1 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: From the Berkshars to the sound from wherever you live 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: in MLB America. This is Inside the Parker. You give 3 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:11,560 Speaker 1: us twenty two minutes and we'll give you the scoop 4 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: on major League Baseball. Now here's Baseball Hall of Fame 5 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: voter number seveny Rob Parker. 6 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:23,159 Speaker 2: Welcome into the podcast. I'm your host, Rob Parker. What 7 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 2: a show we have for you today. 8 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 3: Former Major league infielder Rip Roberts. 9 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:31,480 Speaker 2: He'll tell us about the surprising A's and some other 10 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:36,919 Speaker 2: thoughts on major League baseball loss. Jason Beck, longtime baseball 11 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 2: writer for MLB dot comm. 12 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:40,480 Speaker 3: He covers the Detroit Tigers. 13 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 2: We'll get a closer glimpse of the al central that 14 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 2: plus foul affair. 15 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 3: Let's go better. 16 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: To lead off it's getting robbed and keep them on. 17 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 1: Rob's hot take on the three biggest stories in Major 18 00:00:55,320 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: League Baseball. Number one coming in. It's a Thursday. 19 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 2: The Philadelphia Phillies have the best record in baseball? 20 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 3: Hello is this on? Did you hear me? 21 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 2: The Philadelphia Phillies, Not the Dodgers who spent three billion 22 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 2: dollars on players in the offseason, Not the New York 23 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 2: Yankees that seemed to make the playoffs every year except 24 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 2: for last year, and always have. 25 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 3: A good team. 26 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 2: But no, not the Atlanta Braves. That a team that's loaded. 27 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 2: Everybody believes in that team and the pitching and the 28 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:33,320 Speaker 2: hitting and all they have. It is the Phillies. And 29 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 2: why should we be surprised. We really shouldn't be surprised. 30 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:40,400 Speaker 2: Last year they got upset, looked like they were going 31 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:42,320 Speaker 2: to make a second trip to the World Series. They 32 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:46,679 Speaker 2: lose to the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team out of nowhere. 33 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 3: The year before they make it to the World Series. 34 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 2: And let's be honest, they got one of the best 35 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 2: players in baseball, Bryce Harper, ten home runs already this season. 36 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 2: They have a formidable lineup, they have a great pitching staff. 37 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 3: We shouldn't be totally surprised. 38 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:14,519 Speaker 2: Zach Wheeler, he's got four wins, Aaron Nola has five wins. 39 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:18,799 Speaker 3: And then you know, they just got Taiwan Walker back. 40 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 2: Taiwan Walker led the staff and wins last year, didn't 41 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:25,919 Speaker 2: even pitch in the postseason. He's back this year and 42 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 2: guess what his record is. He's three and zero since 43 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 2: he came off the injury list. So why are we 44 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 2: surprised that the Phillies have thirty one wins, two more 45 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 2: than the Yankees and Dodgers. 46 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 3: As we enters action on Thursday, it. 47 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:49,359 Speaker 2: Still comes down to can the Phillies get out of 48 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 2: the National League this year and finally win a World Series? 49 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:56,959 Speaker 2: Because they have the team, they have the pitching, they 50 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 2: have one of the best players in the game in 51 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 2: Bryce Harper, so this should not be a shock that 52 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 2: they are there, and they probably the Dodgers will probably 53 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 2: have the best record. They'll probably have the second or 54 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 2: third best record, but they're going to be formidable. 55 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 3: But what a great start to the season. 56 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 2: The last few years they actually started off poorly and 57 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:18,640 Speaker 2: played better late, so this will be interesting to see 58 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 2: how this plays. 59 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 3: Out for the Phillies. 60 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 2: Number two, Nobody should be surprised that Aaron Judge is 61 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 2: starting to heat up. 62 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:29,640 Speaker 3: This guy's resume and his. 63 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 2: History and his numbers are just too big and too 64 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 2: resume is too strong to think that he was going 65 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 2: to scuffle all year. Here we are in May, coming 66 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 2: into a Thursday. He was coming off a fourth to 67 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 2: four day Wednesday night against the Twins, had a home run, 68 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 2: couple of rbi and actually in his last three games 69 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 2: coming into Thursday, he had seven hits in twelve at bats, 70 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 2: a couple of home runs for RBI. So he's starting 71 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 2: to heat up for the Yankees, who were looking for 72 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 2: a sweep on Thursday of the Twins in that three 73 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 2: game series in Minneapolis, and the Yankees. 74 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 3: This is the thing that's surprising. 75 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 2: Aaron Judges average sat at two point fifty five coming 76 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:21,360 Speaker 2: into Thursday. Most of the year it was like two 77 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 2: twenty two thirty somewhere around there. And the Yankees didn't 78 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 2: have Garrett Cole there saw young award winning pitcher, and 79 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 2: they didn't have Aaron Judge playing at his full potential. 80 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 2: Yet they have the second best record coming into Thursday 81 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 2: in baseball. 82 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:42,799 Speaker 3: Who was the Phillies, the Yankees and the Dodgers. 