1 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 1: Welcome one and all to the Hammer Territory podcast. My 2 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: name is Sean Coleman. Hope wherever you are and wherever 3 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: you are listening, and you number one, are having an 4 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:34,559 Speaker 1: outstanding day, an outstanding start to your week. And you 5 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 1: know what, it's a very rare occurrence in the most shows. 6 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: But you know what, we have great news to talk 7 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: about when it comes to the Atlanta Braves. As always, 8 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:47,159 Speaker 1: my podcast partner one of the best breaking down the 9 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: Braves in Steven Toberth Stephen. It finally happened, the subject 10 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 1: that we cannot stop talking about because there was nothing 11 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: else to talk about for the second half of the season. 12 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: Drake Baldwin is your twenty five in ail Rookie of 13 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: the Year. 14 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 2: What's up, buddy? Yeah, man, it finally happened. My god. 15 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 2: We have been talking about this for I mean. 16 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 3: Honestly since Drake made opening day roster and just started 17 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 3: like hitting, like crazy, like it. The conversation started pretty 18 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 3: quickly that like, hey, if he wins Rookie of the Year, 19 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 3: he's been on enough top one hundred prospect lists. He 20 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 3: was on the opening day roster like this could very 21 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 3: easily turn into a draft pick and it just got 22 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:30,319 Speaker 3: louder louder louder, and listen, when the Braves season kind 23 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 3: of went to hell, there wasn't a lot else to 24 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,199 Speaker 3: talk about. You know, it was like, let's talk about 25 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 3: how awesome Drake Battle is. Like, yeah, we could come 26 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:42,119 Speaker 3: on here and talk about Carlos carrasco or we could 27 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 3: talk about how fun Drake Baldlin is. So that's what 28 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:46,400 Speaker 3: we did a lot at the time. And he finally 29 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 3: won the award tonight. It was great to see, and 30 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 3: we're gonna get into the details of it because it's 31 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 3: got details in the award itself, and then it's got 32 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 3: details that kind of ripple out from there, and we're 33 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 3: gonna try to talk about it all tonight. 34 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: And yes, we did talk about when it came to 35 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: Drake Baldwin winning Rookie of the Year. You know, it 36 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 1: seemed like that that was a very rare possibility, even 37 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 1: in the first half of the season. But we really 38 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 1: made it a second half storyline because of the implications 39 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:18,679 Speaker 1: that come from, you know, it benefiting the Braves. But 40 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 1: let's first put the focus on how awesome of development 41 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:25,359 Speaker 1: it is for Drake Baldom. Number One, he earned this award, 42 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:27,639 Speaker 1: but number two the best development of all the Braves 43 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 1: legitimately have one of the best catchers behind the plate 44 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 1: being forward likely for the next decade. That is an 45 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: awesome development that you did not expect really a year ago. 46 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: And why why did Drake Baldwin emerge as the clear favorite, 47 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 1: you know, just a couple of months into the season. 48 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 1: More than anything, it was his offense, but the fact 49 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:49,239 Speaker 1: that he was doing it as a rookie catcher, the 50 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: first rookie, the first catcher to win in OL Rookie 51 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 1: of the Year since twenty ten. He was doing it 52 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: as a catcher. But he was so consistent. There is 53 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 1: such a high flour when it comes to draw Baldwin 54 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: at the plate, just good at bat after good at bat. 55 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 1: You could put together several different numerical quarries about the 56 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: special season that Baldwin had, and you'll see names like 57 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: Mike Piazza, Buster Polsy as well as Adlie Rutchman being 58 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 1: the only catchers who come close to what Baldwin did 59 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: or exceeded what Baldwin did this year. That's how special 60 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:23,679 Speaker 1: it was. But to me, Stephen, the reason why Baldwin 61 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 1: won this award is was become from start to finish, 62 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: the consistency at the plate, beginning with a great approach, 63 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 1: he just consistently showed not only was he a tough out, 64 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 1: but he could deliver in big moments for a Braves 65 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: team that certainly needs all of that that they can get. 66 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was the maturity, right like for a rookie. 67 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 3: It was the quality of the bats he was taking. 68 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 3: And listen in the first half, that's where it was 69 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 3: most noticeable, because honestly, there were so many Braves who 70 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 3: were having such terrible first halfs that his his awesome 71 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 3: atbats were just standing out. It's like, oh my god, 72 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 3: this kid is holding his own and doing more than that, 73 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 3: he's the best sit on the There was chunks of 74 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 3: the first half it was the best sit on the 75 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 3: team and we were. 76 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 2: Like, who is this kid? And he earned it. 77 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 3: And the crazy thing about his twenty twenty five season 78 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 3: is he actually underperformed his expected numbers. 79 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 2: His expected numbers are. 80 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 3: About ten points higher than his actual numbers. He hits 81 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 3: the ball incredibly hard. His average exit velocity he has 82 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:32,799 Speaker 3: the exact same average exit velocity as Austin Riley's career 83 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 3: exit velocity, which is ninety one point eight miles an hour. 84 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 3: Everybody knows Austin. 85 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 2: Hits the ball. 86 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 3: Austin just crushes the ball, and so like it's it's 87 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 3: not just like a fluke. It's not because some kid 88 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 3: came up and ran a four to fifty batting average 89 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 3: of balls in play for three months and then the 90 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 3: numbers slowly dwindled from there, Like there's real signal here 91 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:57,039 Speaker 3: that this kid is legit. The plate discipline, yeah, it's 92 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 3: just the total package, and then all of it wrapped 93 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 3: into the fact that it's a catcher. A one twenty 94 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 3: five WRC plus this season from a catcher just adds 95 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 3: so much more value. It's just not a position where 96 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 3: you expect to get a ton of offense. So when 97 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 3: you do, it's just it's like found gold. It's just like, 98 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 3: didn't expect that. 99 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 2: From this position. 