Rays vs. Brewers: Small-Market World Series Showdown

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Outspoken With Dan Sileo

Rays and Brewers Bring Old-School Baseball and Strong Clubhouse Cultures to the World Series

The Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers may not represent big markets, but the matchup promises a compelling World Series. The teams are nearly mirror images of each other, relying on old-school baseball built around running, hitting and running, bunting, and stealing. The two organizations also have tremendous respect for each other.

The Rays reached the World Series despite appearing to gear up for next year by trading second baseman Allow and Shane Boz. Their success has been driven by togetherness and a strong organizational culture. That bond was evident when roughly 30 members of the team gathered for a team dinner at a Milwaukee steakhouse.

Both organizations balance analytics with traditional scouting, player evaluation, development, and careful payroll management. Each has one of baseball’s 10 largest scouting departments, and no organization has more professional scouts than Tampa Bay. Rays players joked that the team would be even scarier with another $100 million to spend.

Milwaukee has followed a similar path by scouting well, drafting effectively, developing players, and building a close clubhouse. The Brewers also emphasize playing the game the right way. Manager Pat Murphy benched or removed players five or six times this season for failing to hustle to first base, including All-Star catcher Wilson William Contreras after the team’s 10th win of the season.

The World Series has created enormous excitement in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin. Nosebleed tickets were reportedly selling for $3,000 simply to enter the stadium. The atmosphere was compared to the Packers and Bucks winning championships combined, with the city celebrating a moment 44 years in the making.

While the matchup is great for fans and small markets, its business impact is less certain. Without major-market teams or many widely recognized stars, the series could struggle in the television ratings, particularly if it does not last six or seven games. Tampa Bay has the matchup’s two biggest stars, but many other players remain unfamiliar to casual viewers.

That contrast also highlights why juggernauts such as the Dodgers can be good for baseball. Fans often respond to dominant, recognizable teams, much as they did with the Yankees in the past.