1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,640 Speaker 1: It's not just that the big league club has underperformed 2 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:05,120 Speaker 1: this year. You have a draft and development process that 3 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 1: has not produced impact players for more than a decade. 4 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 2: It is a pleasure to be joined by Barry's for Luga, 5 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 2: for Luga. How do you say that, Barry? I need 6 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:22,959 Speaker 2: I get my name butchered all of the time. Tell 7 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 2: me how to properly pronounce your last name. 8 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: So I say this not facetiously. It's what I always say. 9 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: It's it's honestly, all the letters in a row, so 10 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: you can't screw up if you're like a five year old. 11 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 1: It's for Luga. 12 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:37,879 Speaker 2: Well, I'm not smart of. 13 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:40,519 Speaker 3: Those, and I want to know how they mess up? Rizzo, 14 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:41,559 Speaker 3: how do you mess up? 15 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 2: They always mess up. It's like a Lena Atlanta. I've 16 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:47,559 Speaker 2: been called all kinds of things, some of which are 17 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,440 Speaker 2: not ready for for television, for air, Barry, It's great 18 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 2: to be with you. A lot going on, obviously with 19 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 2: the Washington Nationals. Is the timing a bit odd to you? 20 00:00:57,120 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 2: Did you see this coming? 21 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: You know it's because everybody will point to the draft 22 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 1: that's I'm coming. And they have one to one the 23 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:07,479 Speaker 1: most important pick that they've had in a long, long time, 24 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: and Mike Rizzo obviously made his name as a scout. 25 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: He put this franchise into a winner behind two to 26 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,560 Speaker 1: one ones in Steven Strasburg and Bryce Harpour more than 27 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 1: a decade ago. So yeah, that timing is weird, but 28 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:23,399 Speaker 1: I think you make this kind of move, and it's 29 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 1: really a seismic move, given that the general manager had 30 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: been here since two thousand and six and been in 31 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: that chair since two thousand and nine, and Dave Martinez, 32 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:34,320 Speaker 1: the manager, took over in twenty eighteen. You make it 33 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 1: not just because of one draft or one small situation. Optically, 34 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: you want to do it at a time when the 35 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 1: big league club isn't playing well and they just got 36 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 1: you know, three they got swept by the Red Sox 37 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: at home in three really uncompetitive games. That timing feels 38 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 1: right optically. And also, though I mean, you don't make 39 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: this change in a flippant way. You do it because 40 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: it's not just that the big legue club has underperformed 41 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: this year, but really, you have a draft and development 42 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 1: process that has not produced impact players for more than 43 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: a decade, their last truly impactful player in the big 44 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 1: leagues that they drafted was Anthony Rendon, who went sixth 45 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:18,519 Speaker 1: in the twenty eleven draft. That's a long long time ago. 46 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 1: They obviously get credit for signing Juan Soto as an 47 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 1: amateur free agent, for sure, but it's been too many 48 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 1: misses and not enough hits, and that's left them with 49 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:31,079 Speaker 1: a big league club that really their best players are 50 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: all the players that they got in the Juan Soto 51 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 1: trade in twenty twenty two. A lot of misses around that, 52 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 1: so timing weird because of the draft, but overall, it's 53 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: a big, big move for an organization that needed to 54 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: make a big big move. 55 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 4: Is this why the ownership was reticent to bring any 56 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 4: free agents in? We felt like this was a year 57 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,679 Speaker 4: that it was time to strike because we looked at 58 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 4: past blueprint bringing Jason Worth in. You have a cj Abrams, 59 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:01,800 Speaker 4: you have a Mackenzie Gore, you have James Wood. Those 60 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,360 Speaker 4: guys that, okay, these are going to be the core. 61 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 4: Time to bring somebody like a Pee Alonzo in. Do 62 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 4: you feel like this was just coming because ownership was like, well, 63 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,079 Speaker 4: we're not going to push in with these guys, We're 64 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 4: gonna go with the next guys. 65 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 1: Well, I mean that's the