1 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,440 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Is This a Great Game or What? 2 00:00:09,760 --> 00:00:12,719 Speaker 1: And wait, hold on, You're hearing us on a Friday 3 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:16,600 Speaker 1: for the first time ever. This is so exciting, Dad, Right. 4 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 2: We're gonna have two podcasts a week, one that lands 5 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 2: every Tuesday, and the next is gonna land every Friday. 6 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 2: This is our first Friday edition of is This Great 7 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 2: Game or What? 8 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:32,000 Speaker 1: Are you just thinking about? The astronauts? It just came 9 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: back from the space station by saying, the podcast lands 10 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: uncertain these remember we got the rock? You can say, Dr. 11 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 2: Jeff As you know, sixty eight years old, I'm not 12 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 2: into the lingo of technology. 13 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,599 Speaker 1: You're the one who called me and said, what are 14 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: the kids saying? When an episode airs? Does it air drop? 15 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 1: And so all right, no, Dad, you know I'm just 16 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: pulling your leg. I'm just messing with So an episode 17 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 1: will land drop, air arrive whatever you want to call 18 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: it on Tuesdays and Fridays. Is our very first Friday episode. 19 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: So thank you for listening and being a part of 20 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 1: the show today and being a part of our family. 21 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:13,279 Speaker 2: Dad. 22 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: Obviously, we have to talk about the Tokyo series. How 23 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: cool and amazing was that spectacle? In Japan? 24 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 2: A couple of takeaways, Jeff, Japanese baseball is tremendous. The 25 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 2: fans there are great, they're sophisticated, they love the sport. 26 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 2: The game is played at an exceptionally high level there, 27 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 2: and baseball going to Japan to start the season. Look, 28 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:42,040 Speaker 2: we all want to open in Cincinnati with a parade, 29 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 2: but we don't do that anymore. If you're not going 30 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 2: to do that, this is the way to go globalize 31 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 2: the game. And the fact that the Dodgers especially were 32 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 2: so heavy laden with Japanese players, I mean, Yoshi Yamamoto 33 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 2: pitched Game one, he pitched five great innings. He's gonna 34 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 2: be a cy young contender this year. And then of 35 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:10,119 Speaker 2: course Roki Sazaki pitched in Game two for the Dodgers, 36 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:12,959 Speaker 2: and he wasn't particularly good, but the first two pitches 37 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 2: the three were at one hundred and one miles an hour. 38 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 2: He's got a real good chance to be the rookie 39 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 2: of the Year in the National League this year. And 40 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 2: of course Shohei o Tani, you know, hit a home 41 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:28,679 Speaker 2: run in the second game, had a really good series. 42 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 2: Just another reminder, Jeff, even though every move he makes 43 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 2: wherever he goes is chronicled, he still finds a way 44 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 2: to rise to the occasion like nobody I've ever seen 45 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 2: in baseball, and he did it again in Japan. But 46 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 2: it was a great two game series in Japan, and 47 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 2: just another reminder how deep the Dodgers are in their lineup, 48 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 2: in their rotation. I mean, they beat the Cubs twice, 49 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 2: and they did it without Mookie Betts and without Freddie Freeman, 50 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:01,680 Speaker 2: who were either injured or sick. That's how good the 51 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:02,399 Speaker 2: Dodgers are. 52 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 1: They really are incredible. And there was a there was 53 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: a headline I saw that said, can anybody beat the Dodgers? Right, 54 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 1: And you know, it's one hundred and sixty two game season, 55 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 1: but you're you bring up a good point, Dad, With 56 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 1: two of their main pieces out for the Tokyo series, 57 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 1: and they still were able to beat the very good 58 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 1: Chicago Cubs team that traveled out to Japan. Now, obviously 59 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: we're a baseball podcast. We're recording this on what I 60 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: believe to be arguably the best day in sports, Okay, 61 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,960 Speaker 1: and we're gonna have to hurry this up because it's 62 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: the first day of the NCAA tournament. It's the round 63 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 1: of sixty four. This is so exciting and when we 64 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 1: release on Friday, it's the second day, which is the 65 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 1: second best day in sports because you've got more games 66 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 1: in the round of sixty four. Dad, March madness is here. 67 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 2: It is and it's great. And we'll turn this to baseball, 68 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 2: I promise you. In every clubhouse baseball clubhouse in America today, 69 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 2: there are sheets going around are because this is what 70 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 2: every player wants to do, is fill out his bracket. 71 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 2: They will have all sorts of contests within teams. It's 72 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 2: much like the start of the fantasy football season. How 73 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 2: huge that is in baseball. Same thing here. John Smoltz 74 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 2: used to be a part of John Smoltz's World's Most 75 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 2: Competitive Man, and I mean that as a compliment. He 76 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 2: used to do the like the brackets and everything for 77 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,120 Speaker 2: the Braves a million years ago, and Tom Glavin used 78 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 2: to look at him, his own teammate, and said, John, 79 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 2: why are we even doing this? We all know in 80 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 2: advance that you're going to win. Everyone else is going 81 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 2: to finish somewhere else. That's how good John Smoltz was 82 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:46,480 Speaker 2: at predicting basketball. But all over the place brackets are 83 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:49,720 Speaker 2: being filled out. I love March madness. 