100 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 3: So monster year for Drake. He absolutely deserved. It was 101 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 3: legitimately one of the best winners on the team from 102 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 3: day one of the season, and that's that's why I 103 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 3: think he got the nod here. It was actually I 104 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:29,280 Speaker 3: think he got twenty one of the thirty first place 105 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:30,480 Speaker 3: votes is what I saw. 106 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 2: So it was pretty it was pretty convincing. 107 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 3: Like it wasn't unanimous like Kurtz was in the American League, 108 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:39,919 Speaker 3: but like people took a note of that. He was 109 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 3: there from day one. He was one of the best 110 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:43,280 Speaker 3: winners on the team from day one. He hit in 111 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 3: the middle of the order basically from day one, like 112 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 3: he was a major contributor to this team. And he 113 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:52,040 Speaker 3: deserved Rookie of the Year. He got Rookie of the Year, 114 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 3: and I'm happy for him. 115 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 1: And let's also shine a spotlight on the fact that 116 00:05:56,400 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 1: from Drake Baldwin there were so many bachs. Is that 117 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 1: he checked of needed areas offensively where the Braves needed 118 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:07,920 Speaker 1: more depth, hitting with runners in scoring position, hitting against 119 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,479 Speaker 1: left handed hitters, getting on base consistently, a productive middle 120 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 1: of the order left handed bat. He was able to 121 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 1: make do on all of those and he was historically 122 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: productive for a rookie catcher, you know, as a left 123 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 1: handed hitter against left handed pitching with runners in scoring position. 124 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 1: That's the big thing that stepped up is that, you know, 125 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 1: kind of the more important the plate appearance became, or 126 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 1: the more the odds were against him for succeeding, that 127 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 1: just made him more successful. And that's another thing that 128 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:38,479 Speaker 1: stood out to me. There was no moment too big 129 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 1: for him, But again it was also the consistency of 130 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:44,360 Speaker 1: delivering in big moments. Him with the bases loaded is 131 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 1: about as safe of a bet of success as you 132 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 1: can think of. And that's what also stood out about him. 133 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 1: He goes back to the maturity, but just the delivery, 134 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 1: delivery in the clutch, which this brave team, braves team 135 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:56,479 Speaker 1: badly needs. 136 00:06:56,960 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, like a fifteen percent strikeout right, a nine percent 137 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 3: walk rade, Like, it's just a fantastic That's an unbelievably 138 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 3: good ratio for anybody, much less a rookie. I mean, 139 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 3: and I get he is an older rookie. He's like 140 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 3: twenty four, which is, you know, probably a year older 141 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 3: on average than what your typical rookie is. But still 142 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 3: just incredible, incredible job, and the team loves him. The 143 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 3: pitchers all raved about him in terms of like his 144 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 3: development as a catcher. That wasn't a given either, Like 145 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 3: it wasn't a given that he was gonna come along 146 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 3: and be able to catch Chris Sale and be able 147 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 3: to catch Spitzer Strider. And you know, veteran pitchers that 148 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 3: have a very specific mindset of how they want, you know, 149 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 3: their games called. Chris Sale famously has said, I don't 150 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 3: shake off my catcher. He calls the game, and so 151 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 3: like you have to be able to you have to 152 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 3: know what you're doing to catch a Chrissale game. And 153 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 3: Chris Sale just gave this kid rave reviews all season long, 154 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:57,240 Speaker 3: and it just goes to show you, like the maturity 155 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 3: was really that's the part that I remember most. It's 156 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:03,679 Speaker 3: just like he came up and not for one single 157 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 3: day did he look like a rookie. Not one single 158 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 3: time did I think, eugh, that was a that was 159 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 3: a rookie at bat right there, that was a rookie 160 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 3: you know, pass ball or whatever. He just looked like 161 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 3: a pro, a veteran from day one, and he was 162 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 3: one of the best players on the team all year 163 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 3: and he deserved this. 164 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 2: I'm glad he got it. I'm glad, you know, I'm. 165 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 3: Glad it didn't turn into a team award where you know, 166 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 3: he gets knocked because the team wasn't very good. That 167 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 3: pisses me off to no end. Where guys lose awards 168 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 3: because they didn't have as good as teammates as somebody 169 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:35,959 Speaker 3: else did. It's an individual award and he deserved to 170 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 3: win it, and I'm glad he did. 171 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, and one of you in the Braves kudos as well. Now, 172 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:43,560 Speaker 1: five Rookie of the Year winners, the most in the 173 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: National League since two thousand and Once again, you know, 174 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 1: as we mentioned a couple of times, if you look 175 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: over the past thirty to thirty five years, only the 176 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 1: Dodgers have been more productive behind the plate in terms 177 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 1: of position player war and a lot of that goes 178 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,079 Speaker 1: to homegrown talent for the Braves where they finally got 179 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:00,839 Speaker 1: one again from Hobby Lopez to Brian Can. They found 180 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 1: some successful fights in between those guys. But it looks 181 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 1: like that Drake Baldwin is next to step up. We'll 182 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:09,560 Speaker 1: see what happens with Sean Murphy. We'll discuss that another time. 183 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: But again, Steven, it's great to see the ability for 184 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 1: the Braves to deliver these catchers. But as much as 185 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 1: we talk about the Braves, you know, not really having 186 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 1: that many attractive young options in the minors, they just 187 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 1: simply seem to keep churning out not only rookies, notable rookies, 188 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 1: but rookies who make significant impacts. Of course, you go 189 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: back to twenty twenty two when Spencer Strider and Michael 190 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 1: Harris or Michael Harrison Spencer Strider were one to two 191 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:34,960 Speaker 1: in the Rookie of the Year. 192 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 2: Voting. 