big question. Are they going 66 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:18,959 Speaker 1: to go with the next guys? Are they going to 67 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 1: push in? I mean, I think it would be a 68 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: disservice to to Mike Rizzo to wait and then say, oh, 69 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:28,239 Speaker 1: now we're providing resources that you didn't have, that you 70 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 1: weren't allowed to do. And you're right about the first build, 71 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 1: like they signed Jason Worth to a seven year deal 72 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: a year before they were really ready to win, because 73 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 1: at that point they could say, hey, big lead free 74 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 1: agent who won a World Series elsewhere, here's what we have, 75 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 1: here's where we're going, here's where you fit, and we're 76 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:50,119 Speaker 1: going to follow through on some promises after that. At 77 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: this point, where they have would, where they have Gore, 78 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: where they have Abrams, they have not gone in on 79 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: any multi year free agent deals other than a two 80 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: year kind of a deal for Trevor Williams that isn't 81 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: going to impact anyway. So that they have now a 82 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: clubhouse that doesn't that has, yes, good young pieces, but 83 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: it doesn't have veterans who are going to be there 84 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: or and are invested in the process going forward. That's 85 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 1: on ownership. They have prevented that from happening, and that's 86 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,360 Speaker 1: why I think the decision that's upcoming is is a 87 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 1: two way interview. It's yes, the Learner family saying to 88 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:28,600 Speaker 1: any candidate, what would you bring to the table, what's 89 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,599 Speaker 1: your vision? But those candidates have to look across the 90 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 1: table and ask ownership, if I take this job, what 91 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: resources are you going to provide me? And that's not 92 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 1: just in major league payroll. That's in R and D, 93 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 1: that's an analysis, that's in scouting, that's in player development, 94 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 1: that's in technology. They are not up to par with 95 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 1: the major league standards in any of those regards. Anybody 96 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 1: who takes this job would want to ask those questions. 97 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:54,160 Speaker 3: Why why though? 98 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 4: Why? 99 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 3: Why? Why are the Learners not spending money they used 100 00:04:57,320 --> 00:04:58,720 Speaker 3: to in the past. They used to have a direct 101 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 3: catline just boris. Why why did they stop? Is it 102 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 3: because they want to sell the team? They tried and 103 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 3: they took them off the market. What's the reason? Because 104 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:09,280 Speaker 3: I cannot look at Mike Rizzo. Yes, you can blame 105 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:11,039 Speaker 3: draft picks and you can blame this, but they made 106 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 3: good trades and David Martinez, he didn't change the way 107 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 3: he managed. So I have to look at the Learners 108 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,719 Speaker 3: and say, why did you stop spending for no reason 109 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 3: because in the past you've done it. You saw the fruits. 110 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 3: You get Sures or you get Corbin, you get these 111 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 3: guys and you go out and you win a World 112 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 3: Series and then you just turn the faucet off. Why. 113 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:32,679 Speaker 1: So it's a really complex question, AJ and I don't 114 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:36,600 Speaker 1: know that everybody anybody knows the full answer. But we'll 115 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 1: get touched on a couple points, like did they get 116 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: scared by the Stevens Strossburg contract? He opted out of 117 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 1: his deal after he became the World Series MVP in 118 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:49,360 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen. Scott Boris went right to work with Ted Lerner, 119 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:52,279 Speaker 1: the late patriarch of the family, and they came to 120 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: a seven year, two hundred and forty five million dollars 121 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 1: deal that obviously was disastrous. I think Strasburg pitched fifteen 122 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:01,799 Speaker 1: to two thirds in on that deal. He's retired now 123 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:06,839 Speaker 1: they're still paying him. That really hurt. Secondly, the pandemic, 124 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:11,039 Speaker 1: which affected everybody, really really took a hit on the 125 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 1: Learner's real estate development. They're real estate people, they're commercial 126 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:17,919 Speaker 1: real estate people. And what was not coming back after 127 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: the pandemic, office space, all that kind of stuff. Mauls 128 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:24,599 