1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,120 Speaker 1: This is a team that, the way I described it, 2 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:04,480 Speaker 1: they're a blight on the sport and it's kind of 3 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: a cynical way to run the franchise when you might 4 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:10,119 Speaker 1: be inviting agrievance from the union and seemingly we're good 5 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: with that. Welcome everyone to the Thursday edition of Fair Territory. 6 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: I'm Ken Rosenthal here with Alana Rizzo and Alana can 7 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: you believe it? The domestic opening day is one week 8 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 1: away from today. That's right. The season starts in one 9 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 1: week and as spring training winds down, we've got some 10 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 1: interesting things to discuss we do. 11 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:32,840 Speaker 2: Ken, always great to be with you. Let's get right 12 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,560 Speaker 2: to it as we get going with the lead here 13 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,599 Speaker 2: on Fair Territory with Ken Rosenthal and Ken, I know 14 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 2: it's hard for me to say this, but it's not 15 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 2: just about the Los Angeles Dodgers. You have a team 16 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 2: in mind that could literally be their biggest competitors. Who 17 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 2: is it? 18 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: The Atlanta Braves. And I am intrigued by the Braves 19 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 1: obviously because of what the projection systems say. Most of 20 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: them have the Braves as the second best team in 21 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: baseball behind the Dodgers. I'm also intrigued by the depth 22 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 1: that they're building with some of these minor league contracts 23 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:08,119 Speaker 1: in recent weeks, Hector Narris, James McCann, Craig Kimbrel, and 24 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 1: finally Alana. I know it's spring training, it doesn't count. 25 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: I shouldn't even be paying attention, but the Braves starting 26 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:16,959 Speaker 1: pitching is starting to look like well, not starting to 27 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: look like it could be quite formidable. And I'm talking 28 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:22,919 Speaker 1: about three performances in the past week and again spring training. 29 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 1: I'm going to qualify it. But these guys all are 30 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:29,119 Speaker 1: either established as decent major league pitchers or really good 31 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 1: major league pitchers. And you go back to Saturday, and 32 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 1: that's a j. Smith Shawver, he's a young prospect twenty two, 33 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:38,200 Speaker 1: struck out eight and four innings against the Twins. Spencer 34 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:42,840 Speaker 1: Streider his first appearance since his elbow surgery in April 35 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: of twenty four, eight k's and two and two thirds, 36 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: including five in a row at one point, and that 37 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: was incredibly encouraging for the Braves with Strider coming back. 38 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 1: And then last night Thursday night, actually it was Wednesday, 39 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: I guess Spencer schwellenback ten k's six innings against the 40 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 1: Yankees again spring but the Braves. Once they get a 41 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: Kunya back, once they get Sean Murphy back, they're going 42 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 1: to be quite interesting. Are they as good as the 43 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 1: Dodgers on paper? Well? No, not according to the projection systems. 44 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 1: But this is a formidable team that frankly, I don't 45 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 1: believe we've talked enough. 46 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 2: About, certainly a challenger to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 47 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 2: the National League can And I want to go back 48 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 2: to that graphic for just a second. What I noticed there. 49 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 2: Not only are they all with s's as far as 50 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 2: starting their last name with, but look at the swing 51 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 2: and miss. I mean, there's twenty six strikeouts among the 52 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 2: three of those guys, a lot of k's as far 53 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 2: as that is concerned. In those three outings that you mentioned, 54 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 2: Are they all the same type of picture? How do 55 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:41,399 Speaker 2: you break them down when you look at those three 56 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 2: in particular. 57 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 1: No, they're not the same type. And of course no 58 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:49,360 Speaker 1: two pictures are exactly alike. Strider is the ace, the 59 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:52,800 Speaker 1: cy young Candiate, the guy that you think might ultimately 60 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: be one of the great pictures of this generation should 61 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 1: he stay healthy and keep it together. Smith Sharvor again 62 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: promising different kind of picture to some degree, but he's 63 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:05,359 Speaker 1: a guy with a world of talent and Schuella Mack. 64 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,639 Speaker 1: We saw this guy last year. He was really good 65 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: last year. He has an incredible athleticism and poise on 66 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 1: the mound for someone who really hasn't pitched all that much. 67 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:18,119 Speaker 1: So he's intriguing. And of course the one s who 68 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 1: is missing from that list is the raining Cy Young winner. 