1 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 1: Is this a great game or what with the Hall 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: of Famer Tim Kirkschen. I'm his son, Jeff Kirkchen Dad, 3 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:12,480 Speaker 1: And at the end of last week we announced that 4 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 1: you are going to be a grandfather of five kiddos. 5 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: This is a very exciting time for the Kirkchten slash 6 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: Kinahan clans. 7 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:24,920 Speaker 2: This is incredible, right, five grandchildren. 8 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:28,159 Speaker 3: We have a basketball team now, which is going to 9 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 3: be great. I've never met Melvin Mora of the Orioles, 10 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:35,519 Speaker 3: Jeff many many years ago. His wife had what is 11 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 3: it quintuplet, She had five babies at the same time. 12 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 3: And I saw him like two days after the birth, 13 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 3: and I said, Melvin, how are you doing? He goes good, 14 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 3: We have a basketball team, five kids at one time, 15 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 3: and apparently they all grew up and they are healthy. 16 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 3: So this is now. So Jeff, this will be your 17 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:58,959 Speaker 3: second child, is that right? What did you ask Deeve 18 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 3: Russian about the number of children to what was his answer? 19 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 3: You remember I said. 20 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 2: You have two or three kids? 21 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: And he said, yeah, yeah, that's right, I have two 22 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 1: or three. So my wife is expecting our second child. 23 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: We have our daughter, McKinley Hope, who was born in 24 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: August of twenty twenty three, a day after my thirtieth 25 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: birthday and most importantly, day after a no hitter thrown 26 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 1: by Michael Lorenzen in The Phillies. 27 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:27,960 Speaker 2: We've told that story a hundred times. 28 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 1: And my wife, who was born on two one three 29 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:36,559 Speaker 1: one September sixth, nineteen ninety five, we told that way 30 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 1: too late in the game. But yes, my wife is 31 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 1: expecting a baby boy June the fifth, and we're gonna 32 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 1: be a family of four, five if you include our dog, 33 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 1: which you know, hit or miss there on whether or 34 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 1: not we include them, depending on what day of the week. 35 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 3: Is right, right, Well, that's great, Jeb. I'm glad you're 36 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 3: having a boy, because I'm really biased about this, but 37 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 3: every dad needs to have a son, and every dad 38 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 3: needs to have a daughter. That's just the way that 39 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 3: I look at things, because you need an experience with both. 40 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 3: You know, I grew up with two brothers, no sister's boy. 41 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 3: Did we ever need a sister in our family? And 42 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 3: those who grow up without a boy in the family, 43 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:20,639 Speaker 3: I think they could use a boy. I think it 44 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 3: just and I'm thrilled for you. Now. We're not announcing 45 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:26,920 Speaker 3: the name yet, right, because you're not. It's not official yet, right. 46 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:30,359 Speaker 1: Well, Dad, I have some news to tell you. I 47 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 1: don't think even things that have been discussed within the 48 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: family are even going to come true. We've kind of 49 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 1: scrapped the whole list. At lunch today when I got 50 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 1: home from work, we were talking about it, and yeah, 51 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:44,640 Speaker 1: the name that at least you have said, and I 52 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:46,959 Speaker 1: have said, and we have discussed, is no longer. 53 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:49,239 Speaker 2: I don't think. I don't think it's any longer. 54 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 3: So you know, is out. It's what you're saying. You know, 55 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,079 Speaker 3: it's not a definite. It is what you're saying. 56 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:00,239 Speaker 1: It's about a ninety nine percent certain that it will 57 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 1: not be his name Theodore. Yeah, so it's yeah, I know, 58 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:07,960 Speaker 1: you know, things are a change in over here. And 59 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:11,639 Speaker 1: Emily and I we've been toying around with names. McKinley 60 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: was our favorite name for a girl since like our 61 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 1: third date or something silly. 62 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 2: We brought it up way too early. I've always loved 63 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 2: that name. That was easy. We found out we're having 64 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 2: a girl, we said done. We knew Hope would be 65 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,959 Speaker 2: the middle name. Done. This is a lot harder now. 66 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 3: So if you have six months to do this, man, 67 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 3: you can figure it out. 68 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, we're really excited. And yeah, so the countdown begins. 69 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 1: June the fifth is our due date, and I'm going 70 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 1: to retroactively or I guess in that case, proactively say 71 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 1: there might be a week in June that I have 72 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 1: to take off from the podcast. We're gonna have to 73 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 1: try to teach Dad how to post the podcast and 74 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: edit it. 75 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 2: So I'm just kidding Dad, We're not gonna. 