1 00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:04,880 Speaker 1: This is the Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hello, 2 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: I'm Jason Kelly, and I'm Michael Barr and I'm Mike 3 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:11,240 Speaker 1: Lynch and we're here Monday's, Wednesdays and Thursdays to explore 4 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: the big money issues in the world of sports. Talk 5 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 1: to some of the biggest players in the industry. Today, 6 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:19,640 Speaker 1: we're serving up a meat ball to Lynchy because we 7 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: are speaking with legendary Red Sox radio announcer Joe Castiglione. Joe, 8 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:26,760 Speaker 1: what a treat to have you with us. Thank you 9 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 1: so much. Well, thank you so much, Mike, Michael and Jason. 10 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: It's great to be with you guys. And uh, it's 11 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 1: not a normal season certainly, but trying to make the 12 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 1: most of it we are. And not a normal season, 13 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: not even a normal day here Monday morning. We're taping 14 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 1: this around ten am and we've just gotten news. It's 15 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: sort of fast moving, to say the least. We've got 16 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: some positive tests. Unfortunately for the Miami Marlins, we have 17 00:00:56,720 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 1: had a cancelation of a game the Yankees are scheduled 18 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 1: to play in Philly tonight. Again, by the time folks 19 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: are listening to this, many things may have changed, but 20 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:09,040 Speaker 1: we're gonna take it as it comes and just talk 21 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:12,400 Speaker 1: about what this may mean and what it's meant so 22 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: far for baseball. Joe, let's start there. I mean, how 23 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,399 Speaker 1: has this been so far for you? What have you 24 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:23,480 Speaker 1: seen because you've been there? Well, yes, we've done the 25 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 1: two exhibition games against Toronto and the weekend series with Baltimore, 26 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: now the Mets coming in at home and home series, 27 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: and it's certainly been different. I mean, we're calling the 28 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:36,960 Speaker 1: games with no fans in the stands, and when the 29 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 1: Red Sex go on the road will be an empty 30 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 1: ballpark working off the TV monitor, and it's unusual, certainly, probably, 31 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:46,759 Speaker 1: I know it will be a lot more unusual lot 32 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 1: the monitor. At least we have a live game in 33 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: front of us at home, but you certainly missed the interaction. 34 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 1: We have no access to players other than zoom, and 35 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: we use the manager a show. We'd take Ron Rennicky's 36 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: show from his office and we're up in the booth, 37 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: so there's no face to face connections, and of course 38 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: you don't get the asides and some of the personal stories. 39 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 1: As a result of that, you missed the social aspect 40 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 1: of the game. But it's better about not having baseball, 41 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 1: which of course now would seem to be in danger 42 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 1: with what's happening with a virus. Well, as Jason mentioned 43 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: at the show's top that we recorded this in the morning, 44 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:33,080 Speaker 1: and I can't put this any other way. I'm just 45 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:35,800 Speaker 1: wondering now if all hell is going to break loose, 46 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 1: because it's one thing if one player test positive, but 47 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: you have now many players testing positive for this virus 48 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: from one team. UH game has been scrubbed and people 49 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: have to recover from this. What happens to the season 50 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 1: and how much in danger is it? That's trying to 51 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:59,800 Speaker 1: be a very tough decision for the commissary and the players. 52 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: Is association UH clubhouses, even with all the separation, and 53 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: many teams like the Red Sox are putting players in 54 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: the luxury boxes or suites to try to avoid as 55 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 1: much close contact as possible, but players still interact, and 56 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 1: you know, when you get a even a cold can 57 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 1: go through a clubhouse and it's like wildfire. So it's 58 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:27,840 Speaker 1: really strange. I don't know what's going to happen, but 59 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: you certainly fear for the rest of the season. I 60 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 1: don't think there's any question about that. And you know, 61 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 1: it just moved so fast, Joe. This was the biggest 62 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: fear everybody had because the Players Association refused to live 63 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: in a bubble. They said they wanted to go home 64 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: to their apartments, their condos, their houses, their families, and 65 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 1: the only thing that we thought that baseball had a 66 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 1: great chance to go through the sixty games season and 67 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: the only thing that could bring them down was baseball itself. 