1 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:04,880 Speaker 1: From the Berkshars to the sound from wherever you live 2 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 1: in MLB America. This is inside the Parker. You give 3 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 1: us twenty two minutes and we'll give you the scoop 4 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: on major League Baseball. Now here's Baseball Hall of Fame 5 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: voter number seventy six, Rob Parker, Welcome into the podcast. 6 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: We have a great show for you today. Rod Allen, 7 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: the former Major league outfielder and current Miami Marlins analyst 8 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: drops five. Also Jeff networks Jack Curry. He has a 9 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 1: new book out with Paul O'Neill. Will talk about that 10 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 1: and the freaking Yankees. That plus foul affair. Let's go 11 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: up to lead off. It's getting robbed and keep him on. 12 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 1: Rob's hot take on the three biggest stories in Major 13 00:00:55,680 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: League Baseball. Number one, the Josh Donaldson Tim Anderson fiasco 14 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 1: was ridiculous. It just was. I just didn't understand why 15 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: Josh would use Jackie Robinson as a ploy to rib 16 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: or ridicule or or get a rise out of Tim Anderson. 17 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: It just it just didn't play. And uh, I think 18 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: you gotta be honest with I was on MLB Network 19 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:31,120 Speaker 1: this week and we talked about it, and uh, I 20 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 1: just I don't see anybody taking his side or thinking 21 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:37,479 Speaker 1: that this was a good thing. It was a bad thing. 22 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:42,680 Speaker 1: Take your medicine, take your punishment, and let's just move on. 23 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 1: And and the one thing that Joel Sherman from the 24 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: New York Coast on MLB with me said, and I 25 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: think it was right. He just said, Josh is a 26 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:54,559 Speaker 1: really good player, but he's been on seven or eight teams, 27 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: and there's a reason he keeps moving around. Uh. And 28 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 1: I think this is another case or situation where you know, 29 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: you want to talk yourself off the Yankees and not 30 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: have them, you know, once you're around this this times 31 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: and situations, uh, to push back to other teams and 32 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 1: other players. But but not this one. Number two. Don't 33 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: look now. But Manny Machado is one of the best 34 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: players in baseball. Yes he is. Coming into Wednesday, the 35 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 1: Padres All Star was leading the National League with a 36 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 1: three sixty five batting average, arm base percentage for forty, 37 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:39,079 Speaker 1: slugging percentage six oh four. And he leaves the entire 38 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: major leagues in war at three point five. Yes, I 39 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: know it's a quarter of the season, but what a year. 40 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:52,359 Speaker 1: And it's translating into wins. The Padres have the second 41 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 1: best record in the National League and they're missing their 42 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 1: star player in Fernando Tattoos Jr. Just wait till leak. 43 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 1: It's fact. The pitching is good, they're getting timely hitting, 44 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: but Shottles being the star that we know that he 45 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 1: can be. Uh. What a great start for the Padres 46 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 1: with them only gonna be getting better as time goes on. 47 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 1: I picked the Padres and the Yankees before the season 48 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 1: started started, and I'm feeling good about my pick for 49 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: the World Series. It'll be a replay of the World 50 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:30,639 Speaker 1: Series between the Yankees and the Padres. Number three. Speaking 51 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 1: of the Yankees, I know, coming into Wednesday, the Yankees 52 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 1: had a major league best thirty and thirteen records, and 53 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 1: that includes a three game slump prior to Tuesday Nights win. 54 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: But you know, people talk about the Bronx Bombers, the 55 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: home runs, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, all that and the hitting, 56 00:03:56,200 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 1: but it's really the bullpen. The bull pen has been spectacular. 57 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: You're ready for these numbers. Yankees relievers coming into Wednesday 58 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: currently led the majors in e r A park adjusted 59 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 1: e r A home runs allowed per nine innings. I mean, 60 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:20,839 Speaker 1: that's what you want out of a bullpen, and the 61 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 1: Yankees have been able to benefit from that jump out 62 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,720 Speaker 1: to a a big lead in the Al East and 63 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 1: also have the best record in the game as we 64 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:37,160 Speaker 1: enter mid May. Amazing. Give the bullpen, as Charlie Hayes, 65 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 1: a former Yankee third baseman, used to say, give them credit. 