76 00:03:56,120 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 3: Be zero chance I will be posting your editing anything. 77 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 3: You know who you're talking to here. So we will. 78 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: Figure out what to do. I will do an episode 79 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: from the recovery room. We've got to keep our people 80 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 1: in and speaking of the podcast, really fast out, I 81 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: just want to say things are gonna look a little 82 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 1: different over the next week, and I just want to 83 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 1: get this out there now while I'm thinking about it. 84 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 1: So we have guests Don Mattingly. He's gonna be joining us, 85 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 1: but we're gonna do things different. We're usually doing one 86 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: episode a week, but this week we're gonna have him 87 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 1: join on Thursday, a special additional episode this offseason. He 88 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 1: was recently just hired in the Phillies organization to be 89 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:39,160 Speaker 1: their bench coach, so very exciting addition for Philadelphia. 90 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 2: Obviously a great Major. 91 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:45,159 Speaker 1: League Baseball player in his day and was just the 92 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: bench coach for the AL champion Blue Jays. So we 93 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:52,160 Speaker 1: got lots of great stories with Don Mattingly. You're gonna 94 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: hear that interview on Thursday, and then next week we 95 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:59,159 Speaker 1: will not be putting an episode on Tuesday. It will 96 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: be on Wednesday because on Tuesday afternoon, Dad, we get 97 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 1: the results of the Hall of Fame ballot. So we 98 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 1: thought it would be silly to come out with an 99 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 1: episode the day of the Hall of Fame ballot release 100 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:11,919 Speaker 1: and then not be able to talk about it, so 101 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:13,480 Speaker 1: we're going to push that back a day. So that's 102 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 1: kind of just some I guess housekeeping, so to speak, 103 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 1: for those who listen, members of the family who listen 104 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: to is this a great game? 105 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 3: Or what right? And a couple of things. Jeff so 106 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 3: Casey Keenan who's now three weeks old today. Boy, I 107 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 3: really hesitate to bring this up, but I went with Kelly, 108 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 3: our daughter, your sister, to the circumcision, which took less 109 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 3: than ten minutes from the time they took him to 110 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:45,719 Speaker 3: the time they brought him back. And everything is Okay. 111 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 3: I'm glad this is tape, Jeff, so we can cut 112 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 3: this if need be. But this is how clueless I 113 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 3: was in high school. I think I told you this story. 114 00:05:56,720 --> 00:06:00,279 Speaker 3: I was in high school and we had a a 115 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 3: special in the social studies class. We had a smaller 116 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 3: group in which we had to study the the mores 117 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:14,359 Speaker 3: and the approaches to all sorts of things in other countries. 118 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:17,599 Speaker 3: So I'm in a group with like the two most 119 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:21,160 Speaker 3: beautiful girls in our high school, okay, and then there's 120 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 3: there's me. So it was like Ernie Douglas going in 121 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 3: the same group with Anne Margaret and Jill Saint John. Okay, 122 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,480 Speaker 3: and only the old people listening to this will have 123 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,039 Speaker 3: any idea what I'm talking about with Ernie Douglas, Jill 124 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 3: Saint John, and Ann Margaret. Okay. 125 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:40,080 Speaker 2: So it's the dad, can you please? 126 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:44,599 Speaker 1: Can you please inform us, younger folks, is what's reference 127 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 1: Jill Saint John. 128 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 3: We're beautiful women in the sixties and beyond that. But 129 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 3: that's when I kind of grew up. And soon after that, 130 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 3: we have this study group and we're at the library 131 00:06:55,920 --> 00:07:02,039 Speaker 3: and we we have to talk about circumcision. So like, 132 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 3: how is it done in other countries. And I looked 133 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 3: at these two girls and I said, sophomore in high school, 134 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 3: what is a circumcision? I swear to God, Jeff, I 135 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 3: did not know. So they thought I was kidding and 136 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 3: I told them multiple times I don't know what it means, 137 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 3: and they still and finally they said, you're serious. You 138 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 3: don't know what that means. And I said, no, I 139 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 3: don't just tell me what it means. Both girls said no, 140 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 3: we can't tell you. And I said, does that mean 141 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 3: because you don't know or you just can't tell me? 142 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 3: And they said, we can't tell you. It's we can't. 143 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 3: So I left the library mortified because something happened and 144 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 3: I was out of the loop. I got home, I 145 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 3: looked in the World Book back then, pre internet, and 146 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 3: I looked up the word circumcision and there was a 147 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 3: picture in the in the World Book of what a 148 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 3: circumcision is. And I just, oh, my god, I've never 149 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 3: been so mortified in my entire life that that's what 150 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 3: the girls couldn't tell me about. And there was a 151 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 3: picture there. 