84 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 1: Have you filled out a bracket in my bracket. 85 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 2: Challenge, and what happened Jeff, was you have technical difficult Yes, 86 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 2: of course, and asked for a word, which, of course 87 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 2: I don't have. 88 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 1: McKinley is the password. 89 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 2: I just had to text me it's too late now, 90 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 2: and it's just as well. I have other things I 91 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 2: have to do. Sorry, Yes, the worst words in the language, 92 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 2: you know, add a password and I always forget because 93 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:21,120 Speaker 2: I have like fifty of them. 94 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, I'll just tell everybody I in my bracket. 95 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: I host a bracket challenge every single year on ESPN, 96 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: and my bracket this year, I chose Florida to win 97 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:34,919 Speaker 1: it all. Wow, there, you got to pick the Gators 98 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:38,919 Speaker 1: and listen, they always say, don't don't pick with your heart, 99 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 1: don't bet with your heart, all that stuff. Duke seems 100 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:44,239 Speaker 1: like a really good pick for this year's March Madness, 101 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: but Dad is a University of Maryland graduate, and as 102 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 1: a Syracuse graduate myself, it's just hard to pick the 103 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 1: Blue Devils. 104 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 2: I'm sorry. 105 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:55,719 Speaker 1: I have them in the championship against the Florida Gators 106 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:57,680 Speaker 1: and losing to the Gators. I just couldn't pick them 107 00:05:57,680 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: to win it all. To be completely honest. 108 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 2: All right, Well, speaking of that, Jeff, you my son, 109 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:07,119 Speaker 2: challenged me to come up with an all March Madness team. 110 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 2: Tim you know we've done. 111 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:11,160 Speaker 1: Thought it would be perfect for our first Friday episode, 112 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:14,039 Speaker 1: day two of the Round of sixty four. And you 113 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: know you started doing these last year and you would 114 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: just bring them to the show. And then I started 115 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 1: to say, hey, why don't you do this? Why don't 116 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:23,599 Speaker 1: you do that? Ninety percent of the time, Dad, you say, 117 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,840 Speaker 1: I already have it, well, but this time you kind 118 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:28,040 Speaker 1: of had to stretch to get. 119 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 2: Into it, right, So this is a bigger stretch than 120 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:33,480 Speaker 2: Willie McCovey. That was his nickname, by the way, Jeff, 121 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:36,040 Speaker 2: all right, we're going to start at first base with 122 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:42,479 Speaker 2: Duke sims former catcher first basement. All right. So Duke 123 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:46,039 Speaker 2: Sims by the way, hit one hundred major league home runs, 124 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 2: and I hope, I I hope I don't discuss anyone here. 125 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 2: He also had the unique ability to throw up on command, 126 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 2: so he could just be sitting there in front of 127 00:06:57,160 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 2: you and be able to throw up if he won 128 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:02,160 Speaker 2: wanted to. You know, anyone who else who wants to straw 129 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:04,279 Speaker 2: up has to put their fingers down the throat. He 130 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:07,160 Speaker 2: didn't have to do that. So among his many claims 131 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 2: to fame, Duke Simms could throw up on command. Second base. 132 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 2: Second base Jeff is my favorite Hall of Famer. Bid McPhee, 133 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 2: second baseman. Last guy to play like a full Major 134 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 2: league season without wearing a glove. That's how far back 135 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 2: we go with Bid McPhee. He must have had great hands, Jeff, 136 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 2: if he went a whole year without using a glove. 137 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 2: But that's that's the best one I got. Bid McPhee, Okay, 138 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 2: I'm in Bid. I love that Third baseman is Ray Knight, 139 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 2: and only because Bobby Knight, you know, was the coach 140 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 2: so many years in March Madness. And a tribute to 141 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 2: Bobby Knight. By the way, Ray Knight, who was my 142 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:57,119 Speaker 2: teammate at ESPN for several years, love Ray Knight also 143 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 2: played for the Orioles when I covered the team. Guy, 144 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 2: very good player, like a box or two. He could 145 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 2: beat up anyone in the major leagues. He was also 146 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 2: married for a while, at least to Nancy Lopez, the 147 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 2: great LPGA Tour golfer. And Ray was a great athlete, 148 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 2: is a great athlete and a really good golfer. So 149 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 2: I said, did you ever you know, defeat your wife 150 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 2: in a game of golf? And he goes, yeah, I 151 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 2: beat her one time. He said, I annoyed her so 152 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:32,599 Speaker 2: badly on the course that she walked off after fourteen 153 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 2: holes because I aggravated her so much. That's the only 154 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:40,439 Speaker 2: time I beat her. She quit after fourteen holes because 155 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 2: she was tired of listening to me. 156 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 1: That's funny. And Dad, Knight, you got like UCF for 157 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 1: the Knights. Rutgers are the Scarlet Knights. 