69 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:24,679 Speaker 1: That would be Chris sale Rinaldo Lopez. Also a part 70 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 1: of that rotation. They've got Ian Anderson who has not 71 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 1: had a good spring in Grant Holmes also for depth, 72 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 1: I just kind of like where they are with their 73 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 1: starting pitching for starters and then the offense. Once a 74 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 1: coon you comes back and remember this is his second 75 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: knee surgery on the other knee, but he's gone through 76 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 1: this rehab before. He knows what it entails. He knows 77 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 1: that it's going to take time for him to keep 78 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 1: his recovery process going and then come back as good 79 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 1: as he hopefully can be. So this is a team 80 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: that had some offensive regression last year. Of if it's 81 00:03:57,120 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: Grade twenty three, I would expect they're going to be 82 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: really good. 83 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 2: I would never count out an Alex Anthopolis or Brian 84 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 2: Snickert led squad love the Land of Braves what they've 85 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 2: done over the course of the last ten years at least. 86 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 2: All right, Let's go over to a team ken in 87 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 2: the American League that has always been a perennial power, 88 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 2: at least for the last decade, and that is the 89 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 2: Houston Astros. This is a little perplexing to me. And 90 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 2: I understand you're going to put guys in positions to succeed, 91 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 2: and you're also gonna put guys where your roster dictates 92 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 2: in terms of positions. But I'm a little confused about 93 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 2: the move of Jose Altuve to left field. I understand 94 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 2: he's not the great, you know, the best defensive second basement, 95 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 2: but what do you make of the move. 96 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: To left Obviously this week there were some hiccups and 97 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,039 Speaker 1: he had some plays you might have seen the videos 98 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 1: by now that did not go well. But it is 99 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 1: spring training and you would hope that as time goes 100 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:51,159 Speaker 1: on he gets more accustomed to the position. But a 101 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 1: lot of you hit it on the head. He had 102 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: become a well below average second baseman. By any metric 103 00:04:57,200 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: you use, he was among the worst in the league. 104 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:02,479 Speaker 1: Maybe he was a little bored at the position and 105 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:06,719 Speaker 1: maybe he needed a new challenge. So remember this idea 106 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 1: began to germinate after well when Alex Bregman was a 107 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 1: free agent, and at that point the Astro said Altuve 108 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: had volunteered to change positions. They would move Paradis to 109 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: second base, keep Bregman at third if they kept him. 110 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 1: But actually, this idea has been kind of getting kicked 111 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: around with the Astros for years. And what was interesting 112 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,159 Speaker 1: to me, or what has been interesting the spring, is 113 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 1: to see how two they so energized again, so excited 114 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: about his move to the outfield. I don't know that 115 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 1: he was happy being a below average second baseman. Now 116 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:42,119 Speaker 1: maybe he'll be a below average left fielder. Of course 117 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: that's the risk you take here, but he is going 118 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 1: to be the primary left field the Joe's spot of 119 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 1: the manager announced that yesterday, and I expect that he'll 120 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 1: play a competent left field in time. Might not happen 121 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,719 Speaker 1: right away, but this move was made for a few reasons, 122 00:05:56,839 --> 00:06:00,280 Speaker 1: and the fact that he is so into it and 123 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: so energized by it that to me indicates that yeah, 124 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 1: it was the right thing to do. Well. 125 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:08,560 Speaker 2: You can certainly get more on Crush territory with chand 126 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 2: Lerom among others here on the Foul Territory Network. You 127 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 2: said a competent left fielder ken Is that enough? Obviously 128 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 2: he's not going to be the DH with jor Don 129 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:20,599 Speaker 2: Alvarez there. He's a below average second baseman. Is a 130 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:24,479 Speaker 2: competent left fielder for the Houston Astros enough, especially without 131 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 2: the services of Kyle Tucker, and. 132 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 1: Right right, you're talking about a guy who's still going 133 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 1: to be I would expect an elite hitter, and he 134 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: is jose L Tuve. Now the question I have is 135 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:39,039 Speaker 1: if he does struggle defensively, does that carry over to 136 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 1: his offense. But you can make the case that he's 137 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: struggled defensively for several years now and it really hasn't 138 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: carried over much. So he is still a fast player 139 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 1: at thirty five years old, I believe, and he's still 140 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 1: a guy that to me is savvy enough and veteran 141 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: enough to figure this all out. And as far as defensively, yes, 142 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:01,599 Speaker 1: confidence would be enough. We're not looking for gold glove 143 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 1: out there from him. We're looking for him just simply 144 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 1: to handle the position. 