83 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 2: And if Aaron Judge heats up and starts to hit 84 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 2: and perform like we know he can when he's healthy, 85 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 2: the numbers are through the roof. The only time he 86 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 2: scuffles or as the issue is when he's hurt. The 87 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: dude is a stud. So Aaron Judge is alive and 88 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 2: well and swinging the bat for the Yankee number three, 89 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:07,359 Speaker 2: no one is going to write off Jack Lighter. Okay, 90 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 2: let's not write him off. He's twenty four years old. 91 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 2: He was the second overall pick in the twenty twenty 92 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 2: one MLB draft by the Texas Rangers. 93 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:18,680 Speaker 3: We know his dad out Lighter. 94 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 2: We know the Lighter family has been tremendous when it 95 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 2: comes to baseball and the pitching and all that. But 96 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 2: my goodness, gracious, is he off to a terrible start 97 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 2: his first three starts in the major leagues. His el 98 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 2: ray is now sixteen point thirty nine. Can we get 99 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:44,119 Speaker 2: to infinity? Sixteen point thirty nine? Gave up seven earned 100 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 2: runs and his debut against the Tigers, four against the 101 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 2: Oakland A's, and his second start, and on May fourteenth 102 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:56,839 Speaker 2: against the Guardians, he lasted one and two third innings, 103 00:05:57,279 --> 00:06:01,480 Speaker 2: gave up six earned runs, one home run, three walks, 104 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 2: had only one strikeout, and hence the ballooned erra. 105 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 3: This is going to be a work in progress. 106 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:11,279 Speaker 2: Obviously, some guys catch lightning in a bottle out of 107 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 2: the box, but that's not. 108 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 3: Going to be the case here for mister Jack Lighter. 109 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 1: Here comes the big interview. Listen and learn. 110 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:27,039 Speaker 2: It's so good now, let's welcome in Bib Roberts, former 111 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:34,120 Speaker 2: Major league infielder outfielder Speedster and a's analyst for NBC 112 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 2: Bay Area. 113 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:37,839 Speaker 3: What's up, Bip? Are you doing hey, brother? 114 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 4: I'm doing well. As we were speaking earlier. 115 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:42,719 Speaker 5: Hey, any day above the earth is a blessing for 116 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 5: us man, especially sixty year old men. 117 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 3: I know, unbelievable. 118 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:51,040 Speaker 2: I can still remember interviewing you in the clubhouse at 119 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:51,840 Speaker 2: the All Star. 120 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 3: Game nineteen ninety two in San Diego. That was like, 121 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:58,719 Speaker 3: what was that thirty two years ago, bib Man? 122 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:02,480 Speaker 5: That was a long time ago, brother, Pus, probably twenty 123 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 5: nine or something like that. 124 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:07,840 Speaker 4: I'm go, man, I had nobody fat then either. 125 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 3: Hey, join the club man. Are you kidding? 126 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 2: Now? 127 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 3: I got double body fat? You know? 128 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 2: All right, Well, let's talk about the Oakland A's. I mean, 129 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 2: what a surprise in the American League. I mean, that's 130 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 2: the only way you could do it. I know that 131 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 2: they're under five hundred, but they're around five hundred. They 132 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 2: got off to a good store in nineteen and twenty 133 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 2: six coming into Thursday. They've had a bump in the 134 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 2: road the last few games. But just tell me what 135 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 2: has been what has made this team form of a 136 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 2: bull and at least playing around five hundred? 137 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 5: Well, you know, they did get to five hundred, and 138 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 5: when they got to five hundred, I think they became 139 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 5: relevant and started expecting to go out there and win, 140 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 5: put a little more pressure on themselves. But what I 141 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 5: think this team has really started to learn is how 142 00:07:56,600 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 5: to compete. They normally now they compete because pitching it's 143 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 5: been so good, especially with the back end of that bullpen, 144 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 5: with Mason coming in throwing one hundred and one hundred 145 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 5: and two hundred and three, just bringing it with a 146 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 5: nasty slider man. And so I think a lot of 147 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 5: these young players who play every day, they have a 148 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 5: year U under their belt now, so they've been around 149 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 5: the league. 150 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 4: They're starting to understand the level. 151 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 5: And what it takes to be successful, especially getting to 152 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:25,679 Speaker 5: the ballpark, get your early work in, and just trying 153 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 5: to work smart. The coaching staff has done a real 154 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 5: good job. I think they've really marcottsee is really kind 155 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 5: of instilled it to these guys. 156 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:35,280 Speaker 4: Kind of his personality. 157 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 5: You know, Marcott say, you know, if you see him 158 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 5: off the field, he's got his hat on his brim hattie. 159 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 4: I said, man, you look like a gangster homie. 160 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 5: You know, he's a tough guy, And I think that's 161 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:47,959 Speaker 5: instilled it to his team. 162 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 4: And he's not a guy who throws guys under the bus. 163 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 5: But he's also not a guy who coddles these guys, 164 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 5: so he expects a lot out of them. 165 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 4: So that's what I see. I see a lot of 166 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:57,959 Speaker 4: growth in his team. 167 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:02,319 Speaker 2: Tell me about Abraham Touro, I mean second basement bat 168 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 2: into eighty seven, leads a team in hits, leads a 169 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:08,559 Speaker 2: team in ops. 170 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, he's just got just look in his eye 171 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:13,600 Speaker 5: right now. He looks hitterish. He looks like he comes 172 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 5: to the ballpark ready to play. He's one of those 173 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 5: guys that you can see the intensity on his face 174 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 5: and in his body language from both sides of the plague. 