158 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 2: Right, there's a lot of ways to go. It's a stretch, jep. 159 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:54,319 Speaker 2: There are a lot of stretches on this list. My 160 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:59,199 Speaker 2: shortstop is Dave Chalk because when you go, well, if 161 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:01,960 Speaker 2: I have to explain these, then they really they're not good. 162 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 2: We got you understood that, right, Okay. One outfielder. I 163 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 2: had to look this one up. Iracedes S E. D S. 164 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 2: Love that Harlan Poole. I think we all understand. Yeah, 165 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 2: Buster Adams is our third outfielder. Of course I would 166 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 2: have used her, Buster Posey more famous, but I had 167 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:32,560 Speaker 2: Bubbles Hardgrave as my catcher and my picture is Devon Sweet. Now. 168 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 2: I couldn't find anyone named Ted sixteen or anything, so 169 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 2: I had to go with Sweet. We all think, we 170 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 2: all understand Sweet has something to do with Mark Sweet sixteen. 171 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, you couldn't. You couldn't find Frankie Final. 172 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 2: No right by Eric Elite No No, March No Madness. 173 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,959 Speaker 2: I tried. I tried. And if anyone out there has 174 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 2: a better March Madness list than me, or anyone that 175 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:00,440 Speaker 2: I missed, please send it in this This is so 176 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 2: preposterously stupid, but anyone who's got one better than me, 177 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 2: I want to hear about it. 178 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:07,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's funny. When I told you about this, I 179 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:10,719 Speaker 1: pitched it as exactly what you ended up doing, and 180 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:13,000 Speaker 1: you had kind of said, oh, well, maybe I'll do 181 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 1: players that played in March Madness, right, who played in 182 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 1: the tournament and make the best team possible. And I 183 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: had said, well, why don't you come up with a 184 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 1: team like you know, Billy Syrah Hues is this last thing? 185 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:26,960 Speaker 1: But I didn't have any examples for you, and you 186 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 1: did a great job. I'm in press. 187 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:32,440 Speaker 2: Well, thank you, and we'll do another March Madness related 188 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 2: team at the end of March Madness when we have 189 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:38,079 Speaker 2: the Final four and everything else. 190 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, we actually have a special guest already scheduled and planned. 191 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 1: A former, long, long time Division one basketball coach is 192 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 1: a national champion basketball coach. We're not going to say who, 193 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:52,960 Speaker 1: but we're going to tell you that in April, we 194 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,319 Speaker 1: have a guest booked for that and it's going to 195 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:56,840 Speaker 1: be really exciting. 196 00:10:56,600 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 2: Right And I promise you, even though he's a basketball ledgend, 197 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 2: we might not ask him one basketball question because he 198 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:08,680 Speaker 2: also loves baseball and that's what this podcast is about. 199 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 1: On this date in baseball history, Dad, we get to 200 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 1: do this twice a week now, which is really exciting. 201 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 1: What do you got for us. 202 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 2: In nineteen ninety nine, Garth Brooks. I don't know if 203 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 2: you know who Garth Brooks is, Jeff, you do a 204 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 2: morning show in Philadelphia music. 205 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:26,559 Speaker 1: Country music. 206 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,320 Speaker 2: You're right, country music. No longer do I call it 207 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:33,559 Speaker 2: country Western music anymore. But Garth Brooks, who of course 208 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 2: played for the Podres a bunch of times in spring training, 209 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 2: actually got a hit on this date in nineteen ninety 210 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 2: nine against Mike'saratka of the White Sox. Now, I'm not 211 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:47,360 Speaker 2: sure if this was the time, but one of the 212 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 2: I think the way Bruce Boches told me a story 213 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:54,440 Speaker 2: once he put Garth Brooks into pinch run in a 214 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:58,400 Speaker 2: game and he got picked off by like eight feet 215 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 2: at first base. It wasn't even close, and the umpire 216 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 2: and I'm gonna guess I'm probably wrong. I think it 217 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:10,320 Speaker 2: was Frank Pulley called him safe going back to first. 218 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:13,680 Speaker 2: It's an exhibition game, it's Garth Brooks, and he called 219 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:17,080 Speaker 2: him safe because he said, my wife loves Garth Brooks. 220 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 2: If I had called him out, she might not have 221 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 2: spoken to me for the rest of my life. So yes, 222 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 2: nineteen ninety nine, Garth Brooks. 223 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 1: Got a hit that's incredible, And you know, I've reached 224 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: out to his people to try to get him as 225 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:33,199 Speaker 1: a guest on this show, so I'm gonna send them 226 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:36,840 Speaker 1: this episode as well. And he probably remembers that day fondly. 227 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 1: So we'll see if we can get Garth Brooks in 228 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:41,400 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five. That would be a big get. He's 229 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 1: got the biggest name in country music and one of 230 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:47,440 Speaker 1: the biggest so I'm gonna try my best. 231 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 2: All right, good, all right. Nineteen sixty three, Sean Dunstan 232 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:56,439 Speaker 2: was born former made mainly Cubs shortstop threw from shortstop 233 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:59,840 Speaker 2: as he threw it as hard as any shortstop I've 234 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 2: ever seen. And he threw it really hard every single 235 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 2: time he made a throw from shortstop to first base. 236 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:08,840 Speaker 2: Infect Mark Grace's first baseman used to tell him all 237 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 2: the time, you don't have to throw it that hard 238 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 2: every time you throw it over because Mark was a 239 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:20,560 Speaker 2: great defensive first baseman had trouble catching it sometimes because 240 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 2: Sean Dunstan just, you know, just made sure he threw 241 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 2: it as hard as he could over first. I asked 242 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 2: Sean in retirement, I asked him, I said, Sean, do 243 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 2: you do you miss baseball? And he goes like this, 244 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 2: I don't miss the slider. And that's that's the way 245 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:39,680 Speaker 2: most retired players think. I missed the competition, I miss 246 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:42,840 Speaker 2: the guys, but I don't miss like a great slider. 