What the Rays need to do before Game 5

As we look inside of Tropicana Field, we actually want to head outside of Tropicana Field and technically over to Kansas, because that is where we are being joined by our next guest. We have FOX 13's Walter Allen outside of the Trop, and then we're also being joined by Joey Greeny, a speed and agility trainer who's worked with the Rays, Royals, and Dodgers organizations. I know you're with the Royals right now. Guys, how we doing? We're good. We're tired, but we're chugging along. Wally, I'm going to start with you because I know you were asleep as you should have been. I know you have an early alarm clock, but I mean, I know you've been talking about the highlights of 12 innings of baseball for a while. I mean, it was tied. I was up. I saw it was going into a 12th inning. I'm like, I got to go to bed, but I mean, the bottom of the 12th, that was some magic. Wally, walk me through those highlights. Okay, so you got the typical one-run game as we've had in games one, two, and four. And, you know, bottom 12, so this goes into extra innings, you know, top 12, Cooper Pratt just sends a missile into the left center stands. And so a lot of Rays Nation is saying, oh, great, here we go again. Milwaukee's going to start pouring it on. Well, we're able to get out of it. We have three outs to play with in the bottom of the 12. We've got to get at least one run to tie it to keep it going, an extra one, two runs if we want to end this thing last night. So that's exactly what we did, and I think our approach to the plate was fantastic because we had at least two, if not three, of those hits came with two strikes, and that's what Milwaukee has been doing to us all series long. Their ability to hit with two strikes is amazing, and that's what we did to keep that inning going. And once you start getting that pressure, putting the ball in play, you look at Junior Caminero's, His scorcher to third, it was a throwing error. That's what put the first runner on. And then Junior was eventually advanced to third. And then we got a base hit that drove him home, that tied the game. And then you have the bases juiced. Unlikely hero, much like we had in 2020 with Brett Phillips. You have Ben Williamson who comes in, not known for his offense per se. More or less of a defensive guy, but he gets the ball in play. He puts the ball on the ground, and that's exactly what we needed. He hits that chopper over the first baseman's head. That's a walk-off. We walk it off four to three, and we force a game five tonight. What a thrilling way, and what a way to grab some momentum. You know, we talked to Rays analyst Doug Webster a little bit earlier this morning, and he said if there's a way for the Rays to get back into the series, they had to have that really emotional moment. They had to have that, whoa, my goodness, look at what we did, and we can continue to do it. I think hopefully momentum is shifting in our way. Some things are not going our way in games one, two, three, certainly not in three. But I think things are starting to turn around for us. There's a lot of belief in that clubhouse that we can still do this thing. Now, we've been saying all morning long yesterday, nobody's ever come back from a 3-0 deficit. Okay, now it's 3-1. And I know somebody who's come back from a deficit 3-1. The Cubs did it in 2016. They were down 3-1 and they were able to turn it around and become World Series champions for the first time in their franchise history. So there is still belief there. I still believe that we can do this thing. So let's bring in Joey Greeney, the strength and conditioning coach for the Kansas City Royals. You used to work right behind me here, but now you're in Kansas City. Long time no see, Joey. What did you see last night? What did you like? Yeah, absolutely. It's amazing and everything that the city of Tampa went through with the hurricane and to see the boys back in action and on the biggest stage in the World Series is a lot. And the way they won last night, hopefully that gives them some momentum going into the series and they can take it back to Milwaukee. Okay, so if I'm counting correctly, Joey, I think we played 175 games from your perspective to keep your guys fresh, loose, and not have muscle pulls and tears and that sort of thing? What is it that you can do from a strength and conditioning perspective? Yeah, so, you know, both teams right now at this point of the season, they're tired, they're fatigued. And it all goes into the preparation that they do weeks and months prior to the season. And that's what people don't realize is, you know, these guys start the season in February in spring training. and they're preparing their bodies from a conditioning standpoint. They're performing all their running, their tempo runs, their shuttles, their gassers, their sprint work. And then they go into the weight room and they perform all their weight training routines. And they prepare themselves throughout the whole season to get to this point. And it's extremely important to continue to train during the season so that when you get to this point, your body