1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,880 Speaker 1: The Achilles heel of this sport. The one thing that 2 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:08,400 Speaker 1: constantly threatens to drag this sport down is again wearing 3 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:17,120 Speaker 1: its ugly head. Welcome to this week's edition of Fair Territory, 4 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:20,239 Speaker 1: the first of two Fair Territories. Remember we are going 5 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: too a week now, we'll be back on Thursday, myself 6 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 1: and Alana Rizzo. We have a lot to talk about 7 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: this week. Why because opening day is Thursday, the domestic openers, 8 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: and we're all looking forward to that. And we're actually 9 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:36,479 Speaker 1: going to talk a little bit about baseball on the 10 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: show this week, even though the off the field issues 11 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: continue to dominate the headlines, and the first of those, 12 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 1: of course, the biggest of those, the biggest story in 13 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: baseball right now, sho hey Otani Ibe Musahara, all that 14 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: is going on with the investigations into Missahara and his 15 00:00:55,960 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 1: activity with an illegal bookmaker. Now, as we see here 16 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: on Monday taping this show, we are awaiting sho hey 17 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:07,119 Speaker 1: Otani speaking to reporters for the first time about this 18 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 1: whole episode that's going to take place later on Monday, 19 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 1: and people might be wondering, Okay, what is he going 20 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: to say. I wouldn't expect a full blown news conference here. 21 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 1: He's not going to sit and answer questions for a 22 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 1: half hour, not with two investigations open right now, Major 23 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: League Baseball's investigation the federal government's investigation into Matthew Bawyer. 24 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 1: So I also would not expect Otani to simply say, guys, 25 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 1: I can't say anything. He told reporters on Sunday that 26 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:42,320 Speaker 1: he is going to talk. So where is he going 27 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 1: to go with this? What is he going to say? 28 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 1: That remains to be seen, but I expect it to 29 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 1: be something more than cannot comment with two investigations ongoing, 30 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: and actually there might be a third investigation. Two there 31 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: is a third investigation the IRS into Misahara and the 32 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 1: payments that went to the illegal bookie. So what is 33 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: going on here we still do not know. If you remember, 34 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: the initial story that Ibe Musahara gave to ESPN was 35 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 1: that Otani was helping him cover his debt to the 36 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 1: illegal gambling operation. That was the initial story it pay 37 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:23,920 Speaker 1: told to ESPN, and it was quickly retracted, almost immediately 38 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: retracted before the story was even published, and Otani's attorneys 39 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 1: came out with a statement saying that Otani has been 40 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 1: the victim of massive theft. Now, it's interesting that the 41 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:39,399 Speaker 1: attorneys said they're going to the authorities and didn't really 42 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 1: specify which authorities, But the mere fact that they're doing 43 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 1: that would seem to indicate that they feel Otani has 44 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:49,080 Speaker 1: done nothing wrong. Because when you go to the authorities, 45 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 1: when you sue someone, you're opening yourself up as well. 46 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 1: So what are the possible problems here for Mizuhara in particular, 47 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 1: and maybe even Otan. Well, For one thing, you can't 48 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 1: bet on baseball. Now, Missahara has said he did not 49 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: bet on baseball. He was an employee of the Dodgers 50 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:10,799 Speaker 1: at the time and the Angels all this was going on, 51 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 1: if you bet on baseball, he is in a lot 52 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 1: of trouble with the sport. You also cannot bet on 53 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 1: sports in California. It's one of twelve states that has 54 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: not legalized sports gambling. You can't wire money to an 55 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:30,080 Speaker 1: illegal bookmaker. That's a federal statute. This was revealed by 56 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:34,359 Speaker 1: a number of reporters last week, including Craig Calcaterra. And 57 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 1: you can't associate with illegal bookmakers. MLB can act in 58 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 1: the best interests of baseball and say that's a no 59 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 1: no no evidence that Otana has done any of this, 60 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 1: and even if, in the extreme example, it was found 61 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: that he had bet on sports other than baseball with 62 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: an illegal bookmaker. That happened twenty fifteen. Jared Cosart, the 63 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 1: former pitcher, was found to have done that bet on 64 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: sports with an illegal bookie, and he was only fined 65 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: by Major League Baseball. But still, there is so much 66 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: we need to know here, and the big question to me, 67 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 1: if this massive theft occurred, how did it occur? Was 68 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: Ipai simply draining Otani's accounts? How is he draining the accounts? 