Inside Access with Jason LaCanfora and Ken Weinman

Marc Topkin: I give the edge to the Orioles over the Yankees

Tampa Bay Rays beat writer Marc Topkin joined the show to preview this Orioles-Rays series from the Rays side. He talks about what they did at the trade deadline, how they've played of late, and gives his opinion on how the AL East race will finish.

Duration:: 10m
Broadcast on:: 09 Aug 2024
Audio Format:: mp3

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Score major points towards your summer vacation by learning expert tips for choosing a high yield savings account, and how to build wealth by investing in index funds. Slide into summer with smarter decisions in 2024. Follow Nerd Wallet Smart Money Podcast on your favorite podcast app. Future you will thank you. Orioles and Rays first a three to night in St. Pete. So it's a perfect time to bring on Mark Topkin, who covers the Rays for the Tampa Bay Times. And Mark, thank you as always for joining us. We appreciate your time. Let's start by looking back a little, shall we? And the trade deadline. Were you surprised the Rays didn't do more? Like Fairbanks still there? DS still there. Yes and no. I think I thought it was kind of going to be Fairbanks or Jason Adam and they traded Jason Adam. I thought it was going to be Diaz or parade A's. They traded parade A's. Brandon Lau was one. I was kind of on the fence wasn't sure which way they were going to go. I don't think they were trying to come out of this. It's like a total strip down like Orioles had to do a number of years ago at the after a number of years ago. They were trying to kind of end somewhere in the middle. I mean, they think they think they came out of this with a chance to still compete for a wildcard spot. Maybe a little lesser than where they were, but they didn't have a great chance before. So it wasn't like they were taking a super contending team and tearing it apart, but they also didn't want to do a total makeover. So they kept them guys. They have control over going forward. Fairbanks is signed for another year plus an option. Diaz is signed for the year plus an option. Lau is at the end. He was guaranteed, but they have two options on him at reasonable prices. Well, Mark, what did you think about the raised trade with the O's for Zach Eflin? And how do you look back on his year and a half in Tampa? Surprise. They traded within the division. Typically, they don't do that. In fact, usually their pattern, if you look back at it, there's trades especially if starting pitchers are almost always been actually teams, it seems like. So they don't come back and haunt them four times a year. Like Eflin has a chance to do next year. It used to be six, obviously, in the old schedule format. But yeah, so a little surprise that they not surprise that all they traded back Eflin. Quite a bit surprised they traded him to the Baltimore Orioles, a team that they're going to be competing with for the next two years. And obviously it doesn't look like it this year, but in theory, the rest of this year as well. As far as how he pitched here, he pitched pretty good. Not at a super elite level, but a pretty solid level, which I think is what you know, was expected of him and what he was hoping to do. Probably deserved to make the all-star team last year, didn't make it. Ended up, I think, was sixth in the Cy Young voting. So a little bit of love there from the baseball writers in terms of what he did. And this year, probably not quite as consistent as he was last year, but still pretty decent numbers. We know the probably, oh, we know who's starting tonight. How do you, do they, do they go and open in a marty think? Do they pen it up? And then Sunday is Springs. I know he just got back. But what are the early returns on him? Yeah, spring, go backward on your question. Springs has been two starts. He's been a little inconsistent. I mean, the other day he got them in a hole early, he gave up in a three pitch span. He gave up two, two run homers, which is hard to do. Yeah, but he did. And that was kind of their ballgame. They lost that game, I think four to two. His first start was okay. The velocity's there. It's just going to take a little while. And he's a field pitcher. He's not a power pitcher. So even though he had nine starts at AAA, he had a very long rehab there. Two starts here. He's still getting his field. It changed up to such a field pitch. And that's kind of his best pitch. So I think that's definitely a factor. As far as tomorrow, it looks like Tyler Alexander, probably behind an opener. He's had more success in that fashion. And it's possible that Drew Rasmussen could be that opener. He had the power arm that they brought back. He made his first appearance the other night and they want to give him a couple days off between appearances at least initially. So it could be he's the opener. We'll see. I usually tell us after the game tonight, who the opener is, if there is one for tomorrow. We're talking to Mark Topton since I'd access here on the fan. Mark, I want to get