247 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 2: All right. Nineteen eighty two, Aaron Hill was born. Aaron 248 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:51,439 Speaker 2: Hill hit for the cycle twice in a ten game period. 249 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:55,679 Speaker 2: Now let's test your knowledge and your memory, Jeff from 250 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:59,559 Speaker 2: last year, when we brought this up at least five times, 251 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 2: give me four major players in baseball history who never 252 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 2: hit for the cycle. If you get this wrong. On 253 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:11,360 Speaker 2: the first Friday of the year. I'm gonna be very disappointed, Babe. 254 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:18,360 Speaker 1: Ruth, Yes, Hank Aaron, Yes, Willie Mays, Yes, Barry Bonds, 255 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 1: you did it. 256 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 2: Way to go, Jeff. And last thing, two thousand and two. 257 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 2: This is Mason wins birthday, the shortstop for the Cardinals. 258 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 2: He was born on this date in two thousand and two. 259 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 2: Speaking of a great throwing arm. Oh my goodness, Jeff, 260 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 2: watch that guy throw someday. And I had a nice 261 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:42,840 Speaker 2: chat with him this spring in the in the Cardinals clubhouse, 262 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 2: and somehow, somehow roller coasters came up. And you know 263 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:51,480 Speaker 2: how how scared I am of roller coasters. I'm afraid 264 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 2: of heights. I'm not even comfortable being this tall. And 265 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 2: I can't go on a roller coaster because anything is 266 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 2: too high, it moves too quickly. So Mason Win goes, no, 267 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 2: I'm not doing roller coasters. He said I would throw up, 268 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:06,160 Speaker 2: to which I had to explain to him. I actually 269 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 2: did throw up on a roller coaster once. It was 270 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 2: the worst. So twice in the first Friday podcast we've 271 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:17,600 Speaker 2: talked about throwing up. Duke Sims Now me on a roller. 272 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 1: Coaster, Dad, I thought you threw up on a ferris wheel. 273 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 2: On your date. It's all the same thing. It was called, Jeff, 274 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 2: the scrambler. Oh you can only imagine what now in 275 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 2: and out that credible rate of speed it was. 276 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:34,479 Speaker 1: I would I would make the argument that a scrambler 277 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 1: is more likely to make you throw up than a 278 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 1: roller coaster, to be completely honest, because that's just that 279 00:15:39,280 --> 00:15:44,120 Speaker 1: constant motion, right, I mean honestly. I didn't mean to 280 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 1: be disrespectful when I said the ferris Wheel because I 281 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 1: knew it wasn't a roller coaster. But the scrambler is 282 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 1: no joke. Even I, who I like going on rides, 283 00:15:51,560 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 1: I wouldn't go on the scrambler. It'd make me sick too. 284 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 1: So I think a lot of people can relate to that. 285 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 2: Well. I have three grandchildren, one of them is your child, McKinley, 286 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 2: and they're going to ask me someday, pop up, do 287 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 2: you want to go on the ride with me? And 288 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 2: I'm gonna have to say, look, I'll do anything you want, 289 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 2: but I'm not going on any sort of scary rides. 290 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 2: Never knowing you. 291 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 1: You'll say, let's go back to the gift shop. I'll 292 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 1: get you whatever you want right right. That's on this 293 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 1: state in baseball history, and coming up next after a 294 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: quick break, we've got a Kirksion quandary that we need 295 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 1: you to answer for us. Ozzie to oral the best 296 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 1: players from numbers one to fifty five, and then we're 297 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:31,600 Speaker 1: going best of all tim the best player for each 298 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 1: of the franchises. We'll do one franchise a week throughout 299 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 1: the season, and then a brand new segment for all 300 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 1: of those who are steam heads that's coming up next. 301 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 1: Is this a great Game or what we kick off 302 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 1: our kirkshon quandry. You can let us know what you 303 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 1: think at Great Game or What on social media, or 304 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: you can obviously go to Great Game or what dot 305 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 1: com and chime in there. 306 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 2: Bobby Valentine told us last year on this podcast about 307 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:12,120 Speaker 2: how revered players are in Japan, how rich they are 308 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:16,160 Speaker 2: in Japan, how comfortable they are in Japan. They are 309 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:20,760 Speaker 2: absolute heroes if they're star players in Japan. And his 310 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 2: question to us was why would they want to come 311 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:27,960 Speaker 2: to the United States and play when they have such 312 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:33,399 Speaker 2: an amazing life over there. So, the Orioles have a 313 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:37,639 Speaker 2: Japanese pitcher, Sagano, who is going to be their fifth starter. 314 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:39,720 Speaker 2: He was a star over there. So I guess the 315 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:42,719 Speaker 2: question is, would you rather be the fifth starter in 316 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 2: the United States or potentially a number one starter in Japan, 317 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:51,359 Speaker 2: or on the flip side of it, you're an American 318 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:54,439 Speaker 2: and you have a chance to go to Japan, be 319 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 2: an everyday player and make the let's say the equivalent 320 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:03,239 Speaker 2: land I'm guessing of eight million, or play in in 321 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:07,679 Speaker 2: the best league ever the major leagues, make a million 322 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 2: dollars a year, be a part time player. What would 323 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 2: you do? Would you rather make the money and play 324 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 2: every day in a great league but not the best 325 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:20,640 Speaker 2: league Japan, or would you rather make a million dollars 326 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 2: and play part time in the biggest league, the big League. 