1
00:00:04,078 --> 00:00:18,238
Speaker 1: The Book of Joe Podcast is a production of iHeartRadio. Hey,

2
00:00:18,318 --> 00:00:22,278
Speaker 1: welcome back the latest edition of the Book of Joe Podcast.

3
00:00:22,398 --> 00:00:25,758
Speaker 1: It's me Tom Berducci with my buddy Joe Madden and

4
00:00:25,838 --> 00:00:29,398
Speaker 1: Joe Believe it or not. This is Week thirteen of

5
00:00:29,478 --> 00:00:31,958
Speaker 1: the season of a twenty six week season.

6
00:00:32,198 --> 00:00:33,438
Speaker 2: So do the math.

7
00:00:33,718 --> 00:00:38,158
Speaker 1: After the conclusion of this week, we will be halfway through.

8
00:00:37,998 --> 00:00:40,678
Speaker 2: The twenty twenty three baseball season. Amazing.

9
00:00:41,158 --> 00:00:42,518
Speaker 3: I was just looking at the date I wrote it

10
00:00:42,518 --> 00:00:46,358
Speaker 3: down on my no it's June twentieth. That happened pretty quickly,

11
00:00:46,958 --> 00:00:51,438
Speaker 3: it does. I mean baseball from my personal evaluation was

12
00:00:51,518 --> 00:00:55,558
Speaker 3: spring trinning was like like you're starting the engine, like

13
00:00:55,638 --> 00:00:57,758
Speaker 3: Michael Chuck you staff is with all those old cars.

14
00:00:57,838 --> 00:01:00,318
Speaker 3: It's took forever to start. But once it gets going, man,

15
00:01:00,918 --> 00:01:03,558
Speaker 3: and it grabs its momentum, it just flies by all

16
00:01:03,598 --> 00:01:05,838
Speaker 3: of a sudden that you just rip off each calendar month.

17
00:01:05,958 --> 00:01:10,878
Speaker 3: So June twentieth already didn't realize the epicenter. But it's

18
00:01:10,958 --> 00:01:13,438
Speaker 3: kind of interesting. It's kind of playing out in a

19
00:01:13,518 --> 00:01:15,998
Speaker 3: very interesting way based on the changes to real changes.

20
00:01:16,358 --> 00:01:18,478
Speaker 3: And I have been watching more diligently.

21
00:01:19,438 --> 00:01:21,038
Speaker 2: Yeah, and I'll tell you every season.

22
00:01:21,078 --> 00:01:23,478
Speaker 1: As you know, narratives start to develop that maybe you

23
00:01:23,478 --> 00:01:25,598
Speaker 1: didn't see comming some of you expected. And you mentioned

24
00:01:25,638 --> 00:01:27,838
Speaker 1: the rule changes. That was certainly a big one coming

25
00:01:27,878 --> 00:01:30,718
Speaker 1: into this season. And by the way, I have a

26
00:01:30,718 --> 00:01:33,198
Speaker 1: bone to pick with you, not you personally, but about

27
00:01:33,238 --> 00:01:36,398
Speaker 1: major league managers that we're going to get to later on.

28
00:01:36,518 --> 00:01:38,718
Speaker 1: But for now, I think the biggest narrative of this

29
00:01:38,838 --> 00:01:41,478
Speaker 1: season is sho Heo Tani.

30
00:01:41,918 --> 00:01:43,678
Speaker 2: And I know you're sitting there saying, oh, we know

31
00:01:43,758 --> 00:01:44,558
Speaker 2: this guy's great.

32
00:01:44,678 --> 00:01:48,958
Speaker 1: He's the unicorn of baseball, right folks, show Heyo Tani

33
00:01:49,398 --> 00:01:53,118
Speaker 1: is better than he's ever been, and now we're getting

34
00:01:53,158 --> 00:01:55,958
Speaker 1: to see him do this for an Angels team that

35
00:01:56,078 --> 00:01:57,958
Speaker 1: is in the mix. Not just in the mix, they're

36
00:01:57,958 --> 00:02:00,918
Speaker 1: actually holding a playoff spot right now. They're in a

37
00:02:00,998 --> 00:02:05,078
Speaker 1: second wildcard position. Yes, it's early, but for the Angels,

38
00:02:05,918 --> 00:02:10,518
Speaker 1: that's something new. I'm curious, Joe, you know, show hey, well,

39
00:02:10,638 --> 00:02:15,558
Speaker 1: obviously he pitched and hit for you. From your observations,

40
00:02:16,118 --> 00:02:20,238
Speaker 1: what are you seeing from Shohei Otani in twenty three.

41
00:02:20,838 --> 00:02:22,838
Speaker 3: Well, he just wants to be the best. He is

42
00:02:22,838 --> 00:02:25,078
Speaker 3: the best, and he wants to maintain that. I do

43
00:02:25,158 --> 00:02:28,078
Speaker 3: believe this. I don't know that. I'm a big fan

44
00:02:28,118 --> 00:02:32,438
Speaker 3: of the WBC, but them winning and how he responded

45
00:02:32,918 --> 00:02:35,318
Speaker 3: when they did win, the throwing the glove, the screaming

46
00:02:35,398 --> 00:02:39,398
Speaker 3: and everything that occurred then I think is playing into

47
00:02:39,558 --> 00:02:42,678
Speaker 3: now with him personally. I mean, he wants to win.

48
00:02:43,038 --> 00:02:47,998
Speaker 3: That's I'm telling you. He is great, pitching, hitting, running, whatever,

49
00:02:48,038 --> 00:02:51,318
Speaker 3: he's great, but he wants to win. And I think

50
00:02:51,398 --> 00:02:54,838
Speaker 3: that that moment glove toss in the air then winning

51
00:02:54,838 --> 00:02:58,558
Speaker 3: the WBC, I think that really personified exactly who he is.

52
00:02:59,158 --> 00:03:01,998
Speaker 3: So now with the Angels playing really well and in

53
00:03:02,038 --> 00:03:03,998
Speaker 3: the mix, you're going to see the best version and

54
00:03:03,998 --> 00:03:05,678
Speaker 3: if him, the biggest thing now for me with them

55
00:03:05,718 --> 00:03:08,198
Speaker 3: would be protect him. I know Trotty's behind him, and

56
00:03:08,198 --> 00:03:10,118
Speaker 3: I know Michael is this off a little bit right now,

57
00:03:10,158 --> 00:03:13,878
Speaker 3: but if he's not protected, this is one of those

58
00:03:13,878 --> 00:03:16,278
Speaker 3: things where you stop. You know, it's take an Aaron Judge.

59
00:03:16,318 --> 00:03:17,838
Speaker 3: You got to protect an Aaron Judge. You see what

60
00:03:17,838 --> 00:03:20,198
Speaker 3: happens when he's not in the line of But that's

61
00:03:20,198 --> 00:03:22,878
Speaker 3: what's going I think that's what's going on. It's a

62
00:03:22,918 --> 00:03:26,198
Speaker 3: free agent year. He is the best, he wants to

63
00:03:26,238 --> 00:03:30,278
Speaker 3: remain the best. He cannot be more focused, it's impossible.

64
00:03:30,398 --> 00:03:33,678
Speaker 3: So I think there's all these like little subplots conspiring

65
00:03:34,238 --> 00:03:36,398
Speaker 3: to make this the best year he's had to this point.

66
00:03:36,638 --> 00:03:39,198
Speaker 3: And I'm only saying to this point because it's gonna

67
00:03:39,238 --> 00:03:41,118
Speaker 3: be another great year and then he's gonna want top

68
00:03:41,158 --> 00:03:41,838
Speaker 3: it again next year.

69
00:03:42,798 --> 00:03:45,318
Speaker 1: Bengo, By the way, I think you're dead on, especially

70
00:03:45,358 --> 00:03:48,198
Speaker 1: about the WBC. We're gonna get to protection at Mike

71
00:03:48,238 --> 00:03:50,238
Speaker 1: Trout in a minute there, because that's also a part

72
00:03:50,238 --> 00:03:50,438
Speaker 1: of this.

73
00:03:51,398 --> 00:03:53,718
Speaker 2: But you know that WBC.

74
00:03:54,158 --> 00:03:56,158
Speaker 1: I know from the American point of view, a lot

75
00:03:56,158 --> 00:03:58,318
Speaker 1: of people are just plugged into their teams and spring

76
00:03:58,358 --> 00:04:01,158
Speaker 1: training and kind of pay attention to it casually.

77
00:04:01,438 --> 00:04:03,558
Speaker 2: But that is a huge deal.

78
00:04:04,558 --> 00:04:07,118
Speaker 1: You were talking about TV ratings in Japan, like more

79
00:04:07,118 --> 00:04:09,558
Speaker 1: than half the sets were tuned into that team playing

80
00:04:09,558 --> 00:04:13,718
Speaker 1: when those games were playing during the WBC and Showhy

81
00:04:13,958 --> 00:04:17,438
Speaker 1: not only was the de facto captain of that club,

82
00:04:17,958 --> 00:04:21,198
Speaker 1: think about what he did before the championship game. They're

83
00:04:21,238 --> 00:04:24,238
Speaker 1: playing Team USA, A lot of pressure on them. You

84
00:04:24,238 --> 00:04:26,398
Speaker 1: have to understand a lot of pressure on that team

85
00:04:26,438 --> 00:04:28,758
Speaker 1: to win. It's kind of like our basketball dream teams

86
00:04:28,758 --> 00:04:30,918
Speaker 1: going to the Olympics. You're expected to win. That's the

87
00:04:30,918 --> 00:04:33,318
Speaker 1: way they feel in Japan, it's a big, big deal.

88
00:04:33,838 --> 00:04:37,558
Speaker 1: Before the championship game against Team USA, Otani gets the

89
00:04:37,598 --> 00:04:40,238
Speaker 1: team together and calls a team meeting in the clubhouse

90
00:04:40,918 --> 00:04:44,398
Speaker 1: and he basically says, listen, we know those are superstars

91
00:04:44,398 --> 00:04:46,678
Speaker 1: on an other team. We know the Mike Trouts of

92
00:04:46,678 --> 00:04:50,358
Speaker 1: the world, that Trey Turners. We know those are big names.

93
00:04:50,478 --> 00:04:53,758
Speaker 1: But you know what, We've admired them and we respect them.

94
00:04:53,758 --> 00:04:57,518
Speaker 1: But tonight we can't be cowed by them. We have

95
00:04:57,598 --> 00:04:59,478
Speaker 1: to stand up to them and show them that we

96
00:04:59,558 --> 00:05:01,718
Speaker 1: not only can play with them, but can be better

97
00:05:01,758 --> 00:05:02,158
Speaker 1: than them.

98
00:05:02,438 --> 00:05:05,798
Speaker 2: How about that Shoots. I mean, we don't talk about.

99
00:05:05,598 --> 00:05:09,678
Speaker 1: Him a lot as a leader, Joe, but in this situation,

100
00:05:09,798 --> 00:05:12,838
Speaker 1: with so much on the line, the dude stepped up

101
00:05:12,838 --> 00:05:15,518
Speaker 1: from a leadership standpoint, and then he delivered on the field.

102
00:05:15,558 --> 00:05:17,198
Speaker 1: I mean, you're talking about a guy in between at

103
00:05:17,238 --> 00:05:19,158
Speaker 1: bats going down to the bullpen to warm up to

104
00:05:19,158 --> 00:05:22,238
Speaker 1: close the game. Just a fantastic moment. And I agree

105
00:05:22,278 --> 00:05:24,238
Speaker 1: with you. I think that set the stage for him

106
00:05:24,238 --> 00:05:24,878
Speaker 1: for this season.