152 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 2: It was off, they don't even have one. You had 153 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 2: to ask them. 154 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 3: They had to ask them. It was that was kind 155 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 3: of that kind of personified. At least one part of 156 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:39,839 Speaker 3: my high school days was that horrendous day at the 157 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 3: Davis Library when I did not know what a circumcision was. 158 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:49,319 Speaker 1: That's another edition of poor pop pop. 159 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 2: Here on, is this a great game or what? My goodness? 160 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: Gracious hey dad, So let's move on from appendages and 161 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:59,959 Speaker 1: let's go into something really important before we go into 162 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 1: the takeaways and the free agent signings and everything. It's 163 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 1: a very awesome celebration of your oldest brother, Andy Kirkshin. 164 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 2: It's his birthday. 165 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:13,840 Speaker 3: It is Andy Kirkchen is seventy three years old today. 166 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:18,960 Speaker 3: Andy is my oldest brother. He is one thousand times 167 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 3: smarter than I am. He's way taller than me. He 168 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 3: is way way more handsome, way more handsome. Thank you, Jeff. Sorry. 169 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 3: He is a PhD from MIT in electrical engineering. And 170 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:38,440 Speaker 3: he is certainly one of, if not the best baseball 171 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 3: player ever to play at Catholic University. Left handed hitting 172 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 3: catcher who could really run, could major league throwing arms 173 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 3: when he was in high school, really really good college player. 174 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 3: And I'm going to retell the story, Jeff, about when 175 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 3: my mom and dad, your grandmother and grandfather from this side. 176 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:01,839 Speaker 3: They went to like all of Uncle Andy's games, a 177 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 3: cathecube and I've told you before. The Catholic University field 178 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:11,400 Speaker 3: was the football was basically the football field and in 179 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 3: right field, and he was a left handed hitter. There 180 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:16,679 Speaker 3: was a set of stands and halfway. If you hit 181 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:19,719 Speaker 3: it over the stands, it was a home run. If 182 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 3: you hit it into the stands, it was a ground 183 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 3: rule double. Okay, So my mom and dad go to 184 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 3: the game, and my mom came in a separate car 185 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 3: and got there a little bit late, and she's walking 186 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 3: to her seat at the top level of the bleachers 187 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:39,800 Speaker 3: at CU Stadium, and Andy, left handed hitter, hits a 188 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:44,439 Speaker 3: ball that hits his own mother in the shoulder, and 189 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 3: the ball bounces off as her shoulder and bounces into 190 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:53,640 Speaker 3: the doubles area. So the umpires now get together to 191 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:56,560 Speaker 3: determine what are we going to do about this. This 192 00:10:56,720 --> 00:10:59,719 Speaker 3: ball was going to clear the bleachers for a home 193 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 3: run until it hit that lady. And they did, of 194 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 3: course not know that the lady that Andy hit was 195 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 3: his own mother. So eventually the umpires got together and said, okay, 196 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 3: that's a home run. And then my dad, who was 197 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 3: a funny, funny little man, but he loved his wife 198 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 3: more than anything in the world. After he realized that 199 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 3: Nedda was okay and her shoulder wasn't broken or bruised 200 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 3: beyond repair, he looked at her and he said, what 201 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,439 Speaker 3: are you doing? You almost cost a kid a home run. 202 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 3: That's what he said after Andy hit his mother with 203 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 3: a fly ball. 204 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:41,560 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, that is incredible, Dad, one of my 205 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:45,680 Speaker 1: favorite favorite Uncle Andy stories of all time. Well, happy 206 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 1: birthday to Uncle Andy, who was a guest last year 207 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: on the podcast. When we did our als lu Garic 208 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 1: Day episode, we had my uncle Andy on. Obviously, if 209 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 1: you're a listener of the podcast then you know, but 210 00:11:57,200 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 1: if you're new to the show, you know. 211 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:00,080 Speaker 2: Unfortunately the middle. 212 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:05,320 Speaker 1: Andy, Matt and Tim Matt Kirkshon my uncle passed away 213 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: from ALS back in twenty twenty three, and so we 214 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:10,440 Speaker 1: had Uncle Andy on to share some amazing memories of that. 215 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,560 Speaker 1: So if that's an interview you're interested in hearing from, 216 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:15,560 Speaker 1: you can go back in the feed and take a 217 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 1: listen to Andy Kirkshin's awesome interview and happy birthday. 