193 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 1: So that's the thing that stands out about the Braves. 194 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: While yes, we do want them to add talent to 195 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 1: win now, it's good to see that they're continuing to 196 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 1: develop rookies that not only can you know, show up 197 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 1: in the majors, but add an immediate impact. 198 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 3: Yeah. I mean that's what they were known for for 199 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:53,240 Speaker 3: years and years and years, was like homegrown talent, Like 200 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:55,839 Speaker 3: the Braves have never you know, they had a run 201 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 3: in the ninety or in the early two thousands where 202 00:09:57,960 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 3: they spent money at a p pretty high clip relative 203 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:05,480 Speaker 3: to league average, But they've always been about homegrown talent. 204 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 2: And you can go back to you know, Frank. 205 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 3: Core and McCann and and then Hayward and Freeman came up, 206 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 3: and then of course they did the rebuild, and then 207 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 3: it was a Kunya and Albi's and Swanson and Riley 208 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 3: and you know, you know, it just goes on and on, 209 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 3: and then you had Michael and Strider, and then you 210 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 3: had Swellenbach and Drake Baldwin, Like that's what they do. 211 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 3: They develop a lot of talent, and it's been a 212 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 3: large part of why they've had this like thirty five 213 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 3: year run of being an extremely successful franchise is because 214 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 3: you cannot build a franchise. 215 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 2: Through free agency. 216 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 3: You can't even the Dodgers. Like when the Dodgers started 217 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:44,319 Speaker 3: this run, it was through a ton of homegrown talent, 218 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,520 Speaker 3: Like when they had Corey Seeger, and they had Cody Bellinger, 219 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 3: and they had Jack Peterson and they had all these guys, 220 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 3: Walker Buhler, all those guys came from their system. Clayton Kershaw, 221 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 3: they came from their system. Like it's tough to build 222 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 3: anything through free agency. You better have a pipeline of 223 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 3: homegrown talent. And the Bravest Farm system has not been 224 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 3: quite to the same level lately because they just haven't 225 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 3: picked as high and they've had a lot of promotions, 226 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 3: but they always seem to have like a couple of 227 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 3: like really strong players come up and even when the 228 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 3: system doesn't seem like it's all that strong, here comes 229 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:20,560 Speaker 3: a couple of impact players and they do it every year, 230 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 3: and so credit to them, and credit to Drake Baldwin 231 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 3: for being so mature from taking advantage of the injury 232 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 3: that that Sean Murphy got in the off season in 233 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 3: spring training and running with it and that earned him 234 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 3: an everyday job. And remember, it wasn't gonna be Drake Baldom. 235 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 3: It was gonna be oh my god, I've already forgotten 236 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 3: his name. Who was going to be the backup Trump 237 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:44,240 Speaker 3: when the Chadwick Trump. 238 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 2: Yes, Trump, Yeah, it was gonna be. 239 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:47,959 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was gonna be Sean Murphy and Chadwick Trump. 240 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 3: That was gonna start the year. And then Murph got 241 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:53,199 Speaker 3: hurt in spring training and that changed everything. Baldwin made 242 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 3: the opening day roster and he never went back to 243 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:58,680 Speaker 3: triple A again. So that's just a credit to that 244 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:02,080 Speaker 3: kid for being that to take advantage of a situation, 245 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,200 Speaker 3: get take advantage of playing time, and he ran with it, 246 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 3: and he ran with it all the way to Rookie 247 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:07,560 Speaker 3: of the Year. 248 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:08,840 Speaker 2: So good on him. 249 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: From backup to breakout to bad bleep Rookie of the Year. 250 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 1: That's Drake Baldwin in a nutshell. But here's the thing, 251 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 1: Drake Baldwin absolutely deserves it. And the best thing again 252 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:23,199 Speaker 1: from it is not only him running Rookie. 253 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 2: Of the year. 254 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:27,080 Speaker 1: But the Braves obviously have added another significant piece to 255 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 1: their It's still say young core for the future that 256 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:34,559 Speaker 1: wants to contend. But we also we also fortunately now 257 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 1: have the ability to talk about the Braves now have 258 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 1: a little bit more in the cupboard that really could 259 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:43,199 Speaker 1: allow for them to be more aggressive when it comes 260 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 1: to adding to the team. Now the PPI pick involvement 261 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:50,200 Speaker 1: the Braves earning next hera first round pick from Drake 262 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 1: Baldwin winning Rookie of the Year. Steven and I will 263 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:55,160 Speaker 1: discuss all the details of that in just a moment 264 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:56,840 Speaker 1: after a word from our partners. 265 00:12:57,240 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 4: This episode of FT is brought to you by a Square. 266 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 4: Your favorite neighborhood spots run on square. Give me an 267 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:06,319 Speaker 4: example in Pennsylvaniacrats. 268 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 5: Right down the street from my house, the tap House. 269 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:10,320 Speaker 5: Not only is it an awesome place to hang out, 270 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:13,960 Speaker 5: get your beers, get your drinks, whatever it is, but 271 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 5: you know what, the company has the simplicity of square 272 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 5: and they give back to the community with ten percent 273 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 5: of all the proceeds that they bring in going back 274 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:23,600 Speaker 5: to community projects. 