175 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:23,080 Speaker 4: He's had a good swing. 176 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 5: He's been one of those guys that each and every 177 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:28,319 Speaker 5: game he goes out there and gets you one, two, 178 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 5: three hits. 179 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:30,839 Speaker 4: But he's getting some big hits and he's scored some 180 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 4: good runs. 181 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 3: You know. 182 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 5: He came over from I think he came up from Houston, 183 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:38,240 Speaker 5: where he had started with Seattle, and Seattle kind of 184 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 5: had him at third base most. 185 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 4: Of the time. 186 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 5: So now with Geloff being hurt, he's moved around a 187 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 5: little bit but he's played mostly second base and it 188 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 5: seems like he's been. 189 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 4: Comfortable there moving around. 190 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 5: Hasn't heard his swing, But he's just one of those 191 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 5: guys at the top of the lineup that he likes 192 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 5: to swing the bat. He's aggressive in the batter's box, 193 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:57,880 Speaker 5: and he seems right now to be making solid contact 194 00:09:57,960 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 5: every time he swings the bat. 195 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 2: I said, ops, but I meant on base percentage three 196 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 2: forty on base percentage. How about the right field of 197 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 2: Brent Rooker ten home runs already? 198 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 4: Yeah, he came in. He's just all of a sudden 199 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 4: just picked it up. 200 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 5: He's one of those guys that every time he gets 201 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:16,439 Speaker 5: in the box, you think he's going to hit a 202 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:18,839 Speaker 5: home run based on when you see a swing, and 203 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 5: when he does make contact, he is driving the ball 204 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 5: well into the seats. The guy who made the All 205 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 5: Star team last year is coming off of a good year. 206 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:29,319 Speaker 4: So I think he has really that confidence you. 207 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:31,439 Speaker 5: Need as a hitter, because you know what baseball is 208 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 5: all about, it's about confidence. And you know, at one 209 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 5: time last year, he was hot, he got cold, he 210 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 5: got hot, he got cold, and he got hot again. 211 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 5: So I think the experience is really starting to show. 212 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 5: He's been a team leader. He's mostly dhing right now 213 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 5: because they have a young kid, Lawrence Butler and right field. 214 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 5: But this guy Rooker in the middle of that lineup, 215 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 5: he's definitely producing. He's producing RBIs, he's producing big hits 216 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 5: even you know two. He's getting jammed with sliders, but 217 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 5: he's still able to drive the ball over the infield 218 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:01,199 Speaker 5: and drive in run. 219 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 4: So he's been spent clutch so far. 220 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:05,440 Speaker 2: Tell me about Butler, I mean, I know he got 221 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:09,319 Speaker 2: off to a great start last year, had some home runs, 222 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 2: some exciting player, only batting one seventy thus far coming 223 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:13,959 Speaker 2: into Thursday. 224 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:16,359 Speaker 3: What's been his issue this time around? 225 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 4: Well, you know, he's a. 226 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:20,319 Speaker 5: Good athlete man, He's got a nice little left handed swing. 227 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 5: I think he's a little poor happy right now. I 228 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 5: see a lot of balls hit to the right side 229 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 5: of the field. When you know baseball, you got to 230 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:32,080 Speaker 5: use the entire field, and if the opposing pitcher sees that, 231 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 5: you're pretty much looking inside. 232 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 4: Where they work you outside inside, inside, outside. 233 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 5: And he's been gettingit with some change ups and some 234 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:42,960 Speaker 5: fastballs right down the middle for strike three. So I 235 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 5: think what he needs to do is just relax you know, 236 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 5: he's got great talent. I tell him all the time. 237 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 5: I said, hey, man, talent comes back, so don't worry 238 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:51,959 Speaker 5: about it. We all had rough starts at the beginning 239 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 5: of our career because we got to catch up. You're 240 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:56,679 Speaker 5: facing the best of the best, and it's going to 241 00:11:56,720 --> 00:11:59,080 Speaker 5: be like that every day, So get your mind ready 242 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 5: to go out out there and fight and battle. He's 243 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 5: time to go out there, But until you to work 244 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 5: on your craft, because you got to learn how hit 245 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:07,560 Speaker 5: the ball hard the other way. It took me a 246 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 5: while to learn that too. I have my ups and 247 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 5: downs with that. But he's a young guy with a 248 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 5: lot of talent. He can run, he can hit, he 249 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 5: can steal bases. He's got a cannon of an arm 250 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:19,680 Speaker 5: and right field and he gets a good jump on 251 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:20,679 Speaker 5: the ball to the outfield. 252 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 4: So he's going to be okay. 253 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 5: I'm happy that the age allowing him to find this way, 254 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:27,719 Speaker 5: because a lot of times with young players, if you're 255 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 5: not playing well, if you're not hot, if you're not 256 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 5: helping the team, they'll send you back to TRIPLEA. But 257 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 5: they see the talent that he has and they're giving 258 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 5: him time. 259 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 2: Last thing, you know, we'd be crazy not to talk 260 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 2: about just the fans reaction. 