218 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 2: I'm cleanding there we go, All. 219 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: Right, Dad, let's move on. To the incredible takeaways from 220 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:33,720 Speaker 1: this off season. Now, granted we're trying to stay as 221 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,679 Speaker 1: up to date as possible. We're recording this on January 222 00:12:36,679 --> 00:12:39,959 Speaker 1: twelfth in the afternoon, so anything that broke, you know, 223 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 1: Monday evening, we might not get to. But what is 224 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:45,960 Speaker 1: going on? Alex bregmany huge signings. Should we start there? 225 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:49,320 Speaker 3: Yeah? We should because it's it's something that we know. 226 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 3: And this time of year, Jeff, you know, four things 227 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 3: can happen and one night and you just can't be 228 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 3: late on them. So Alex Bregman signed for five years, 229 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 3: one hundred and seventy five million to play third base 230 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 3: for the Cubs. This is a great signing by the Cubs. 231 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 3: Alex Bregman has been to the playoffs every full season 232 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 3: in which he has played. He is and you, by 233 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:16,400 Speaker 3: the way, you know his dad went to Walter Johnson 234 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:19,679 Speaker 3: High School and Benny did, so I ever tell you 235 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 3: that Alex Bregman's dad went to Walter Johnson High School. 236 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:26,559 Speaker 3: So yes, Alex Bregman is now the third basement for 237 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 3: the Cubs. I love the Brewers, I love the way 238 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:33,239 Speaker 3: the Brewers play, but I think the Cubs have emerged 239 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 3: as the team to beat in the National League Central. 240 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 3: I love their infield. Michael Bush at first base has 241 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:44,199 Speaker 3: become pretty darn good player. Nico Horner at second base 242 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 3: is one of the smartest guys in the game, a 243 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 3: baseball player through and through in every way. Dansby Swanson 244 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 3: is terrific shortstop. Won a World Series at that position 245 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:58,640 Speaker 3: with the Braves, and now they add Alex Bregman, who 246 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 3: has a history of hitting, playing a really good third base, 247 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:06,200 Speaker 3: but more important, winning wherever he seems to go, including 248 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 3: Boston last year they win. So I think it's a 249 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 3: great move. I'm still a little surprised after all these 250 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:16,560 Speaker 3: weeks and months that the Red Sox didn't re sign him, 251 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 3: and now they're going to have to figure out what 252 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 3: they're going to do without another big bat in the 253 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 3: middle of the order. So it's up to the Red Sox. 254 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 1: You agree, well, the free agent signing is so interesting, Dad, 255 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 1: because it always comes down to, okay, when a player 256 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 1: goes a certain direction, then certain people who were out 257 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: and maybe were not buyers are now buyers. So everyone's saying, okay, 258 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:42,840 Speaker 1: Now the Red Sox are hot in the buyer free 259 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 1: agent market as opposed to resigning Bregman. They lose out 260 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 1: on that. So now people are saying, oh, they got 261 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 1: to be buyers. And now if Bregman's commanding X amount 262 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 1: of years and Y amount of dollars, it's going. 263 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 2: To change the market. 264 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 1: Every time somebody signs, it really affects how other free 265 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 1: agents are going to sign. It's I mean this respectfully, 266 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 1: it's exhausting because you can't just look at one signing 267 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 1: as an individual thing. It's gonna be the product of 268 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 1: how things fall. Where will the chips, where will the 269 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 1: dominoes go when one guy goes? When Kyle Schwarber signs 270 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:17,440 Speaker 1: for X amount, bet Alonso is gonna sign for X 271 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 1: plus whatever, you know. So that's kind of the way 272 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 1: it's gone down. 273 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, welcome to free agency in the offseason. It's just crazy. 274 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 3: But this is a great signing for the Cubs and 275 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:31,280 Speaker 3: we'll see what the Red Sox and other teams do 276 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 3: now that he is off the market. 277 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 2: What about on this state in baseball history? Dad, what 278 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 2: do you have for. 279 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 3: Us this date in nineteen eighty two, Hank Aaron and 280 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 3: Frank Robinson went into the Hall of Fame the same year, 281 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 3: which I mean, really, how great is that? Frank Robinson 282 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 3: is for me, at least the most ferocious player, everyday 283 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 3: player that I've ever been around. I mean nothing. Frank 284 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 3: was there to win. Frank was there to your throat out. 285 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 3: It didn't matter who you were. His job was to win. 286 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 3: And I learned so much from him all those years 287 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 3: when he was the manager of the Orioles and a coach, 288 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 3: and I covered him a little bit as a player. 