1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:04,120 Speaker 1: Between Kansas City and Detroit. I expect one of those 2 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: teams is going to be better than we think, in 3 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: part because of. 4 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 2: The weakness in the division. 5 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: Happy Opening Day, everyone, Opening Day twenty twenty four. We 6 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: are thrilled to be here. We are thrilled you are 7 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 1: joining us. We are thrilled to have Alana Rizzo with 8 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:32,479 Speaker 1: us as well. Alana, how excited are you for this 9 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: opening Day? 10 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:35,159 Speaker 3: Oh my goodness, Ken so going to be with you. 11 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 3: Of course, this is our second one together, and I'm 12 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 3: thrilled Opening Day. Just everything is hope springs eternal. Right. 13 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:43,480 Speaker 3: Everyone feels like they have a shot at the big 14 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 3: prize in November. I think there's about seven teams that 15 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:49,160 Speaker 3: legitimately do. But for today's sake, we're going to say 16 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 3: all thirty absolutely right. 17 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 2: It is the one day of the year where no 18 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 2: one has lost the game. Yet. 19 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: Everyone is optimistic, and I never get tired of Opening Day. 20 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 2: I will say, I don't want you to tell us. 21 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:04,479 Speaker 1: Your count on opening days necessarily, but I will say 22 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 1: this is my thirty eighth and everyone is special, my 23 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:11,399 Speaker 1: thirty eighth as a professional baseball writer, and I just 24 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 1: love it. And things always happen. People always overreact to 25 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:17,559 Speaker 1: opening days. So here we go, Alana, what do we got? 26 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:20,119 Speaker 3: All right, Well, let's start with the lead, of course, 27 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 3: on this fair territory with Ken Rosenthal. And you wrote 28 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 3: a great article in The Athletic about the off season 29 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 3: that was for the Los Angeles Dodgers and how Brad 30 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 3: Paisley kind of got in the mix as well. 31 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:32,759 Speaker 2: Tell us more Well, I. 32 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: Wrote about this with Fabi and Ardaya from The Athletic, 33 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 1: and we've worked on this for months and it was 34 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:41,399 Speaker 1: one of the most fun articles I've ever worked on, 35 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 1: and it actually was fun to write. And for all 36 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: the writers out there, I don't know that many of 37 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 1: us consider writing to be a particularly fun process, but 38 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: it was great getting all these details out there. 39 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 2: And it's about the Dodgers. 40 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 1: Billion dollar off season one point four billion to be exact, 41 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 1: but it's also about all of the other teams that 42 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 1: were involved. And yes, we have Brad Paisley in there. 43 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: There was a wild party at his house during the 44 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: winter meetings in Nashville, and that is the night when 45 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 1: the Tyler Glass Now talk started to accelerate because the 46 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:16,799 Speaker 1: Rays execs came over to Paisley's house. 47 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 2: He's got a bar at. 48 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 1: His barn, which is not his main house, and apparently 49 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 1: a good time was had by all. We've also got 50 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: details on the pursuit of Otani and including the Blue 51 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: Jays giving Otani's dog a special Canada jacket and they 52 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 1: were pretty excited when he the dog walked out of 53 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 1: the meeting in Dunedin with that jacket on. And also 54 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 1: we've got plenty on the pursuit of Yoshinobu Yamamoto as well, 55 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 1: just the teams involve what their perspectives were. We quote 56 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:50,080 Speaker 1: Bryce Harper, Dave Dombrowski, David Stearns, Brian Cashman. There was 57 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 1: a lot going on with the Dodgers this offseason and Alana, 58 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 1: it hasn't ended yet, or at least it didn't end 59 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: as of yesterday because they had another big signing. 60 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, that leads me to go to the next segment here, 61 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 3: because we're talking about one point four billion dollars between Yamamoto, 62 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 3: shohe O, Tawny and Tyler glasnow extension. But by the way, 63 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 3: happy birthday to Will Smith Ken because Will Smith his 64 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 3: birthday is today, but he signed a massive extension yesterday 65 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 3: ten years, one hundred and forty million. So it seems 66 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 3: like the Dodgers continue to do this deferral system with 67 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 3: the payments, but also looks like Will Smith is going 68 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:28,359 Speaker 3: to be in LA for the remainder of his career. 69 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 3: What's your take on this. 70 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: I was intrigued by this, to say the least, because 71 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 1: no catcher has ever gotten a ten year deal. I 72 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: don't expect Will Smith will be a catcher for the 73 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 1: next ten years. And if you really want to look 74 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:44,119 Speaker 1: for ahead, when Freddie Freeman's contract is up, maybe Will 75 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 1: Smith moves the first base. 76 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 2: At that point. 77 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: But that's not the idea here. The idea is to 78 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: lock up a biddle of the order hitter, because that 79 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 1: is what Will Smith is for a long time. 80 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 2: And a lot of you nailed it. 81 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 1: Yes, this deal has deferrals, big deferrals in it, and 82 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: we had a story about that yesterday. Just why the 83 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 1: Dodgers do this and why other teams do as well. 84 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: And it's also interesting to me that they spread the 85 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 1: one hundred and forty million dollars over ten years. 