1 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: Hey, we've got to Sam Miller joining us right now. 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:08,639 Speaker 2: Check out his substack Pebble Hunting, and I'm going to 3 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:11,240 Speaker 2: ask him about an article in there right off the jump. 4 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:11,479 Speaker 3: Here. 5 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:14,159 Speaker 2: You've seen Sam for years also in the past his 6 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:16,440 Speaker 2: editor in chief of Babesball Prospectus. 7 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:18,600 Speaker 1: Sam, great to have you on. First off, thank you 8 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: for the time. 9 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:21,120 Speaker 4: How you doing, Yeah, I'm good. 10 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 3: I'm excited. 11 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 4: You know, I've been a big fan of Eric Kratz 12 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 4: since since his rookie year, so I'm kind of excited 13 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 4: to be here. 14 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: Since his rookie year. Wait, hold up, since his rookie year. 15 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: You've been tracking him on the. 16 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:34,199 Speaker 4: Prospects, Sam. I don't know how much you remember, but 17 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 4: twenty twelve verit Kratz was a phenomenon. And yeah, I 18 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:41,519 Speaker 4: mean I remember learning what he drove that year. He 19 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:45,560 Speaker 4: was driving a ninety eight Honda Cord with one hundred 20 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 4: and ninety thousand miles on it, and I thought, that's 21 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 4: my guy. 22 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,199 Speaker 5: Not quite one hundred ninety thousand, but yes, it was 23 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 5: a white, white Honda Cord. And also Sam, twenty twelve, 24 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 5: Yes it was a phenomenon, but actually, maybe my debut 25 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 5: in twenty ten, I just never got enough at bats 26 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 5: in ten or eleven until I got to twenty twelve. 27 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:12,400 Speaker 2: Yeah wow, I mean I do type in aircrats wait 28 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: onto coordinate pops up with multiple articles, which is kind 29 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:18,680 Speaker 2: of crazy. Although I think the mileage off means that 30 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:21,319 Speaker 2: some stories were embellished in the past, so we might 31 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:23,760 Speaker 2: have to do some research on that, but it adds 32 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 2: to the story anyway. I'm going to start you with 33 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 2: the beginning of games looking very similar, So can you 34 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:34,759 Speaker 2: tell us about the research you've done on first pitches 35 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 2: and how it is playing out here in the postseason. 36 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:41,399 Speaker 4: Yeah, So, you know, it used to be that the 37 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 4: first pitch of the game was always a fastball, is 38 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 4: usually down the middle, and it was usually taken. And 39 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 4: it still is usually a fastball. It's usually down the middle, 40 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 4: and a few years ago hitters started to swing at 41 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 4: that pitch and they're doing like huge damage on it. 42 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 4: Probably the best way of putting this in perspective is 43 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 4: that in twenty ten, there were six homers on the 44 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 4: first pitch of the game. This year there have been 45 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 4: fifty three homers on the first pitch of the game. 46 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,400 Speaker 4: The swing rate has been going up pretty steadily for 47 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 4: the last like seven years and it's now about triple 48 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:22,080 Speaker 4: what it was seven or eight years ago. And this 49 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 4: has just been really fascinating to me because pitchers aren't adjusting, 50 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 4: they're still just as predictable. And I think we all 51 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 4: kind of know that, you know, like there are no 52 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 4: fastball counts anymore. Three to one count, Well, it's like 53 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:37,920 Speaker 4: as likely to be an off speed pitch as a fastball, 54 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:40,640 Speaker 4: But the first pitch of the game remains the one 55 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:45,559 Speaker 4: super predictable moment in baseball. It's ninety four percent fastballs, 56 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:49,239 Speaker 4: it's a higher strike rate than any other count. It's 57 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 4: not even as hard. They usually throw a somewhat softer fastball, 58 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 4: and pitchers are not adjusting as fast as hitters are, 59 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 4: and so it creates this one moment that I'm always 60 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 4: excited to see of like will the batter do damage 61 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:03,640 Speaker 4: on the first pitch of the game. And there have 62 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:08,800 Speaker 4: been two homers in the LCS round already out of 63 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:13,239 Speaker 4: five games on that pitch, which delights me, and I'm 64 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 4: looking forward to the next one. 65 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 3: Sam, how much of this, though, also includes foul balls? 66 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 3: Is it just? 67 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:22,679 Speaker 6: I mean, obviously, like if you look at first pitch 68 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 6: numbers and I swung it more for as money first 69 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 6: pitch as anybody did, but if you foul them off, 70 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 6: it doesn't count it, right, So it's only when the 71 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 6: ball is put in play, So yes, can you do 72 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 6: more damage on that yes, But also pitchers, and I'm 73 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 6: gonna tell you this from experience, I think Kratzio back 74 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 6: me up. They don't want to throw a first pitch 75 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 6: break the ball because they say, if I come out 76 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 6: and I dot one down in a way and I 77 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 6: get one pitch and one out, I'm off and rolling. 