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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 PeraltaRasmussen's clutch pitching and the Game 5 winBullpen, Baker's velocity, and what Game 7 would look likeWhy this Rays team works: acquisitions, chemistry, and Kevin CashGrowing up with the Rays: 2008 memories and the Ray HawksBucs lose to the Steelers in overtime after leading 16-3Jalon Daniels, the receiver problem, and the defense's five sacksBowles: "no margin for error" and the NFC South mathBaker Mayfield's status for CarolinaLightning beat the Canucks 4-2 and head westWorld Series travel and a snowy bus ride to Green BayCollege football: Florida over Texas, Auburn over Georgia, BYU over Notre DameSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 strikeoutsCaminero's struggles and the Rays' "big three"Game 4 rain possibilities and the need to win one in ClevelandBrewers sweep the Dodgers; the World Series outlookNeither LCS game sold out: Rick's defense of Tampa Bay baseball fansBucs-Steelers preview: Baker Mayfield is out, Jalon Daniels starts againStopping Aaron Rodgers and winning at homeBroncos beat the Seahawks in overtimeLightning beat the Kraken in overtime: Victor Hedman's winnerLightning schedule: Canucks Saturday and a Western Conference runCollege football weekend: Florida at Texas, FSU at Miami, and a stacked slateSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ClevelandNLCS update: Brewers on the verge of a 3-0 lead and the Dodgers conspiracy theoryA small-market World Series? Milwaukee County Stadium and Major LeagueGriffin Jacks starts Game 3: the pitching plan for the weekendGold Glove finalists Chandler Simpson and Taylor Walls; Caminero and McClanahan honorsWhat the Rays need in ClevelandIs Tampa Bay a bad sports market? Ticket prices, a service economy, and winningBaker Mayfield's thumb: will he play against the Steelers?Why the Steelers game matters in the NFC SouthBucky Irving's fire and Aaron Rodgers' history in TampaLightning vs. the Kraken tonightSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ALCSHow the Rays scored: Messick's double plays, Simpson's infield hit, Ramirez's error, Hicks' two-run singleFreddy Peralta's fastball-heavy night and his streakDefending Kevin Cash: lineup decisions, second-guessing, and Rasmussen in Game 1Game 3 preview: Griffin Jacks, the 2-3-2 odds, and the absence of McClanahanThe Rays' pitching development and Brian Baker's 89-0 perfection after eight inningsWho closes if Baker is out, and where the big three bats standFan experience: ticket prices, attendance, and the Game 6 start timeBucs vs. Steelers preview: no presidential visit, Mike Alstott's popularity, Team Tampa BayBaker Mayfield's attempt to return and Jalon Daniels' near-mistake in DallasLightning fall 4-1 at the Rangers and look aheadSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 1Where it went wrong: bases loaded in the first, Rasmussen in the seventh, and a bullpen layoffCaminero-DeLuca collision, Aranda's sacrifice bunt, and Cash's platoon lineupGame 2 preview: Freddy Peralta vs. Parker MessickBucs' emerging identity: defense, the run game, and Alex Anzalone's growth with the green dotMissing Mike Evans, and the 49ers at 5-0Lightning at the Rangers, no Shesterkin, and Kucherov chasing StamkosLow-IQ hockey and football, AI face shields, and Washington's clock managementRavens beat the Falcons; the NFC South picture and the Steelers game aheadSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. GuardiansPayrolls, the Dodgers' third-straight World Series bid, and Cleveland's comeback on the White SoxGame 1 and the pitching plan: Rasmussen, McClanahan's absence, and Ian SeymourCaminero, Jose Ramirez, and the Rays-Guardians crossover storyBrewers-Dodgers NLCS Game 1, the lockout debate, and a "bucket list" postseason gameBucs mini bye week and Bowles' fourth-and-1 decisionSunday's coaching gaffes: Jaguars-Eagles in London and the Commanders-Giants tieThe Bucs at 1-4: the NFC South picture, Steelers preview, and Baker Mayfield's thumbMike Evans' big night with the 49ersCollege football: Florida, Texas, Georgia-Alabama, and LSULightning beat the Islanders 5-3 and host the RangersSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 seasonJalen Daniels' second start and Bucky Irving's huge nightThe defense dominates without Antoine Winfield Jr.14 