289 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 3: He was amazing. And Hank Aaron, of course is one 290 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 3: of the five greatest players of all time. And we've 291 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:20,640 Speaker 3: talked so much about Hank Aaron over the years. But 292 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 3: how about that class, Jeff, in the Hall of Fame, 293 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 3: Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson going in. And I never 294 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 3: bring these things up, Jeff, but because I've been a 295 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 3: Hall of Fame voter for thirty five years, but nine 296 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 3: people did not vote for Hank Aaron for the Hall 297 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 3: of Fame when he went in on January thirteenth, nineteen 298 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:44,800 Speaker 3: eighty two. And again, that gives the baseball writers a 299 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 3: bad name, which I'm not here to do because I 300 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 3: love being a baseball writer. It's my proudest thing that 301 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 3: I do is vote for the Hall of Fame. But Seriously, Jeff, 302 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 3: nine people didn't vote for Hank Aaron. That is that 303 00:16:58,800 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 3: is said. 304 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 1: You're right, it does unfortunately give a bad name to 305 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:08,600 Speaker 1: the writers, and I genuinely think unfortunately only having one 306 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 1: ever unanimous Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, it blows 307 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 1: my mind. 308 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:20,399 Speaker 2: Mariano Rivera deserves it. But I'm not gonna lie, Dad, 309 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:20,880 Speaker 2: with the. 310 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:25,400 Speaker 1: Treatment of how closers are seen by so many as 311 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 1: kind of a niche specialty, I'm shocked that he's the 312 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 1: only one to be the unanimous pick. 313 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:35,119 Speaker 2: Does that make sense? Because the role of. 314 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 1: The closer isn't what it was years and years and 315 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 1: years ago. So for him, respectfully, he's a Hall of Famer. 316 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:44,640 Speaker 2: And deserves to be a unanimous pick. 317 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 1: But you think a you know, a massive one like 318 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:50,560 Speaker 1: a Hank Aaron would be unanimous. 319 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:51,880 Speaker 2: Because he was just the best at it. You get 320 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:53,480 Speaker 2: what I'm saying? Am I making sense here? 321 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:58,480 Speaker 1: For the traditionalist baseball writer view, you would think it 322 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:01,199 Speaker 1: would be a pitcher that was a starter, or an 323 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:04,240 Speaker 1: outfielder or an everyday shortstop or whatever it might be. 324 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 2: But there are voters out there, Dad who see that, like. 325 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:10,600 Speaker 1: Joe DiMaggio or Yogi Bearra didn't make it in the 326 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:14,439 Speaker 1: first ballot and say, well, you know, Derek Jeters not 327 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:15,720 Speaker 1: as good as Joe DiMaggio. 328 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:18,680 Speaker 3: So yeah, I can't let you know, that's just compounding 329 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 3: the problem. Someone made a mistake. 330 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:22,400 Speaker 2: Agree with you now, I agree? 331 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 3: Yes, all right, Yeah, I'm not getting into this debate 332 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 3: because I love being a baseball writer. Mistakes have been made, 333 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 3: and it's just stunning to me that nine people did 334 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 3: not vote for rank Aaron. Okay, So so nineteen fifty three, 335 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 3: Jeff Odell Jones was born speaking of a relief picture. 336 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:41,199 Speaker 3: So when I covered the Ragers, they went to the 337 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 3: Winter Meetings. They'll never forget this. They went to the 338 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:48,200 Speaker 3: Winter meetings trying to make a big splash, and they 339 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:50,879 Speaker 3: the only guy they got at the Winter meetings was 340 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:54,879 Speaker 3: Odell Jones, who was not a great pitcher at the time. 341 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 3: He did have a very good season at least for 342 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:01,680 Speaker 3: well two thirds of us for the Rangers. But I'll 343 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 3: never forget I'm in the room with all the Rangers brass, 344 00:19:05,119 --> 00:19:08,080 Speaker 3: and you know, I kind of ask a question as 345 00:19:08,119 --> 00:19:11,399 Speaker 3: we're leaving the Winter meetings, So you know, what are 346 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 3: you going to tell the people back home about what 347 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 3: you did at the winter meetings and Paul Richards, one 348 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 3: of the great baseball men ever, one of my favorite 349 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:22,880 Speaker 3: people ever. He just looked at me and he said, well, 350 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 3: we're going to sell the hell out of Odell Jones. 