Sports Day Tampa Bay

Rick's former radio partner and longtime Tampa Bay Times columnist Tom Jones, now at the Poynter Institute with his own podcast, drops by to talk about a wild few days in Tampa Bay sports. They start with the Bucs' 16-0 win over the Falcons, where Baker Mayfield completed zero passes, and Rick says nothing like it has been played since 1974 (Joe Ferguson's two attempts for the Bills while O.J. Simpson ran). That leads to old Monday Night Football highlights, Terry Bradshaw calling his own plays, and quarterbacks handing off 30-plus times a game. They then marvel at how hard it rained at Raymond James Stadium (not a drop during warmups, then a downpour right after the anthem), how poorly the field held up, and what Rick calls the NFLPA survey's failing grade for the playing surface. Along the way Tom explains why his St. Pete house stayed dry, and they trade Halloween stories, including childhood costumes in Pennsylvania, Heidi Klum's severed-hand getup, and horror movie marathons.

The heart of the show is Nikita Kucherov. Tom says he understands both sides: Kucherov deserves to be paid like one of the NHL's best players, and the Lightning can't be blamed for balking at a massive contract for a 33-year-old who'd be 39 at the end of it. Rick and Tom wonder how his teammates really feel after Kucherov reportedly told them on the plane to Nashville that he had asked for a trade, why it became public in-season, whether it will hang over the locker room the way it did with Steven Stamkos, and if he really felt disrespected after only two conversations with Julien BriseBois. Steve points out that Kucherov wears an A and the team poured onto the ice when he broke the franchise scoring record, and the group debates his reluctance to speak to the media, the "Cooch being Cooch" culture around him, and what a real captain looks like (Tom's pick is Stamkos, with Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, and Gerald McCoy as other examples). Tom tells a story about the Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk keeping the whole team in the locker room after a bad loss at the old Nassau Coliseum so reporters could ask questions.

They also take a look at the bigger picture: the Lightning's history of letting stars go (Stamkos, Marty St. Louis, Vincent Lecavalier), why a team that's trying to keep its window open doesn't want draft picks, Kucherov's playoff scoring, whether Steve is right that he'll end up in Vegas (Tom and Rick also think he won't be in Tampa Bay a year from now), how fans might react, and the chance BriseBois has to meet him in the middle or trade him in February if the Lightning fall out of the race. They finish with a plug for Tom's podcast, his guests (including Rachel Maddow and Fox News' Jennifer Griffin, and an upcoming one he can't reveal yet), the Elizabeth Holmes documentary he can't stop talking about, and a quick promise to be back tomorrow.

Segments

• Welcome Tom Jones back to the show
• The Bucs' no-completion win and old-school football
• Terry Bradshaw and quarterbacks who called their own plays
• The rainstorm and the state of the field at Raymond James Stadium
• Halloween stories and horror movies
• Kucherov's trade request: timing, reaction, and who's right
• How Kucherov's teammates really feel
• Kucherov and the media: "Kuch being Kuch"
• What makes a captain: Stamkos, Brooks, Sapp, McCoy, and Dave Andreychuk
• One year from now: where will Kucherov play?
• Lightning history with stars, and the playoff scoring question
• Fan reaction and whether Kucherov will play hard
• Why it went public, and the trade-deadline outlook
• Tom Jones' podcast, guests, and the Elizabeth Holmes documentary

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The Bucs beat the Falcons 16-0 in a downpour at Raymond James Stadium, and they did it without completing a single pass. Baker Mayfield attempted only three throws (none caught) while Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell combined for 310 of a club-record 324 rushing yards on 56 team carries, the most by any NFL team since the 2010 Jets. Rick and Steve credit an offensive line that included Luke Goedeke's return and a sick Graham Barton, go through Irving's patient new style, and note that Irving and Gainwell are the first pair of teammates to each have 25 carries and 125 yards in a game. On the other side, Michael Penix Jr. had a miserable homecoming (8 of 24 for 125 yards and four interceptions, two to Alex Anzalone), and the Bucs defense keeps taking the ball away. The hosts say the weather helped Tampa Bay, but the Bucs handled it better than Atlanta did.

The Bucs are now a half game behind Carolina with wins over both division rivals, and they look ahead to a tough trip to Chicago, followed by a bye and a trip to Detroit. The big question is the passing game: Emeka Egbuka may return in Chicago, Chris Godwin has all but disappeared, and Rick questions whether the receivers can make plays when the Bucs have to throw. They also touch on Baker Mayfield telling ESPN he "sucked" the first four weeks, Carolina firing its defensive coordinator, Dave Canales' job security, the Ravens' quarterback troubles after Lamar Jackson's injury, and a scary neck injury to Lions linebacker Jack Campbell, sending prayers.

After a sponsor break, they turn to the biggest news of the weekend: Elliotte Friedman reported that Nikita Kucherov wants to be traded, and Steve walks through the contract math (an eight-year, $9.5 million-per-year deal that expires, reports of a roughly four-year, $15 million offer vs. a request for $17 to $20 million over six or seven years, and a market reset by Leo Carlsson's $18 million deal and Cale Makar's $20.4 million). The hosts discuss why Julien BriseBois says he won't trade him, why a contender isn't looking to rebuild with draft picks, what it means for the locker room, and whether it echoes the Steven Stamkos saga three years ago. They finish with Florida State's firing of Mike Norvell (with a buyout of about $50 million), how good the job is in today's college football, Florida's loss to Georgia, USF's 46 passing yards, and some Rays news: Taylor Walls wins his first Gold Glove, Drew Rasmussen's $20 million option is picked up, and Yandy Diaz's $13 million contract is finalized.