penalties, Todd Bowles' fourth-and-one decision, and the Steelers game aheadCould Baker Mayfield return? The NFC South picture without a division game playedUSF falls at UTSA; Brian Hartline's first-year growing painsLightning beat the Wild 3-2 and head to New YorkGuardians-White Sox Game 5 and the Rays' ALCS waitJalen Daniels' mom, his foundation, and the cost of youth sportsSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Stadium1:12 – Yankees never led the series; Rays clinch there for the second time in 15 days1:52 – ALCS opponent: White Sox or Guardians, with Game 1 Monday at the Trop2:11 – Third ALCS in franchise history: 2008 Red Sox, 2020 Astros3:16 – Chandler Simpson on the bench, Vilade's home run, Mesa's two-run blast4:04 – Yankees lineup change leaves Ben Rice out of the ninth4:31 – Rays bullpen: Griffin Jax, Boozer, Kelly, Baker, and Kyle Snyder's mound visits6:06 – Victor Mesa Jr.'s two-run bomb off a lefty7:21 – Bryan Baker's rise from "B bullpen" to leading the majors in saves9:01 – A team picked to finish fifth in the AL East9:41 – Rays bring fundamentals back to baseball: bunting, stealing, hit-and-run11:32 – Winning on the margins: pitching, defense, speed13:07 – The new ownership group and the Rays' AL East champion T-shirts14:20 – How the Rays' deep outfield positioning is changing baseball15:17 – Volpe's "home run" overturned: fan interference17:12 – Kevin Cash sticks with Jax for another inning18:21 – Lightning off to a decent start; three TVs needed for Thursday night19:12 – NLCS: Dodgers advance, Brewers up 3-1; salary cap talk looms19:58 – MLB's 34-page lockout memo: no Christmas cards after Dec. 221:05 – Fan interference and the 1996 Jeffrey Maier comparison22:49 – Rays' 101 wins; World Series would start on the road24:34 – White Sox, the Pope, and a Popemobile bullpen cart26:36 – Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza27:37 – Bucs at Cowboys preview: Chase McLaughlin's injury, Baker and Winfield out29:36 – Jalon Daniels handling the noise in his second start on a short week31:31 – A louder road environment; Cowboys' high-scoring offense and shaky defense32:40 – Reuben Bain Jr. as a game-wrecker34:48 – Special teams and a fair evaluation of Daniels' first start36:36 – How Green Bay saved its blitzes for the final drive38:05 – Rain in Tampa and the flight to Dallas38:49 – Contending with CeeDee Lamb, and what a Bucs win would change40:05 – Alabama-Georgia weather and wrap-up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Rays are one win from the ALCS after a 5-2 victory over the Yankees in front of a second straight Tropicana Field sellout, and Rick calls it an "infomercial" for why Tampa Bay won the AL East: Yankee chaos on the bases (four errors, maybe five, three in the first inning alone), patient at-bats that chased Cam Schlittler after two strikeouts, and a four-run fifth capped by Richie Palacios' eight-pitch, two-run single off a lefty. Steve has the stat of the night: Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, and Wells are a combined 5-for-20 in the series while the rest of the Yankees lineup is 0-for-38. Rick and Steve also salute Freddy Peralta, a "tremendous" Ian Seymour (nine outs), and a bullpen that's fully rested for Game 3 at Yankee Stadium, note that teams up 2-0 in a best-of-five series have won roughly nine times out of ten, and look ahead to a possible ALCS against a surprising White Sox team, with the Brewers lurking in the National League and a looming lockout debate over competitive balance. The Lightning also improved to 2-1 with another home win, this one over the Flyers, outshooting Philadelphia 36-14. Then the Bucs news turns grim: Antoine Winfield Jr. has a cracked rib and will miss two to four weeks, just as the team heads to Dallas on a short week to face a Cowboys offense averaging 30.5 points per game with Jalen Daniels making his second start in four days. Rick runs through the injury report and explains why the receivers can't get open (Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin are both slot types without a true outside threat like Mike Evans), compares it to other teams' number ones getting 14-plus targets every week, and notes the Bucs have played 10 straight one-score games and are 2-8 in them. From there, Rick takes a hard look at Jason Licht's recent draft classes round by round and