145 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, that'll be interesting to see what the offense does 146 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:10,239 Speaker 2: without Kyle Tucker and right Field as well, and without 147 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 2: Alex Bregman their third baseman. All right, before we continue 148 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 2: on with the Phillies and what's going on with their 149 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 2: analytical department. Rather easy for me to say, let's hear 150 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 2: from our friends over at Spot and Tango, and I 151 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 2: can tell you, having a rescue dog myself, Bentley absolutely 152 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 2: loves a Spot in Tango. It is a personalized dog 153 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 2: food subscription service. 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All right, Ken, let's get back 182 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:04,559 Speaker 2: to the show here. As far as the Philadelphia Phillies, 183 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 2: the analytics department, I guess they were outsourcing some of 184 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 2: the things and it came back to bite them in 185 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 2: the rear. What more can you tell us. 186 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 1: Well, it's a very interesting situation first reported by Front 187 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 1: Office Sports yesterday and Matt Gaelbo The Athletic has a 188 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:23,560 Speaker 1: very detailed explanation of the lawsuit the Phillies have filed 189 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: against the company named Zealous, and Zealous is a company 190 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 1: that provided to one team in each division exclusive analytical material. 191 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:35,720 Speaker 1: And what the Phillies are saying in the lawsuit is, hey, 192 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 1: you guys are now giving this to another team or 193 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:42,440 Speaker 1: maybe multiple teams in our division. That's not what is 194 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 1: in the contract. We were supposed to have exclusive rights. 195 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:49,559 Speaker 1: What's interesting here is that in this day and age, 196 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:52,839 Speaker 1: most teams have their own analytics departments, and most of 197 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: them have quite large analytics departments. Actually all of them 198 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: have them. So why are the Phillies even using z 199 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 1: That would be the first question when you have your 200 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 1: own department, match Gil reports today it's one of the 201 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: largest in the league, forty one people, something along those lines, 202 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:13,199 Speaker 1: And what Matt explains is that teams sometimes want to 203 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:16,040 Speaker 1: use these companies to sort of get a benchmark on 204 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:19,080 Speaker 1: their own information, make sure it matches up, and some 205 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:23,880 Speaker 1: began using it using companies like Zellis because initially they 206 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:26,840 Speaker 1: didn't have great analytics departments and they needed kind of 207 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 1: a foundation to build from. I don't know where this 208 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 1: lawsuit is going to end up, obviously, but it's quite 209 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: interesting that the Phillies believe that their information that what 210 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:40,679 Speaker 1: they were paying for exclusively is going to another team 211 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 1: in their division. And you can understand why they're upset. 212 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:48,079 Speaker 1: My question would still be, hey, just do it yourself, 213 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 1: and if you've got forty one people, you should be 214 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 1: able to check each other pretty well. But for whatever reason, 215 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 1: the Phillies decided at some point that they wanted to 216 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:59,040 Speaker 1: use Zellis and now I don't know that I would 217 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:01,920 Speaker 1: say it's bitten them. They feel like their contract has 218 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 1: been violated and now they're seeking remedies in court. 219 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:08,559 Speaker 2: It's insane too when you think about it, ken in 220 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 2: terms of the amount of money that they're paying Zella 221 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:14,080 Speaker 2: six hundred thousand dollars in twenty twenty two. They paid 222 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 2: another one point two seventy five million to use the 223 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 2: company's services in twenty three and twenty four, and those 224 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 2: contracts included division exclusive licenses. I mean, you would think 225 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:26,240 Speaker 2: with forty one people on your staff, that's money that 226 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:28,960 Speaker 2: could be better spent in other areas. All right, make 227 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 2: sure you load up your questions for Grill and Ken 228 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:33,959 Speaker 2: as we get to that segment of our program here 229 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 2: and that we do have one question so far. Can 230 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 2: I want to ask you this? And I'm not sure 231 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 2: if this one's from Avery Gibson, We're going to get 232 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 2: to that one soon or if it's regarding the Astros. 