68 00:03:57,400 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: And it looks like this is what has happened. The 69 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: fear that these young guys can go to some restaurant 70 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: or some club and then they come back to the 71 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 1: clubhouse the next day and it's just like light in 72 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 1: the match. And you know, have you heard any like 73 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 1: at this point been emphasized from Sam Kennedy or Ron 74 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 1: Rennicky with the Red Sox guys, go home, go home, 75 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 1: go home, do not do not, do not, do not 76 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: do any place, and just go home, baseball, home, baseball. Well, 77 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 1: they haven't been public abou Mike, but I think that 78 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:29,160 Speaker 1: that has happened, and I think players are responsible enough 79 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 1: to realize that that's what they have to do. I 80 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 1: know several from different areas and very few have actually 81 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: nobody on our club. Another brock Holder has gone makes 82 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: his permanent residence in Boston. Many of left their families 83 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 1: back home. Uh because of the travel issue. I think 84 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 1: travel is the biggest concern. Uh. We broadcasts and not traveling. 85 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:55,719 Speaker 1: As I mentioned earlier, I don't know if any in 86 00:04:55,760 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 1: baseball that are so I think the travel Uh. Like yesterday, 87 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 1: I went after the game, I watched the Orioles depart 88 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:07,360 Speaker 1: and they had four buses. Now that's still you know, 89 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 1: traveling party of sixty people or so. So there's some separation, 90 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 1: but still there's togetherness. And as we say, this thing 91 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 1: can go like wildfire through a clubhouse or through a team. 92 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,680 Speaker 1: So I don't know what's going to happen. But the 93 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:27,160 Speaker 1: Red Sox have had some cases. Uh. Eduardo Rodriguez, who 94 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 1: is now the number one pitcher with Chris Sale out 95 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:34,039 Speaker 1: with the Tommy John Eddie has myo kardiitis, which is 96 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: an inflammation of the heart muscle to our understanding, which 97 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 1: is a result of having the coronavirus. And the two 98 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 1: top left hand relievers, Josh Taylor and that went Din 99 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: Hernandez are also out with the same virus and they're 100 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 1: not ready to return, not even close. So Joe, if 101 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 1: I may, I want to take you back a little 102 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 1: bit to how we got to the fact of even 103 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:02,480 Speaker 1: starting a season. At the moment of starting a season, 104 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 1: setting aside for a moment that that may be in danger, 105 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:08,560 Speaker 1: it was a tough road to get there. All you 106 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: know about baseball, sort of distilling it down. What did 107 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 1: you make of the very contentious negotiation and ultimately Manfred 108 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 1: having to step in and basically say we're playing Darnett 109 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 1: and I don't want to hear anything more about it. 110 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: What what did you make of it? And what do 111 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: you think the impact of that is on baseball going forward? 112 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:33,839 Speaker 1: Setting aside the virus for a second, well, I was 113 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 1: a terrible optic for baseball. On both sides. Players talk 114 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:40,360 Speaker 1: about wanting to be paid in full, like the smell 115 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 1: of Tampa Bay, very embarrassing video that was out there, 116 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:50,720 Speaker 1: and of course owners talking about not having great cash 117 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 1: flow and the value of franchises has increased so dramatically 118 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 1: over the years. Uh, it certainly did not look good. 119 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:00,840 Speaker 1: And yeah, you don't see bass good ball or even 120 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:04,480 Speaker 1: hockey or surely the NFL airing the dirty laundry is 121 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,839 Speaker 1: public like this. I think it hurt baseball. But I 122 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 1: think when the bell rang on Friday or Thursday for 123 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: four teams. A lot of that was put on the 124 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 1: back burner. And the key will be how it affects 125 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 1: the cb A talks which are coming up after this season, 126 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 