66 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: Here comes the big interview. Listen, headler, it's so good. Now. 67 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:53,119 Speaker 1: Let's welcome in a friend of mine, Jack Curry from 68 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:56,840 Speaker 1: Yes Network, and Jack, welcome to the podcast. My man, 69 00:04:56,880 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 1: how are you Rob? I'm doing great and my afternoon 70 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 1: just got better because I get the chance to talk 71 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: some sports with you, and that's always a lot of fun, 72 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:08,479 Speaker 1: you know it. Jack, we go back long, long ago 73 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:10,920 Speaker 1: with Jackie is a reporter for the New York Times 74 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: and I worked for the Daily News in New York. 75 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:16,159 Speaker 1: I've known Jack for a million years. And the Yankees 76 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 1: are off, Jack is to a great start, the best 77 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 1: record in baseball. Uh. You know, to see Judge and 78 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 1: Stanton swinging the bats, and you talked about the bullpen 79 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: and the starting pitching has been great. You know, they 80 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:30,359 Speaker 1: just had a little hiccup with three losses in a 81 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:34,359 Speaker 1: row for the first time. But you know, the Yankees 82 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: are off to a start that maybe people thought wasn't possible. Um, 83 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:43,600 Speaker 1: but it is, and it's it's real, and you have 84 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,160 Speaker 1: to give the front office some credit. Now, first of all, 85 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: you mentioned the pitching. The starting rotation I think has 86 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: overachieved in the sense that not everyone expected them to get. 87 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 1: For instance, what they've got out of Nestra Cortez Jr. 88 00:05:56,880 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 1: I mentioned the bullpen has been great. But the front office, 89 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 1: Rob went into a plan with this offseason where they 90 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:05,719 Speaker 1: wanted to improve the defense. That has happened. They wanted 91 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 1: more contact hitters. That has happened. Yes, Judge and stand 92 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:11,720 Speaker 1: are gonna hit their home runs. Rizzo has also hit 93 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:14,040 Speaker 1: a bunch of home runs. But we've seen a more 94 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 1: versatile Yankee team, Rob, We've seen a team that has 95 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: won games in different fashion, running a little bit more, 96 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 1: just a more diverse lineup, which, of course Rizzo adds 97 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 1: too as well, because of uh, the swinging from the 98 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: left side. Of course, we're not gonna be uh, we'd 99 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 1: be remissed. The big story of course in Paulding, the Yankees, 100 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: Josh Donaldson and the Tim Anderson situation Josh got uh 101 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: one game suspension, which he is appealing. But Jack, I 102 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: think from your perspective, the thing that jumped out to 103 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:49,919 Speaker 1: me was manager Aaron Boone distanced himself from that. And 104 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:53,280 Speaker 1: then we heard, uh, you know, Aaron Judge speak up 105 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:55,240 Speaker 1: and say he didn't think it was right. This is 106 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:59,279 Speaker 1: his teammate and was more in the defense of Tim Anderson. 107 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:01,839 Speaker 1: What do you make of that? I just discussed the 108 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:04,839 Speaker 1: same topic with another buddy of yours, Michael Kay, who 109 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 1: was of course to play by play guy on Yes 110 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: and he has his own radio show in New York, 111 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: and we talked about exactly what you just said, Rob. 112 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: That situation happens. No one wants to see that happen. 113 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 1: And then you have the manager of the Yankees, Aaron Boone, 114 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 1: and the face of the franchise, Aaron Judge, both say 115 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 1: they didn't think Donaldson should have done that. Boone said 116 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: he didn't think there was malicious intent. Maybe it was insensitive, 117 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: but he shouldn't have said that. And I think the 118 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 1: message gets through at that point. And now as a 119 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 1: baseball team, you have to figure out, is this something 120 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: that's going to weigh you down from this point on 121 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: or baseball player is going to move forward. Rob, you 122 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: and I have covered a lot of clubhouses. I think 123 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 1: that a team if a player is sincere and apologizing. 