233 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:48,079 Speaker 2: So I'm just going to ask you this when Avery 234 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 2: Gibson says earlier this week, Ronald Acuna said that he 235 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 2: isn't going to be as aggressive on the base pass 236 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 2: due to both of his ACL injuries. So obviously talking 237 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:58,680 Speaker 2: about the Braves here, do we believe him and how 238 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 2: critical is he to the challenge to challenging Los Angeles 239 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 2: Dodgers As you said earlier to start our show, that 240 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 2: the Braves are the biggest challengers Stella, The second. 241 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 1: Question is easy to answer. He's critical, there's no question 242 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: about it. If he can get back to anywhere close 243 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:16,199 Speaker 1: to where he was in twenty twenty three when he 244 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 1: had that historic season, that makes a huge difference. Now. 245 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 1: As for him being less aggressive, he wants to be 246 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 1: less aggressive, and we'll see once he gets into the 247 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 1: game flow whether he will indeed be that way, because 248 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:33,959 Speaker 1: players in the adrenaline that takes over during a game 249 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 1: sometimes obviously do things that maybe they don't intend to 250 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 1: do or wouldn't otherwise think it's sensible. Now Acuna is 251 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 1: maturing as a player obviously, of course, and I would 252 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:48,839 Speaker 1: imagine he's going to in his mind try to make 253 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 1: decisions that would not put him in harm's way, and 254 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 1: he'll try to do that as often as possible. So 255 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 1: might we see a difference in his play, Yes, we 256 00:12:57,360 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 1: might see a little bit of a difference. I would 257 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:02,400 Speaker 1: expect that, actually, But I don't know that you're ever 258 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: going to take away Ronald Lacunya and his spirit for 259 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:08,000 Speaker 1: the game and the way he plays. I don't know 260 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 1: that he wants that. I don't know that the Braves 261 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:12,680 Speaker 1: want that. They want him to be Ronald Lacuna Junior. 262 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 1: But I believe what Acunya was talking about there is 263 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:20,439 Speaker 1: simply maybe being more sensible in certain game situations at 264 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 1: certain times. 265 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, read the room, read the scoreboard, understand what's going on. Again, 266 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 2: I agree with you, Ken, I don't know that you 267 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 2: can take away the one hundred and fifty percent effort 268 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 2: that Ronald Acunya Junior always gives when he is on 269 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 2: the field. Another question for you, as far as the 270 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 2: Houston Astros are concerned Camp Smith making the Houston roster 271 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 2: locked on Astros wants to know if camp Smith is 272 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:45,359 Speaker 2: on your opening day roster for the Houston Astros. 273 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: I would be wary of this, and I know it's 274 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:51,560 Speaker 1: intriguing for teams to carry guys from the start of 275 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 1: the season because of the prospect promotion incentive. They become 276 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: eligible for Rookie of the Year and not just that, 277 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 1: but you can get the team. I don't know that 278 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:03,120 Speaker 1: that's the Astros motivation, and I don't know that the 279 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:06,840 Speaker 1: motivation is to justify the Kyle Tucker trade. The motivation, 280 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 1: it seems to me, is that they think cam Smith 281 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 1: is going to be a star and make an impact 282 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:14,920 Speaker 1: on their club really quickly. The question as Chandlerome is 283 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:17,960 Speaker 1: written and talked about on Astro's territory or whatever we 284 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 1: call a Space City territory. He's discussed how they need 285 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 1: to find the spot for him so he can play regularly. 286 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 1: Manager Joe A. Spota is adamant that when a young 287 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 1: kid comes up, can't put him on the bench you've 288 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 1: got to play him. So that's the question. Chas McCormick 289 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 1: in right field or or some kind of combination with 290 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 1: cam Smith. I don't know how it would work, but 291 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 1: we're gonna see cam Smith at some point, and it 292 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 1: looks like that's going to be a really good trade 293 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 1: for the Astros if indeed he proves to be a 294 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 1: quality player. Remember they also got we was Nesky the 295 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 1: pitcher in that deal, and it looks like it might 296 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 1: come out okay. 297 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 2: Question in regards to the Washington Nationals talking about the 298 00:14:58,120 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 2: NL East here a little bit. Jay wants to know. 299 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 2: So Ken, now that the Nats are out of the 300 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 2: Massen deal, do you see the Learners selling the team. 301 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 1: This is a big question. And the mass In situation, 302 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 1: I used to call it the baseball version of the 303 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 1: one hundred Years War with the Orioles, was something that 304 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,400 Speaker 1: was hanging over the franchise and it was kind of 305 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 1: preventing the Learners from maybe getting the price that they 306 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:24,000 Speaker 1: would want because a buyer would look at this and say, 307 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:27,040 Speaker 1: we don't have any resolution here. Now there is resolution. 