wonders aloud if the roster is simply "not that talented," whether the Glazers knew it, and what the Todd Bowles hot seat looks like if the Bucs fall to 0-5. They also debate when a mid-season firing would even happen, why interim coaches are a bad idea, and what history says about teams that start 0-4 (only the 1992 Chargers recovered to make the playoffs). Segments: Rays go up 2-0 on the Yankees: chaos on the bases, Palacios' big hit, and the bullpenWhy the Rays' style works, plus Game 3 preview (Nick Martinez vs. Max Fried) and ALCS possibilitiesLightning beat the Flyers 36-14 in shots and look ahead to Minnesota and a New York road tripWinfield's cracked rib, Bucs injury report, and the Thursday night test in DallasWhy the Bucs' receivers can't get open and what Zach Robinson's offense is missingA round-by-round look at Jason Licht's drafts: is this roster talented enough?Todd Bowles' job security, in-season coaching changes, and the 0-5 scenarioSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rick vows he won't talk about the Bucs, then immediately breaks the promise, but first it's the Rays. Drew Rasmussen was dealing in ALDS Game 1 against the Yankees, and Kevin Cash never thought twice about sending him back out for the eighth ("not with Raz"). Then came the Yankees' baserunning blunder of the postseason — a runner trying to stretch an extra-base hit into third with two outs and getting thrown out by three feet — before Jonathan Aranda's solo homer decided a 1-0 game. Rick and Steve talk through why Game 1 was close to a must-win, what to expect from Freddy Peralta against Cam Schlittler in Game 2, how a 40,000-strong crowd at the Trop (with no Aaron Judge for New York and a rusty Yankees lineup coming off a layoff) made for a legitimate playoff atmosphere, and the wild Saturday in Tampa that had the Rays, Lightning, USF, and the Rowdies all at home at once. Then comes the mess. The Bucs fell to 0-4 against the Packers in Jalon Daniels' first career start, and the defense did enough to win, holding Green Bay to 17 points with two red-zone turnovers, but still produced zero sacks against the NFL's most-hit quarterback. Rick breaks down the heartbreaking final drive — a fourth-and-11 that needed a miracle, a safety blitz nobody picked up, and a hot route that never happened — and questions whether Zach Robinson set his rookie quarterback up to fail. He calls out an offense that rarely gets Emeka Egbuka or Chris Godwin involved, a Sean Tucker who scores and then vanishes, and a team that hasn't shown it can scheme anyone open. Add a Packers crowd that Rick pegs at 60-65% of Raymond James Stadium, an injury to Antoine Winfield Jr., and an uncertain timeline for Baker Mayfield (minimum three weeks, maybe six), and the guys start eyeing the draft and wondering what the Glazers do next. The back half hits college football (Florida gets boat-raced at Missouri, USF stumbles at home against Temple, and Rick and Steve talk through Brian Hartline's growing pains as a first-time head coach), celebrates the Lightning bouncing back with a 3-1 home opener win over Washington, and previews a staggering stretch of sports ahead — Lightning-Flyers and Rays-Yankees Game 2 tonight, then a crowded Thursday with the Bucs at Dallas, the Lightning hosting the Wild, a potential ALDS Game 4, and USF at UTSA. Steve also shines a light on the part-time ushers, security, and concession workers stretched thin across Tampa Bay's busiest sports weekend in years. Segments: Rays take ALDS Game 1 behind Drew Rasmussen and Jonathan Aranda; the Yankees' baserunning gaffeGame 2 preview: Freddy Peralta vs. Cam Schlittler, and the atmosphere at the TropA packed Tampa Bay Saturday: Rays, Lightning, USF, Rowdies, and homecoming traffic downtownBucs fall to 0-4: defense holds up, offense and play-calling don't; Jalen Daniels' first startThe final drive breakdown: fourth-and-11 and the safety blitzZach Robinson's offense: where are the receivers?Baker Mayfield's timeline and what the Glazers do nextCollege football: Florida at Missouri, USF falls to Temple, Brian Hartline's first-year growing painsLightning win their home opener 3-1Crowded sports schedule ahead and the workers who keep it runningSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lightning's season opener went about as sideways as a game can go: a 5-1 loss at Madison