124 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 1: And Judge did bring up Donaldson's apology. I think you 125 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: figure out a way to move forward. I agree with that, 126 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: And that's really what it comes down to. You just 127 00:07:57,040 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: have to admit that you made a mistake, you didn't 128 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 1: mean it, and you can move forward. Like if you're 129 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 1: gonna push back and not accept responsibility, Jack, I think 130 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: that's when it becomes an issue. So I agree with you. 131 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: All right. I'll guess is Jack Curry from the Yes 132 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 1: Network and he has a new book out with Paul 133 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 1: O'Neill called Swing and a Hit. I want to hear 134 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 1: all about it. Tell us what we what we can 135 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: expect Jack in this book. Well, Rob, you personally are 136 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:26,200 Speaker 1: gonna like the first two chapters because those deal with 137 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: Paul's years in Cincinnati, and I know you covered him 138 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 1: in Cincinnati. Rob. The reason I wanted to write this 139 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:34,200 Speaker 1: book is because I've known Paul for thirty years once 140 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:36,320 Speaker 1: he got traded to the Yankees in ninety three. Just 141 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 1: shy of thirty years, and I feel as if we've 142 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:41,959 Speaker 1: had this extended hitting conversation, and I always thought, if 143 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 1: I could never bottle all of these conversations up, I 144 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 1: might have a book. So I finally approached Paul with it. 145 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 1: We both worked together it, yes, and I think the 146 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:52,960 Speaker 1: thing that hooked him, and I want to speak for him, 147 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:54,679 Speaker 1: but I think the thing that made it appealing to 148 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:57,199 Speaker 1: him rob and you know Paul, well, he was willing 149 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,320 Speaker 1: to talk about his own hitting theories and his own 150 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 1: hitting fall bosophies, but we also made sure that we 151 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:05,440 Speaker 1: talked about the people who impacted him along the way. 152 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 1: So there's Mattingly in there, There's Pete Rose in there. 153 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 1: There's talk about how he and Panella didn't have the 154 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 1: same hitting philosophies and how they clashed. There's a chapter 155 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: about Ted Williams because Ted Williams once called him and 156 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 1: they had an interview about hitting, So a discussion about hitting. 157 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 1: So it's a ton of Paul O'Neil content, but we 158 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 1: thread you through his career to tell you about all 159 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:30,559 Speaker 1: the people who have impacted him as well. Yeah, that 160 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:32,640 Speaker 1: sounds good. I was there when Lou and him didn't 161 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:36,199 Speaker 1: get along. They just didn't. And uh, the one thing 162 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:40,079 Speaker 1: I always respected about Paul was when he got traded 163 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 1: Jack and I might have shared the story with you, 164 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 1: but he called me up and he said hey, because 165 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 1: I had come from New York to Cincinnati, and he said, 166 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 1: you worked in New York. How should I handle the media? 167 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:56,440 Speaker 1: And I said to Paul, I said, Paul, don't run away, 168 00:09:56,720 --> 00:10:00,560 Speaker 1: be at the locker when loser draw. Don't let the 169 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 1: media talk for you, you know. And he became a 170 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:06,319 Speaker 1: stand up guy, a big, big time guy in the clubhouse. 171 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 1: And look where he is now in the four championships 172 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 1: in New York and right and and how many do 173 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 1: you want? Three or four? I'm sorry for New York, 174 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 1: New York, yep and and he's a he's a hero 175 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 1: in New York. I think that advice that you gave him, Rob, 176 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: not only would that advice be great advice for Paul O'Neil, 177 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 1: that advice would be great for anyone who has the 178 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:31,840 Speaker 1: opportunity to play in New York. You do yourself no 179 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: favors when you try and dodge the media, when you 180 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 1: don't stand there and answer questions. David Cohen, who I 181 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 1: also wrote a book with a few years ago, talked 182 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 1: about that all the time. Get it off your chest. 