1: and if they're that contentious, were in trouble, but maybe 127 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 1: they solve some of the issues and found ways to 128 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 1: get together, because you know, we've had labor peace in well. 129 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: One problem when you have a player that goes down 130 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:41,679 Speaker 1: is that you can always say the club can say, okay, 131 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: well we'll bring somebody up from the miners to take 132 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 1: that person spot. Well, now, for the most part, there 133 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 1: are no minors, which brings me to the next question 134 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 1: about and I brought this up many times about the 135 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 1: status of minor league clubs. What are your thoughts on 136 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 1: that and is it a dire future for those clubs. 137 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: I think it may well be. I mean, major League 138 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:09,559 Speaker 1: Baseball is trying to phase out to so many major 139 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: league teams I'm not the minor league teams that I'm 140 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 1: not quite sure why, because they're building blocks for fandom, 141 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 1: many families that don't have the wherewithal to go to 142 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: big league games on even a semi regular basis. Maybe 143 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 1: once or twice a year from minor league baseball. That 144 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:33,479 Speaker 1: has kept the cost reasonable and it's great family entertainment 145 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 1: value that if we don't have that to develop young fans, 146 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:41,240 Speaker 1: I think they're really missing the boat because we need 147 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: young people, more young people that we certainly have now 148 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 1: with the pace of the game and all the other 149 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 1: issues that it seems very critical that they continue to 150 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 1: get that family type support. And if they phase out 151 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 1: some of these community teams in the lower minors, I 152 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:00,959 Speaker 1: think it's asking for trouble and I'm not quite sure 153 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 1: wide and with the cost savings you know, are not 154 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:07,080 Speaker 1: that significant, you blow it on one free agent, it 155 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 1: doesn't work out. Joe, let me ask you about your 156 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 1: comfort level going into Femway Park, particularly tonight you're playing 157 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:17,559 Speaker 1: the mets Um. You know, I've seen you in there 158 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: a thousand times. I know you can't go into the 159 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:23,680 Speaker 1: clubhouse anymore, you can't hang around the batting cage anymore. 160 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: Do you walk into the park and go directly to 161 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 1: the booth and do you take the stairs or walk 162 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: the ramp up? Or do you go in and push 163 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 1: buttons on an elevator? I mean, is this constantly on 164 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:35,840 Speaker 1: your mind? Tell me what your routine is now from 165 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 1: the minute you will set foot inside the ballpark. Well, 166 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: the first thing I have to do is check in 167 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 1: online and assure that I have not traveled outside of 168 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 1: the eight states listed for Massachusetts and that's pretty much 169 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:53,839 Speaker 1: anywhere south of New Jersey and the I don't have 170 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:57,679 Speaker 1: the fever and uh, none of the other issues. And 171 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:01,840 Speaker 1: you get an instant email clearing you for entrance. Go 172 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 1: to the security gate. Uh, we get daily credentials and 173 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 1: no more season credentials. And then uh, they take our temperature. 174 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 1: There are two security people there and I either walk 175 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 1: up the ramp five stories. May not do tonight because 176 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 1: it's going to be close to a hundred degrees. And 177 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:22,079 Speaker 1: then or there's an elevator down the third day's line 178 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:26,439 Speaker 1: that's reserved for media one or two people at a time, 179 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 1: and you press the button and it says self flensing buttons. 