327 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 1: That's really tough because to say that you are the 328 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:31,239 Speaker 1: starting shortstop in a sold out crowd every single night 329 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 1: you play in Japan is pretty cool Versus what you're 330 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 1: saying is like being a utility guy, you know, coming 331 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:39,680 Speaker 1: in on days off kind of thing. I think, though, 332 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:42,560 Speaker 1: and and call me bias, I think there's nothing like 333 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 1: playing major league baseball. Now I've seen the videos we 334 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:52,720 Speaker 1: interviewed Bobby Valentine. Baseball in Japan is next level energy. 335 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 1: When sho Hee Otani hit a home run. It is 336 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:58,880 Speaker 1: very first sit bat in Tokyo. Part of the preseason 337 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: games they did that pa was insane. That stadium was packed. 338 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:07,160 Speaker 1: Everybody is going to be into whoever you are if 339 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:08,479 Speaker 1: you're the starting shortstop, right. 340 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:11,880 Speaker 2: Yeah. Every move that Otani made when he went back 341 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 2: to Japan was chronicled. He would walk out on the 342 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 2: field and it was like the Beatles had come back. 343 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 2: Whatever he did, and this is how revered he is, 344 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 2: but mostly because he came to the United States and 345 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 2: is completely dominated. So I think it's an interesting question. 346 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:31,120 Speaker 1: I definitely think so, because you also got to I mean, 347 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:33,399 Speaker 1: if we're going down to family here, if I can 348 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 1: make eight million dollars in Japan, you know, play there 349 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 1: fifteen years, raise my family, and then be better set 350 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:41,399 Speaker 1: for life. 351 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:44,560 Speaker 2: Right. And on a different level, Miles miche List pitches 352 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 2: for the Cardinals. He's a really smart, really funny guy. 353 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 2: And a couple of years ago I went to London 354 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:54,400 Speaker 2: with for ESPN to do the game there between the 355 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 2: Cubs and the Cardinals, and Miles Michaelis, who was with 356 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:01,160 Speaker 2: the Cardinals, told me the story about playing in Japan 357 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 2: and what a great cultural experience it was. He said, 358 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:09,480 Speaker 2: I can remember, and he played there like three years. 359 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:13,040 Speaker 2: He said, I can remember like two or three games vividly, 360 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:16,560 Speaker 2: two or three total that he played in Japan. But 361 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:20,320 Speaker 2: he said, I will never forget what the culture was 362 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:24,200 Speaker 2: like when we went and visited Hiroshima and other places 363 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:28,000 Speaker 2: like that. Now, again, he's a deep thinking, funny but 364 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 2: profound guy. So let's also factor in what you can 365 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:35,040 Speaker 2: learn in life when you go play in Japan. 366 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:37,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, so let us know what you think. You can 367 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 1: let us know on Instagram as well at great Game 368 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 1: or what you can follow us. We just hit ten 369 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:46,440 Speaker 1: thousand followers. Let's make it twenty thousand followers right now. 370 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:49,159 Speaker 1: If you don't follow us yet on Instagram, on X 371 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 1: on Facebook, you can find us. Is this a great 372 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 1: game or what? 373 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:53,639 Speaker 2: Now? 374 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:56,560 Speaker 1: Dad, we're starting something up again this season now that 375 00:20:56,560 --> 00:21:00,159 Speaker 1: we're doing two episodes a week Ozzy to Oral, And 376 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 1: this is something that you really wanted to do in 377 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:04,800 Speaker 1: our first season, but as I mentioned before, we just 378 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:07,800 Speaker 1: didn't have the time doing weekly episodes to put all 379 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:10,199 Speaker 1: of this in along with a nice long interview. So 380 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 1: this is your opportunity to go the best player at 381 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 1: every number from Ozzie one Oral. 382 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:20,159 Speaker 2: Fifty five so beautiful. Yeah, And I've done this for 383 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 2: years and years and years. This isn't a new bit 384 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,400 Speaker 2: for me. I did this on Baseball Tonight years ago. 385 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:28,280 Speaker 2: But I love it anyway, and it creates And again, 386 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:31,960 Speaker 2: we're not here to start hate heated arguments and people 387 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:34,320 Speaker 2: hating each other at the end, So we're just going 388 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 2: to do two numbers today. Number one is Ozzie Smith. 389 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:43,160 Speaker 2: From Ozzie to Oral. Ozzie is the greatest defensive shortstop 390 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:47,920 Speaker 2: of all time. I don't believe there's even a close second. 391 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:51,479 Speaker 2: He's a first ballot Hall of Famer. And I think 392 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:55,640 Speaker 2: when you're the greatest defensive shortstop of all time, I 393 00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:58,080 Speaker 2: think you could make a case that Ozzie Smith is 394 00:21:58,119 --> 00:22:02,440 Speaker 2: the greatest defensive player of all time at any position. 395 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:05,480 Speaker 2: And Jeff, you're too young, but you should have seen 396 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 2: him play in his prime. He you know, he was 397 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:12,680 Speaker 2: a gymnast as a kid. I've never seen anybody dive 398 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:15,960 Speaker 2: for a ball and get to his feet quicker than 399 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 2: Ozzie Smith. And I still get chills when I think 400 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:22,399 Speaker 2: about this. When the Cardinals would open their season at 401 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 2: home Ozzy, they always started with Ozzy Smith ran onto 402 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:31,160 Speaker 2: the field first and did a backflip and landed at 403 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:35,280 Speaker 2: his position at shortstop. That's how the Cardinal season opened. 