183 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 1: You had a bad game. He went over for five 184 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 1: with an error talk after the game, and I definitely 185 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,679 Speaker 1: think that that Paul understood that as well. There are 186 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 1: some funny moments in the book, though, Rob, because when 187 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 1: he was approaching a four hundred, hitting four hundred into 188 00:10:56,040 --> 00:11:00,679 Speaker 1: mid June, he did not want to talk before games, 189 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:02,680 Speaker 1: and we all wanted to talk about the pursuit of 190 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,160 Speaker 1: four hundred. And he had a funny line where he said, 191 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 1: nothing I say to you guys before the game is 192 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:11,960 Speaker 1: going to help me get a hit tonight. And none 193 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: of us were hitting coaches, so how could we respond 194 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,000 Speaker 1: to that? But I've always managed to have a really 195 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: positive and productive relationship with Paul and and I'm really 196 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 1: proud of the book that we put together. It's actually 197 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: the number one baseball book on Amazon right now and 198 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 1: it only came out yesterday, So wow, momentum that it's developed. 199 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 1: That's so awesome. And good luck to both you and Paul. 200 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 1: His name is Jack Curry, one of the best in 201 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 1: the business, a friend of mine. I can't wait to 202 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 1: pick up the book. I know you and Paul both, 203 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:44,680 Speaker 1: so I can't wait to read it. Jack. Good luck 204 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 1: Rob thanks for having me on and congratulations on your 205 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:52,200 Speaker 1: high school Hall of Fame. Great great honor. Thank you, Jack. 206 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:56,079 Speaker 1: I appreciate that Fox Sports Radio has the best sports 207 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 1: talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows 208 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 1: at Fox sports Radio dot com and within the I 209 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: Heart Radio app search f s R to listen live. 210 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:11,959 Speaker 1: It's time for the Pocket Protector Central the analytic numbers 211 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:16,880 Speaker 1: you need to know? Well, maybe Anthony Masterson is his name. 212 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 1: B S Analytics is his game. What do you got 213 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: for me, Anthony? In baseball, it's easy to get overwhelmed 214 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 1: by numbers, but really most of the New school stature 215 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 1: does different ways of explaining old data or either proving 216 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 1: or disproving the dreaded eye test, like, for instance, how 217 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 1: about field five tool player. The tools are hitting for average, 218 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 1: hitting for power, speed, fielding, and throwing. Now, on that note, 219 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 1: one of the most legendary statisticians in baseball history is 220 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 1: Bill James. Among other things, he developed a metric called 221 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:49,720 Speaker 1: the power speed number, which of course deals with two 222 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 1: of those tools. The power speed number multiplies of players, 223 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:56,080 Speaker 1: homers and stolen bases, and then divides them by the 224 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 1: sum of those same numbers. For multiplying them by two. 225 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 1: Know anything of great power and speed in baseball history? 226 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 1: One player should come to mind right away, and that's 227 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:09,960 Speaker 1: Barry Bonds. Bonds had a career power speed number of 228 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: six thirteen point nine, over one hundred and twenty points 229 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:17,200 Speaker 1: better than the next best player in MLB history. That 230 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:20,679 Speaker 1: would be Rickey Henderson. This season, the leader in this 231 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 1: metric might surprise you, but it's Houston's Kyle Tucker, who 232 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,840 Speaker 1: currently has parlayed his seven home runs and nine stolen 233 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 1: bases into a seven point nine power speed number, followed 234 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:34,439 Speaker 1: closely by Manny Machado, Sho Heyotani, and Bryce Harper. Now 235 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 1: Otani led last year, by the way, with a thirty 236 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 1: three point to mark a power speed number never heard 237 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 1: of it before. Don't be scared. It's okay. Power and 238 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: speed a dynamic duo. You gotta know it. It was 239 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: a big week in the Big League. Is it foul 240 00:13:57,360 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 1: or is it fair? And now from MLB bro dot 241 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:08,200 Speaker 1: com here's JR. Gambles Jr. Is it foul? Or is 242 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 1: it fair? To say? That MLB's various diversity and developmental 243 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 1: programs are working and baseball We'll see MLB rosters more 244 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 1: populated with black and brown faces in the near future. 