275 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 2: I love it. 276 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:26,840 Speaker 4: Sports and sports bars are so good at bringing together 277 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 4: local communities and you can actually take this ad as 278 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:32,440 Speaker 4: an excuse to go support your local spot and have 279 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 4: yourself a day or weekend in the neighborhood. Square is 280 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:38,320 Speaker 4: a proud partner of more than four million neighborhood businesses 281 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 4: around the world. These businesses are what make the neighborhood 282 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 4: the neighborhood. 283 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 2: So visit Square. 284 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:46,720 Speaker 4: Dot com slash go, slash foul to learn more. But 285 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 4: before you do, go support your favorite neighborhood spot. You'll 286 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 4: be happy you did. Square see you in the neighborhood again. 287 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:57,199 Speaker 4: That's Square dot Com slash Go, slash foul to learn more. 288 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:01,120 Speaker 1: So Steven Eave is back in July and it was 289 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 1: around the All Star break when we started discussing, Hey, 290 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:08,719 Speaker 1: one of the biggest second half storylines was Drake baldwould 291 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: really be it able to close out the Rookie of 292 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:13,120 Speaker 1: the Year campaign? Did the Braves be it able to 293 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:16,720 Speaker 1: get that extra draft pick? Because because the Braves for 294 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 1: a first time in a while, were legitimately looking like 295 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 1: they would pick towards the top of the twenty twenty 296 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 1: six draft, did they have some pretty good odds of 297 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 1: forty five percent chance to land in the top six 298 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:31,120 Speaker 1: of what many considered to be one of the best 299 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: top ten of a draft in recent history, at least 300 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:36,480 Speaker 1: over the past couple of years. So the Braves and 301 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 1: only are potentially going to have a top six pick, 302 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 1: but now they've landed in the area to get that 303 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 1: extra first round pick. Now why, we don't know exact details. 304 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 1: That won't happen for another month when the draft lottery occurs. 305 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:51,480 Speaker 1: Actually I think it's it's December ninth. But the idea 306 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 1: is is that where these specific picks of landing over 307 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 1: the past couple of years, it will likely land in 308 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 1: that probably pick twenty six to pick thirty range of 309 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 1: the draft, and it's going to add an extra probably 310 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: around three point two to three point five million to 311 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:09,760 Speaker 1: the Braves slot total. Well, we could discuss all the 312 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 1: different you know, strategies the Braves can use with that 313 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 1: slot money. But Stephen, that's development of this pick, and 314 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 1: it gives the Braves potentially a lot of options to 315 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 1: consider that may not necessarily be simply using it on 316 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:23,120 Speaker 1: a draft pick. 317 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, so it's the prospect promotion incentive pick is essentially 318 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 3: what it is. 319 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 2: It's it was added in the last CBA. 320 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 3: Basically, it's a way to get around service time manipulation 321 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 3: is that you incentivize teams to put their best prospects 322 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 3: on the roster on opening day by offering them a 323 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 3: draft pick if said prospect WinCE Rookie of the Year. 324 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 3: It's a little contrived, but it does make sense that 325 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 3: you know, because teams do this all the time. They 326 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 3: they keep their best prospects down for three weeks or 327 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 3: four weeks to get an extra year of control. 328 00:15:57,640 --> 00:15:59,360 Speaker 2: So that's what the Bread's got. 329 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 3: This is where it gets fascinating because there's two there's 330 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 3: two ways you can look at this, And I want 331 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 3: to get your opinion on this, Sean, because I have 332 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:10,880 Speaker 3: an opinion on this, and my opinion has changed a 333 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 3: little bit in the last probably forty eight hours as 334 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 3: I've thought about this more. 335 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 2: There's two ways you can think about this. 336 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 3: So the Braves now have an extra pick basically at 337 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 3: the end of the first round, which is now they're 338 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 3: gonna be their second pick of the draft. So the 339 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 3: way the rule works in baseball is we've talked about 340 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 3: qualifying offers, where free agents get qualifying the top level 341 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 3: free agents get qualifying offers, and if you sign one 342 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 3: of those players, you. 343 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 2: Are deemed a draft pick. 344 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 3: Well for the Braves in terms of where they are 345 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:43,120 Speaker 3: with luxury spending, the most likely outcome is if they 346 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 3: sign one of these qualified free agents, they're gonna have 347 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 3: to give up their second highest draft pick. Well after tonight, 348 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 3: their second highest draft pick is now going to be 349 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 3: this pick that Drake Baldwin picked that we just got, 350 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 3: and it's gonna be likely at the end of the 351 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 3: first round, it's likely going to have like like you 352 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 3: just said, like three and a half million dollars attached 353 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 3: to it in terms of your bonus pool, which is 354 00:17:04,840 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 3: almost as important as the pick itself, to be quite honest, 355 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:09,360 Speaker 3: because of what it allows you to do in terms 356 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 3: of draft strategy. 357 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 2: And so the you know, the. 358 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:15,959 Speaker 3: Question has been which of the two thoughts do you 359 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:19,640 Speaker 3: go with. Do you go with, well, we can now 360 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 3: go sign a qualified free agent because we just got 361 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 3: this extra draft pick and it's basically like not having 362 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 3: to give up a draft pick because we just got 363 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:32,199 Speaker 3: an extra one for free. Or do you go the 364 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:35,400 Speaker 3: other way where you say, the fact that this pick 365 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 3: is going to be that close to the first round 366 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:40,640 Speaker 3: and have this much money attached to it now makes 367 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:43,639 Speaker 3: it even more valuable than what was going to be 368 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 3: the brave second highest pick, which was going to be 369 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:48,720 Speaker 3: their second round pick. And does that make it more 370 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 3: likely that you keep the pick and don't sign a 371 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:52,080 Speaker 3: qualified free agent? 