Segments

• Bucs beat the Falcons 16-0 in the rain without a completion
• 324 rushing yards, Bucky Irving, Kenneth Gainwell, and the offensive line
• Michael Penix Jr.'s four interceptions
• NFC South standing: a half game behind Carolina
• Next up: Chicago, the bye, and Detroit
• Can the Bucs pass? Receivers and Emeka Egbuka
• Defense: takeaways and an injury to Yaya Diaby
• Baker Mayfield's four-game turnaround and Daniels comparison
• Lamar Jackson, Jack Campbell, and Carolina's coaching hot seat
• Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza
• Kucherov wants a trade: contract numbers and the market
• Julien BriseBois, the Stamkos comparison, and why the Lightning won't rebuild
• Locker room impact, playoff criticism, and three possible outcomes
• Florida State fires Mike Norvell
• Florida loses to Georgia; USF's 46 passing yards at Raymond James
• Rays notes: Taylor Walls' Gold Glove, Rasmussen's option, and Yandy Diaz's contract
• Baseball labor watch

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It's Football Friday, Halloween is Saturday, and the clocks fall back, but first Rick and Steve put a bow on the Rays' season. Rick still thinks the team overachieved in every way, Steve says they probably reached the World Series a year or two early, and both worry about a likely lockout and what it does to the roster. They talk about the chemistry that carried the team (team dinners on the road, Nick Martinez's arrival, and a contrast with a talented Mets team where Lindor and Soto reportedly don't get along), whether the Rays can afford to re-sign Freddy Peralta and Martinez, how the CBA could change things with a salary floor, a cap, and shorter maximum contracts, and which prospects (Xavier Isaac, Brody Hopkins, and catcher Caden Bodine, who played at four levels this year) might help.

Rick says Chandler Simpson showed "ice in his veins" in the playoffs and relays John Smoltz's view that Simpson will become a leadoff man, while Steve explains the analytics behind Yandy Diaz leading off and says the Rays' approach is to not give young players more than they can handle. They debate Junior Caminero's postseason (he hit the ball but not for home runs, and needs protection in the lineup), and Rick tells the Tom Brady story about being "brothers as champions" to show why losing a final is so tough when you don't know if the group will ever get back. Both then remember how far this franchise has come in a year, from playing at Steinbrenner Field with the roof off the Trop to being the best team in the American League.

After a sponsor break, they turn to a big weekend in football, starting with Florida vs. Georgia in Atlanta (next year's game will be at Raymond James Stadium). They look at how first-year coach Jon Sumrall has handled a season that wobbled, the Gators' road win at Texas without their starting quarterback, a tough finish that includes Oklahoma, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and Florida State, USF's game with UAB, Florida State hosting Clemson amid talk of a coaching change, and a Belichick-coached North Carolina team that could trap No. 1 Miami. Rick, who's lost his voice, then previews the Bucs' home game against the Falcons: Atlanta's strong run defense, Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Michael Penix Jr. (the NFC Player of the Week, playing in his hometown for the first time), a defense that Rick says is playing as well as any Bucs team since the Super Bowl era, takeaways (12, second in the league, and eight in the last three games), the 79 percent win rate of teams that win the turnover battle, the third-and-28 grudge, and Baker Mayfield's Kevin Stefanski chip. They end with the stat the Bucs would like to retire: the last Tampa Bay team to win at Raymond James Stadium was the Lightning.

Segments

• Football Friday: Halloween and daylight saving time
• The Rays' season in hindsight: overachieving and arriving early
• The lockout, team chemistry, and the Mets' clubhouse
• Re-signing Peralta and Martinez, and the CBA
• Prospects: Isaac, Hopkins, and Caden Bodine
• Chandler Simpson, the leadoff debate, and Caminero's postseason
• Tom Brady's "brothers as champions" speech
• From Steinbrenner Field to the AL's best team
• Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza
• College football: Florida vs. Georgia in Atlanta
• Jon Sumrall's first season and the Gators' remaining schedule
• USF-UAB, Florida State-Clemson, and Miami at Belichick's North Carolina
• Bucs vs. Falcons: Penix, Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Atlanta's run defense
• The Bucs' defense and the turnover battle
• The remaining schedule, the NFC South race, and the last team to win at Raymond James

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The Rays' World Series run is over. They lost to the Milwaukee Brewers in five games, and Rick and Steve look at it from both sides. Nobody expected this team to be here: Rick notes they weren't even picked to win the AL East, let alone win it by a lot and sweep the Yankees. But it's the third World Series the Rays have lost, and a loss like that doesn't go away. They credit Milwaukee (the best team in baseball, with a lineup Drew Rasmussen called relentless) and also point to what the Rays didn't do: score 12 runs in five games, hit .182, go 8 for 39 with runners in scoring position, and get what they needed from Junior Caminero, Jonathan Aranda, and Yandy Diaz. Chandler Simpson, who tied Randy Arozarena's franchise record with eight hits in a World Series, drew praise as the one player who did everything he could. Steve offers a stat about the Brewers' bottom of the order, where Cooper Pratt had six straight at-bats with a hit, while the Rays' seventh, eighth, and ninth hitters had six hits all series.

They defend Kevin Cash ("When you don't hit, what do you want the manager to do?"), talk about whether Rasmussen's Game 5 start on short rest was a good call, and look at how Milwaukee learned from last year's NLCS sweep and finished the job. Rick and Steve look at a franchise that was displaced to a minor league park a year ago and is now going to the World Series, what needs to happen with the offseason pitching staff (Peralta and Martinez are likely gone, with Shane McClanahan and Ryan Pepiot possibly returning), and why a lockout could keep baseball away longer than anyone wants. Rick reflects on why they feel like they're coming back down a mountain, and Steve says it may have been the most fun Rays season he's seen (Rick says the 2008 team still edges it).

The back half returns to the Tampa Bay sports market. Brewers fans took over the Trop for Games 4 and 5, and Rick makes the case that Tampa Bay is a young market built on newcomers: Steve estimates fewer than a third of residents are natives, the franchises date to 1976 at the earliest, and it's a tourism and healthcare economy. Steve compares it to Atlanta and points out how many former players still live here. They also note the six championship rounds in six years. Along the way they celebrate Joe Davis borrowing Bob Uecker's home run call for the Brewers' Cooper Pratt homer and the Williamson walk-off, with a Jack Buck/Joe Buck/Vin Scully history lesson, and applaud Taylor Walls for pushing back on a question after Game 4. After a sponsor break, the Bucs get their turn: Baker Mayfield's glove, strength against strength with Atlanta's run defense, the Bucs' second-in-the-league 12 takeaways, 13 sacks in three games, Michael Penix Jr.'s first game at Raymond James, Baker's chip against Kevin Stefanski, and the Bucs' search for their first home win.