78 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 3: Here we go right now. 79 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 6: If the guy gets a hit obviously changes things because 80 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 6: you don't make a good pitch. But to me, it 81 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 6: was like, man, if you can just dot a fastball 82 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 6: down in a way for strike one, or you know, 83 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 6: if you throw a sink or sink one in and 84 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 6: get one pitch, one out or off to the races, 85 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 6: baby oh. 86 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 4: I think like when you're talking about any other batter 87 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 4: in the game, that's definitely true. I'm talking specifically first 88 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 4: pitch of the game, you know, the first pitch to 89 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 4: the first batter of the game. That's like the pitchers 90 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 4: like deep breath, get settled, figure out the mound, throw 91 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 4: it down the middle. Right, that's that moment where like 92 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 4: he doesn't think the batter is swinging and he's just 93 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 4: gonna get ahead with an easy strike one. And that's 94 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 4: specifically the pitch that batters are jumping on now that 95 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 4: they never used to jump on before that it used 96 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,719 Speaker 4: to be an automatic take. Now it's not an automatic 97 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:35,279 Speaker 4: take anymore. They're swinging like a lot and they're like, 98 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 4: batter's on the first pitch of the game this year 99 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 4: slugged about eight hundred. They're like demolishing it, like like O'Neil. 100 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 4: Cruz only led off sixty games, and his slugging percentage 101 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 4: is twenty points higher just on the just because of 102 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,279 Speaker 4: what he did on the very first pitch of the game. 103 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 4: So not one zero counts, not first pitch of the third, 104 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 4: first pitch of the game raised his slugging percentage for 105 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 4: the entire season by twenty points because he's getting fastballs 106 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:11,919 Speaker 4: right down the middle and pitchers think he's gonna take it, 107 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:14,279 Speaker 4: and he's not taking it, and they're not adjusting. It's 108 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 4: hysterical to me that they're not adjusting because the game 109 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:20,559 Speaker 4: is so quick to adjust in everything else these days, 110 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,280 Speaker 4: but pitchers this year, still ninety three to ninety four 111 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 4: percent fastballs right down the middle, usually not even their 112 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 4: hardest fastball bombs away. 113 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 5: But is that because the leadoff hitter is now a 114 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 5: different player, Like we're putting we're not putting that guy 115 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:42,559 Speaker 5: in who's gonna work the at bat. We're not gonna 116 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:45,479 Speaker 5: put that guy in that's gonna, you know, change things. 117 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 5: Kyle Schwarber's led off quite a bit, not this year, 118 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:52,600 Speaker 5: Shoho Tani's leading off. Like there's dudes that are coming 119 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,160 Speaker 5: out looking to make the game one and nothing. 120 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 4: That is absolutely true. That's like a that's I think 121 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 4: that's probably what started the swinging going up in that 122 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 4: situation because you're right in the you know, when you 123 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 4: had like I don't know, Luis Castillo leading off in 124 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 4: the two thousands, you wanted him to take seven pitches 125 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:13,479 Speaker 4: and maybe work a walk and give the batters after 126 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 4: him a chance to look at the pitcher and all that. 127 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:19,160 Speaker 4: Nowadays you've got your best hitter Byron Buxton's leading off. 128 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 4: You want him to do damage. And so they started 129 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:25,279 Speaker 4: swinging more and more when more power hitters got put 130 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 4: in the leadoff spot, and the fact that pitchers are 131 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 4: still throwing meatballs to those guys who are the most 132 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 4: damaging batters in the lineup is really interesting. 133 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:36,599 Speaker 1: Like you look at. 134 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 4: Three Oho counts nowadays three Oho counts. We know, like 135 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 4: they don't want to get beat by a power hitter, 136 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 4: so they're throwing three oh sliders, three Ozho change ups. 137 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:51,479 Speaker 4: But first pitch of the game, it doesn't matter. It's 138 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 4: still fastball right down the middle. 139 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 5: What about what do you think about a guy that 140 00:06:57,120 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 5: almost went forty forty, Juan Soda if he leads off. 141 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 5: Are we taking too much into this or we talk 142 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 5: about in the postseason the team that scores first has 143 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 5: a better chance of winning. 144 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 4: Yeah, well, I mean, like you look at I think 145 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 4: if Juan Sota were leading off, he would get that 146 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:19,239 Speaker 4: pitch and he would do damage. I mean, one, Soto 147 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 4: is a very patient hitter, but he's also aggressive in 148 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 4: the strike zone. Sho Heo Tawny hit two or three 149 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 4: first pitch of the game. Homers this year slugged eight hundred, 150 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 4: no sluged one thousand, slugged one thousand on the first 151 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 4: pitch of the game, So he's looking to do damage. 