107
00:05:25,758 --> 00:05:29,078
Speaker 3: Yeah, a hundred percent. And it also illustrates I believe,

108
00:05:29,758 --> 00:05:31,838
Speaker 3: and everybody wants the manager to get up to make

109
00:05:31,878 --> 00:05:35,718
Speaker 3: this wonderful speech that implores him it's not the nineteen

110
00:05:35,758 --> 00:05:38,198
Speaker 3: eighty hockey team and it's not football team playing once

111
00:05:38,238 --> 00:05:41,798
Speaker 3: a week. When a player of his stature gets up,

112
00:05:41,958 --> 00:05:44,558
Speaker 3: I don't even know, maybe for the first time, and

113
00:05:44,958 --> 00:05:47,718
Speaker 3: basically it's just kind of like one true sentence at

114
00:05:47,718 --> 00:05:50,718
Speaker 3: a time. That's what he did. And with that passion

115
00:05:50,878 --> 00:05:53,078
Speaker 3: and that belief, of course it's going to spill over

116
00:05:53,278 --> 00:05:54,758
Speaker 3: into the rest of the group. And then on top

117
00:05:54,798 --> 00:05:57,038
Speaker 3: of that, go out there and be Michael Jordan make

118
00:05:57,078 --> 00:06:00,678
Speaker 3: the last shot, or Larry Bird whomever you could talk about,

119
00:06:00,678 --> 00:06:03,158
Speaker 3: our Tom Brady making the last pass. He was that guy,

120
00:06:04,078 --> 00:06:07,198
Speaker 3: all those guys on that one particular day, and this

121
00:06:07,238 --> 00:06:09,678
Speaker 3: has been welling up in him. This has been you know,

122
00:06:09,798 --> 00:06:13,478
Speaker 3: from the beginning, starts good, a little bit of a setback, injuries,

123
00:06:13,478 --> 00:06:16,558
Speaker 3: et cetera, and then comes back and finds his way

124
00:06:16,598 --> 00:06:20,998
Speaker 3: in the Major League Baseball. So again, knowing him, I

125
00:06:21,038 --> 00:06:25,198
Speaker 3: believe he finally he felt that it was okay that

126
00:06:25,238 --> 00:06:26,798
Speaker 3: he would get up there in front of everybody, that

127
00:06:26,838 --> 00:06:30,158
Speaker 3: he felt it was his obligation to do that. And

128
00:06:30,238 --> 00:06:34,478
Speaker 3: having played and it's been so successful in the major leagues,

129
00:06:35,398 --> 00:06:38,278
Speaker 3: I think there there was that that that thought or

130
00:06:38,318 --> 00:06:41,838
Speaker 3: that feeling within him. Okay, yeah, I am the right

131
00:06:41,838 --> 00:06:43,438
Speaker 3: guy for this right now. There's nobody else going to

132
00:06:43,478 --> 00:06:45,438
Speaker 3: do it at night. And I feel comfortable about this

133
00:06:45,518 --> 00:06:47,238
Speaker 3: and I feel good about what I got to say.

134
00:06:47,798 --> 00:06:49,518
Speaker 3: And when you get to that point when you feel

135
00:06:49,598 --> 00:06:52,758
Speaker 3: kind of like you're right, definitely the message comes through.

136
00:06:52,798 --> 00:06:55,758
Speaker 3: And I think all those things again conspired in that moment,

137
00:06:55,918 --> 00:06:58,558
Speaker 3: and when I heard that he had done that again,

138
00:06:58,638 --> 00:07:01,638
Speaker 3: it makes way more impact, I believe than any manager

139
00:07:01,718 --> 00:07:03,198
Speaker 3: standing up in that particular moment.

140
00:07:04,038 --> 00:07:06,758
Speaker 1: Yeah, and I think we're seeing, too, Joe how important

141
00:07:06,798 --> 00:07:09,478
Speaker 1: winning is to him, because it's actually bringing out the

142
00:07:09,518 --> 00:07:12,278
Speaker 1: best in him, whether it was the WBC or now

143
00:07:12,318 --> 00:07:17,438
Speaker 1: playing meaningful games every night with the Angels. Joey Otani, Listen,

144
00:07:17,478 --> 00:07:20,478
Speaker 1: he leads the world in home runs and he also

145
00:07:20,598 --> 00:07:23,918
Speaker 1: on the mound allows the fewest hits per nine innings.

146
00:07:24,158 --> 00:07:25,478
Speaker 2: I mean, just think about that.

147
00:07:25,678 --> 00:07:28,558
Speaker 1: I mean, yeah, that can happen in Williamsport in the

148
00:07:28,598 --> 00:07:32,158
Speaker 1: Little League, but it just does not happen in Major

149
00:07:32,238 --> 00:07:34,878
Speaker 1: League Baseball. So, Joe, we talk in our book a

150
00:07:34,878 --> 00:07:38,238
Speaker 1: lot you do about the five levels of being a professional.

151
00:07:38,758 --> 00:07:41,038
Speaker 1: Maybe it was always in there in show, Hey, in

152
00:07:41,158 --> 00:07:43,678
Speaker 1: terms of all I want to do is win. But

153
00:07:43,878 --> 00:07:46,918
Speaker 1: now that he's actually playing these games that matter, it

154
00:07:47,118 --> 00:07:50,438
Speaker 1: just seems obvious to me how much he is motivated

155
00:07:50,478 --> 00:07:50,958
Speaker 1: by winning.

156
00:07:51,478 --> 00:07:53,718
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's not just been talked to this point. I've

157
00:07:53,758 --> 00:07:57,478
Speaker 3: always believed that I have getting to know him when

158
00:07:57,518 --> 00:07:59,718
Speaker 3: you have a conversation with him and you know E

159
00:07:59,878 --> 00:08:02,958
Speaker 3: pays there also is translator then now shows getting a

160
00:08:02,958 --> 00:08:05,038
Speaker 3: little bit better with the langue and is able to

161
00:08:05,118 --> 00:08:08,078
Speaker 3: understand the nuance of what he's saying. It's always been

162
00:08:08,118 --> 00:08:11,158
Speaker 3: there whenever he's talked about it. You can see it

163
00:08:11,158 --> 00:08:13,358
Speaker 3: in his face. This is not hyperbole. It's not like

164
00:08:13,398 --> 00:08:15,158
Speaker 3: I'm trying to convince you. I'm trying not to be

165
00:08:15,238 --> 00:08:17,998
Speaker 3: like saying the right things here. This is who he

166
00:08:18,078 --> 00:08:20,278
Speaker 3: is and what he feels. I thought that from the

167
00:08:20,278 --> 00:08:22,158
Speaker 3: beginning when I got to know him, he was hurting.

168
00:08:22,678 --> 00:08:25,198
Speaker 3: When he was hurting, it bothered him that he was

169
00:08:25,278 --> 00:08:28,358
Speaker 3: unable to contribute. And that's a big reason why. Also

170
00:08:28,958 --> 00:08:32,078
Speaker 3: that he wants to hit when he pitches, that when

171
00:08:32,158 --> 00:08:34,678
Speaker 3: we were able to finally do that, because he knows

172
00:08:34,718 --> 00:08:37,758
Speaker 3: he could impact the game with his bat. Also when

173
00:08:37,758 --> 00:08:40,678
Speaker 3: he pitches, and felt like seriously that he was letting

174
00:08:40,718 --> 00:08:42,038
Speaker 3: the group down a little bit if he did not

175
00:08:42,118 --> 00:08:45,958
Speaker 3: hit on the day that he pitched. We could think

176
00:08:45,998 --> 00:08:47,678
Speaker 3: about this, we could talk about it, but as a

177
00:08:47,718 --> 00:08:52,438
Speaker 3: mindset that's unique to him and it doesn't permeate our

178
00:08:52,518 --> 00:08:55,478
Speaker 3: country regarding on a major league level, because like you said,

179
00:08:55,478 --> 00:08:57,238
Speaker 3: we could do it in high school, maybe a little

180
00:08:57,318 --> 00:09:00,638
Speaker 3: leaguer at college, but to do it professionally, it ain't

181
00:09:00,638 --> 00:09:03,158
Speaker 3: gonna happen anytime soon again. And if it does not

182
00:09:03,238 --> 00:09:08,038
Speaker 3: to this level, just a different breed of a baseball

183
00:09:08,038 --> 00:09:12,278
Speaker 3: player and philosophically, how he was raised and who imparted

184
00:09:12,318 --> 00:09:15,518
Speaker 3: these thoughts in him. His work ethic beautiful stuff.

185
00:09:16,318 --> 00:09:18,758
Speaker 2: And Joe you saw firsthand his work ethic.

186
00:09:19,038 --> 00:09:22,558
Speaker 1: And anybody goes to spring training to watch the Angels

187
00:09:22,598 --> 00:09:25,638
Speaker 1: play and work out and go through their day, Otani's

188
00:09:25,638 --> 00:09:29,838
Speaker 1: pretty much on his own program, and it is so detailed.

189
00:09:30,198 --> 00:09:33,398
Speaker 1: I mean, everything is done with a purpose, everything for

190
00:09:33,438 --> 00:09:36,238
Speaker 1: a reason. He may not be stretching with the team

191
00:09:36,478 --> 00:09:40,478
Speaker 1: or doing infield and outfield relays, but he is so

192
00:09:40,638 --> 00:09:43,518
Speaker 1: purposeful with what he does. There's a great story about

193
00:09:43,518 --> 00:09:45,878
Speaker 1: show Hey going back to when he was in high school.

194
00:09:47,118 --> 00:09:50,598
Speaker 1: He actually, at one point as a freshman was pretty thin,

195
00:09:51,118 --> 00:09:54,038
Speaker 1: and he joined something called the Weight Game Club, and

196
00:09:54,238 --> 00:09:56,638
Speaker 1: after the end of the day, the principal would announce

197
00:09:56,638 --> 00:09:59,278
Speaker 1: it's time for the Weight Game Club to report to

198
00:09:59,838 --> 00:10:02,558
Speaker 1: this office, and they all got these protein shakes, and

199
00:10:02,998 --> 00:10:06,478
Speaker 1: Otani was packed on extra calories with cake and late

200
00:10:06,598 --> 00:10:07,958
Speaker 1: night snacks and all this stuff.

201
00:10:07,998 --> 00:10:08,398
Speaker 2: And then his.

202
00:10:08,358 --> 00:10:11,998
Speaker 1: Sophomore year, he had a hip injury and he couldn't patch,

203
00:10:12,038 --> 00:10:12,558
Speaker 1: he couldn't hit.

204
00:10:12,598 --> 00:10:14,238
Speaker 2: He had to basically rest for a while.

205
00:10:14,638 --> 00:10:16,998
Speaker 1: And that's where he got so called religion when it

206
00:10:17,038 --> 00:10:19,478
Speaker 1: comes to what he put in his body and his training,

207
00:10:19,838 --> 00:10:22,638
Speaker 1: and he cut out all the junk food and just

208
00:10:22,758 --> 00:10:26,078
Speaker 1: ever since then, we've seen this guy literally grow. I mean,

209
00:10:26,118 --> 00:10:28,398
Speaker 1: if you get up to show hey up close, you're

210
00:10:28,478 --> 00:10:32,798
Speaker 1: astounded by how broad his shoulders are, how strong he is,

211
00:10:32,878 --> 00:10:36,918
Speaker 1: how big he is. Joe, what did you see in

212
00:10:36,958 --> 00:10:40,318
Speaker 1: this commitment that not just to be a two way player,

213
00:10:40,358 --> 00:10:42,758
Speaker 1: but to be the best athlete that he can possibly be.