351 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 3: That was his lie, because he's the only one they 352 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:31,720 Speaker 3: came home with. And like I said, eighty three, he 353 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:35,680 Speaker 3: was pretty darn good. But yeah, so sell the hell 354 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 3: out of Odell Jones. Also on this day, in nineteen 355 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:44,639 Speaker 3: fifty four, another Ranger, Steve Comer, was born. Steve Comer 356 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 3: was a good relief pitcher and started for a while, 357 00:19:48,119 --> 00:19:50,639 Speaker 3: had a great change up. One of the funniest people 358 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:54,880 Speaker 3: and cleverest people I've ever met in baseball. The number 359 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:57,399 Speaker 3: of times that that guy made me laugh in the 360 00:19:57,480 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 3: couple of years he was with the Rangers when I 361 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 3: covered him and Jeff, I'm gonna share this he you 362 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:07,360 Speaker 3: know how much I loved sitcoms from the sixties. Steve Comer, 363 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:13,800 Speaker 3: one night It's Spring Training, found Mary Anne from the 364 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 3: from Gilligan's Island. He found her phone number somehow and 365 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:22,640 Speaker 3: he called her in the middle of the like late 366 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 3: at night, just to say hello because he loved the show. 367 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 3: And somehow he got a hold of Mary Anne Saunders 368 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:33,719 Speaker 3: is her last name, by the way, in that show, 369 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:36,800 Speaker 3: and he called her and just to say, hey, I 370 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:38,919 Speaker 3: just want to let you know I loved watching you 371 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 3: on Gilligan's Island. And he came in and told us 372 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:46,880 Speaker 3: all that the next day, and I just thought, my gosh, 373 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:50,119 Speaker 3: how things have changed. He found her phone number and 374 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 3: called Don Wells, her real name from the from Gilligan's Island. 375 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:57,879 Speaker 3: Do you find that amusing or not? Well? 376 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:00,960 Speaker 1: I find it amusing too, because probably during that time 377 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:02,919 Speaker 1: it was a little harder to track down people and 378 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:05,119 Speaker 1: their numbers because pre cell phone. 379 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:07,919 Speaker 3: Yes, yes, I don't know how he did that. I 380 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:10,720 Speaker 3: didn't even ask, but he did. So that's that's Steve 381 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 3: Comer for me, one of my favorite people ever. So 382 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:16,879 Speaker 3: those are my three this states in baseball history. There 383 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:19,120 Speaker 3: are a lot more, but we got to move on here. 384 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 1: From Burley to Behemoth. Dad's new countdown. I guess technically 385 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:33,359 Speaker 1: a count up right. The first one was a count 386 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: up to from Ozzie to orl greatest players to wear 387 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:39,440 Speaker 1: one through fifty five, and now we're doing from Burley 388 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:43,560 Speaker 1: to Behemoth, number fifty six to number ninety nine. Mark 389 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:47,440 Speaker 1: Burley being fifty six and Aaron Judge being ninety nine 390 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 1: the behemoth, right, Dad, you need it. I get the 391 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 1: alliteration game, got it? And I'm over explaining because for 392 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 1: a while we did from Ozsie to ORL and we 393 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 1: would like fly right through it. And people are like 394 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:01,440 Speaker 1: people who are new to baseball who the podcast were saying. 395 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:03,080 Speaker 2: What are these names? 396 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:05,120 Speaker 1: What's going on when we were on like twenty six 397 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:08,400 Speaker 1: or whatever. So Dad, we did fifty six, as mentioned 398 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 1: Mark Burley, We're on to number fifty seven. 399 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:12,600 Speaker 3: Right, And I told you, Jeff, this is going to 400 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:16,359 Speaker 3: be a challenge finding at least one player for every 401 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:20,440 Speaker 3: number from fifty six to ninety nine, you know, I'm 402 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:23,520 Speaker 3: I'm sure we're going to get to several numbers where 403 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 3: we don't have anyone, you know, But this one is 404 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:31,720 Speaker 3: relatively easy because we have. Johan Santana is my greatest 405 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 3: number fifty seven ever. Now, Frankie Rodriguez, who saved four 406 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:39,159 Speaker 3: hundred and thirty seven games, made six All Star teams, 407 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:42,560 Speaker 3: and was a star for the World champion Angels in 408 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:45,880 Speaker 3: two thousand and two. He's a pretty darn close second 409 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:49,280 Speaker 3: to Johann Santana and Darryl Kyle's on this list too. 410 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:51,920 Speaker 3: He was a Do you remember the Darryl Kyle story 411 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:55,960 Speaker 3: that Billy Wagner told us? Do you remember Billy Wagner's. 412 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:57,520 Speaker 2: Billy Wagner told us so many greats. 413 00:22:57,280 --> 00:23:01,119 Speaker 3: I remember, and the late Darryl Kyle a terrible story 414 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 3: how he died. But Billy Wagner told us that he 415 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 3: and Darryl Kyle used to play catch in the outfield 416 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:12,719 Speaker 3: when they were Astro's teammates. Okay, and Billy naturally right handed, 417 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 3: we've been over this, would would throw right handed to 418 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:19,040 Speaker 3: Darryl Kyle, and Darryl Kyle, a really good right handed pitcher, 419 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:22,520 Speaker 3: would throw left handed to Billy Wagner in the outfield. 