404 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 2: I loved it. You know. 405 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:38,480 Speaker 1: I don't want to challenge you on this, Dad, but 406 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:41,639 Speaker 1: we posted you saying Ozzie Smith is going to be, 407 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:43,880 Speaker 1: you know, probably the best defensive player of all time 408 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 1: because of shortstop and the difficulty. And the only argument 409 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:49,640 Speaker 1: people made was how difficult it is to be a catcher. Yes, 410 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:52,840 Speaker 1: well that would probably be the only argument you can make. 411 00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:55,959 Speaker 2: Right right. And Johnny Bench might be the greatest defensive 412 00:22:55,960 --> 00:22:59,240 Speaker 2: player of all time, and Willie Mays the center fielder 413 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:02,160 Speaker 2: might be the greatest defensive player of all time. I'm 414 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:05,960 Speaker 2: just saying there's a debate here and Ozzie Smith is 415 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:06,879 Speaker 2: right in the middle of it. 416 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:09,760 Speaker 1: So that's our number one from Ozzy to oral. And 417 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:12,560 Speaker 1: once again, if I mean, Dad said he doesn't think 418 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:15,320 Speaker 1: there's a clear number two here, But if pick your 419 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 1: number two, who do you think is the second best 420 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:19,520 Speaker 1: number one out there? 421 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:22,440 Speaker 2: Jeff, Again, this is so important that we tell our 422 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:26,240 Speaker 2: listeners and our viewers, this is my list. It's not 423 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:30,720 Speaker 2: the list, it's not the correct list. I want your list. 424 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:33,639 Speaker 2: I want to hear what others have to say because 425 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 2: I'm not saying I'm right about this. I just saying 426 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:39,680 Speaker 2: I'm making the list. So this is who I think 427 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 2: it is. So the greatest Number two for me is 428 00:23:42,359 --> 00:23:46,200 Speaker 2: Derek Jeter. Derek Jeter won five rings, he won five 429 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 2: Gold gloves, he made fourteen All Star teams. You can 430 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:54,080 Speaker 2: make a case that the three greatest shortstops of all time. 431 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:56,639 Speaker 2: Number one is Haness Wagner for me, and then number 432 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:59,160 Speaker 2: two is either Cal Ripken or Derek Jeter or Derek 433 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:02,840 Speaker 2: Jeter and Ripken. That's how great a shortstop he was. 434 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 2: He had thirty five hundred and sixty five hits. That's 435 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:09,840 Speaker 2: the sixth most hits in the history of the game. 436 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 2: And I know it's corny Jeff, but Aaron Boone played 437 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:17,119 Speaker 2: against Derek Jeter for all those years. Then he played 438 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:20,119 Speaker 2: with Derek Jeter for like three months, and he said, 439 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:22,600 Speaker 2: I thought he was great when I played against him. 440 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 2: Then I played with him, and I realized he's even 441 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:28,200 Speaker 2: better than I thought he was. He said he would 442 00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 2: come in after the first at Bay usually let off. 443 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:33,359 Speaker 2: He'd come in the dugout and whether he had a 444 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 2: home run or struck out on three pitches. 445 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:36,640 Speaker 1: He would walk. 446 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:39,360 Speaker 2: Into the dugout and say, this guy's got nothing. We're 447 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:41,680 Speaker 2: going to light this guy up. And that was part 448 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:45,960 Speaker 2: of the Jeter leadership that was getting his team ready 449 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:48,720 Speaker 2: to play. And Buck Martinez, great broadcaster for the Blue 450 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:51,840 Speaker 2: Jays and others, told me once when he was the 451 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:55,560 Speaker 2: manager of the Blue Jays. He said, Derek Jeter is 452 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:59,240 Speaker 2: the captain of the Yankees because you can hear him 453 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:04,520 Speaker 2: run to first base every single time. And that message 454 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:06,960 Speaker 2: that he sends to the rest of the team and 455 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:11,000 Speaker 2: everyone throughout the organization is an important message that we're 456 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:13,040 Speaker 2: gonna play the game right and we're gonna play it 457 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:14,240 Speaker 2: hard every day. 458 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:18,680 Speaker 1: So we've got from Ozzie to Oral all this season. 459 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 1: So we're gonna go that's one and two. You'll hear 460 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 1: more next week on is just a great game or what? 461 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:27,840 Speaker 1: But time for best of all Tim. Not to be 462 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:30,600 Speaker 1: confused with team Tim, but best of all Tim. We're 463 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 1: gonna go through each team this season and who is 464 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:38,240 Speaker 1: the best player in the history of that team's organization. 465 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:41,479 Speaker 2: Right, So we're gonna do the franchise's best player, Okay, 466 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 2: And there are some tremendous debates here and We're gonna 467 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 2: say it again. We want you to debate us on this. Yeah, 468 00:25:48,359 --> 00:25:51,440 Speaker 2: because there are no right or wrong answers. We're gonna 469 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 2: do the best weekend and if you have a differing opinion, 470 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:57,760 Speaker 2: we want to hear it. So, since the Cubs are 471 00:25:57,840 --> 00:26:01,399 Speaker 2: playing the Dodgers in the two games of the season, 472 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:04,600 Speaker 2: we're going to take those two teams as as our 473 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 2: first two teams. So the greatest Cub ever for me 474 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:12,359 Speaker 2: is Ernie Banks. Ernie Banks who has the nickname mister Cub, 475 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:15,960 Speaker 2: so most people will tell you he's the greatest Cub ever. 476 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:19,280 Speaker 2: You know, remember Jeff, he was a shortstop in the fifties, 477 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:23,240 Speaker 2: right went back to back MVPs in fifty eight fifty nine. 478 00:26:23,359 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 2: Is a shortstop and eventually moved to first base and 479 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:30,040 Speaker 2: played more games at first base than he did at shortstop. 