Speaker 1: We can't quantify what kind of impact that had on 129 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:27,600 Speaker 1: their spending on their second business, which is the baseball team. 130 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: But you can't tell me that there's not some sort 131 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:33,160 Speaker 1: of relationship there. And then you had a fan base 132 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 1: that they could not take advantage of the momentum from 133 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,280 Speaker 1: a World Series championship because the twenty twenty season was 134 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: held without fans. That Nationals team in which they got 135 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:48,039 Speaker 1: the band back together, didn't make the playoffs, and the 136 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 1: next two summers were Sell Schuzer and Trey Turner at 137 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 1: the deadline in twenty twenty one, sell Soto at the 138 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 1: deadline and lose one hundred and seven games in twenty 139 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 1: twenty two. That had a real impact on the fan base. 140 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 1: I see it as a chicken and egg thing. They 141 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:09,360 Speaker 1: they want more people come through the turnstyles so they 142 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 1: can then turn it into payroll. I would say, you 143 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: need to put some money into payroll so that more 144 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 1: people come through the turnstyles and you can really sink 145 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 1: it into the team. 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That's quode 164 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 5: fifty territory at greenshep dot com slash five zero territory. 165 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 2: Barry, how much does the on again, off again potential 166 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 2: sale of the team. How much do you think all 167 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 2: of that has impacted? Perhaps the lack of putting, you know, 168 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 2: good players on the field. In turn what you were 169 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 2: saying chicken and egg getting fans into the stands. I mean, 170 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 2: maybe there's just a lot of uncertainty. How much does 171 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:38,680 Speaker 2: that play a role. 172 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:42,439 Speaker 1: Yeah, it has felt like since they announced their intention 173 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 1: to sell, which would have been I'm losing track of 174 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:50,320 Speaker 1: years here, beginning of twenty twenty three, I believe that 175 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: they've had their foot kind of half in the water, 176 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: like they're just putting their toe in the water now. 177 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: Mark Learners sat down with me it's FRING training this 178 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:02,679 Speaker 1: year and said, we expect to own this thing for 179 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:04,960 Speaker 1: the foresee of the future, and we're excited about it. 180 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 1: But I've always said, like there has to be an 181 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 1: investment of not just finances, but there has to be 182 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 1: an investment of emotions and of time. And I don't 183 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:20,080 Speaker 1: know in a group where the patriarch, the guiding light 184 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 1: is no longer around, if that next generation, which is Marking, 185 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 1: his two sisters and his two brothers in laws, can 186 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 1: get on the same page enough to where they're all 187 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 1: kind of pointed in the same direction that they really 188 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 1: are excited to have the team. They don't feel like 189 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:36,560 Speaker 1: it's a burden. They feel like it should be a 190 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 1: plus for the community, like they haven't been able. If 191 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 1: that's the way they feel they haven't been able to 192 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 1: articulate that, you know, to the public very clearly. 193 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 3: All right, I got ask who's next? Who's the manager? 194 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,479 Speaker 3: They haven't. They can't even announce the manager for tomorrow's 195 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 3: game yet. Well, Miguel Chiros So think about it, as 196 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 3: in Matt Lee Croy. But then who would be on 197 00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 3: the list of names for for the Nationals to be 198 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:03,680 Speaker 3: their next manager besides aer Kraft? 199 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 1: So I think the questions backwards, AJ like, I think 200 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 1: they should choose a GM, a president of slaw operations 201 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: early this offseason, start that process now after the trade deadline, 202 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: and have that person have a heavy hand in who 203 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 1: the manager is because in this situation, with a club 204 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:26,319 Speaker 1: that's not ready to win on the field and still 205 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 1: needs even its best players to develop at the major 206 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 1: league level, I think building the infrastructure in the front 207 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: office is more important than who's deciding what left he 208 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:40,199 Speaker 1: used in the seventh inning, because there's got to be 209 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 1: a structure that supplies them with the quality lefty option, 210 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:47,559 Speaker 1: so you know whoever is here for the rest of 211 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:49,560 Speaker 1: the year, and you know Cairo would be an option. 