308 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 1: They will be out of this deal after the season, 309 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 1: So it would seemingly pave the way now for the 310 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:36,520 Speaker 1: Learners to put the team back on the market. This 311 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 1: team has gone on the market, off the market, on 312 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:41,320 Speaker 1: the market, off the market. But I don't know what 313 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:44,640 Speaker 1: the Learner's intentions are, only they know. It just seems 314 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:48,239 Speaker 1: to me that now with this resolving, would be the time. 315 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 2: Or it kind of reminds me too, Ken of the 316 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 2: whole Angels situation and the TV deal and whether Artie 317 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 2: Moreno was going to the team, whether he's not going 318 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 2: to sell the team. Seems like they're there's a lot 319 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 2: of uncertainty when it comes to the Washington Nationals. All right, 320 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 2: Another question for you in terms of the Los Angeles 321 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 2: Dodgers Elisjeva Jones, who is a great friend of the 322 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 2: program on Dodgers' territory. Do you expect Dodgers might trade 323 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:18,920 Speaker 2: Dustin May and or Gonsolin or what about other teams 324 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 2: signing Hunter Fiducia as some teams do need catchers. 325 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 1: On the May question Gonsolin question, they need to see 326 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 1: how it goes, and they need to see if they 327 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 1: can keep their pitchers healthy and whether they will need 328 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin if at the deadline they 329 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: see a surplus of sorts. Yes, I think they would 330 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 1: consider it. Now. The question, one of the questions with 331 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 1: the Dodgers is this year, what are they gonna do 332 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 1: with all these guys? How are they going to pitch? 333 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 1: And that might prompt them to do something at some point. 334 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 1: You can't stash Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin and Triple 335 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 1: A and or in the bullpen necessarily. I actually could 336 00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:00,960 Speaker 1: put May in the bullpen, but they've got a numbers problem, 337 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 1: and the numbers problem would indicate to me that at 338 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 1: some point, yes, they would have to entertain things. But 339 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: they also have an issue of well, the Japanese pictures 340 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 1: Sasaki and Yamamoto and Otani as well, once he starts 341 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:18,360 Speaker 1: pitching again, we'll be honest, every sixth day program if 342 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 1: not more. And their pictures, let's face it, have gotten 343 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 1: hurt over the years. It's been a repeated problem for them. 344 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 1: So they're going to be reluctant to trade off their depth. 345 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 1: But at some point it might be a situation where 346 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:34,960 Speaker 1: they are looking at it and saying, what are we 347 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 1: doing here. We've got to get something for some of 348 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:38,919 Speaker 1: these guys to give them an opportunity to play and 349 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 1: give us an opportunity to maybe rework our organization in 350 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: other ways. 351 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:47,199 Speaker 2: And Andrew Freeman was very clear that he wanted to 352 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:48,960 Speaker 2: make all these moves in the off season so he 353 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 2: didn't have to deal with these sort of things at 354 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:53,240 Speaker 2: the trade deadline. Only time will tell. They're going to 355 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:55,240 Speaker 2: go one sixty two in open I mean they already 356 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:57,440 Speaker 2: started the season two and oh, all right, let's talk 357 00:17:57,520 --> 00:18:01,159 Speaker 2: about the Texas Rangers. Booker Washington a great name, by 358 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:03,439 Speaker 2: the way, Booker wants to know what the moves the 359 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 2: Rangers made in the offseason. They will make a lot 360 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 2: of noise this year. He's asking, do you think that's 361 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:10,160 Speaker 2: the case? They're in the Al West. 362 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:13,159 Speaker 1: I like the Rangers in the Al West, and I 363 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:16,840 Speaker 1: expect them to be resurgent. Remember last year, they're coming 364 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 1: off the World Series title. Teams always struggle, it seems, 365 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 1: coming off World Series titles, playing so deep into October. 366 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:26,880 Speaker 1: They also regressed offensively. They weren't the same team offensively. 