480 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 2: He made fourteen All Star teams, he hit over five 481 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:37,639 Speaker 2: hundred home runs, and he played with a smile on 482 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:41,159 Speaker 2: his face all the time. In fact, Billy Williams, I 483 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:45,400 Speaker 2: love Billy Williams. Billy Williams and Ernie Banks. We're teammates 484 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:48,920 Speaker 2: for years. Billy Williams top three four cub of all time, 485 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 2: and he said I used to drive to the ballpark 486 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 2: with Ernie every day, and then finally I say, I 487 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:57,480 Speaker 2: can't drive with you anymore. You never stopped talking. You're 488 00:26:57,560 --> 00:27:01,840 Speaker 2: never You're so upbeat, positive about everything. And of course 489 00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:07,159 Speaker 2: he had the famous saying, let's play two, okay, meaning 490 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:09,520 Speaker 2: it's a beautiful day. Let's not just play one game, 491 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:13,240 Speaker 2: let's play two. So one day in Pittsburgh, it's a 492 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:17,320 Speaker 2: beautiful day and they're playing a double header, and before 493 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:20,280 Speaker 2: the first game of the doubleheader, Ernie Banks ducks his 494 00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:23,600 Speaker 2: head out of the dugout, looks at the beautiful sky 495 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 2: and says, today, let's play three. That's how much Ernie 496 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:30,520 Speaker 2: Banks love to play the game. 497 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:33,720 Speaker 1: And continuing through the best of all tim went the 498 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:37,680 Speaker 1: Cubs playing the Dodgers. Y. This one is really one, 499 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:38,679 Speaker 1: really hard. 500 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:42,639 Speaker 2: It's impossible right out of the game, right, okay, Let's 501 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:46,919 Speaker 2: be clear, Jackie Robinson is the most important player in 502 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:51,680 Speaker 2: the history of baseball and that will never change. Ever. 503 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:55,080 Speaker 2: He broke the color barrier. He was a great player 504 00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:57,200 Speaker 2: for ten years for the Dodgers, one of the greatest 505 00:27:57,240 --> 00:28:00,880 Speaker 2: second basemen ever, won an MVP Rookie of the Year. 506 00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:04,800 Speaker 2: But this is really difficult I'm going to say that 507 00:28:04,840 --> 00:28:09,359 Speaker 2: Sandy Kofax wow is the greatest Dodger pitcher of all time. 508 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:13,480 Speaker 2: He won three cy Young Awards, he won one MVP. 509 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:18,479 Speaker 2: He won three Triple Crowns of Pitching. He threw four 510 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:23,280 Speaker 2: no hitters and jeff in his final five four seasons, 511 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:27,920 Speaker 2: he went ninety seven and twenty seven, and then he 512 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:32,080 Speaker 2: retired because his left elbow, his left arm was killing him. 513 00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:37,840 Speaker 2: He retired after four seasons in which he went ninety 514 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:41,040 Speaker 2: seven and twenty six. So I'll never forget, I asked 515 00:28:41,080 --> 00:28:44,920 Speaker 2: Frank robinsone this one, I knew all about Sandy Kofax. 516 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:47,880 Speaker 2: So I asked Frank Robinson, one of the great confident 517 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:50,440 Speaker 2: hitters of all time. I said, how did you do 518 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:53,200 Speaker 2: against Bob Gibson? He goes, oh, I hit him well. 519 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:56,480 Speaker 2: I said, how'd you do against Juan Marischell? He said, oh, 520 00:28:56,520 --> 00:28:58,320 Speaker 2: I hit him good. I said, how did you do 521 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 2: against Don Drysdale? He said, oh, I hit him good. 522 00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 2: I said how'd you do against Sandy Kofax? And he 523 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:07,440 Speaker 2: went like this, nobody could hit that man. So ah, 524 00:29:07,480 --> 00:29:11,959 Speaker 2: I've got Sandy Kofax as the greatest Dodger ever, and 525 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:14,080 Speaker 2: I'm up for a debate on this. Anyone who picks 526 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:17,520 Speaker 2: Jackie Robinson, I'm good with you. If you pick Clayton Kershaw, 527 00:29:17,760 --> 00:29:20,360 Speaker 2: I'm good with you. But when you look at Sandy 528 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 2: Kofax's postseason record, it's an absolute joke. He's arguably the 529 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:29,120 Speaker 2: greatest starting pitcher in the history of the postseason. That's 530 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:30,240 Speaker 2: how dominant he was. 531 00:29:31,040 --> 00:29:33,680 Speaker 1: That's two of the best of all. Tim Cubbs and 532 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:36,760 Speaker 1: Dodgers feel free to chime in Great Gamer, what dot Com, 533 00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:39,040 Speaker 1: or of course, as I've said before, on our socials, 534 00:29:39,120 --> 00:29:43,040 Speaker 1: Instagram x Facebook at great Game or what so going 535 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:45,360 Speaker 1: to two days a week of the podcast. We have 536 00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:47,840 Speaker 1: some special things that are going to be happening on Fridays, 537 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:53,720 Speaker 1: including a news segment called I Am a Steamhead testimonials 538 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 1: that we're gonna be hearing. And you have a chance 539 00:29:56,080 --> 00:29:58,000 Speaker 1: as a listener of is this a great game or what? 540 00:29:58,320 --> 00:30:00,600 Speaker 1: As part of our family, you have a chance to 541 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:02,400 Speaker 1: be on our show, right Dad. 542 00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:07,479 Speaker 2: Absolutely, And Jeff, let's be clear now, a seamhead is 543 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:11,640 Speaker 2: someone who has an unhealthy love of the game, an 544 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:15,560 Speaker 2: obsession of the game. I am a proud seamhead. I 545 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:19,640 Speaker 2: might even be the captain of the all Seamhead team. Remember, Jeff, 546 00:30:19,840 --> 00:30:23,400 Speaker 2: I cut out every box score of every major League 547 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:27,760 Speaker 2: game for twenty consecutive years and tape them into box 548 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:31,400 Speaker 2: score books. And I never missed a day. And I 549 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:34,520 Speaker 2: think we can all agree that's way more impressive than 550 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:40,200 Speaker 2: any streak that cal Ripken Junior put together. Remember Mark Wicker, 551 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:44,520 Speaker 2: our dear friend, who is a great writer in Anaheim 552 00:30:44,560 --> 00:30:48,360 Speaker 2: and other places, decided that a seamhead is defined as 553 00:30:48,360 --> 00:30:52,040 Speaker 2: someone who has covered a winter ball game. I've done that, 554 00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:57,000 Speaker 2: has covered a simulated game. I have done that has 555 00:30:57,720 --> 00:31:02,120 Speaker 2: and has had a conversation with a veteran baseball person 556 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:06,920 Speaker 2: who at some point said no, I saw him in Bakersfield, 557 00:31:07,160 --> 00:31:11,040 Speaker 2: and then spat tobacco juice on the ground. Okay, if 558 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:14,400 Speaker 2: you've done all three of those things, you are a seamhead. 