214
00:10:43,158 --> 00:10:46,478
Speaker 3: Yeah, you brought it up there. I was asked about, well,

215
00:10:46,518 --> 00:10:49,838
Speaker 3: Show Hayes stretching by himself. It seems like Show Hayes

216
00:10:49,918 --> 00:10:52,358
Speaker 3: on his own program. I said, he should be. He

217
00:10:52,438 --> 00:10:54,518
Speaker 3: is the punter, he's the kicker, he's the quarterback, he's

218
00:10:54,518 --> 00:10:58,558
Speaker 3: the middle linebacker, he's everything. And to just set him

219
00:10:58,558 --> 00:11:00,678
Speaker 3: out there with the rest of the group, who has

220
00:11:01,158 --> 00:11:04,758
Speaker 3: who all have them more defined to practice on a

221
00:11:04,798 --> 00:11:09,678
Speaker 3: daily basis with different needs. How could you possibly pigeon

222
00:11:09,678 --> 00:11:11,078
Speaker 3: on him into that and ask him go ahead, show

223
00:11:11,118 --> 00:11:13,078
Speaker 3: you go ahead and do that like everybody else. No,

224
00:11:13,558 --> 00:11:15,198
Speaker 3: I knew from the beginning that he had to do

225
00:11:15,358 --> 00:11:18,518
Speaker 3: something differently. I didn't realize about the diet. But the

226
00:11:18,558 --> 00:11:20,918
Speaker 3: thing to really note on him that I have he

227
00:11:20,958 --> 00:11:22,758
Speaker 3: got hurt what once with his arm, he had to

228
00:11:22,758 --> 00:11:26,118
Speaker 3: get Tommy John whatever. But otherwise, this guy plays. This

229
00:11:26,198 --> 00:11:29,638
Speaker 3: guy answers the bell every night and within everyday. Major

230
00:11:29,718 --> 00:11:33,958
Speaker 3: League Baseball players counted upon. That's one of the greatest tools.

231
00:11:34,038 --> 00:11:37,118
Speaker 3: These guys play every night, through good and bad. And

232
00:11:37,158 --> 00:11:40,078
Speaker 3: he plays hard. This guy runs hard to first base

233
00:11:41,358 --> 00:11:46,038
Speaker 3: all the time. So yeah, the discipline with him reaches

234
00:11:46,078 --> 00:11:49,718
Speaker 3: into every component of his life. What he does after

235
00:11:49,758 --> 00:11:52,118
Speaker 3: the game, how he gets ready when he wakes up

236
00:11:52,158 --> 00:11:55,878
Speaker 3: in the morning. Everything has a purpose. And I think

237
00:11:55,918 --> 00:11:59,318
Speaker 3: if you really trace back some great athletes, like they're

238
00:11:59,358 --> 00:12:01,918
Speaker 3: the super superstars, the guys that are over the top,

239
00:12:02,358 --> 00:12:05,678
Speaker 3: that are there every year that are able to perform

240
00:12:06,078 --> 00:12:09,558
Speaker 3: at that level. Man, that mental level. Again, I bring

241
00:12:09,598 --> 00:12:12,118
Speaker 3: it up in the Jordans and the Birds, and in

242
00:12:12,198 --> 00:12:14,998
Speaker 3: basketball Brady of course, and the you know the Yankee

243
00:12:15,078 --> 00:12:17,518
Speaker 3: group and the you know the Juter group back then.

244
00:12:17,958 --> 00:12:19,678
Speaker 3: I mean that they're one of their greatest friends. Was

245
00:12:19,718 --> 00:12:22,558
Speaker 3: that how they played and what they believed in and

246
00:12:22,678 --> 00:12:25,398
Speaker 3: their dedication to their game and et cetera. So I

247
00:12:25,598 --> 00:12:29,398
Speaker 3: he's just a cut above and it'll be hard for

248
00:12:29,438 --> 00:12:30,598
Speaker 3: people to replicate him.

249
00:12:30,838 --> 00:12:34,158
Speaker 1: Oh absolutely, the idea that you know this will encourage

250
00:12:34,158 --> 00:12:37,478
Speaker 1: more two way players. Forget it, people, this guy is

251
00:12:37,558 --> 00:12:41,478
Speaker 1: just so so special and right now he turns twenty

252
00:12:41,558 --> 00:12:45,598
Speaker 1: nine next month in July. He's playing the best baseball

253
00:12:45,878 --> 00:12:46,598
Speaker 1: of his life.

254
00:12:46,918 --> 00:12:47,558
Speaker 2: Why is that?

255
00:12:48,318 --> 00:13:02,198
Speaker 1: Well, we'll answer that question right after this. Okay, Joe,

256
00:13:02,198 --> 00:13:05,798
Speaker 1: we're talking about show Heyani, who is this year so

257
00:13:05,878 --> 00:13:09,918
Speaker 1: far a three hundred hitter. Besides the obvious power that

258
00:13:09,958 --> 00:13:15,158
Speaker 1: he has leading the league in RBI's home runs, adjustedsps,

259
00:13:15,278 --> 00:13:18,958
Speaker 1: total bases, you name it. I'm curious your take because

260
00:13:18,998 --> 00:13:22,438
Speaker 1: this is what I see. Shoey Otani has the lowest

261
00:13:22,438 --> 00:13:25,798
Speaker 1: strikeout rate in his career so far, and if you

262
00:13:25,918 --> 00:13:28,798
Speaker 1: watch many of his home runs, where are they going out?

263
00:13:28,918 --> 00:13:30,838
Speaker 1: They're going out to center field, They're going out to

264
00:13:30,918 --> 00:13:33,558
Speaker 1: left center field, They're going out to left field. It

265
00:13:33,598 --> 00:13:36,598
Speaker 1: looks to me like Otani is much more comfortable with

266
00:13:36,678 --> 00:13:40,278
Speaker 1: letting the ball back up and he's not out front

267
00:13:40,278 --> 00:13:43,638
Speaker 1: getting fooled off balance on that front side. And by

268
00:13:43,678 --> 00:13:46,598
Speaker 1: letting the ball get a little deeper, he has reduced

269
00:13:46,758 --> 00:13:49,278
Speaker 1: his strikeout rate. And if this guy puts the ball

270
00:13:49,318 --> 00:13:51,718
Speaker 1: in the air, folks, there's a good chance that's going out.

271
00:13:51,918 --> 00:13:55,198
Speaker 1: He's on a streak right now where his last nine

272
00:13:55,318 --> 00:13:59,518
Speaker 1: fly balls, eight of them have been home runs. I

273
00:13:59,558 --> 00:14:01,958
Speaker 1: mean the damage that he does is ratio of damage

274
00:14:01,958 --> 00:14:04,718
Speaker 1: to fly balls is ridiculous. If he touches it, it's

275
00:14:04,758 --> 00:14:07,478
Speaker 1: pretty much going out the way he leverages the baseball.

276
00:14:07,638 --> 00:14:10,598
Speaker 1: But I think Joe he's much more I don't know

277
00:14:10,638 --> 00:14:13,318
Speaker 1: if comfortable as a word or balance, but he's letting

278
00:14:13,358 --> 00:14:16,198
Speaker 1: the ball back up and he's doing damage the other

279
00:14:16,238 --> 00:14:18,598
Speaker 1: way and cut down the swings and misses.

280
00:14:19,358 --> 00:14:22,478
Speaker 3: Yeah, and why because he wants to. I am sure

281
00:14:22,518 --> 00:14:25,558
Speaker 3: that's a mindful adjustment that he made in the offseason.

282
00:14:25,598 --> 00:14:28,558
Speaker 3: Somebody brought something to his attention about where he's being

283
00:14:28,558 --> 00:14:31,478
Speaker 3: pitched at and what the results are. From the beginning,

284
00:14:31,918 --> 00:14:33,638
Speaker 3: I try to get him to hit the rocks in

285
00:14:33,718 --> 00:14:36,358
Speaker 3: Anaheim Stateium. That was my thing with him. Show, Hey,

286
00:14:36,358 --> 00:14:38,238
Speaker 3: we're going to celebrate after the game. You hit the

287
00:14:38,358 --> 00:14:41,598
Speaker 3: rocks tonight, we're celebrating after the game. You're coming in

288
00:14:41,598 --> 00:14:44,998
Speaker 3: my office. And that was that's that was very obvious

289
00:14:45,038 --> 00:14:48,798
Speaker 3: at the time when he's there. Listen, there's no part

290
00:14:48,798 --> 00:14:50,598
Speaker 3: of a ballpark that can hold him. And quite frankly,

291
00:14:50,998 --> 00:14:53,638
Speaker 3: think about how many times he just like pulls there

292
00:14:53,718 --> 00:14:56,278
Speaker 3: or hooks a home run. Normally it's like right center

293
00:14:56,398 --> 00:15:00,078
Speaker 3: on over that's that's where his swing plays. I think

294
00:15:00,118 --> 00:15:04,918
Speaker 3: that's it's just mindful. I also believe that with the

295
00:15:04,918 --> 00:15:07,758
Speaker 3: way the defenses are set up now he knew. Look

296
00:15:07,838 --> 00:15:09,678
Speaker 3: moving forward, I'm going to play with this whole field.

297
00:15:09,678 --> 00:15:11,238
Speaker 3: I'm going to set the table up for my guys.

298
00:15:11,278 --> 00:15:13,678
Speaker 3: What's the score right now? There's a home run needed?

299
00:15:13,758 --> 00:15:15,158
Speaker 3: Do I need to get on base with the guys

300
00:15:15,158 --> 00:15:17,878
Speaker 3: in front of me. He plays the game. He plays

301
00:15:17,878 --> 00:15:21,598
Speaker 3: the game striking out. I don't want to strike out anymore.

302
00:15:21,598 --> 00:15:23,238
Speaker 3: I want to strike out lists Okay, do I do

303
00:15:23,318 --> 00:15:26,638
Speaker 3: about it? And he's doing something about it? It's just again,

304
00:15:26,878 --> 00:15:28,798
Speaker 3: it's something that most of us can't do or ever do.

305
00:15:29,318 --> 00:15:32,078
Speaker 3: You might have that thought, somebody might give you that

306
00:15:32,118 --> 00:15:34,798
Speaker 3: piece of information, but he still can't put it into play.

307
00:15:34,918 --> 00:15:38,878
Speaker 3: He can't. I'm telling you he can't. It's amazing to watch

308
00:15:38,958 --> 00:15:43,438
Speaker 3: him prep every day, even watching him prepare for a game. Honestly,

309
00:15:43,478 --> 00:15:46,718
Speaker 3: he doesn't need a whole lot of scouting information before

310
00:15:47,078 --> 00:15:48,838
Speaker 3: he'll take those little nuggets and he's gonna go out

311
00:15:48,838 --> 00:15:51,118
Speaker 3: there and he's gonna paint as an artist as what

312
00:15:51,158 --> 00:15:54,358
Speaker 3: he's singing in the batter's box. Offensively, he'll look and

313
00:15:54,358 --> 00:15:56,358
Speaker 3: see what the guy's been trying to do to him before,

314
00:15:56,838 --> 00:16:00,038
Speaker 3: where his mistakes have been made, and he's going to

315
00:16:00,118 --> 00:16:02,198
Speaker 3: do something part of that game to fix it against

316
00:16:02,198 --> 00:16:04,158
Speaker 3: that guy out for that team that night or that

317
00:16:04,238 --> 00:16:07,958
Speaker 3: serious because he knows that's how they're pitching to him. Again.

318
00:16:08,158 --> 00:16:10,998
Speaker 3: Easier said than done, absolutely, but this is this is

319
00:16:10,998 --> 00:16:15,198
Speaker 3: who he is. He's just so mindful and able to

320
00:16:15,398 --> 00:16:17,038
Speaker 3: see what's going on in front of him and then

321
00:16:17,038 --> 00:16:17,878
Speaker 3: adjust physically.

322
00:16:18,718 --> 00:16:20,598
Speaker 2: All right, Joe, let's talk about protection.

323
00:16:20,838 --> 00:16:21,118
Speaker 3: Okay.

324
00:16:21,918 --> 00:16:24,998
Speaker 1: You know all the time you spent putting lineups together,

325
00:16:25,798 --> 00:16:28,678
Speaker 1: sitting down with your Cafe Americano and what's the best

326
00:16:29,838 --> 00:16:32,438
Speaker 1: what's the best lineup you can put together a batting order.