245 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:29,760 Speaker 1: Fair fall. MLB has seven point two percent black players 246 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 1: on their rosters, but MLB's diversity programs have definitely helped 247 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:38,360 Speaker 1: in getting more black players drafted, identifying black talent, and 248 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:40,840 Speaker 1: spreading the game to the urban communities at a younger 249 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:43,800 Speaker 1: age over the past half decade. Just look at picture 250 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 1: Hunted Green and Braves prospect Michael Harris the second and 251 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 1: the host of other guys who came up in the program. 252 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:54,520 Speaker 1: I don't have to tell you, though, Rob I bought 253 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 1: a special guest today to get everybody up to speed 254 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 1: on what MLB is doing to bring the black brows 255 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 1: back to the game. This is Del Matthews, vice President 256 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 1: of Baseball Development for Major League Baseball. Glad to be 257 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 1: doing this. So in my role, I'm responsible for several 258 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 1: baseball initiatives with Major League Baseball. I oversee the MLB 259 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 1: Urban Youth Academies for Major League Baseball UH that are 260 00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 1: in eight cities across the country Compton, California, New Orleans, Louisiana, Houston, Texas, Dallas, Texas, UH, Cincinnati, Ohio, 261 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 1: Kansas City, Missouri, UM and then Washington, d C. And 262 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: UH Philadelphia, um Pennsylvania. So I am the liaison UH 263 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:59,080 Speaker 1: for the clubs and UH. We work on getting girls 264 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 1: and boys to play baseball and softball, and those respective 265 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 1: communities have after school programming camps, UM and and all 266 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:15,840 Speaker 1: sorts of initiatives and activities with baseball and softball. I'm 267 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 1: also responsible for our elite development programs geared towards high 268 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 1: school age um UH student athletes, and we have the 269 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 1: Dream Series, which is a pictures and catchers camp that 270 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:36,640 Speaker 1: takes place MLK weekend in Tempe, Arizona. We also have 271 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 1: the Breakthrough Series that takes place UM in the summer 272 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 1: months UH in in June, and then we have our 273 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 1: Handgaron Invitational that takes place in July, culminating with the 274 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 1: top forty four players playing in a showcase baseball game 275 00:16:57,080 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 1: at Truett's Park hosted by the Atlanta Bred. UH. We 276 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 1: also have our States Play event, which consists of the 277 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: top high school players from each of their states and 278 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 1: they're play in a three game series in a Major 279 00:17:12,320 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 1: League stadium. So I oversee our elite baseball initiatives for 280 00:17:17,119 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 1: high school student athletes. I'm also in charge of the 281 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:25,679 Speaker 1: MLB Futures Game and help put that put that roster 282 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 1: together and that uh that All Star game on during 283 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: our that showcase All Star Game of the next future 284 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: players from Major League Baseball. When you think about sustaining 285 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:42,439 Speaker 1: the sport of baseball, UM, any sport, UM, you know, 286 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 1: youth is the lifeblood. Is gonna be your next generation 287 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,879 Speaker 1: of fans. And so really it's important to engage the 288 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 1: younger communities. We know that all of these players won't 289 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 1: have an opportunity to play in the big leagues. But 290 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 1: if we can create uh, young base fall fans with 291 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 1: with boys and girls across the country, especially in inner 292 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:10,680 Speaker 1: city communities, UM, and create lifelong fans through good experiences 293 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:15,120 Speaker 1: they have with baseball, with being good teammates. UH, if 294 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:18,359 Speaker 1: they have an opportunity potentially use it as a platform 295 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:22,119 Speaker 1: to get their education and go to college. UH you know, 296 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 1: you never know what doors it may open. So really 297 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:30,159 Speaker 1: we're charged with creating, um, the next generation of citizens 298 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 1: for Major League Baseball. And so this role is important 299 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 1: because we're engaging the youth. We're interfacing with kids all 300 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:40,960 Speaker 1: over the country around a game that we all love 301 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:45,480 Speaker 1: and UM, it's passing on the game to the next generation. 