152 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 4: Byron Buxton hit three homers, slugged eight p fifty on 153 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 4: the first pitch of the game. Fernando Tatis swung at 154 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 4: the first pitch of the game. Almost half the time, 155 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 4: he's looking to do damage on the first pitch of 156 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 4: the game. This is obviously not a storyline that lasts 157 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 4: very long. The game starts in within ten seconds, you 158 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 4: already know whether the first pitch of the game was 159 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 4: hit for a home run. But it's really interesting how 160 00:07:56,920 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 4: many games are starting with like fireworks explosion, and I 161 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 4: think that's to Is that part of why teams are 162 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 4: willing to put their power hitters in the front of 163 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 4: the lineup, to have you know, non traditional power hitting 164 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 4: leadoff hitters. I don't know. I don't know if the 165 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 4: fact that they're getting fed strikes is a factor there, 166 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 4: but you certainly see kind of a mismatch between the 167 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 4: pitcher's goals in that spot. The pitcher wants to get established, 168 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 4: he wants to find his footing, see what's working. You know, 169 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 4: he's not looking to get creative on the first pitch 170 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 4: or the first couple pitches of the game. He just 171 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 4: wants to get settled. And you put someone out in 172 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:39,199 Speaker 4: the lineup who can hit the ball. Four hundred and 173 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:43,680 Speaker 4: seventy feet and it creates this like immediate mismatch, this 174 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 4: immediate advantage for the offense. And this year was the 175 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 4: record for most first pitch of the game home runs. 176 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:55,680 Speaker 4: It's the second highest slugging percentage ever on first pitch 177 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 4: of the game. It's the highest swing rate ever on 178 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 4: first pitch of the game. So far, pitchers haven't adjusted 179 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,439 Speaker 4: at all, and like I'm looking to see, like the 180 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 4: Blue Jays, sorry, the Mariners and the Brewers have both 181 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:14,680 Speaker 4: allowed first pitch of the game home runs in the LCS, 182 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 4: so they know that leadoff hitter is going to be swinging, 183 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 4: and so I will be interested to see whether they adjust. 184 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:22,720 Speaker 4: My guess is they won't. 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This has been your tech update. Keep your 205 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 2: data safe and take control of your online security with 206 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 2: surf Shark. Sam, I'm going to ask you a macro 207 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:31,960 Speaker 2: postseason Slash World Series question. I know you're good at 208 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:35,320 Speaker 2: this stuff and you'll have a take. Should MLB go 209 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 2: back to the one year trial session of making the 210 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:43,680 Speaker 2: World Series happen a little bit quicker. If the lcs's 211 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:46,560 Speaker 2: end quick, it might not be a factor this year. 212 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:48,559 Speaker 2: And last year was the first time they were going 213 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 2: for it, and it wasn't really covered much because it 214 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 2: didn't end up happening. I think they were close to 215 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:55,559 Speaker 2: that deadline and it just went over, So the World 216 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:58,200 Speaker 2: Series ended up happening at its normal time period. Ken 217 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 2: Rosenthal talked about this on his Spare Triage show the 218 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 2: other day. So I figured I would throw it at 219 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:05,079 Speaker 2: you this August. They decided it's not happening this year. 220 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:07,720 Speaker 2: There could be business decisions behind the scenes of Okay, 221 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 2: we want it to start in these days and lay 222 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 2: out this way. But for Baseball, I'm assuming you would 223 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 2: think we should start it within a few days and 224 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 2: not potentially five plus days later. 225 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:22,920 Speaker 4: Could Yeah, it could be potential that Friday will tomorrow 226 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 4: will settle both of these series, and then the World 227 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 4: Series doesn't start for a whole week. You know, I 228 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 4: would say that the the fact that teams are always 229 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 4: talking about what a disadvantage it is to have a 230 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 4: week long layoff is a pretty big factor. 231 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 5: You know. 232 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:43,320 Speaker 4: I guess I'm a little I've always been a little 233 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 4: skeptical that the layoff discourse of like whether teams are 234 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:50,240 Speaker 4: disadvantaged by having too much time off. I guess I've 235 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 4: always thought it was probably a little overblown. But teams 236 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 4: are pretty consistent, like they you know, batters do not 237 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 4: like falling out of that routine. They don't like taking 238 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:04,640 Speaker 4: five or six days off, and you don't want the 239 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:07,560 Speaker 4: World Series to be a situation where teams feel like 240 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 4: they're going into it cold or disadvantaged for any reason. 241 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 4: So for that, you know, for that reason, it does 242 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 4: seem like being more nimble with the schedule and just 243 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 4: figuring out a way to start it two games after 244 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 4: the last game is settled would just like from a 245 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,720 Speaker 4: competitive standpoint, it'd be a lot better. I know that 246 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 4: the league has a lot of people who like their 247 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:36,600 Speaker 4: primary interest is broadcast ratings, and there are people whose 248 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:39,920 Speaker 4: interest is in, you know, booking hotels, and there's a 249 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 4: lot of different people with a lot of different jobs 250 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 4: in the game who have different interests. But no, I mean, 251 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 4: if it happens that both of these lcs's are settled 252 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:52,880 Speaker 4: by tomorrow, or you know, if only one is, I 253 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:55,079 Speaker 4: guarantee you that there's gonna be a ton of discussion 254 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 4: this time next week about well would the other team 255 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 4: do to stay, how much of a disadvantage is it. 256 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 4: Are they going to be rusty on the first game back? 257 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:09,440 Speaker 4: You know, it doesn't really seem like a particularly fair 258 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 4: way of doing things, given that this is a pretty 259 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 4: consistent message coming out of teams that they don't want 260 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:17,439 Speaker 4: six days off in the middle of their postseason. 