372 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:54,439 Speaker 2: And I've thought about this. I've been thinking about this 373 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 2: last two days. Scott was actually talking about this on 374 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 2: Twitter the last couple of days. 375 00:17:57,920 --> 00:17:59,680 Speaker 3: It's I think that one of the first treats he 376 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 3: sent actually got me thinking about it. And here's where 377 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 3: I am, and I do want to get your opinion. 378 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 3: I think I've landed on I would rather the Braves 379 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 3: keep this pick. I would rather the Braves not sign 380 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:16,000 Speaker 3: a qualified free agent because, let's be honest, the most 381 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 3: likely person they would sign that's got a qualifying offers 382 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,040 Speaker 3: a picture. And you just talked about how the Braves 383 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 3: just do not hand out these six seven year, two 384 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:27,880 Speaker 3: hundred million dollar contracts to pitchers. They just let Max 385 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 3: Freed walk off of one of those to the Yankees 386 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 3: last year. 387 00:18:31,119 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 2: They do not sign these contracts. 388 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:35,600 Speaker 3: And when you add that to the fact that you 389 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 3: can just go trade for a guy like Sonny Gray 390 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:40,919 Speaker 3: who's gonna cost money, but he's not gonna cost draft picks. 391 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:43,920 Speaker 3: He's just gonna cost money, and he might not cost 392 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 3: thirty five million, because you could get the Cardinals to 393 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 3: pay some of that down. You could go get a 394 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 3: guy like Sonny Gray, and you could keep this draft pick, 395 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:53,199 Speaker 3: and you could keep all of the money associated with 396 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 3: this draft pick in terms of your bonus pool, and 397 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:59,199 Speaker 3: just go stock up on prospects. This is probably the 398 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:02,399 Speaker 3: best highest a pick in the draft for a long time. 399 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 3: This is kind of a one off opportunity for a 400 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:07,159 Speaker 3: team that's in a championship window too. All Right, we 401 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 3: had a bad year. Let's take a full advantage of 402 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:12,600 Speaker 3: this bad year by by just cleaning up in the draft, 403 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:14,920 Speaker 3: by having this massive draft bonus pool. You have this, 404 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:17,800 Speaker 3: it's probably gonna be a top five pick. You have 405 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 3: this extra draft pick, you have all the money associated 406 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:23,639 Speaker 3: with that. You could just absolutely clean up and really 407 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:28,960 Speaker 3: just explode your farm system as well as being able 408 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 3: to have more trade capital. Like I understand the idea 409 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:35,919 Speaker 3: of wanting to sign a qualified free agent, but the 410 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:37,639 Speaker 3: more I've thought about it in the last two days, 411 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:40,440 Speaker 3: the more I think, I think you can go trade 412 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 3: for an arm that doesn't require you to give up 413 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 3: a draft pick, and I think you could keep all 414 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:47,679 Speaker 3: of this capital and use it to build your system 415 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 3: from within. I want to hear your opinion on where 416 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 3: do you stand as we sit here right now. 417 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 1: The opinion is simple for me. It's it's a matter 418 00:19:56,640 --> 00:20:00,639 Speaker 1: of risk and reward because the Braves now have extra 419 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:04,119 Speaker 1: incentive to go out and make a rewarding of a 420 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 1: move as possible. But they also now they also now 421 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:09,919 Speaker 1: have a bit of leverage when it comes to the 422 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:11,960 Speaker 1: risk involved. And what I mean by that is this 423 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:18,119 Speaker 1: is that, as you mentioned Alex Enthopolis, he let Max 424 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:23,280 Speaker 1: Read walk. We have seen him go after Aaron Nola. 425 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:27,400 Speaker 1: We have seen him go after Nathan Eavaldi, and whether 426 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:29,360 Speaker 1: it was the twenty five million per year that those 427 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:32,720 Speaker 1: guys got or potentially the long term contract that Aaron 428 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 1: Nola got, he did not go forward with those deals. 429 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:40,760 Speaker 1: That being said, I understand that some are like, well, 430 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 1: you haven't done. You haven't gone that route. Yet you 431 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 1: have even more reason now to go after it with 432 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:49,400 Speaker 1: how much you've underperformed over the past couple of years, 433 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 1: and you've got even more incentive to go get it done. 434 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:55,199 Speaker 1: This is the time to do it. But I still 435 00:20:55,320 --> 00:21:00,879 Speaker 1: feel that Alex prefers those shorter term deals where he 436 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:03,359 Speaker 1: would be able to go a little bit higher on 437 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 1: the AAV, so you go with If you go the 438 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:09,520 Speaker 1: qualified free agent route, you not only lose the draft pick, 439 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:13,240 Speaker 1: but you take on the riskier proposition of Yeah, you 440 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:16,160 Speaker 1: get a very quality arm, but it's a long term 441 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:20,320 Speaker 1: contract at a high AAV that's just uncharacteristic of Alex. 442 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:20,880 Speaker 2: Yeah. 443 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 1: So that's why I think the trade route does make sense, 444 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:28,200 Speaker 1: because you get the ability to be able to keep 445 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 1: the draft pick but also restock whatever you send out. 446 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 1: Now here is the extra way where I think getting 447 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 1: this draft pick makes sense beyond just making a trade 448 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:44,680 Speaker 1: for an arm. Go fill multiple needs now with the trade. 449 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:48,640 Speaker 1: For instance, one that I think makes sense, go get 450 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:52,639 Speaker 1: Sunny Gray, but also go get Brandon Donovan. Go fill 451 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:56,399 Speaker 1: two needs at once for your starting rotation as well 452 00:21:56,440 --> 00:22:00,719 Speaker 1: as getting a utility quality hitter that can help supplant 453 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:03,879 Speaker 1: some of your other players. And if it costs you 454 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:07,200 Speaker 1: a top draft pick, be willing to pay it because 455 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:09,879 Speaker 1: you have the ability to control Donovan for multiple years, 456 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:13,760 Speaker 1: you could potentially extend Gray. Maybe you go get a 457 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:17,480 Speaker 1: Griffin Jacks as well as a Brandon Low with Tampa 458 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:20,199 Speaker 1: Bay that feels the same need. If you want to 459 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:23,119 Speaker 1: think big we'll talk about even just a moment, but 460 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:26,920 Speaker 1: go talk with Minnesota about Byron Buxton and Pablo Lopez. 