367 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 1: And now they're bringing in Jack Peterson, they've traded for 368 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:33,439 Speaker 1: Jake Berger. With the pitching staff, they have some questions 369 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 1: in the bullpen, but Bruce Boche's their manager, so you 370 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 1: would expect he'd figure it out. John Gray obviously out 371 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:42,120 Speaker 1: now at the factored risk. Cody Bradford is out as well, 372 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 1: so the starting pitching. That is why they signed Patrick 373 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:48,560 Speaker 1: Corbyn this week to enhance their depth. But I just 374 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:51,360 Speaker 1: expect their offense is going to be better. Wyatt Langford 375 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 1: in his first full season, Evan Carter coming back, Jace 376 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 1: Young is healthy again. Just seems to me that this 377 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:00,399 Speaker 1: is going to be a team that we're going to 378 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:02,960 Speaker 1: be talking a lot about this season. Yeah. 379 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:04,920 Speaker 2: I love the Rangers. I love Bruce Bochi, I love 380 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 2: Skip Schumacher, who apparently is the manager in waiting when 381 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:12,479 Speaker 2: Bruce decides to retire again. I actually love this question, 382 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:14,639 Speaker 2: and it's the last one here on Grill and Ken, 383 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 2: Sammy Boyce Smith says, who will be the starting second 384 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:22,639 Speaker 2: basement in the All Star Game? Now that's now that 385 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:25,240 Speaker 2: Jose al Tuve is gone, so obviously talking about the 386 00:19:25,280 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 2: al second basement in the All Star Game, This is 387 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:29,880 Speaker 2: a great question because it's always been Jose L. Tuve. 388 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 1: It has been and I'm not sure what the answer 389 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 1: is going to be here. We've had other second basement 390 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:39,400 Speaker 1: over the years. Joge Polanco was one from Minnesota. He's 391 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 1: down in Seattle. How about Jackson Holiday first full season, 392 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 1: Let's see what he does. Jackson Holiday, I would think 393 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 1: would have a chance to be really good. Marcus Semion, 394 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: of course with the Rangers is a quality player year 395 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 1: after year. But yes, it will change considerably without al 396 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:58,879 Speaker 1: Tuove in that lineup. For the American League, it's second 397 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:02,720 Speaker 1: base he usually played. Actually, he hasn't played an All 398 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 1: Star Game, I believe since the sign stealing scandal. Every 399 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:09,800 Speaker 1: year it's been something else. So he'll get elected or 400 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 1: has been getting elected, but he hasn't necessarily been the guy. 401 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:15,840 Speaker 1: Simeon's been the guy I know and others as well. 402 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 1: So yeah, the outlook does change at that position. 403 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:21,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, Marcus Semming, of course, if there's anything, you know, 404 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:22,880 Speaker 2: he's going to be in there every single day. That's 405 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:25,680 Speaker 2: one guy that absolutely posts. Wouldn't it be funny Ken 406 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 2: if Jose Al two they made the All Star Game 407 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 2: as a left fielder. 408 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:31,959 Speaker 1: It would be impressive if you could do that. And 409 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 1: one other guy I'll mention here Andres Jimenez. Jimenez and 410 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:39,200 Speaker 1: I love this player. Now. I know he doesn't hit, 411 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 1: I get it, but he is an elite defender. And 412 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 1: if he can get back to where he was a 413 00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:49,199 Speaker 1: few years ago. Offensively, he's certainly a worthy possibility for 414 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:51,320 Speaker 1: the All Star team as well. Right, I know I'm 415 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:54,199 Speaker 1: missing some I know I'm missing some folks. I'm just 416 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:56,040 Speaker 1: doing this off the top of my head. So if 417 00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 1: you got somebody else, I hear. 418 00:20:57,440 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 2: You, that's okay. You get a pass for that. That 419 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 2: was kind of a curveball question for you. Okay, time 420 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 2: now to get into dude of the week. 421 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 1: Dude, dude, dude. 422 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:14,399 Speaker 2: All right, Ken, who's your dude of the. 423 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 1: Week, Alana, I think we're going to come up with 424 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:20,199 Speaker 1: the same answers this week, and it's a great answer. 425 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:24,440 Speaker 1: It's Major League Baseball, the Cubs, the Dodgers, the players, 426 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:28,160 Speaker 1: the Tokyo Series in general. The Tokyo Series was tremendous 427 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 1: in so many ways. It showed the impact of baseball 428 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: in Japan. It also featured some Japanese stars for each team. 429 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 1: It was really cool Imanaga and Suzuki and then Sasaki 430 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 1: and Yamamoto and Otani for the Dodgers. And just to 431 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:45,959 Speaker 1: see the starting pitching matchup that first day, Imanaga versus Yamamoto, 432 00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 1: that was, in my opinion, a great day for major 433 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:53,480 Speaker 1: League Baseball to show how worldwide the sport has gotten, 434 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 1: and it has been for quite some time. But that 435 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:58,639 Speaker 1: was kind of a vivid reminder. Hey, look at this. 436 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:02,639 Speaker 1: We have two teams playing in Japan, two Japanese starting 437 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:05,760 Speaker 1: pitchers going against each other, and of course the best 438 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 1: player on the planet playing for the Dodgers as well. 439 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:10,960 Speaker 1: That would be a Japanese star, Shoho Tani. 440 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:13,640 Speaker 2: I have to say that Tokyo did such an amazing 441 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:16,200 Speaker 2: job as the host city, Japan as the host country, 442 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:19,160 Speaker 2: and it was such a good spirit the whole time 443 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 2: that the Dodgers and the Cubs were there. I wish 444 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:22,879 Speaker 2: I would. I've never been so jealous Ken to not 445 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 2: be on an international trip than I was for this trip. 446 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:27,600 Speaker 2: But I agree. I mean, I think we give Rod 447 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 2: Manfred a lot of grief, but this is the one 448 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:32,560 Speaker 2: way that the commissioner Manfred hit the nail on the head. 449 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 2: Tremendous week, and it's good for the game of baseball. 