RaysUp it's All-Star Week, Draft, Home Run Derby & Canadian Baseball v Hockey

BaseballBiz On Deck

• Mat Germain discusses the concentration of baseball greats during All-Star Week and critiques the allocation of All-Star games.
• Rays' All-Star representatives, including a ball boy, Braden Coles & Home Run Hitter, Isaac Paredes

All-Star Game Festivities:

• Mr. and Mrs. Met on the Red Carpet
• Mat highlights the evolving fan engagement activities during All-Star Week, including future stars games, celebrity games, and skills competitions

Home Run Derby

• Alonso's hardest hit ball, discussing its significance.
• Teoscar Hernandez's performance and career stats.
• Power numbers at Dodger Stadium and Hernandez’s potential.
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s support for Teoscar Hernandez plus Shohei Ohtani shares advice.
• Question - Blue Jays’ decisions on Guerrero Jr., Hernandez, & Lourdes Gurriel.
• Toronto Blue Jays future and the impact of their pitching staff.

Rays' Midseason Performance:

• Tampa Bay Rays successful series against the Cleveland Guardians.
• Rays needs - focusing on catchers and relief pitchers.

Rays' Draft Strategy:

• Mat breaks down the Rays' draft picks, highlighting their focus on position players and their strategy.
• Rays drafting Canadian players, including Emilien Petrie,
• Mat shares insights from the University of Kentucky on Emilien Petrie’s growth and potential.
• Focus on position players for sustainability & the development of pitchers.
• Emilien Pitt and other high potential draftees like Theo Gillian.
• Concerns over Gillian's injuries but high potential if he remains healthy.
• Focus on high ceiling talents despite risk

High School vs. College Draft Picks:

• High school draftees have access to professional training earlier
• Risk of injuries remains a concern for young draftees

 Successful Draft Picks from High Schools:

• Plant High School (Pete Alonso, Kyle Tucker).
• High schools like Westlake producing multiple high-level draftees.

 Synergy & Confidence in Player Development:

• Teams and players feeding off each other's success.
• Confidence and mental strength play a crucial role in player performance.
• Role of faith and belief systems in maintaining player confidence.

 All-Star Game and Potential Changes:

• Discussion on the All-Star game, its importance, and the risks of injury.
• Suggestion to potentially move the All-Star game to the end of the season.
• Benefits of combining the All-Star game with Hall of Fame inductions.

 Rob Manfred Draft Announcements

• Rob Manfred faces boos from the crowd during player announcements
• Comparison to other sports commissioners like Gary Bettman
• We should have had Taylor Swift announce the draftees

 Celebrity Influence in Baseball:

• Discussion on increasing the appeal of baseball through celebrity involvement.
• Examples of how other sports leverage celebrities to draw attention
  
• Limited Baseball Season for Canadians:
• Canadian players have limited opportunities to play baseball compared to Americans.
• Short season in Canada necessitates traveling or playing other sports.
• Example: Larry Walker had minimal baseball experience before being trained professionally.
• All-Star Game and Hall of Fame Induction:
  Mat Germain believes the Hall of Fame induction should be tied to the All-Star Game, either just before or after, to create a more significant event where fans can interact with baseball greats.
• Potential Change for the All-Star Game Timing:
• Mat suggests moving the All-Star Game to th