461 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:31,280 Speaker 1: Maybe the route to go in a trade is getting 462 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:35,080 Speaker 1: multiple players that you can control, and then you can 463 00:22:35,119 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 1: turn right around and replace what you traded away in 464 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:44,000 Speaker 1: this straft. I think that is the more productive, minimizing risks, 465 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:48,680 Speaker 1: still getting significant reward route to go then going after 466 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 1: a qualifying free agent. 467 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:54,679 Speaker 3: Yeah, I agree, that's where I've landed. I think I 468 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:56,639 Speaker 3: want them. I want them to go trade for a 469 00:22:56,680 --> 00:23:00,480 Speaker 3: picture like Sonny gra Like Sonny Gray had better year 470 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 3: last year than Dylan Cees. I don't know how many 471 00:23:02,320 --> 00:23:05,000 Speaker 3: people know that, but like Sonny Gray was fantasmic. Sound 472 00:23:05,040 --> 00:23:07,760 Speaker 3: like Scott right now singing the praises of Sonny Gray. 473 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 3: And it doesn't have to be him. There's other guys 474 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:10,240 Speaker 3: out there. 475 00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:11,800 Speaker 2: But I just think you can. 476 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:14,520 Speaker 3: Go make a I don't want to say a Chris 477 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:17,159 Speaker 3: Sale type move because that was kind of a theft 478 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:19,879 Speaker 3: that they pulled off against the Red Sox. You're not 479 00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 3: gonna get many more like that, but I think you 480 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:25,080 Speaker 3: can go do something like that where you get value, 481 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:28,280 Speaker 3: where you get still a high level pitcher, but you 482 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:31,400 Speaker 3: don't have to give him six years like you're gonna 483 00:23:31,440 --> 00:23:35,480 Speaker 3: have to Dylan Ceese or Ranger Suarez, and you don't 484 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 3: have to give up the draft pick to sign him. 485 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:41,879 Speaker 3: And that makes a lot of sense to me. And 486 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 3: like you said, anything you trade away like Sonny Gray 487 00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 3: wouldn't even cost process, like it's gonna cost money, Like 488 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:51,479 Speaker 3: he makes thirty five million dollars next year. The Cardinals 489 00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:53,440 Speaker 3: know they're not getting any sort of like top level 490 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 3: prospect for him, like they just if you just offered 491 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:57,960 Speaker 3: to take most of the money, they would say yes. 492 00:23:58,560 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 3: And there are plenty of guys out there where you 493 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:03,639 Speaker 3: could get a valuable pitcher and not really having to 494 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:05,280 Speaker 3: give up that much in your system. But like you said, 495 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:07,120 Speaker 3: even if you did have even if you did give 496 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:10,480 Speaker 3: up a pretty good prospect, you now know that come 497 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:14,159 Speaker 3: July you are loaded up in the draft and you 498 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 3: can go replenish that system like that. So yeah, I 499 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 3: have done a one ady on this where I now 500 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:23,200 Speaker 3: I want the Braves to stay a mile away from 501 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:27,440 Speaker 3: all the qualified or the qualified offered free agents, Like Brad. 502 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:27,960 Speaker 2: Was talking about this. 503 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:29,800 Speaker 3: The other nine on the show, they did were like 504 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:33,480 Speaker 3: none of those pitching contracts they were. They were looking 505 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:37,920 Speaker 3: at the predictions like MLB trade rumors, fangrafts, and Brad's enters, 506 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:40,359 Speaker 3: Like none of these contracts screamed to me, like I 507 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 3: really want them to go do that like Nathani and 508 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:44,760 Speaker 3: Baldi did last year when we were all talking about 509 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:45,640 Speaker 3: going to get Evaldi. 510 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:46,880 Speaker 2: You know what you could do. 511 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:49,320 Speaker 3: You could call the Rangers and say, hey, you guys 512 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 3: are trying to clear money. How about we take the 513 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:54,600 Speaker 3: rest of that Nathan Eavaldi contract off of you or 514 00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:56,960 Speaker 3: Sonny Gray or you know, there's there's a list of 515 00:24:57,040 --> 00:24:58,680 Speaker 3: names that we could go through. But I just think 516 00:24:58,680 --> 00:25:01,040 Speaker 3: there's more valuable ways to do it than just signing 517 00:25:01,119 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 3: one of those qualified free agents and immediately giving up 518 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 3: what's gonna be like the twenty eighth pick in the 519 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 3: draft and all the money it attached to it, Like 520 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 3: three and a half million bucks attached to it, that's 521 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:12,399 Speaker 3: a ton. 522 00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:13,520 Speaker 2: That's a lot more. 523 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:15,240 Speaker 3: Than if you were giving up your second round pick 524 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:18,720 Speaker 3: and the money attached to it. Like, winning this, in 525 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:22,080 Speaker 3: a weird way, actually makes me less interested in dealing 526 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:24,360 Speaker 3: this pick away than it if the Braves, if Kate 527 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:27,320 Speaker 3: Horton had won, and now the second best draft pick 528 00:25:27,359 --> 00:25:30,440 Speaker 3: they have was in the second round, so that's where 529 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:32,359 Speaker 3: I've landed. I want them to go trade for a 530 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:35,440 Speaker 3: pitcher still at a short stop. You have to add 531 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:38,160 Speaker 3: a short stop. You cannot go into the twenty twenty 532 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:40,800 Speaker 3: six with Nick Allen. You gotta add bullpen help. But 533 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:44,840 Speaker 3: the qualified offered the qualifying free agent route, it was 534 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 3: most likely going to be a starter. I don't want 535 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:49,240 Speaker 3: them to do that anymore. I want them to trade 536 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 3: first starter, trade for Sonny Gray, trade for a Nathan 537 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:54,600 Speaker 3: e Valdi, find a veteran you like, make the move, 538 00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:56,879 Speaker 3: and then use that pick and all these picks and 539 00:25:56,920 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 3: all this money in the draft in July and the 540 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 3: fact that you're gonna have like a top five pick 541 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:03,720 Speaker 3: and absolutely restock the hell out of that farm system. 