302 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:50,240 Speaker 1: When Rob was a newspaper columnist, he lived by this motto. 303 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 1: If I'm writing, I'm ripping, Let's bring in a writer 304 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 1: or broadcaster older new Now let's welcome into the podcast 305 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 1: front of my former Major League outfielder Rod Allen. He's 306 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:07,159 Speaker 1: also the color analysts for the Miami Marlins. Rod, Welcome 307 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 1: to the podcast, My man, how are you? I'm outstanding, Rob. 308 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:13,840 Speaker 1: Always a pleasure to catch up with you. You know it. 309 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 1: You know we love to talk baseball. So let's start 310 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 1: in Miami with Jazz Chisholm Jr. Who was off to 311 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 1: a great start uh for the Marlands, leading in almost 312 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:26,239 Speaker 1: every offensive category. I know he's a little banged up. 313 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:29,920 Speaker 1: What's the latest one, Jazz. He'll be back in Atlanta 314 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 1: on Friday. I talked to him today when he was 315 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:35,399 Speaker 1: taking some swings uh in the batting cage. He also 316 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:37,640 Speaker 1: took some batting practice on the field. He also ran 317 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:40,640 Speaker 1: the basis today. So I think Jazz is a full 318 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 1: goal for Friday, and they desperately need Jazz and SODA's baseball. 319 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:47,200 Speaker 1: One of the more electrifying young players in the game 320 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 1: of baseball these days, with purple hair and blue hair, 321 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:51,880 Speaker 1: a lot of swag, a lot of power, a lot 322 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: of speed, really good baseball where I did not realize 323 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:58,240 Speaker 1: how good Jazz was until I got here. I bet 324 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 1: watching him every day, I love the y that kid play. 325 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:04,000 Speaker 1: I really do. His swag is off the chain. I mean, 326 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:06,160 Speaker 1: just the way that he goes about his business. And 327 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:08,200 Speaker 1: he works very hard. To you, I mean, you would 328 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 1: think that maybe a young kid would work as hard. 329 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:12,919 Speaker 1: But he's out early every day bunning. He's running the 330 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:15,240 Speaker 1: basis he wants to be better. He wants to be 331 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:17,679 Speaker 1: an All Star, There's no question about that. And he 332 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:20,880 Speaker 1: even said so himself about a couple of weeks ago. 333 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 1: He feels like he might be on the pace to 334 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:23,960 Speaker 1: get to the Hall of Fame one of these days. 335 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: He could ever stay healthy, that's the kind of swag 336 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:29,680 Speaker 1: and confidence that the young man has. Love it. Hey, 337 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:32,440 Speaker 1: let's go to Major League Baseball as a whole. And 338 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 1: the big bush up, of course in the sport was, 339 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 1: of course, Josh Donaldson from the Yankee He's Tim Anderson 340 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:42,000 Speaker 1: from the White Sox, and they have words, benches cleared, 341 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:48,720 Speaker 1: Uh Josh called, of course, uh Tim Jackie kind of 342 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:52,159 Speaker 1: making a light of Jackie Robinson. Tim didn't like it. 343 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 1: Baseball suspended Josh Donaldson for one game, and also we 344 00:20:56,400 --> 00:21:00,240 Speaker 1: saw the Yankees pushed back and distanced himself from Josh 345 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 1: uh and Rob. My question to you is what did 346 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:04,560 Speaker 1: you make of that? And then the Baseball get it 347 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:07,800 Speaker 1: right with the one game suspension. Well, Jnaldson was wrong, 348 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:10,199 Speaker 1: and there's no doubt about that. He and Tim Anderson 349 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 1: are not for instance, a matter of fact, they don't 350 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:13,920 Speaker 1: like each other. So for him to make the comment 351 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 1: and call him Jackie was wrong, and he knew it 352 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 1: was wrong, and he knew that that would trigger a 353 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 1: reaction from Anderson, which is exactly what he got. And 354 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:23,960 Speaker 1: not only did he get it that reaction from Anderson, 355 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:26,880 Speaker 1: he got that reaction from all of baseball, not only 356 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 1: his manager Aaron Boone, but you know his teammate is well, 357 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:33,719 Speaker 1: Aaron Judge, and everybody else in the game of baseball. 