180 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:34,680 Speaker 1: So that's a at the plot, and then we get 181 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 1: often we've walked to the broadcast booth and pretty much 182 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 1: stay there. I have my own boot. Fortunately we have 183 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:48,319 Speaker 1: no visiting media traveling, so I have a booth, which 184 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 1: is normally the visiting TV booth partner will flending and 185 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 1: if he works in loom A, Looney have our bigger booths, 186 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,360 Speaker 1: so it works out very well for me. There's very 187 00:10:57,360 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 1: little physical contact and any time we're not in the booth, 188 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:05,440 Speaker 1: we wear a mask. So, Joe, I mean, I do 189 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: wonder kind of you know, I asked what the contentiousness 190 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 1: would do for for baseball, for better or worse? What 191 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 1: do you think this virus does for popularity? I mean, 192 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:20,560 Speaker 1: what have you even seen from the first couple of days, 193 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:23,079 Speaker 1: Because as you alluded to earlier, I think all of 194 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 1: us who were fans were happy to see it back. 195 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: Um and and as you said, you know, maybe willing 196 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: to forget a little bit about what got us here. Um. 197 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:39,199 Speaker 1: How much does a canceled season threaten the economic viability 198 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 1: you think of the game? Well, I don't know from 199 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 1: an ownerstand why, whether they save money or not, certainly 200 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 1: would hurt the players in their pocketbooks. And you know, 201 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 1: we know about these big salaries and some of the 202 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:54,840 Speaker 1: guys opted out that have made so much money that 203 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: they can afford to do that. It's not the same 204 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 1: for everybody. Uh. The TV ready were very good for 205 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 1: the first game, maybe the first weekend. Overall, I haven't 206 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 1: seen them yet today. But I think that's that's very critical, 207 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:10,480 Speaker 1: and baseball could have had a jump and they settled 208 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:13,559 Speaker 1: their issues earlier and maybe started three or four weeks 209 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 1: ahead of this, but they still have to jump on basketball, hockey, 210 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 1: and football. So I think it's a plus for the 211 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:24,600 Speaker 1: game of baseball. And if they're not able to continue, well, 212 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:27,840 Speaker 1: we're really remains to be seeing what happens. There's so 213 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 1: many things that would be affected. For instance, the Red 214 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:35,440 Speaker 1: Sox trying to get onto the luxury tax the threshold 215 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:39,079 Speaker 1: wouldn't be able to do that if the season were 216 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 1: to end this week. If the goes I'm not sure 217 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: how many games, but I think it's most of the 218 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:48,320 Speaker 1: sixty game schedule they will be free of that. They 219 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 1: reset the bar for the luxury tax, which is critical 220 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 1: in today's baseball. The Yankees did it, the Dodgers did it, 221 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 1: and they certainly helped them be able to spend as 222 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 1: they have the last year or so. Um So there's 223 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 1: so many effects, and then you have the c b 224 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 1: A looming after the season, so it's really hard to 225 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:11,960 Speaker 1: say what the results would be for the game of baseball, 226 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 1: but I don't think it's anything positive. If it has 227 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:18,440 Speaker 1: to stop. This is kind of a joint question for 228 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 1: Joe and Mike because both of you guys are very 229 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:28,000 Speaker 1: familiar obviously with the Boston audience in the Boston market. Uh, 230 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:30,840 Speaker 1: when you have a team that is, uh, let's say, 231 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 1: just worthy of championships and and the team has built 232 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 1: a history for it, and uh, the fans enjoy it. 233 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:45,679 Speaker 1: And of course you have other teams like the Detroit 234 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 1: Tigers right now, who are we're the Hamburger helper right 235 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:53,320 Speaker 1: now of the of the league. But it's what is 236 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 1: it like when you have such a good team to 237 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 1: to come and to call? And I asked that to 238 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: both uh, Mike and to Joe ahead. Certainly, you know, 239 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 1: I've been there with the Red Sox three and except 240 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 1: for the early nineties, they've had a chance to win 241 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 1: every year. I was in Cleveland before that with bad 242 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 1: teams and that wasn't the case. So it really is 243 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 1: something that I think Red Side fans should appreciate. And 244 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:31,239 Speaker 1: it obviously starts and ends with good ownership and committed ownership, 245 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 1: and the Red Sox certainly have had that, both with 246 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 1: the old regime and especially with the John Henry group 247 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 1: that's won four championships in a fifteen year stretch. You know, 248 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 1: every every single night is an event at Fenway Park. 249 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 1: When there were fans allowed in, it didn't matter if 250 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: they were playing the Yankees or the Baltimore Orioles or 251 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:55,720 Speaker 1: the Bad News Bears. Thirty eight thousand people would jam 252 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 1: that place. That get there a little bit early. Uh, 253 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 1: they don't open the gate until ninety minutes before the 254 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 1: first pitch, So fans actually missed the Red Sox batting practice. 