212 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 1: I look, Matt Lee Croy would be a really popular 213 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:54,960 Speaker 1: choice and fun for the fans. For sure, that person 214 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 1: is just a placeholder and really should be the choice. 215 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 1: The permanent choice should really be whoever the choice of 216 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:03,439 Speaker 1: the president of the baseball operations. 217 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 2: Do you think Barry that's part of the reason that 218 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 2: Miguel Cairo said that he needed to think about it. 219 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:13,199 Speaker 2: I mean, obviously the relationship he has with Davey Martinez, 220 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 2: they're very close, but these are jobs that are few 221 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 2: and far between, and maybe he knows that he's just 222 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 2: a placeholder, and maybe he doesn't want to be set 223 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:22,440 Speaker 2: up for that, although it could catapult him into another 224 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 2: big league job at a different point. What's your take 225 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 2: on that. 226 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:28,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, So, I think one of Davies problems late in 227 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 1: the game is that he loved his coaching staff. He 228 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 1: made those choices. They're all friends of his and people 229 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 1: always had past relationships with and I think, well, that 230 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: made him very comfortable. It didn't put those guys on edge, 231 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: and they really haven't developed. These guys. They're still making 232 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:48,080 Speaker 1: the same mistakes that they've made in years past, and 233 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:50,600 Speaker 1: that's part of the lack of development at the major 234 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:53,080 Speaker 1: league level, both on the basis and in the field. 235 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 4: Mostly. 236 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 1: So I get that Miguel Cairo might be like, well, 237 00:11:57,040 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 1: you just canned one of my really good good friends. 238 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 1: I know that there's really nothing in it for me. 239 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 1: I can see the hesitance there. But again, the last 240 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 1: half of the season isn't isn't the important part because 241 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:11,200 Speaker 1: this season for the Washington Nationals at the big league 242 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:14,600 Speaker 1: level is lost. It is who can put together a 243 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 1: modern baseball operations department that is on par with others 244 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 1: in the industry and is funded by ownership in the 245 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:26,319 Speaker 1: way that's appropriate. That's a bigger question in my mind. 246 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 4: Any manager that wins a World Series is a successful 247 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 4: managerial campaign. Is Mike Rizzo's tenure with the Nationals going 248 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:40,679 Speaker 4: to be seen as successful because he won one championship 249 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 4: or with all the money that was spent, our fans 250 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 4: going to look at it as it was Okay, Oh, I. 251 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:50,640 Speaker 1: Think it was good. I mean, from twenty twelve to 252 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen, only the Dodgers won more regular season games 253 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 1: than the Washington Nationals. That's pretty heady company right there. 254 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 1: Given the resources in LA they won four division titles 255 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:04,440 Speaker 1: in that time. They won the wild card that in 256 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen that led to the World Series championship. And 257 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 1: then there were a litany of reasons why things got 258 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:14,600 Speaker 1: got torn down, And as Aj said, you know, this 259 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 1: guy made a lot of really good trade. I can 260 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 1: trades over the years. I can criticize the development over 261 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:22,320 Speaker 1: the last decade, like the drafting hasn't gone well, but 262 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 1: find out Mike Rizzo trade that he lost. It's pretty 263 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 1: hard to do. And that includes the Sodo deal, which 264 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:31,600 Speaker 1: is having a huge impact on the Major League franchise 265 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:35,120 Speaker 1: right now. All three of Gore, Wood and Abrams have 266 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 1: been All Stars very early in their careers. Now with 267 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 1: Gore and Abrams making the Gordon Wood making the team 268 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:44,080 Speaker 1: this year, and you still don't know what you're going 269 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 1: to get from Robert Hassel and Harlan Susanna, a pitcher 270 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 1: who's lowered down in the minors. So I don't think. 