Square Garden capped by Igor Shesterkin becoming the first goaltender in Rangers history to score a goal, while Tampa Bay finished 0-for-7 on the power play. Rick and Steve dig into why it wasn't as alarming as it looked — Victor Hedman's comfortably accepted a smaller role (and dropped weight going gluten-free to stay fast at 18 seasons in), John Carlson is still adjusting from running Alex Ovechkin's power play in Washington to feeding Nikita Kucherov in Tampa, and hockey's a "flow sport" that's brutally hard to simulate in the preseason. The Lightning still own the NHL's third-best season-opening winning percentage all time, and they get a schedule edge Saturday against a Capitals team playing the second half of a back-to-back. From there, it's a deep look at Jalen Daniels' first career start — the first rookie quarterback to play anywhere in the league this season, despite going undrafted. Rick traces how the Bucs got here (Teddy Bridgewater's disastrous relief outing last year, Jake Browning's poor camp this summer) and argues Daniels doesn't need to be great against a genuinely bad Packers team that can't run or stop the run; the defense and Chase McLaughlin's perfect kicking can carry him. A mailbag question floats Daniels as a potential Marty St. Louis-style undrafted success story, and the guys note the historical case for not rushing rookie quarterbacks, with nine of the ten passers drafted this year still holding a clipboard. The back half previews a jam-packed Tampa Bay weekend — Rays-Yankees ALDS Game 1 at the Trop, the Lightning's home opener, USF hosting Temple for a shot at a first-ever conference title, and Florida traveling to Missouri — plus a quick look at Cleveland's Deshaun Watson turnaround under Todd Monken. Timestamps: 0:08 – Lightning season-opener recap: 5-1 loss at the Rangers, a historic goalie goal, 0-for-7 power play3:22 – Victor Hedman's accepted role change, revamped diet, and his 18th season5:39 – Lightning's historic season-opening record; Saturday's schedule edge over Washington6:46 – Power play struggles: John Carlson adjusting from Ovechkin's power play to feeding Kucherov9:00 – Why "flow sports" like hockey are harder to simulate in the preseason11:50 – Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza13:16 – How the Bucs got here: Teddy Bridgewater's rough relief stint and Jake Browning's camp struggles16:13 – Jalen Daniels: the first rookie QB to start anywhere in the NFL this year, despite going undrafted18:16 – Context: the last team to start 0-4 and make the playoffs was the 1992 Chargers19:51 – Why Daniels doesn't need to be great — Green Bay's offense and run defense are a mess22:32 – Chase McLaughlin's perfect season and the "just be you" message for Daniels25:36 – Mailbag: Could Daniels become the next Marty St. Louis-style undrafted success story?26:03 – Why most of this year's ten drafted rookie QBs are sitting behind veterans30:37 – What a Daniels win (or two) would really mean once Baker Mayfield returns31:38 – MLB's wild-card format gripe: Rays drawn into a best-of-three with the Yankees34:44 – A loaded Tampa Bay weekend: Rays, Lightning, USF and the Rowdies all home Saturday39:09 – Cleveland's Deshaun Watson turnaround under Tom Monken42:09 – College football weekend: Florida at Missouri, USF hosts Temple for a shot at a first conference title Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rick Stroud can't stop repeating a line Jalon Daniels dropped in his first press conference as the Bucs' starting quarterback: "You can't be the thermometer, you have to be the thermostat" — set the temperature in the room instead of just reading it. It's a fitting mantra for a guy about to become the first rookie quarterback to start an NFL game this season (yes, ahead of the Raiders' Heisman winner), and the only backup Tampa Bay has turned to since 'Fitzmagic' in 2018. Rick is clear-eyed about the degree of difficulty: Evan Closky's blocking cut-ups from last week were "some of the worst tape I've seen," Daniels knows far less than Baker Mayfield about getting out of bad plays, and Green Bay will blitz him mercilessly the way Minnesota did. But the Packers are deeply flawed too — patched together on the offensive line, unable to stop the run, playing in front of a fan base that's reportedly booing at Lambeau — and Rick and Steve talk through how Todd