69 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 1: How did at least four and a half million dollars disappear? 70 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 1: Presumably as this federal investigation continues, we will learn more, 71 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 1: but it is a very odd situation to say the least, 72 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 1: and we all would like to know a lot more 73 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 1: about what exactly Otani's involvement was, if any, and what 74 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 1: exactly Ipai was doing. Now onto baseball, we had some 75 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 1: news this week, some free agent signings, even Michael Lorenzen 76 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: and the bigger one, j D. Martinez with the Mets. 77 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: To me, this was a move that had to happen. 78 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 1: You're the Mets claim to be competing for a playoff spot, 79 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:01,040 Speaker 1: even though you've kind of cut back a little bit 80 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: at least in terms of the expensive contracts on your roster. 81 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,599 Speaker 1: And if you're doing that with two kids in the 82 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 1: lineup Brett Batty at third base, Mark Vianto's at DH, 83 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,239 Speaker 1: that's a little bit questionable. Right. You've also got Starling 84 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:18,559 Speaker 1: Marte coming off an injury, more down season, Housing Baita 85 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:21,719 Speaker 1: not exactly an offensive force. You've got all these questions 86 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 1: in your lineup, and you're going with two kids. Mmm. 87 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 1: I don't think that was going to cut it now. 88 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: I know statistical analysts will say the idea of protection 89 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:36,040 Speaker 1: is overblown, and Brian Kenny on MLB Network has lectured 90 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 1: me on this many times. But the Mets needed another 91 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 1: bat And whether you believe that Martinez will offer adequate 92 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: protection for Peter Lonzo or whether you believe it doesn't matter, 93 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 1: it still lengthens the lineup. It makes the Mets a 94 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 1: better offensive team. And that's going to be important because 95 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 1: I mentioned some of the questions in that lineup. Beatty 96 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 1: is one, Marte is another, better a third, and you've 97 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:03,479 Speaker 1: got Jeff McNeil coming off a bad year or at 98 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 1: least for him. A bad year and he's had some 99 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 1: biceps discomfort during spring training. So the Mets needed another 100 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: bat and JD. Martinez was the best bat still out there. 101 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 1: And the structure of the contract is rather interesting. Let's 102 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: take a look at the deferrals in this one year, 103 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 1: twelve million dollar deal. Look at the way Steve Cohen 104 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:26,840 Speaker 1: and the Mets structured this. JD's going to get four 105 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 1: and a half million dollars this season, and then one 106 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 1: and a half million per year from two thousand and 107 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:36,280 Speaker 1: thirty four to two thousand and thirty eight. This reduces 108 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 1: the Mets cash obligation for this year. Obviously also reduces 109 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 1: the luxury tax number on this contract. It's valued at 110 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 1: twelve million, but when you account for the present day value, 111 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 1: which has to do with the deferrals, it's less than 112 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:54,280 Speaker 1: nine million. So the Mets get JD, a move that 113 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:57,279 Speaker 1: in my estimation, was a very positive move for them. 114 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:00,599 Speaker 1: Still have questions about their pitching. I'm still not convinced 115 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:03,840 Speaker 1: this is a postseason team. But we will find out 116 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 1: also this week who made the team and who didn't. 117 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 1: We'll start with a guy who didn't make his team, 118 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 1: and that would be Jackson Holiday. Jackson Holiday the top 119 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 1: prospect in the game. The Oriols general manager Mike Elias 120 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: had said from really back in December that Holiday stood 121 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 1: a decent chance of making the club. So what happened. 122 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 1: He had an amazing spring. He batted three hundred ops 123 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:31,240 Speaker 1: was over nine hundred. He was a guy that did 124 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 1: everything the Oriols could have asked, and yet he still 125 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: did not make the team. So some of the reasons 126 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 1: the Orioles gave well, Jackson Holiday is still twenty years old, 127 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 1: He's played only eighteen games Triple A, he's learning a 128 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: new position, second base, and they're concerned that he might 129 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 1: struggle against advanced left handed pitching. He's a left handed hitter, okay, 130 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 1: But there are other factors here as well. All of 131 00:07:55,240 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 1: those things I just mentioned were issues at the Starts training. 