261 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:20,559 Speaker 6: Sam, well, I'm gonna snap back at you here, because 262 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:22,959 Speaker 6: here's the thing. I was on a team twenty years ago. 263 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:24,679 Speaker 6: We had time off and we kicked everyone's ass. I 264 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 6: don't care about time off. It's postseason. Figure it out, right. 265 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 6: The only teams that complain are the teams that lose. 266 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 6: If you lose, you go wan wow, whow. We had 267 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 6: time off, right. The Dodgers had all kinds of time 268 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:36,880 Speaker 6: off last year they won. They didn't complain once right 269 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 6: now when they lost the year before, like oh yeah, 270 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 6: too much time off? Right this year or last year 271 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 6: the Yankees and Dodgers number one seeds, they had the 272 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 6: time off, they won, they got to the World Series. 273 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 6: Right this year, I look at it the same way. 274 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:51,040 Speaker 6: The teams who had the time off they advanced. So 275 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 6: I don't understand where the Brewers had time off. 276 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 3: They won. 277 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 6: They didn't complain about the time off. They were like, man, 278 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:57,840 Speaker 6: we're grateful we had those days off so we could 279 00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 6: get our pitching in order. Right as you're saying like, 280 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:03,120 Speaker 6: oh yeah, we need them to go, right, away this 281 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:06,080 Speaker 6: the super Bowl takes two weeks off. Nobody complains about 282 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:09,120 Speaker 6: the two weeks and the weekend between there. Right, It's 283 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:11,760 Speaker 6: just because the team that lose has to have something 284 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 6: to play and they can't look in the mirror and say, man, 285 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:15,800 Speaker 6: we just lost, we got beat Oh no, we had 286 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 6: too much time off. It's an easy excuse. 287 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 3: I hate it. It's stupid. 288 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 4: I am personally glad to hear you say that, because again, 289 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 4: I think that that discourse has always been overblown. I 290 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:31,320 Speaker 4: try to defer, you know, when I hear a lot 291 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 4: of professionals tell me what their job is, like, I 292 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 4: try not to say, no, that's not how your job is. 293 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 4: I know better than you, because they do the job 294 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 4: and they do say it a lot. Like they say 295 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 4: it a lot. A lot of people in the game 296 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 4: will say it, so I you know, I believe that 297 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 4: it makes people uncomfortable. But you know, in the back 298 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:51,240 Speaker 4: of my mind, deep in my heart, do I basically 299 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 4: agree with you aj? Yeah, basically, Like it does seem 300 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 4: like everyone's probably having a good time getting their bodies 301 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:01,160 Speaker 4: in order at this stage of the season. Everybody's got 302 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 4: aches and bruises that they would like to have a 303 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 4: couple of days to heal as well. So the data 304 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 4: for this so called layoff curse being real is mixed 305 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 4: at best. So that said again, like players say it, 306 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 4: I don't want to call them myers. I believe it 307 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 4: makes them uncomfortable, and I think they would probably like 308 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 4: if you were voting, probably the players would want to 309 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 4: start a day or two later, right if you were 310 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 4: voting at the stage of this time. 311 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 6: It's my question of course players are going to say that, 312 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 6: because it's kind of the thing to say. Right again, 313 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 6: if you ask cal Rawley after catching one hundred and 314 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 6: thirty five games, if he enjoyed the five days off 315 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 6: before he got to catch five more games in the 316 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:50,920 Speaker 6: in the DS, and now he's gonna catch every game 317 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 6: in this LCS, which can go a bunch of games. 318 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 3: Right, Yeah, do you want the days off? Yeah? You do. 319 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 3: You want to stay hot? 320 00:15:57,040 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 6: Absolutely, But I also think it's a mindset if your 321 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 6: manager goes into an says, look, the days off aren't 322 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:01,800 Speaker 6: going to affect us. 323 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 3: We're just gonna go out and play instead. 324 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 6: Of oh man, we have this time off, Like it's 325 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 6: just it was just a mindset like, hey, we got 326 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 6: time off, great, we don't have time off. Okay, we'll 327 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:12,600 Speaker 6: figure it out, right, And I think that's it's just 328 00:16:12,640 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 6: all about a mindset of oh no, whatever excuse we 329 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 6: can find, and baseball players are one great at finding 330 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 6: excuses and two even better at complaining. 