327
00:16:32,478 --> 00:16:34,758
Speaker 1: Maybe it doesn't mean a whole lot, but you know,

328
00:16:34,798 --> 00:16:37,878
Speaker 1: subtle differences the way you arrange groups of hitters can

329
00:16:37,918 --> 00:16:41,078
Speaker 1: make a difference as the game plays out. In this case,

330
00:16:42,078 --> 00:16:43,918
Speaker 1: it was only about three weeks ago, two and a

331
00:16:43,918 --> 00:16:46,998
Speaker 1: half weeks ago. Phil Nevin kind of flip flopped Mike

332
00:16:47,038 --> 00:16:49,718
Speaker 1: Trout and show hey Otani. At the beginning of the season,

333
00:16:49,758 --> 00:16:56,118
Speaker 1: it was mostly Trout to Otani. Three lately he's flip

334
00:16:56,118 --> 00:17:00,558
Speaker 1: flopped him, and he's got Trout behind Otani. And here's

335
00:17:00,598 --> 00:17:05,078
Speaker 1: what Otani has done here since that flip flop four

336
00:17:05,198 --> 00:17:09,198
Speaker 1: twenty six batting average five forty one ohps, getting up

337
00:17:09,198 --> 00:17:12,198
Speaker 1: based more than half the time, and this slugging percentage,

338
00:17:12,278 --> 00:17:17,558
Speaker 1: this is not a misprint one eighty five. Oh my goodness, So, Joe,

339
00:17:17,638 --> 00:17:20,598
Speaker 1: I mean you were not lucky enough to have those

340
00:17:20,598 --> 00:17:23,678
Speaker 1: guys in the lineup all the time together, given their injuries.

341
00:17:24,918 --> 00:17:28,438
Speaker 1: But how about the order of those two Does it matter?

342
00:17:28,518 --> 00:17:30,758
Speaker 1: What did you notice Trout Otanni together?

343
00:17:31,438 --> 00:17:34,278
Speaker 3: I think it does. I've had arguments with, you know,

344
00:17:35,198 --> 00:17:37,798
Speaker 3: guys in the front office or analytical dudes for years

345
00:17:37,798 --> 00:17:40,918
Speaker 3: because they just think it's it's not as important. I

346
00:17:40,958 --> 00:17:42,838
Speaker 3: know one thing, when the lineup card is sent over

347
00:17:43,358 --> 00:17:44,998
Speaker 3: from one team to the other, the first thing you

348
00:17:45,038 --> 00:17:46,718
Speaker 3: look at is how it's stacked up, and what could

349
00:17:46,718 --> 00:17:48,758
Speaker 3: I do in the latter part of the game. Who

350
00:17:48,798 --> 00:17:50,598
Speaker 3: do we not have to pitch to in certain moments,

351
00:17:50,598 --> 00:17:53,198
Speaker 3: who's like blazing hot, who are going to stay away from?

352
00:17:53,198 --> 00:17:55,798
Speaker 3: And even guys that are normally blazing hot that stink

353
00:17:55,878 --> 00:17:58,038
Speaker 3: right now, you're going to go after these guys. So

354
00:17:58,518 --> 00:18:02,158
Speaker 3: I totally believe in that. For years, I would go

355
00:18:02,238 --> 00:18:05,118
Speaker 3: right left, right, left, right left with my lineup before

356
00:18:05,198 --> 00:18:08,678
Speaker 3: the three batter minimum came in for the relief pitchers.

357
00:18:09,078 --> 00:18:11,718
Speaker 3: Once that occurred, I like to go right, right, left, right,

358
00:18:11,798 --> 00:18:15,038
Speaker 3: right left to try to protect my left hand, my

359
00:18:15,038 --> 00:18:19,118
Speaker 3: better left handed hitters. Furthermore, a guy like show Hey,

360
00:18:19,278 --> 00:18:21,198
Speaker 3: if in fact, it gets to the point where nobody

361
00:18:21,198 --> 00:18:23,438
Speaker 3: wants to pitch to him, that's what I really like

362
00:18:23,478 --> 00:18:25,078
Speaker 3: to lead him off, because I want the whole lineup

363
00:18:25,118 --> 00:18:26,838
Speaker 3: to protect him. And I've used that phrase in the

364
00:18:26,838 --> 00:18:30,838
Speaker 3: past too. At some point, if they want to continue

365
00:18:30,918 --> 00:18:33,558
Speaker 3: to tiptoe around this guy, I'm going to do that.

366
00:18:33,598 --> 00:18:35,198
Speaker 3: Then you say, well there's going to be nobody on

367
00:18:35,278 --> 00:18:37,038
Speaker 3: base in front of him, Well, he's not going to

368
00:18:37,038 --> 00:18:39,478
Speaker 3: get to swing the bat anyway. You might as well

369
00:18:39,518 --> 00:18:42,318
Speaker 3: put some good dudes behind him. I'm a big believer

370
00:18:42,358 --> 00:18:45,278
Speaker 3: in protection. I know it's a fact. I know it

371
00:18:45,318 --> 00:18:46,918
Speaker 3: goes on the other dug. And I'll tell you another thing.

372
00:18:47,038 --> 00:18:49,918
Speaker 3: Latter part of the game. It's not just about the first, second, third, fourth,

373
00:18:49,998 --> 00:18:53,038
Speaker 3: or fifth inning. When it gets late, man, you want

374
00:18:53,038 --> 00:18:54,758
Speaker 3: that guy to be able to hit. You want somebody

375
00:18:55,038 --> 00:18:57,558
Speaker 3: if something is happening, You want them to pitch with

376
00:18:57,638 --> 00:19:00,718
Speaker 3: this fellow. And if he's not protected, you're not going

377
00:19:00,758 --> 00:19:02,398
Speaker 3: to get pitched to it. You're just remember the year

378
00:19:02,398 --> 00:19:04,718
Speaker 3: I walked with How many times do we Bryce Harper

379
00:19:04,718 --> 00:19:05,278
Speaker 3: in Chicago?

380
00:19:05,638 --> 00:19:08,238
Speaker 1: My god, Yeah, you sent him into a slump because

381
00:19:08,238 --> 00:19:10,878
Speaker 1: you didn't pitch to him in any situation base is

382
00:19:10,878 --> 00:19:11,798
Speaker 1: empty or runners on.

383
00:19:12,358 --> 00:19:15,478
Speaker 3: Well, that was you know, that was mine of construction. Honestly,

384
00:19:15,518 --> 00:19:17,598
Speaker 3: I mean at that time, if friend Don't had been

385
00:19:17,638 --> 00:19:20,398
Speaker 3: behind him, or if Daniel Murphy had been behind him,

386
00:19:20,638 --> 00:19:23,078
Speaker 3: would have pitched to him. But Zimmerman was vandam and

387
00:19:23,278 --> 00:19:24,918
Speaker 3: zimm was a great player, but he was cold. He

388
00:19:25,038 --> 00:19:27,518
Speaker 3: could not have been more could So why would we

389
00:19:27,958 --> 00:19:31,918
Speaker 3: mess with Bryce right there when I know the other

390
00:19:31,958 --> 00:19:35,238
Speaker 3: guy really is not on top of his game. And furthermore,

391
00:19:35,438 --> 00:19:37,358
Speaker 3: you play a lot of pressure to some people that

392
00:19:37,358 --> 00:19:40,718
Speaker 3: they're not normally accustomed to. That pressure sometimes depends on

393
00:19:40,798 --> 00:19:42,998
Speaker 3: who that player may be. So again, there's I don't

394
00:19:42,998 --> 00:19:44,958
Speaker 3: even how many reasons I've given you right there, and

395
00:19:44,958 --> 00:19:46,878
Speaker 3: I'm still going to get an argument from somebody that

396
00:19:46,918 --> 00:19:50,118
Speaker 3: it's not true. It is true. It is true. Everybody

397
00:19:50,198 --> 00:19:52,398
Speaker 3: looks at that before the game. And as the pitchers themselves,

398
00:19:52,598 --> 00:19:54,958
Speaker 3: how do they feel about who's sitting? They're always looking

399
00:19:54,998 --> 00:19:56,958
Speaker 3: at the on deck circle. It always matters.

400
00:19:57,758 --> 00:19:58,598
Speaker 2: That's a great point.

401
00:19:58,638 --> 00:20:01,638
Speaker 1: I've seen that a pitcher literally will look to see

402
00:20:01,678 --> 00:20:04,078
Speaker 1: who's coming up just to remind himselves, Okay.

403
00:20:04,238 --> 00:20:06,318
Speaker 2: I have to be careful or I better go after

404
00:20:06,358 --> 00:20:07,518
Speaker 2: this guy. A great point.

405
00:20:07,998 --> 00:20:10,158
Speaker 1: So that brings us to Mike Trout, because now he

406
00:20:10,398 --> 00:20:13,838
Speaker 1: is the protection for shohe Otani, and I've seen things

407
00:20:13,878 --> 00:20:16,958
Speaker 1: this year that just boggle my mind with Mike Trout.

408
00:20:16,998 --> 00:20:21,758
Speaker 1: Mike Trout actually sees the greatest percentage of fastballs this

409
00:20:21,878 --> 00:20:25,398
Speaker 1: year than any hitter in baseball. Now, if you look

410
00:20:25,438 --> 00:20:28,238
Speaker 1: at the top five who see the most fastballs.

411
00:20:28,278 --> 00:20:29,278
Speaker 2: We're taking cutters out.

412
00:20:29,318 --> 00:20:32,638
Speaker 1: This is for steemers and sinkers, their leadoff hitter types

413
00:20:32,678 --> 00:20:36,078
Speaker 1: without power. We're talking about people like Stephen Kwan, John Birdie,

414
00:20:36,078 --> 00:20:39,358
Speaker 1: Brandon Nimo. You know these people, You're gonna go after

415
00:20:39,398 --> 00:20:41,598
Speaker 1: them if you're a pitcher. Mike Trout should not be

416
00:20:41,678 --> 00:20:44,358
Speaker 1: seeing the highest percentage of fastball But there's a reason,

417
00:20:44,518 --> 00:20:45,038
Speaker 1: and that's.

418
00:20:44,838 --> 00:20:47,038
Speaker 2: Because he hasn't hit them. He really hasn't.

419
00:20:47,078 --> 00:20:48,798
Speaker 1: He hasn't hit a home run on a pitch over

420
00:20:48,918 --> 00:20:51,958
Speaker 1: ninety four all year. In the month of June, he

421
00:20:52,078 --> 00:20:56,198
Speaker 1: was seeing seventy five percent fastballs and hitting.

422
00:20:56,118 --> 00:20:58,318
Speaker 2: Under one hundred against them.

423
00:20:58,638 --> 00:21:02,478
Speaker 1: Mind boggling pitchers getting Mike Trout out one way now

424
00:21:02,558 --> 00:21:05,318
Speaker 1: last weekend in Kansas City, and you knew what was

425
00:21:05,318 --> 00:21:05,878
Speaker 1: gonna happen.

426
00:21:06,198 --> 00:21:07,158
Speaker 2: It started to turn.

427
00:21:07,798 --> 00:21:12,278
Speaker 1: He got I think five hits off fastballs, everything from

428
00:21:12,358 --> 00:21:15,118
Speaker 1: Zach Grienki at eighty nine to the eldest Chapman at

429
00:21:15,158 --> 00:21:18,638
Speaker 1: one oh one. I think, Joe, this guy's turning a

430
00:21:18,638 --> 00:21:20,478
Speaker 1: corner right now. You know Mike is not going to

431
00:21:20,558 --> 00:21:23,238
Speaker 1: stay down for long. And if you get to watch

432
00:21:23,318 --> 00:21:28,118
Speaker 1: the Angels with Otani and Trout hot at the same time.

