1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:05,000 Speaker 1: Hello, this is the Bloomberg Business of Sports show weeks 2 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: for the big money issues in the world of sports. 3 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:11,720 Speaker 1: I'm Michael Barn and I'm Damian Sasaur Scarlett Fou on assignment. 4 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: Today we're talking bisbal Opening day is right around the corner, 5 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: and we've got a lot to talk about, especially with 6 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:22,920 Speaker 1: a bunch of new rules going into effects. That is right, 7 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: Michael Barr. We also have some storylines to discuss from 8 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: the World Baseball Classic, including some highlights like trade Turners, 9 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: go Ahead Grand Slam that sent Team USA to the 10 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:50,840 Speaker 1: Semis Turner, but there are some low lights like Mets 11 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 1: star closer Edwin Diaz's injury. Mets GM Billy Eppler talk 12 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: to reporters soon after and gave a return timeline that 13 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 1: Mets fans did not want to hear. General timeline for 14 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:04,319 Speaker 1: a surgery like this is about eight months, all right. 15 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 1: There are instances where athletes have come back earlier, more 16 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:15,839 Speaker 1: around the six month mark, but those are a little 17 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: bit more of the exception than the rule, and so 18 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 1: in this case, we won't update Edwin's timeline for a while. 19 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 1: MAT's GM Billy Eppler talking to reporters about Edwin Diaz's 20 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:29,639 Speaker 1: knee injury that will likely keep him out of action 21 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: this year. And that's not all. Jose Altuve got injured 22 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:38,119 Speaker 1: in this World Baseball Classic and it's just piling up 23 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 1: with more on this to talk about the Baseball Classic 24 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:45,559 Speaker 1: and will owners say, you know what, you stay out 25 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 1: of it. MLB insider Tom Berducci, also senior baseball writer 26 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:54,919 Speaker 1: for Sports Illustrated. Tom, Welcome to the Bloomberg Business of Sports. Hey, 27 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: thanks for having me. Well that you know, and that 28 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: brings up the problems. It's it's hard to tell an athlete, 29 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 1: now you stay out of this. But boy, when poor 30 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 1: Edwin Diaz and he gets injured, and he got injured 31 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: celebrating it wasn't on a play, It's I mean, you 32 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 1: feel bad. He was in tears, yeah, I mean it 33 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:20,919 Speaker 1: really was. He just had an incredible moment. Don't forget. 34 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 1: He's pitching for his homeland of Puerto Rico. He's playing 35 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,079 Speaker 1: with his brother Alexis for the first time in the 36 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:29,919 Speaker 1: same baseball team. They just won a very emotional, huge 37 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: game to advance and the celebrating that's when the injury happened. 38 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 1: So he wasn't actually pitching in the tournament. I know 39 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: people would criticized the tournament because it makes players ramp 40 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 1: up a little quicker than they normally would for a 41 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 1: quote unquote meaningless spring training game. But this is the 42 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: hazards of playing baseball. I mean, the Dodgers shortstop Gavin 43 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 1: lux tore up his knee on a non contact play 44 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: in a spring training game. You know, it's not as 45 00:02:57,240 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: if we're asking players to do something outside of the door. 46 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:02,799 Speaker 1: It's just that there's a little more emotion in these 47 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 1: games because people are fired up to play for their countries. 48 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: And I think that's a good thing and players certainly 49 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: believe in it. I mean that the sign up rate 50 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 1: for this year WBC, I think was better than ever. 51 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: We have more stars than ever playing in the game, 52 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 1: and I know a team like the Mets or the 53 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: Astros losing star players will second guess the whole idea 54 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: of that WBC. But keep in mind, this is a 55 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 1: worldwide event and the entire tournament over the course of 56 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:32,639 Speaker 1: two weeks, is going to finish with an attendance of 57 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: about one point three million fans going to these games, 58 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 1: and that's more than five Major League teams drew over 59 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 1: the course of the entire SAT last year. There is demand, 60 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: there is viewership. I mean, more people watch Korea played 61 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: Japan than watch any World Series game in history. So 62 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 1: we can't be so short shortsighted when we see a 63 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: couple of injuries to say let's get rid of it 64 00:03:56,520 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 1: because they're certainly demanded interest. Wow wow, wow, Tom, Now 65 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 1: you're talking my language. I mean, are we really living 66 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 1: in Randy Rosarina's world? I mean, this guy is killing 67 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 1: it from Mexico. Randy A. Rosarina groundball, that's fair, double line, 68 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 1: area scores, Thomas scores, Bars coming home, pay Wall score, 69 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: Mexico six to two. And then let's talk about Mike Trout. 