132 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 1: There were issues in December when Elias initially said Holiday 133 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 1: stood a decent chance. The other factors include two other infielders, 134 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:13,120 Speaker 1: Jorge Mateo and Ramon Urias, being out of options. So 135 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 1: if the Ools part with one of those guys, then 136 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: I'll have to put them through waivers. Very possible they 137 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 1: could lose one of them. They don't want to do that. 138 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 1: Service time also could be in consideration here, but I 139 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: don't believe it's a major factor. Now, Jackson Holiday is 140 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 1: represented by Scott Boris. Therefore it's going to be difficult 141 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 1: to get him to sign an extension. We know that 142 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: Boris clients generally, not always generally, do not sign extensions. 143 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 1: They go to the open market to establish their values there. 144 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 1: Gunnar Henderson also a Boris client, Yet the oriols kept 145 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: Henderson from opening day last year. So why would they 146 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 1: keep Jackson Holliday in the miners. Is it that they're 147 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 1: trying to get an extra year of control over him 148 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 1: by keeping him a triple A until late April. Well, 149 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 1: that was the old theory on service time manipulation. The 150 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:07,680 Speaker 1: problem with it is if you're a club trying to 151 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 1: do that, is that if Jackson Holliday comes up, say 152 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 1: May fifteenth, and then finishes first or second in Rookie 153 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: of the Year voting, which he certainly could do he's 154 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 1: an extreme talent. Under the new CBA, the President CBA, 155 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 1: at that point, he would get a full year of 156 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 1: service time, so the manipulation would not work. Therefore, it 157 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:32,720 Speaker 1: seems to me the baseball reasons are foremost here that 158 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 1: they're concerned or at least want him to get a 159 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 1: little bit more foundation down to TRIPAA. They also want 160 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 1: to see how it resolves with Matteo and Arrius. These 161 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:46,559 Speaker 1: are all factors that you often see teams site when 162 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 1: they're making these decisions. Teams generally take the easiest path, 163 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 1: the path that's going to cause the least amount of 164 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 1: roster turnover. That seems to be what the Ools are 165 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: doing here. Are they putting their best team on the field. 166 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 1: I would argue not necessarily, because Jackson Holiday certainly looks 167 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 1: like he is ready for the majors and the concerns 168 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,440 Speaker 1: that they have seemed to me that he addressed some 169 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:11,400 Speaker 1: of those concerns in spring training. We also had other 170 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 1: big prospect news this week, and it was the opposite 171 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 1: kind of story from Jackson Holliday. This one involved Wyatt Langford, 172 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 1: the number four pick in last year's draft. He is 173 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 1: going to make the Texas Rangers. There was never a 174 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 1: question he was going to make the Texas Rangers. This 175 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:31,840 Speaker 1: kid is out of the University of Florida. Last year, 176 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: Holiday was a high school draft. In twenty twenty two, 177 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:38,320 Speaker 1: the number one pick overall so Langford is more of 178 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 1: an advanced player at this stage of his career. But 179 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 1: this kid has hit everywhere he has been. I mean everywhere. 180 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 1: I want to show you whyat Langford's stats going back 181 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 1: to college at Florida and now through the minor leagues 182 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:56,840 Speaker 1: and spring training University of Florida A one point twenty 183 00:10:56,880 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: one seven ops in the minor leagues just last year 184 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: after being drafted limited number of plate appearances one point 185 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: one five seven. This spring another situation where there was 186 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:11,320 Speaker 1: a limited number of plate appearances one point to four 187 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 1: to two. This kid is ready. The Rangers are convinced 188 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 1: he's ready. And not only is he ready, he is 189 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 1: going to hit, most likely somewhere in the middle of 190 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 1: the order for the defending World Series Champions. He will 191 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 1: DH a lot, play some outfield. But this is someone 192 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 1: I am really really excited to see. I'll be writing 193 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 1: about him for Tuesday. Can't wait to watch him play. 194 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 1: Time now for the Inside Dish, the part of the 195 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:38,680 Speaker 1: show where I go inside a story I've written inside, 196 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 1: something happening in the game. All kinds of possibilities always 197 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 1: and this week, following the death of Peter Angelos over 198 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:49,319 Speaker 1: the weekend, I was going to talk about my memories 199 