433
00:21:28,918 --> 00:21:31,758
Speaker 1: Oh my goodness, that's a fourth of July fireworks show.

434
00:21:31,758 --> 00:21:33,958
Speaker 1: I want to see. Agree, So give me your take

435
00:21:33,998 --> 00:21:36,998
Speaker 1: on a Mike Trout what he does behind the show. Hey,

436
00:21:37,518 --> 00:21:39,598
Speaker 1: and I don't know if he ever told you this,

437
00:21:39,718 --> 00:21:41,478
Speaker 1: but I've talked to Mike a lot. When things go

438
00:21:41,518 --> 00:21:44,518
Speaker 1: a little bit wrong mechanically for him, He's pretty simple

439
00:21:44,558 --> 00:21:46,958
Speaker 1: when it comes to that. It's all about just getting

440
00:21:46,958 --> 00:21:49,838
Speaker 1: his front foot down on time. Everything stems from getting

441
00:21:49,878 --> 00:21:51,838
Speaker 1: that front foot down for Mike Trout.

442
00:21:51,958 --> 00:21:55,598
Speaker 3: Agreed, And you're right, he's gonna make the adjustment. I've

443
00:21:55,598 --> 00:21:57,318
Speaker 3: seen that. I've even seen that in the past, even

444
00:21:57,318 --> 00:21:58,638
Speaker 3: when I was with the Race. That's the one thing

445
00:21:58,678 --> 00:22:00,798
Speaker 3: we wanted to do was elevated fastball, and I used

446
00:22:00,838 --> 00:22:03,318
Speaker 3: to bring Jake McGeehan to pitch to him out of

447
00:22:03,318 --> 00:22:07,038
Speaker 3: the bullpen for that particular reason. Mikey's a really, really

448
00:22:07,078 --> 00:22:10,518
Speaker 3: good in the zone breaking ball hitter, and I think,

449
00:22:10,558 --> 00:22:13,358
Speaker 3: you know, with analytics, eventually somebody's going to figure that out.

450
00:22:13,398 --> 00:22:15,598
Speaker 3: Of course, you still need to throw those, but you

451
00:22:15,638 --> 00:22:17,598
Speaker 3: don't want to put him in a spot that this guy,

452
00:22:17,758 --> 00:22:20,118
Speaker 3: you know, the way his bat works within the strike zone,

453
00:22:20,518 --> 00:22:24,318
Speaker 3: it's devastating, So everybody understands that. Everybody knows that right now,

454
00:22:24,638 --> 00:22:26,998
Speaker 3: front foot down. The thing that I saw with Michael

455
00:22:27,078 --> 00:22:29,558
Speaker 3: right before I left, and I talked about is just

456
00:22:29,598 --> 00:22:32,918
Speaker 3: to remain more quiet. I thought, if you think about it,

457
00:22:32,958 --> 00:22:34,758
Speaker 3: the more you move your back before the pitch comes

458
00:22:34,798 --> 00:22:37,398
Speaker 3: in harder, it is the time that front foot being down.

459
00:22:37,438 --> 00:22:39,558
Speaker 3: I like him really quiet. I think when he gets

460
00:22:39,558 --> 00:22:42,798
Speaker 3: really quiet, that foot gets down more readily on time,

461
00:22:43,398 --> 00:22:44,638
Speaker 3: to the point where you don't even have to take

462
00:22:44,638 --> 00:22:46,278
Speaker 3: a strike, just keep the foot on the ground. He's

463
00:22:46,238 --> 00:22:49,278
Speaker 3: strong enough, so he's going to make all these adjustments.

464
00:22:49,598 --> 00:22:53,078
Speaker 3: He's gonna have to get on above the elevated fastball

465
00:22:53,318 --> 00:22:54,838
Speaker 3: or if it's a ball, he's got to just learn

466
00:22:54,878 --> 00:22:57,118
Speaker 3: to take that. He normally has a pretty good eye,

467
00:22:57,158 --> 00:23:00,438
Speaker 3: but like you're saying, I'm betting on him. Love to

468
00:23:00,438 --> 00:23:02,838
Speaker 3: see them both get hot at the same time. The

469
00:23:02,878 --> 00:23:05,158
Speaker 3: other guys they got in there, and Drury I really

470
00:23:05,198 --> 00:23:08,518
Speaker 3: like a lot Renfro. I like a lot Ursula Orcella.

471
00:23:08,718 --> 00:23:11,118
Speaker 3: Really a good baseball player, one of the better. Nobody

472
00:23:11,118 --> 00:23:13,598
Speaker 3: talks about him enough. He's a really good baseball player.

473
00:23:14,038 --> 00:23:15,798
Speaker 3: And I think Fletch's back up is that right, is

474
00:23:15,798 --> 00:23:17,678
Speaker 3: Fletcher because of Nito? Is that right?

475
00:23:17,718 --> 00:23:18,798
Speaker 2: They just bring him back up.

476
00:23:18,958 --> 00:23:20,718
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean they've had a bunch of injuries and

477
00:23:21,198 --> 00:23:23,758
Speaker 1: Netta was doing a fantastic job and he's got that

478
00:23:23,798 --> 00:23:24,598
Speaker 1: oblique injury.

479
00:23:24,678 --> 00:23:26,238
Speaker 2: As you know, that can be a good four or

480
00:23:26,318 --> 00:23:26,798
Speaker 2: five weeks.

481
00:23:26,958 --> 00:23:29,798
Speaker 1: They may be without him for a while, but yeah,

482
00:23:29,838 --> 00:23:33,038
Speaker 1: this is it's a deeper lineup now, even with some

483
00:23:33,118 --> 00:23:37,518
Speaker 1: of the injuries. And listen, I more protection around show

484
00:23:37,558 --> 00:23:39,238
Speaker 1: Hay so that people have to pitch to him. As

485
00:23:39,278 --> 00:23:43,078
Speaker 1: a baseball fan, I want to see that, you know.

486
00:23:43,278 --> 00:23:47,318
Speaker 1: I hope people don't get accustomed to how great and

487
00:23:47,398 --> 00:23:51,118
Speaker 1: unique Sho Hay is. And just to help you appreciate

488
00:23:51,238 --> 00:23:53,718
Speaker 1: him even more, I'm looking at his numbers through this

489
00:23:53,758 --> 00:23:56,078
Speaker 1: point in his career as a hitter and a pitcher.

490
00:23:56,838 --> 00:23:59,118
Speaker 1: It's a little more than six hundred games as a hitter,

491
00:23:59,758 --> 00:24:01,958
Speaker 1: you know, over seventy to eighty games as a pitcher.

492
00:24:02,598 --> 00:24:05,918
Speaker 1: And the players he is analogous too in terms of

493
00:24:05,958 --> 00:24:10,518
Speaker 1: his numbers as a hitter Frank Robinson and as a

494
00:24:10,558 --> 00:24:15,358
Speaker 1: pitcher Jim Palmer. Shoe Otani is a mashup of two

495
00:24:15,438 --> 00:24:19,238
Speaker 1: first Ballot Hall of famers, Frank Robinson and Jim Palmer.

496
00:24:19,358 --> 00:24:22,158
Speaker 1: If you were just one of those disciplines and you

497
00:24:22,198 --> 00:24:25,518
Speaker 1: were mentioning the same breath as Frank Robinson, you'd go wow.

498
00:24:25,838 --> 00:24:27,878
Speaker 1: Or a pitcher you'd say, hey, that guy reminds me

499
00:24:27,918 --> 00:24:30,598
Speaker 1: of Jim Palmer. You're like, wow, be careful. That's really

500
00:24:30,678 --> 00:24:35,078
Speaker 1: high praise. He's a combination of Frank Robinson and Jim Palmer.

501
00:24:35,358 --> 00:24:35,918
Speaker 2: Amazing.

502
00:24:36,558 --> 00:24:40,718
Speaker 3: Yeah. Listen again, I know we all get to watch

503
00:24:40,758 --> 00:24:43,958
Speaker 3: him on TV and you read all these things and

504
00:24:44,238 --> 00:24:46,518
Speaker 3: you watch the last pitch of the WBC and then

505
00:24:46,598 --> 00:24:49,078
Speaker 3: you'll see a bomb to right central at Aynheim State

506
00:24:49,118 --> 00:24:52,758
Speaker 3: or Angel Stadium. It ain't going away. It's not just

507
00:24:52,798 --> 00:24:54,678
Speaker 3: with good health. It's not going away. Like I said,

508
00:24:54,718 --> 00:24:56,838
Speaker 3: he's gonna have his best year ever this year, and

509
00:24:56,838 --> 00:24:59,518
Speaker 3: then with good health, I anticipate the same thing happening

510
00:24:59,638 --> 00:25:01,518
Speaker 3: next year. We's gonna have a better year next year

511
00:25:01,918 --> 00:25:10,958
Speaker 3: than this year. Incredible mind you mentally, strong focus, and

512
00:25:10,998 --> 00:25:15,838
Speaker 3: the other thing he's he's able to just dump throw

513
00:25:15,878 --> 00:25:19,318
Speaker 3: away any kind of failure. It doesn't linger, it doesn't stick.

514
00:25:19,598 --> 00:25:21,678
Speaker 3: He's kind of tough on with that, and I think

515
00:25:21,718 --> 00:25:24,318
Speaker 3: that's important. Also. Listen, he goes to some bad moments too,

516
00:25:24,918 --> 00:25:27,918
Speaker 3: but the way he goes about his business, you could

517
00:25:27,918 --> 00:25:30,918
Speaker 3: see he just he's not a carrier. There's a trash can,

518
00:25:30,958 --> 00:25:32,398
Speaker 3: I'm throwing it in that trash can.

519
00:25:32,718 --> 00:25:35,198
Speaker 1: And to move on to the next moment, Well, it

520
00:25:35,238 --> 00:25:36,878
Speaker 1: looks like we could be in a real treat in

521
00:25:36,918 --> 00:25:38,838
Speaker 1: the second half of the season watching show. Hey o

522
00:25:38,958 --> 00:25:41,838
Speaker 1: Tani play in meaningful games and once again I think

523
00:25:41,958 --> 00:25:43,358
Speaker 1: is bringing out the best in him.

524
00:25:43,838 --> 00:25:45,158
Speaker 2: That will be fun to watch.

525
00:25:45,398 --> 00:25:47,918
Speaker 1: Well, I promised you, Joe, I wanted to ask you

526
00:25:48,038 --> 00:25:50,598
Speaker 1: about this little pet peeve that I have, and we're

527
00:25:50,598 --> 00:25:51,718
Speaker 1: gonna do that right after the.

528
00:25:51,638 --> 00:26:05,398
Speaker 2: Break, all right, Joe.

529
00:26:05,598 --> 00:26:08,358
Speaker 1: Major league managers, I watched a lot of these guys

530
00:26:08,398 --> 00:26:10,678
Speaker 1: go out to the mound to make a pitching change,

531
00:26:11,078 --> 00:26:13,478
Speaker 1: and they look like they just finished working out.

532
00:26:13,718 --> 00:26:17,558
Speaker 2: I'm a what has happened to baseball uniforms. I've got

533
00:26:18,158 --> 00:26:19,158
Speaker 2: a suggestion here.

534
00:26:19,198 --> 00:26:22,758
Speaker 1: If you're a manager and we can't you're not wearing

535
00:26:22,798 --> 00:26:26,078
Speaker 1: a uniform jersey. You know what, We're gonna take your

536
00:26:26,158 --> 00:26:29,158
Speaker 1: number away. You shouldn't have a number if you're gonna

537
00:26:29,198 --> 00:26:32,318
Speaker 1: go out there just in a T shirt like working out.

538
00:26:32,398 --> 00:26:32,638
Speaker 2: Teach.

