1 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 1: Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Hemor Territory podcast. 2 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: I your hosts Brad Roland and I joined as I 3 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 1: often m by Scott Coleman. Scott the Player Council series 4 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 1: rolls along with the one guy on the roster who 5 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: actually hit to their normal level last season. 6 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:38,639 Speaker 2: Hello, Brad. I was literally going to say. 7 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 3: That, sorry, I got a lot of that was not planned. 8 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 3: We do a lot of podcasts, but sometimes you'll say 9 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:47,520 Speaker 3: something and then you're like, and Scott, what do you think? 10 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 2: And I go, damn it. That was literally what I 11 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 2: was going to say. 12 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 3: We do not go a rousing start here. This is 13 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 3: gonna be good, This'll be a good show. I think 14 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 3: that's right. We do not do the ESPN first take, 15 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 3: just scream at the other view point no matter what. 16 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 3: But yeah, I mean, if I told you a calendar 17 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:08,960 Speaker 3: year ago today, Brad, that after the incredible twenty twenty 18 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:14,760 Speaker 3: three season, that Marcelo Zuna would be basically the only 19 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:20,560 Speaker 3: player for the Braves offensively who would surpass expectations and 20 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 3: or stay healthy all year, I mean you wouldn't have 21 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:24,399 Speaker 3: believed me. 22 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 2: You would have said, there's. 23 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:28,200 Speaker 3: No way, Scott, this was a historic offense there's no 24 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 3: way that they get down years from Riley and Olson 25 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 3: and Harris and Akunya and all these and I would 26 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 3: have said, buddy, you're in for a rough couple of months, 27 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 3: because the one truly writes spot last year was Marcelo Zuna. 28 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 3: And it'll be fun to kind of reflect on his 29 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 3: season as a whole. Yes, it will. 30 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: One regular in the Braves lineup had an OPS over 31 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 1: eight hundred and Marcel's over nine hundred, so he was 32 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:54,559 Speaker 1: in a league of his own compared to everybody else 33 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: a season ago. If you were just finding the fuck out 34 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 1: for the first time. First of all, welcome to Hammer Territory. 35 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:01,559 Speaker 1: We covered the brains all year round. We are partly 36 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 1: of a Foul Territory network. Please subscribe to the show. 37 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 1: If you're watching YouTube, please like this video as you 38 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 1: are watching it as well. It helps us to spread 39 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 1: the word about the podcast. But this is one of 40 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: our player capsules. It'll be focused on Marcelo Zuna and 41 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 1: I guess by proxy the DH position for the Braves 42 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:16,639 Speaker 1: because he is their full time DH. 43 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 3: That is what he is. 44 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 1: It's a situation that most teams don't have. Honestly, most 45 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 1: teams don't have a everyday DH in the modern game, 46 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: that team is used as a rotational position. Sometimes they 47 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 1: might have a guy that put there. 48 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 3: But you have you have to be really, really really 49 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 3: good at hitting to be worth being a full time DH, 50 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 3: and Marcelo's una has been for quite some time, so 51 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 3: we alluded to it. 52 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 1: He was really truly awesome last year. I forgot this 53 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 1: until we prepped this podcast, but uh, Marcel finished fourth 54 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 1: at AMVP voting last year in the National League. 55 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:50,520 Speaker 3: Like that's how good he was. If you case people 56 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 3: have forgot forgotten that he was fourth MVP voting again 57 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 3: as as a full time DH, that's hard to do. 58 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:58,519 Speaker 3: And what's you're showing with time and you're an actual 59 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:03,240 Speaker 3: alien and you win the award? Really impressive stuff. So yeah, 60 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 3: I mean, go ahead, Well, Marcel, he had a legitimate 61 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 3: chance at the Triple Crown if he was at the end. Yes, 62 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 3: if it wasn't for that Otani guy who's pretty good 63 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 3: at baseball himself, there was a legitimate chance. Like I 64 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 3: think as late as like mid August, we were looking 65 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:21,640 Speaker 3: at the leader boards and doing podcasts and it's like, 66 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 3: holy crap, Brad, he leads in homers he's one back 67 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 3: in RBI, and he's four batting average points behind for 68 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 3: the triple crown. And obviously he tailed off a bit 69 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 3: towards the end of the season and wasn't able to 70 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 3: get the triple crown. But this was just such an 71 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 3: impressive season, and really on the whole, it was better 72 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 3: than what he did in twenty twenty three, which was very, 73 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 3: very good in and of itself. 74 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, he's going into you know, this is actually gonna 75 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: be a six season with the Braves, which is hard 76 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: to believe, to be honest. There's a lot that's happened, 77 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 1: as we'll kind of briefly get into. Of course, he 78 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 1: had that two year dip in production off field stuff. 