Segments

• The Rays lose the World Series in five: a season nobody expected
• Disappointment and credit for Milwaukee
• Caminero, Aranda, Yandy, and the offensive struggles
• Chandler Simpson's World Series
• Cooper Pratt, the Brewers' bottom of the order, and the MVP
• 12 runs in five games: why the Rays lost
• Defending Kevin Cash
• Looking ahead: Neander, the pitching staff, and the lockout
• The mountain after the season: why it's so hard to get back
• Brewers fans take over the Trop and Tampa Bay's market identity
• Tampa Bay's run of championship rounds
• Joe Davis, Bob Uecker, and baseball broadcasting history
• Taylor Walls pushes back on a postgame question
• Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza
• Bucs preview: Baker Mayfield, takeaways, and the Falcons

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The Tampa Bay Rays finally have a World Series moment. Ben Williamson's Baltimore chop over the first baseman ended a 12-inning Game 4 and cut Milwaukee's lead to 3-1, and Rick and Steve (who was at the Trop) take it from the top. Brewers rookie Cooper Pratt led off the 12th with a home run, the first rookie ever to hit an extra-inning homer in a World Series, and Ian Seymour was the one who gave it up. But Milwaukee, sending out pitchers who hadn't thrown in 12 days, let the Rays back in: Joey Ortiz committed an error to start the inning, Junior Caminero reached and limped from first to third, Cedric Mullins pinch ran, Johnny DeLuca delivered a bases-loaded tying single up the middle, and Williamson (who had been waiting with a helmet for five innings) ended it. The hosts break down the pinch-running choices, the Brewers fans who looked ready to party and ended up stunned, and why a game like this might loosen up a Rays team that looked tight.

They look ahead to tonight's Game 5, with Jacob Misiorowski on the mound for Milwaukee and the Rays deciding between an opener and a bullpen game (Steve guesses Steven Matz). They talk about Caminero's leg, Kevin Cash saying he's fine, the importance of putting the "three aircraft carriers" back at the top of the order, and a run-scoring drought in which the Rays have scored in just seven of 39 innings and had a crooked number in only two of them. They credit Tyler Wells and Griffin Jacks (who might have been left in one batter too long), the diving catches from DeLuca and Chandler Simpson, and Rick and Steve discuss Richie Palacios' throws from second base. Rick says nothing like this has been done before, which Steve points out was true until Boston did it in 2004, and both agree the pressure would shift squarely onto the Brewers if the Rays win one more at home.

The second half takes a turn into Tampa Bay itself: Milwaukee fans filled the Trop (a thousand cases of Miller and Coors Light went through Ferg's in a single day), and the hosts respond to national critics who rip the market. Steve notes that roughly 60,000 Wisconsin transplants live in the Tampa metro, that the Rays, Lightning, and Bucs are young franchises in a young market, and that the real problem is transit and traffic (he spent an hour getting to the Trop and an hour and a half getting home). After a sponsor break, they praise the former Rays who turned up for Game 4 (Evan Longoria threw out the first pitch, with Chris Archer, Zach Eflin, Taj Bradley, and Tyler Glasnow in the stands), predict a big contract for Freddy Peralta, and then switch to the Bucs: Baker Mayfield's glove, the Colts' fire sale (Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner are gone, and Jonathan Taylor may be next), the Panthers' trip to Green Bay on Thursday night, a must-win game against Atlanta, and a Sunday night date in Chicago.

Segments

• Rays win Game 4 in 12 innings: the walk-off and how it happened
• Cooper Pratt's home run, Ian Seymour, and Milwaukee's miscues
• Caminero's injury, pinch-running decisions, and Cash's bench
• Milwaukee fans in the Trop and the rally-towel mix-up
• Resilience: why this Rays team can still believe
• Game 5 outlook: Misiorowski, who starts for the Rays, and Rasmussen's rest
• The run drought and defense behind the pitchers
• Palacios' throwing and a mental-block story
• Brewers fans take over: Ferg's, Wisconsin transplants, and Tampa Bay's fan reputation
• Traffic, I-275, and getting out of the Trop
• Boston 2004 and a first for everything
• World Series ratings and the game within the game
• Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza
• Former Rays in attendance and Freddy Peralta's coming payday
• Bucs back at practice: Baker's glove, the Colts' fire sale, and the road ahead

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The Rays are down 3-0 in the World Series, and Rick opens with the hard truth that no team has ever come back from that. Steve was at the Trop and walks Rick through a Game 3 loss in which the Brewers faced the minimum through eight innings, the Rays managed three hits (Yandy Diaz's leadoff single in the first and Cedric Mullins' and Diaz's hits in the ninth to avoid the shutout), and the lone highlight for the crowd was Chandler Simpson's wall-crashing catch. Rick points out that the offense hasn't hit since the first inning of Game 2, and the hosts spend plenty of time on the mistakes: Simpson sliding well past second base on a steal, Jonathan Aranda's absence from the lineup against a lefty, Ben Williamson batting fifth, Richie Palacios barely playing, a lazy throw to second by Junior Caminero that kept an inning alive, and Victor Mesa Jr. and Taylor Walls misplaying balls. Milwaukee scored all 10 of its runs with two outs, including eight in one inning (which Steve says is a World Series record).

They debate whether Kevin Cash and the analytics overthought it, from the lineup to the rotation. Rick says he'd rather manage from the gut and play his best hitters, Steve says "If I'm going down, I want to go down with my best," and both note that Freddy Peralta didn't lose the game and that Cam Boozer, who had been good, couldn't get out of the jam. They also cover the bigger picture: a Milwaukee bullpen that has been fully rested, Rays starters Rasmussen, Peralta, and Martinez combining for a 6.77 ERA, Jackson Chourio as the likely series MVP, how much of the crowd Brewers fans took over, and the cost of a night out ($1,000 tickets, $100 parking, and $21 beers). Rick calls this one of the greatest seasons in Rays history even as he laments a third World Series loss, and they look at the coming lockout and when baseball might return and note that the Rays' new owners "won big."

They turn to the Bucs, who are coming off a 43-13 rout of the Panthers and 258 rushing yards. Rick praises Bucky Irving, whose 5 a.m. workouts began with Tom Moore and who has bounced back from an injury-plagued year, and says the run game, the offensive line, and Baker Mayfield's 11 passes (including a back-shoulder throw on third-and-10 and a touchdown off a scramble) are the new identity. Steve shows that the seven teams the Bucs have faced are a combined 14 games above .500, so their 2-5 record is better than it looks. They walk through the schedule ahead (the Falcons at home, then Sunday night at Chicago), the injured players who could return (Emeka Egbuka, Winfield, Luke Goedeke), two straight five-sack games, and what the Bucs need to do to get back in the NFC South race. The show closes with a congratulations to Coach John Cooper on the ninth annual Coop's Catch for Kids fishing tournament, which raised another half million dollars for pediatric cancer research, a look at Lightning-Jets on Thursday, and a preview of tonight's Game 4 with Griffin Jacks on the mound.