539
00:26:32,718 --> 00:26:36,198
Speaker 1: Come on, and you know the Yankees actually had petitioned

540
00:26:36,198 --> 00:26:38,998
Speaker 1: major League Baseball because the Yankees have retired so many numbers,

541
00:26:39,318 --> 00:26:42,878
Speaker 1: They're like, you know, can we have not assigned numbers

542
00:26:42,918 --> 00:26:45,078
Speaker 1: to our manager and coaches because we need those for

543
00:26:45,118 --> 00:26:48,238
Speaker 1: the players. I'm not saying that's the reason that we

544
00:26:48,278 --> 00:26:50,918
Speaker 1: should do this, but come on, there's to me, there's

545
00:26:50,958 --> 00:26:53,558
Speaker 1: something sacred about a uniform. And I don't say you

546
00:26:53,598 --> 00:26:55,598
Speaker 1: have to be Connie Mack and wear a three piece

547
00:26:55,638 --> 00:26:57,678
Speaker 1: suit and a straw boater when you're running a game.

548
00:26:58,238 --> 00:27:00,878
Speaker 1: And I'm not saying everybody you know should have a

549
00:27:00,958 --> 00:27:03,598
Speaker 1: full uniform walking out to the mound like you're being

550
00:27:03,638 --> 00:27:07,798
Speaker 1: in but sometimes getting too sloppy here, Joe. I just

551
00:27:07,838 --> 00:27:09,798
Speaker 1: think it's a bad look when when those gates are

552
00:27:09,798 --> 00:27:11,678
Speaker 1: open and you're on the field. I think there's a

553
00:27:11,758 --> 00:27:13,718
Speaker 1: level of professional I want to see. I know you're

554
00:27:13,758 --> 00:27:16,398
Speaker 1: gonna disagree with me because it's not important.

555
00:27:16,918 --> 00:27:20,318
Speaker 3: You're speaking to me. You're speaking to me directly right now,

556
00:27:20,318 --> 00:27:22,798
Speaker 3: that's what you're doing. Yeah, Well, I was.

557
00:27:22,718 --> 00:27:23,798
Speaker 2: A hoodie guy, you were.

558
00:27:23,998 --> 00:27:26,318
Speaker 3: I love the hoodie. I love the hoodie, you know, And.

559
00:27:26,718 --> 00:27:30,038
Speaker 1: I'm actually okay with the hoodie. I'm selling and contradicting myself.

560
00:27:30,038 --> 00:27:31,758
Speaker 1: But I'm talking about guys out there just in the

561
00:27:31,838 --> 00:27:34,038
Speaker 1: T shirt. I mean that to me is not a

562
00:27:34,078 --> 00:27:34,598
Speaker 1: good look.

563
00:27:35,238 --> 00:27:37,678
Speaker 3: I can't disagree with that. I wouldn't do that. I

564
00:27:37,678 --> 00:27:40,958
Speaker 3: didn't do that, you know, the uniform top itself on

565
00:27:40,998 --> 00:27:43,318
Speaker 3: a warm day, that's what I would I don't want

566
00:27:43,318 --> 00:27:44,798
Speaker 3: to say to evolve into. But they give you so

567
00:27:44,798 --> 00:27:47,558
Speaker 3: many alternatives. That's part of the gig too. You get

568
00:27:47,678 --> 00:27:50,958
Speaker 3: in your locker, there are so many alternative looks to

569
00:27:51,118 --> 00:27:52,998
Speaker 3: choose from, and the guy's gonna pick the one that

570
00:27:53,038 --> 00:27:54,598
Speaker 3: he thinks she looks the hottest in and he's gonna

571
00:27:54,598 --> 00:27:57,598
Speaker 3: go out there on a warmer day and muscle it up,

572
00:27:57,678 --> 00:27:59,998
Speaker 3: you know. So I just like, I mean, I was

573
00:28:00,038 --> 00:28:02,158
Speaker 3: always cold, like even in the tropic cannon Field that

574
00:28:02,238 --> 00:28:06,438
Speaker 3: was always cold. So and I am I mean Chicago cold,

575
00:28:06,518 --> 00:28:09,518
Speaker 3: Anaheim at night cold. So I was a hoodie guy

576
00:28:09,558 --> 00:28:12,318
Speaker 3: for those reasons. But on a hot day you might

577
00:28:12,318 --> 00:28:15,238
Speaker 3: see me on occasion with that or even we got

578
00:28:15,238 --> 00:28:17,438
Speaker 3: to the point where we cut the sleeves out there.

579
00:28:17,518 --> 00:28:19,558
Speaker 3: The seamstress gotten real nice, and I'd have a short

580
00:28:19,558 --> 00:28:22,278
Speaker 3: sleeve hoodie. But that was my method. And I think,

581
00:28:22,318 --> 00:28:25,878
Speaker 3: if you're you agree, I don't like T shirts, but

582
00:28:26,878 --> 00:28:30,438
Speaker 3: the alternative methods. They're they're in your locker, they're encouraged.

583
00:28:30,478 --> 00:28:32,638
Speaker 3: I mean, we're going to sell these things. All those

584
00:28:32,638 --> 00:28:35,878
Speaker 3: things are part of the marketing I think from MLB.

585
00:28:36,038 --> 00:28:39,638
Speaker 3: So I don't know, You're right, I'm the wrong guy

586
00:28:39,678 --> 00:28:43,158
Speaker 3: to talk to you about this because I'm into individual

587
00:28:43,238 --> 00:28:46,958
Speaker 3: individuality with almost everything. But for me it was the

588
00:28:46,998 --> 00:28:51,838
Speaker 3: hoodie normally, or my jersey on a really really hot day.

589
00:28:52,558 --> 00:28:55,278
Speaker 2: How about numbers for a manager and coach? You okay

590
00:28:55,318 --> 00:28:55,638
Speaker 2: with that?

591
00:28:55,918 --> 00:28:57,478
Speaker 1: And by the way, you have to tell a story

592
00:28:57,518 --> 00:28:58,558
Speaker 1: about your number.

593
00:28:59,438 --> 00:29:01,118
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, well, yeah, I like, and I mean

594
00:29:01,158 --> 00:29:02,878
Speaker 3: I think we all should have numbers. Absolutely. It's a

595
00:29:02,878 --> 00:29:04,958
Speaker 3: pretty big part of being part of a team is

596
00:29:04,998 --> 00:29:08,758
Speaker 3: having a number. Yeah. I mean as a kid growing up,

597
00:29:08,758 --> 00:29:11,198
Speaker 3: I was in football number twelve because of Joe Namath.

598
00:29:11,718 --> 00:29:14,518
Speaker 3: Baseball it varied a little bit. I didn't have that

599
00:29:14,598 --> 00:29:17,478
Speaker 3: same strong affinity to one number like I did in football,

600
00:29:18,278 --> 00:29:20,798
Speaker 3: But in baseball I was number twenty. I was number

601
00:29:20,798 --> 00:29:22,598
Speaker 3: twenty all through the minor leagues with the Angels. I

602
00:29:22,598 --> 00:29:25,438
Speaker 3: was number twenty as a minor league manager. Then I'm

603
00:29:25,478 --> 00:29:27,958
Speaker 3: wearing it in spring training and all of a sudden

604
00:29:27,998 --> 00:29:31,838
Speaker 3: we acquired Don Sutton and Don comes into town and

605
00:29:31,918 --> 00:29:34,678
Speaker 3: the audacity of Don to get or ask or have

606
00:29:34,838 --> 00:29:37,958
Speaker 3: my number over me. And so I show up at

607
00:29:37,958 --> 00:29:41,158
Speaker 3: spring training one day out at Genoutry Park and Mace.

608
00:29:41,238 --> 00:29:43,278
Speaker 3: I walked to my locker and I was, there's number

609
00:29:43,318 --> 00:29:46,478
Speaker 3: seventy in my locker, and I thought, all right, that's

610
00:29:46,518 --> 00:29:48,518
Speaker 3: all right, here we go. And I told Leonard Garcia

611
00:29:48,558 --> 00:29:51,358
Speaker 3: at the time he was the clubby, I said, I

612
00:29:51,398 --> 00:29:54,518
Speaker 3: will never ever, never ever change that number because nobody's

613
00:29:54,558 --> 00:29:57,318
Speaker 3: ever going to want number seventy, although today it's become

614
00:29:57,318 --> 00:29:59,718
Speaker 3: more in vogue. But that was my comment, I'll never

615
00:29:59,798 --> 00:30:05,078
Speaker 3: ever change my number from seventy again, and I haven't

616
00:30:05,118 --> 00:30:08,198
Speaker 3: and I didn't. But that was That's exactly how it worked.

617
00:30:08,198 --> 00:30:10,318
Speaker 3: That's exactly how it came down in that particular date.

618
00:30:10,958 --> 00:30:13,118
Speaker 3: And of course, mister Sutton, I mean, Don so longer

619
00:30:13,118 --> 00:30:15,318
Speaker 3: with us, What a good guy. He treated me so well.

620
00:30:15,718 --> 00:30:17,558
Speaker 3: But that's why I went from twenty to seventy.

621
00:30:18,118 --> 00:30:20,078
Speaker 2: Joe, did you get anything from Don Sutton?

622
00:30:20,118 --> 00:30:22,318
Speaker 1: Did you get a Rolex watch at dinner, a set

623
00:30:22,358 --> 00:30:23,718
Speaker 1: of golf clubs, anything?

624
00:30:24,358 --> 00:30:29,638
Speaker 3: I think it was a thank you. It's not nice, thanks, buddy,

625
00:30:29,798 --> 00:30:32,478
Speaker 3: you know, thanks for doing that. No, I didn't know.

626
00:30:32,558 --> 00:30:36,198
Speaker 3: It's gotten become more mainstream to get something for this,

627
00:30:36,278 --> 00:30:38,598
Speaker 3: but at that time, I'm just a minor league shoot.

628
00:30:38,598 --> 00:30:41,758
Speaker 3: That was like my third or fourth fifth year maybe

629
00:30:42,238 --> 00:30:46,438
Speaker 3: as a minor league coach manager, and so we you know,

630
00:30:46,638 --> 00:30:49,758
Speaker 3: I'm just I'm just my corner locker or Geoautry park

631
00:30:49,838 --> 00:30:52,198
Speaker 3: that I had for years. There's number seventy.

632
00:30:53,038 --> 00:30:55,398
Speaker 1: Well, all these they are great stories, but again, Joe,

633
00:30:55,518 --> 00:30:57,718
Speaker 1: let's go back to where we started. Show Hey, Otani

634
00:30:57,798 --> 00:31:00,198
Speaker 1: to me the biggest story of this season, and you

635
00:31:00,318 --> 00:31:04,238
Speaker 1: always have great insights on show Hey. I know if

636
00:31:04,238 --> 00:31:06,678
Speaker 1: I've ever asked you though, Joe, the first time you

637
00:31:06,718 --> 00:31:10,198
Speaker 1: met show Hey, did you have like some deep conversation

638
00:31:10,318 --> 00:31:12,638
Speaker 1: with him. I mean, obviously you heard and knew a

639
00:31:12,678 --> 00:31:16,358
Speaker 1: lot about him, but to meet sho hey and and

640
00:31:16,358 --> 00:31:17,398
Speaker 1: and to be his manager.

641
00:31:18,238 --> 00:31:19,838
Speaker 2: Tell me about first impressions.