79 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 1: It was kind of a mess for two years, and 80 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 1: it's shocking that we're back here to where he was 81 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 1: a no brainer club option pickup for the Braves. That's 82 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: how good he's been. It's just it's been a wild 83 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 1: ride for Marcelo Zuna. But doing kind of a little 84 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 1: bit more of twenty twenty four in review before we 85 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: kind of zoom out a little bit later in this podcast. 86 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: You know, he played every game last year, one sixty two. 87 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,160 Speaker 1: That's a rarity in today's game, he and met Olsen 88 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 1: basically were just always there for the Braves, but a 89 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 1: one fifty four dollars he plus a almost a five 90 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: win player. Again while dhing he did cool off a 91 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: little bit late, as you already referenced, he was still 92 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 1: fine late, he just wasn't quite like superstar level in September. 93 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:40,720 Speaker 3: I'm don't know about you. 94 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: I'm not worried about that, Like it was like some 95 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 1: sort of predictor of the future of future doom for Marcel. 96 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 1: I think he was probably just due for some regression. 97 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:49,919 Speaker 1: But look, even when he was bad, and he was 98 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:52,720 Speaker 1: for a year and a half, uh he. 99 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 3: Man, he just hits the ball so hard. 100 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:57,359 Speaker 1: And that's the thing about Marcel Zuna is that you know, 101 00:04:57,480 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 1: even before we had to the Braves, he always had 102 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 1: this great stack CAATs bro Alex and Company are their 103 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:04,640 Speaker 1: suckers for stackcast profiles. They love it hit the ball hard, 104 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 1: and Marcell is like, arguably the neer ones of that. 105 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 3: He just hits the ball, I believe hard all the time, 106 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:14,359 Speaker 3: Elite data exit, velocities, baral rates, all of the stuff 107 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:19,479 Speaker 3: that nerds talk about, Marcel doesn't. He just smashes the baseball. Yeah, 108 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:24,360 Speaker 3: I gotta say, man, even the biggest Marcello Zuna fan 109 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:29,039 Speaker 3: on the earth as recently as the first month of 110 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 3: the twenty twenty three season, would anyone have seen this 111 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:34,039 Speaker 3: option being. 112 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 2: Such a no brainer for the Braves. 113 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 3: It's no, absolutely, just no, is the answer. 114 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:38,799 Speaker 2: No. 115 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 3: Anyone says he has, it's lying to you. Yeah, and 116 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:49,479 Speaker 3: this stat actually blew my mind. Okay, so we all 117 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 3: know what happened with Marcello Zuna down in Miami in 118 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 3: May twenty twenty three. It basically saved and resurrected his 119 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 3: career because people were calling for him to be cut 120 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:04,360 Speaker 3: or dfad or traded for a bag of peanuts and 121 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 3: a lemonade. Howay. Just to be very clear, people included us. 122 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 3: We were we were doing that as well, So we're 123 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 3: not we're not of standing here. We did that. Yeah, 124 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 3: we did a weekly segment on when are the Braves 125 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 3: going to cut Marcelo zunap because that's how bad it was. 126 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:23,280 Speaker 3: And flash forward. So since the start of May twenty 127 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 3: twenty three, Marcelo Zuna has a one hundred and fifty 128 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 3: five WRC plus okay, one five. These are the players 129 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:38,599 Speaker 3: who have hit better than Marcelo Zuna since last May, Aaron, Judge, 130 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 3: Sho Hao, Tani, one Soto, your Down, Alvarez, and Mookie Betts. 131 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:49,840 Speaker 2: End of list. That's it. 132 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:54,280 Speaker 3: Not Breven, not Matt Olsen, not Austin Riley, name your 133 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 3: favorite player, not Bryce Harper, pick your guy. That's the 134 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 3: whole list, five guys, and they're all superduper star Yes, Judge, Otani, Sodo, Alvarez, 135 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:07,840 Speaker 3: and Bets. Those players combined make about two point three 136 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 3: billion dollars Brad billion. And I'm not saying that that 137 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 3: Marcello Zuna is the same player as any of those guys, 138 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 3: because obviously he's different. He's in the back nine of 139 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:24,119 Speaker 3: his career and all of that. But again, man, even 140 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 3: the most optimistic the Braves are amazing. Marcello Zuna is amazing. 141 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 3: Fan on Planet Earth would tell you that he was 142 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 3: about to become a legitimate top six hitter in baseball 143 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 3: for the better part of two full seasons. I mean, 144 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 3: talk about resurrecting your career and just coming back from 145 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 3: the dead, because it's just been so impressive since that turnaround. 146 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 3: And again, man, he I mean, other than a couple 147 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 3: of down final weeks of the season, Marcel was just 148 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 3: absolutely mashing the baseball all year long. 149 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 4: Hey, Valentine's Day is coming up, and we have recommendation 150 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 4: for you to check out right now. 151 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 2: Don't wait. 152 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 4: It's one eight hundred flowers dot Com. 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Make it easy and get that deal right now. 169 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:48,840 Speaker 4: When you order one dozen, they'll double the rose bouquet 170 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:52,200 Speaker 4: for free. That's the ft deals that we're always looking 171 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 4: out for. Go to one eight hundred flowers dot com 172 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:58,960 Speaker 4: slash ft. That's one eight hundred flowers dot com slash 173 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 4: ft for sure. 174 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 1: And one more way to frame that as far as 175 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: like how good he's been in that sample size. And 176 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:09,079 Speaker 1: you know he joined the Braves prior to twenty twenty. 