86 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 2: He had two years to go before free agency. 87 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: But when you do this, when you spread it over 88 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:17,280 Speaker 1: ten years, we've seen other teams do this as well. 89 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 1: You lower the luxury tax hit. So his luxury tax 90 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:23,359 Speaker 1: HiT's going to be fourteen million dollars a year. 91 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:24,159 Speaker 2: For the next ten years. 92 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:28,160 Speaker 1: That's not particularly onerous, and that to me is why 93 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:30,039 Speaker 1: the number got spread out the way it did. 94 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 2: But still, the. 95 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:33,839 Speaker 1: Initial reaction that I had, and I expect the initial 96 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 1: reaction most fans had, was ten years for a catcher. 97 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 1: That's insane. 98 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 3: Well, Joe Mauer was the largest one Kenny back when 99 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 3: he had an eight year, one hundred and eighty four 100 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:47,279 Speaker 3: million dollar contract, and of course Buster Posey with the 101 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 3: Giants nine years, one hundred and sixty seven million. And 102 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:52,679 Speaker 3: when Will Smith came up in twenty sixteen, I remember 103 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 3: very distinctly that he reminded me a lot of Buster Posey, 104 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:58,719 Speaker 3: as you mentioned, perhaps he moves over to first base 105 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 3: like Maer and Posey did towards the end of their career. 106 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 3: But this is what I thought about. Maybe in full disclosure, 107 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 3: I'm married to a catcher. We were having a conversation 108 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:10,160 Speaker 3: about this. It's funny to me how a three to 109 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 3: four hitter, which is what Will Smith is not a 110 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 3: lot of catchers are batting in the cleanup spot or 111 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 3: in the three hole in a lineup. If you look 112 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 3: at what he's making as far as one hundred and 113 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 3: forty million over the course of ten years, it's less 114 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 3: than what normal three four hitters make because you figure 115 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 3: those guys are usually not catchers, right, they're not backstops. 116 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 3: But if you look at this, he's primarily the three 117 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 3: or four hitter in the lineup contract ten years, one 118 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 3: hundred and forty million. He as far as Ops is 119 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 3: a three hole hitter over the last four years, look 120 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 3: at who he's better than Ken Rosenthal. He's better than Bogart's, 121 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,799 Speaker 3: he's better than Machado, and he's better than Francisco Lindor. 122 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 3: As far as Ops is concerned, as a cleanup hitter 123 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 3: over the last three years, he's better than Jean Carlos Stanton, 124 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:54,160 Speaker 3: which John Carlo is not always in the lineup because 125 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 3: of injury and whatnot, Kyle Tucker, Josea Bray You, and 126 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 3: j D. Martinez. So this is a great deal for 127 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 3: the Los Angeles Dodgers, not only because of the deferment, 128 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 3: but also because you're getting a tremendous quality three or 129 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 3: four hitter at a fraction of what these guys would 130 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:11,479 Speaker 3: normally make. As far as if they were in a 131 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 3: different position. 132 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 2: Your take a lot, and that is a great point. 133 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 1: And certainly Will Smith is a player who I don't 134 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,280 Speaker 1: think is appreciated as much as he should be. 135 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:21,480 Speaker 2: He reminds me. 136 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:24,280 Speaker 1: Of Posey in so many ways, not so much as 137 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 1: the kind of hitter he is, but the kind of 138 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,359 Speaker 1: person he is. Buster Posey when he came up his 139 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 1: first few years in the league, he did not say 140 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:32,679 Speaker 1: anything particularly interesting. 141 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 2: He pried in being kind of a boring guy. 142 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 1: And early on in his career, of course, he was 143 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,600 Speaker 1: on these championship teams. He was the young player and 144 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 1: he didn't want to step out of turn. Will Smith 145 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 1: reminds me of that and the other thing about Will 146 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: Smith and a lot of you'll appreciate this. His numbers 147 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:51,760 Speaker 1: are not quite what Posy's were at a comparable stage 148 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 1: of their careers, but they're pretty close. And the reason 149 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 1: I say you'll appreciate this, I've been trying to get 150 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 1: that noted on a Fox broadcast for like five years, 151 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:00,839 Speaker 1: been able to do it. 152 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 2: Maybe this is the year. 153 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:06,040 Speaker 1: But Will Smith certainly a special player, and if fans 154 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 1: did not realize that until yesterday, they certainly realize it 155 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 1: now that he's getting one hundred and forty million dollars. 156 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 3: I mean, he goes about his business the right way, 157 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 3: keeps his head down, hits bombs, does a great job 158 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 3: behind the plate. Great defensive catcher. That's never been an issue. 159 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 3: Congratulations to Will and Kara Smith, Dodgers for a very 160 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 3: long time. Time. Now to grill Ken, get your questions 161 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 3: and what do you want Ken Rosenthal to answer as 162 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 3: far as the world is baseball is concerned. It's opening 163 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 3: Day and it's an exciting opportunity for us to just 164 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 3: kind of look ahead to the twenty and twenty four season. 