70 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:26,039 Speaker 1: Let's talk about show here, Tani. I mean, my goodness, 71 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 1: some of these guys are stepping up on the world stage. 72 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 1: I mean there's a lot of good news coming out 73 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:35,279 Speaker 1: of the WBC. No, yeah, there is. These are stars, 74 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 1: international stars, and I love the fact now they play 75 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:41,040 Speaker 1: in stort of this unbridled way that we don't normally 76 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: see in the course of a Major League Baseball season, right, 77 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 1: I mean, one hundred and sixty two games, its players 78 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,600 Speaker 1: are much more even killed here. It's like, well, I 79 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 1: see Cleveland are playing like back in high school or 80 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 1: American Legion tournament, where there's urgency to every game and 81 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: you see guys really having fun. The USA team coming 82 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: out of the dugout the way a lot of the 83 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 1: American teams do with a passion Randy, as you mentioned, 84 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: he's signing autographs, talking to fans in the course of 85 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:10,839 Speaker 1: the game. There's just a fun vibe to the whole atmosphere. 86 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 1: They call it the Festival of Baseball, and I think 87 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 1: the fans get into it as well. I've never been 88 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 1: in the ballpark where so many people bring musical instruments, 89 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:22,599 Speaker 1: hearing and music all game long. Yeah, we're not talking 90 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 1: about the vuvuzela's. We're talking about actual instruments coming into 91 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 1: the stadiums, and it really is neat. And I even 92 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 1: think of it like a spring training game where the players, 93 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 1: as the game is going on, are signing autographs to 94 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: the fans. I've always thought that was neat and that's 95 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,279 Speaker 1: something baseball, especially with spring training, which is why I 96 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 1: enjoy seeing the Tigers play an old, good old joker 97 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 1: Merchant Stadium. I love that stuff. Yeah, it's one of 98 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 1: my favorite times a year. I mean for the spring 99 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 1: training games. Obviously, nobody has lost an official game yet, 100 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: so everybody's in a great everybody has hope. But I 101 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: can tell you the star players who participated in the 102 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: WBC do compare the atmosphere to a postseason environment. We 103 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:12,160 Speaker 1: have players who are one World Series games and say 104 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:15,679 Speaker 1: some of the loudest ballparks they've played in, the energy 105 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: level is great. Well, Tom, I mean, did you I 106 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 1: mean you must have seen that that Japan Italy game 107 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 1: right at the Tokyo Though. I mean it was I 108 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:25,280 Speaker 1: mean apparently people who were in the audience said it 109 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 1: was just like the World Series. I mean it felt like, 110 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 1: I guess Japan is the center of the baseball world. 111 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,839 Speaker 1: And that takes me to my question, is it right? 112 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 1: I mean, they are playing out of their minds here, 113 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 1: and it's not just you know, Major League baseball ball players, 114 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:40,800 Speaker 1: it's it's Japanese locals. I wonder, you know, what do 115 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 1: you see there? I mean, is there some talent coming 116 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 1: out of Japan that that that will have the Stevie 117 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:48,480 Speaker 1: Cohens and the Mets of the world taking note. Yeah, 118 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: there's no doubt about that. You know, really the best 119 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 1: player in the world, most talented player I think is 120 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 1: Shohei Otani, who came to the US to play the 121 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 1: major leagues at the age of twenty three. Uh. Now 122 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 1: they're sort of a next Sotani. He's not a two 123 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:05,159 Speaker 1: way player, but Roki Sasaki, who has a perfect game 124 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 1: in Japan and and he's looking forward to coming to 125 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 1: the Major League's probably in a year or two. And 126 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 1: we're talking about a pitcher who can throw one hundred 127 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 1: and two miles an hour. So the talent level there 128 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 1: is amazing. If you go back at generation or so ago, 129 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 1: you know, a lot of people thought the baseball in 130 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 1: Japan was sort of equivalent to triple A baseball, or 131 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: maybe you know, they would call it for a baseball. 