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 1: of him and just my relationship with him when I 200 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 1: was at the Baltimore Sun. It was rather interesting I 201 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: wrote about that. I would advise you to read it, 202 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,320 Speaker 1: because I'm not going to talk about that here. What 203 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:02,680 Speaker 1: I want to talk about is the situation with the 204 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 1: Major League Baseball Players Association and the tumultuous week that 205 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 1: was for everyone involved, and actually we still don't have 206 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:14,199 Speaker 1: full resolution yet. I'm going to catch you up first, 207 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:17,479 Speaker 1: and then I'm going to try to explain and interpret 208 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 1: what it all means. Now. A week ago we could 209 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 1: go today. Monday, the union had a phone call and 210 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:30,080 Speaker 1: a number of players on that call expressed their desire 211 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 1: to replace the lead negotiator for the MLBPA, Bruce Meyer. 212 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:38,199 Speaker 1: There were a number of different complaints. One involved, of course, 213 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:41,559 Speaker 1: the CBA and how free agency has gone. Keep in mind, 214 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 1: the players voted for this CBA just two years ago, 215 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 1: against the wishes of their executive subcommittee at the time. 216 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:51,079 Speaker 1: But they voted for it, and they've got to live 217 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:55,080 Speaker 1: with it for five years now. Harry Marino, the guy 218 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:58,280 Speaker 1: who organized the minor leaguers, helped them become part of 219 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: the MLBPA was among those leading the push for change, 220 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: and after a week of internal discussions, the Major League 221 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 1: members of the Executive Committee yesterday released a statement on Sunday, 222 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 1: and this statement basically said, Harry Marino is no longer 223 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:20,680 Speaker 1: part of any discussions that they're conducting about the future 224 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:24,320 Speaker 1: of the union. So people can look at this any 225 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 1: number of ways, whether Marino grab for power, whether he 226 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 1: was simply advocating for change, But the resolution, at least 227 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 1: as far as he's concerned, is that he is no 228 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 1: longer part of their discussions. The best guess right now, 229 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 1: and it's only a guest that's not been announced this 230 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: way or anything like that, is that Bruce Meyer stays 231 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:47,640 Speaker 1: and the leadership of the union remains largely intact. Jack Flaherty, 232 00:13:47,679 --> 00:13:50,560 Speaker 1: one of the players who helped bring Marino to the forefront, 233 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 1: told me last night that he regrets the way he 234 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: put Tony Clark, the head of the union, in an 235 00:13:55,960 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 1: uncomfortable position during that call a week ago. So where 236 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:03,960 Speaker 1: does the union go from here? Well, some will argue 237 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:08,440 Speaker 1: that this exposure of the internal divisions will indicate that 238 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 1: the union is in a weak spot, that this reveals weakness, 239 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 1: that there is a problem with the leadership, with Tony Clark, 240 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:18,360 Speaker 1: with Bruce Meyer, with the way they've gone about it, 241 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:23,040 Speaker 1: with their membership divided. But players we've spoken to, and 242 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 1: Evandralic and I have done a good amount of reporting 243 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 1: on this. Evan the bulk of it. Players have said 244 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 1: that they believed what has happened in the last week, 245 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 1: all of the conversations in communication taking place will only 246 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 1: make the union stronger. That you will see now improved communication, 247 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 1: you will see greater engagement. Lance mccullors said this to 248 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 1: Chandler Rome of The Athletic in an interview he did. 249 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: Jack Flaherty said it to me on Sunday night. He said, 250 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 1: this process was a healthy one. It's a good thing. 251 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 1: Remains to be seen and this will play out over 252 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 1: the remaining course of this current CBA and the union, 253 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:07,640 Speaker 1: if it is indeed stronger, is going to need to 254 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 1: be stronger. I've been hearing all winter long, and especially 255 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 1: since the start of spring training that the owners are 256 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 1: again rumbling about a salary cap, fighting for a salary 257 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 1: cap in the next CBA negotiations. Now, this is nothing new. 258 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 1: The owners have forever wanted a salary cap, but the 259 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 1: rumblings I've heard have been particularly loud and rather alarming, 260 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 1: considering this CBA, the current one has three years left. 261 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 1: We are three years away from the current deal's expiration. 262 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 1: So to hear the owners or rumblings of the owners. 