420 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:25,040 Speaker 3: So they were both in their own right, some sort 421 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:28,960 Speaker 3: of ambidextrous, which I always love. But so, Johan Santana 422 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:32,880 Speaker 3: is the greatest number fifty seven for me. He won 423 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:38,119 Speaker 3: two cy Young Awards, he won three ERA titles. He 424 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:40,720 Speaker 3: won one hundred and thirty nine games and only lost 425 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:44,800 Speaker 3: seventy eight, had a three twenty ra and Jeff, you 426 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:47,680 Speaker 3: know these new committees that we talk about, not new, 427 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:52,119 Speaker 3: but these special committees that examined players who've been on 428 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:55,920 Speaker 3: the ballot before Johan Santana's name is going to keep 429 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 3: coming up because he was only on the ballot for 430 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 3: one year. He went on at a really bad time 431 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:04,480 Speaker 3: where there were ten other guys on the ballot who 432 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:06,800 Speaker 3: deserved to be in the Hall of Fame more than him. 433 00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 3: But he makes he makes a pretty compelling case. You know. 434 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:14,879 Speaker 3: Two Cy Young's the first no hitter in the history 435 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 3: of the New York Mets and a three twenty era 436 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 3: pretty darn good picture. Maybe not a Hall of Famer, 437 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 3: but deserves at least a second look. 438 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:28,280 Speaker 1: Agreed, Definitely a compelling case for the Hall of Fame. Absolutely, 439 00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:30,920 Speaker 1: all right, that's number fifty seven for us. You'll get 440 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:34,240 Speaker 1: fifty eight next week here on the podcast at three 441 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:37,639 Speaker 1: cards in the bathroom, we have for you. 442 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:37,960 Speaker 2: Dad. 443 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:40,359 Speaker 1: You've gone down to the basement bathroom to find out 444 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 1: which cards you could pull this week. 445 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:44,399 Speaker 3: What do you have? Right? So this is interesting. The 446 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:48,280 Speaker 3: first guy pulled was Ted Simmons, Hall of Famer. His 447 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:52,359 Speaker 3: just like Santana. His first year on the ballot, he 448 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:55,720 Speaker 3: didn't get five percent of the vote and he was done. 449 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:58,679 Speaker 3: And now he's in the Hall of Fame. He's been in. 450 00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:02,639 Speaker 3: He was up voting in two different special committees, and 451 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 3: in the second one he got twelve out of sixteen 452 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:08,879 Speaker 3: votes and made it to the Hall of Fame. So 453 00:25:09,320 --> 00:25:11,480 Speaker 3: it just goes to show you you can get less 454 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:14,600 Speaker 3: than five percent in one year and end up in 455 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 3: the Hall of Fame. Ted Simmons was a great switch 456 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:21,399 Speaker 3: hitting catcher who had power from both sides of the plate. 457 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:24,360 Speaker 3: And I'll never forget Jeff. He was on the Brewers 458 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:27,600 Speaker 3: in nineteen eighty two, which was really as a beat guy. 459 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:30,560 Speaker 3: Was the first World Series that I covered from beginning 460 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 3: to end, and that Brewers team was really good. And 461 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:37,679 Speaker 3: Paul Malder told me that Ted Simmons came over in 462 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:42,200 Speaker 3: a trade and he taught everyone on the Brewers how 463 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:45,800 Speaker 3: to steal signs from second base. So Ted Simmons, who 464 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 3: is wicked smart Jeff. Every time I talk to him, 465 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:53,359 Speaker 3: I learned about one hundred things and his use of 466 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:57,159 Speaker 3: the language is breathtaking. He's so smart. But what he 467 00:25:57,200 --> 00:25:59,240 Speaker 3: would do is he would take a lead off a 468 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:02,560 Speaker 3: second base and he could see what the catcher was 469 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:05,680 Speaker 3: doing back there because he's a catcher, and he would 470 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:09,200 Speaker 3: figure out the sequence and then he would say tap 471 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:13,400 Speaker 3: his head, breaking balls coming, or lean to his right, 472 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:17,000 Speaker 3: fastballs coming. So Paul Molidor became as good as anyone. 473 00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:19,760 Speaker 3: It's stealing signs. But he told me the guy who 474 00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:23,240 Speaker 3: taught him how to steal signs was eventual Hall of 475 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:28,480 Speaker 3: Famer Ted Simmons. Dad, before you get to your next card, 476 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:32,040 Speaker 3: I have won for three cards in the bathroom. Yeah. 477 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:35,919 Speaker 1: This is my exclusive Tim Kirkshin baseball card and it 478 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:38,480 Speaker 1: says on the back here once told the two prettiest 479 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:42,679 Speaker 1: girls in school he didn't know what a circumcision was. 480 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:44,720 Speaker 1: How did that make it on the back of the card. 481 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 1: Is pretty embarrassing, Jeff. 482 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:50,720 Speaker 3: That was so bad. I still can't believe it. And 483 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:53,000 Speaker 3: those girls never looked at it. Well, they never looked 484 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:55,080 Speaker 3: at me, period, but they never looked at me the 485 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 3: same After that, there was always this embarrassing it. I 486 00:26:58,680 --> 00:27:02,520 Speaker 3: was so embarrassed. It was terrible. Okay, moving along. Second 487 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:08,200 Speaker 3: one is Dave Otto o Tto. So what's the distinction there, Jeff, 488 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:09,280 Speaker 3: out of. 489 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:10,560 Speaker 2: The Orange go cues. 490 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:10,920 Speaker 3: Right? 