255 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 1: They catch the tail end of the opponent's batting practice. 256 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 1: And it's a happening. And when someone says to you, well, hey, 257 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 1: do you want to make plans to go away on 258 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 1: a vacation in October? You say no, because it's a 259 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 1: staple that you're going to be counting on playing baseball 260 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:22,880 Speaker 1: in October. And it's oh, it's I've been a lucky guy. 261 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 1: I grew up here, I've never worked any place else. Um, 262 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 1: I've been an admirer of Joe's. Uh, you know, I 263 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 1: see him every night at the ballpark. I worked with 264 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 1: his son Duke over at the Channel five, And um, 265 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 1: we're two lucky guys. As Joe said, he broadcast in Cleveland, 266 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: and uh, a lot of those games in Cleveland, Joe 267 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 1: probably looked familiar to the last five games we've done 268 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 1: a femily right because people at hey, how you are 269 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: going to react with an empty ballpark? So well, I 270 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 1: did games in Cleveland with two thousand people in eight stadium. 271 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 1: I know that feelings like I feel, by the way, 272 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 1: for Dan Dickerson, I used to work with him. He's 273 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: Dan Dickerson, covers the Detroit Tigers. He's in the booth 274 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 1: and uh, God bless him. He can make a cockroach 275 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 1: race sound like it's extremely exciting. He's that good and 276 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:16,800 Speaker 1: that's what he has to work with. So uh go Tigers, 277 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 1: forgive me, but you know, I know what it's like 278 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 1: when you're on the other end. And uh, Boston fans, 279 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 1: congratulations somewhere. Well, from an Atlanta perspective, all I can 280 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: recommend is back to the eighties when Ted Turner was 281 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 1: doing Ostrich races at hul County Stadium. But speaking of which, Joe, 282 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 1: I mean you mentioned I think a critical component of 283 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:42,880 Speaker 1: all of this which we're fascinated by on this show, 284 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 1: which is ownership, and talk more about that because you 285 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:50,200 Speaker 1: have seen that obviously up close and personal uh with 286 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 1: John Henry and his crew, talk about how that manifests 287 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 1: from your perspective in terms of running the business and 288 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 1: in terms of building a successful team, because I feel 289 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:06,399 Speaker 1: like that lesson is being learned sometimes easily, sometimes harder 290 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 1: across all the Pro league's ownership. Well, certainly you have 291 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:16,280 Speaker 1: to invest and you have to spend to get results, 292 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:18,760 Speaker 1: and I think the Red Socks have done that. They 293 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:22,400 Speaker 1: got a lot of criticism for trading Mookie Betts, who 294 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:25,359 Speaker 1: signed the big twelve year deal with the Dodgers for 295 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:29,240 Speaker 1: three hundred and sixty five million or something along those lines, 296 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 1: and that was done I think in large part because 297 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:35,119 Speaker 1: they weren't convinced Mookie was going to stay. He's going 298 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:37,919 Speaker 1: to test the market. Was a little bit surprising that 299 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:42,680 Speaker 1: they got that many uh, that Mookie got that much 300 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 1: in this pandemic, But he is that good and there's 301 00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:48,720 Speaker 1: certainly the Red Sox will miss him. But they wanted 302 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:51,880 Speaker 1: to reset the luxury bar as well. I think all 303 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 1: the main thing was they weren't convinced he was gonna stay. 304 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 1: He did turn down ten million, three hundred millions for 305 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 1: ten years, which basically is the same amount of money 306 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:03,600 Speaker 1: that he got with the Dodgers with two more years 307 00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:07,199 Speaker 1: added by the Dodgers. So I think you have to 308 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:11,160 Speaker 1: look at it that way. And the way my judgment 309 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:14,880 Speaker 1: is they've won four. They bought the club, took over 310 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 1: and O two. They won four World championships in fifteen 311 