450 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:38,919 Speaker 2: All right. Time now for the John Fisher dork of 451 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:49,159 Speaker 2: the week. All right, Ken, who do you have? 452 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:54,680 Speaker 1: I've got a team, an organization, a franchise, the Miami Marlins. 453 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 1: Now they're not Oakland a's territory just yet, but they're 454 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:01,640 Speaker 1: threatening to be and they have a stadium will give 455 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:04,080 Speaker 1: them that. But I wrote about them this week how 456 00:23:04,560 --> 00:23:08,600 Speaker 1: they have not spent nearly enough money to escape scrutiny. 457 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 1: There is a formula in place according to the CBA, 458 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:14,679 Speaker 1: for a team that receives revenue sharing by the end 459 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:16,879 Speaker 1: of the season, your luxury tax payroll has to be 460 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:19,719 Speaker 1: one hundred and fifty percent of that number you receive. 461 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:23,800 Speaker 1: The Marlins, from what I can tell from the estimates 462 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:26,080 Speaker 1: that are out there about their luxury tax payroll and 463 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:28,639 Speaker 1: what we know about what they receive in revenue sharing, 464 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:31,040 Speaker 1: which is among the highest in the game, they're not 465 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:34,080 Speaker 1: anywhere close. They're going to trade Sandy al kont that 466 00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:36,639 Speaker 1: are no question about that, So they're going to be 467 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:39,680 Speaker 1: even further away from that threshold, and I don't see 468 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 1: how they get there. This is a team that, the 469 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 1: way I described it, they're a blight on the sport 470 00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 1: and it's kind of a cynical way to run the 471 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:50,399 Speaker 1: franchise when you might be inviting a grievance from the union, 472 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 1: and seemingly we're good with that. The other thing that 473 00:23:53,320 --> 00:23:55,159 Speaker 1: Marlins were in the news for this week was this 474 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:58,120 Speaker 1: practice squad that they were going to start that basically 475 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:00,960 Speaker 1: MLB told them you can't do this to violate labor 476 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:05,000 Speaker 1: issues and all kinds of different things, and that might 477 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:07,479 Speaker 1: have been more of a blip. I'll kind of give 478 00:24:07,560 --> 00:24:09,600 Speaker 1: him a pass on that one. But the way this 479 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:12,960 Speaker 1: team is operating under owner Bruce Sherman, I don't get 480 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:15,639 Speaker 1: it to me. They should be a lot more aggressive 481 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:18,680 Speaker 1: in a number of areas. They say, we're building up infrastructure, 482 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:23,199 Speaker 1: we're hiring, we're doing things in the Dominican Okay, doesn't 483 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:25,280 Speaker 1: mean you can't spend at the major league level too. 484 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:28,040 Speaker 1: And we're not asking them to be the Los Angeles Dodgers. 485 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:30,200 Speaker 1: We're just asking them to kind of follow the rules here. 486 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think you pay your fair share. Nobody's asking 487 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:34,680 Speaker 2: you to be the Dodgers, but we are asking you 488 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:38,040 Speaker 2: to make some inroads and to invest in your team 489 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:40,040 Speaker 2: and put some decent players on the field so your 490 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:42,719 Speaker 2: fans actually have something to be proud of. All Right, 491 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:44,399 Speaker 2: my dork of the week, and I'm going to give 492 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:47,119 Speaker 2: him a pass. Let me preface this. Kobe Mayo on 493 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:50,639 Speaker 2: returning to Triple A. I can appreciate the competitive fire 494 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:53,679 Speaker 2: under him. He was upset that, you know, that he 495 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:57,080 Speaker 2: was demoted to triple A, and he did apologize. He 496 00:24:57,119 --> 00:24:59,359 Speaker 2: did offer an apology too, So I'm going to give 497 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:01,760 Speaker 2: him a pass. Young kid that had a microphone shoved 498 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:04,000 Speaker 2: in his face, and he said, it's definitely difficult. It 499 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:06,480 Speaker 2: obviously sucks because you feel like you've proven everything you've 500 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 2: needed to. Here's the thing I have with this Ken, 501 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:11,160 Speaker 2: I think, and this is just a system wide problem. 502 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:13,160 Speaker 2: I think a lot of the kids coming up today, 503 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:17,080 Speaker 2: and I had conversations with veteran players in certain clubhouses 504 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:20,280 Speaker 2: that have also said that some of the young minor 505 00:25:20,359 --> 00:25:23,040 Speaker 2: leaguers coming up today have not really had to pay 506 00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 2: the same types of dues that some of the players 507 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:27,480 Speaker 2: in the past have had to do. And I think 508 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:29,720 Speaker 2: a lot of these young players are thinking, like, oh, 509 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:31,679 Speaker 2: you know, I've always been at the highest point in 510 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 2: every level along the way, and they almost have like 511 00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:39,320 Speaker 2: an elitist attitude and an expectation that because they've been 512 00:25:39,359 --> 00:25:42,480 Speaker 2: the best at every single level, that it translates immediately 513 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:44,600 Speaker 2: to major League Baseball, and it doesn't. It's a very 514 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:46,800 Speaker 2: difficult sport to get into. It's an even harder one 515 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:49,639 Speaker 2: sustain in terms of longevity, So you got to be 516 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:52,880 Speaker 2: careful about how you handle these situations. Again, young kid, 517 00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:54,960 Speaker 2: I give them a pass, but it's almost an epidemic 518 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:58,919 Speaker 2: with some of these younger kids that don't understand that 519 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:01,959 Speaker 2: there's as to this whole thing, and just because you 520 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:05,160 Speaker 2: are invited to spring training or whatever it is, that 521 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:08,520 Speaker 2: you're automatically going to be at the big league level 522 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 2: or break camp on the big league roster. I mean 523 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:14,040 Speaker 2: there's even some kids in the Cubs and Dodgers organizations 524 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:16,439 Speaker 2: that were questioning why they weren't going to Tokyo. Now 525 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:18,440 Speaker 2: you could only take thirty one players and you're way 526 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:21,240 Speaker 2: down on the depth chart. So again he apologized, but 527 00:26:22,119 --> 00:26:24,399 Speaker 2: there needs to be more probably media training at the 528 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:28,119 Speaker 2: lower levels in pro ball. But he's my dork of 529 00:26:28,119 --> 00:26:28,400 Speaker 2: the week. 530 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:32,080 Speaker 1: I will add this Salana, and it's a fair discussion 531 00:26:32,119 --> 00:26:35,600 Speaker 1: on Kobe Mayo and whether he said something that was inappropriate, 532 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 1: and he obviously did apologize. As you mentioned, the Orioles though, 533 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 1: could have seen this coming, should have seen this coming. 534 00:26:42,560 --> 00:26:45,280 Speaker 1: They've had Mayo, they've got Mount Castle at first base. 535 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:48,520 Speaker 1: They wanted to keep all these guys together. Well, this 536 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:51,639 Speaker 1: is what happens, and there's nothing wrong with having too 537 00:26:51,680 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 1: many good players, and at some point this season I 538 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:56,560 Speaker 1: expect they will need Kobe Mayo. But they also could 539 00:26:56,560 --> 00:26:59,119 Speaker 1: have used Kobe Mayo to trade for a big starting 540 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:02,560 Speaker 1: pitcher this season. I'm sure they could have gotten pretty 541 00:27:02,600 --> 00:27:05,800 Speaker 1: much anyone they wanted with Kobe Mayo, and yet they 542 00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:08,000 Speaker 1: chose not to do that. And starting pitching is the 543 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:10,720 Speaker 1: biggest question. We'll see how it all plays out. Maybe 544 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:13,040 Speaker 1: the Oils are doing entirely the right thing. They've been 545 00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:15,560 Speaker 1: pretty good at development, there's no question about that. But 546 00:27:16,359 --> 00:27:20,679 Speaker 1: that's the other angle here, that the Orioles might have 547 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:24,479 Speaker 1: not taken the position they should have with Mayo and 548 00:27:24,520 --> 00:27:27,160 Speaker 1: not headed this off at the pass before they had 549 00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:28,000 Speaker 1: this logjam. 550 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 2: And I would love to see more communication. I think 551 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:32,359 Speaker 2: a lot of this stuff happens because there's a lack 552 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:35,359 Speaker 2: of communication ken between the team and perhaps the player. 553 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:38,760 Speaker 2: You saw it happen with Rafael Devers in Boston. I 554 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:41,439 Speaker 2: mean it kind of blindsided by this whole situation with 555 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:43,919 Speaker 2: third base and Alex Bregman being signed, and he was 556 00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:46,000 Speaker 2: not even told that that was happening, even when there 557 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:50,200 Speaker 2: was a consideration of Alex Bregman going to the Red Sox. 558 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:53,560 Speaker 2: So communicate, communicate, communicate, all right, thank you so much 559 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 2: everybody for being here on Foul Fair Territory with Ken Rosenthal. 560 00:27:57,320 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 2: I want to shout out our friends that Bett mg 561 00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:03,720 Speaker 2: drive to the rim with a no Sweat Parley token. 562 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:05,879 Speaker 2: Log into the bet MGM app to get yours. If 563 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:09,000 Speaker 2: you don't win your bet, you'll get your steak back 564 00:28:09,119 --> 00:28:12,840 Speaker 2: in bonus bets. Gambling problem or concern called one eight 565 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:16,119 Speaker 2: hundred gambler. Thanks for watching, everybody, We appreciate it. Foul 566 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:20,120 Speaker 2: Territory is next. Cameron Maybin is out at Braves Camp. 567 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:22,920 Speaker 2: We're excited to see that he's going to be joined 568 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:26,520 Speaker 2: by Aj Pierzinski and Scott Braun and then after that 569 00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:29,640 Speaker 2: it's Dodgers Territory with myself and Clint Psias. Ken will 570 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:32,240 Speaker 2: be back with the brand new Fair Territory on Monday. 571 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:32,760 Speaker 2: See you then,