261 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 3: We understand what's going on. 262 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 2: The team is moving to Sacramento and next year until 263 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 2: the eventual move to Las Vegas that looks like is 264 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 2: still going to happen. 265 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 3: How are the fans of people who do show up. 266 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:57,920 Speaker 2: I know the crowds aren't big, but what is it 267 00:12:58,040 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 2: like at the ballpark? 268 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:02,719 Speaker 5: You know, people are coming right now because it's the nostalgia. 269 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:05,080 Speaker 5: They're starting to understand that this is the reality two 270 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 5: days of leaving bro and if you don't come out 271 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 5: and see them now and open after this year, they 272 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:13,840 Speaker 5: won't be here. They're going to Sacramento. The crowds are 273 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:16,599 Speaker 5: small right now, They're really small, and a lot of 274 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 5: people are just boycotting based on, you know, not liking 275 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 5: the ownership. So it's one of those games where robins 276 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 5: people out there. We could sit in one place, but 277 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 5: then find a seat down there behind the plate and 278 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:31,559 Speaker 5: we can sneak down because and they're like, hey. 279 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:33,559 Speaker 4: You know, we're just happy you have the ballpark. 280 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:39,440 Speaker 5: But I think that what's happening is that most are 281 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 5: waiting until that last game of the season to go 282 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:44,080 Speaker 5: out there. I think that game has already sold out, 283 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 5: so they want to go out with a bang. And 284 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 5: some people tell me they're bringing wrenches and things so 285 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 5: they can take seats. 286 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 3: I said, go have Oh my goodness, gracious. 287 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:57,440 Speaker 2: And you know, the sad part is that Oakland was 288 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 2: one of America's great sports towns. Anybody who doesn't understand 289 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 2: that or know about the history of the great Oakland 290 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 2: A's teams, the great players that played there, the Oakland Raiders, 291 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:13,719 Speaker 2: we all know, the Warriors in the day. I mean, 292 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:16,560 Speaker 2: that's the sad part is that we're losing a sports 293 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 2: city of Oakland's history. 294 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 3: That's it's It's sad. 295 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 5: It really is, because you know, I'm a born I'm 296 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 5: born in raising O and all my life it was 297 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 5: those three teams, and you know, I always looked forward 298 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 5: to it. And then one year we had champions in basketball, football, 299 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 5: and baseball. 300 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 4: But it was always my love for the Open A's. 301 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 4: You know. 302 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 5: I went out there at four years old, so that 303 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 5: large green grass field and said, man, that's a really 304 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 5: big field, Dad, and he's like, maybe one day you 305 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,600 Speaker 5: could play on that. So the A's became a dream 306 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 5: of mine. One day one I wanted to play for 307 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 5: the Open A's. But I also loved watching Kenny Staylor 308 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 5: and the Raiders all the way back then Freed Blitnakov 309 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 5: and all those guys got to even meet Fred bulivn 310 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 5: the Call. And then with the Warriors, that was way 311 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 5: back when they had Phil Smith and and Clifford Ray 312 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 5: and Lloyd b Free and all these guys. And so 313 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 5: you know, my history is of Oakland, sports man. It's 314 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 5: a shame that they're no longer here and part of 315 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 5: the history of Oakland, a part of my history is 316 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:16,360 Speaker 5: now being transferred to some other cities and states. But 317 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 5: I'm just thankful to Warriors are still here. But bottom 318 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 5: line is that they're not in Oakland and Oakland right now. 319 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 5: It's just it's a shamble in sports of what it 320 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 5: used to be. But you can't take that history, you 321 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 5: can't take the images that we have in our minds 322 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:30,240 Speaker 5: away from us. 323 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 3: No doubt. 324 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 2: His name is Bib Roberts, one of the best in 325 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 2: the business. Bib always the insight. We appreciate you. And 326 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 2: the Oakland A's are a nice story in baseball. They're 327 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 2: not the worst team in baseball and they're competing every 328 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 2: day and that's good to see. Bill. 329 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 3: We'll check in with you again down the road. Thank you, buddy. 330 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 4: All right, brother, I appreciate you. Man, take care of. 331 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:57,520 Speaker 1: It was a big week in the big leagues. 332 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 2: Who's an believe it? 333 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 1: Is it foul or is it fair? And now from 334 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 1: mlbdbro dot Com here's Jrgamba. 335 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 3: Jr. 336 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 2: Is it foul or fair to say that it's a 337 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:21,119 Speaker 2: coincidence that the Chicago White Sox went from cellar dwellers 338 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:26,360 Speaker 2: to playing above five hundred ball since Tommy Fam joined 339 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 2: the lineup. 340 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 1: Foul That is a foul ball. 341 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 6: There's no coincidence here. Tommy Fam is the man. After 342 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:37,480 Speaker 6: going two for four and a two nothing went over 343 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 6: the Nationals on Wednesday, Fam lifted his batting average to 344 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 6: three nineteen with two home runs, ten rbi and ten 345 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 6: runs scored in his last eighteen games. 