Segments

• Rays down 3-0: no team has ever come back
• Game 3 recap: three hits, the minimum faced through eight, and Simpson's catch
• Simpson's baserunning and the Rays' mistakes in the field
• The lineup controversy: Aranda on the bench, Williamson fifth, and Palacios
• Eight two-out runs, Caminero's throw, and Mesa Jr.'s misplay
• Cash overthinking it: lineups and the rotation
• Milwaukee's bullpen, Chourio, and a Brewers-heavy crowd
• Rays pitching, ticket prices, and what a great season means
• The CBA, the lockout, and when baseball returns
• Bucs crush the Panthers with 258 rushing yards
• Baker Mayfield's two big plays and the run-first identity
• Bucky Irving's work ethic and Tom Moore
• Schedule strength, the NFC South math, and the road ahead
• Injury return outlook and back-to-back five-sack games
• Coop's Catch for Kids, the Lightning on Thursday, and Game 4 tonight

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All three Tampa Bay teams had early leads over the weekend, and two of them blew it. Rick, who watched from Carolina, says none was bigger than the Rays' in World Series Game 2 in Milwaukee, where they jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning (including a Liam Hicks blast) with Drew Rasmussen on the mound, and still lost by one run. Rick and Steve go through what went wrong: Rasmussen was behind in counts and not himself, Chandler Simpson couldn't hold onto a diving catch, Jonathan Aranda let a ball through his legs and missed a foul pop-up, and Ian Seymour gave up a game-tying solo homer to the bottom of the order. Steve also takes issue with the decision to send Hicks home on a play that wasn't close, while the Rays were looking for any extra run. With the Rays down 0-2 and both losses by one run, they weigh whether Kevin Cash's decision to push Rasmussen back to Game 2 backfired, why Milwaukee's bullpen is the difference, and why they're counting on Freddy Peralta and the atmosphere at Tropicana Field in Game 3 tonight.

After a sponsor break, the show turns to a Bucs win that Rick says was every bit as dominant as it was unlikely. Tampa Bay beat the division-leading Panthers 43-13 in Carolina, and when Rick asked Todd Bowles afterward "Where has this been?", they got to the highlights: a second quarter with a pass touchdown, a rushing touchdown, a field goal, a defensive touchdown, and a special teams touchdown (only the second time in NFL history, after Bowles' 2018 Jets); Yaya Diaby's three-sack hat trick; Al-Quadin Muhammad's strip-sack that Calijah Kancey ran back for a touchdown; a blocked extra point returned for two points by Zyon McCollum; and 258 rushing yards, including 102 from Bucky Irving, 88 from Kenneth Gainwell, and a 46-yard touchdown run from Sean Tucker. Bryce Young, who started the day with MVP chants, finished 14 of 27 for 163 yards with two interceptions, and he was sacked five times. They also discuss how the Bucs ran the ball 30 times in 40 first-half plays, the division math with Atlanta coming to town and the Panthers at Green Bay on Thursday night, and the one thing that stings: if the Bucs hadn't blown the Steelers game, they could be playing for first place.

Baker Mayfield returned with the glove designed with help from the Rays, went 7 for 11 for 64 yards, and didn't have to do much, though Steve and Rick weren't thrilled that he called his own number at the goal line and tried to block on a run play. The Lightning get a rundown, too: Nikita Kucherov passed Steven Stamkos to become the franchise's all-time leading scorer on Saturday night, the team went 1-1-1 on a road trip through Vegas, Colorado, and Utah, and they now have some rest, with Victor Hedman and Zemgus Girgensons both day-to-day. The show closes with a look at tonight's Game 3, the first World Series game in Tampa Bay in 18 years.

Segments

• Three Tampa Bay teams, three early leads, two blown
• Rays blow a 4-0 lead in World Series Game 2
• The defensive misplays, the Hicks send, and Ian Seymour's homer
• Down 0-2: Cash's Rasmussen decision, Milwaukee's bullpen, and the Trop advantage
• Freddy Peralta and the must-win Game 3
• Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza
• Bucs crush the Panthers 43-13: Where has this been?
• Yaya Diaby's hat trick, Muhammad's strip-sack, and Calijah Kancey's touchdown
• 258 rushing yards and the blocked extra point
• Bryce Young's rough day and the NFC South math
• Next up: the Falcons and the Steelers what-ifs
• Baker Mayfield's return, the glove, and staying healthy
• Lightning: Kucherov passes Stamkos and the road trip
• Hedman, Girgensons, and Lightning special teams
• World Series Game 3 tonight at the Trop

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Kevin Cash has decided that Nick Martinez, not Drew Rasmussen, will start Game 1 of the World Series, and Rick and Steve walk through why. Rasmussen has already thrown 43 more innings than ever before, according to pitching coach Kyle Snyder, and an extra day of rest will help him. Freddy Peralta's command slipped late in his last start, and he gets Game 3 at the Trop. As Cash put it, "Nick Martinez just wins." The hosts also look at the downside: in a five-game series, Rasmussen and Peralta would each pitch only once. Rasmussen is disappointed, and Steve assumes he'll go in Games 2 and 6.

From there, they size up a matchup in which the Rays aren't favored (The Athletic's writers polled roughly 85 percent for Milwaukee). Rick predicts six or seven games between two teams that mirror each other, while Steve thinks the Brewers were the best team all year and that the National League was tougher. It's the first meeting of the two best records in baseball since 2020. They debate the bullpen: Rick thinks middle relief is the weak spot, Steve says the group has been good with only Ian Seymour struggling, and both agree Martinez can't be allowed to go through the lineup a third time. With one of these teams about to win a first title, they talk about the Rays' third World Series in roughly 28 seasons, the Brewers' 44-year wait, the Game 3 atmosphere at the Trop, and secondary-market tickets near $1,000. "Four wins from immortality."