177 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 1: He had a MVP level season in twenty twenty as well. 178 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:13,679 Speaker 1: He was unbelievable that year. It's a small it was 179 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 1: a shortened season, but he was great that season. But 180 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 1: in five seasons, two of them were disastrously terrible. And 181 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 1: we're not gonna religate. It's been a few years now, 182 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 1: but if you don't believe me, Marcelo was going to 183 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 1: buy the numbers. Was a bottom ten player in all 184 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 1: of baseball over a two year period. That is how 185 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:34,960 Speaker 1: bad he was. That's not us making that up. The 186 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:37,439 Speaker 1: stats say that he was that bad for two seasons 187 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: and then, as you just alluded to, it went into 188 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: April the next year. It was two plus seasons. But 189 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 1: I say all that he was terrible for two years. 190 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 1: He's still in five seasons with the Braves, has a 191 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:53,080 Speaker 1: one to thirty one WSC plus in more than twenty 192 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 1: two hundred play appearances. Do you know how good you 193 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 1: have to be in the other three years to negate 194 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 1: two seasons as bad as his two seasons were and 195 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 1: still have a one thirty one because one thirty one 196 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 1: plus is a star like at DH is not quite like, 197 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 1: you know, crazy crazy crazy because you're not providing defensive value. 198 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:14,960 Speaker 1: But we'll do this later on the show. If Marcell 199 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 1: just gave his quote unquote career Braves mark this year, 200 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:20,200 Speaker 1: it'd be a lot worse than it was last year, 201 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: and it would still be very very good, and we 202 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 1: would and we would love it, Like one thirty one 203 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 1: numbers two plus this season would be a great outcome 204 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:27,960 Speaker 1: for ourselves to know that's his, that's his that's his 205 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: five year performance with the Braves, even including two terrible seasons, 206 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:34,840 Speaker 1: so he's been so good and the other three years 207 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 1: And if you want to throw like I am okay now, 208 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 1: probably just like ignoring what happened from twenty twenty twenty 209 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:43,319 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two on the field for the most part, 210 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:45,679 Speaker 1: because now you have a two year sample of him 211 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 1: being back to a star player. 212 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:50,319 Speaker 3: I don't know that he's as good as he's looked. 213 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 3: I don't know if this is gonna controversial. I'm not sure. 214 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 3: I don't know that he's actually as good as he 215 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 3: has been since May twenty twenty three. Because of what 216 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 3: you just said. He is not your on Alvarez. He 217 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:06,840 Speaker 3: is not especially Soto Judge of Tommy, I don't think. 218 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 3: But I mean, it is two years of a sample. 219 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:12,200 Speaker 3: It's not like it's not a hundred play appearances. It's 220 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 3: like a thousand blod appearances. He's been that good for 221 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:17,680 Speaker 3: that long. Yeah, yeah, I mean the numbers back it up. 222 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 3: And sure, I mean, no one's gonna sit here with 223 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 3: a straight face and say Aaron Judge or Marcelo Zuna, 224 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 3: who's who's the face of baseball on the East Coast? 225 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:33,680 Speaker 3: Of course not laughing, but yeah, it's weird, and I 226 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 3: know why it's happened. And look, you the off field 227 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:39,560 Speaker 3: stuff is a topic that's always out there. It's always there, 228 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 3: it's never gonna go away. But you know, I. 229 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 1: Almost think that because of all of that, and because 230 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:48,599 Speaker 1: of how value was for two years, it is underrated 231 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:50,680 Speaker 1: how good he has been the last two years, which 232 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 1: is why we're leading with that just from a pure baseball, 233 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 1: pure hitting standpoint, here are the numbers. Like if you 234 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 1: pull even Braves fans who watch every game of every season, 235 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 1: even the absolute diehards, I don't know if they would 236 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: understand quite how good he's been the last two years. 237 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 1: And I think that's why I wanted to leave with that. 238 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:09,559 Speaker 2: So I was surprised. 239 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 3: I mean, I knew he was a really good hitter, 240 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 3: but when I was doing research for this episode, even 241 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 3: I was like, wait a minute, did I move my 242 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 3: dates wrong or did I exclude certain players or do 243 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 3: something wrong on the leader boards? No, I mean, you 244 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:28,559 Speaker 3: don't believe me. Go on fangrafts search if you want 245 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:30,679 Speaker 3: to do the normy thing too. I'm realizing now that 246 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 3: we actually didn't say like his like normy numbers. 