baseball. You got great starting pitching. You have really a cool lineup where at the top, you're going to get contact and pop. And then at the bottom, you're going to get speed and athleticism and a little bit of occasional pop.

14:48Hello, Victor, Miss. Junior, hello, Richard Bellosius with almost 10 home runs. Hello, Cedric Mullins with almost 15 and you've been the best team in the American League for most of the season. You've been the top dog. So having said that, me personally, yeah, I expect them to win the AL East division. They have to win the AL East. They have to win the AL East number two. If you win the AL East, I'm sorry, you're going to have to win the ALDS because your most likely rivals are going to be either the New York Yankees or the boss Red Sox. So you're going to have to go through them and you have to win a bleeping playoff series because it hasn't been since you had Blake's now on the mount. Okay, like it's been 20 like you didn't win one in 21, you didn't want to win one in 23 and you missed the playoffs in 24 and 25. Like you have to win one series at the very least. You have to win the ALDS. I'll refrain myself there, but just because you went there.

15:53Okay, you got me. I'll touch on it. And in the ALCS, who is going to be your competition? It's not going to be a team that is as good as the Yankees. It is not going to be a team that is going to be as good as the Red Sox. So it's so facto. I'm not going to say the next sentence, but you all know where I'm coming from. But you got to win the AL East and then you have to win the ALDS. I think as a race fan that missed the last two playoffs and then we're just kicked in the you know what in 23 and 22 and 21. And appearance in the ALCS. I think would grant most of us normal fans. That was a great season type of. And some of the conversation or question. If the race do win the division and likely it will be the Yankees facing off against the Red Sox and the Wildcard. Who would you rather face if you're the race in the ALDS?

16:54Is it the Yankees or the Red Sox? I will note that Aaron Judge is back with the Yankees. So perhaps that changes the math or the equation. Although I will say yes, we know about Aaron Judge and the million MVP's he has and all that he's done in his career as a future Hall of Famer. He is not the same player in the playoffs as he is in the regular season. Not saying he's a bad player. He's not bringing a lal in the playoffs. No, he's got like an eight hundred OPS. Yes, no, no. So Aaron Judge and I looked at the numbers recently because I was just intrigued by it. But yeah, I think overall his career postseason numbers. It's like a eight twenty thirty eight forty OPS. Whereas like during his MLB career, he's up there near a thousand. He's like a one dot or a hundred. So there is a little bit of a drop off. But how much does that rejuvenate and reinvigorate the Yankees come playoff time?

17:54But I think you have a preference. I would rather face the red socks. I would say. Okay, so if we look at the red socks, they're mostly lefty starters. So that you're having a narrow season. The only junior. Yandy. You might not, I mean, they've been playing Hicks against some lefties, but it's the playoffs. You have to play Hicks. You're not going to put forward. You're not going to have to play Chandler. You're going to have to play you have to play Chandler. I mean, he's been hitting two nineties plus against lefties. It's great. So what you're saying, the laid would get would get a lot of views there. You get it. Johnny Luke. Not a lot of citric mollins. Not a lot of Victor Mesa, Jr. Yeah. That's a conversation for another day. But I guess just think this taste and dislike for the Yankees makes me want to say that. I know what? I love when this happens because we don't usually. This is agree on too much.

18:54Yeah. I think I want the Yankees. Okay. All right. You want to put it to the there's there's that's also why. Because that can be made. I hate because I hate the Yankees way more. I hate the Yankees so much more than the Red Sox. I believe in don't give you a red sucks. Just like a lot. Yes. But the pinstripes attitude, especially because we live in Tampa and they think they own the place. Yeah. The last time you won a ring, the iPad wasn't a thing. Okay. By the way, seniors in high school don't remember a New York Yankee team winning a ring. By the way, how does 20 would be to lose to the Yankees in the game? Oh, it would be you're from them as well. So there's a double-edged sword. Don't get your own. It would be awful. But I think winning against the Yankees at the top two. It would just just be like a dagger that they just could not take out. No, that's fair.

19:54But look, we know that traditionally teams with low payrolls, they're not going to go that deep in the postseason. They have the depth for the regular season, but the postseason, the superstars show out. And it's over and done with. But I think the raise, there's just something about them. Again, there was very little expectation for them coming into the season. We've seen a lot of resiliency, toughness, the team chemistry. I think counts for a lot. We have the starting pitching. We have the back in bullpen. I think the diverse ways that the raise can score. It's not boomer bust with the home run. Like if the home run's not there, they can small ball it out and put a couple of. And they're not afraid to. They're not afraid to do it in the first inning. They're not afraid to do it in the fifth or the ninth. Like it's just an identity that this team has. So there's that. And I think obviously the the brave game three notwithstanding where there was very little offense and run scored at all. But I think overall just that motif of yeah, junior can hit a home run.

20:54Liam Hicks can hit a home run. Yondi Diaz can hit a home run. But we also got Yondi Diaz that can get a base hit or draw a walk. And we can have Chandler Simpson and Taylor Wall steal a bunch of bags. And there's there's just there's something where we're not having to just rely on one or two guys. What it may ultimately come down to is can Kevin Cash pull the strings? And can he pull them correctly? I mean, sometimes it may come down to a bad managerial move or a good managerial move. So I think there's going to be some some extra eyes on Kevin Cash. So what are you going to do as a manager that people are going to look at you as a God and say, Man, okay, yeah, he is the best manager and baseball. He deserves manager of the year instead of it being a Kevin crash moment. But again, these conversations will be discussed even further weeks ahead. But it is just a good feeling to say that, hey, we're almost there. We're going to be there. I mean, it's it's a lot. It's a guarantee that the race are going to be postseason bound with a win on Friday. Because the Rangers lost on Thursday, you can get yourself a playoff.

21:55As easy with a win on Friday against the Houston Astros. Yes. And the race will look to keep their momentum rolling against Houston at the top. A big thank you to our friends at Amazon for this limited break. This back to school season spend less on your kids with Amazon. We all know how crazy the back to school shopping experience can be. It starts with a few items on the list. And then suddenly you're shopping for supplies, clothes, lunch, gear, tech. And about 10 other things that you didn't see coming and it adds up fast. And when you buy clothes for back to school, then your kid has a growth spurt two weeks later. And you're right back where you started. Sometimes it genuinely feels like they're growing faster than your budget can keep up with that. So remember, with Amazon's low back to school prices just spend less on your kids. Because every dollar that you don't spend on them is a dollar you haven't spend on them.

22:57Shop back to school at Amazon and spend less. Thank you so much for tuning in to Lockdown race, making us your first listen every single day part of the Lockdown podcast network at your team every day. Junior and your then will the real MVP stand up? I mean, obviously we are race fans. So we know a junior coming down has done this whole year and it's been incredible to watch a 22 23 year old. Pull back to back basically 40 home run seasons and in the advancement that he has done in other stats, you know, adding average. It's not a big thing in the big 2026, but he's had a way better batting average. He's had a tremendous jump in his plate discipline with those walk rate. Yes. But you don't really hear who the MVP runner up will be. You just don't hear that that often from where I'm standing. I feel like this weekend we're going to see MVP won versus MVP two.

23:58And like you said on Thursday's episode, look, I think as much race fans as we want to be Jordan has had a crazy immaculate season basically. He's still even has a shot at the triple crown. I don't think he's going to do it. But it's been a tremendous season. I think junior is definitely MVP two as of September 10th. Yeah. I think the goal for junior is one hit that 40th home run. Yes. So he can make history as the second youngest player in MLB history to hit 40 bombs in multiple seasons. The other guy is Eddie Matthews. I mean, when you are who's got and talked about in the same sentence as Eddie Matthews, that's pretty good company to be a part of junior. First first player to hit 40 in back to back seasons with the raise as well, right? Correct. I mean, he and Carlos Pena are the only raised players to hit 40 plus in a season. Now that's kind of the next step for junior is can he get more than 46?

25:00Can he break Carlos Pena's home run mark from years ago, which I think based on what junior is done so far this year? And assuming he continues to have protection in future years, there is a pretty good shot, pretty good possibility that he will maybe hit 47 or 48 in a season, which is. Still difficult, but junior I think has the capability, but what I really like about this kind of matchup of MVP number one verse MVP runner up is junior was asked about it and his response was quote, I don't think about yard on all I think about is winning every single day. That is a great answer. I mean, you can tell like, yeah, everybody wants the post and I want to be an old star. I want to win a home run, Derby. I want to get MVP votes. I want to have my name out there. I want to be on the cover of a video game. I want to be in commercials all that. But the fact that he is just based on what he's telling the media is that, hey, winning games for my team is the most important thing.

26:04That's huge for a guy that's 22, 23 years old. You want to know that that's the guy that you are building your team around. That's his mentality. I'm not for accolades or like no, the fact that he said, what was the quote again, you said, I don't think about your down. I just think about all I think about is winning every single day. Yes, give me more of that. Give me more of that. You know what, let's hope that they can win every single day this weekend with the assholes coming because it's not a team that should scare you after what you just did to the Atlanta Braves. Ask their home. You're back home at the top where you play your best because you look at their offense. It's all right. You look at their starting pitch and I wouldn't like that starting pitching. You look at their bullpen. That's mediocre ish and then you look at their fielding and you say, no, I won't have any of that. Thank you very much for that. Hold that. Hold that in the kitchen. Don't bring it to the table. So all things considered, I'm expecting maybe not winning every day like junior is saying here in the quote, but maybe two out of three Kevin.

27:12Yeah, no, I think that's fair. Look, I know that the Astros are leading their division, but it's not the A at least. It's the A West. And I know some people don't like this stat, but in my opinion, it is worth mentioning that overall the Astros have a negative 40 run differential while the raise or plus 56. So I somehow some way the Astros have found themselves to be above 500. And you you mentioned just the rankings and some of the numbers of the team through and through. And this this group as it's currently constructed should not really scared you all that much outside of Jordan Alvarez. I mean, you're to could go off assuming that the raise are really going to focus on pitching into him. This is not the Astros of yesterday or where we had some of those great playoff battles between the raise in Astros like I think seven of the ALCS in 2020.

28:12Exactly. Exactly. The fact that you know, you know what I'm actually afraid of the Astros are number five in the league in home runs. They they do have pop Saturday, Mr. Ian Seymour, who's allowed more than 20 home runs this year. I would watch out for Saturday being a problem for race pitching there. That's what that's really what has me the most concerned about this weekend series. But if you get out on Saturday with a W feel pretty good already about the weekend. Right. I could see this stacking up where the race take Fridays game with you rest musting on the mound. And then I mean the Astros are as far as their rotation goes this weekend Peter Lambert has the most experience of the guy compared to Friday and Sunday. Like and you mentioned it. I mean the Astros had a lot of home runs. So that could be a game where all right. You take the L on Saturday and then Sunday with the way that Freddie Perolts has been performing. I could raise winning series winning the series in that format.

29:15They win Friday, lose Saturday, win Sunday, and then hopefully popping some champagne bottles at home. Because that's the best time to do it is popular bottles at the top instead of being on the road and having to wait to celebrate and going through all that back and forth. And look, final thing on this. Now that worried about the Astros. But it could also be a little bit of a scouting report. Look see for both teams because there is a chance that both these teams face off or match up at some point in the playoffs. So that's something to look out for and it would just be interesting or cool to see after this weekend series. How did your dawn do and how did junior do junior one up your dawn in the the amount of play appearances and at bats that they get who really showed out. And showed up the most and I'm sure there'll be some good lighthearted back and forth and maybe it's opportunity for junior to exchange words with the ord on and but I just think that. Kind of one on one battle will be interesting to watch out for so like hey does junior come out and say hey.

30:22I look I want to help the team win. That's what I'm about. But I also want to hit you know three or four home runs and have your dawn go like two for 15 over the weekend. Hey if that sports going to help the team win. Yes, let's do it. Let's do it. All right. We'll see what happens. I will actually be at the game on Sunday. It is dog day at the race. I'm going to be a lot of barking. Hopefully no trash can banging and we'll get out with a series W on that note. We hope you all have a wonderful days. They safe and we talk to you next. The locked on podcast network is brought to you by Fandall baseball fans. If you think you know who's hitting a home or today. Fandall is giving you a free chance to call your shot with daily dingers. It's easy to play. Just make your free pick for who you think will hit a home run in their game. If you're right, you'll receive a profit boost to use on your next bet for a chance at extra winnix. Best of all, you can make a free pick every day throughout the MLBC. So are you ready to play your game today? Join all the action at Fandall.com.

31:23That's fandall.com to play daily dingers and make your free pick on who's hitting a home or play ball and swing for the fences on Fandall in official partner of the MLB. Thank you for making locked on your purse. Listen every day for your second 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.