263 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 1: I've not heard this specifically from owners, but to hear 264 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 1: this kind of thing and the old beating of the 265 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: war drums, we're willing to sit out a year, well, 266 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: we'll see all about that when the time comes. But 267 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 1: it seems to me, and it seemed to me since 268 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 1: this deal was put into effect, that we're headed for 269 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:08,040 Speaker 1: another fight, and we're headed for another fight, just as 270 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:10,680 Speaker 1: we had a fight in twenty twenty two. Didn't miss 271 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 1: any time, and they ultimately came to an agreement, an 272 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 1: agreement that actually I thought has worked to the player's 273 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 1: benefit in some ways. This offseason was a little bit odd. 274 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 1: We've talked about it at length. There are a lot 275 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 1: of things going on. It might be that it simply 276 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:30,600 Speaker 1: was an aberration that the spending was down a billion dollars. 277 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 1: We talked about the RSNS, We've talked about certain teams 278 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 1: that were in spending. We don't need to go through 279 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 1: all that again, but certainly. The historic problem in this 280 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 1: sport is the player management relations. This goes back to 281 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 1: Marvin Miller into the seventies, the reason this union was 282 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 1: formed in the first place. So as I hear these 283 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:54,560 Speaker 1: rumblings coming out of ownership circles, I would suggest we 284 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 1: buckle up. I would suggest we enjoy the next three 285 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 1: seasons because labor trouble the achilles heel of this sport. 286 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 1: The one thing that constantly threatens to drag this sport 287 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: down is again wearing its ugly head. Time now for 288 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: Grill and Ken the portion of the show where I 289 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 1: answered your questions, Let's get right to them. Got some 290 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:19,160 Speaker 1: good ones this week. First one comes from Drew Boggs. 291 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 1: I appreciate you Drew, first of all, using your actual name, Drews. 292 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:27,120 Speaker 1: Since the White Sox are quote unquote rebuilding, is anyone 293 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 1: on the hot seat, specifically manager Pedro graffall Drew. The 294 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:34,239 Speaker 1: White Sox have a new general manager, Chris Gets, so 295 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:36,400 Speaker 1: he obviously is not going to be on the hot 296 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:39,119 Speaker 1: seat in his first year, and you mentioned that they 297 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:43,679 Speaker 1: are rebuilding. Rebuilding generally affords the people who are in 298 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:46,879 Speaker 1: charge of the team time to get their acts together, 299 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 1: get the teams act together to be more accurate with it. 300 00:17:50,359 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 1: Pedro Graffall is entering his second season as manager. Clearly 301 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:58,160 Speaker 1: things did not go well last year, not entirely his fault. 302 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:00,680 Speaker 1: In fact, I would suggest hardly his fault at all. 303 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 1: The team was poorly constructed, had injuries, all kinds of 304 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 1: things happened, and now they've traded Dylan Cees. They're trying 305 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 1: to patch together a rotation and a bullpen. They've got 306 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: some interesting position players, They've got some kids coming, like 307 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:17,440 Speaker 1: all teams do. But no one, but no one, expects 308 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:21,120 Speaker 1: them to compete for a playoff spot in twenty twenty four, 309 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:26,160 Speaker 1: even under an expanded format. Now, if Pedro Graffall somehow 310 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:30,160 Speaker 1: shows this season that he is not ready for this job, 311 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:32,480 Speaker 1: that he is incapable of handling it. If he loses 312 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:36,120 Speaker 1: the clubhouse, sure it's possible that a change could be made. 313 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: Chris Getz is a new GM he inherited Graffall, so yes, 314 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 1: it's always possible. But man, that would be a rough 315 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:45,400 Speaker 1: thing to do to fire a manager in the middle 316 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:50,240 Speaker 1: of a rebuild like this. Second question comes from Patrick 317 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: h who asks will Jordan Montgomery's signed before this episode airs? Well, 318 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 1: I've got to tell you, Patrick, I hope that isn't 319 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:01,480 Speaker 1: the case because it would date this episode, make it 320 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:05,159 Speaker 1: a little bit outdated. But I don't expect that necessarily 321 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:07,360 Speaker 1: to happen. And I know what Jim Bowden reported over 322 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:10,280 Speaker 1: the weekend that there's more activity around Montgomery. Well, if 323 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:12,960 Speaker 1: there was so much activity, he would have been signed 324 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:16,359 Speaker 1: long ago. He is not signed. I do expect him 325 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:19,240 Speaker 1: to sign at some point. He is going to pitch 326 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:22,440 Speaker 1: this season, but the Rangers were always thought of as 327 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 1: one