247 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:36,439 Speaker 1: Because people, you know, some there's always baseball fans that 248 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 1: don't like the RCY plus they don't want the advanced 249 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 1: But I get all that. Here's the here's the here 250 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 1: are the back of the baseball card stats for Ozen 251 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 1: in the last two years. He hit forty home runs 252 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 1: in twenty three and thirty nine home runs in twenty four, 253 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:50,960 Speaker 1: so his average thirty nine and a half. 254 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 3: Home runs the last two years. That's pretty good. 255 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 2: Yeah. Ye. 256 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 1: He's also slugged five point fifty two in those two seasons. 257 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 1: That's pretty good. Even batting average, which doesn't really matter 258 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: to me. Two eighty nine and two eighty nine in 259 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 1: the modern game is like a borline elite batting average. 260 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:09,959 Speaker 1: It's like really really good. 261 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:12,600 Speaker 2: Hey, he's the name of the game is to hit 262 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:13,200 Speaker 2: the baseball. 263 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 3: And I agree people who go, well, he's a three 264 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:17,959 Speaker 3: hundred hitter and he's a two to seventy hitter. The 265 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 3: three hundred hitter is such a better player. Of course not, 266 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 3: and I think most fans know that. It's not as 267 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 3: simple as most most fans know, but some people just 268 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 3: like that. It is what it is. 269 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 1: But nine to sixteen ops, if you want to use 270 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 1: that number, which is probably prerecognizable all the numbers across 271 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:36,199 Speaker 1: the board once the ket thing that I actually want 272 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:38,560 Speaker 1: to mention that was a little bit different, and I 273 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 1: think it's been at least. 274 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 3: Partially responsible for his resurgence. He's walking again. 275 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:46,480 Speaker 1: When he was in the wilderness and that two year 276 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 1: peer he stopped walking, he had a six percent walk 277 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 1: rate in twenty twenty two, which is like better than 278 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 1: Ozzie and better than Michael Harris, but like, that's not 279 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 1: a good walk grade. 280 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 3: You don't want to walk. 281 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:59,319 Speaker 1: Since then it was nine and a half percent and 282 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 1: twenty twenty three and about eleven percent last year. Part 283 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,920 Speaker 1: of that say, he's mashing, so guys are pitching around him. 284 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:08,880 Speaker 1: But being selective is not as small and Marcel is 285 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 1: not afraid of swing like he is someone that will 286 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 1: go up there and take some big old hacks. That's 287 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 1: how you hit the ball as hard as he does, 288 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 1: and you'll look bad sometimes. But he has been sneakily 289 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: and I think quietly more selective and taking walks will 290 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: helps your real profile too. 291 00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, and I think what's really impressive about Marcel's just 292 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 3: you said back of the baseball card numbers, there's nothing 293 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 3: flukey here, like truly nothing. I mean that the batted 294 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 3: ball data is fantastic. He hits the ball so hard, 295 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 3: exit velocities, barrel rates, he elevates and drives the ball. 296 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 3: There's nothing, at least when I was looking at his 297 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 3: profile to make me go no, that's a little concerning, 298 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 3: or there's a real reason for drop off impending other 299 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 3: than the fact that Marcel is getting a little bit 300 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 3: older is probably the one concern, but there's also a 301 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 3: long history in Major League based of guys like Nelson 302 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 3: Cruz for example, kind of DH only types who just 303 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 3: continue to mash the baseball into their late thirties because 304 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 3: you know what, they're going up to the batter's box 305 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 3: four times a game. They're not being asked to play defense. 306 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 3: They just go up there. They swing hard, they hit 307 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 3: the baseball really hard, they draw walks, and they end 308 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 3: up being one of the better hitters in the game. 309 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 3: And clearly the Braves after a pretty disastrous first two 310 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 3: years of this now five year contract, I mean, it's 311 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 3: paid off in spades, and you know, he has one 312 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:34,640 Speaker 3: role on this team and Marcel does it very well. 313 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 1: So looking ahead a little bit so twenty five. You 314 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:41,000 Speaker 1: mentioned the age, that is I think it is a concern. 315 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:44,000 Speaker 1: I'm not saying I'm terrified of the age, but when 316 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 1: you're thirty four, as he is now, and you do 317 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 1: rely on the fact that he has really good batspeed, like, 318 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: I think there's a possibility that when it ends for Marcelo. 319 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 3: It might go quickly. 