542 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:06,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, because the other thing that's shown up over the 543 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:08,360 Speaker 1: past couple of years, with all the injuries that we've had, 544 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:11,200 Speaker 1: now we've had some pretty decent depth in the starting rotation, 545 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:13,840 Speaker 1: with some of our younger pitchers showing better than expected 546 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:16,439 Speaker 1: results at the big league level. But more depth is 547 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:18,920 Speaker 1: something that we've constantly talked about as well. And it's 548 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:20,919 Speaker 1: going to be a lot easier to make the trade 549 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:23,520 Speaker 1: and then replenish through the draft than it is going 550 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 1: to sign a qualifying offer. I one hundred percent agree. 551 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:28,640 Speaker 1: I think that it just makes sense to do that 552 00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:31,480 Speaker 1: and listen if that means that you potentially have to 553 00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:34,400 Speaker 1: dangle a JR. Richie or a cam KAMINII or someone 554 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:37,480 Speaker 1: along those lines. So many teams right now are looking 555 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:40,560 Speaker 1: for young pitching, and the Braves have two things right now. 556 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 1: They have attractive young pitching and they also are one 557 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:46,800 Speaker 1: of the better teams in the Majors in recent years 558 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:49,280 Speaker 1: to develop young pitching. So not only could you trade 559 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:51,360 Speaker 1: one of your top arms, but it's likely you can 560 00:26:51,359 --> 00:26:54,360 Speaker 1: come up and develop a name you may not think 561 00:26:54,440 --> 00:26:56,720 Speaker 1: much of right now. Plus as you add more talent 562 00:26:56,760 --> 00:26:58,800 Speaker 1: to it, you'll develop them as well. So deal with 563 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:02,639 Speaker 1: your strengths and go route that the Braves dealing with 564 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 1: their strengths of developing pitching should give them more incentive 565 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:08,960 Speaker 1: to trade pitching now in an aggressive move and then 566 00:27:09,040 --> 00:27:11,400 Speaker 1: replenish it. And that's the route that's going to allow 567 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:14,760 Speaker 1: for you to make the most of having this pick. 568 00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:18,280 Speaker 1: One other thing of note as the Braves continue to 569 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:21,960 Speaker 1: fill out their coaching staff is the Braves did today 570 00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:26,520 Speaker 1: at least reports are suggesting they are adding Tommy Watkins 571 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:31,320 Speaker 1: to their coaching staff. I believe that he is from Minnesota. Now, 572 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:36,359 Speaker 1: some of course are connecting the dots. Watkins himself coming 573 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:39,480 Speaker 1: over is notable. We don't exactly know what position he'll 574 00:27:39,520 --> 00:27:43,080 Speaker 1: hold on the Braves staff. But while we don't like 575 00:27:43,119 --> 00:27:45,439 Speaker 1: to really get too much into you know, speculation and 576 00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:48,040 Speaker 1: all that here, I think that it is notable that 577 00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:50,360 Speaker 1: we heard after the trade deadline the Braves had had 578 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:52,879 Speaker 1: you know, seem to be you know, focusing in on 579 00:27:52,960 --> 00:27:56,280 Speaker 1: Byron Buckston as a potential trade target. Now, Buxton has 580 00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:59,000 Speaker 1: been outspoken that he does not want to leave Minnesota. 581 00:27:59,040 --> 00:28:01,080 Speaker 1: He wants to stay there. He's not going to wave 582 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:03,520 Speaker 1: his no trade clause as of right now. I would 583 00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:06,520 Speaker 1: expect for that to remain the case. But I do 584 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:08,960 Speaker 1: think that it's notable that not only did the Braves 585 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:12,399 Speaker 1: hire this coach, but this cloch has a very close 586 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:16,480 Speaker 1: relationship with Byron Buxton. So while it may not necessarily 587 00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:19,160 Speaker 1: be Byron Buxton who the Braves go after, this could 588 00:28:19,280 --> 00:28:22,200 Speaker 1: mean that the Braves could be looking at the Minnesota Twins, 589 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:24,440 Speaker 1: because the twins are probably going to be one of 590 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:28,159 Speaker 1: the biggest sellers this offseason that potentially could be a 591 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:30,639 Speaker 1: partner of the Braves go after beyond the fact that 592 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:32,920 Speaker 1: they probably think this is a quality coach to add 593 00:28:32,920 --> 00:28:34,840 Speaker 1: to Walt Weiss's staff. 594 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:37,919 Speaker 3: Yeah, so he was with the Twins forever. He was 595 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:40,120 Speaker 3: with the Twins. I saw the Twins beat writers tweeting 596 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:42,320 Speaker 3: about this. He was with the Twins for like twenty 597 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:44,760 Speaker 3: seven years something like that. He's not that old either, 598 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:48,200 Speaker 3: I think deal. I think he's forty forty four, forty 599 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:51,680 Speaker 3: five something like that. Just kind of continues this trend 600 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:54,640 Speaker 3: of the Braves going young on this coaching staff around 601 00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:55,360 Speaker 3: Walt Weiss. 602 00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:56,240 Speaker 2: So it was. 603 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:59,640 Speaker 3: Interesting because it was released or was reported that he 604 00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 3: was come of the Braves. No one had the job 605 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:04,280 Speaker 3: title yet, no one and we still don't technically have 606 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:06,920 Speaker 3: the job title. And then like thirty months later, Dalb 607 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:09,920 Speaker 3: reported that he had just heard that he was either 608 00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:13,120 Speaker 3: going to be the third base coach or he was 609 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:16,520 Speaker 3: going to be a major league coach of some regard 610 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:19,520 Speaker 3: that we don't have any details on. 611 00:29:20,360 --> 00:29:23,520 Speaker 2: Well, people started kind of. 612 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:25,719 Speaker 3: Connecting dots and thought, well, you know, the Braves had 613 00:29:25,760 --> 00:29:28,680 Speaker 3: just hired Mansollino to be the third base coach. 614 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:32,080 Speaker 2: But he would also be very qualified to be the bench. 615 00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:34,520 Speaker 3: Coach if they wanted to go that route and then 616 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 3: let Watkins be the third base coach. So that's kind 617 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:40,000 Speaker 3: of the online theory at the moment, is that Mansolino 618 00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:43,400 Speaker 3: is going to be the bench coach for what weiss 619 00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:45,240 Speaker 3: and Watkins is going to be the third base coach. 620 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:47,200 Speaker 3: We'll see, they could go, they could still hire. They 621 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:49,320 Speaker 3: could just put this guy on the staff somewhere else 622 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:50,880 Speaker 3: and still go hire a bench coach. 623 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:53,920 Speaker 2: We'll see what they do. But yeah, it was. 624 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:57,840 Speaker 3: Another another coaching hire like you were just talking about. 