358 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:36,159 Speaker 1: There's no place for it. I think Baseball got it 359 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 1: right with the suspension. I know he's appealing it, but 360 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:40,320 Speaker 1: he might as well take his medicine and move on 361 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:42,560 Speaker 1: and just make sure he keeps his mouth quiet next time, 362 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:45,880 Speaker 1: especially when it comes to Jackie Robbinson's name. He's royalty 363 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:48,960 Speaker 1: in this game, no doubt, you couldn't. I couldn't have 364 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: said it better. Spot on Rod. Our guest is Rod Allen, 365 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:56,800 Speaker 1: of course, former made Major League outfielder and current Miami 366 00:21:56,880 --> 00:22:01,760 Speaker 1: Molled's color analysts. Uh, Mookie ats have been banged up 367 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:04,320 Speaker 1: the last year and a half, really not playing the 368 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 1: m v p uh quality that we used to see, 369 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:12,920 Speaker 1: and not this year. Roddy's healthy. This guy's balling out well. 370 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 1: He is one of the best players in the game, 371 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 1: electrified player, and we know that when he was in Boston, 372 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 1: when he was winning World championships and winning m vps. 373 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:24,120 Speaker 1: He did that in Los Angeles as well, and it's 374 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:26,160 Speaker 1: good to see him healthy again. It's good to see 375 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:29,560 Speaker 1: him patrolling right fielders. No better right fielder in our sport, 376 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:31,680 Speaker 1: maybe in the history of the game. That's how good 377 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 1: he is in right field. You talk to anybody that's 378 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:35,480 Speaker 1: seen him play and they will tell you, if not 379 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:37,600 Speaker 1: the best, he is one of the best right fielders 380 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 1: to ever play out there. He's like the center fielder 381 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:41,399 Speaker 1: out there, and it's good to see him with the 382 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:44,160 Speaker 1: power back, with swag back, and the way he's playing 383 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:46,240 Speaker 1: the game. He's good for the game of baseball. Obviously 384 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:49,640 Speaker 1: good for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but good overall for baseball. 385 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:53,000 Speaker 1: When he's healthy, he puts people in the seats. Last thing, 386 00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:55,800 Speaker 1: Rod the Red Sox got off to a dreadful start, 387 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:58,159 Speaker 1: and it looked like it was going to be a 388 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:01,800 Speaker 1: ugly season all the way. They've turned it around, starting 389 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:04,480 Speaker 1: to win again. Trevor's story. Who they picked up is 390 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 1: is heading home runs with regularity. Can the Red Sox 391 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:10,440 Speaker 1: make a run in the in the Al East, Well, 392 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:12,320 Speaker 1: I don't know if they can make a run or not. Man, 393 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:13,840 Speaker 1: they got a lot of talent, but it's gonna come 394 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:16,080 Speaker 1: down there pitching. They got to get healthy. From a 395 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:18,199 Speaker 1: pitching standpoint, They got to get guys out there to 396 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 1: go out there every fifth day and give them an 397 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:22,960 Speaker 1: opportunity to win. Their offense is plenty good enough to 398 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,639 Speaker 1: get back into the race. You talked about story. I 399 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:28,200 Speaker 1: was beginning to wonder about him because everybody talks about 400 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:30,879 Speaker 1: the fact that, you know, he's born and raised in Colorado, 401 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:33,359 Speaker 1: and then the ball flies there and guys numbers are 402 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:35,240 Speaker 1: elevated when they play there and they're not so good 403 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:37,280 Speaker 1: on the road, and he fell into that category. And 404 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 1: I kind of thought maybe he was gonna run into that. 405 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:41,919 Speaker 1: He's still not performing the way that he is capable of. 406 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 1: He only has eight homers right now, and most of 407 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 1: those came just last week, so he's not performing up 408 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:50,119 Speaker 1: to the story kind of numbers he put up in Colorado. 