132 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 1: But I think that's outdated. I think the level of 133 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 1: play has gotten so much better. There are more players 134 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 1: who are going to come over and have success. And 135 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 1: that's the key here. I mean, now players major league 136 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 1: teams look at the players in Japan and say we 137 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 1: can these are plug and play players. In the past, 138 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: you weren't sure how their numbers would translate. But my 139 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 1: goodness that that to me was the favorite coming into 140 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 1: the tournament. The Japanese team and I don't think they've 141 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 1: done anything to dissuave you that. Tom. You can always 142 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: tell when baseball season is about to begin in earnest 143 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 1: because I've already done some baseball drafts and I'm looking 144 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 1: at one team that I had to draft Friday, and 145 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: I'm thinking, oh, man, it's the best team twenty fifteen 146 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: can offer. Everybody's criticizing their teams right now. But the 147 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 1: good thing about that is it forces people fantasy baseball 148 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: to stay up not just on your favorite team, but 149 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: all over both leagues. Yeah, I think that's a great thing. 150 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:32,079 Speaker 1: I mean, baseball has, as we know, the language of 151 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 1: the game really is statistics, and to get involved in 152 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: the game through the stats and following your favorite players 153 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 1: is really a cool thing. And especially with baseball, I 154 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 1: mean it happens every day, right, so you either feel 155 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 1: great or feel bad daily. Basis season applies to the 156 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 1: fans following the game that way, So it's a great 157 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 1: way for fans to get engaged by by getting involved 158 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 1: in fantasy games. And you know, the worst thing to happen, 159 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 1: obviously is when players get hurt as well, so people 160 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: are keeping an eye on every small injury in the 161 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: course of the season, not just the Stets. You know, 162 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: we mentioned a little bit earlier in the conversation. We 163 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: mentioned Shoheitani, we mentioned Mike Trout, we mentioned the Angels. 164 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 1: You know, we know that owner art Reno had pulled 165 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: the team off the market after indicating he was initially 166 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:18,960 Speaker 1: looking to sell. I mean, my goodness, I mean, what 167 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 1: should we expect from the Angels this year and from 168 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:23,559 Speaker 1: these two players? I mean, do we expect them to 169 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:26,080 Speaker 1: play out the duration of this year with the Angels 170 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:28,079 Speaker 1: or could we look for maybe some sort of a 171 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 1: blockbuster before the season ends. Yeah, it's a great question. Well, 172 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 1: Mike Trout's not going anywhere. His contract is locked in. 173 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 1: I don't think he's given any indication that he would 174 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:41,199 Speaker 1: even ask for a trade. But Showeyotani is a free 175 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:43,959 Speaker 1: agent at the end of the season. There will not 176 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 1: be any talks with the Angels in the course of 177 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:48,680 Speaker 1: this season. He will play it out, and Artie Mourino 178 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:51,560 Speaker 1: told me that he will not trade Showhy during the 179 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:53,439 Speaker 1: course of the season as long as the team is 180 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: in contention, and they probably will be. You know, the 181 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:59,319 Speaker 1: Angels have had a terrible run here. Otani has never 182 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:01,480 Speaker 1: even played on a winning team with the Angels, which 183 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:04,719 Speaker 1: is hard to believe. And you know, I think to 184 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 1: qualify for the postseason now, or at least to be 185 00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 1: in the mix, you can play about five hundred baseball 186 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 1: for the first three months of the season before the 187 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 1: trade deadline, and I think the Angels was capable of that. 188 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:17,839 Speaker 1: But once he hits the market as a free agent, 189 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 1: he'll probably priced himself out of the Angels. We're talking 190 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: the numbers now are just you know, we're talking about 191 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:27,079 Speaker 1: someone who might get five hundred million dollars over ten 192 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 1: or more years. He's just, you know, a great drawing 193 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 1: card is as well being a fantastic player. One thing 194 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 1: that has changed this season new rules, and there are 195 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 1: a bunch of them. I still have to get use 196 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: to the pizza boxes bases because they are larger. I 197 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:48,599 Speaker 1: you know it. Alex Corris said it the best that 198 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:52,080 Speaker 1: they But I get why they did it. Why Baseball 199 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:56,680 Speaker 1: did it because it makes the game safer and hopefully 200 00:10:56,760 --> 00:11:00,199 Speaker 1: you'll have less injuries because it's much harder for or 201 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: a player to Guerrero Junior to steal bases and you're 202 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 1: not going to make really make less injury. Yeah, you know, 203 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:10,320 Speaker 1: it's like I love this. The pitch clock is what 204 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 1: do you think you can only turn right, you can 205 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 1: only turn to first base once or twice three time. 206 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 1: I mean, like there's some real rules to really speed 207 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 1: up the game. Yeah, I mean, Tom, tell us about, like, 208 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:19,440 Speaker 1: what do you think is going to have the greatest 209 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:23,440 Speaker 1: impact on the piece of play. Yeah, I think the 210 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 1: greatest impact is going to be a pitch timer. That 211 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: pitchers now are forced, with nobody on base to throw 212 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 1: a pitch within fifteen seconds or with a verder on 213 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 1: base twenty seconds. And already you've seen in spring training games. 214 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:38,319 Speaker 1: It makes a world of difference. I call it a 215 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 1: state of readiness. Where in the past years, i mean, 216 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 1: let's face it, watching a baseball game, it was just 217 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 1: too much dead time, players walking out of the batter's 218 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:49,480 Speaker 1: box or pitchers walking out off the back of the mound. 219 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:53,960 Speaker 1: Now you just can't do that. People are ready to 220 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:56,679 Speaker 1: play because that clock is on you very quickly. A 221 00:11:56,760 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 1: batter has to be in the box looking at the 222 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 1: picture with eight seconds left on the clock. So as 223 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 1: a fan, not only are you getting home at a 224 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 1: decent hour on a weeknight if you go to the ballpark, 225 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 1: but you're engaged in every single pitch because the ball 226 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 1: is going to be put in play more. You mentioned 227 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 1: the bigger bases, you'll probably have more stolen bases, which 228 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:19,080 Speaker 1: we have seen in spring training. There's just going to 229 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 1: be more action in a shorter period of time. And 230 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 1: I've said this for the last few years baseballs, and 231 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 1: it wasn't by design, but it worked out this way. 232 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 1: The worst possible formula in today's really crowded landscape of 233 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:35,319 Speaker 1: entertainment options, and that is to give people less action 234 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:39,439 Speaker 1: over more time. Nobody wants that into taste world, right, 235 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: So this is finally going to flip the script where 236 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 1: you're going to get more action in less time. Well, Tom, 237 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 1: you know, I mean for me, the onus I always 238 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:49,439 Speaker 1: thought the onus was on the pitchers taking too much time. 239 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:51,319 Speaker 1: But you make a great point the fact that batters 240 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:54,040 Speaker 1: can now get called with an automatic strike within that 241 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: eight seconds if they or if they step out of 242 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 1: the box, you know, more than one's per appearance, you know. 243 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 1: I mean, it's really become who do you think dictates 244 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:03,640 Speaker 1: the pitch count? Now? Is it the picture? Is it 245 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: the batter? It's going to be interesting to see. Yeah, 246 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 1: I think based on what I've seen in spraying training. 247 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:12,680 Speaker 1: It puts I think, more power in the hands of 248 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:15,199 Speaker 1: the pitcher. I think he can sort of the picture, 249 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 1: can sort of hurry up the batter and move things along. 250 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:20,960 Speaker 1: And we've all always started for years that a pitcher 251 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:24,560 Speaker 1: who works quickly has an advantage in part because his 252 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 1: defenders behind him are always on their toes and ready 253 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 1: instead of falling asleep. But my guy taking some long 254 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 1: between pitches. So I think in the early part of 255 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 1: the season you might have pictures having the edge. But 256 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 1: don't forget the hitters have a big edge this year 257 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:42,839 Speaker 1: as well, and that is no more shifts on the 258 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 1: effect the left handed hitters who've got in the batter's 259 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 1: box and they look to the right side of the 260 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 1: field and there's like no room to get the base 261 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:53,959 Speaker 1: hit because it's crowded with bodies. Now are literally seeing 262 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:56,680 Speaker 1: the field open up to them. And I do think 263 00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 1: that's going to add ten to fifteen points overall to 264 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:02,600 Speaker 1: the Major league batting average, and so many more singles 265 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 1: will happen, and of course that means more base runners, 266 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:08,040 Speaker 1: more threats as stolen bases. All these things are good 267 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 1: for fans. I mean, I know Major League Baseball did 268 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 1: this in great response to what do fans want and 269 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 1: what do they don't want? And they don't like picked offs, 270 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: they like stolen bases, they like the ball in play. 271 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 1: So these things are all geared to really appeasing what 272 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 1: fans want when they go to the ballpark or watch 273 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 1: on television. Now, I like to call it when the 274 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 1: batter steps out of the batter's box and there's a strike, 275 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: I like to call it a batter's bulk. That's that's 276 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: that's gonna be my term. You can use it, you 277 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 1: can take it. It's a batter's ball. That's it. But 278 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 1: one thing that I've said and I don't like, but 279 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 1: you know, like I have influenced in MLB, the ghost Runners. 280 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 1: I hated it, then I hate it now, but it's 281 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 1: going to be here to stay. Yeah. For me, I 282 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 1: think it's an acquired taste, And I actually acquired that 283 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: take first was thinking, you know, that just sounds too 284 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 1: weird by putting a guy outside in base who didn't 285 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: earn his way there. But I can tell you that 286 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 1: it's to me. It introduces a little more strategy in 287 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 1: the game at a time, and extra inning games sometimes 288 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:12,400 Speaker 1: they're boring because everybody's waiting for a home run. You 289 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: start with a rally right in the middle of things, 290 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 1: and you bunt the guy over. You know how if 291 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 1: you score in the top of the first, how do 292 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 1: you play the bottom of the tenth. It's interesting strategically 293 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 1: to me, and it does succeed in getting games over quicker. 294 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 1: So I think what happens is baseball generally has been 295 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 1: the only sport where if you have a close game 296 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 1: and it's dragging through the night, people actually leave the ballpark. 297 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 1: They paid for these tickets as a close game, but 298 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:41,960 Speaker 1: they're like, we got to get out of here. But 299 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 1: I think now with the games are faster, and now 300 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 1: with the extra inning rule where the games do tend 301 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 1: to end in the tenth inning maybe the eleventh, they 302 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 1: stick around for that. So I think the fans are 303 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 1: starting to grow to like that. You know, Tom, you 304 00:15:57,160 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: grew up in that fan. You know, I'm a Yankee fan. 305 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 1: So let's talk about the one team that we can 306 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:03,480 Speaker 1: both agree upon, the Houston Astros, the defending champs. Right, 307 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 1: you know, we've got jose L Twove now out with 308 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:09,560 Speaker 1: a fractured thumb for however long, Right, I mean, I 309 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 1: don't think Jordan Alvarez has even played yet the spring, right, 310 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 1: so you know, still if I look at you know, 311 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 1: well it's Vegas betting lines, it's the Astros is the 312 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:20,560 Speaker 1: odds on favorite to win the championship this year. What 313 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 1: are your thoughts? Yeah, I would have to say they're 314 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 1: still the favorite because they're pitching is so good and 315 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 1: Josel two. They will be back, There's no doubt. That's 316 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 1: a huge hit for about two months. He's really the 317 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 1: heart and soul that team. He makes them go. But 318 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 1: that division is a bear. When you talk about the Mariners, 319 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 1: who are playoff team last year, I think the Texas 320 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 1: Rangers are going to be a sleeper team in the 321 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:48,000 Speaker 1: American League. I really think they approved themselves a lot. 322 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: And we talked about the Angels. The Angels are a 323 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 1: better team. So the path to the World Series again 324 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: for the Astros is more difficult this year. You mentioned 325 00:16:57,560 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 1: the injuries to Alvarez and l Twove, but I think 326 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 1: the opetition is tougher. But I still look at their 327 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 1: pitching and the way that team has posted every year. 328 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:07,119 Speaker 1: You look up every year and there they are in 329 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:10,960 Speaker 1: the ALCS at least I'm going to defer to form 330 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:15,160 Speaker 1: in this case and not question the answer. Oh thanks 331 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 1: to John for Ducci for joining us on the Bloomberg 332 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 1: Business of Sports. Tom has covered the game for more 333 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 1: than forty years and is currently an MLB Network insider, 334 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 1: Fox Sports broadcaster, and then senior columnists for Sports Illustrated. 335 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:31,600 Speaker 1: He is a five time Emmy Award winner, two time 336 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:35,639 Speaker 1: National Magazine Award finalists, and if that's not enough, two 337 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: time New York Times best selling author, and a member 338 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:42,719 Speaker 1: of the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame. Tom, 339 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:45,159 Speaker 1: thank you Sarah for joining us right here on the 340 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:49,400 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports. Here my pleasure, guys, Happy opening day. 341 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:53,680 Speaker 1: This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast. I'm Michael 342 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:56,600 Speaker 1: barn along with Damian Sasawur. Catch us here each and 343 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday exploring the world of money 344 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 1: in sports, and catch me on Twitter at Big Bar 345 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:03,040 Speaker 1: Sports and you can get me on Twitter at te 346 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 1: sass Hour. You are listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports 347 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:09,480 Speaker 1: on Bloomberg Radio around the world.