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:21,120 Speaker 1: years and nobody the century has won that many. So 312 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 1: I think that shows commitment, and uh, that's critical in 313 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 1: this game. I'm gonna be quiet now because I'm still 314 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 1: crying my com I mean, are you sort of set 315 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:36,479 Speaker 1: yourself up by asking these guys like, what does it 316 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 1: feel like to be a winner? I mean, very simply, 317 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:48,680 Speaker 1: it was history, but they've also had some real valleys 318 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:51,639 Speaker 1: as well as the peaks. And you don't do that 319 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:58,160 Speaker 1: with Boston and the Yankees anymore. You reload, not rebuild. Hey, Joe, 320 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:00,119 Speaker 1: let me ask you, um, you know, from a is 321 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:04,199 Speaker 1: the standpoint? Is it still the same routine called the bullpen, 322 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 1: brought to you by today's starting lineups, brought to you 323 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:09,879 Speaker 1: by Is business still good? From your your perspective? I know, 324 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:12,399 Speaker 1: as a broadcaster, I couldn't tell you what a thirty 325 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 1: second commercial costs and television have to work in there 326 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:17,440 Speaker 1: forty years. But and you probably couldn't either. But are 327 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 1: those dropping still there? Are those dropping still there? Ah? Yes, 328 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:25,359 Speaker 1: and not quite to the extent that they were, But yes, 329 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 1: they're a very viable part of our broadcast and a 330 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 1: necessary part. And uh, you know we have an hour 331 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 1: pregame show for that reason. Pregame shows are designed to 332 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:40,439 Speaker 1: carry spots, usually more spots than programming content. And uh, 333 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:43,679 Speaker 1: I think our sales guys have done as well as 334 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:47,360 Speaker 1: could be expected considering what we're going through here. And 335 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:50,199 Speaker 1: we still have our basic staples and some new sponsors 336 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:53,359 Speaker 1: as well. So uh, it's a big part of it. 337 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:58,359 Speaker 1: And you know, the brakes are filled every happening and 338 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 1: the game goes on and the commercials go on. It 339 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 1: is sort of amazing, I mean, and I think we're 340 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: learning a lot about the broadcast business and the media business, 341 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:12,920 Speaker 1: all of us. Any parting thoughts Michael Barr or Lynchy 342 00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 1: questions for Joe, Yeah, I do have I have one, 343 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:19,240 Speaker 1: And I was thinking about this, uh, and it kind 344 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:23,640 Speaker 1: of extends more about Fenway Park and you kind of 345 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:25,440 Speaker 1: both of you guys kind of touched off on it 346 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 1: walking into Fenway. It is it's a treasure because we yes, 347 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:36,840 Speaker 1: many new parks have popped up, uh, but Fenway is Fenway. 348 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:40,679 Speaker 1: You still have the old style scoreboard where somebody is 349 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:45,720 Speaker 1: putting in the slide for the for the scores. It's 350 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 1: that experience. Just walking into Fenway must be exciting, and 351 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: I bring that to both Well. Yes, it's in my 352 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:58,280 Speaker 1: office for thirty eight years, so I still appreciate it 353 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:01,080 Speaker 1: every time we go in there. It's that green wall 354 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 1: and left field, and you have to credit the ownership here. 355 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: Under the old ownership, we had plans for new Sunway 356 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:12,000 Speaker 1: Park in the late nineteen nineties, and when this group 357 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:14,960 Speaker 1: came in, I think modern engineering made it possible too. 358 00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:18,920 Speaker 1: They decided to save Fenway Park and they've rebuilt it 359 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:21,280 Speaker 1: with the seats and left field, the monster seats are 360 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:24,240 Speaker 1: they're called. It was a ten year program I think 361 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 1: could cost something like a hundred million dollars or maybe more. 362 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:31,160 Speaker 1: And they did such a good job that those new 363 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:34,160 Speaker 1: editions look like they've been there since the Parker's book 364 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 1: in nineteen twelves. They blend in so well. Well. I 365 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:39,879 Speaker 1: remember my first game, I was seven years old. My 366 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 1: dad took me. It was Ted Williams last year in 367 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 1: nineteen sixty and the first thing that struck me is 368 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:46,840 Speaker 1: the same thing that strikes me every time I walk in. 369 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:49,200 Speaker 1: How green the grass is and how green the left 370 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:51,679 Speaker 1: field wall is. When you walk in, it sort of 371 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:54,439 Speaker 1: takes your breath away. And this ownership has done a 372 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 1: great job of keeping the character of the ballpark looking 373 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 1: the same. As Joe said, it almost looks like those 374 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:03,120 Speaker 1: the monster seats used to be just nets in left 375 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:05,640 Speaker 1: field and all these little pavilions where they have where 376 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 1: people can enjoy the game. And uh, and it's a happening. 