After a sponsor break, the show turns to the Bucs. Baker Mayfield returns to practice with a glove on his throwing hand that was invented by the Rays' home clubhouse attendant Nick Bond, a receiver's glove with the thumb ripped off and a support inserted (there are two versions, hard plastic and soft cast), and Marc Topkin got the story from a clubhouse attendant in Milwaukee. That's "Team Tampa Bay" in action. Rick and Steve then preview Sunday's game at Carolina, where the Bucs give themselves a small chance but can't afford to fall 3.5 games back. The Panthers have a strong offense (Bryce Young with MVP chants, John Izzo calling plays, Tetairoa McMillan) and a bottom-third defense, so Rick expects a shootout. They also discuss Graham Barton on how hard the quarterback's operation is, Emeka Egbuka's concussion protocol and foot injury, the Lightning's trip to Denver and Utah (and the need for two TVs Friday and Saturday), an off weekend for Florida, Florida State, and USF, and why Steve says to "savor it" as the Rays reach the World Series on the heels of last year's Steinbrenner Field season.

Segments

• Nick Martinez to start World Series Game 1
• Cash's reasoning, Rasmussen's workload, and Peralta in Game 3
• The risk of starting Martinez: Rasmussen and Peralta only pitch once
• Rays vs. Brewers: who is favored and the bullpen debate
• A first title for one team: the Rays' third World Series and the Brewers' 44-year wait
• Game 3 at the Trop and ticket prices
• Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza
• Baker Mayfield's return and the glove invented by Nick Bond
• Bucs at Carolina: Bryce Young, the Panthers' offense, and the division math
• Graham Barton on the quarterback's operation and the Shanahan/Purdy headset story
• Emeka Egbuka's concussion and foot injury
• Lightning in Denver, college football's off weekend, and savoring the Rays' run

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The Rays have landed in Milwaukee for the World Series, which begins Friday, and Rick and Steve start by sizing up a matchup between two teams that have never won it all. They revisit how the Rays went 1-2 against every NL Central opponent early in the season, why Tampa Bay isn't favored, and a stat from Hard Rock Bet that Tampa Bay has had six championship-round appearances since 2020, more than any other city. Rick reflects on how far the franchise has come from displacement at Steinbrenner Field and a rebuilt Trop to the sport's biggest stage, and the hosts debate whether the Brewers' eight days off will cause rust. They also wonder if Junior Caminero's long-awaited homer will be the start of one of his streaks.

The pitching plan is a big topic. Jacob Misiorowski (16-5 with 252 strikeouts) is expected to open for Milwaukee, and Rick wants Drew Rasmussen to match him. Steve makes the case for starting Nick Martinez in Game 1, giving Rasmussen an extra day of rest in Game 2, and saving Freddy Peralta for Game 3 at the Trop, where he has been spectacular. Rick says he has plenty of faith in Martinez. They also point out how rested the bullpen is, with Brody Hopkins, Griffin Jax, Steven Matz, and Cole Sulser all needing work, and remind everyone that winning one of the first two games on the road would put the Rays in great shape for three at home. They remember the loudest moments at the Trop, from the Kiermaier-Adames-d'Arnaud relay against Houston to the crowd pop on the final out of the ALCS, and Rick explains why this series should be a treat for fans who love the strategy of baseball.

In a mailbag question from Craig in Vegas, the guys discuss whether Yandy Diaz's number should be retired. Steve rattles off the numbers (second in team history in on-base percentage, tied for second in batting average at .291, third in hits, fifth in runs, doubles, and home runs) and they debate the difference between the Rays Hall of Fame and retiring a number, with Evan Longoria, Carl Crawford, and Ben Zobrist as points of comparison, and compare it to which Lightning players will get numbers retired. After a note on $881 average secondary-market ticket prices, they turn to the Bucs: Baker Mayfield practiced with a glove on his throwing hand and looked accurate, though the velocity wasn't there, Emeka Egbuka is in concussion protocol with a foot injury, and about 20 players are on the injury report (five with illness). They also react to the viral stat that the Lightning are the last Tampa Bay pro team to win at Raymond James Stadium, the Lightning's 6-2 win in Vegas behind Andrei Vasilevskiy, Nikita Kucherov's tying Stamkos for the franchise points record (1,137 in 194 fewer games), the case that Kucherov is the greatest Lightning player ever, Mike Evans' injury, and the Chris Godwin question: Rick looks at his lack of targets and wonders whether the Bucs should consider trading him before next week's deadline.

Segments

• Rays arrive in Milwaukee for the World Series
• The Rays' history against the NL Central and the Brewers' rest
• "Champa Bay": six championship rounds since 2020
• Caminero's homer and whether he stays hot
• Misiorowski vs. Rasmussen and the Game 1 starter debate
• Bullpen rest and the 2-3-2 format
• The Trop's loudest moments
• Why this World Series is a strategy lover's dream
• Mailbag: should the Rays retire Yandy Diaz's number?
• Ticket prices and World Series revenue
• Baker Mayfield returns to practice with a glove
• Bucs injury report and the Carolina game
• Lightning's last-win-at-Raymond-James stat
• Lightning beat Vegas 6-2; Kucherov ties Stamkos and the greatest-Lightning-player debate
• Mike Evans and the Chris Godwin trade question
• Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

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The Rays are headed to the World Series for the third time in franchise history, and Rick is joined by Tampa Bay Times Rays beat writer Marc Topkin to explain how a team that most people (including Rick) pegged for around .500 got here. Marc describes the scene at Tropicana Field after the ALCS clincher, and then walks through the season: a roster coming off back-to-back losing years, the camaraderie that built through spring training, Nick Martinez as the team's unifier (and the guy who picks up the dinner checks), Eric Neander's pre-opening-day speech before a game they lost after blowing a 7-0 lead, the early sweep of the Yankees, a four-game sweep in Boston after the All-Star break followed by a sweep of Toronto, and the AL East clincher and postseason celebrations at Yankee Stadium. They revisit Yandy Diaz's "we're going to win tomorrow" quote before Game 6.

The pitching staff gets plenty of time. Marc talks about Drew Rasmussen, who has come back from three elbow surgeries and hasn't lost a game he started since before the All-Star break, and about lining up Rasmussen for World Series Game 1 and Freddy Peralta for Game 2 so both former Brewers can pitch in Milwaukee. He breaks down the trade for Peralta, why Neander passed on a package with top prospect Theo Gillen, and the small adjustments (a quicker delivery without the windup, a new spot on the rubber, more changeups, a higher release point) that turned him into the ALCS MVP, then covers Brian Baker's rise from middle reliever to a streak of 30-plus straight saves, and Liam Hicks, the Arkansas State product and former hockey goalie from Canada who caught seven pitchers on his first night with the team and homered in Colorado.