landing spot and Michael Lorenzen was their choice because 328 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:28,920 Speaker 1: he came for a lot less money to the team 329 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:33,160 Speaker 1: with RSN uncertainty. Their owners have clamped down because of that, 330 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: even though they just won the World Series. So I 331 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: would think the Rangers are out there. Certainly are other 332 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:41,840 Speaker 1: teams that have suffered pitching injuries that could use the help. 333 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:44,919 Speaker 1: But the question is how much money are teams going 334 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:48,400 Speaker 1: to be willing to spend as the season begins, And 335 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 1: that's the question Jordan Montgomery has faced for some time. Now. 336 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: We've seen the other three members of the Boris four. 337 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:58,480 Speaker 1: I'm talking about Matt Chapman, I'm talking about Cody Bellinger 338 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:02,959 Speaker 1: and Blake Snell agree to short term deals with opt outs. 339 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 1: I don't know that Jordan Montgomery will be in the 340 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 1: same position. He was ineligible for a qualifying offer. You're 341 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:10,400 Speaker 1: not going to lose a draft pick for signing him. 342 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:13,840 Speaker 1: You can maybe extend a little bit, but again we 343 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 1: are all waiting to see where he lands. Finally, the 344 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:21,960 Speaker 1: last question comes from Wesley Rackley, also using his real name. Wesley, 345 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:25,359 Speaker 1: appreciate it can give me your favorite heartfelt moment in 346 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 1: baseball that you can remember. I was going to say 347 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:32,680 Speaker 1: cal Ripken breaking the consecutive games record, but I've talked 348 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 1: endlessly about that. That was an emotional night nineteen ninety five. 349 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:39,880 Speaker 1: But I want to go back to twenty sixteen, one 350 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:42,600 Speaker 1: of the saddest days that I can remember in the sport. 351 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:46,760 Speaker 1: Jose Fernandez, the great Marlins pitcher, had just passed away 352 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 1: voting accident, and the Marlins took the field to play 353 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: their first game without him, wearing everyone number sixteen with 354 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:58,720 Speaker 1: Fernandez's name on the back of their jersey. Destrange Gordon 355 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:01,280 Speaker 1: comes to the play to lead off the game. Here's 356 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 1: what de Gordon did. He hit a home run. He 357 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 1: hit a home run, which is something that was so 358 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 1: rare for him in his career. He hit only eighteen 359 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 1: home runs in his career. De Strange Gordon did and 360 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 1: yet you see him cross the plate. Here, you see 361 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:19,479 Speaker 1: the emotion in his face. He was in tears as 362 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:24,000 Speaker 1: he crossed the plate, embracing his teammates. That was one 363 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:27,200 Speaker 1: of the coolest, craziest things I've seen. Crazy because De 364 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:30,760 Speaker 1: Strange Gordon has so little power, had so little power 365 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:34,480 Speaker 1: in his career. What a way to remember Jose Fernandez. 366 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:37,679 Speaker 1: What a moment that was. The death of Fernandez, of 367 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:41,200 Speaker 1: course changed the course of that franchise. Things were never 368 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:43,920 Speaker 1: quite the same for the Marlins. But at the same time, 369 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:47,400 Speaker 1: his memory lives on, and it lives on with that 370 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:51,080 Speaker 1: video and in other ways as well. Looking ahead, we 371 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:53,639 Speaker 1: can actually look ahead to some baseball this week, and 372 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 1: I'm looking ahead to my first broadcast on Fox of 373 00:21:56,560 --> 00:22:00,960 Speaker 1: the season. That will be Saturday in Houston, Yanks at Houston. 374 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 1: Marcus Stroman, I believe, schedule to pitch for the Yankees. 375 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:07,439 Speaker 1: We'll have Juan Soto, We'll have Aaron Judge, We'll have 376 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:10,760 Speaker 1: your Don Alvarez, We'll have Alex Regman. It's a great matchup, 377 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:13,360 Speaker 1: of course, This has been quite a rivalry. They've met 378 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 1: in the alcs a few times. Really looking forward to it. 379 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 1: This is my nineteenth season at Fox, and I'm excited 380 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:21,960 Speaker 1: about that. I'm proud of that. Every year is special, 381 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:25,440 Speaker 1: every year is different, Every year is exciting. Thanks to 382 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 1: everyone for watching, Thanks to everyone for listening, and of 383 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 1: course for your questions as well. You know where to 384 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:34,720 Speaker 1: find us, Apple, YouTube, Spotify, like us, subscribe to us, 385 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:37,640 Speaker 1: and remember we will be back Thursday. I'll be back 386 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:40,359 Speaker 1: with my new co host, Alana Rizzo. We'll have a 387 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:43,359 Speaker 1: show and we're gonna be live and we will be 388 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,840 Speaker 1: answering your question. So get your questions ready. Join us 389 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:49,600 Speaker 1: on Thursday. 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