165 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 3: What is your favorite Opening Day memory? I know you 166 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 3: said as a writer, you've been doing this for thirty 167 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 3: eight years, so you have a lot to choose from. 168 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 1: I do, but one stands out, and it's nineteen eighty eight, 169 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 1: my second year covering the Orioles. Now you'll know, or 170 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: you'll see today fans that if your team loses, people are. 171 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 2: Going to say it's only one, No big a deal. 172 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 1: Okay, nineteen eighty eight, Baltimore Orioles lose on opening Day 173 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: twelve nothing to the Milwaukee Brewers. Twelve nothing and not 174 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 1: just your standard twelve nothing lost. 175 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 2: This was a comedy of missteps. 176 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: There were two errors, two wild pitches, two hit batsmen, 177 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: a delayed double steal that they botched, and Paul. 178 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:23,240 Speaker 2: Maltor stole home on. It was just a mess. And 179 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 2: what did we hear after the game? 180 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 1: Only one game? Don't worry about Guess what it was 181 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 1: twenty one. They lost twenty one in a row to 182 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 1: start the season. 183 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:34,559 Speaker 2: It's the longest losing streak in Major League. 184 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: History, obviously the longest to start a season. And I 185 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: don't know a lota that it will ever be topped. 186 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 1: That team had Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken and they 187 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 1: lost twenty one games in a row, and it started 188 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 1: on opening Day at the old Memorial Stadium, and I 189 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 1: will never forget it. 190 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 3: Kenny, what do you think is harder to do? Lose 191 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 3: twenty one straight or win thirteen straight like the Tampa 192 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 3: Bay Rays did last year. 193 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 2: Losing two twenty one straight is really difficult. 194 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 1: It takes an amazingly serendipitous turn of events. 195 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,320 Speaker 2: And again I was there. 196 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: I witnessed all of them, and even the night they won, 197 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 1: they broke the streak in the old Comiskey Park. 198 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:16,560 Speaker 2: That night, Alana, you think, okay, great, it's over. 199 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 1: Billy Ripton got hit in the head with a pitch 200 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 1: had to go to the hospital. So even that night, 201 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 1: oh my god, it was a bit of a disaster. 202 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:28,200 Speaker 1: Yet when they came home, that was the night that 203 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: the governor of Maryland at that time, William Donald Shaffer, 204 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 1: the late William Donald Schaeffer, announced that Camden Yards. 205 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:35,360 Speaker 2: The deal was on. 206 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:38,760 Speaker 1: They were going to build Camden Yards, and history went 207 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 1: from there. 208 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 3: Man history again with the Baltimore Orioles, a new ownership group. 209 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 3: The face of the franchise, Cal Ripkin Junior, a part 210 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,199 Speaker 3: of that. It's a new era in Baltimore. My favorite 211 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 3: opening day and memory is five years after yours. It's 212 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 3: nineteen ninety three, April ninth of ninety three. At the time, 213 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:57,559 Speaker 3: I was living in Colorado, born and raised in Colorado, 214 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 3: and up until ninety three, Colorado didn't have Major League Baseball. 215 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 3: So what I remember very distinctly, Kenny, is April ninth, 216 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 3: ninety three. They had already played at the old Shay Stadium, 217 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 3: but this was the home opener, and they played at 218 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 3: the old Mile High Stadium, home of then the Denver Broncos, 219 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,200 Speaker 3: of course, and it was in front of eighty thousand 220 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 3: plus fans, and I was a senior in high school 221 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 3: at the time. It was a day game and my 222 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 3: high school accounting professor teacher coach Mark Baronic, who also 223 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 3: coached our boys basketball team, let us watch the first 224 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 3: few innings of the game in class. I remember he wrote, 225 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:33,720 Speaker 3: remember those TVs that you could just roll in on 226 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 3: those cards. He knew it was going to be a 227 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:38,200 Speaker 3: good day in class. Rolled in the car, we were 228 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 3: able to watch the first couple of innings of history 229 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:43,439 Speaker 3: being made in Colorado. This was before Coursefield opened in 230 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 3: ninety five. This was before lower Downtown Loto even became 231 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 3: a thing. And I will forever remember as a senior 232 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 3: in high school watching the first ever game major league 233 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:56,319 Speaker 3: game played in Denver. It was awesome. I loved being 234 00:10:56,320 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 3: able to participate in that. All right, here's a question, Kenny, 235 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 3: as we grill you with some of the fans, who 236 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 3: was the rookie that you are most excited to watch 237 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 3: in the twenty twenty four season. That's coming from NYY Recaps. 238 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:13,319 Speaker 2: I wrote about him the other day, Wyatt Langford. 239 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 1: This guy had a monster spring after a monster minor. 240 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 2: League season, being drafted number fourth overall. 241 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:22,720 Speaker 1: By the Rangers in last year's draft, and he had 242 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 1: a monster. 243 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:24,679 Speaker 2: Career at the University of Florida. 