Bowles might manage Daniels' workload if the game gets away from them, plus the gut-punch injury report (six players missed Wednesday practice, including Rueben Bain Jr., Yaya Diaby, and Chris Godwin) that makes the 0-3 start look even worse in hindsight. From there, three mailbag questions: what the Bucs should do with the number one overall pick if the season ended today (take a quarterback, grab Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, or trade down for a haul), how to separate rooting for people at One Buc Place from grading Todd Bowles' performance, and whether anything short of winning can fix the "away game atmosphere" at Raymond James Stadium. Rick also vents about MLB's wild-card seeding dropping the Rays into Yankee Stadium's short porch for the ALDS, previews Drew Rasmussen's Game 1 start, and the guys close with a full NHL season-opening night: the Lightning play at the Rangers, sitting on the second-best season-opening record in NHL history, with Nikita Kucherov chasing a record fourth straight opener with multiple goals. Segments: Jalon Daniels' "thermostat, not thermometer" mentality ahead of his first NFL startThe degree of difficulty: brutal offensive line tape, a first-ever rookie starter league-wide, and how Bowles might manage his workloadInjury report fallout: six players out Wednesday, Baker Mayfield's timelineMailbag: What should the Bucs do with the number one pick — quarterback, Jeremiah Smith, or trade down?Mailbag: Separating rooting for the people at One Buc Place from grading Todd BowlesMailbag: Can anything fix the "away game" atmosphere at Raymond James?MLB wild-card fallout: Rays drawn into the Yankees' short porch for the ALDS; Rasmussen gets the Game 1 ballNHL opening night: Lightning at the Rangers, chasing franchise and Kucherov recordsSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza Timestamps: 0:06 – Jalon Daniels' "thermostat, not thermometer" quote from his first presser as starter2:51 – First rookie QB to start a game anywhere in the NFL this season5:57 – The offensive line tape: "some of the worst I've seen"8:16 – How Bowles might manage Daniels if the game gets away from the Bucs13:06 – Injury report: six players miss Wednesday practice14:13 – Baker Mayfield's thumb, timeline, and the 0-3 start in context15:47 – Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza17:05 – MLB wild-card seeding sends the Rays into Yankee Stadium's short porch21:35 – Mailbag: Number one pick — quarterback, Jeremiah Smith, or trade down?25:31 – Mailbag: Separating the man from the job grading Todd Bowles35:26 – Mailbag: Fixing the "away game" atmosphere at Raymond James37:21 – NHL opening night: Lightning at the Rangers, Kucherov's scoring streak39:13 – Yankees beat Red Sox 9-2; Rasmussen named Rays' Game 1 starter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Joe Flacco, Jameis Winston, and Jimmy Garoppolo all off the table, the Bucs' plan B for replacing Baker Mayfield is Brett Rypien — signed to the practice squad, not the active roster — while undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels makes his first career start Sunday against Green Bay. Rick Stroud lays out a sobering stat: since 2024, rookie quarterbacks are a combined 56-89, and the backup quarterbacks who've actually won games around the league this season (Case Keenum, Mac Jones, Carson Wentz, Drew Locke) all share one thing Daniels doesn't have — real NFL experience. Rick and Steve debate, half-seriously, whether a Bucs fan should even want a win right now given a stacked, quarterback-heavy draft class, before agreeing there's too much season left and too bad a division to consider punting on it. They also dig into where the blame really lies for Tampa Bay's offensive collapse — Baker's tendency to extend plays into sacks and holding penalties, Zach Robinson's predictable play-calling, an offensive line that isn't as bad as it looks — and note the one thing working: Chase McLaughlin hasn't missed a field goal all year. A mailbag question revisits why Mike Evans really left for San Francisco, and Rick makes the case that Evans saw a closer path to a Super Bowl elsewhere as his own mortality became real after his first-ever injury-shortened season. The back half looks ahead to a jam-packed week: MLB's wild-card round (Yankees leading Boston, Padres and Braves both winning