346 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 3: And guess what. 347 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 6: The White Sox are eleven and eight in the past 348 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 6: nineteen games after starting the season three and twenty two, 349 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 6: lifting the team's record to fourteen and thirty as of Wednesday. 350 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:04,360 Speaker 6: It's a clear indication of the Tommy Fam effect. So 351 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:07,959 Speaker 6: Fam is doing what he's done throughout his career. He 352 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 6: impacts winning last season, Tommy Fam wasn't the sexiest trade 353 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 6: deadline acquisition, but he proved to be the most impactful 354 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 6: piece to an Arizona Diamondbacks team that went to the 355 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:23,919 Speaker 6: World Series. His first week with the team, Fam hit 356 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:26,439 Speaker 6: three point fifty with six RBI and a homer and 357 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:30,639 Speaker 6: never looked back. Fam provided consistency in the middle of 358 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:33,359 Speaker 6: a young lineup and drove in twenty four runs in 359 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:37,119 Speaker 6: his first thirty two games played. Arizona became a different 360 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 6: team and slayed some of baseball supposed juggernauts en route 361 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:44,160 Speaker 6: to the World Series. Fam is a run producer who 362 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 6: can grind out at bats, and as far as pressure goes, 363 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:50,400 Speaker 6: he doesn't feel it, He's made for it. He hit 364 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:53,200 Speaker 6: two seventy nine with three home runs and a point 365 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:57,119 Speaker 6: seventy seven to two ops during last year's playoffs, earning 366 00:17:57,160 --> 00:18:00,920 Speaker 6: a spot in Arizona's starting lineup in enough their last 367 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 6: seventeen crucial games and the White Sox were downtrodden and 368 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 6: ready to tank this season of finding out why Fam 369 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 6: is one of the must have veterans in the game. 370 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:14,960 Speaker 6: Fam is always able to take his team up another notch, 371 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 6: whether it be in the playoffs or a scuffling team 372 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 6: that wants to give up. 373 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:21,159 Speaker 4: He won't let it happen. 374 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 6: Fam is a three thirteen hitter with thirty six hits, 375 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:28,479 Speaker 6: six home run, ten RBI and fifteen runs in thirty 376 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:33,360 Speaker 6: one postseason games. Everywhere Fam goes, they quickly find out 377 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:35,040 Speaker 6: he's needed in the lineup. 378 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:41,680 Speaker 1: It's time for the pocket protector, centro, the analytic numbers 379 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:42,439 Speaker 1: you need to know? 380 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:46,600 Speaker 2: Well, maybe Anthony Masterson is his name. 381 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 3: BS analytics is his game. What do you got for me, Anthony? 382 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:53,639 Speaker 7: We never stopped looking for ways to understand baseball, and 383 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:56,440 Speaker 7: we've long graduated from pitcher wins and RBI as ways 384 00:18:56,480 --> 00:19:00,200 Speaker 7: to evaluate talent. Now, statcast has debuted a new metrics 385 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 7: a tale of how hard batter swing and what it means, 386 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:07,440 Speaker 7: called bat speed. Thanks to special hawkeye cameras, we're able 387 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 7: to see not only bat speed, but also the angle 388 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:12,720 Speaker 7: of the swing in super slow motion. Once the data 389 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:15,600 Speaker 7: is gathered, we can start to identify what it actually means. 390 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 7: We know players try to chase hard, quick swings in 391 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:20,640 Speaker 7: their training, and it's no surprise to see the top 392 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:22,879 Speaker 7: of the leaderboard in bat speed contain some of the 393 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 7: most ferocious swingers in the game. Sean Carlo Stanton is 394 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:29,600 Speaker 7: an exit velocity king, and now we know it's because 395 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:32,159 Speaker 7: his average bat speed of eighty point six miles per 396 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,159 Speaker 7: hour is nearly three miles per hour faster than the 397 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 7: next closest batter, the Pirates O'Neil Cruz. The next guys 398 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:41,320 Speaker 7: on that list are big power guys like Kyle Schwarber, 399 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:45,399 Speaker 7: Ronald Counye Junior, Chris Morel, and Aaron Judge. Why is 400 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 7: it better to swing hard? Batted balls with the bat 401 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:50,560 Speaker 7: speed of eighty plus miles per hour have a three 402 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:53,240 Speaker 7: twenty one average with a slug of six sixty five 403 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:56,399 Speaker 7: seventy to seventy nine miles per hour, the average drops 404 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:58,520 Speaker 7: to two seventy four with a four to seventy seven 405 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:01,119 Speaker 7: slug and under seventy mi an hour, it's a two 406 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:03,439 Speaker 7: oh two average and a two to fifty four slug. 407 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:05,680 Speaker 7: Now that's not to say there's no value in a 408 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 7: slower swing. The bottom two players on the average batspeed 409 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:11,600 Speaker 7: list this season are two time raining batting champ Luis 410 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 7: Arise and current ALE batting leader Stephen Kwan. As more 411 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 7: data gets captured, it will be fascinating to find new 412 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 7: ways to enjoy the game. We love. 413 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 1: Turn money into more money. Now it's time for betting 414 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:26,919 Speaker 1: on the basis with Dave Gascott. 415 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:28,640 Speaker 4: Love that money, Love that money. 416 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 8: Hey, Rob, got a lot of chalk this weekend. Yankees 417 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:33,919 Speaker 8: and White Sox on Friday Night. Nestor Cortez so far 418 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:36,040 Speaker 8: the season one in four era at four to oh 419 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 8: two against Mike Clevenger on one five forty era Yankees, though, 420 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:42,680 Speaker 8: taking this all the way New York at home against 421 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:46,240 Speaker 8: the White Sox. Meanwhile, Braves and Padres from Atlanta. Max 422 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:48,520 Speaker 8: Frieda is on the bump this one. He's very well 423 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:51,159 Speaker 8: so far this season three and one, three fifty seven era. 424 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 8: I'll take the a Til at home against the Friars. 