is naturally going to be fatigued and tired. but you still have a little bit left that you can draw from during these big games and moments that matter. I mean, if you were to tell me that Yandy Diaz is still lifting weights during this World Series, that would not surprise me. I mean, are people still training? Are these guys still training while they're in the World Series? Or the work has already been done, now it's just to go out and play the game? Great question. Yeah, Yandy specifically at this point, I'd probably pretty much guarantee that he's in the weight room. He's probably in there right now, working out before the game. So he's one of those guys, he don't vary from his routine. So I wouldn't be surprised if he's in the weight room and getting his lifts in. Joey, I want to ask you, because I saw yesterday, Junior Caminero, he actually had to have a runner sub in for him in that 12th inning. He was limping. We're hearing that he may have pulled a muscle. he jokes that he would play with one leg but realistically what should his morning look like today is that possible should he be playing you know and that's that's up to the training staff there and they do a tremendous job of preparing these guys to go out and compete especially in these games but uh you know kevin cash said last night that he'll go out and play on one leg if it's up to him but you know it's all hands on deck at this point like i said these guys are, they're fatigued, they're tired, but they're the best of the best. And they're gonna find a way to go out there and play, even if they're injured or sore or tired. So this is what it all comes down to. This is what they've been dreaming about since they were a little kid. And we get to watch it all play out here tonight. It's so exciting. Wally, from the field. Yeah, my last question to Joey would be, as far as the starting pitcher is concerned, we still haven't had one named yet for the Rays. We know we're gonna go up against Misurawski on the other side of things. But if I'm looking at everything, Freddie Peralta pitched 87 pitches on Monday. Drew pitched 89 on Saturday. I thought Drew would go today, but again, it's only on three days rest. And our friend Doug Wester reminded me that, you know, he's had three arm surgeries, so he is injury prone. From a coaching and a strength and conditioning perspective, how much do you have to kind of make sure that these guys don't overdo it? Of course, these guys want to be in there. Drew, I guarantee wants to pitch tonight, but you have to kind of keep him on the rails. Does that make sense? Yeah, I was wondering how soon again we would see Rasmussen. I mean, those are the conversations that are happening right now behind you trying to figure out the logistics of the game. And if the game does tend to go into later innings tonight, who knows? But those are all the conversations that are going on now. And they have a pretty good idea of their game plan at this point. And it's just a matter of going out and executing the game plan. And hopefully at the end of the day, they push another game, game six, and take it back to Milwaukee. Joey, if you were in that clubhouse, what would you say to this team right now after forcing this game five? Lots of disappointment surrounding Monday's game, but I mean, we're holding out strong. Yeah, I mean, you gotta go one game at a time, one inning at a time, one pitch at a time at this point from my side of things, from physical preparations, make sure these guys are hydrated. They do their preparation routines, and they go out there and compete. Like I said, this is it. This is the end of the season. They've been preparing all season long. So now it's going out and taking care of business. Absolutely. Well- I got one more question. Don't do it, Wally. I was just gonna say. One more, one more. Absolutely. Before I let you go, Joey. Before I let you go, last night in attendance, Chris Archer, Taj Bradley, who we didn't see on camera, but he was there, Doug told us. Pete Fairbanks, Tyler Glasnow, all these former Rays who are still in the league. Have you ever seen anything like this? Guys coming back while they're still in the league, supporting their old team, even though they got traded away? It's unbelievable. Yeah, that was great last night to see them in the seats. You know, once a Ray, always a Ray. So these guys would come back, supporting their own team. And like I said, you know, the city has gone through a lot, especially with the hurricane and rebuilding the trop. And to have the team in this situation, it's really special and it'd be great for them to continue this World Series. It'd be great for the city, great for everyone involved, great organization. So wish them nothing but the best. Awesome. I love it. Gentlemen, thank you. Yes, Joey, thank you. Wally, thank you for arranging for Joey to come on here from Kansas City, Missouri, not Kansas. That's how tired I am this morning. Guys, we appreciate you both. Go Rays. Let's rest up and watch some good baseball tonight. Thank you so much. Joey, thank you. See you, buddy. Bye, guys. See you. Thanks, Walter. Thanks, Joey.