331 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 4: I'm with it, And I mean I remember that two 332 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 4: thousand and five run when you know you guys swept 333 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 4: the LCS, and it was everybody agreed at that time 334 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 4: that it was an advantage, you know, like, oh, you know, 335 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 4: everybody's rested, you know, you've you've you get to sit 336 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 4: back and relax while the other team has to keep fighting. 337 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 4: And so I think you're probably right that, like these narratives, 338 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 4: a lot of times they come after the fact and 339 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 4: they're whatever's convenient to explain what happens next. 340 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 1: Hey, Sam, last one for you, another big picture question. 341 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 2: We are in a copycat league, right They look at 342 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 2: what's going on often in the postseason. 343 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: And say, oh, let's do a little bit more of that. 344 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 2: Owners, especially since they're paying more attention and they might 345 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:04,399 Speaker 2: be jealous that their team is not involved. So what 346 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 2: do you think the theme might be this year heading 347 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 2: into the offseason based on what we have seen thus far? 348 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 2: Do you think that starting pitching gets valued a little 349 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 2: bit more because of the impact that it makes in 350 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:19,640 Speaker 2: the postseason. Do you think that contact comes into play 351 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:22,159 Speaker 2: a little bit more with the Blue Jays and Brewers 352 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:23,520 Speaker 2: or anything else that we're missing. 353 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 4: Oh man, those are I think those are both really 354 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 4: good possibilities. It's funny because copycat You don't tend to 355 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 4: see a lot of copycatting of the team that loses 356 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 4: in the LCS, even though like that's also a successful season, right, 357 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:39,879 Speaker 4: Like they could have gone all the way, So you 358 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 4: kind of have to see who's going to win the 359 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 4: World Series before you know what message really gets amplified. 360 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:49,399 Speaker 4: I think that there is a lot of talk this 361 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 4: year about the Brewers as a team that was able 362 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:59,359 Speaker 4: to play up because of a you know, a prioritizing fundamentals, 363 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:03,359 Speaker 4: so prioritizing hustle for a lot of reasons. I think 364 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:06,400 Speaker 4: those two things have kind of fallen by the wayside 365 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 4: in the last few years. They aren't seen as a 366 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 4: priority in a lot of in a lot of teams. 367 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:12,920 Speaker 4: And the fact that the Brewers were able to take 368 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:15,720 Speaker 4: this team that you know, was basically hitting ground balls 369 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:19,200 Speaker 4: to the shortstop, but by hustling on every play. They 370 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:21,639 Speaker 4: were forcing a lot of airs, beating a lot of 371 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:25,880 Speaker 4: infield singles out. I think that's a pretty strong message 372 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 4: that's coming out of the season, and I would expect 373 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 4: that there's going to be a lot more talk about 374 00:18:33,119 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 4: that coming out of clubhouses in the next couple of years. 375 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 4: But you know, the Brewers probably aren't gonna win the 376 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 4: World Series, so the answer is probably gonna be something 377 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 4: that the World Series winner does. I think that the 378 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:49,520 Speaker 4: fact that the dot I mean, you can't really replicate 379 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 4: what the Dodgers are able to do, but having so 380 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 4: many starting pitchers has allowed them to outrun a lot 381 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:04,200 Speaker 4: of their flaws. Having starting pitchers that were handled pretty 382 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:08,400 Speaker 4: lightly during the regular season so that they're now healthy 383 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 4: in the postseason despite pretty much all of those guys 384 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:14,200 Speaker 4: having long injury histories, is something that I think people 385 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:16,360 Speaker 4: will be taking a look at. One of the big 386 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 4: tensions in the game these days is how do you 387 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 4: balance the regular season against the postseason? How much do 388 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:29,200 Speaker 4: you put into winning in the regular season versus leaving 389 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:33,680 Speaker 4: something in the tank for the postseason. And the Dodgers 390 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:35,960 Speaker 4: I think will really come out of this season being 391 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 4: remembered as a team that sort of sleepwalked through the 392 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:43,720 Speaker 4: regular season, made roster decisions that weren't aimed at winning 393 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:49,000 Speaker 4: every game, left players on the il maybe longer than 394 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 4: they needed to so that they wouldn't be overused by 395 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:57,840 Speaker 4: the postseason, and didn't really prioritize, you know, winning one 396 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:01,639 Speaker 4: hundred and ten regular season games. They're prioritize being like 397 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:07,919 Speaker 4: the fully operational roster when October came, and it's worked. 398 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 4: It's sort of like frustratingly worked. You know, we watched 399 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 4: this team kind of look bad throughout the regular season 400 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:19,920 Speaker 4: and now suddenly like snap their fingers and they're dominating 401 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 4: and they might just you know, win every game until 402 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 4: the World Series is over. And I think that to 403 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 4: the degree that teams can copy that that might be 404 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 4: something that gets talked about. Like basically, the marginal value 405 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:37,360 Speaker 4: of a win in the regular season in a playoff 406 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:41,120 Speaker 4: system that's this deep is pretty low, whereas the marginal 407 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 4: value of having your rotation healthy in October is pretty high. 408 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:46,960 Speaker 4: And the Dodgers might be the proof of that. 409 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:48,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, good call. 410 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:51,160 Speaker 2: I even think about Trey Savage and how the Blue 411 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:53,639 Speaker 2: Jays made sure that he had plenty of pitches left 412 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:56,800 Speaker 2: and the way that they built him up from a 413 00:20:56,960 --> 00:20:59,000 Speaker 2: ball all the way to this point. I know it 414 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:01,400 Speaker 2: wasn't as flashy of a last start, but anyway, Sam, 415 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 2: really appreciate it. 416 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:03,000 Speaker 1: Good stuff. 