425 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:57,920 Speaker 8: Last one Friday Night from Arlington. Andrew Hayning the Texas 426 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 8: Rangers against the Angels Tyler Anderson. He hasn't been bad 427 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 8: this year three and four record, but the era is 428 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:06,080 Speaker 8: sub three at two ninety two. Han, he's still looking 429 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:08,160 Speaker 8: for his first win of the campaign. I will take 430 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:11,359 Speaker 8: Texas at home as a fave. So a lot of 431 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:14,400 Speaker 8: chock across the board. They got the Rangers, the Braves, 432 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:15,200 Speaker 8: and the Yankees. 433 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:21,119 Speaker 6: It's the gambler here. Vice President of operations for mlbbro 434 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 6: dot Com and executive producer of the MLB Bro Show 435 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:31,240 Speaker 6: podcast The Mixtape. Every Friday. You heard that right. Every Friday, 436 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,119 Speaker 6: we bring you the best from the world of Black 437 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:37,320 Speaker 6: and Brown baseball. We cover the seven point two percent 438 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 6: of melanated Major leaguers from soup to nuts, but with 439 00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:45,919 Speaker 6: our own cultural flair and unique voice, will take you 440 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:49,919 Speaker 6: on a ride reflecting on the accomplishment, clutch moments, and 441 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:54,960 Speaker 6: contributions to culture that the Bros continue to breathe into baseball. 442 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:57,399 Speaker 4: From Mookie Wilson to Mookie. 443 00:21:57,040 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 6: Betts, Doctor k to Doctor Stick, from Bro Bombs, the 444 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:05,440 Speaker 6: Stolen Bases to Black Aces. We're live at the ballparks 445 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:09,200 Speaker 6: and also bringing you segments like Classic Hits with David Grubb, 446 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 6: the Black Ace Report, the Rundown, the Walk Off, and 447 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:17,160 Speaker 6: Going Deep, just to name a few of the segments 448 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 6: that truly capture the voice of black baseball. If things 449 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:23,920 Speaker 6: get out of hand, is the Boss Rob Parker, He's 450 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:27,119 Speaker 6: kicking up dust. We will gladly pay you On Tuesday 451 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:31,280 Speaker 6: from an MLB bro doubleheader today. Remember the heart of 452 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 6: the game lies in the diversity of the game and 453 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:37,000 Speaker 6: the spirit of black baseball. That dates back to the 454 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 6: Negro leagues. I the Gambler, your friendly neighborhood diamond checker, 455 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:44,399 Speaker 6: making sure that you stay on top of the game 456 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:48,360 Speaker 6: and in touch with the soul of MLB. Fuckle up 457 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:52,480 Speaker 6: for a wild baseball journey, showing respect to the Ogs 458 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:55,359 Speaker 6: and highlighting the new breed of melanated Malma. 459 00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:55,920 Speaker 4: Robins. 460 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 6: First thing through MLB's pipeline all pitching with the sound 461 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:04,000 Speaker 6: black Baseball. We got the best starting five in the business. 462 00:23:04,560 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 6: Listen to the MLB bro Show podcast the Mixtape on 463 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:12,680 Speaker 6: the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or. 464 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:14,600 Speaker 4: Wherever you get your podcasts. 465 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 1: When Rob was a newspaper columnist, he lived by this motto. 466 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 1: If I'm writing, I'm ripping. Let's bring in a writer 467 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:25,840 Speaker 1: or broadcaster, old or new. 468 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:28,159 Speaker 3: Now let's welcome into the podcast. 469 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 2: Jason Beck, longtime Detroit Tiger beat writer for MLB dot com. 470 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 3: Friend of mine, Jason, Welcome to the podcast, my. 471 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:40,399 Speaker 9: Friend, Hey Rob, how's everything going? 472 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:41,160 Speaker 2: Man? 473 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 3: Doing great baseball season, chugging along. 474 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:47,159 Speaker 2: Here we are in May, and I wanted to chime 475 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:51,160 Speaker 2: in and check in on the Tigers to see where 476 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:55,639 Speaker 2: they are, where they're headed right now going into Friday, 477 00:23:56,600 --> 00:24:01,400 Speaker 2: when they take on the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are twenty 478 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:05,560 Speaker 2: one and twenty two, fourth in the AL Central. So 479 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:08,960 Speaker 2: right at five hundred, is this where we were expecting 480 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 2: them to be, Jason or have they fallen down a not? 481 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:16,480 Speaker 9: You know, the expectations I think change a little bit 482 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 9: with the best start they got off to. You know, 483 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:22,600 Speaker 9: they won their first five against the White Sox and Mets, 484 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:26,679 Speaker 9: and they seem to, you know, really be poised to 485 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:29,320 Speaker 9: take the next step, you know, especially with the pitching 486 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:35,240 Speaker 9: and uh So, in the context of that, I think 487 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:37,560 Speaker 9: it's you know, it's been a step back. I think 488 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:41,280 Speaker 9: in the context of what we expected going into the season, 489 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:45,199 Speaker 9: I think it's right around where we were expecting that, 490 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:47,320 Speaker 9: you know, right around a five hundred team. Maybe a 491 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:51,960 Speaker 9: little bit below expectations right now, simply because of the offense. 492 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:54,080 Speaker 3: No doubt. And you mentioned pitching. 493 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:56,760 Speaker 2: Let's go there and we'll get back to some of 494 00:24:56,800 --> 00:25:00,879 Speaker 2: the players and Riley Green nine home runs and stuff 495 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:03,199 Speaker 2: that he's doing. We'll do that, but let's get to 496 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:07,960 Speaker 2: the pitching and uh to talk about how good the 497 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:08,760 Speaker 2: pitching has been. 498 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 9: It's been tremendous, you know, Derek scoopo looks like a 499 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 9: legit cy young candidate right now in the American League. 