244 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:27,719 Speaker 1: What I'm trying to say is he has hit everywhere. 245 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:28,199 Speaker 2: Now. 246 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:30,840 Speaker 1: I'm also excited to see Cheerio with the Milwaukee Brewers, 247 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 1: of course, and Jackson Holliday once he gets to the majors. 248 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 1: But Langford looks like a guy who is really going 249 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: to hit. I don't know where he's batting in the 250 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:41,680 Speaker 1: lineup today, but it's probably. 251 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 2: Going to be somewhere in the middle. 252 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:47,199 Speaker 1: And that's astonishing considering he's joining the defending World Series champions. 253 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 3: I had a conversation with Bruce Bochi just a couple 254 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 3: of days ago, and he said, I'm not going to 255 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:54,200 Speaker 3: lock him in in a certain spot. He could be 256 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 3: hit in fifth, he could be hitting cleanup, he could 257 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,320 Speaker 3: just be you know, the DH and depending all over 258 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:00,960 Speaker 3: the place. But this is a kid that is very 259 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:04,320 Speaker 3: highly regarded, obviously, and he joins some young talent there 260 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 3: with him behind the plate, and Evan Carter and so on, 261 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:09,760 Speaker 3: and Josh Young they're at third base as well. All right, 262 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 3: Victor Scott the second We're going to see a lot 263 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 3: more of him because of the obviously the injury to 264 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 3: Didlan Carlson of the Saint Louis Cardinals. What impresses you 265 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 3: the most about him? This is coming to you from Bubbs. 266 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:22,400 Speaker 2: Well. 267 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 1: I haven't seen him much at all, but clearly this 268 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 1: guy has speed, and he's an exciting player, and he's 269 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:33,319 Speaker 1: someone that Cardinals fans probably were looking forward to seeing 270 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:33,679 Speaker 1: at some. 271 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 2: Point this year. 272 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 1: But with the injuries to Carlson and Edmund's a little rushed. 273 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 1: I'm a little worried about the Cardinals honestly coming out 274 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 1: of the gate here because they have these injuries, they 275 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 1: have a little bit of a difficult schedule early, the 276 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:49,439 Speaker 1: Dodgers right away. But this kid is exciting and he's 277 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 1: someone that kind of has gotten into everyone's consciousness this spring. 278 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:54,960 Speaker 2: So yeah, let's bring it on. 279 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:59,080 Speaker 3: You know, I originally had the Cincinnati Reds perhaps winning 280 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 3: that division in the annuals Central, which I think both 281 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:03,840 Speaker 3: both Central divisions and either league could go either way. 282 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 3: But then with the injury to Matt McClain, I kind 283 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 3: of said, well, maybe the Cardinals. But you bring up 284 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:10,440 Speaker 3: such a good point, though, with the injuries that they 285 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 3: have in their outfield and are not necessarily convinced on 286 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 3: the Cardinals starting rotation. All right, as we continue here. 287 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 3: As we continue here, Grill and Ken, what about the Twins. Now, 288 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:24,080 Speaker 3: this is a team, of course that until anybody else 289 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 3: in the division knocks them off, I guess they're the 290 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:29,439 Speaker 3: team to beat in the al Central. This is a 291 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 3: question for you. I just read a prediction that Twins 292 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 3: will win their division. What does this do to Kenny? 293 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:37,079 Speaker 2: It's due to the. 294 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 1: Fact that the other teams perhaps are so weak. The 295 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:42,200 Speaker 1: Twins are a little bit weaker too. Remember they've lost 296 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:45,079 Speaker 1: Sonny Gray, They've lost Kent to my Ata. Chris Paddock 297 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 1: is joining the rotation and they're really excited about him. 298 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 1: Full year of Pablo Lopez of course, and some other 299 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:52,960 Speaker 1: people that they're excited about as well. 300 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 2: They are a. 301 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:58,079 Speaker 1: Team much like Seattle that had to react to the 302 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 1: uncertainty with their arm payroll cuts. They had to do 303 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 1: some things. They had to trade Polanco, which they were 304 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:07,200 Speaker 1: probably going to do anyway, because they had Edward Julian 305 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 1: coming and ready to go. I like their young talent. 306 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:12,360 Speaker 2: Everybody likes their young talent. 307 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:14,840 Speaker 1: And Royce Lewis We're going to see him, of course, 308 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 1: this year as well. 309 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 2: So they are still the best team. Are they a 310 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 2: great team? 311 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 1: No, but I expect that they'll be okay and they'll 312 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 1: figure it out as they go along. And credit to 313 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 1: them the front office in Seattle's front office for kind 314 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 1: of putting things together after it looked like all they 315 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 1: were going to be able to do was cut. 316 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 3: Is it fair to say, Kenny, that there's not really 317 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 3: a great team in this Central. I had a conversation 318 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 3: today actually with Vinnie Pasquentino of the Kansas City Royals 319 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 3: that he said it FanFest recently that he's sick of 320 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 3: looking at the Twins, He's sick of looking up at 321 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 3: the Guardians, and they want to bring championship baseball back 322 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 3: to Kansas City. And give credit to JJ Piccolo who 323 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 3: had a big off season. Is there a standout team 324 00:14:57,680 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 3: in your mind in the Central? 325 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 1: In my mind. But it's a good point you're making there, 326 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 1: because between Kansas City and Detroit, I expect one of 327 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 1: those teams is going to be better than we think, 328 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 1: in part because of the weakness of the division, and 329 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 1: in Kansas City's case, they've had a Lugo and Waka 330 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 1: and a number of others and they look like with 331 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 1: Cole Reagan's maybe being a top of the rotation guy, 332 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: a team that could jump a little bit. Believe it 333 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: when you see it. Same thing with Detroit. Their younger 334 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 1: players are. 335 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:28,320 Speaker 2: Starting to come on. 336 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: Tarik Schoobel looks like he's going to be a monster 337 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 1: as an ace this year. And I'm excited to see 338 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 1: Riley Green and Torklsen and just what they do this 339 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 1: year taking a step forward. Perhaps, so these teams are coming, 340 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 1: They're better Cleveland. I cannot figure out they have had 341 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 1: an offseason, not to remember put it that way in 342 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:55,200 Speaker 1: Chicago's rebuilding. But yes, between the Tigers and the Royals, 343 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 1: I am pretty sure one of them is going to 344 00:15:57,960 --> 00:15:59,360 Speaker 1: be better than we think, maybe both. 345 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 3: The Tigers just need to play consistently good baseball all 346 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 3: season long. Last year they got hot the last four 347 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 3: to six weeks of the season, but it proved not 348 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:09,560 Speaker 3: to be enough. All Right, We're going to go from 349 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:12,600 Speaker 3: the end or the Ale Central rather to the Al East. 350 00:16:12,640 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 3: A question coming for you on Grill and Kid about 351 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 3: Bo Bashett long care made easy? Well, the J's trade 352 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:21,359 Speaker 3: Bo Bashett, Like the rumors are saying. 353 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 1: Well, I don't know what rumors you're paying attention to there, 354 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 1: but this is not something that you can easily dismiss. 355 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:31,600 Speaker 2: If the Jays disappoint. 356 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 1: This season, they're going to have to address their future. 357 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 1: And they have not signed Bashett long term, they have 358 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 1: not signed Junior long term, and it doesn't appear that 359 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 1: that's going to happen anytime soon. I'm sure they've made 360 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 1: attempts and I'm sure they've been rebuffed, and in Vladimir's case, 361 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 1: he's coming off kind of a down year and they 362 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 1: probably want to see more. 363 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 2: But if they do not play as well. 364 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 1: As they should based on where they are on paper, 365 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 1: I can see it the deadline. At least them listen 366 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 1: because at some point they're going to have to address this, 367 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:05,639 Speaker 1: whether they sign these guys or trade them. Maybe the 368 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:08,200 Speaker 1: deadline's too soon because they have two years of control 369 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: left with each but it is not out of the question. 370 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:12,920 Speaker 2: The rumor that you're talking. 371 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:15,120 Speaker 3: About, and you know what, you bring up a great 372 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:17,560 Speaker 3: point because they only have two years left with these 373 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:19,639 Speaker 3: guys before they hit the free agent market. I mean, 374 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:22,399 Speaker 3: the window was closing on the opportunity of time that 375 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:26,120 Speaker 3: Vladimir Caerrero Junior and Bobashett will play together. I do 376 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 3: think that they have the pitching. I'm a little concerned though, 377 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:33,440 Speaker 3: that the lineup maybe not need is not necessarily where 378 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 3: it needs to be. Is it fair to say that? 379 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 1: I believe it is fair to say that Alana, they 380 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 1: lost Chapman. They replaced him with Isaiah kine Falleffa. 381 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:42,120 Speaker 2: Who is a really good player. 382 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: But in a perfect world, when both of those guys 383 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:48,720 Speaker 1: are performing at their top levels, he's not Matt Chapman. 384 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:52,080 Speaker 1: They did add Justin Turner, and I'm really interested, and 385 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:55,399 Speaker 1: I'm sure you are too, to see the impact Justin 386 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:58,720 Speaker 1: Turner can have on that team. In my opinion, that 387 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:01,880 Speaker 1: team has needed in a now. They've got some veterans 388 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:05,359 Speaker 1: on the rotation and even in the bullpen, but someone 389 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 1: on the position side to kind of say, hey, let's 390 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:10,440 Speaker 1: go be a leader. Brandon bel gave them a little 391 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:12,960 Speaker 1: bit of that, but Justin Turner is the epitome of that, 392 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 1: and his impact might be more intangible than tangible in 393 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 1: certain respects, but it's going to be really interesting to 394 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: me to see just what effect. 395 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:23,119 Speaker 2: He has on that club. 396 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:25,879 Speaker 3: I couldn't agree with you more. He's one of my 397 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:27,679 Speaker 3: favorite players. This is a guy that will go zero 398 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 3: for five or five for five, and he posts he 399 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:32,600 Speaker 3: answers every question. Dave Roberts called him the glue that 400 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 3: kept the Dodgers team together when he was there. He 401 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:39,080 Speaker 3: is invaluable what he brings to a team. So I 402 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 3: couldn't agree with you more. All Right, last question, then 403 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:44,280 Speaker 3: we're going to be moving on here. Your favorite stadium. 404 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 3: This is from Craig Osterberg. What is your favorite stadium? 405 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:49,399 Speaker 1: Ken, Craig, thanks for the question and a lot I 406 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 1: want to hear your answer on this one too. I 407 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:58,240 Speaker 1: will say this answer in like three different ways. Camden 408 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:01,320 Speaker 1: Yards is my favorite stadium because it's kind of where 409 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:04,000 Speaker 1: I spent so many years when I was working for 410 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:06,359 Speaker 1: the Baltimore so and even after that when I became 411 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 1: a national writer, was still in Baltimore. So Camdn Yards 412 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 1: has a special. 413 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 2: Place for me. 414 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:15,719 Speaker 1: As far as sheer beauty, I would put San Francisco 415 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 1: and Pittsburgh right up there with. 416 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 2: Any that all said. 417 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 1: When I have this conversation when people ask me this, 418 00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 1: I always mentioned Wrigley and Fenway because it's almost a 419 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:29,399 Speaker 1: separate category for those two parks. There's so much history 420 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 1: there it's just so joyous to be there, understanding what 421 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,920 Speaker 1: has come before you in that stadium, and of course 422 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 1: what might come in the future. So I know that's 423 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:42,760 Speaker 1: a convoluted answer. It's not one stadium, but I kind of. 424 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:43,520 Speaker 2: Like a lot of them. 425 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:46,480 Speaker 3: I think everyone expects me to say Daughter Stadium because 426 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 3: that's where I spent the most of my time, and 427 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:50,480 Speaker 3: it is a beautiful stadium, you know, of course, in 428 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 3: Chavez Ravine, But for me, it's P and C Park 429 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 3: in Pittsburgh. I love parks that are surrounded by water 430 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 3: and the way that the bridges flank the stadium. You know, 431 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:01,720 Speaker 3: obviously the Robertal clim Bridge just right there on the water. 432 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:04,680 Speaker 3: The second answer to that question for me is whatever 433 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 3: stadium is in walking distance to good food around the 434 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 3: ballpark that has food that's opened late when we get 435 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:13,199 Speaker 3: off of work after the games. Anybody that has a 436 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:15,840 Speaker 3: stadium that like. That's why Dodger Stadium drives me crazy, 437 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 3: because there's nowhere to eat around the stadium and it's 438 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 3: so difficult to get out of. But P and C 439 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:24,200 Speaker 3: Park is absolutely beautiful. All Right, we're moving on here. 440 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:25,919 Speaker 3: Thank you guys for all of your questions. As we 441 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 3: grilled Ken here on fair territory with Ken Rosenthal, and 442 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 3: I want to get to the latest signing, and that 443 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 3: is Jordan Montgomery, a guy that I think could have 444 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:36,199 Speaker 3: helped a lot of different teams. He ends up signing 445 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:39,479 Speaker 3: for a one year, twenty five million dollar deal with 446 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 3: a Diamondbacks team. Ken that just got a lot better. 447 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:44,399 Speaker 2: They did just get a lot better. 448 00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:47,919 Speaker 1: And it's been a most interesting off season, particularly for 449 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:50,639 Speaker 1: Scott Bors' clients. Right, there's no getting around it. I 450 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 1: wrote about this last week. I'm not going to bang 451 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:54,960 Speaker 1: this drum until we're blue of the face here, But 452 00:20:56,119 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 1: in my opinion, these are not the deals from Montgomery 453 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 1: for Snell, for happened for Bellinger that anyone really expected, 454 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:07,359 Speaker 1: including Scott Morris. Now, his explanation is that each of 455 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:12,160 Speaker 1: these players had long term options, but they chose the optionality, 456 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:15,120 Speaker 1: as he calls it, of having one year opt outs 457 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 1: or two year opt outs. 458 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 2: In some cases. 459 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 1: That's fine, But how we measure these deals often is 460 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:23,680 Speaker 1: in guaranteed money. And I want to show you something 461 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 1: here that's going to be a little bit surprising to 462 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:29,440 Speaker 1: fans when they see where Jordan Montgomery's guarantee ranks compared 463 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:33,000 Speaker 1: to some other pitchers that were signed this offseason and 464 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:36,359 Speaker 1: lesser pitchers. Let's look at what we have here, Seth 465 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:40,160 Speaker 1: Lugo forty five million, Jordan Hicks forty four, Lucas Giolito 466 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:43,560 Speaker 1: thirty eight point five, Marcus Stroman thirty seven. And that's 467 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:46,040 Speaker 1: not all. And I'm eliminating the top guys. These are 468 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:48,919 Speaker 1: more mid tier guys. And then you have Robert Stevenson, 469 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:51,879 Speaker 1: a reliever with not much of a track record, thirty 470 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:56,320 Speaker 1: three million, Michael Waka thirty two, Ranaldo Lopez reliever converting 471 00:21:56,359 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 1: to starting thirty Manaia twenty eight, Martinez twenty six. That 472 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:04,040 Speaker 1: is stunning to think about that all of those pitchers 473 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:09,680 Speaker 1: got more money than Jordan Montgomery guaranteed in twenty twenty four. Now, 474 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 1: if Jordan Montgomery opts out and the market is better, 475 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:15,359 Speaker 1: let next year and he has another good year, Okay, 476 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:17,280 Speaker 1: maybe he does great, and maybe he makes up for 477 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:20,560 Speaker 1: all of this, and maybe Bellinger, Chapman and Snell do 478 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 1: as well. 479 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:22,400 Speaker 2: Here's the problem. 480 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:26,879 Speaker 1: Next year, Bellinger is twenty nine. He's going into his 481 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:30,720 Speaker 1: age twenty nine season. Chapman, Snell, and Montgomery will be 482 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:34,160 Speaker 1: going into their age thirty two seasons and to get 483 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 1: the money that they're seeking, they're going to have to 484 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 1: do this all over again. So Blake Snell is going 485 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 1: to have another side young year. Well, good for him 486 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 1: if he does. Jordan Montgomery is going to be a 487 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:46,240 Speaker 1: playoff hero again. Again, good for him if Jordan Montgomery 488 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:49,640 Speaker 1: can pull that off. But this is a difficult circumstance 489 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:52,600 Speaker 1: that these guys are being thrown into. And while Scott 490 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:55,240 Speaker 1: Boris believes, I'm sure that the market will be better 491 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:58,199 Speaker 1: next year, that there were some unusual things that occurred 492 00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:01,440 Speaker 1: this offseason, there's no guarantee of that. And the other 493 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 1: part of this is look at his client list, Scott 494 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 1: Boris's client list for next year. It is amazing and 495 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:11,800 Speaker 1: it's crowded. It's Soto, Alonso, Bregman and Burns. And then 496 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 1: guess what these guys are potential free agents again, Snell, Bellinger. 497 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:16,520 Speaker 2: Chapman and Montgomery. 498 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:20,639 Speaker 1: So in the past, at times Scott Borris has come 499 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:24,480 Speaker 1: out of these circumstances really well. Adrian Beltre Pillow contract, 500 00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:27,680 Speaker 1: Carlos Correa got the two hundred million after opting out 501 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 1: from one year. 502 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:32,200 Speaker 2: But to me, it's a dangerous game to play and 503 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:33,200 Speaker 2: it is. 504 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:37,159 Speaker 1: Not again, ideally, what Boris should have wanted or what 505 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:40,600 Speaker 1: those players should have wanted. You wait six years to 506 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:42,760 Speaker 1: be a free agent. It's a special time. And when 507 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:45,520 Speaker 1: you've accomplished special things in that time and you don't 508 00:23:45,560 --> 00:23:49,760 Speaker 1: get maybe the big payoff that you're expecting, I'm sorry, 509 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 1: that's just not ideal, Kenny. 510 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:54,520 Speaker 3: Of those pictures that you had mentioned that got higher 511 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:57,480 Speaker 3: guaranteed money than Jordan Montgomery, how many of those were 512 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 3: just on a solo year any Not many? 513 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:03,440 Speaker 1: And again I'm talking about guaranteed money. And I'm glad 514 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 1: you bring this up, Allana, because obviously the AAVs are 515 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:08,359 Speaker 1: not going to be in a twenty five million dollar range. 516 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:12,359 Speaker 1: But when we assess these deals, and they're all different, 517 00:24:12,359 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 1: and I understand that certain deals you prefer shorter and 518 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:17,719 Speaker 1: the higher AAV I get it. 519 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:21,399 Speaker 2: But when agents generally. 520 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:26,000 Speaker 1: Talk about free agent contracts, generally they talk about guarantees, 521 00:24:26,119 --> 00:24:29,840 Speaker 1: and that includes Scott Boris. He wants high guarantees. He's 522 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 1: really good at getting high guarantees. We can go right 523 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:36,040 Speaker 1: down the list. In these four cases, it didn't happen 524 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:37,480 Speaker 1: all right. Time. 525 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:40,640 Speaker 3: Now for Dude and Dork's of the Week, Let's start 526 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:42,280 Speaker 3: with your Dude of the Week first. 527 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:44,240 Speaker 2: Ken, this one's going. 528 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:47,040 Speaker 1: To be a little bit of a surprise because we've 529 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:50,680 Speaker 1: had our differences in the past, but Diamondback's owner Ken 530 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:54,520 Speaker 1: Kendricks has Ken Kendrick, excuse me, has really stepped up 531 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:56,160 Speaker 1: this offseason in a big way. 532 00:24:56,920 --> 00:24:57,160 Speaker 2: Now. 533 00:24:57,200 --> 00:24:59,679 Speaker 1: It's not just the signing of Montgomery, of course, Edwater 534 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 1: right Riguez, Lord of Scuriel, the trade for Aohana Suarez, 535 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 1: the signing of Jack Peterson, Randall Gritchick to a lesser extent. 536 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:10,159 Speaker 1: In addition to all of those names, the Diamondbacks are 537 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:12,840 Speaker 1: going to carry as of right now and estimated one 538 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:15,479 Speaker 1: hundred and sixty seven million dollar payroll. That is the 539 00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:19,600 Speaker 1: highest enfranchise history and the reason Kendrick is the Dude 540 00:25:19,640 --> 00:25:23,359 Speaker 1: of the week because what he did stands in stark 541 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:26,920 Speaker 1: contrast to the way the Rangers handle their offseason. Both 542 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 1: teams made the World Series, and usually coming off a 543 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 1: World Series year, it boosts attendance, it boosts revenues in general. 544 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:36,919 Speaker 1: The Rangers got spooked out by their RSN situation and 545 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:39,520 Speaker 1: decided not to go big in free agency. 546 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:40,560 Speaker 2: They already had. 547 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:43,440 Speaker 1: Previous two off seasons. They can't criticize them too much. 548 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:45,840 Speaker 1: But they're hosting the All Star Game too. They're gonna 549 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:48,600 Speaker 1: make a lot of money this year. So Ken Kendrick, 550 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:52,200 Speaker 1: they have an uncertain future in some ways as well 551 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:55,359 Speaker 1: the Diamondbacks do, and yet he decided to invest in 552 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 1: his team for that. Alana, he is my dude of 553 00:25:58,080 --> 00:25:58,440 Speaker 1: the week. 554 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:01,959 Speaker 3: I love that to fix up the stadium situation, though 555 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:04,479 Speaker 3: it was ringing inside Jasefield the other day. All Right, 556 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:07,439 Speaker 3: my dude of the week is Elie dela Cruz of 557 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:11,199 Speaker 3: the Cincinnati Reds. He did a press conference entirely in English. 558 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:14,640 Speaker 3: Obviously he's a native Spanish speaker. I know how difficult 559 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:17,320 Speaker 3: it is Ken, having to do these interviews in English 560 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:20,120 Speaker 3: and in Spanish and trying to translate. I give him 561 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,359 Speaker 3: so much credit. He said it was important that the 562 00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 3: fans could understand him, and it was important for him 563 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:27,880 Speaker 3: to be able to understand the fans. So I give 564 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:30,880 Speaker 3: him a tremendous amount of credit for putting himself out there, 565 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:34,959 Speaker 3: maybe being a little bit vulnerable, but doing that in English. 566 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 3: Good for him. How about your dork of the week. 567 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:39,959 Speaker 2: Well, my dork of the week is a little bit 568 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:40,560 Speaker 2: off the board. 569 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:43,840 Speaker 1: Now you might have followed along last week what was 570 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:44,520 Speaker 1: going on with the. 571 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:46,920 Speaker 2: Major League Baseball Players Association. 572 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:50,639 Speaker 1: The attempted coup and ousting of the number two, the 573 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 1: lead negotiator, Bruce Meyer. The dork of the week is 574 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:56,120 Speaker 1: going to be a guy who organized the minor leaguers 575 00:26:56,160 --> 00:26:59,000 Speaker 1: and deserves a lot of credit for bringing their union 576 00:26:59,080 --> 00:27:00,640 Speaker 1: into existence into. 577 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 2: The Major League Baseball Players Association. 578 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:08,000 Speaker 1: But Harry Marino, the guy who kind of orchestrated the rebellion, 579 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:11,040 Speaker 1: if you want to call it that, it didn't work. 580 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:13,760 Speaker 1: It didn't seem to be handled very well. And if 581 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:17,240 Speaker 1: you go back to the wire to Omar the famous 582 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:20,840 Speaker 1: show on HBO, he had a great line he said, 583 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:23,960 Speaker 1: if you come for the King, you best not miss. 584 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:26,520 Speaker 2: Harry Marino came for the King, or at least the 585 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 2: number two. He missed. Harry. 586 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:31,280 Speaker 1: He's done a lot of great things for minor leaguers, 587 00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 1: But for that dork of. 588 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:35,880 Speaker 3: The week, I love that if you come at the King, 589 00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:39,280 Speaker 3: you best not miss it. Seems like that is exactly 590 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:42,320 Speaker 3: what Harry Marino did as far as that failed union coupe. 591 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:45,440 Speaker 3: All right, my dork of the week, it's not one 592 00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:50,120 Speaker 3: specific person, Ken Rosenthal, it's anybody any boss or any 593 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:53,960 Speaker 3: teacher or principal or parents that does not allow their 594 00:27:54,080 --> 00:27:58,200 Speaker 3: child or coworker to have the day off to watch 595 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:01,679 Speaker 3: opening day of their favorite team. Let your kids play hooky. 596 00:28:02,119 --> 00:28:04,639 Speaker 3: Let your employees go home and watch the game. It 597 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:07,800 Speaker 3: is opening Day twenty twenty four. Don't be a dork 598 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:10,760 Speaker 3: of the week. Let people enjoy it. It's a national holiday. 599 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:11,840 Speaker 3: Don't be a jerk. 600 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:14,920 Speaker 1: I love it a lot of except we're going to 601 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:17,399 Speaker 1: probably hear from some people about a lot of Rizzo 602 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:19,679 Speaker 1: being anti education, anti work. 603 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:26,200 Speaker 3: Listen, I'm not talking about the great resignation. I'm talking 604 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:28,880 Speaker 3: about have a day. People, Just have a day. Pull 605 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:31,600 Speaker 3: up a chair, go to the ballpark. It's opening Day 606 00:28:31,640 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 3: twenty twenty four. Ken Rosenthal, this is your fair territory. 607 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:37,600 Speaker 3: We always appreciate you taking the time to be with us. 608 00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:39,600 Speaker 3: I'm so happy to be with you this season. Thanks 609 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:41,480 Speaker 3: for having me on your show. And you know what 610 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:44,640 Speaker 3: we want you guys at home, obviously, to participate and 611 00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:48,600 Speaker 3: get involved in fair territory. Here on foul Territory bet MGM. 612 00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:51,000 Speaker 3: We're talking about betting all the time. They're one of 613 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:54,400 Speaker 3: our sponsors. We appreciate it. Download the bet MGM Sportsbook 614 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 3: app on iOS or Android, or you can visit betmgm 615 00:28:57,320 --> 00:28:59,560 Speaker 3: dot com. Sign up and deposit at least ten dollars 616 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 3: into your bet MGM Sportsbook account, place your first wager 617 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:07,040 Speaker 3: and receive up to fifteen hundred backend bonus bets if 618 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:09,880 Speaker 3: the bet loses. If the bet does lose, your bonus 619 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:13,440 Speaker 3: bets will be available once your initial wager is settled, 620 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:16,320 Speaker 3: and if you have a gambling problem or concerned, don't 621 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:20,440 Speaker 3: hesitate to call one eight hundred gambler. Thanks everybody for 622 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:22,960 Speaker 3: watching and listening, not only to myself here, but of 623 00:29:22,960 --> 00:29:26,240 Speaker 3: course Ken Rosenthal, the Great Ken Rosenthal subpribe on YouTube, 624 00:29:26,280 --> 00:29:30,640 Speaker 3: Petty I'm getting It, YouTube, Apple, Spotify, wherever you get 625 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:34,760 Speaker 3: your podcasts, and don't forget. Foul Territory is next, followed 626 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:38,760 Speaker 3: by Dodgers Territory at three pm Eastern twelve pm Pacific. 627 00:29:39,120 --> 00:29:42,440 Speaker 3: Ten is back with their territory on Monday. I expect 628 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:46,040 Speaker 3: a full show after opening weekend. Have a good day, Ken, 629 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:47,720 Speaker 3: you too, A lot to thank you.