559 00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:19,400 Speaker 2: But there are many other ways to qualify as a seamhead. 560 00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:22,440 Speaker 2: And remember, Jeff, fifteen years ago, I used to host 561 00:31:22,760 --> 00:31:27,880 Speaker 2: Baseball Tonight the Seamhead Edition. So this is open to 562 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:31,520 Speaker 2: people who just have a love of the game that 563 00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:36,520 Speaker 2: borders on obsession. And Mark Simon, who used to be 564 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:40,040 Speaker 2: one of the great researchers at ESPN, now works for 565 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:45,280 Speaker 2: Info solutions. He loves baseball as much as anyone I've 566 00:31:45,280 --> 00:31:50,040 Speaker 2: ever met, die hard Mets fan, and he considers Neil 567 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:53,840 Speaker 2: Allen to be his favorite Met of all time. And 568 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:57,440 Speaker 2: you've never even heard of Neil all That's the point. 569 00:31:57,640 --> 00:32:01,440 Speaker 2: So this is Mark Simon, and this is why he's 570 00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:02,200 Speaker 2: a seamhead. 571 00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:06,440 Speaker 3: This is Mark Simon at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. I'm a seamhead 572 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:08,760 Speaker 3: because I can recite the last out of the last 573 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:10,600 Speaker 3: seventy World Series from memory. 574 00:32:10,960 --> 00:32:12,840 Speaker 2: Whether it's a great player like Jackie. 575 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:16,200 Speaker 3: Robinson nineteen fifty six, William McCovey nineteen sixty two, or 576 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:19,640 Speaker 3: Pete Rose nineteen seventy two, or someone less memorable like 577 00:32:19,680 --> 00:32:23,960 Speaker 3: Mark Lemke nineteen ninety six or Michael Martinez twenty sixteen. 578 00:32:24,400 --> 00:32:26,280 Speaker 2: I have them all committed to memory. 579 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:28,400 Speaker 3: By the way, I was the last out in Little 580 00:32:28,440 --> 00:32:31,120 Speaker 3: League twice, and it's stunk. I still remember the names 581 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:33,400 Speaker 3: of the pitchers who struck me out, Tim Murphy and 582 00:32:33,440 --> 00:32:36,560 Speaker 3: Gilberto Cabanas. If you're out there, know that you sent 583 00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:38,840 Speaker 3: me on this path of last out knowledge. 584 00:32:38,960 --> 00:32:40,360 Speaker 2: And that's why I'm a seamhead. 585 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:43,720 Speaker 1: And Mark Simon was fantastic. 586 00:32:43,640 --> 00:32:47,720 Speaker 2: And Jeff. The point is there are people all across 587 00:32:47,800 --> 00:32:53,240 Speaker 2: the country who knows stuff about baseball that nobody else knows. 588 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:57,160 Speaker 2: And it's I'm not suggesting it's great that you know 589 00:32:57,280 --> 00:32:59,800 Speaker 2: this stuff, but for anyone to be able to go 590 00:32:59,840 --> 00:33:03,440 Speaker 2: back seventy years and know who made the last out 591 00:33:03,680 --> 00:33:07,960 Speaker 2: of every world series, that is ridiculous. That's why Mark 592 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:10,720 Speaker 2: Simon is so weird. But this is why we love 593 00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:14,240 Speaker 2: Mark Simon and so many others like him. 594 00:33:14,920 --> 00:33:17,360 Speaker 1: So we want to open this up to members of 595 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:20,080 Speaker 1: our family that listen to Is this a Great Game 596 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:21,880 Speaker 1: or what? If you listen to the show and you 597 00:33:21,960 --> 00:33:24,840 Speaker 1: consider yourself a seam head, what you're gonna do is 598 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:28,080 Speaker 1: you're going to reach out to us. You can email 599 00:33:28,280 --> 00:33:30,959 Speaker 1: Jeff at Great Game or what dot com, Jeff at 600 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:33,920 Speaker 1: Great gamer what dot Com, send us a voice note, 601 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:39,320 Speaker 1: a voice memo, just like Mark did. But here's the qualifications, right, 602 00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:43,040 Speaker 1: We want you to keep it tight. Fifteen to thirty seconds, 603 00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:45,680 Speaker 1: Max tell us why you're a seam head, and then 604 00:33:45,880 --> 00:33:48,600 Speaker 1: end it with I'm Jeff Kirkshin and I am a 605 00:33:48,640 --> 00:33:51,840 Speaker 1: seam head. So obviously not saying Jeff Kirkshen, you say 606 00:33:51,840 --> 00:33:55,520 Speaker 1: your own name, and I'm guessing we're gonna get flooded 607 00:33:55,520 --> 00:33:57,480 Speaker 1: with cementries, which is gonna be really cool. So we'll 608 00:33:57,480 --> 00:34:00,400 Speaker 1: try to get to as many, if not the best 609 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:04,000 Speaker 1: ones fifteen to thirty seconds, max, and end it with 610 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:07,120 Speaker 1: your name and I am a seam head. And every Friday, Dad, 611 00:34:07,160 --> 00:34:10,400 Speaker 1: We're going to kind of dive into these different entries 612 00:34:10,560 --> 00:34:12,799 Speaker 1: and talk about the seam heads that are listening to 613 00:34:12,840 --> 00:34:13,480 Speaker 1: this show. 614 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:16,200 Speaker 2: Right, Jeff, that's part of this show, part of the 615 00:34:16,239 --> 00:34:19,680 Speaker 2: allure of this show. We are trying to get to 616 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:22,359 Speaker 2: people who love the game like we do. 617 00:34:23,160 --> 00:34:26,520 Speaker 1: And very exciting. Because this is wrapping up our first 618 00:34:26,880 --> 00:34:30,480 Speaker 1: Friday episode, We're going to be giving you podcasts Tuesdays 619 00:34:30,480 --> 00:34:33,320 Speaker 1: and Fridays now all throughout the twenty twenty five baseball season. 620 00:34:33,680 --> 00:34:38,840 Speaker 1: This coming Tuesday, our next episode will feature Adam Dunn. 621 00:34:39,120 --> 00:34:42,799 Speaker 1: We'll be celebrating real opening Day on Tuesday, because next 622 00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:46,040 Speaker 1: Thursday we'll be Opening Day, and so he's got some 623 00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:48,799 Speaker 1: very exciting things that happened in his career on Opening Day. 624 00:34:48,880 --> 00:34:52,239 Speaker 1: We'll save that for On Tuesday. Adam Dunn will join 625 00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:52,839 Speaker 1: us in one. 626 00:34:52,760 --> 00:34:55,960 Speaker 2: Of fifteen players to hit forty or more home runs 627 00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:59,160 Speaker 2: in a season with four or fewer letters in his 628 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:02,479 Speaker 2: last name. Wait till I tell him that he might 629 00:35:02,600 --> 00:35:05,720 Speaker 2: hang up the phone thinking you guys are the biggest 630 00:35:05,760 --> 00:35:08,600 Speaker 2: dopes ever, which is it's okay to think that way, 631 00:35:08,719 --> 00:35:12,040 Speaker 2: Love Adam Dunn. He will be hysterically funny on Tuesday. 632 00:35:12,120 --> 00:35:15,719 Speaker 2: I promise only a seam head would know all fifteen 633 00:35:15,760 --> 00:35:18,879 Speaker 2: guys who had forty homers in a season with four 634 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:21,000 Speaker 2: or fewer letters in their last name. 635 00:35:21,800 --> 00:35:24,360 Speaker 1: Don't see it Tuesday. Thanks for listening, and as always, 636 00:35:24,360 --> 00:35:25,960 Speaker 1: thanks for being a part of our family.