500 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 9: You know, he's anchoring the staff. You know, the best 501 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:24,520 Speaker 9: homegrown uh starting pitcher that they've had since Berland here. Honestly, 502 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 9: I'm gonna send their respect to Fulmer right. 503 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 3: His whip is what zero eighty six? 504 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:34,200 Speaker 9: Yeah, it's it's right around now. I mean it's low. 505 00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:36,760 Speaker 9: You know, he's I believe, right on the fringe of 506 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:39,720 Speaker 9: the top five in AL in the e r A. 507 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:43,440 Speaker 9: You know, his strikeout rate is up. He's just he 508 00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:45,840 Speaker 9: hit one hundred miles an now a couple of starts 509 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:48,879 Speaker 9: to go. You know, it's it's a combination of things. 510 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:52,639 Speaker 9: It's just he's really dealing right now. And you know, 511 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:56,399 Speaker 9: especially for the left handed pitcher, he's really coming on 512 00:25:56,440 --> 00:25:58,800 Speaker 9: to his own to really become one of the formidable 513 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:02,400 Speaker 9: starters and in the American League. And it goes down 514 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:05,720 Speaker 9: from there with you know, Jack Flaherty's had a nice 515 00:26:06,359 --> 00:26:09,600 Speaker 9: bounce back season, which they felt like they could get 516 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:10,400 Speaker 9: that out of him. 517 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:13,240 Speaker 3: He doesn't have a win, but he's pitched well Jason 518 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:15,240 Speaker 3: hasn't he Yeah, Well. 519 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:17,679 Speaker 9: He's got company there. You know. Flarity does not have 520 00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:20,720 Speaker 9: a win despite pitching. Well, you know, reees Olsen does 521 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:22,679 Speaker 9: not have a win. He's zero and four with like 522 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:24,680 Speaker 9: a two O nine e r A. 523 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:26,119 Speaker 3: That's ridiculous. 524 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:29,800 Speaker 2: Both of them already struck out fourteen and didn't get 525 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:30,120 Speaker 2: a win. 526 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:35,680 Speaker 9: That is correct. Yes, he he is, you know when 527 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 9: when his curve ball is working, he's really nasty. He's 528 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 9: gotten that below bump back. They've worked with some stuff, 529 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:47,200 Speaker 9: you know, Robin Lund has done some done some good 530 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:49,200 Speaker 9: work with him in terms of getting his body moving 531 00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:53,200 Speaker 9: better and really recapturing some of the power and that delivery. 532 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 9: He's a legit young number one, number two starter right now, 533 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 9: and depending on where the Tigers are at come August 534 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:05,440 Speaker 9: or come July, it's going to be interesting to see 535 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:07,960 Speaker 9: what they do with him in terms of whether to 536 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:11,119 Speaker 9: go for it and hold on to him or whether 537 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:14,159 Speaker 9: to you know, try to trade him and see what 538 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:16,199 Speaker 9: they see if they can get more prospects. 539 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:21,360 Speaker 2: All right, let's talk about Riley Green and his season 540 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:25,879 Speaker 2: nine home runs nineteen. RBIs to start the season batting 541 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 2: two thirty nine, but just talk about his progress and 542 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:30,200 Speaker 2: the pop in his bat. 543 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:33,800 Speaker 9: He looks like the Riley Green we remember from you 544 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:35,800 Speaker 9: know when he came onto the scene a couple of 545 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:40,160 Speaker 9: years ago, and that's key. I think we they they 546 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:43,800 Speaker 9: needed part of that's hell. You know, he's gone through 547 00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:47,720 Speaker 9: a lot of injuries the last couple of years, a 548 00:27:47,760 --> 00:27:50,800 Speaker 9: lot of them pretty freak, you know, freaky, and it's 549 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:54,879 Speaker 9: not like it's been one particular area that that's really 550 00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 9: bothered him to where it would be a career concern. 551 00:27:57,200 --> 00:28:01,000 Speaker 9: You know, it was Tommy John surgery last September on 552 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:04,560 Speaker 9: a dive diving play. You know, he had a stress 553 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:09,359 Speaker 9: fracture in his leg earlier last season. He's over that 554 00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:12,960 Speaker 9: now and you're starting to see him get the repetitions 555 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:15,760 Speaker 9: he needs to develop as a hitter, and he's developing 556 00:28:15,800 --> 00:28:19,879 Speaker 9: pretty quickly. You know, he's his April was extremely impressive. 557 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:23,679 Speaker 9: He's fallen off a little bit in May, but he's 558 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:28,520 Speaker 9: far and away the folk from around which this lineup revolves, 559 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:31,919 Speaker 9: and they they put together the order with the idea 560 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:35,240 Speaker 9: of getting him as many apt bets and productive situations 561 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:36,000 Speaker 9: as possible. 562 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:40,240 Speaker 2: Our guest is Jason Beck covered the Detroit Tigers for 563 00:28:40,400 --> 00:28:44,040 Speaker 2: MLB dot Com, joining us here on Inside the Parker 564 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:48,680 Speaker 2: Hobby Biaz. Can you help me, Jason, I mean, I 565 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:54,320 Speaker 2: mean batting one sixty seven, one home run, thirteen RB. 566 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:56,640 Speaker 3: What does he have on that contract? Ten years left 567 00:28:56,720 --> 00:28:57,160 Speaker 3: or whatever? 