your initial impressions on a couple of the outfielders or the couple of outfielders that they've raised acquired at the deadline. Dylan Carlson and Morrell. What do you think of them and just the future of those guys there? Yeah, they think really highly of Morrell. I mean, they think he's going to be a guy. They're playing in the second base right now. I know the Cubs played him left field, right field, third base as well. But they seem to think his best position is second base. So they're trying him there for now. That was part of the the reason of trading him for Paredes is he's got another year of control. They feel like he has similar power to Paredes and actually he actually hits them to the other side of the field too, whereas Paredes has hit every career home or to left field and that they also think that the versatility. So I'll actually control similar power, more defensive versatility. So they kind of feel like they've got a little better package there, but obviously we'll see if he can play as well and produce as much as Paredes did. Mark, I guess how surprised or impressed have you been with the Rays given their deficiencies, but there's still two games above 500 despite all of them. Well, that's that go back to your first question and part of the reason that they didn't go for an all out rebuild was they felt like they could hang in this thing. You know, five games doesn't seem insurmountable. There's two teams ahead of them plus the royals who have the third wild start. So you've got to be a little tricky race. They have a tough schedule. They obviously play Baltimore this weekend and again later. They actually have a trip where they play Baltimore at Baltimore at Philly at Cleveland. That could be three. That could literally be the three best records in the majors at that point. And that's going to be a rugged start to September, but that was part of it is they have this core. They feel like they're going to be really good next year when they get Shane McLata hand back. He's throwing off a mound now. He missed all year with Tommy John Springs will be fully ready for a full season. Rasmussen will be back. He'll be ready for a full season. Obviously you see what they've got with Todd Bradley. They love Ryan Pepio who just was on a short aisle sitting out who they got from the Dodgers for glass now. He's a high velocity guy. They think they do a lot for them. So they feel pretty good about their chances for next year from starting with the rotation and then using this year to kind of fill in a little bit with the position players and figure out who they have what they need, what they have to go get. They obviously have have been a super progressive organization and kind of the first to go to the opener. I know we're getting ahead of ourselves here, but next year, could you see them going six men all year because you're going to have between guys coming back from Tommy John, right? Guys like Bos who still are going to be kind of in between and it looks like that the strength of that team might be starting pitching and starting pitching depth. Like I wonder if they zig were other zag and maybe lean into that because if these guys all come back, it could be pretty interesting, but they're all going to have something in the rear view mirror that's not ideal. Yeah, I don't think so. They philosophically have never embraced a six man. They I think they're more likely to trade one of those guys and spring training if they all get their healthy and they're all ready to go and you know have that depth that they like to have a triple A, but I don't think they would go into a season with six men plus they use the bullpen so much that you'd be you know just obviously limiting yourself by having one less option down there. Mark, let's close with this. You're an unbiased observer of the world and Yankees tied for first place as they head down the stretch. Who do you give the edge to? I don't think there's any question I in my opinion, the Orioles is a better team and should be able to open up a pretty good gap. The Yankees have been I know they they struggled and they had a little bit of a surge and now they look pretty struggling again, but I mean, I'm surprised the Orioles haven't been able to open up a bigger gap on them to be honest with you. Mark, talk and covers the raise for the Tampa Bay Times. Mark always great man. Thank you. Thank you so much for your time. All right, guys, you got it. Nice. Today's episode is sponsored by Nerd Wallet Smart Money podcast ready to expand your financial game. Nerd Wallet can coach you on smart strategies like choosing investments, finding your next credit card and setting a budget that works for you. Score major points toward your summer vacation by learning expert tips for choosing a high yield savings account and how to build wealth by investing in index funds. Slide into summer with smarter decisions in 2024. Follow Nerd Wallet Smart Money podcast on your favorite podcast app. Future you will thank you. 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