409 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:53,239 Speaker 1: And he also got book booed in Boston, you know, 410 00:23:53,320 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 1: so I may have woken up to but this hope 411 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:58,480 Speaker 1: he continues to perform well because I know the same 412 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:01,280 Speaker 1: thing is going on here in my AMMI with Jorge 413 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:04,440 Speaker 1: Solery and and obviously Yo Garcia. A couple of guys 414 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:06,960 Speaker 1: robbed that they signed some nice contracts, a couple of 415 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:09,359 Speaker 1: guys that are playing at the Crib in Miami. So 416 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:11,720 Speaker 1: they've got those distractions and they're trying to do a 417 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:13,560 Speaker 1: little bit too much and it's just not working out 418 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:15,840 Speaker 1: for them. And I can imagine the story may have 419 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 1: ran into that, to trying to live up to that 420 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 1: contract that he signed in being town. No doubt. His 421 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 1: name is Rod Allen, one of the best color analysts 422 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 1: in baseball. I watched him in Detroit for many years. 423 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:32,159 Speaker 1: I should text Rod as often as I could to 424 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 1: tell him how good he was. Greg you know, not 425 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:39,359 Speaker 1: my lying. I love you know, I love baseball, man, 426 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:42,160 Speaker 1: I love the first guesting. I love talking to people. 427 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:43,879 Speaker 1: You know, it's just a gift, man. And I'm just 428 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:47,040 Speaker 1: so blessed man to to have, you know, spent all 429 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:49,600 Speaker 1: this time in the broadcast's not here. I'll share one 430 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:51,920 Speaker 1: little story with Yesterday was the anniversary of the eighty 431 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:56,320 Speaker 1: four Tigers thirty five and five record, and somebody posted 432 00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:59,040 Speaker 1: the lineup card. And just to see my name on 433 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 1: that lineup card. Man, with guys like Fred Lynn and 434 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:07,400 Speaker 1: the Census and Gary Pettis and Whitaker and Trammel and Parish, 435 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:09,040 Speaker 1: I had made a lot to me, you know what 436 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:11,440 Speaker 1: I mean. I I never I knew I was blessed, 437 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:13,880 Speaker 1: but when I saw that lineup card and all those 438 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:16,000 Speaker 1: great names on them, and I realized how blessed I 439 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 1: am in this game of baseball. Man, It's been everything 440 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:22,159 Speaker 1: to me. I love it, no doubt. Thanks Rod, appreciate you, 441 00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:26,360 Speaker 1: my man. All right, balls, take care now bringing the closer. 442 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:33,160 Speaker 1: Here's why MLB it's better than the NFL or NBA, 443 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:40,040 Speaker 1: and it isn't even close. Reason number one thousand and one, wife, 444 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 1: baseball is better than the NBA and the NFL. It's 445 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:47,760 Speaker 1: because of me. How about that? A personal note on 446 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:53,080 Speaker 1: Wednesday made I was inducted into my high school Hall 447 00:25:53,119 --> 00:25:56,960 Speaker 1: of Fame, the Martin Van Buren High School Hall of Fame. 448 00:25:57,480 --> 00:26:00,240 Speaker 1: And yes, baseball has a lot to do with did. 449 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:05,199 Speaker 1: Baseball was my true love growing up? I played baseball 450 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:09,120 Speaker 1: every day. I watched baseball, and I list on television 451 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:12,080 Speaker 1: and listen to baseball on the radio. All I ever 452 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:16,120 Speaker 1: wanted to be was a baseball player. And I said 453 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:18,360 Speaker 1: to myself at a young age, if I can't make 454 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:21,680 Speaker 1: it as a baseball player, I want to be a sportswriter. 455 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:26,640 Speaker 1: I want to cover the game. And that's what led 456 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:29,600 Speaker 1: me to this career. And as you know, I'm a 457 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:32,879 Speaker 1: Baseball Hall of Fame voter, which is one of my 458 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:38,360 Speaker 1: most precious and cherished possessions. And on this earth, I'm 459 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:41,000 Speaker 1: a b b w A A member. I've been covering 460 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 1: Major League Baseball since n that's right, thirty six years 461 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:50,320 Speaker 1: and I love every minute of it. And I feel 462 00:26:50,359 --> 00:26:53,679 Speaker 1: like baseball has a lot to do with me getting 463 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 1: into the Hall of Fame at Martin Van Buren High School. 464 00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:00,879 Speaker 1: And uh, I want to thank this sport. Thanks my 465 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:03,680 Speaker 1: love for the sport and what it brought to me, 466 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 1: and what it galvanized me to do, and how it 467 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:11,040 Speaker 1: energized me. I don't know about you, but I love baseball. 468 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,240 Speaker 1: In the words of New York TV legend the late 469 00:27:20,280 --> 00:27:23,639 Speaker 1: Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for your time this time until 470 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:27,480 Speaker 1: next time. Rob Parker out. He can't get it. This 471 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:30,120 Speaker 1: could be an inside the Parker to see you next weekend, 472 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:32,439 Speaker 1: same bad time, same mass station.