271 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:53,440 Speaker 1: I think in ten years, if they're going to have 272 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 1: a reunion of that World Series championship, Mike Rizzo will 273 00:13:57,240 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 1: be back at National's Park with a cigar in his mouth, 274 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 1: waving his hat to the crowd, and they'll be thanking 275 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:04,080 Speaker 1: him for it. 276 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 3: All right, very well, we have You'll have to ask 277 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:10,120 Speaker 3: you what happened to Dylan Cruz. I know he's injured, 278 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:11,839 Speaker 3: but before that, he couldn't hit. 279 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:12,439 Speaker 4: What happened? 280 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:13,640 Speaker 3: This guy hit everywhere he's been. 281 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 1: Well, yeah, that's interesting. I think, first of all, take 282 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:20,920 Speaker 1: the hitting side. One thing that's impressive about this guy 283 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: who kind of walks off the bus and carries himself 284 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 1: as a major leaguer. He just kind of oozes major 285 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 1: leaguer is that those at bats he did not take 286 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 1: to the field, And that's a really good sign for 287 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 1: his future because he played a really wherever you put 288 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 1: him in center or and right, he played a really 289 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:40,320 Speaker 1: good outfield. I'd say aj that, yes, he's hit everywhere 290 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 1: he's been. I kind of view him as a more 291 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: of a high floor than a high ceiling guy. Like 292 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 1: the chances that he's not a really good major leaguer 293 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: for a long time are pretty good. But he doesn't 294 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 1: have James' James Wood's kind of natural athletic ability. I 295 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: expect that when he gets back from this obleague, he'll 296 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 1: be right back out there and we'll see what the 297 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 1: second half yields for him. But you're right, he was 298 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 1: disappointing offensively, not quite as much power. Definitely got in 299 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:11,160 Speaker 1: some streaks where he was swinging at any junk that 300 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 1: was out of the zone and was really an easy 301 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 1: out from time to time. He's got to get back 302 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 1: in the right headspace and become Dylan Cruz because Dylan 303 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 1: and Cruise is pretty hitterish. 304 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 2: Very before we let you go, we have a fan 305 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 2: question here regarding the Washington Nationals. Mike g wants to know, 306 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 2: since this leadership change has been happening right now with 307 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 2: the firing of Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez, do you 308 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 2: think the Nationals are more apt to trade a Mackenzie 309 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 2: Gore now, I mean, does he become more of a 310 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 2: candidate at the deadline now because of the change. 311 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 1: It's a really interesting question. And Mike de Bartlow, Mike 312 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 1: Rizzo's longtime assistant GM who started here as an intern, 313 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 1: you know, thirteen or fourteen years ago, he's running the 314 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 1: show right now, and it's a very interesting question for 315 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 1: him because at four plus years of service time, that's 316 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 1: ex exactly the amount of service time at which they 317 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 1: traded Juan Soto, who, as a Scott Boris client they 318 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 1: knew was very unlikely to sign an extension. Mackenzie Gore, 319 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: Scott Boris' client, would he sign an extension even if 320 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 1: he won't. If you hold on to him. Now, there's 321 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 1: a really good argument that holding on to him means 322 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:22,240 Speaker 1: you should get a commitment from ownership that look, if 323 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:25,920 Speaker 1: we have this guy still, we need to build around him. 324 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 1: He's only here guaranteed for twenty twenty six. In twenty 325 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 1: twenty seven, what are we doing with our payroll if 326 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 1: or are we just going to play two more irrelevant 327 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 1: big league seasons and let this guy walk? Really really 328 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:40,240 Speaker 1: interesting question for Mike de Barbolow, and I think for 329 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 1: ownership as well. 330 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 2: Barry, We appreciate the insight. I know it's been a 331 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 2: little bit crazy for you considering everything that's gone on 332 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 2: in the last twenty four hours. Thanks for being with 333 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 2: the Sunfouled Territory. 334 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 1: Appreciate you having me anytime.