377 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:11,199 Speaker 1: And it's a very intimate ballpark because there's not a 378 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:14,720 Speaker 1: lot of foul territory. The fans are right on top 379 00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 1: of the on deck circle there, right on top of 380 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:20,439 Speaker 1: the dugout, right on top of the outfielders. And it's 381 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 1: a great, great place to watch a game. And uh, 382 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:24,720 Speaker 1: we've Joe and I've been lucky to be able to, 383 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 1: you know, call that place home. And uh actually get 384 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 1: paid for going there, which is really really a crime. 385 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 1: I kind of wear a mask every other week when 386 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:34,800 Speaker 1: my paycheck comes in, because you know, I get paid 387 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:41,240 Speaker 1: for going to Fenway Park. It really is special, all right. Well, Joe, 388 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 1: you're a gentleman for spending some time with us. We 389 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 1: know it's a busy time and an uncertain time. Thanks 390 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:49,640 Speaker 1: for taking some time with us. Best of luck. We're 391 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 1: all rooting for baseball, of course, to continue, and hopefully 392 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 1: we can get it all figured out, and hopefully we'll 393 00:22:57,040 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 1: get a chance to check in with you, maybe tour 394 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:04,880 Speaker 1: the toward October, as as Lynch said, when we get 395 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:07,480 Speaker 1: a little bit of a playoff run or something. Whatever 396 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,040 Speaker 1: the season is going to look like here, we just 397 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:13,639 Speaker 1: hope it continues. Really grateful to you, thank you, thank 398 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:17,360 Speaker 1: you so much for having me, Mike and Mike Ohen Jason. 399 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:19,639 Speaker 1: A lot of fun and uh we hope we'll be 400 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 1: talking to you in October. We'll see all right. Well, guys, 401 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,439 Speaker 1: as we said at the top, a fast moving story. 402 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:30,240 Speaker 1: And as we're wrapping up taping, just as we let 403 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 1: Joe Castiglione go, we got word via the Athletic that 404 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:38,320 Speaker 1: the Yankees Phillies game will not be played tonight Monday night. This, 405 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:43,400 Speaker 1: of course, is following the Marlins visit to Philadelphia. We 406 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:47,960 Speaker 1: don't know how wide this will spread to in terms 407 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:52,600 Speaker 1: of cancelation, but you know, Lynchy, not a super big 408 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:54,720 Speaker 1: surprise that they would cancel this game out of an 409 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:58,159 Speaker 1: abundance of caution. But you do wonder what this portends 410 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:01,520 Speaker 1: for the week end the season. Well, the Yankees would 411 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:04,119 Speaker 1: be being the same clubhouse that the Marlins were in 412 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 1: for three nights. If I'm on the Yankees, I'm not 413 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:09,520 Speaker 1: going anywhere near that clubhouse. I don't care if I 414 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:12,239 Speaker 1: have a hazmat suit on. It's just not happening. And 415 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:17,360 Speaker 1: I think that sentiment was relayed around to the Commissioner's 416 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 1: office and that they did the right thing. Uh, the 417 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:23,119 Speaker 1: thing is has to be sanitized over and over again. 418 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:25,960 Speaker 1: And uh when is the comfort level gonna return to 419 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 1: go back to the clubhouse that fourteen members of the 420 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:31,399 Speaker 1: As of ten thirty Monday morning, four teen members of 421 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:34,360 Speaker 1: the Marlins tested positive. Al Right, Well, you can catch 422 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:36,919 Speaker 1: our podcast right here every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. I'm 423 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:39,520 Speaker 1: Jason Kelly. Catch me on Twitter at Jason Kelly News, 424 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:43,159 Speaker 1: and I'm Michael Crying Bar. I'm on Twitter at bart 425 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:47,080 Speaker 1: Sports and I'm Mike Lynch I feel bad for the Tigers, 426 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:50,120 Speaker 1: And you can catch me at Lynch w CBB. You're 427 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:53,200 Speaker 1: listening to Bloomberg Business and Sports from Bloomberg Radio around 428 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:53,520 Speaker 1: the world,