From there, they get to the personalities: Junior Caminero's 38-second home run trot and the Randy Arozarena pose at home plate, his four-strikeout slump before the rainout, and Chandler Simpson's "cause chaos, create havoc" approach, which warps defenses more than any hitter in baseball. Marc describes Yandy Diaz's growth as a quiet leader (he's the only Rays player remaining from the 2020 World Series) and tells a story about a lineup-card typo that had him at first base. Then he compares this team to the 2008 Rays based on conversations with Joe Maddon, Evan Longoria, BJ Upton, Carlos Pena, and others, and previews the Brewers: the best team in baseball, led by young star Jackson Chourio and flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski, with a front office headed by former Rays executive Matt Arnold. The recorded intro and outro also cover the Bucs preparing for Carolina and the status of Baker Mayfield's thumb, the Lightning's trip west, and the perfect idea for a boat parade from St. Petersburg to Tampa.

Segments

• The scene at the Trop and why the Rays surpassed expectations
• Camaraderie, Nick Martinez, and Eric Neander's opening-day speech
• How the season unfolded: Yankees sweeps, Boston, Toronto, and the clinchers
• Yandy Diaz's guarantee and the volume at the Trop
• Drew Rasmussen's postseason dominance and the World Series rotation
• Freddy Peralta: the trade, the fixes, and the ALCS MVP
• Brian Baker's emergence as closer
• Liam Hicks, the catcher the Rays stole at the deadline
• Junior Caminero's trot and star power
• Chandler Simpson's chaos
• Yandy Diaz: the longest-tenured Ray and a quiet leader
• Parallels to the 2008 Rays
• Previewing the Brewers
• Intro and outro: Bucs prepare for Carolina, Baker Mayfield's status, Lightning, and a boat parade
• Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

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The Tampa Bay Rays are headed to the World Series for the third time in franchise history after beating the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in ALCS Game 6, and Rick says he's never been around a team that surprised him more. Steve was at the Trop and takes Rick through the moment Junior Caminero's home run (off Cade Smith's splitter, the first homer Smith has allowed on that pitch in 884 thrown, down the line off the foul pole) made it 5-1 and turned the building into a party. They laugh about his 38.66-second home run trot, his stop at home plate to point at Randy Arozarena in the crowd and strike the "Randy pose," and the way Andy Freed said it was "out counting time" on the radio. Then things got dicey: Tyler Wells walked a run in and hit a batter to make it 5-3 with the bases loaded, before Kevin Kelly shut the door, and Yandy Diaz's home run in the bottom of the eighth put it away. They also salute Taylor Walls' smart double play, Richie Palacios (the team leader with 35 two-out RBIs this season), and ALCS MVP Freddy Peralta, who allowed one earned run in 12 innings in the series. Rick is convinced the Guardians hit Diaz on purpose after his guarantee comments, and Steve questions the decision in an elimination game.

The guys look ahead to a Brewers series they both think will be a joy to watch: two teams that win with pitching, defense, contact, and moving runners, the first World Series since 1980 between two franchises that have never won it, and a matchup between the two best teams in baseball. They go through the Rays' improbable path, from DraftKings' preseason win total of 77 or 78 to a 3.2 percent chance at the ALCS from FanGraphs, plus the fact that 17 of the 26 players in the dugout Monday were acquired in trades and only four (Aranda, Seymour, Simpson, and Walls) were originally signed or drafted by the Rays. They sort out the World Series pitching order (Peralta can't pitch Game 1 on short rest, and Steve likes Nick Martinez, then Drew Rasmussen, then Peralta), talk about the new ownership group and Stu Sternberg, and discuss Aaron Boone returning for a tenth season with the Yankees, Cade Smith's tie with Brian Baker for the league lead in saves, and a boat parade for St. Petersburg.

At the end, the hosts turn to a few other topics: the 49ers beat the Commanders to go 6-0, but Mike Evans left with an Achilles injury; Jalon Daniels' fourth-down throwaway in the red zone; Baker Mayfield practicing Wednesday while Todd Bowles stays noncommittal about the starter; and the Lightning playing late tonight in Vegas, with puck drop at 10:45.

Segments:

• Rays beat the Guardians 7-3 to win the ALCS
• Caminero's home run and the Randy Arozarena pose
• A shaky eighth: Tyler Wells, Kevin Kelly, and Yandy Diaz's knockout homer
• Taylor Walls' glove, Richie Palacios' clutch hitting, and Freddy Peralta's MVP series
• Why Cleveland ran out of pitching and who delivered for the Rays
• World Series preview: Rays vs. Brewers and the rotation order
• How the Rays built this team: trades, Kyle Snyder's coaching, and long odds
• Memories of the 2008 World Series and Rich McKay's advice
• Aaron Boone's return and the New York reaction
• Boat parade, the Rowdies' title, and Dave Wills
• 49ers beat the Commanders; Mike Evans injured
• Bucs QB outlook and the Lightning in Vegas
• Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

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The Rays can clinch the American League pennant tonight at Tropicana Field with Freddy Peralta on the mound. After taking two of three in Cleveland, Tampa Bay has the series back at the Trop, and Rick opens by wondering whether there's been a more clutch pitcher this postseason than Drew Rasmussen, who allowed one hit through five shutout innings in Sunday's 3-1 win. Rick and Steve talk about the Rays' run of timely scoring (a run in each of the first three innings), a wall-climbing catch in right field, and a bullpen that held up, including Cam Boozer and Tyler Wells. They also raise one concern: Brian Baker's velocity is starting to dip, which is another reason to finish it tonight and avoid a Game 7 that would require a patchwork of Griffin Jax, Ian Seymour, Nick Martinez, and Rasmussen. Waiting in the World Series would be the Milwaukee Brewers, who won 103 games and swept the Dodgers while trailing in every game.