417 00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:05,560 Speaker 2: Much more of this on pebble hunting the substack that 418 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:08,200 Speaker 2: you've been running for a minute, so for our fam 419 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 2: check it out, appreciate it. 420 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 1: Just Sam good talking. 421 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 4: To you YouTube. 422 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:16,680 Speaker 2: This episode of Foul Territory is brought to you by 423 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 2: Fox One. Fox one is now live stream all of 424 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:25,120 Speaker 2: your Fox favorites together in one place, from MLB postseason 425 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 2: games to the NFL on Fox to Big Noon Saturdays 426 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:32,359 Speaker 2: with Fox One. You get it all live. Start your 427 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 2: seven day free trial today. Offers are subject to change. 428 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:39,640 Speaker 2: Go to Fox one for complete terms and conditions. We 429 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:43,360 Speaker 2: have the website in the description of this episode. It's 430 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:47,800 Speaker 2: Fox one. It's streaming now for the baseball fans here 431 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 2: on FT and we know you love baseball. If you're 432 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 2: listening to the show. You get LCS games right and 433 00:21:56,320 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 2: the entire World Series every year is on Fox. So 434 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:04,320 Speaker 2: if you don't have normal cable or you can't get 435 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:07,640 Speaker 2: the channel, Fox one is the solution for you. Now, 436 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:10,880 Speaker 2: the app that solves it all again. Go to Fox 437 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 2: one and start a seven day free trial to see 438 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:25,040 Speaker 2: for yourself how money it is. We have reached the 439 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 2: conclusion of our Pick Your Poison series and we saved 440 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:32,160 Speaker 2: one that is a little bit difficult for last. We 441 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:35,640 Speaker 2: now have each team covered in the final four and 442 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 2: we will finish with the Los Angeles Dodgers. If your 443 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:42,040 Speaker 2: team was knocked out, we are going to try and 444 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 2: make a case for you to root for the Dodgers. 445 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:47,960 Speaker 2: There are many people that are going to watch this 446 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:50,200 Speaker 2: clip and say, oh, I'm Dodger fan, I love them. 447 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:52,520 Speaker 2: There are more people that are going to watch this 448 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 2: clip and say, I'm a fan of the twenty nine 449 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:58,000 Speaker 2: other teams. AJ and I consider the Dodgers the evil 450 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:01,360 Speaker 2: Empire at this point because so successful and spend more 451 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:01,960 Speaker 2: than anyone else. 452 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:03,840 Speaker 1: But you can't do that in this segment. You have 453 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:04,520 Speaker 1: to tell. 454 00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:08,000 Speaker 2: People why they would love to root for LA to 455 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:10,600 Speaker 2: win again if their team isn't there right now. 456 00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:13,879 Speaker 6: It's good for baseball if the team that spends wins, 457 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:16,399 Speaker 6: and it should put pressure on other teams to spend money. 458 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:18,439 Speaker 6: I know that the owners are going to argue that 459 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:20,240 Speaker 6: they don't because oh, you can't afford. 460 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 3: But you can spend enough money to compete. 461 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 6: Okay, the Brewers, the Mariners, whatever team you want to name, 462 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:29,560 Speaker 6: the teams that made the Tigers, whoever, the Guardians, you 463 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 6: know whatever. They can spend more if they want to. Okay, 464 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 6: but this is the argument right here. Star power, star power. 465 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:38,000 Speaker 6: If you like, pick your star, you want to like 466 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:42,920 Speaker 6: show Hey check Mookie check, Freddie check, will Smith check, 467 00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:47,359 Speaker 6: Yamamoto check Glass Now check Snell check. 468 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:49,200 Speaker 3: I mean rookie Sazaki. 469 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:52,080 Speaker 6: Pick your pick your star, pick your star in baseball 470 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:53,720 Speaker 6: that you want to watch, and you want to see. 471 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:56,880 Speaker 6: Most teams, most most other sports wants the stars to win. 472 00:23:57,119 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 6: For some reason, baseball doesn't believe Baseball fans don't believe 473 00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 6: in that. Put your stars on the biggest age. 474 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:05,440 Speaker 3: Right. The Dodgers have all the stars, not all of them, 475 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:06,120 Speaker 3: but a lot of them. 476 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:09,920 Speaker 5: I think my argument is based on the fact that 477 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:14,359 Speaker 5: your team just lost. You want to know how to 478 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:17,440 Speaker 5: have a winning team. Follow the Dodgers. You want to 479 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:19,760 Speaker 5: know what it looks like to have a team full of, 480 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 5: like AJ said, stars, do the little things base run, run, 481 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:30,360 Speaker 5: the correct bunt play in a situation, execute those plays. 