320 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 1: That'd be my only concern really is that, like the 321 00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 1: profile is obviously he provides nothing else. He's a DH 322 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 1: only player that really relies on his power. I think 323 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: he'll be good this year, don't get me wrong, but 324 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 1: there's you know, there's more downside risk when you're thirty 325 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 1: four and you do have He has some swinging miss 326 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 1: he always has. Like that's not a problem when you're 327 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:16,400 Speaker 1: mastering the. 328 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 3: Ball the way he does. 329 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 1: But he'll strike out a decent amount for sure, and 330 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 1: uh doesn't he can't run, for instance, Like he's gonna 331 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:25,120 Speaker 1: have to hit the ball hard for it to work, 332 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 1: and at thirty four like it could go. But you're right, 333 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: there is a history of guys in this role. You know, 334 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: He's not like the most fine tune machine of an athlete, 335 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 1: I don't think, but he is really strong. I think 336 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 1: he keeps himself in decent shape. So yeah, I'm not 337 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: particularly worried about super downside toys twenty five, though obviously 338 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 1: the option was picked up for the Braves. We talked 339 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:49,240 Speaker 1: about that earlier. He's projected to be worse than he 340 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:51,800 Speaker 1: was last two years, which makes sense. Like if you're 341 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 1: if you're danz and Borski at zips or depth charge 342 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 1: or steamer, you're not gonna have Ozoon at. 343 00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 3: One plus in a projection a thirty four. 344 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:03,040 Speaker 1: There's some all those models, by the way, are they're 345 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 1: taking me into account age history, all that stuff. And 346 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:08,960 Speaker 1: until he got to Atlanta he was a good hitter, 347 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:12,719 Speaker 1: but he was not this level of hitter. So all 348 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:14,840 Speaker 1: that said, I mean, what are you thinking, because Fanagrafts 349 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:19,240 Speaker 1: right now has the Braves number six at DH in baseball, 350 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:22,120 Speaker 1: most teams again don't have one guy at DH. 351 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 3: Last year the. 352 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:25,200 Speaker 1: Dodgers had a tiny at DH all these because because 353 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: he couldn't throw the baseball, but most guys who have 354 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 1: and maybe some Jordan Alvarez. But if you're I thought 355 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:32,840 Speaker 1: about today, like, there are not that many guys in 356 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 1: baseball who are like pure dhs who are. 357 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:38,160 Speaker 3: As good as Azuna has been. 358 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:40,760 Speaker 1: Like it's very very small list, which is why some 359 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 1: noise in that projection. But even then number six and 360 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 1: baseball is pretty good. But what do you think, I mean, 361 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:46,200 Speaker 1: what's a recentable projection? 362 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:49,119 Speaker 3: Because I in my mind won't let me say this 363 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:51,119 Speaker 3: is one hundred percent reel in the last two years. 364 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:54,080 Speaker 3: It's like almost has to come down, but it doesn't 365 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 3: have to come down, like you can do this again. 366 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 3: But I wouldn't project it is what I would say. 367 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 2: Sure, yeah, project. 368 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 3: Are nuanced and balanced and stats driven for a reason. 369 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 3: But I mean I think I think a year ago, 370 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 3: if you would have asked you or me, if you 371 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 3: would have walked up to Brad Rowland on the street 372 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:14,960 Speaker 3: and said, hey, is Marcello doing going to repeat his 373 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 3: twenty twenty three Nope, I think the analyst and you 374 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 3: would have say, no, probably not. And what did he do? 375 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 2: But he repeated and better he was? 376 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 3: He was so so again, the difference between thirty three 377 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:32,679 Speaker 3: and now thirty four years old, it's not a dramatic 378 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 3: you know, obviously, you're just talking about six months since 379 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 3: Marcel was last on a baseball field. If he had 380 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 3: to ask me today, when we're recording one twenty three 381 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 3: WRC plus, I would take the over on that. I 382 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 3: think it's it's tough to just say yes, no doubt, 383 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 3: no questions asked, Marcel is going to be a triple 384 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:54,800 Speaker 3: Crown front runner again and have a nine to fifty 385 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:58,880 Speaker 3: ops and bat three hundred, because that's probably a little reckless. 386 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:01,760 Speaker 3: But if you're telling me that this time and the year, 387 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:05,080 Speaker 3: we're talking about Marcel having close to a nine hundred 388 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 3: ops again or even above eight p fifty and driving 389 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:11,160 Speaker 3: in a million runs in the middle of this order 390 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:15,439 Speaker 3: and hitting for power. I think that's absolutely within the range. 391 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 3: And I mean, at some point father time is gonna 392 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 3: knock on that door. But I don't think it's going 393 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 3: to be twenty twenty five. 394 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:26,919 Speaker 1: I certainly, Again, it's part of the way I'm wired. 395 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:30,920 Speaker 1: I will project some regression from last year. But again, 396 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:32,439 Speaker 1: you're a hundred percent right if you ask me that, 397 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:33,919 Speaker 1: I would have been wrong last year, so I might 398 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: be wrong again. 399 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 3: His career numbers are kind of where I might be 400 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 3: for this year. 401 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 1: Like an ops in like the low eight hundreds with 402 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:47,440 Speaker 1: about thirty ish home runs has been his career number average. 403 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 1: That's really good, by the way, but it would not 404 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:52,920 Speaker 1: be what he's been the last two years. I think 405 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:55,360 Speaker 1: maybe I don't know, Yeah, like what you said, maybe 406 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 1: like an eight to fifty ops wscity plus like the 407 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 1: one thirty range won thirty five range, thirty homers instead 408 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:06,360 Speaker 1: of forty homers, and that's still a great hitter that's 409 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 1: in the middle of your line up every day that 410 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 1: you love to have there. If I had to guess, 411 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:15,560 Speaker 1: Marceau will never have a season again as good as 412 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:17,359 Speaker 1: he was last year, because last year was the second 413 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 1: best season overall, and his best season in a full 414 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,919 Speaker 1: was he was better, and twenty twenty in a sixty 415 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: game season, So like there's an astress on that one. 416 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 3: To some degree, we'll see. And I mean the twenty 417 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:33,359 Speaker 3: twenty season was just so bizarre. I mean, you know, 418 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:37,000 Speaker 3: the base balls where he was, he was unbelievable too. 419 00:20:37,040 --> 00:20:41,480 Speaker 3: He was unbelievable out of his mind. The I know 420 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:44,919 Speaker 3: we were so starved, starved for sports in twenty twenty 421 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 3: and all that, but I mean, just such a silly 422 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:50,440 Speaker 3: baseball season. And there's the famous clip I think it's 423 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 3: Michael CONFORDO of the Mets back then, and he like 424 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:56,439 Speaker 3: slammed his bat down because he thought he just missed 425 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:59,040 Speaker 3: a ball and ended up going to the upper deck 426 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 3: of city field. I mean, those were the baseballs we 427 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:05,560 Speaker 3: were using back then, so it was a hitters paradise. 428 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:09,439 Speaker 3: But he led by the way he led baseball. That 429 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 3: is what we'll trip your time. He led the major 430 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 3: leagues in home runs RBI total basis. He was second 431 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:19,080 Speaker 3: on a OPS. 432 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:23,359 Speaker 1: He actually was number one in plate appearances, which is 433 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:25,240 Speaker 1: a little bit weird when you are a middle of 434 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 1: the order hitter. But he played in every game, which 435 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 1: is why that is. But like just to say that, 436 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:33,119 Speaker 1: like he was unbelievable that year. But yeah, my point 437 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:34,880 Speaker 1: is I don't think he's gonna ever be as good 438 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 1: as he was last year. But that is mean he 439 00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 1: can't be awesome Like those are not those are not 440 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:40,960 Speaker 1: mutually exclusive terms. Like I think last year was probably 441 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 1: gonna be. 442 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 3: His best season. 443 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 1: All the time I said probably, not definitely probably, but yeah, 444 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:47,800 Speaker 1: he'll be good again. I think he's a top five 445 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:51,320 Speaker 1: DH in baseball. There's gonna be a question that this 446 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:53,439 Speaker 1: is not for this episode, but uh, there is a 447 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 1: real question and a topic about what the Braves do 448 00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 1: with him beyond this year. 449 00:21:57,080 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 3: If he has a good season. It's gonna be a 450 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 3: very interesting negotiation. 451 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:05,879 Speaker 1: Decision all that, because he is a DH only player 452 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 1: and it does limit you in terms of flexibility and 453 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 1: all that. But he has mashed and by accounts the 454 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:14,000 Speaker 1: guys like in the locker room all that stuff, and 455 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:14,840 Speaker 1: it all matters. 456 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:17,280 Speaker 3: You should mention. I mean, you want to talk about 457 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:21,640 Speaker 3: a player who has rehabbed his whole everything. I mean, 458 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 3: the Braves players you can't spend five minutes with a 459 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:27,960 Speaker 3: current Brave without talking about how important Marcelo Zuna is 460 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 3: in that clubhouse and the work he does with the hitters. 461 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:34,320 Speaker 3: I know he's talked. Matt Olsen has talked about how 462 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:37,479 Speaker 3: Marcel helped get him out of a funk last season 463 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 3: and helped him with his swing. And I know, especially 464 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 3: among the Latin players, Assie Alby's, Ronald Acunya like those 465 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 3: guys look up to Marcel and that's not a small 466 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 3: thing in the clubhouse. And yeah, I mean you mentioned 467 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 3: that Marcell is a free agent at this time in 468 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 3: a year. I wouldn't be surprised if mid season, if 469 00:22:56,640 --> 00:23:00,600 Speaker 3: all is going well, that the Braves. Yeah, we approached 470 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 3: Marcel similar to what they did with Travis Darnault and 471 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 3: Charlie Morton a couple of years back, with those in 472 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 3: season extensions to keep him in town. 473 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:12,120 Speaker 2: And again, I don't think anyone. 474 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:14,520 Speaker 3: On earth thought that was a possibility as recent as 475 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:17,520 Speaker 3: a couple of years ago. But he has absolutely been 476 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:21,240 Speaker 3: worth every single penny of this contract. And even if 477 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 3: Marcel comes down a bit from last year when he 478 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:26,840 Speaker 3: was just so good again, man, there's a lot of 479 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:29,600 Speaker 3: wiggle room for him to be a really successful player, 480 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 3: and who knows, maybe the rest of the lineup being 481 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:35,200 Speaker 3: better in twenty twenty five will make Marcell an even 482 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:39,040 Speaker 3: better hitter. The protection behind him if he has somebody 483 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:42,400 Speaker 3: who can actually hit, whether it's Michael Harris or Jerkson 484 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:45,800 Speaker 3: Profar or if Sean Murphy decides to hit the baseball again. 485 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:48,320 Speaker 3: I mean, that's only going to help Marcel get more 486 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 3: pitches to hit. And again, I think sort of something 487 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:55,320 Speaker 3: really weird happening. I have a hard time seeing this 488 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 3: upcoming season going poorly. 489 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, we should say to talk about this for five 490 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 1: seconds about webs if he gets hurt. He's been healthy. 491 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:06,760 Speaker 1: I mentioned before he played every game last year. 492 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:11,000 Speaker 3: Dah is a little bit easier to project because everyone 493 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:12,399 Speaker 3: could go there like they could just roll tap in 494 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:17,640 Speaker 3: that position. The Braves have two very obvious DH candidates 495 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 3: that are not mar solo Zuna. One is wrong on 496 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:23,639 Speaker 3: the Kunya because obviously he could play right field, but 497 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 3: he's a hitter first and he's coming off an injury. 498 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:29,159 Speaker 3: So if if Bozuna was not in We'll say this 499 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:32,119 Speaker 3: for mostly for RYA's episode, but there is a potential 500 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:34,720 Speaker 3: early in the year that Ozuna might have some nights 501 00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 3: that he's not playing, which sounds crazy, but they might 502 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:40,520 Speaker 3: want to have Ronnie DH on occasion and there's nowhere 503 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:42,600 Speaker 3: to put it Morsel. So it's actually an interesting decision 504 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:43,120 Speaker 3: they have to make. 505 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:46,880 Speaker 1: But in the event, as we did with Olsen and Riley, 506 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:49,640 Speaker 1: what happens if they if he gets hurt? 507 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:51,640 Speaker 3: Like, is it profar? Is it Ronnie? 508 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 2: Like? 509 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:54,600 Speaker 3: Mix? Mixture of both? What do you think? 510 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:56,639 Speaker 2: I don't know. 511 00:24:57,280 --> 00:24:59,560 Speaker 3: I mean, it's not really well, let me say this. 512 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:02,520 Speaker 3: It is a problem if Marcel gets hurt because of 513 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 3: how good of a hitter, because he's good, Yeah, exactly. Yeah, 514 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:09,000 Speaker 3: But obviously d H is by far the easiest spot 515 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:10,040 Speaker 3: in the lineup to fix. 516 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:11,880 Speaker 2: You could do Acuna there. 517 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 3: You could put pro Far there and have Kelnick play 518 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:18,200 Speaker 3: one in the corners. I mean, heck, if Drake Baldwin 519 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:20,280 Speaker 3: is killing it in Triple A, you could call up 520 00:25:20,359 --> 00:25:23,879 Speaker 3: Drake Baldwin to be your DH and and rotate occasionally 521 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 3: with Sean Murphy. 522 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:25,240 Speaker 2: I mean, you could. 523 00:25:25,359 --> 00:25:27,720 Speaker 3: You could put anyone there. You could give Austin Reiley 524 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:30,520 Speaker 3: a breather. You could give Matt Olson a breather, which 525 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:34,359 Speaker 3: there's most teams do that to some degree where they 526 00:25:34,119 --> 00:25:35,480 Speaker 3: they do use it either. 527 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:37,720 Speaker 1: As a rotation or they have a platoon there or something. 528 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 1: It's not usually just one guy. It's just that Marcella's 529 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:43,639 Speaker 1: capable of only doing that and also hitting at a 530 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:46,360 Speaker 1: level where you have to play him there. But yeah, 531 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:49,159 Speaker 1: I think that it'd be easy to fix or you know, 532 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 1: if it's not gonna have a season ending or something 533 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:55,120 Speaker 1: like that, you just go you go trade for somebody 534 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:58,000 Speaker 1: who is a pure hitter, Like it's not like you 535 00:25:58,080 --> 00:25:59,640 Speaker 1: have to worry about the playing defense. 536 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:01,119 Speaker 3: Or Hilaire might be available. 537 00:26:01,119 --> 00:26:02,840 Speaker 2: I say, do you hear that? 538 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 3: Is that? Is that Horace Hilario's music coming from Anaheim 539 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:09,879 Speaker 3: that's suddenly making its way to Atlanta? Wow? 540 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 1: They got They suddenly have Travis Darna and Hori Hilaire 541 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:14,639 Speaker 1: in a trade mid season. 542 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:18,119 Speaker 3: That's bizarre. No, I'm I mean, we're kind of kidding 543 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:18,359 Speaker 3: but not. 544 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:22,040 Speaker 1: But yeah, I think I think that if we're doing 545 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:23,679 Speaker 1: this for every episode of these So that's why I'm 546 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 1: asking the question. 547 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:25,560 Speaker 3: But this is the easiest one. 548 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:27,679 Speaker 1: It's like, all right, obviously you would be brutal to 549 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:29,960 Speaker 1: lose the bat, but they could just plug it in 550 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:32,280 Speaker 1: pretty easily. Profar honestly is kind of a DH two, 551 00:26:32,359 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 1: Like he's not a great defender in left field, he's 552 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:34,719 Speaker 1: better than Marcel. 553 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:38,359 Speaker 3: Oh, while we're here, can we. 554 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 1: Just do the Marcel's I'll play defense anytimes. Soerona thing, 555 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 1: because like every year we get asked, every month, we 556 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:46,919 Speaker 1: get asked, can he play left field? I think the 557 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:49,399 Speaker 1: Braves have told us now with our actions over the 558 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:51,720 Speaker 1: last year plus, the answer that they believe the answer 559 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:54,320 Speaker 1: is no. So it would have to be a very 560 00:26:54,440 --> 00:26:58,119 Speaker 1: very weird situation for Marcel to grab an outfielder's glove. 561 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:01,280 Speaker 1: I do think he's probably what the Braves would do 562 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:04,880 Speaker 1: at first base if knock on Wood Matt Olsen got 563 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:07,880 Speaker 1: hurt for any period or Profar. Now that Parmos played, 564 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:10,040 Speaker 1: he's played there too, Like I think pre Profar it 565 00:27:10,119 --> 00:27:12,199 Speaker 1: was very obviously going to be Marcel at first If 566 00:27:12,359 --> 00:27:14,240 Speaker 1: if Medlson got hurt, they could they might put they 567 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:17,439 Speaker 1: might put Profar there, though I think on because they 568 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:19,679 Speaker 1: have Kelnic. It was like, you know, in theory, Kelnic 569 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:21,960 Speaker 1: is better than their other options at those positions, Like 570 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:24,320 Speaker 1: it's like, all right, we have Jero Kelnick plug him 571 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:27,720 Speaker 1: in every day, but you're right. Ozona has has taken 572 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:30,680 Speaker 1: reps in the spring, in particular at first base. Mad 573 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:33,200 Speaker 1: Olsen is iron man among iron men, knock on wood 574 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:35,080 Speaker 1: of course, so we haven't ever seen it in a 575 00:27:35,119 --> 00:27:36,960 Speaker 1: real game that mattered. But in the spring they do 576 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:39,040 Speaker 1: give him a first space club and say Marcel just 577 00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:42,880 Speaker 1: go field some grounders. So absolutely, yeah, I'm sure Marcello 578 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 1: play a couple of games in the spring at first 579 00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:48,000 Speaker 1: never hurts to get the reps. But in terms of 580 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:50,159 Speaker 1: the outfield, no, I mean if it was like the 581 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:54,800 Speaker 1: thirteenth inning and two players have gotten hurt, then I mean, hell, anybody. 582 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:56,920 Speaker 3: Could go stand out there. Chadwick Trump could go stand 583 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:58,600 Speaker 3: in left field with a glove if he had to. 584 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:02,199 Speaker 3: But I have never seen Chadwick Trump play anywhere but 585 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:05,360 Speaker 3: anywhere but catcher and right now, Scot, I am confident 586 00:28:05,359 --> 00:28:08,360 Speaker 3: he's better than leftield. He's like, I don't know if there, 587 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:09,440 Speaker 3: I don't know if he's ever played there in his 588 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:13,520 Speaker 3: entire life, and he's just blindly would say he's better 589 00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 3: than I think, And and then we'll move on, because 590 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:19,640 Speaker 3: this is where it's. 591 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,320 Speaker 1: Because it does come up though every time, every time 592 00:28:21,320 --> 00:28:24,560 Speaker 1: we do sescially about marcel It's like, well, how bad 593 00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:27,719 Speaker 1: can he be? And then look, my thing is always 594 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:30,280 Speaker 1: look at what teams are telling you with what they're doing, 595 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:34,200 Speaker 1: what they're with their deployment. As bad as hojorgece Hilaire 596 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 1: was and they told you what they thought about Horace 597 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:40,600 Speaker 1: Siler defense, they still played him and left with Azuna 598 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:41,400 Speaker 1: on the team. 599 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:44,480 Speaker 3: So they thought he was he was better than Azuna defensively, 600 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 3: and he he was so bad that they couldn't keep 601 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:50,040 Speaker 3: him on the roster. So what's that say about AZA's defense? 602 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:56,680 Speaker 3: He's yeah, yes, maybe never have to live a Barcelo 603 00:28:56,880 --> 00:28:58,400 Speaker 3: or a Jorge Solair. 604 00:28:58,080 --> 00:29:01,240 Speaker 2: Adventure in the outfield ever. Again, Yeah, I. 605 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:07,680 Speaker 3: Think the synopsis Marcelo Zuna fantastic DH see baseball, hit baseball, 606 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:08,240 Speaker 3: score a. 607 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 2: Lot of runs. 608 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:11,640 Speaker 3: That is very much the motto for his twenty twenty 609 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:14,360 Speaker 3: five and hopefully he can get even close to what 610 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:16,280 Speaker 3: he did last season when he was just so good. 611 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:20,160 Speaker 1: We strongly agree there, and uh, like I said, it'll 612 00:29:20,200 --> 00:29:22,400 Speaker 1: be a topic all year long if he is not extended. 613 00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:25,040 Speaker 1: If he is mashing, it will give us some fodder 614 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:26,960 Speaker 1: to discuss how they're going to handle that going into 615 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:30,240 Speaker 1: the winter. But that's a future Brad future Scott problem. 616 00:29:30,240 --> 00:29:34,640 Speaker 3: As a great reason to subscribe and follow along if 617 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:37,680 Speaker 3: you don't already, because when we do that episode in August, 618 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:41,120 Speaker 3: we will, or we do the reaction episode that they 619 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:44,240 Speaker 3: just extended Marcel, then it'll be in your feeds at 620 00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:46,960 Speaker 3: a moment's notice. You like that professional tease. 621 00:29:46,760 --> 00:29:48,680 Speaker 1: There, we listen if you want to do all the 622 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:51,400 Speaker 1: teases and transitions from now on, I'm actually happy for 623 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:53,840 Speaker 1: you to do that because I not my best thing 624 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 1: in the world either, But no, Scott's Scott, You're the best. 625 00:29:56,360 --> 00:29:58,400 Speaker 3: Everyone should be Subscribing to Hammer Territory. 626 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:01,040 Speaker 1: You can follow Scott Coleman also social media at Scott 627 00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:01,840 Speaker 1: Coleman fifty five. 628 00:30:01,880 --> 00:30:02,800 Speaker 3: Is that correct, my friend? 629 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:05,120 Speaker 2: That is correct? Scott Coleman fifty five. 630 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:07,920 Speaker 1: On socials follow Scott, follow me if you want to 631 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:11,080 Speaker 1: at bt Rowland. Across social media platforms, you can follow 632 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:13,840 Speaker 1: the show at Hammer Territory. We are only half of 633 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:15,640 Speaker 1: the show, the two of us. We also have Steven 634 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:18,160 Speaker 1: Tilbert and Sean Coleman our colleagues. You'll hear from them 635 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:20,480 Speaker 1: as well on the same feed. Please subscribe on Apple 636 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:22,760 Speaker 1: and Spotify as well as YouTube, etc. 637 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:24,520 Speaker 3: We appreciate you listening to the show. 638 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:26,440 Speaker 1: Stay tuned and we'll have more coming up, I'm sure 639 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 1: very very soon on this feed. 640 00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:29,640 Speaker 3: I'll see you all next time.