thrillers), the NHL's opening night, and the Lightning's regular-season opener Thursday at the Rangers, plus a scheduling headache with the Rays' ALDS Game 1 and the Lightning's home opener both landing Saturday night. Rick and Steve also mark the sixth anniversary of Tampa Bay's first boat parade and pitch (not entirely jokingly) a stadium renovation tribute to Tom Brady's Super Bowl trophy toss. Segments: Jalon Daniels named starter; what backup-quarterback history says about his chances against Green BayIs the offensive line really the problem, or is it Baker Mayfield and play-calling?Mailbag: Why did Mike Evans really leave for San Francisco?MLB wild card round recap: Yankees-Red Sox, Padres-Cubs, Braves walk-off winNHL season opens; Lightning open Thursday at the Rangers, home opener collides with Rays ALDS Game 1Sixth anniversary of Tampa Bay's first championship boat paradeSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza Timestamps: 0:09 – Bucs' backup QB plan revealed: Brett Rypien to the practice squad, Jalen Daniels named starter2:27 – Why experienced backups matter: Case Keenum's big Monday night4:15 – Rookie QBs are 56-89 since 2024; should a Bucs fan want a loss right now?7:00 – Is the offensive line really the problem, or is it Baker Mayfield and play-calling?16:23 – What Daniels has going for him: 50+ college starts, calm demeanor17:36 – Backup QBs went nearly undefeated this weekend; the risk the Bucs took at QB222:46 – Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza24:13 – Sixth anniversary of Tampa Bay's first championship boat parade28:33 – Mailbag: Why did Mike Evans really leave for San Francisco?33:22 – Mailbag: Where does the blame fall for the Bucs' offensive struggles?39:12 – MLB wild-card recap: Yankees-Red Sox, Padres-Cubs, Braves walk-off win40:10 – NHL season opens; Lightning-Rangers Thursday, Saturday scheduling conflict with Rays ALDS Game 1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Baker Mayfield's thumb injury turns out to be the good news/bad news scenario Rick Stroud feared: no torn ligaments, no broken bones, but a minimum three-week absence that wipes out Green Bay, Dallas, and Pittsburgh. That hands the offense to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels, whose only real NFL snaps have come against players no longer on rosters. Rick shares Todd Bowles' old blitz-every-down philosophy against rookie quarterbacks and previews exactly what Green Bay's defense (and a stadium full of Packers fans) is about to do to a first-time starter, while making the case that Daniels' calm demeanor, strong arm, and accuracy give him a real shot to at least not lose the game outright. They also note the Bucs haven't had a backup quarterback start a game since 2018 — a remarkable run now over — and flag that Jalen McMillan is now out 6-8 weeks with a knee injury, thinning an already M.I.A. receiving corps even further. A Bruce Arians radio appearance imagining what he'd have done coaching Baker provides some comic relief, along with speculation (only half-joking) about Mike Tomlin as a future Bucs coaching target. On the brighter side, MLB's wild-card round tips off with the Yankees and Red Sox squaring off in a series the Rays will watch closely — whoever survives comes to Tampa Bay for the ALDS. Rick and Steve make the case that the Rays, as the AL's best regular-season team, should be favored against anyone left standing, and note a fun crowded slate on Saturday: the Lightning's home opener, the Rays' first playoff game, and Rick's daughter at her high school homecoming, all on the same night. They close with the Lightning's season opening in New York on Thursday and a rundown of their final regular-season roster moves. Segments: Baker Mayfield out a minimum three weeks; Jalon Daniels becomes the first undrafted rookie in decades to start for the BucsWhat Green Bay's blitz-heavy, hostile-crowd environment means for a first-time starterJalen McMillan's knee injury deepens the receiver shortage; the case for a Ted Hurst breakoutBruce Arians weighs in on Baker Mayfield's style of play; lighthearted coaching-search chatterMLB wild card begins: Yankees-Red Sox preview and the case for the Rays as AL favoritesBusy Saturday ahead: Lightning home opener, Rays' first playoff game, and Homecoming weekendSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.