482 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:33,800 Speaker 5: But also they're not a perfect team. They pick each 483 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:38,240 Speaker 5: other up. Tommy Edmond almost almost jointed the ball into 484 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:40,840 Speaker 5: the dugout at the end of that bunt game where 485 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:44,080 Speaker 5: the Phillies were coming back. Guess what, Freddie Freeman picked 486 00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:47,720 Speaker 5: them up. Taeoscar Hernandez dropped the fly ball in right 487 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:50,679 Speaker 5: field when Yamamoto was pitching against the Reds in the 488 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:52,480 Speaker 5: first of it in the first series to tie the 489 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:56,680 Speaker 5: ball game up. Guess what, Yamamoto picked them up. These guys, yes, 490 00:24:56,680 --> 00:24:59,399 Speaker 5: they're stars, but they play together as a team and 491 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:02,920 Speaker 5: if you're a fan, they will accept you in. They 492 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:06,199 Speaker 5: want all the backing that they can get because they're like, 493 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:09,240 Speaker 5: we all back each other. Why not our fan base, 494 00:25:09,320 --> 00:25:12,960 Speaker 5: So come on the train to Dodger Town. 495 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:19,840 Speaker 2: Hey, how about the fact that the roster construction is 496 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:23,080 Speaker 2: leading to success as well? Is key Key Hernandez. The 497 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:26,520 Speaker 2: best regular season player is Tommy Edmund. The best regular 498 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:29,919 Speaker 2: season player is Max Munsey, the best regular season player. 499 00:25:30,119 --> 00:25:31,760 Speaker 2: We can go on and on with quite a few 500 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:34,320 Speaker 2: winners that they have been able to identify and fit 501 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:36,840 Speaker 2: into the cog and it's working for them. It's not 502 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:39,040 Speaker 2: like we're looking at this team aj and saying they 503 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:43,280 Speaker 2: have the best player, regular season war, all that stuff 504 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:45,879 Speaker 2: at each position. They have quite a few superstars like 505 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:48,680 Speaker 2: you mentioned, but it's not all around where you're looking 506 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:51,439 Speaker 2: at like the National League All Star Team. 507 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 1: No. 508 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 6: But also you're right, but they do a great job 509 00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:58,920 Speaker 6: of also building depth. Which is why they're the best team. 510 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:01,919 Speaker 6: Is because they build enough depth in their organization, not 511 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:03,440 Speaker 6: only at the big league level, but in Triple A. 512 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:05,240 Speaker 6: They have guys injured, They sign guys that are injured. 513 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:07,480 Speaker 6: They take chances on some guys knowing they have the 514 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:09,400 Speaker 6: financial might, which is which is a huge. 515 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:11,040 Speaker 3: Positive for them. But also I'm gonna go back to 516 00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:11,520 Speaker 3: my other point. 517 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:14,919 Speaker 6: The NFL, Right, they love the Everyone loves the Patriots 518 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:17,200 Speaker 6: and Tom Brady because he won all the Super Bowls, right, 519 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:20,680 Speaker 6: the NFL blew them up, the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes. 520 00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:23,280 Speaker 6: You go to basketball and you have MJ with his 521 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:25,480 Speaker 6: three peats, and you go to Lebron and Steph what 522 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 6: they're winning, right, And then you go to hockey with 523 00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:31,120 Speaker 6: who they want to win with the Panthers and Lightning 524 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:33,639 Speaker 6: because Florida owns the NHL, right, and we own the 525 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:36,480 Speaker 6: Stanley Cup. But other sports once these teams win for 526 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:39,520 Speaker 6: some reason, baseball fans, we can't have a repeat winner. 527 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:42,800 Speaker 6: It's been twenty five years since we've had a repeat winner. 528 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:46,280 Speaker 6: This might be the chance because this team is special 529 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:48,400 Speaker 6: because of all the things that they do correctly. 530 00:26:49,840 --> 00:26:52,520 Speaker 5: When you become a Dodgers fan, I do have to 531 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:55,720 Speaker 5: give you one piece of advice. Don't go to the games. 532 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:58,640 Speaker 5: There's too much traffic. Be a Dodgers fan who watches 533 00:26:58,680 --> 00:27:01,880 Speaker 5: on TV. Okay, oh that's the best. 534 00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:06,680 Speaker 1: It's a really nice ballpark though. I like that ballpark experience. 535 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:07,200 Speaker 1: It's fun. 536 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:12,120 Speaker 2: But yes, you need to get yourself off of work 537 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:13,000 Speaker 2: early or something. 538 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:14,160 Speaker 1: You got to get there really early. 539 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:18,360 Speaker 5: It is failing second. 540 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 1: Best getting in all of baseball. 541 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:22,760 Speaker 5: No, no, no, no, in the in the. 542 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:26,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, because there's there's some other teams. Obviously, the Brewers 543 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:28,360 Speaker 2: have their own thing going. But there are a few 544 00:27:28,359 --> 00:27:30,920 Speaker 2: other teams that have a nice parking lot setup where 545 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:34,080 Speaker 2: you can get a good, good tailgate going. Yeah, the 546 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:37,840 Speaker 2: teams that aren't in that whole like downtown experience where 547 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:40,520 Speaker 2: it's about parking, getting out and then going to the 548 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 2: other stuff that the owners have. It's about just I mean, 549 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:45,640 Speaker 2: like Kansas City, when things are going right and there 550 00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:48,440 Speaker 2: in the playoffs, right, They that's just a massive parking lot, 551 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:51,320 Speaker 2: so they've got some good tailgating action going on. One 552 00:27:51,359 --> 00:27:54,400 Speaker 2: other thing to play off of the superstar component AJ 553 00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:58,679 Speaker 2: is that we've barely seen Mike shrout in October and 554 00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:01,000 Speaker 2: that was a case for a while with the best 555 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:03,080 Speaker 2: player in our sport at the moment, who is show 556 00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 2: Hey Otani. It is fun to watch Otani and he's 557 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 2: a really interesting storyline, and for a long period of 558 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:11,120 Speaker 2: time during prime years, we didn't get to see him 559 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:13,879 Speaker 2: at all at the game's biggest stage. In fact, we 560 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:17,280 Speaker 2: rarely saw him play any meaningful games after like May, 561 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:20,119 Speaker 2: so I do want to appreciate that, and that again 562 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:22,760 Speaker 2: plays to the difference between baseball and other sports. 