642
00:31:20,198 --> 00:31:22,238
Speaker 3: Yeah, well that was like as he was he had

643
00:31:22,278 --> 00:31:24,318
Speaker 3: been injured, you know when I first saw him, and

644
00:31:24,358 --> 00:31:27,598
Speaker 3: I'm seeing him coming off the injury, and honestly, he

645
00:31:27,718 --> 00:31:30,278
Speaker 3: just he wasn't. What we're seeing right now was not

646
00:31:30,318 --> 00:31:34,318
Speaker 3: what I saw. He was starting to throw again and

647
00:31:34,358 --> 00:31:37,878
Speaker 3: he's kept stuffing sliders, stuff, in his fastball, He's spinning

648
00:31:37,918 --> 00:31:40,638
Speaker 3: off everything with it. As a hitter, it was the

649
00:31:40,798 --> 00:31:43,358
Speaker 3: farthest thing it's he talked about the one eighty regarding

650
00:31:43,998 --> 00:31:46,598
Speaker 3: ability and what I saw him being Wow. I mean

651
00:31:46,638 --> 00:31:49,318
Speaker 3: he he really was not very good when I first

652
00:31:49,358 --> 00:31:52,838
Speaker 3: saw him, based on probably time down he you know,

653
00:31:52,958 --> 00:31:54,958
Speaker 3: he had already been Rookie of the Year apparently too,

654
00:31:54,998 --> 00:32:00,518
Speaker 3: and so I didn't see that. So conversationally, kind of quiet,

655
00:32:00,558 --> 00:32:04,598
Speaker 3: you know, and again not really impressive with his English yet,

656
00:32:04,638 --> 00:32:06,998
Speaker 3: although he is now. So it was kind of a

657
00:32:07,038 --> 00:32:12,358
Speaker 3: different awakening or method to see him for the first

658
00:32:12,358 --> 00:32:14,598
Speaker 3: time because it wasn't what I had heard about. It's

659
00:32:14,638 --> 00:32:18,598
Speaker 3: not what I expected. But you know, you're patient, you wait,

660
00:32:18,638 --> 00:32:21,158
Speaker 3: You go through that whole twenty twenty season not very good,

661
00:32:21,558 --> 00:32:24,078
Speaker 3: and then Man Superman shows up in twenty twenty one.

662
00:32:24,558 --> 00:32:26,918
Speaker 3: I guess that off season he went out and I

663
00:32:26,918 --> 00:32:28,598
Speaker 3: guess went up to Seattle, worked out a lot up

664
00:32:28,598 --> 00:32:33,118
Speaker 3: in Seattle. But his ability and his confidence came back simultaneously.

665
00:32:33,118 --> 00:32:35,358
Speaker 3: So when I first met him, he wasn't the confident

666
00:32:35,998 --> 00:32:39,598
Speaker 3: young man. He was very straightforward, very respectful, listened well,

667
00:32:39,678 --> 00:32:42,278
Speaker 3: all this stuff that he always does, but it would

668
00:32:42,358 --> 00:32:46,878
Speaker 3: lack that certain confidence that you normally see with him.

669
00:32:46,958 --> 00:32:49,918
Speaker 3: So it took a while to really see Olive showy.

670
00:32:49,958 --> 00:32:53,838
Speaker 3: So my introduction, my introduction to him was Wow, this

671
00:32:53,918 --> 00:32:57,078
Speaker 3: guy is not really good right now. And then now's

672
00:32:57,118 --> 00:32:57,998
Speaker 3: what we got to see.

673
00:32:58,518 --> 00:33:01,878
Speaker 1: And obviously you are really instrumental in freeing him up

674
00:33:01,918 --> 00:33:04,398
Speaker 1: and taking the governors off on him. People were trying

675
00:33:04,438 --> 00:33:07,358
Speaker 1: to protect him from himself, basically from two way duty.

676
00:33:07,398 --> 00:33:10,678
Speaker 1: And I think he recognized that he's at his best

677
00:33:10,918 --> 00:33:13,078
Speaker 1: when he's doing both, and he will let you know

678
00:33:13,838 --> 00:33:15,398
Speaker 1: if he does need a day And I as Phil

679
00:33:15,438 --> 00:33:18,278
Speaker 1: Nevid about that about you know, the way he's managing

680
00:33:18,318 --> 00:33:20,718
Speaker 1: show Hey this year. Never told me he's not gonna

681
00:33:20,718 --> 00:33:22,718
Speaker 1: play as many games as he did last year. I

682
00:33:22,718 --> 00:33:26,078
Speaker 1: think he was one fifty seven eight, But I don't know, Joe.

683
00:33:26,238 --> 00:33:28,198
Speaker 1: It's hard, as you know, to give this guy a

684
00:33:28,318 --> 00:33:31,478
Speaker 1: day off. This seems to be working, you know, pitching

685
00:33:31,558 --> 00:33:33,718
Speaker 1: him on the six or seventh day, and as you mentioned,

686
00:33:33,718 --> 00:33:35,918
Speaker 1: he always wants to be in the lineup when he pitches.

687
00:33:37,158 --> 00:33:41,118
Speaker 1: It's tough to sit him down. So maybe he can

688
00:33:41,198 --> 00:33:43,638
Speaker 1: keep this up. We always ask that question, how how

689
00:33:43,678 --> 00:33:45,758
Speaker 1: long can he keep doing it? But he's just an

690
00:33:45,798 --> 00:33:47,798
Speaker 1: incredible athlete who takes care.

691
00:33:47,718 --> 00:33:51,678
Speaker 2: Of himself so well to keep winning. Yeah, really tough

692
00:33:51,718 --> 00:33:52,558
Speaker 2: to get him a day off.

693
00:33:52,718 --> 00:33:55,518
Speaker 3: I show how you feel, how you feel into the

694
00:33:55,558 --> 00:33:58,638
Speaker 3: big guy, you know, I know we talked about this DAYFF.

695
00:33:58,678 --> 00:34:00,558
Speaker 3: What do you think about the agent today? That's the

696
00:34:00,598 --> 00:34:03,078
Speaker 3: part of it that helps to obviously the DH component.

697
00:34:04,038 --> 00:34:05,398
Speaker 3: You know, he hits and he sits down. He hits

698
00:34:05,398 --> 00:34:09,238
Speaker 3: and he sits down. Of course that matters. But with him,

699
00:34:09,558 --> 00:34:13,878
Speaker 3: the original conversation was regarding giving him days off. It

700
00:34:13,918 --> 00:34:16,278
Speaker 3: was about him talking to me whenever he thought his

701
00:34:16,358 --> 00:34:18,678
Speaker 3: legs were heavy or tired, that's when he thought he

702
00:34:18,718 --> 00:34:21,878
Speaker 3: would need a day. So. I don't know this, but

703
00:34:21,918 --> 00:34:24,278
Speaker 3: I'm betting his work on his legs are like is

704
00:34:24,318 --> 00:34:27,558
Speaker 3: incredible based on he knows that that's what keeps him

705
00:34:27,558 --> 00:34:30,318
Speaker 3: off the field, so they win. It's harder to keep

706
00:34:30,398 --> 00:34:31,038
Speaker 3: him off the field.

707
00:34:31,598 --> 00:34:33,958
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's it's just amazing the way he has improved.

708
00:34:33,958 --> 00:34:35,958
Speaker 1: And he mentioned this. You know, he wasn't throwing a

709
00:34:35,998 --> 00:34:38,278
Speaker 1: two seamer really. Back then, he didn't have the sweeper

710
00:34:38,318 --> 00:34:42,358
Speaker 1: he has now. Offensively, he had some holes. He was

711
00:34:42,398 --> 00:34:44,558
Speaker 1: more of a strikeout guy back then, and he's cut

712
00:34:44,598 --> 00:34:44,998
Speaker 1: that down.

713
00:34:45,038 --> 00:34:46,518
Speaker 2: He's become a three hundred hitter.

714
00:34:47,478 --> 00:34:49,798
Speaker 1: Maybe that's the most remarkable thing about show Hey, is

715
00:34:49,838 --> 00:34:52,998
Speaker 1: that as good as he is, he keeps getting better.

716
00:34:53,478 --> 00:34:53,678
Speaker 3: Hey.

717
00:34:53,678 --> 00:34:55,798
Speaker 1: By the way, one quick thought here as we go

718
00:34:55,878 --> 00:34:58,078
Speaker 1: out here, Joe, I know you've been watching a lot

719
00:34:58,118 --> 00:35:01,158
Speaker 1: of games. Tell me what you're seeing in terms of

720
00:35:01,238 --> 00:35:03,478
Speaker 1: how the games are being played from it with a

721
00:35:03,518 --> 00:35:07,318
Speaker 1: manager is critical, I because there's there's things we love

722
00:35:07,358 --> 00:35:12,518
Speaker 1: to dive into analytically, but style of play fundamentals, well,

723
00:35:12,518 --> 00:35:13,678
Speaker 1: what sticks out to you.

724
00:35:14,238 --> 00:35:16,998
Speaker 3: What sticks out to me is more of a throwback game.

725
00:35:17,118 --> 00:35:19,958
Speaker 3: Obviously there is way more action on the basis teams

726
00:35:19,958 --> 00:35:22,638
Speaker 3: are more apt to run. Uh, you know, the younger

727
00:35:22,678 --> 00:35:24,598
Speaker 3: teams with some speed like Cincinnati. I think part of

728
00:35:24,598 --> 00:35:26,438
Speaker 3: their ascension is the fact that they're just young and

729
00:35:26,478 --> 00:35:29,518
Speaker 3: aggressive and and athletic, and they're and they're utilizing it.

730
00:35:29,518 --> 00:35:31,238
Speaker 3: It's a perfect example. I mean, the race have been

731
00:35:31,278 --> 00:35:34,598
Speaker 3: that for years, but I'm saying a more assertive method

732
00:35:34,678 --> 00:35:37,758
Speaker 3: on the basis, it's it's the antithesis of what the

733
00:35:37,758 --> 00:35:40,678
Speaker 3: analytical world wanted for years. Station and station back. You

734
00:35:40,758 --> 00:35:44,798
Speaker 3: talk about moneyball, man, you cannot run there's because only

735
00:35:45,198 --> 00:35:47,638
Speaker 3: two two or the three things that could happen would

736
00:35:47,638 --> 00:35:49,318
Speaker 3: be bad, so you're not going to run, So that

737
00:35:49,398 --> 00:35:52,598
Speaker 3: really stands out to me. On the other hand, I'm

738
00:35:52,598 --> 00:35:55,318
Speaker 3: watching some games and defensively maybe a little bit sloppy

739
00:35:55,318 --> 00:35:59,238
Speaker 3: at times, and when you when they do do a

740
00:35:59,318 --> 00:36:04,318
Speaker 3: cutoff relay really really well or somebody puts it again. Defense,

741
00:36:04,358 --> 00:36:07,318
Speaker 3: although bunting has become more prominent, I've seen more of

742
00:36:07,358 --> 00:36:09,718
Speaker 3: the safety squeezes back in vogue a little bit right

743
00:36:09,758 --> 00:36:12,678
Speaker 3: now too. So I think in general terms, with the

744
00:36:12,718 --> 00:36:17,478
Speaker 3: real changes have brought about is a willingness to attempt

745
00:36:17,518 --> 00:36:19,798
Speaker 3: to take advantage of them. And you take advantage of

746
00:36:19,838 --> 00:36:22,998
Speaker 3: these rule changes primarily I think through athleticism and and

747
00:36:23,038 --> 00:36:26,838
Speaker 3: speed and quickness and and aggressiveness and assertiveness and maybe

748
00:36:26,878 --> 00:36:30,238
Speaker 3: a little bit more quote unquote on school old school baseball,

749
00:36:30,678 --> 00:36:32,918
Speaker 3: so that I mean the Pirates are another great example.