491 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:14,160 Speaker 2: Oh well? Also his last name is the Palinger palindrome. 492 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:16,960 Speaker 3: Right. I tried to do an all Palandrome team. I'm 493 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 3: going to try again sometime, but I couldn't do it. 494 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:24,080 Speaker 3: But I remember Dave auto o ttoh love that and 495 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:28,159 Speaker 3: the last one. Jeff is Junior Felix. Junior Felix was 496 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:30,639 Speaker 3: a pretty darn good outfielder for a short time in 497 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:33,680 Speaker 3: the eighties with the Blue Jays. Had he could run, 498 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:36,200 Speaker 3: he had power, and I'll never forget my dear friend 499 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:40,679 Speaker 3: Ed Farmer, former Major League pitcher, great broadcaster for the 500 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 3: White Sox, was also a scout after he quit playing. 501 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:46,080 Speaker 3: He was a scout for the Orioles when I was 502 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 3: covering the Orioles for the Baltimore Sun in the eighties, 503 00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:52,320 Speaker 3: and he told me once, he said, I just saw 504 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:55,680 Speaker 3: Junior Felix play. He goes, if he's junior Felix, I'd 505 00:27:55,720 --> 00:27:59,399 Speaker 3: hate to see senior Felix because that's how big. He 506 00:27:59,520 --> 00:28:03,399 Speaker 3: wasn't big, but he was strong, aggressive junior Felix. So 507 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:07,080 Speaker 3: it got me to think of Jeff. I've done the 508 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:11,639 Speaker 3: All Junior team before. You know, Cal Ripken Junior, Fernando 509 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:15,440 Speaker 3: Tatis Junior Ken, Griffey Junior. I had an All team 510 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:18,600 Speaker 3: tim for juniors, but today I came up with the 511 00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:22,399 Speaker 3: All Junior team of guys who go by the first 512 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:28,440 Speaker 3: name Junior, so Junior Felix is one of the outfielders. 513 00:28:29,040 --> 00:28:33,600 Speaker 3: Junior Ortiz is our catcher. Junior More he was much 514 00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:36,080 Speaker 3: more of a first base third baseman than a first baseman. 515 00:28:36,119 --> 00:28:38,080 Speaker 3: But I couldn't find a first baseman, so I got 516 00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:42,000 Speaker 3: a Junior More at first, Juniors fivey at second, Junior 517 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:45,400 Speaker 3: Cam and Aro of the Rays with forty homers last year. 518 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:50,239 Speaker 3: He's my third baseman. That guy has tremendous power and 519 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:52,840 Speaker 3: great batspeed. He's gonna be He's gonna hit a lot 520 00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 3: of home runs before he's done. Junior Kennedy is our 521 00:28:56,160 --> 00:29:00,640 Speaker 3: shortstop again. Junior Felix is one outfielder. Junior your Lake. 522 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:04,000 Speaker 3: I always loved that name. Junior Lake. 523 00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:07,280 Speaker 1: Was he on our All Bodies of Water team Bodies 524 00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:07,920 Speaker 1: of Water teams. 525 00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:10,800 Speaker 3: So I guess Junior Lake is like a lake that 526 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:13,720 Speaker 3: you would take the kids to because it's smaller than. 527 00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:15,800 Speaker 2: Senior La a little safer, YEA yeah. 528 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:21,560 Speaker 3: Junior Wooton never heard of him. He's uh my third outfielder. 529 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:25,040 Speaker 3: And Junior Nomboa who played second base, third base, shortstop. 530 00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:27,280 Speaker 3: We're going to use him as the DH just because 531 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:29,760 Speaker 3: I covered him, you know, when he was with the 532 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:32,640 Speaker 3: Expos and other teams. So yeah, Junior Namoa is our 533 00:29:32,760 --> 00:29:37,240 Speaker 3: gh Junior Fernandez is the only well there were a 534 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:40,120 Speaker 3: few pictures. I think Junior Fernandez is the most recent 535 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:41,800 Speaker 3: pitcher named Junior. 536 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:45,160 Speaker 1: So that's why all junior team excellent. Well, you know 537 00:29:45,520 --> 00:29:48,520 Speaker 1: our our family friend Marlee Leffler, she was a junior 538 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:49,760 Speaker 1: at Wooton at one point. 539 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:51,760 Speaker 2: She went to Wooton High School. 540 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:55,080 Speaker 3: Right anybody? So now, yeah, so junior Wooton. 541 00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:59,160 Speaker 1: There you go, junior at Wooten. Yeah, deep cut, deep cut. Sorry, yeah, 542 00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:02,400 Speaker 1: that was deep too deep. If one person gets it, 543 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:04,120 Speaker 1: that's all that matters, I guess, and I don't think 544 00:30:04,160 --> 00:30:05,920 Speaker 1: anyone's going to get that one anyway. 545 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:08,720 Speaker 3: Well, Jeff, I'm just so excited to just finish up 546 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:13,520 Speaker 3: with You're having another baby. This is so cool, and 547 00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 3: you and Emily have done such a marvelous job raising 548 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:21,000 Speaker 3: McKinley hope that I can't wait for you to have 549 00:30:21,280 --> 00:30:21,960 Speaker 3: another one. 550 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:25,000 Speaker 2: So thank you, Dad. Well, we're so excited too, and 551 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:26,240 Speaker 2: that's June. 552 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:28,840 Speaker 1: It's coming soon, So Dad, thank you so much for 553 00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:31,960 Speaker 1: another great episode. Don Mattingly's going to join us on Thursday, 554 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:33,760 Speaker 1: and as always, thank you for being a part of 555 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 1: our family.