568 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:01,000 Speaker 2: I mean, the Tigers are stuck, and boy is he 569 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:02,000 Speaker 2: fallen off the map. 570 00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:09,120 Speaker 9: It's amazing, you know, And to Hobby's credit, he showed 571 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:13,200 Speaker 9: signs of making changes this year and still does. You 572 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 9: see him go through stretches where he is more patient 573 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:19,560 Speaker 9: as a hitter, where he's not expanding his strikes on 574 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:23,160 Speaker 9: as much and he's not chasing those sliders like two 575 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 9: feet off the plate. But then he'll regress from time 576 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:30,640 Speaker 9: to time, or he'll get a tough call on a 577 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:35,440 Speaker 9: pitch off the plate and then he'll get frustrated, or 578 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:38,480 Speaker 9: you know, he he'll go away from what his game 579 00:29:38,560 --> 00:29:41,560 Speaker 9: plan was going into the at bat. And it's just 580 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:46,640 Speaker 9: he's not as predictable of an ounce as he was 581 00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:49,720 Speaker 9: in the past in terms of how he's gonna be, 582 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 9: you know, be retired. But he's still not seeing to 583 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:58,120 Speaker 9: bump in production for you know, moderately tougher at bets, 584 00:29:58,200 --> 00:30:01,000 Speaker 9: but still not good enough. No good enough for him, 585 00:30:01,360 --> 00:30:04,160 Speaker 9: not good enough for the Tigers either. So it's it's 586 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:07,440 Speaker 9: been frustrating and you can see it on his face, 587 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:10,480 Speaker 9: you know, every time he pops out or straggle out. 588 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:15,040 Speaker 2: Unbelievable final thing, al Central I think, as you said, 589 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:17,200 Speaker 2: got off to a five and oh Start had a 590 00:30:17,200 --> 00:30:19,920 Speaker 2: couple of bad teams. They beat up on them. But 591 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 2: this division isn't the cakewalk. I think people might have 592 00:30:23,080 --> 00:30:25,200 Speaker 2: thought or maybe the Tigers could slip in and win 593 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 2: the division. The Guardians, of course, are very good, and 594 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:34,240 Speaker 2: then the Twins wind up running off like eleven or 595 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:36,880 Speaker 2: twelve wins in a row at one point, and they 596 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 2: got good and they still have some injuries and they 597 00:30:39,440 --> 00:30:43,480 Speaker 2: could even get better. How tough is this Central Division 598 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:46,480 Speaker 2: going to be with the Guardians with the Twins? And 599 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:49,000 Speaker 2: could the Tigers possibly pass one of those? 600 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:53,080 Speaker 9: You know what, it's your respectable division. You know. Cleveland 601 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:56,040 Speaker 9: honestly has been way better than I expected. I did 602 00:30:56,080 --> 00:30:59,880 Speaker 9: not think they had the offense to you know, to 603 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:01,320 Speaker 9: support their pitching and. 604 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:04,280 Speaker 3: Them exactly. 605 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:07,240 Speaker 9: You know, the Naylor brothers have have bring breakout guys, 606 00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:11,880 Speaker 9: you know, and they've even just even just getting Miles 607 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 9: Straw up the lineup and putting Tyler Freeman in there 608 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:18,239 Speaker 9: has made a huge difference. Now we'll see what they 609 00:31:18,280 --> 00:31:20,600 Speaker 9: do without kwand for a little while, but you know this, 610 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:25,680 Speaker 9: right now, they they look really impressive and they look 611 00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:28,320 Speaker 9: like a team that's going to be in it through 612 00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:32,040 Speaker 9: the hardest schedule. The Twins, on the other hand, I 613 00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:34,760 Speaker 9: did not think had enough pitching, and right now they do. 614 00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:39,800 Speaker 9: You know, Pablo Lopez is looking like a genius of 615 00:31:39,840 --> 00:31:43,560 Speaker 9: an acquisition right now, especially after you watch the Marlins 616 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:46,960 Speaker 9: trade Luisa Rice to San Diego and just get a 617 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:52,040 Speaker 9: couple of prospects in return. You know, it's they they 618 00:31:52,080 --> 00:31:55,320 Speaker 9: have a good order to their you know, to their 619 00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:59,240 Speaker 9: rotation and their line up. Now the guys are getting 620 00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:04,120 Speaker 9: healthier again. It's formidable, and it's it's the type of 621 00:32:04,160 --> 00:32:08,840 Speaker 9: lineup where there are obvious week spots where you can 622 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:11,920 Speaker 9: exploit and gig your outs. And you know, if they 623 00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:14,320 Speaker 9: can get a good, healthy stretch from Byron Buxton and 624 00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:17,840 Speaker 9: Carlos Korea, you know, they probably would be the best 625 00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:21,720 Speaker 9: team in the division now. In fairness, their winning streak 626 00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:24,440 Speaker 9: and park came with a fair number of games against 627 00:32:24,440 --> 00:32:27,120 Speaker 9: the White Sox. But as we've seen, you know, the 628 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:29,760 Speaker 9: White Sox can sneak up and get guys every now 629 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:32,440 Speaker 9: and then if teams aren't careful. 630 00:32:32,680 --> 00:32:35,640 Speaker 2: No doubt, his name is Jason Beck. One of the 631 00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:39,160 Speaker 2: best in the business, one of my favorites. Jason, always 632 00:32:39,200 --> 00:32:42,320 Speaker 2: a pleasure. Thanks for joining us here and inside the Parker. 633 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:46,960 Speaker 9: Thanks Rob, always good talking baseball with you. 634 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:53,160 Speaker 1: Now bring in the closer. Here's why MLB is better 635 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:56,959 Speaker 1: than the NFL or NBA, and it isn't even close. 636 00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:02,360 Speaker 2: Read number four hundred and fifty five where Major League 637 00:33:02,360 --> 00:33:05,680 Speaker 2: Baseball is better than the NBA and the NFL is 638 00:33:05,720 --> 00:33:10,440 Speaker 2: What's gonna happen Thursday night at Dodger Stadium. 639 00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:13,560 Speaker 3: It's show hey, old Tahani babohead night. 640 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:16,960 Speaker 2: Yes, they played at Cincinnati Reds and they're given out 641 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:21,760 Speaker 2: show hey baboheads. And my goodness, gracious, baboheads were like 642 00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:27,040 Speaker 2: twenty five years old and they still have steam. 643 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:28,960 Speaker 3: But only in baseball. 644 00:33:28,960 --> 00:33:30,720 Speaker 2: To me, I don't know what other sport is given 645 00:33:30,760 --> 00:33:34,720 Speaker 2: out babbleheads still at the rate that Major League Baseball 646 00:33:34,800 --> 00:33:37,920 Speaker 2: gives out babbleheads still a big draw. We know that 647 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:41,000 Speaker 2: Dodgers draw four million people every year they come into 648 00:33:41,040 --> 00:33:45,000 Speaker 2: the game regardless, but I can just imagine the maneuvering 649 00:33:45,120 --> 00:33:49,600 Speaker 2: of people getting to the ballpark Dodger Stadium early to 650 00:33:49,680 --> 00:33:53,040 Speaker 2: try to get a bobblehead. This could be a collective's 651 00:33:53,440 --> 00:33:56,160 Speaker 2: item if he winds up being the greatest player or 652 00:33:56,160 --> 00:34:00,280 Speaker 2: ever played major League baseball as a two way star show. 653 00:34:00,280 --> 00:34:02,240 Speaker 3: Hey Otani, babblehead night. 654 00:34:02,640 --> 00:34:05,000 Speaker 2: It goes hand in hand with major League baseball, and 655 00:34:05,080 --> 00:34:09,160 Speaker 2: that's what makes the game so much fun and so great. 656 00:34:15,880 --> 00:34:18,239 Speaker 2: In the words of New York TV legend the late 657 00:34:18,320 --> 00:34:21,720 Speaker 2: Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for your time this time until 658 00:34:21,719 --> 00:34:22,280 Speaker 2: next time. 659 00:34:22,680 --> 00:34:26,160 Speaker 3: Rob Parker out d can't Gavin. This could be an 660 00:34:26,160 --> 00:34:27,120 Speaker 3: inside of Parker. 661 00:34:27,239 --> 00:34:30,400 Speaker 1: See you next week, same bat time, same batt station.