750
00:36:32,958 --> 00:36:35,078
Speaker 3: So that's what I'm watching. Those are the teams that

751
00:36:35,198 --> 00:36:39,438
Speaker 3: really interest me to watch, uh and to see, you know,

752
00:36:39,598 --> 00:36:41,798
Speaker 3: big arms, typically big arms, but then you look at

753
00:36:41,798 --> 00:36:44,358
Speaker 3: a guy like Stroman with the cups. I love what

754
00:36:44,398 --> 00:36:47,638
Speaker 3: he's doing. I love what that guy's doing. He's a

755
00:36:47,678 --> 00:36:51,638
Speaker 3: bright young man, handles himself well, but he's got he's

756
00:36:51,678 --> 00:36:54,398
Speaker 3: like Kyle Hendricks with better stuff. That's that's pretty much

757
00:36:54,438 --> 00:36:56,638
Speaker 3: what he is. He's he's got great movement, a great

758
00:36:56,638 --> 00:36:59,758
Speaker 3: feel for what he's doing. He's not very big, very tall,

759
00:36:59,798 --> 00:37:02,718
Speaker 3: but god he's he's so athletic, and he pitches. He's

760
00:37:02,758 --> 00:37:06,318
Speaker 3: a pitcher man, and I'm hoping that's making an impact

761
00:37:06,358 --> 00:37:08,278
Speaker 3: to going to the next strap. Part of it is

762
00:37:08,678 --> 00:37:12,078
Speaker 3: short right hander could still be successful. Short right hander

763
00:37:12,118 --> 00:37:15,638
Speaker 3: with less than ninety six ninety seven can still be successful.

764
00:37:16,198 --> 00:37:21,198
Speaker 3: He's showing that pitching can be prominenta pitching, not throwing.

765
00:37:21,358 --> 00:37:24,758
Speaker 3: So that's I'm seeing more baseball, I think, is what

766
00:37:24,798 --> 00:37:29,158
Speaker 3: I'm seeing right now, less you know, like a computer

767
00:37:29,238 --> 00:37:29,798
Speaker 3: version of it.

768
00:37:30,318 --> 00:37:30,558
Speaker 2: Yeah.

769
00:37:30,598 --> 00:37:33,558
Speaker 1: I love the point because you know, we have focused

770
00:37:33,558 --> 00:37:35,358
Speaker 1: on time of game right and it's great that the

771
00:37:35,358 --> 00:37:38,158
Speaker 1: games are about twenty five twenty eight minutes shorter than

772
00:37:38,198 --> 00:37:39,198
Speaker 1: they were just last year.

773
00:37:39,318 --> 00:37:39,838
Speaker 2: That's great.

774
00:37:40,038 --> 00:37:42,638
Speaker 1: Yeah, But to me, what's even better is that style

775
00:37:42,678 --> 00:37:47,838
Speaker 1: of play and athleticism range on defense, base running ability.

776
00:37:48,078 --> 00:37:53,518
Speaker 1: I look at Arizona, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Tampa Bay. Those are

777
00:37:53,598 --> 00:37:57,038
Speaker 1: low pay roll teams, but they're playing a game that

778
00:37:57,118 --> 00:37:59,398
Speaker 1: is taking advantage of the new rules. There are some

779
00:37:59,478 --> 00:38:01,918
Speaker 1: of the youngest teams in baseball. They are some of

780
00:38:01,918 --> 00:38:04,718
Speaker 1: the best base running teams in baseball, the most athletic

781
00:38:04,758 --> 00:38:07,678
Speaker 1: teams in baseball, And to me, that's what's exciting. It's

782
00:38:07,678 --> 00:38:10,358
Speaker 1: even more exciting than having the games twenty five minutes shorter.

783
00:38:10,598 --> 00:38:13,078
Speaker 1: That's great again, but the style of play is I

784
00:38:13,078 --> 00:38:16,358
Speaker 1: think locking fans in to staying with these games and

785
00:38:16,398 --> 00:38:18,638
Speaker 1: watching it for more than just a bat or two.

786
00:38:19,078 --> 00:38:22,238
Speaker 3: But that's and with that ascension in that style of

787
00:38:22,278 --> 00:38:25,998
Speaker 3: play being that it's a copycat industry, I want to believe,

788
00:38:26,038 --> 00:38:28,198
Speaker 3: I hope to believe that instruction leagues might become more

789
00:38:28,238 --> 00:38:31,078
Speaker 3: important again. I mean, there's a limited number of teams

790
00:38:31,998 --> 00:38:37,758
Speaker 3: per organization with the contraction within the minor league baseball,

791
00:38:38,078 --> 00:38:41,438
Speaker 3: so you need to get your guys out there with

792
00:38:41,478 --> 00:38:47,198
Speaker 3: some more concerted I believe training specific training in the fall.

793
00:38:47,478 --> 00:38:50,438
Speaker 3: I know it's hot, but that never stopped anybody from

794
00:38:50,598 --> 00:38:52,758
Speaker 3: learning while it's a little bit hot outside, and actually

795
00:38:52,758 --> 00:38:54,958
Speaker 3: always thought it was good for the soul and the

796
00:38:54,958 --> 00:38:57,318
Speaker 3: spirit and the character. But if you really want to

797
00:38:57,358 --> 00:39:00,558
Speaker 3: get all this stuff down and you want to bring

798
00:39:00,598 --> 00:39:03,318
Speaker 3: more athletic guys in, maybe not really good baseball players

799
00:39:03,358 --> 00:39:07,038
Speaker 3: yet the athletic like the old Kansas City Royals Academy,

800
00:39:07,038 --> 00:39:09,158
Speaker 3: which I still thought was one of the most brilliant

801
00:39:09,198 --> 00:39:11,678
Speaker 3: ideas ever. Just bring those guys into camp and then

802
00:39:11,718 --> 00:39:15,798
Speaker 3: get your best instructors in there, and also not only

803
00:39:15,838 --> 00:39:19,038
Speaker 3: get your best instructors in there, but create formulate your

804
00:39:19,158 --> 00:39:20,838
Speaker 3: method of play, your style of play. What do we

805
00:39:20,838 --> 00:39:23,438
Speaker 3: think is gonna win here? Now, what we think Cincinnati

806
00:39:23,598 --> 00:39:27,038
Speaker 3: does or would you know the Rays do? Whatever your

807
00:39:27,278 --> 00:39:30,318
Speaker 3: method I mean, that's another part that's frustrated me recently

808
00:39:30,398 --> 00:39:32,478
Speaker 3: is the fact that everybody wants to copy everybody else.

809
00:39:32,838 --> 00:39:34,398
Speaker 3: Nobody wants to go out there and be the first

810
00:39:34,438 --> 00:39:36,838
Speaker 3: in line. And that's why you're talking about the Rays.

811
00:39:36,878 --> 00:39:39,158
Speaker 3: And I know, I know Brandon Hatte, I know what

812
00:39:39,198 --> 00:39:41,678
Speaker 3: Hyder did there in Baltimore. I know that I don't

813
00:39:41,758 --> 00:39:47,558
Speaker 3: know as much with Arizona or Cincinnati, but it is

814
00:39:47,598 --> 00:39:52,398
Speaker 3: something that can be taught, nurtured, scouted and then and

815
00:39:52,438 --> 00:39:55,238
Speaker 3: then scouting and of course Final League. The player development,

816
00:39:55,278 --> 00:39:58,518
Speaker 3: to me is the two most important parts of the industry.

817
00:39:58,798 --> 00:40:01,558
Speaker 3: And everybody's worried about acquiring free agents in a winter time.

818
00:40:01,958 --> 00:40:03,758
Speaker 3: That's where this gets done. That's why these teams have

819
00:40:03,758 --> 00:40:04,478
Speaker 3: done so well.

820
00:40:04,718 --> 00:40:06,838
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's been a great year when you think about

821
00:40:06,918 --> 00:40:10,478
Speaker 1: teams like Houston, the Mets, the Yankees, even the Dodgers

822
00:40:10,558 --> 00:40:13,398
Speaker 1: kind of struggling just to get in the playoff mix

823
00:40:13,478 --> 00:40:17,198
Speaker 1: or at least stay around. And these upstart teams are

824
00:40:17,238 --> 00:40:19,518
Speaker 1: proven themselves, and I think a lot of these teams

825
00:40:19,558 --> 00:40:21,438
Speaker 1: have the staying power to be in it at the end.

826
00:40:21,478 --> 00:40:23,958
Speaker 1: But above all is let's bring it back where we started.

827
00:40:23,998 --> 00:40:27,198
Speaker 1: It's it's show Hey. I always love your takes on

828
00:40:27,318 --> 00:40:31,238
Speaker 1: Show Hey, Joe, I mean, you know him well, and

829
00:40:32,238 --> 00:40:34,358
Speaker 1: it's I do think we're going to see even more

830
00:40:34,518 --> 00:40:36,878
Speaker 1: good things from Show Hey, even a better second half

831
00:40:36,918 --> 00:40:39,758
Speaker 1: possibly if that's possible that he had in the first.

832
00:40:40,158 --> 00:40:42,758
Speaker 3: Brother, they stay, they stay in the running. Heads up,

833
00:40:43,358 --> 00:40:45,478
Speaker 3: you're going to see things you've never I mean we've never.

834
00:40:45,718 --> 00:40:48,798
Speaker 3: We'll just seeing things we've never seen before. But give

835
00:40:48,838 --> 00:40:51,958
Speaker 3: this guy an opportunity to be like center stage light

836
00:40:51,998 --> 00:40:54,758
Speaker 3: shining on him. This really matters. That's what I want

837
00:40:54,798 --> 00:40:55,198
Speaker 3: to see.

838
00:40:55,518 --> 00:40:57,878
Speaker 1: Yeah, I can't wait to see Show Hey playing meaningful

839
00:40:57,918 --> 00:40:58,958
Speaker 1: games down the stretch.

840
00:40:58,998 --> 00:41:02,278
Speaker 3: And it's not over. Brother. I'm telling you, he's to

841
00:41:02,358 --> 00:41:05,398
Speaker 3: stay healthy, show, and with good health, he's going to keep.

842
00:41:05,238 --> 00:41:07,598
Speaker 1: Doing this stuff speaking of down the stretch. That's where

843
00:41:07,598 --> 00:41:09,478
Speaker 1: we are right now, Joe. So you've got something to

844
00:41:09,518 --> 00:41:11,558
Speaker 1: take us out here on this latest edition of the

845
00:41:11,558 --> 00:41:12,318
Speaker 1: Book of Joe.

846
00:41:12,838 --> 00:41:17,558
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's typically mister Churchill, I mean, I leading a

847
00:41:17,598 --> 00:41:19,438
Speaker 3: hook like we've talked about this in the country through

848
00:41:20,438 --> 00:41:23,558
Speaker 3: significant part of our history. But he said the right thing.

849
00:41:24,238 --> 00:41:26,638
Speaker 3: Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak,

850
00:41:27,198 --> 00:41:29,478
Speaker 3: and courage is also what it takes to sit down

851
00:41:29,478 --> 00:41:33,518
Speaker 3: and listen. That's right on the money, man. We always

852
00:41:33,518 --> 00:41:36,398
Speaker 3: want to just keep on going, but sometimes it's shut

853
00:41:36,438 --> 00:41:38,598
Speaker 3: your mouth and keep your ears open. You can to

854
00:41:38,638 --> 00:41:39,558
Speaker 3: learn twice as much.

855
00:41:39,958 --> 00:41:40,478
Speaker 2: I love that.

856
00:41:40,798 --> 00:41:43,238
Speaker 1: And with Major League Baseball playing games in London this

857
00:41:43,278 --> 00:41:44,638
Speaker 1: weekend comes to the Cardinals.

858
00:41:44,678 --> 00:41:46,478
Speaker 2: Oh perfect, perfect timing.

859
00:41:46,638 --> 00:41:48,878
Speaker 3: Didn't even realize look at that. My goodness.

860
00:41:49,118 --> 00:41:51,478
Speaker 2: Let's see you next time, all right, Rather take care.

861
00:41:58,078 --> 00:42:01,278
Speaker 1: The Book of Joe podcast is a production of iHeartRadio.

862
00:42:01,518 --> 00:42:06,478
Speaker 1: For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,

863
00:42:06,598 --> 00:42:08,358
Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts.