1 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: And now we're ready to go with our next guest, 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:10,720 Speaker 1: Paul Sport is joining US writer, podcaster Fangrafts and a 3 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: content designer out of the park Baseball so helped me 4 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: do some construction work for front offices out there. What 5 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: have you thought about the off season so far? So 6 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: maybe a favorite move? And then what are you looking 7 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 1: forward to with a market that's still full of available 8 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: names that are going to sign over the next month 9 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:32,239 Speaker 1: or so. 10 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:35,519 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm I'm really eager to kind of see how 11 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 2: the rest of the starting picture market develops with the 12 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 2: two left. He's at top right now from our Valdez 13 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:43,240 Speaker 2: Rangers Suarez. I've always been someone who's been huge on Valdez. 14 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 2: It's coming off of a rough time to be a 15 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:48,199 Speaker 2: free agent, had a tough second half, had the issue 16 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 2: maybe throwing at his young catcher there that we all 17 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 2: saw and I think two a man didn't really like there. 18 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 2: How much will that affect him? I don't know. How 19 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 2: much should it? I don't know? And then you get 20 00:00:57,720 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 2: to the point where is his volume going to be 21 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 2: used again? We talk so much about guys who don't 22 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,480 Speaker 2: throw innings, don't throw innings. This guy does guarantee you. 23 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 2: Some teams are gonna flip it on him, know and say, well, 24 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 2: now your damnage good. You have too many innings on you. 25 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:11,760 Speaker 2: So guys can't win these days. Suarez is the other way, right, 26 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 2: Maybe he doesn't pitch as much Rangers swars. We haven't 27 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 2: seen him put on the workload. Apparently he's asking for 28 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 2: seven years and we'll see if he gets that. But 29 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 2: I'm really interested to see with two guys, neither of 30 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:24,440 Speaker 2: whom are true bona fide, unquestioned aces. They're the last 31 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 2: two guys standing though, and when there's a lot of 32 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 2: money to go around, maybe they end up getting a 33 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:30,480 Speaker 2: huge contracts. So I'm really eager from that standpoint. As 34 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 2: far as a move I liked, I really like Toronto 35 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 2: going out and kind of doubling down on their huge season, 36 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 2: and that includes getting Dylan Ces. This guy's remarkably talented. 37 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 2: He is one where like the nerd stats versus kind 38 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 2: of your surface stats can sometimes disagree and show some 39 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 2: issues with him, but his talent is always evident and 40 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 2: when you can miss bats the way he can consistently, 41 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 2: even with some of the ups and downs that he 42 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 2: does have, Dylan Cees is still a super talent. I 43 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 2: totally understand why they went out and paid for him. 44 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 2: Whenever you're doing a seven year deal, you're not going 45 00:01:57,560 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 2: to get seven great years. But if they get three 46 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 2: good ones, including what maybe next year, while they're still 47 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 2: in this very much competitive window, I think they'll be 48 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 2: fine with it. So I like that move, and it 49 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 2: showed that Toronto was very serious about staying in contention. 50 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 3: I talked about Suarez Valdez, but Tatsuyo and my might 51 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:17,239 Speaker 3: be better than the two of them. Absolutely, are teams 52 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 3: fearful of that? Or are they less fearful because of 53 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 3: what Yoshinobu Yamamoto has done in his short stints so 54 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 3: far in the big leagues. 55 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 2: I think the more certain teams see players from overseas work, 56 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,639 Speaker 2: the more confident they get. But there are it's organization 57 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 2: to organization, their organizations that have a lot of experience 58 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 2: with it, and they go in not nervous at all. 59 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 2: They confidently buy from the KBO and from the Japanese 60 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 2: League without any issue. There are other teams that are 61 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 2: still cautious and still worry about landing a dud. The 62 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 2: thing of it is, though, is a lot of these 63 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 2: guys come over, even the expensive ones come over at 64 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 2: a fair at a pretty good market rate. Now Yamamoto 65 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:56,959 Speaker 2: is an exception, right, he still came over, he got 66 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 2: all the money that you know was basically promise, and 67 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 2: then delivered on that promise. But a lot of guys 68 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 2: come over at a pretty decent discount, usually because they're 69 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 2: a little bit older touch you. Emi is a guy 70 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,239 Speaker 2: who could be another great stud, maybe not to the 71 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 2: level of Yamamoto, but I think he's better than I 72 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 2: manauga to use. Another guy who's come over recently and 73 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 2: had some pretty good seasons with the Cubs, has a 74 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:19,080 Speaker 2: home run issue that I think will continue to plague 75 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 2: him as he spends more time in the States. But 76 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:23,119 Speaker 2: I do think Imaia has a chance to be better 77 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 2: than both Suarez and Valdez, and I wonder how the 78 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 2: dominoes are going to fall there. I actually don't remember 79 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 2: what EMI's posting window is where, you know, depending on 80 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 2: where those three go, maybe jumping out first and getting 81 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 2: Emi could be the discount, and then all the money 82 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 2: still left on Suarez and Valdez might make them a 83 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 2: little bit overvalued. I am most nervous I think about 84 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 2: Suarez specifically, Like I said, I believe in Valdez as 85 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 2: at least a workhorse stud if not a true ace. 86 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 3: Paul, Can we go to the top picture list that 87 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 3: you are going to be releasing later this week, because 88 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 3: the best part about lists are people who are going 89 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 3: to poke holes at it. They're gonna be like, well, 90 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 3: what I'm gonna And there's explanations that you need, the 91 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 3: first one being if you're a Pirates fan, what the 92 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 3: heck Trek Scoogle's better than Paul Skeins? How can you 93 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 3: even say that? And then you just move on from there. 94 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 2: Should I block my Detroit hat here while I'm on 95 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:16,599 Speaker 2: my showing my bias too much? 96 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 3: There we go, There we go. 97 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 2: I am a Tigers fan, and I always make that 98 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 2: bias very clear. We all have biases, folks. Nobody's unbiased. 99 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 2: Anyone telling you they're unbiased, they're lying. You haven't hearing 100 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,159 Speaker 2: biases there? But listen, I think almost harder on the 101 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 2: Tigers to make sure that I'm not going to, you know, 102 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 2: to light with them and boosting up the guys on 103 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 2: my favorite team. But anytime you're going for the two times, 104 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 2: cy Young, I think you're in pretty good standing to 105 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 2: put him number one. I really do think it's a 106 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 2: Skien Scooble one too. Take them how you want them. 107 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 2: I think the Tigers are a bit better club, and 108 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 2: when it comes to fantasy, we do care about the 109 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,160 Speaker 2: win potential, even though that is something that's maybe a 110 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,160 Speaker 2: little bit out of the player's control. So it's not 111 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 2: necessarily against Scheens that it's not his fault he's on 112 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:56,480 Speaker 2: the Pirates, but when you're coming into fantasy, you've got 113 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 2: to pile up wins. And I do think Skiing Scooble 114 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 2: has the edge there being on the Tigers, who are 115 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 2: at least in a competitive window right now. Pirates aren't 116 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 2: trying to get there, though, and I did like that 117 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 2: three way deal they did. 118 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 3: I'm so glad you brought up fantasy because now I'm 119 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 3: gonna go straight to your number eight, who finished second 120 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,039 Speaker 3: in the cy young in Christopher Sanchez. 121 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 4: Are you are you? 122 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:20,919 Speaker 3: Are you playoff bias by putting yo Yoshinoba Yamamoto so 123 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:23,039 Speaker 3: high up on this list or do you feel like 124 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 3: he's gonna have a much better year and give you 125 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 3: more Fantasy points. 126 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 2: I don't think I'm playoff bias and I will say 127 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:31,600 Speaker 2: this only because I was making the case for him, 128 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 2: for Yamoto as the bankable four the fantasy world. At 129 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 2: the end of the season, said scooball Skiins, Crochet are 130 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 2: the top three. Take them how you want them. That's 131 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 2: the lock. That was the consensus. The door was opened 132 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 2: for four, according to a lot of analysts. I said, 133 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 2: at the very beginning of the playoffs, no, no, no, Yamamoto 134 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 2: is the clear four, and then you can go from 135 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 2: five on. So I was kind of playing in my 136 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 2: flag a little early. Admittedly, we all knew he was good. 137 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:56,920 Speaker 2: I didn't think he was going to be as amazing 138 00:05:56,920 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 2: as he was in the playoffs. But I was ready 139 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:00,920 Speaker 2: to be on Yamamoto as a top five bankable guy 140 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:04,159 Speaker 2: right away. The playoffs certainly helped, and again on the 141 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 2: best team in baseball. 142 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 5: Now. 143 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 2: Part of that is actually a little bit of a 144 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 2: detractor in fantasy because of the way they manage their pitchers, 145 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 2: because they're always working toward October. They don't care about 146 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 2: your fantasy wins. They don't care about your fantasy innings. 147 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 2: And I understand that, right I'm not one of these 148 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 2: dweds that's gonna go yell at a manager on Twitter 149 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 2: or anything like that, but you have to be mindful 150 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 2: of that. I do think that that maybe discounts Dodgers 151 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 2: a little bit. I think Yamamoto is a bit of 152 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 2: an exception, though. I think they're paying all this money 153 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 2: for him to be a true ace, to be there 154 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:34,039 Speaker 2: all throughout the regular season and the playoffs as well, 155 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:36,039 Speaker 2: So I think he's somebody who bank on for thirty 156 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 2: plus starts of high quality work. I think he is 157 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 2: the number four, maybe even the number three. I wanted 158 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 2: to put him up above Crochet push come to shove, 159 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:44,840 Speaker 2: though I still kept Crochet at three. 160 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:48,720 Speaker 3: All right, Well, part of fantasy can kind of go 161 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:51,719 Speaker 3: over into a little bit of a line line setting 162 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:54,599 Speaker 3: and Cy Young when you're looking at cy Young picks 163 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 3: at the beginning of the year or your sleeper sleeper 164 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 3: fantasy pick, m hmm to me, I go down into 165 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 3: your ten, eleven and fourteen range where you have where 166 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 3: you have Cole Reagan's, Brian wu and George Kirby. Are 167 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 3: there any other picks for you that could be a 168 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 3: Cy Young type of year this year, just based on 169 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 3: how things kind of went last year and how they 170 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 3: could trend or they could continue to trend up for 171 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 3: next year. 172 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 2: If we had talked this time last year or sometime 173 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:33,960 Speaker 2: in the spring, I'd been killing this team for their 174 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 2: pitching or lack thereof, and all of a sudden a 175 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 2: year later, the Baltimore Orioles I think have two sneaky 176 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 2: candidates in both Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rodgers been really 177 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 2: pleased with their offseason. I was kind of wondering where 178 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 2: this was last year, because we know they got the 179 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 2: check book was open for Elias and they didn't really 180 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 2: go out and get anybody. Maybe he just didn't like 181 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 2: the market, you know, he didn't go for Burns. Obviously, 182 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 2: that blew up in Arizona. Pitchers get hurt. That just happens. 183 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 2: I don't think they knew he was going to get 184 00:07:57,760 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 2: hurt or anything, but I was like, what are they 185 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 2: doing with their pitch? Well, Rodgers blew up for them 186 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 2: and looks like a stud. Bradish came back, and I 187 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 2: think both of those guys could be in contention, especially 188 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 2: if this is a team that is playing to their max. 189 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 2: I heard you guys talking about Alansa before I came on. 190 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 2: I totally agree that he could surprise some folks in 191 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 2: that park. He has everywhere power. And I'm not even 192 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 2: so sure about the yosemity part there where you said 193 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 2: he couldn't hit it out of there. I think we 194 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 2: need to test that theory because maybe the polar Bear could. 195 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 2: But I really really like what Baltimore's doing here. I 196 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 2: like Bradish, I like Rodgers. I think both of them 197 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 2: could be sneaky ale guys in addition to the guys 198 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 2: you mentioned Reagan's Wu, Kirby. The thing of it is 199 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:32,440 Speaker 2: you never go for a favorite in a sy Young 200 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 2: or MVP type bet that just burn your money at 201 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 2: that point. That's so boring, it's lame. There's no sense 202 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 2: in doing it. You're trying to look for the guy 203 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 2: who's really going to rise up. And I think those 204 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 2: five Reagan's, Kirby, Wu, the three that you mentioned, and 205 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,199 Speaker 2: then Bradish and Trevor Rodgers both for the Orioles. I 206 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 2: think those are five really interesting candidates that could be 207 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 2: in that Cy Young talk all year. 208 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:51,840 Speaker 5: Next year. 209 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 3: I'm going to argue this one because of the fact 210 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 3: that that's what we do with lists. We argue about him, 211 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 3: not necessarily that you know, this is who's next to 212 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 3: each other, but Freddy Peralta I feel like should be 213 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 3: higher on this list. Chris Sale has him by one 214 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 3: by one, Stitch, I think you had Sale at sixteen, 215 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:13,680 Speaker 3: Freddy p at seventeen. I felt like the moves Freddy 216 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 3: May last year moved him up into the top ten range. 217 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:19,559 Speaker 3: Do you have a reason why you kept him out 218 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:20,200 Speaker 3: of the top ten? 219 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 2: I think because we still haven't. I mean, I try 220 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 2: not to judge guys too harshly on not having huge 221 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 2: volume because that's not the game we're in anymore. So 222 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 2: I don't really bad guys that too much. But when 223 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 2: it comes to my top ten, I want to have 224 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 2: seen a two hundred inning season, and I know that 225 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 2: that is becoming increasingly rare, and he's really been more 226 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 2: of that one to seventy five type. I will say this, 227 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:44,080 Speaker 2: and not to take myself off the hook. I appreciate 228 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 2: the pushback here on Parolta, but I am a little 229 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 2: bit higher than the industry right now on him. So 230 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,080 Speaker 2: I am on the Parolta train, but maybe I move 231 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:52,679 Speaker 2: him up a little bit higher because I'm a per 232 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 2: innings guy. We can't predict health, and we cannot predict 233 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 2: the guys that are gonna, you know, stay healthy all 234 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 2: year for thirty two plus starts. There's a few guys 235 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 2: each year that can do that. So give me the 236 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 2: most talented guys. That's why I have somebody like Bike 237 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 2: Snell ranked twelfth. I understand that he has like, you know, 238 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:09,959 Speaker 2: eighty innings the last three years in the regular season, 239 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 2: but he's so good when he pitches. Peralta's a case 240 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 2: like that, So I really do think you can make 241 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 2: a strong case to move him up right there with 242 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:19,440 Speaker 2: Reagan's woo and Snell in that ten eleven twelve range, 243 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 2: and I will take that an under invisement before these 244 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:22,559 Speaker 2: go out later this week. 245 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:26,679 Speaker 5: I love that, Paul. I love that. 246 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 1: I love the energy and the analysis there, and then 247 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 1: I'm excited to get the feedback. You know, it's always 248 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 1: a super kind and just full of appreciation from everybody 249 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 1: that reads it. But really you look inside and you know, hey, 250 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: at least they read it and there's interest there despite 251 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 1: what they say. 252 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 5: It's good debate. 253 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:45,560 Speaker 1: On our way out, I just want to reiterate this too. 254 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: You love playing out of the park baseball, so do 255 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:52,080 Speaker 1: I again, just to remind everyone eighty percent off running 256 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 1: right now, there it is plus a perfect points sale. 257 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 1: It is nine to ninety nine, as Paul said, for 258 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 1: at least one night, but for many people, many many 259 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 1: nights of entertainment. So, Paul, can you just tell us 260 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:08,319 Speaker 1: either your favorite part of OTP twenty six Because they 261 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:10,960 Speaker 1: update each year pretty significantly, That's why some people are like, 262 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 1: well I have twenty five. No, no, you got to 263 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 1: get twenty six. So can you tell us one of 264 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: your favorite parts of why you play? I know, for me, 265 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:25,679 Speaker 1: I always wanted to do the GM. 266 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:27,079 Speaker 5: Be like a GM, but obviously not actually be a GM. 267 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: And also I wanted it to be so realistic that 268 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: things pop up that really do happen, even though they 269 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 1: seem crazy. 270 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 5: And you know what I'm talking about. 271 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:39,559 Speaker 1: Every scenario you can ever think of pops up in OTP, 272 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 1: which is just like real life. 273 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 5: You know, I, Hey, your player got caught in. 274 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 1: A betting scandal or hey, like everything happens, and that's 275 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:50,960 Speaker 1: how real life is it is. 276 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:52,839 Speaker 2: I mean, I had Lad Junior leave for the NBA 277 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 2: one year in a SIM in an OTP twenty four 278 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 2: sim he left to become a point guard in the 279 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 2: NBA was pretty hilarious, except the fact that I lost 280 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:02,679 Speaker 2: lat Junior. It was not that funny to me, but yeah, 281 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 2: they've got everything. 282 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 4: That's the base. 283 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 2: Game, where you can take a team over, you can 284 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 2: go back in history if you want, you can go 285 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 2: from today forward. But I also focus heavily on the 286 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 2: perfect team aspect, which is similar to Diamond Dynasty if 287 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 2: you're familiar with MLB, the show where you collect cards 288 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 2: based on historical players, put your team together and go 289 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 2: against other people. This year, the expansive content that we've 290 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 2: had with the art team bringing in more and more 291 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 2: licensing so we've got actual pictures of guys has really 292 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 2: been at our best level yet. So every year we're 293 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 2: trying to improve that and leverage the licenses that we 294 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 2: have so that we can show more and more player 295 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 2: faces and just kind of create more flair for the 296 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 2: cards because the aesthetic value, like it's cool to show 297 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 2: off that you got the cool looking card too, right. 298 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 2: It's great that he plays well and he simulates well 299 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:46,959 Speaker 2: and he's helping you win tournaments in league, but it's 300 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 2: also neat that it looks cool, because we like things 301 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:51,480 Speaker 2: that look cool in video games. So I've been really 302 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:53,719 Speaker 2: really impressed with how well our art team has done 303 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 2: this year. Our tournament suite, like what we offer for 304 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 2: you to be able to do in the Perfect Team 305 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 2: game is just so expansive. So whether you're new to 306 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 2: OTP or you've been playing the Bass game and want 307 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 2: to come over to Perfect Team, there's so much to do. 308 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 2: It's a lot of fun. The discord, all the people 309 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 2: on Twitch. Great, great community too, that's always willing to 310 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 2: help newcomers because it is a lot to take on. 311 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:15,440 Speaker 2: It's a deep, rich game of baseball nerddom. But the 312 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 2: people once you get in and start meeting the community, 313 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:20,120 Speaker 2: so many people willing to help you because we want 314 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 2: the friendly competition of it all. It's not like, oh 315 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 2: I don't want to make somebody better because they might 316 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:25,599 Speaker 2: beat me. It's like, hey, we want everyone to be 317 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:27,839 Speaker 2: good because it's fun to having a competitive environment in 318 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:28,560 Speaker 2: Perfect Team. 319 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's probably the friendliest environment out there community out 320 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:39,079 Speaker 1: there in like the baseball space, right, like just super supportive. Yeah, 321 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:40,680 Speaker 1: it's a great community. 322 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 2: I mean they're always Yeah, the way they build up 323 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 2: like for the base game, like the mods that they 324 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 2: do for stadiums and rosters and face gen like some 325 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 2: like aftermarket stuff. Basically we're talking here. People create faces 326 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 2: for the entire Negro leagues or the entire MLB history 327 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:00,960 Speaker 2: that you can load in and play with. So there's 328 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 2: so much great stuff I can't I couldn't even do 329 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:06,080 Speaker 2: an hour with y'all to get in everything. That wouldn't 330 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 2: even be enough time. That's how rich the game is. 331 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 2: But ten bucks, you will not regret it because again 332 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 2: you'll at least get one solid night out of it, 333 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:13,640 Speaker 2: and that's worth ten bucks any day. 334 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 5: Yep, exactly. 335 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 1: My thing was, Yeah, I'm not in and on an 336 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 1: everyday basis like you are, but when I do jump 337 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: in it on certain special occasions, you feel like you're 338 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 1: part of the group, which I love, and it's hard 339 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 1: to do that. 340 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 5: Most groups will be like, who are you? 341 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 1: You're just stopping by here, you know a few times 342 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 1: a year to do some type of you know, live 343 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 1: twitch sim or something like that. 344 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 5: But it's been awesome. So I just wanted to shout 345 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 5: out the community there and. 346 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 2: Call you the glad that we keep it inviting y'all 347 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 2: in and we love that. Y'all have had me on 348 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 2: to talk about the game a few times too. I 349 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 2: really do appreciate that. 350 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 5: Guys. Thank you. Anytime, man. 351 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 1: We'll do it again next year, okay, So have a 352 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 1: great holiday, Happy New Year to you, and good luck 353 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: when your list comes out, we'll be looking at the 354 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 1: article and the comments. 355 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 2: Thanks, gentlemen, Take care. 356 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 1: The newest member of the Pittsburgh Pirates is here, Brandon 357 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 1: Lau joining us right now, just a few days after 358 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: the tradeover from the Rais and a great run with 359 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 1: Tampa Bay. Brandon, good to see you man. Happy holidays. 360 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 1: And what was your reaction when you got the phone call? 361 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 4: Yeah, thanks for having me on. 362 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 6: A lot of mixed emotions on it, honestly, you know, 363 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 6: we're kind of expecting it. We got a little bit 364 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 6: of the heads up from Eric, so you know, absolutely 365 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:24,479 Speaker 6: didn't have to do that, and so it was a 366 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 6: great thing on his part to do. But yeah, it 367 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 6: was just you know, closing a chapter in Tampa. But 368 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 6: on the flip side of things, going to a team 369 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 6: that's you know, showing a whill to go get guys 370 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:37,840 Speaker 6: and really kind of get into that win. 371 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 3: Now, what is a heads up? What is it like, Hey, 372 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 3: in two hours, this could happen. Hey we're talking and 373 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:47,400 Speaker 3: a week out, a week later it happened. 374 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 6: It was more of hey man, it's talks are really 375 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 6: starting to kick up a little bit. And I mean, 376 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 6: you know how things work. It's I've been around the 377 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 6: Rays for a while. You understand the big this model 378 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 6: and how things work over there, and you know, you 379 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 6: start to play GM in your own head, so you 380 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 6: kind of understand that this makes too much sense to 381 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 6: move me now. So it kind of it just all 382 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 6: kind of came together and you kind of started putting 383 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 6: the puzzle pieces together yourself. It was more of a 384 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 6: of a you know, a couple of days of you know, 385 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:24,240 Speaker 6: this really started ramping up. I would you know, be 386 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 6: prepared look into something happening. 387 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 3: Do they tell you? Do they tell you what teams 388 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:34,200 Speaker 3: are are asking? And did you think it was going 389 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:38,480 Speaker 3: to be the Pirates when Eric called you? You're talking 390 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:40,040 Speaker 3: about Eric Neander for anybody? 391 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 5: Does he doesn't. 392 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 6: Yeah, he kind of gave me just like a list 393 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 6: and he's like, hey, these are the teams. Like I 394 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 6: can't tell you one is going to be the thing, 395 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 6: because you know, I mean the Pirates could have offered 396 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 6: one thing and then you know another team swoop in 397 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 6: with a better deal and they would have done that one. 398 00:16:56,800 --> 00:17:00,240 Speaker 6: So it's more just hey, these are some of the 399 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 6: people that are you know, searching around for to trade 400 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 6: for you, and you know, we just want to give 401 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:06,199 Speaker 6: you that heads up. 402 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:10,400 Speaker 7: Have the pirates talked to you about you know, where 403 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 7: you're going to play, what positions and you know what 404 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 7: what they think about you and where you're gonna where 405 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 7: you're gonna be pretty much? 406 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:19,159 Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean there's been there's been a lot of 407 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 6: phone calls the past few days. I've been, uh, probably 408 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 6: used up my words for the next month and a 409 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 6: half all the talking I've had to do. But yeah, 410 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:28,879 Speaker 6: I mean, it's it seems that second base is going 411 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:31,879 Speaker 6: to be the primary focus and then you know, whatever 412 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:35,480 Speaker 6: else they ask of it. But you know, I'm excited 413 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 6: to get out there and be in a position that 414 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 6: I'm comfortable with. 415 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:41,440 Speaker 3: Can you tell us the other teams that Eric told 416 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 3: you about that Eric Neander told you about when during 417 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 3: that process. 418 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 6: I don't want to get on any anyone's bad side 419 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 6: or anything that way. 420 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:52,440 Speaker 4: I don't know if he would want me to share 421 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:53,640 Speaker 4: that or if the other teams would. 422 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:54,280 Speaker 5: I don't. 423 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 3: That's fine, No, I'm not. I'm not gonna press you, 424 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 3: but I want to press you about one thing. You said, 425 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 3: you know how the Rays go. You know how you 426 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,640 Speaker 3: don't even need to listen or read MLB trade rumors 427 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:08,719 Speaker 3: or anything like that. You knew where you were at 428 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:11,119 Speaker 3: in your contract. You knew how the Rays deal with 429 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 3: guys and at the end of their contracts. How does 430 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 3: the end of the season go for you? Because it's 431 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:20,399 Speaker 3: really all you've known. You know, you've only hit dangers 432 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 3: for the Rays. Do you start pat Well, you always 433 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:24,640 Speaker 3: have to pack your stuff up because you guys weren't 434 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 3: gonna be in Steinbrenner again. So that's a good thing. 435 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:30,159 Speaker 3: But is it Is it a different end to the 436 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 3: season when you guys made like a little mini run 437 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:35,040 Speaker 3: right at the end to try to make the playoffs, 438 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 3: and then when it's over, do you have it? Was 439 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 3: it a different kind of ending to the season than 440 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 3: other years? 441 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:45,120 Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean I think it's it was a very 442 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 6: similar to the way that things ended in the previous year. 443 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:51,879 Speaker 6: You know, we did make that little run, but it 444 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 6: wasn't sustained enough for it to really get really interesting 445 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:58,360 Speaker 6: there down the stretch. I mean, we started playing some 446 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:03,000 Speaker 6: you call it garbage time ball games there at the end. 447 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:04,320 Speaker 6: You know, we were out of it, and we were 448 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:07,200 Speaker 6: just kind of playing baseball at that point, which it's 449 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:08,440 Speaker 6: not upset about. 450 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 4: But you know, it's just. 451 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:12,919 Speaker 6: You knew that you weren't playing for the postseason, so 452 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 6: you know, those games are always not as much fun. 453 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 2: All Right. 454 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:21,639 Speaker 3: You said you've used up all your words, so you 455 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 3: can use up more of your words here. Well, I 456 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 3: want to know what the pirates talk to you about, 457 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:30,040 Speaker 3: because some people think it's just oh man, they traded 458 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 3: for Brandon Lao. Okay, Brandon you're on the team seeing 459 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 3: Bradenton in a few months. Like, what do they talk 460 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 3: to you about? And are you kind of like, why 461 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:40,680 Speaker 3: did they call me to tell me this? 462 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:42,480 Speaker 2: No? 463 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:44,639 Speaker 4: I mean it's all been extremely helpful stuff. 464 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 6: I mean, I've talked with Sharon Ton, I've talked with DK, 465 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 6: the manager, the hitting coaches, you know, I just had 466 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:55,359 Speaker 6: a trainer reach out, you know, the clubhouse guys. Everybody's 467 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:57,679 Speaker 6: trying to get in touch with you to you know, 468 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:00,920 Speaker 6: not only make their introductions, but you know, try to 469 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:04,680 Speaker 6: get you settled in any way possible, you know, try 470 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 6: to get any questions that you have answered anything like that. So, 471 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:12,119 Speaker 6: I mean, it was everything's been extremely helpful, trying to 472 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:15,600 Speaker 6: get us ready, But you know, it's nothing's going to 473 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:19,600 Speaker 6: be normal until you actually get there in person and start, 474 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 6: you know, building that relationship. 475 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:25,159 Speaker 1: Hey, Brandon, I want to talk recruiting for a moment. 476 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 1: This didn't have to happen because you were traded, but 477 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,800 Speaker 1: it has been reported that the Pirates might tap into 478 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:34,159 Speaker 1: one of the best pictures on the planet. Paul schemes 479 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:36,040 Speaker 1: to make some phone calls to make the team better. 480 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 1: Sounds like that makes a ton of sense to me, 481 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:39,879 Speaker 1: as long as the money can back it up for 482 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 1: the free agent to want to be there in the 483 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:43,840 Speaker 1: fit the whole deal. So, first off, have you spoken 484 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:47,240 Speaker 1: to Paul at all yet? I'll go on that one 485 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 1: first and then i'll give you the next one here, 486 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 1: But have you spoken to him? And at the very least, 487 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:55,000 Speaker 1: how excited are you to be teammates with him? He's 488 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:58,679 Speaker 1: pretty business like with how ridiculously good he's been so 489 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 1: far in his first couple of seasons. 490 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:06,199 Speaker 6: Yeah. Absolutely, I've not talked to Paul yet, but speaking on, 491 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:08,280 Speaker 6: you know, being a teammate with. 492 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:11,120 Speaker 4: Him, I mean, it's. 493 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:11,880 Speaker 6: Probably the best picture in the big leagues right now. 494 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 6: So he's a it's a pretty good guy. To have 495 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 6: on your team. So I'm excited to kind of see 496 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,359 Speaker 6: the behind the scenes work of it all. You know, 497 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:23,240 Speaker 6: playing against him and seeing it on TV and stuff 498 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:25,719 Speaker 6: like that, you understand that, you know, he's got electric 499 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:27,199 Speaker 6: stuff and you can throw it where he wants to. 500 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 6: But being a baseball player and understanding the process of everything, 501 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:34,960 Speaker 6: you understand that stuff doesn't happen just overnight with with 502 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:38,879 Speaker 6: no work. So I'm excited to see everything else that 503 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:41,840 Speaker 6: kind of goes on, you know, see the hard work 504 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:45,160 Speaker 6: that he puts in, you know, see what he does 505 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:47,480 Speaker 6: to truly get out there and be that dominant and 506 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:51,200 Speaker 6: understand that he's not just waking up every fifth day 507 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:52,679 Speaker 6: and going out and throwing seven Shetty. 508 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:58,159 Speaker 1: My next question on the recruiting front, do you have 509 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:00,639 Speaker 1: it in you to help the pirates? They ask you 510 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:02,639 Speaker 1: for a phone caller too. I know you're new to 511 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:04,800 Speaker 1: the party, but you're one of the veteran bats here, 512 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:07,639 Speaker 1: and specifically it could be a phone call for a 513 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 1: former teammate, like a potential high leverage, you know, reliever 514 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:14,439 Speaker 1: out there, like like you know someone that's named rhymes 515 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:17,439 Speaker 1: with Tearbanks something like that, right, Just would you be 516 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:20,119 Speaker 1: able to make phone calls like that comfortably to help 517 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:23,240 Speaker 1: a team that is hopefully on the rise, hasn't seen 518 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:27,240 Speaker 1: much playoff success or really appearances in general in a while, 519 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:29,200 Speaker 1: and are trying to convince the them base like, Hey, 520 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:31,480 Speaker 1: we're in this. We just brought in Brandon Lound, We've 521 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 1: got some money to spend on some other guys. 522 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:35,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, I don't. 523 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 6: I think that would be difficult for me to speak 524 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 6: on the intricacies and everything that works within the Pirates 525 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:45,199 Speaker 6: organization and stuff, you know, for me to try to 526 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:47,879 Speaker 6: call somebody that rhymes with that name and tell him that, 527 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:50,919 Speaker 6: you know, the pitching staff is incredible, and you know, 528 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:53,119 Speaker 6: the pitching coaches are great. Like, I can't speak on 529 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:55,440 Speaker 6: any of that. I've not been around it. I don't 530 00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 6: know what they're going to be talking about. So, I mean, 531 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:02,480 Speaker 6: I think Paul and probably Reynolds are your best guys 532 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:06,240 Speaker 6: to to be out there. I'm by all means, if 533 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 6: somebody wants to talk to me and you know, one 534 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:12,199 Speaker 6: wants to hear my two cents on everything, I'll absolutely 535 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,239 Speaker 6: share it. But right now I feel like that that 536 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:17,360 Speaker 6: comes with a grain of salt. You know, it's I've 537 00:23:17,359 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 6: not truly been around it. But you know, I've been 538 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 6: welcomed in with open arms, and you know, the fan 539 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:26,520 Speaker 6: base has been great so far, and I'm excited to 540 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:29,560 Speaker 6: see what it all all takes in when we get 541 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:31,320 Speaker 6: up to to Pittsburgh this year. 542 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 3: What do you know about Pittsburgh? What do you know 543 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:36,320 Speaker 3: about the fans? What do you know about like, what 544 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:38,840 Speaker 3: have you thought about the stadium when you've when you've 545 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:42,879 Speaker 3: come into the city to play, Because something people don't 546 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 3: know is the Troup was not the most friend hit 547 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:49,479 Speaker 3: or friendly place to hit, and yet you've hit a 548 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:51,400 Speaker 3: ton of dingers. People look at it and they go, 549 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:53,920 Speaker 3: oh yeah, but he gets to play in Yankee Stadium. 550 00:23:54,119 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 3: Like when your home field is the trop and you 551 00:23:56,760 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 3: were left handed, it actually squat power and you look 552 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:04,640 Speaker 3: at P and C Park and they got that nice 553 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:08,560 Speaker 3: little Clemente wall for you. And I honestly believe right 554 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:12,880 Speaker 3: center is a joke because it's short and it's straight across. 555 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:16,280 Speaker 3: But what do you know about the fan base, the 556 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:18,880 Speaker 3: the field, the you know, the things that you've liked 557 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:21,680 Speaker 3: or disliked when you've come in to play against the Pirates. 558 00:24:23,119 --> 00:24:26,320 Speaker 6: Yes, I mean I've played three games total in the stadium, 559 00:24:26,359 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 6: in my career, which uh so I don't have much 560 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 6: of a feel of a whole lot of things of it. 561 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:34,080 Speaker 6: But I mean it's one of the best stadiums in baseball. 562 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:36,240 Speaker 6: Like you go in there, the back drop of the city, 563 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:40,600 Speaker 6: I mean, it's gorgeous, the playing surface, everything about it's 564 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:43,080 Speaker 6: a really cool place to go play. So that in 565 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:47,239 Speaker 6: and of itself is is really exciting. And then you 566 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:49,119 Speaker 6: just you know the city of Pittsburgh, you know, the 567 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:52,440 Speaker 6: way they support the Steelers, and just like the way 568 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 6: that the fan base is, you know, they're they're they're 569 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,879 Speaker 6: just waiting for the team to be good. And you know, 570 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:01,679 Speaker 6: I think there's a real opportunity for them to make 571 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:05,120 Speaker 6: this team pretty good and get those fans out there 572 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:08,359 Speaker 6: and you know, make that place really loud and rocking. 573 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 4: And I'm excited to hit there. 574 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:10,919 Speaker 5: You know. 575 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:12,960 Speaker 6: It seems like a very good spot for a left 576 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:14,880 Speaker 6: handed hitter to go play. 577 00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:20,160 Speaker 5: Oh oh, we're good. 578 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 4: I'm sitting on a table right now and one of the. 579 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 3: One of the turkeys shoot back at you. Is that 580 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:25,960 Speaker 3: what happened? And shut your phone. 581 00:25:26,040 --> 00:25:27,600 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's just getting really loud in here. 582 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:30,399 Speaker 5: I love it. 583 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:34,880 Speaker 1: So do you know about the I mean, I guess 584 00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:36,320 Speaker 1: this is all new to the party, but do you 585 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:39,399 Speaker 1: know about one of the top prospects in baseball in 586 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:43,720 Speaker 1: Connor Griffin. I know it's been reported he might have 587 00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:46,200 Speaker 1: a shot to crack the team out of spring training. 588 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:47,480 Speaker 5: I'm sure you'll get to know him. 589 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:51,720 Speaker 1: But you've had a lot of experience with young players 590 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:54,640 Speaker 1: coming through the Rais system. I mean, it's no secret 591 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:57,879 Speaker 1: that they churn out prospects and they often have to 592 00:25:58,119 --> 00:25:59,960 Speaker 1: create a lot of turnover to open up a spot 593 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:02,840 Speaker 1: for someone else based on budget restriction stuff like that. 594 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:05,000 Speaker 5: So you know, how. 595 00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 1: Would you handle working with someone who could be one 596 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:08,760 Speaker 1: of the youngest players in Major League Baseball? And it's 597 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:10,720 Speaker 1: not just mentoring, which I know you've done really well 598 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:13,560 Speaker 1: with the race. This might be your double play partner. 599 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:17,080 Speaker 6: Right yeah, I mean, if he's the guy at shortstop, 600 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:20,560 Speaker 6: I mean, it's first off to begin this whole I've 601 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:23,280 Speaker 6: heard nothing but incredible things about who he is as 602 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:26,040 Speaker 6: a as a player and as an athlete. So I mean, 603 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:30,440 Speaker 6: that's it's pretty exciting stuff when you hear, you know, 604 00:26:31,119 --> 00:26:34,399 Speaker 6: people that are very respected or that that I hold 605 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 6: very highly. You know, the words that they say about 606 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:40,399 Speaker 6: certain players and for them to speak so highly of Connor. 607 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:43,560 Speaker 6: I'm excited to see exactly what it looks like in 608 00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:46,879 Speaker 6: person and on the field. And you know, as for 609 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:49,359 Speaker 6: you know, a guy being young in the big leagues 610 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:51,679 Speaker 6: or anything like that, I don't. I don't think that 611 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:54,120 Speaker 6: age is your defining factor. You know, there are definitely 612 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:58,240 Speaker 6: multiple things that go into it. You know, you don't 613 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 6: get to this position in baseball and be a highly 614 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 6: talented prospect the way that he is without an extreme 615 00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:07,840 Speaker 6: work ethic and a drive to be one of the 616 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:12,119 Speaker 6: best players you know in baseball. So that's really, you know, 617 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:14,480 Speaker 6: all you really need to hear and really need to 618 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:15,760 Speaker 6: see out of a guy. You know that he's going 619 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:18,439 Speaker 6: to work his tail off to be good. And you know, 620 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:21,520 Speaker 6: as for anything that I can do, I can just truly, 621 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:24,040 Speaker 6: I could probably just answer questions for him. He's probably 622 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:28,000 Speaker 6: an extremely good hitter, an extremely good defender, and there's 623 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:30,679 Speaker 6: a reason he's the number one prospect in baseball. You know, 624 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:33,639 Speaker 6: I'm just there to put up some guidelines for him. 625 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:37,920 Speaker 7: Maybe that's all that's all you can ask. My last 626 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:40,280 Speaker 7: question would be, like anything you want to say to 627 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 7: the Tampa fans that you were there for a while. 628 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:45,119 Speaker 7: You know, he had a good time there. I know 629 00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:46,880 Speaker 7: you did and you played well. So anything you want 630 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:47,720 Speaker 7: to let them know about. 631 00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:51,240 Speaker 4: I mean, just from the bottom of my heart, thank 632 00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:51,679 Speaker 4: you guys. 633 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:56,159 Speaker 6: I mean it's it's never easy, you know, going in 634 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:59,320 Speaker 6: somewhere and not knowing the city, not knowing the fan 635 00:27:59,359 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 6: base or anything like that. 636 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 4: But they made it very easy. 637 00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:01,879 Speaker 5: You know. 638 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:05,199 Speaker 6: They took me and my family in from from the 639 00:28:05,240 --> 00:28:09,159 Speaker 6: start and we called it home. Man. That was everything 640 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:11,960 Speaker 6: we knew and we loved it. And I'll always be 641 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:15,320 Speaker 6: thankful to Tampa Bay and and everything they've done. 642 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:19,560 Speaker 3: You have to pick because other shows are like, well, 643 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:22,440 Speaker 3: you know, I can't pick. You got to pick who 644 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:24,840 Speaker 3: are you going to miss the most? Besides Chad Mattola, 645 00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:28,960 Speaker 3: the hitting coach there in Tampa, who are you going 646 00:28:29,040 --> 00:28:31,200 Speaker 3: to miss the most? And then everyone else can shoot 647 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 3: you a text and be like, are you serious, bro? 648 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:35,520 Speaker 3: You miss Yandi the most? 649 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:39,360 Speaker 6: No, I mean there's so many, so many of the 650 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:45,040 Speaker 6: guys that are gonna miss. Honestly, I gotta say the Rasmussen's, 651 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:49,680 Speaker 6: the and the family as a whole. Man. It's that's 652 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 6: that's the part that really makes this the most difficult 653 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:55,080 Speaker 6: is not is understanding that my son and their son 654 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 6: aren't going to be playing with each other every day. 655 00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:01,280 Speaker 6: You know, they everywhere that they went, Man, it was 656 00:29:01,280 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 6: like there's two were attached to the hip. So that's 657 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:05,760 Speaker 6: that's the toughest. Toughest part of this whole move is 658 00:29:06,800 --> 00:29:08,800 Speaker 6: understanding that they're not going to see each other every day. 659 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:12,480 Speaker 3: How hard? How hard is it on your wife? How hard? 660 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:15,040 Speaker 3: I mean, obviously your son is how old is he three? 661 00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 4: Now? He's about turn three? 662 00:29:17,680 --> 00:29:20,760 Speaker 3: Okay, how hard is it on your wife? We rarely 663 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:23,680 Speaker 3: get into it because it's players talking to players, but 664 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:26,720 Speaker 3: you mentioned it, so I have to ask when that 665 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:30,000 Speaker 3: call came in, how hard was it? And who was 666 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:33,120 Speaker 3: the first text or phone call that she got from 667 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:33,920 Speaker 3: one of her friends. 668 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:39,280 Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean it's extremely tough. That's the hardest part 669 00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:42,120 Speaker 6: honestly about the business is you know, it just it 670 00:29:42,200 --> 00:29:45,560 Speaker 6: rips friendships away from you. And you know, you can 671 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:48,840 Speaker 6: you can do whatever you want to keep that friendship 672 00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:53,640 Speaker 6: going and talking with people and you know, over phone 673 00:29:53,680 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 6: and stuff like that, but you know, when you're not 674 00:29:55,840 --> 00:29:58,880 Speaker 6: with them every day for seven months like you usually are, 675 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:03,320 Speaker 6: you tend to drift a little bit. So those are 676 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:06,280 Speaker 6: difficult because you make those relationships, you have those friends 677 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:10,480 Speaker 6: for the better half eight years. But I think the 678 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:14,600 Speaker 6: first phone call that she got was actually Blair Reynolds 679 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:17,160 Speaker 6: like called her and was like, you're with the Pirates, Like, 680 00:30:17,200 --> 00:30:20,040 Speaker 6: I can't wait, I'm so excited. So I think Blair 681 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:21,840 Speaker 6: actually broke the news to her because she didn't have 682 00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:25,360 Speaker 6: her phone with her when I was texting her. 683 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:32,000 Speaker 5: Wow, that's good, that's good. Hey, that's what happens. You 684 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:33,840 Speaker 5: know the speed game, Brandon. 685 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:37,080 Speaker 1: I mean, it's suddenly it's a thing, it comes out, 686 00:30:37,120 --> 00:30:40,920 Speaker 1: it's fast, and then everybody knows about it. So I'm 687 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:43,040 Speaker 1: glad man, I'm glad to see you end up in 688 00:30:43,280 --> 00:30:45,000 Speaker 1: a spot that I think you know, has a lot 689 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:47,480 Speaker 1: of promise. It's coming season, depending on what they do 690 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:49,720 Speaker 1: the rest of the off season, so we'll look forward 691 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:52,280 Speaker 1: to seeing in spring training. But thanks for joining us, dude, 692 00:30:52,280 --> 00:30:54,400 Speaker 1: and also enjoy the trip you're on and have a 693 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:55,080 Speaker 1: great holiday. 694 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:57,680 Speaker 4: I appreciate you guys. Thanks for having me on