563 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:24,920 Speaker 1: And that's cool because then we get to see. 564 00:28:24,880 --> 00:28:29,080 Speaker 2: Stars emerge like Jorge Polanco being clutcher, Tommy Edmund last 565 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:33,080 Speaker 2: year as an NLCS MVP. That's cool, but it's also 566 00:28:33,160 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 2: cool to see the best players on the planet actually 567 00:28:35,359 --> 00:28:37,840 Speaker 2: play in the biggest games. And you're right, we don't 568 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:39,840 Speaker 2: get enough of that, and that's just a product of 569 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:43,200 Speaker 2: our sport, which makes it both cool but tougher to market. 570 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:46,160 Speaker 6: People don't understand how hard it is to make the 571 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:48,560 Speaker 6: playoffs in baseball. If you want to know, ask Mike Trout, 572 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:51,600 Speaker 6: ask show Hey when he was at the Angels, ask 573 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:52,800 Speaker 6: the Mariners. 574 00:28:52,280 --> 00:28:54,240 Speaker 3: How long they've never made the World Series? 575 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:57,440 Speaker 6: Ask him how hard it is to win a World 576 00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:00,400 Speaker 6: Series and to get to that point. It is really hard. 577 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:03,240 Speaker 6: And when, again, every other sport they want their best 578 00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:06,640 Speaker 6: players to be in it. Baseball the last two years 579 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 6: they had the Yankees in the and the Dodgers last 580 00:29:08,560 --> 00:29:10,200 Speaker 6: year with some of the best players in the in 581 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:12,320 Speaker 6: the world at their sport. This year you got a 582 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:14,760 Speaker 6: shot at it again with whether whatever team makes it 583 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:16,920 Speaker 6: from the AL and if the Dodgers make it from 584 00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:19,080 Speaker 6: the NL, you're gonna have some of the best players 585 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:21,720 Speaker 6: in the sport on the biggest stage where everyone's watching. 586 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:24,600 Speaker 3: So yeah, it's been great for the game. I'm sorry. 587 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:27,479 Speaker 6: Look at the ratings. Look at the ratings for these games. 588 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:28,960 Speaker 6: They've been off the charts good. 589 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:29,600 Speaker 3: I'm sorry. 590 00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:32,440 Speaker 2: You can make a case that Paul Skeens is the 591 00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:38,600 Speaker 2: best pitcher in baseball right now and he's not participating. 592 00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:39,320 Speaker 3: And they're going to make the playoffs. 593 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:41,320 Speaker 6: So they're going to make the playoffs are out, So 594 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 6: remember what did what did they the pirates say we 595 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:46,880 Speaker 6: have to make the playoffs next year, Well yeah, right, 596 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:52,920 Speaker 6: or what yeah? Or else we won't spend any more money, 597 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:57,880 Speaker 6: will trade Paul Schemes and well, and we'll trade Bubba Chandler, 598 00:29:58,200 --> 00:30:00,320 Speaker 6: and we'll trade Brian Renolds and well. 599 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:05,480 Speaker 5: True two the Dodgers, Which is why you should be 600 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:07,240 Speaker 5: a Dodgers fan, because you'll be able to see Paul 601 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:07,920 Speaker 5: schemes soon. 602 00:30:09,520 --> 00:30:12,000 Speaker 2: I have one more at the finish line here. You 603 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:14,520 Speaker 2: might look at this team and this segment and be 604 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:17,800 Speaker 2: puking because you really don't like the Dodgers and you 605 00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:20,840 Speaker 2: feel like life is unfair. Right now, the Dodgers have 606 00:30:20,920 --> 00:30:23,840 Speaker 2: not been like this forever. Nineteen eighty eight they won 607 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:27,280 Speaker 2: a World Series. They didn't win another one until twenty twenty. 608 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:29,840 Speaker 2: Some people didn't give them the same credit in twenty 609 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:31,840 Speaker 2: twenty because it was a COVID season. 610 00:30:31,880 --> 00:30:33,600 Speaker 1: They didn't have to play a full marathon year. 611 00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:36,760 Speaker 2: Okay, Well, then they won in twenty twenty four, so 612 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:39,760 Speaker 2: it's not like they've been darlings forever. They have been 613 00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:42,920 Speaker 2: postseason darlings for a long period of time, but they 614 00:30:42,920 --> 00:30:44,960 Speaker 2: haven't been able to get over the hump most of 615 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:47,479 Speaker 2: that time period. So I think it's important to keep 616 00:30:47,560 --> 00:30:50,160 Speaker 2: that in mind in our sport and just google the 617 00:30:50,240 --> 00:30:52,520 Speaker 2: name Frank McCourt if you want to go through a 618 00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:56,080 Speaker 2: very recent era in Dodgers' history where you were like, oh, 619 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:57,400 Speaker 2: they have a lot of resources and. 620 00:30:57,360 --> 00:30:59,240 Speaker 1: It's not working out for them. 621 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:02,400 Speaker 2: We also to show called Baseball America Hot Sheet where 622 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:04,720 Speaker 2: we go we went over the other day hit plus 623 00:31:04,760 --> 00:31:07,440 Speaker 2: and stuff plus in terms of talent in the minor leagues, 624 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:12,840 Speaker 2: Dodgers number one hit plus prospects number one stuff plus prospects. 625 00:31:13,040 --> 00:31:14,560 Speaker 1: I believe it was number one for both. 626 00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:18,280 Speaker 2: So here's and if not top three, So here's my 627 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:21,000 Speaker 2: final thought process here. When we do have a salary 628 00:31:21,040 --> 00:31:24,160 Speaker 2: cap for essentially the draft where you get a prospect 629 00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:27,200 Speaker 2: amount of money pool that you spend on, and in 630 00:31:27,240 --> 00:31:30,320 Speaker 2: the international draft you have that too, Guess what, Dodgers 631 00:31:30,360 --> 00:31:32,400 Speaker 2: are still winning. So it's not going to solve all 632 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:32,920 Speaker 2: your problems. 633 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:36,280 Speaker 5: Don't google Frank McCourt. Don't rule your search