The guys also reflect on how a team that was told to "block out the noise" has become so tight, why the Rays keep finding value from other organizations (Peralta, Rasmussen, Liam Hicks, and Boozer, who was out of baseball two years ago), and what it means for kids growing up in the Tampa Bay area. Rick says Kevin Cash, the longest-tenured manager in baseball, deserves a better first line on his Wikipedia page than Blake Snell, and shares memories of the 2008 World Series and the Ray Hawks. He also revisits last week's debate about Tampa Bay's crowds, saying the Rays' variable pricing started too high, and predicts there won't be many empty seats tonight (or as many Guardians fans as there were Steelers fans at Raymond James Stadium).

The second half is the Bucs' collapse. Tampa Bay led Pittsburgh 16-3 in the fourth quarter and lost 26-19 in overtime, in front of a stadium full of Terrible Towels. Chase McLaughlin kicked the game-tying field goal, the defense had five sacks (two from David Walker, Rueben Bain Jr.'s first career sack, and an interception by A'Shawn Robinson), but Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers came back, Jalon Daniels threw two interceptions, and he was sacked on the final play. Rick and Steve talk about the lack of a true number one receiver, the Dallas win being as much Dallas' loss as the Bucs' win, Todd Bowles saying there's "no margin for error" at 1-5, and the division math: Tampa Bay is two and a half games behind 3-2 Carolina, needs to go roughly 8-3 the rest of the way, and plays the Panthers next. Baker Mayfield's status won't be known until Wednesday. The show closes with the Lightning's 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks (6-2 on the season, heading to Vegas), a wild college football weekend (Florida beats Texas, Auburn beats Georgia, BYU beats Notre Dame, and Ohio State outlasts Indiana), and some stories about trying to get to Milwaukee.

Segments:

• Rays are one win from the World Series: Game 6 tonight with Peralta
• Rasmussen's clutch pitching and the Game 5 win
• Bullpen, Baker's velocity, and what Game 7 would look like
• Why this Rays team works: acquisitions, chemistry, and Kevin Cash
• Growing up with the Rays: 2008 memories and the Ray Hawks
• Bucs lose to the Steelers in overtime after leading 16-3
• Jalon Daniels, the receiver problem, and the defense's five sacks
• Bowles: "no margin for error" and the NFC South math
• Baker Mayfield's status for Carolina
• Lightning beat the Canucks 4-2 and head west
• World Series travel and a snowy bus ride to Green Bay
• College football: Florida over Texas, Auburn over Georgia, BYU over Notre Dame
• Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

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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 strikeouts
• Caminero's struggles and the Rays' "big three"
• Game 4 rain possibilities and the need to win one in Cleveland
• Brewers sweep the Dodgers; the World Series outlook
• Neither LCS game sold out: Rick's defense of Tampa Bay baseball fans
• Bucs-Steelers preview: Baker Mayfield is out, Jalon Daniels starts again
• Stopping Aaron Rodgers and winning at home
• Broncos beat the Seahawks in overtime
• Lightning beat the Kraken in overtime: Victor Hedman's winner
• Lightning schedule: Canucks Saturday and a Western Conference run
• College football weekend: Florida at Texas, FSU at Miami, and a stacked slate
• Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

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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 Cleveland
• NLCS update: Brewers on the verge of a 3-0 lead and the Dodgers conspiracy theory
• A small-market World Series? Milwaukee County Stadium and Major League
• Griffin Jacks starts Game 3: the pitching plan for the weekend
• Gold Glove finalists Chandler Simpson and Taylor Walls; Caminero and McClanahan honors
• What the Rays need in Cleveland
• Is Tampa Bay a bad sports market? Ticket prices, a service economy, and winning
• Baker Mayfield's thumb: will he play against the Steelers?
• Why the Steelers game matters in the NFC South
• Bucky Irving's fire and Aaron Rodgers' history in Tampa
• Lightning vs. the Kraken tonight
• Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

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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 ALCS
• How the Rays scored: Messick's double plays, Simpson's infield hit, Ramirez's error, Hicks' two-run single
• Freddy Peralta's fastball-heavy night and his streak
• Defending Kevin Cash: lineup decisions, second-guessing, and Rasmussen in Game 1
• Game 3 preview: Griffin Jacks, the 2-3-2 odds, and the absence of McClanahan
• The Rays' pitching development and Brian Baker's 89-0 perfection after eight innings
• Who closes if Baker is out, and where the big three bats stand
• Fan experience: ticket prices, attendance, and the Game 6 start time
• Bucs vs. Steelers preview: no presidential visit, Mike Alstott's popularity, Team Tampa Bay
• Baker Mayfield's attempt to return and Jalon Daniels' near-mistake in Dallas
• Lightning fall 4-1 at the Rangers and look ahead
• Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

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If you had Guardians in four, you're looking pretty good. Cleveland won its fourth straight postseason game with a 7-3 victory in ALCS Game 1 at Tropicana Field, and Rick and Steve go through what went wrong for the Rays: a first inning in which they scored twice but left the bases loaded, a stretch where 13 of 14 hitters went down, and Drew Rasmussen, who battled but wasn't dominant, giving up solo home runs to Chase DeLauter in the sixth and Patrick Bailey to start the seventh after Kevin Cash sent him back out. Former Ray Nate Lowe added big hits against a shaky bullpen (Cam Boozer was fine, Tyler Wells struggled after a long layoff). They also cover the scary top-of-the-ninth collision between Junior Caminero and Johnny DeLuca, Jonathan Aranda's perfect first-inning sacrifice bunt (his first of the year), Cash's platoon lineup that sat Chandler Simpson, Richie Palacios, and Liam Hicks, and why Rick says the Guardians, who rarely strike out and put constant pressure on a defense, play a lot like the Rays. Game 2 is tonight with Freddy Peralta against Plant City's Parker Messick, and the hosts remind everyone that this Cleveland team just won four straight after losing the first two to the White Sox, and the series isn't going to be easy.

Then it's the Bucs, who were back at work with limited availability. Rick spoke with Alex Anzalone and Zyon McCollum and says Tampa Bay is starting to forge an identity: a defense that stops the run (second in the league), forces turnovers, and mixes man and zone coverage, plus a running game built around Bucky Irving and the offensive line. They dig into how Anzalone struggled early wearing the green dot helmet communicator after Lavonte David's retirement, how he's gotten faster and more comfortable, and how he sealed the Dallas win on a hustle interception after the Cowboys' 99-yard drive. Steve and Rick also talk about how much the Bucs miss Mike Evans after his big night in San Francisco, with the 49ers now 5-0 and looking like the best team in the NFC.

Plus: the NFC South is wide open now that the Ravens rallied past the Falcons (no one in the division has more than two wins), what Todd Bowles is preaching about adversity, and how the Bucs might use the Steelers game to reach Carolina with a chance at the division lead. The Lightning, winners of four straight, play the Rangers tonight without Igor Shesterkin, and Nikita Kucherov is six points from passing Steven Stamkos for the franchise scoring lead, which sparks a debate over the greatest Lightning player of all time. The hosts close with the "low IQ" state of modern hockey and football, and a pitch for AI face shields in the NFL.

Segments:

• Guardians beat the Rays 7-3 in ALCS Game 1
• Where it went wrong: bases loaded in the first, Rasmussen in the seventh, and a bullpen layoff
• Caminero-DeLuca collision, Aranda's sacrifice bunt, and Cash's platoon lineup
• Game 2 preview: Freddy Peralta vs. Parker Messick
• Bucs' emerging identity: defense, the run game, and Alex Anzalone's growth with the green dot
• Missing Mike Evans, and the 49ers at 5-0
• Lightning at the Rangers, no Shesterkin, and Kucherov chasing Stamkos
• Low-IQ hockey and football, AI face shields, and Washington's clock management
• Ravens beat the Falcons; the NFC South picture and the Steelers game ahead
• Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

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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. Guardians
• Payrolls, the Dodgers' third-straight World Series bid, and Cleveland's comeback on the White Sox
• Game 1 and the pitching plan: Rasmussen, McClanahan's absence, and Ian Seymour
• Caminero, Jose Ramirez, and the Rays-Guardians crossover story
• Brewers-Dodgers NLCS Game 1, the lockout debate, and a "bucket list" postseason game
• Bucs mini bye week and Bowles' fourth-and-1 decision
• Sunday's coaching gaffes: Jaguars-Eagles in London and the Commanders-Giants tie
• The Bucs at 1-4: the NFC South picture, Steelers preview, and Baker Mayfield's thumb
• Mike Evans' big night with the 49ers
• College football: Florida, Texas, Georgia-Alabama, and LSU
• Lightning beat the Islanders 5-3 and host the Rangers
• Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

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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 season
• Jalen Daniels' second start and Bucky Irving's huge night
• The defense dominates without Antoine Winfield Jr.
• 14 penalties, Todd Bowles' fourth-and-one decision, and the Steelers game ahead
• Could Baker Mayfield return? The NFC South picture without a division game played
• USF falls at UTSA; Brian Hartline's first-year growing pains
• Lightning beat the Wild 3-2 and head to New York
• Guardians-White Sox Game 5 and the Rays' ALCS wait
• Jalen Daniels' mom, his foundation, and the cost of youth sports
• Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

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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 Stadium
• 1:12 – Yankees never led the series; Rays clinch there for the second time in 15 days
• 1:52 – ALCS opponent: White Sox or Guardians, with Game 1 Monday at the Trop
• 2:11 – Third ALCS in franchise history: 2008 Red Sox, 2020 Astros
• 3:16 – Chandler Simpson on the bench, Vilade's home run, Mesa's two-run blast
• 4:04 – Yankees lineup change leaves Ben Rice out of the ninth
• 4:31 – Rays bullpen: Griffin Jax, Boozer, Kelly, Baker, and Kyle Snyder's mound visits
• 6:06 – Victor Mesa Jr.'s two-run bomb off a lefty
• 7:21 – Bryan Baker's rise from "B bullpen" to leading the majors in saves
• 9:01 – A team picked to finish fifth in the AL East
• 9:41 – Rays bring fundamentals back to baseball: bunting, stealing, hit-and-run
• 11:32 – Winning on the margins: pitching, defense, speed
• 13:07 – The new ownership group and the Rays' AL East champion T-shirts
• 14:20 – How the Rays' deep outfield positioning is changing baseball
• 15:17 – Volpe's "home run" overturned: fan interference
• 17:12 – Kevin Cash sticks with Jax for another inning
• 18:21 – Lightning off to a decent start; three TVs needed for Thursday night
• 19:12 – NLCS: Dodgers advance, Brewers up 3-1; salary cap talk looms
• 19:58 – MLB's 34-page lockout memo: no Christmas cards after Dec. 2
• 21:05 – Fan interference and the 1996 Jeffrey Maier comparison
• 22:49 – Rays' 101 wins; World Series would start on the road
• 24:34 – White Sox, the Pope, and a Popemobile bullpen cart
• 26:36 – Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza
• 27:37 – Bucs at Cowboys preview: Chase McLaughlin's injury, Baker and Winfield out
• 29:36 – Jalon Daniels handling the noise in his second start on a short week
• 31:31 – A louder road environment; Cowboys' high-scoring offense and shaky defense
• 32:40 – Reuben Bain Jr. as a game-wrecker
• 34:48 – Special teams and a fair evaluation of Daniels' first start
• 36:36 – How Green Bay saved its blitzes for the final drive
• 38:05 – Rain in Tampa and the flight to Dallas
• 38:49 – Contending with CeeDee Lamb, and what a Bucs win would change
• 40:05 – Alabama-Georgia weather and wrap-up

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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 3

1:21 "Errors Tour": the New York tabloids roast the Yankees

2:38 Why the Rays can finish it: Nick Martinez vs. Max Fried

4:02 Max Fried's wife is due any day: would you pitch?

9:07 How the Rays handle a hostile Yankee Stadium

10:51 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-hitter

17:31 Why the Rays have the best outfield defense of the Statcast era

19:25 How the Rays put constant pressure on a defense

20:17 How this team compares to the 2008 World Series Rays

21:56 New owners, Stu Sternberg, and the Dungy-Gruden parallel

24:52 A magical season: trade deadline moves and a team with no agendas

26:09 White Sox, the Pope, and the salary cap debate

28:56 Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

30:07 Bucs: Jalen Daniels and Zach Robinson ahead of Thursday night

33:15 Dallas' elite offense vs. its porous defense

35:16 The Bucs' wild card: Reuben Bain Jr.

37:26 Chase McLaughlin's injury explains the skipped 65-yard field goal

39:05 NFC South math: why 0-4 isn't over

42:32 CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott, and a crowded Tampa Bay Thursday night

43:14 Wrap-up and sponsor

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