625 00:29:57,880 --> 00:30:00,760 Speaker 3: Everybody got real excited because this dude is like best 626 00:30:00,760 --> 00:30:02,880 Speaker 3: friends with Byron Buxton, and the Braves had already been 627 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:06,240 Speaker 3: reported interested in Byron Buckston. And we've talked about how, 628 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:08,560 Speaker 3: you know, loving to go get another outfielder of some 629 00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 3: sort to help with a Kunyan Profar and maybe rotate dh. 630 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:15,040 Speaker 3: I still love that idea, by the way, I still 631 00:30:15,040 --> 00:30:17,120 Speaker 3: think the Braves need another bat in the middle of 632 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:19,840 Speaker 3: the order. You know, we haven't talked a lot about 633 00:30:19,840 --> 00:30:22,400 Speaker 3: the fact that Azuna is not gonna be here, or 634 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:24,360 Speaker 3: at least right now, is not gonna be here. I 635 00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:26,360 Speaker 3: guess I could always resign him. But the Braves still 636 00:30:26,360 --> 00:30:29,000 Speaker 3: need a DH of some some sort. And even though 637 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:32,240 Speaker 3: we talk about shortstop and starting pitching a bullpen like, 638 00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:34,000 Speaker 3: they do have a DH spot that's still open. I 639 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:36,280 Speaker 3: would absolutely love if they went and got an outfielder 640 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:39,080 Speaker 3: and just rotated that DH spot. So yeah, everybody's been 641 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:39,920 Speaker 3: connecting that dots. 642 00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:40,400 Speaker 2: We'll see. 643 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:43,720 Speaker 3: I'm still not you know, Buckston convinced the hell out 644 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:45,400 Speaker 3: of me that he had no interest in leaving when 645 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:49,480 Speaker 3: he did that whole interview last August or yeah, right after. 646 00:30:49,240 --> 00:30:50,040 Speaker 2: The trade deadline. 647 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:53,760 Speaker 3: Maybe he was you know, maybe once the Twins trade 648 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:56,280 Speaker 3: off a couple more pieces, he'll lighten up on that 649 00:30:56,360 --> 00:30:58,800 Speaker 3: and he'll be willing to go somewhere else. But that 650 00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:01,040 Speaker 3: interview he gave, he was like, no, I'm not going anywhere. 651 00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:02,440 Speaker 3: I got a no trade class for reason. 652 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:03,920 Speaker 2: I love you to hear. My family loves it here. 653 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:04,800 Speaker 2: I'm not going anywhere. 654 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:07,720 Speaker 3: So we'll see what happens. But yes, the Braves did 655 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:11,520 Speaker 3: hire another coach, and we're getting very very close to 656 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:15,160 Speaker 3: the complete picture of what the staff will look like. 657 00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:17,600 Speaker 3: I think there might be some juice to this Mansonino 658 00:31:17,720 --> 00:31:18,680 Speaker 3: being the bench coach thing. 659 00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:21,840 Speaker 2: We'll see absolutely. 660 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:23,600 Speaker 1: And the thing about the Braves also is that we 661 00:31:23,640 --> 00:31:26,239 Speaker 1: knew that these developments were going to come early on 662 00:31:27,080 --> 00:31:30,000 Speaker 1: the Walt wise hire. We talked about it on the show. 663 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:32,800 Speaker 1: A bit underwhelming at first, but as this coaching staff 664 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:35,160 Speaker 1: has come together, you know, as we've heard about the 665 00:31:35,160 --> 00:31:37,880 Speaker 1: good relationships that Walt Weiss has had with the players, 666 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:41,080 Speaker 1: so on and so forth, that looks better than we initially 667 00:31:41,080 --> 00:31:43,960 Speaker 1: thought that it was. This s Gret Baldman development obviously 668 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:46,320 Speaker 1: is better than we thought it was. So things are 669 00:31:46,400 --> 00:31:49,480 Speaker 1: shaping up. Things out of the Braves control are going 670 00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:53,600 Speaker 1: their way now. Finally knock on wood that hopefully it continues. 671 00:31:53,920 --> 00:31:56,200 Speaker 1: But the thing that I'm getting at, more than the 672 00:31:56,240 --> 00:31:58,800 Speaker 1: point that I'm getting at more than anything, it's really 673 00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:01,640 Speaker 1: setting up to go along with the fact that the 674 00:32:01,640 --> 00:32:03,760 Speaker 1: Braves wound to performed the past two years for them 675 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:05,840 Speaker 1: to go for it, them to go and make the 676 00:32:05,920 --> 00:32:08,800 Speaker 1: significant moves to be able to really know that not 677 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:11,480 Speaker 1: only are they improving the team for the short term 678 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 1: but long term as well, and so they have a 679 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:15,320 Speaker 1: lot of it to send them now to get that done. 680 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:19,440 Speaker 1: But congratulations to Drake Baldwin, n L Rookie of the Year, 681 00:32:20,080 --> 00:32:23,480 Speaker 1: absolutely deserved. Hope that it leads to many great things 682 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:28,160 Speaker 1: in his career. And man, it's just it's nice. When 683 00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:30,960 Speaker 1: it was announced that Drake Baldwin won the award, it 684 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:34,080 Speaker 1: was just nice to see an expected outcome that would 685 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:36,960 Speaker 1: benefit the Braves actually come to fruition. 686 00:32:38,240 --> 00:32:42,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, congrats to him. I mean more than you know. 687 00:32:42,520 --> 00:32:45,560 Speaker 3: Obviously, we cover the team, so we talk about this 688 00:32:45,560 --> 00:32:48,720 Speaker 3: stuff from a team perspective, but just from an individual perspective. 689 00:32:48,720 --> 00:32:50,160 Speaker 2: For him, it's just a massive honor. 690 00:32:50,240 --> 00:32:52,600 Speaker 3: I mean, like you, it doesn't matter what you do 691 00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:54,160 Speaker 3: for the rest of the career, nobody can take that 692 00:32:54,200 --> 00:32:57,360 Speaker 3: away from you. You won Rookie of the Year, and Acuna 693 00:32:57,440 --> 00:32:59,440 Speaker 3: did it, and Michael Harris did it, and like it. 694 00:32:59,440 --> 00:33:02,680 Speaker 3: It's it's cool thing, so awesome for him. I'm very 695 00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:05,160 Speaker 3: fascinated to see how the Brakes handle this extra draft pick. 696 00:33:05,320 --> 00:33:09,840 Speaker 3: The qualified free agents, Alex, stay away from those qualified pictures. 697 00:33:10,120 --> 00:33:14,040 Speaker 3: I'm I'm I'm now on team trade first starter. 698 00:33:14,760 --> 00:33:17,520 Speaker 2: Leave those qualified pictures for somebody else to sign. We'll 699 00:33:17,520 --> 00:33:18,600 Speaker 2: see what they do, because. 700 00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:19,760 Speaker 3: They could go in to a lot of different directions 701 00:33:19,960 --> 00:33:22,320 Speaker 3: everything we just said tonight. They could go in the 702 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:25,720 Speaker 3: opposite direction. They could be on They could be like, yeah, 703 00:33:25,800 --> 00:33:27,600 Speaker 3: now that we have the extra draft pick, we feel 704 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:30,160 Speaker 3: more inclined to sign one of these free agents because 705 00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:33,040 Speaker 3: you know, it's just an extra pick, and they could 706 00:33:33,040 --> 00:33:35,320 Speaker 3: be in that camp. We'll see, We have no we 707 00:33:35,320 --> 00:33:39,040 Speaker 3: have no clue. But my opinion, I think they should 708 00:33:39,040 --> 00:33:42,080 Speaker 3: now protect this pick, use it to have a massive 709 00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:45,680 Speaker 3: draft in July, and then go trade for the starter 710 00:33:45,800 --> 00:33:47,480 Speaker 3: that you were gonna sign in free agency. 711 00:33:47,520 --> 00:33:48,360 Speaker 2: But we'll see what they do. 712 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:51,400 Speaker 1: But the big thing is, Stephen, and I want to 713 00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:54,560 Speaker 1: put it this way, why your opinion has changed. I've 714 00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:56,640 Speaker 1: kind of always been on board with going the trade 715 00:33:56,680 --> 00:34:00,800 Speaker 1: route than the signing route. But if they go sign 716 00:34:01,000 --> 00:34:04,200 Speaker 1: a Michael King or a Dylan C. Sprangerswarris, please understand 717 00:34:04,360 --> 00:34:07,200 Speaker 1: that'll be an exciting move, Like, we'll definitely sign. 718 00:34:07,720 --> 00:34:07,960 Speaker 5: Yeah. 719 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:10,560 Speaker 1: The bigger thing than I'm seeing is this, whether they 720 00:34:10,560 --> 00:34:13,080 Speaker 1: go the qualifying free agent route or they go the 721 00:34:13,160 --> 00:34:19,080 Speaker 1: trade route, they have more incentive because their status quo 722 00:34:19,160 --> 00:34:22,359 Speaker 1: does not change really at all on the prospect side 723 00:34:22,400 --> 00:34:25,520 Speaker 1: of things. They have more incentive to significantly improve the 724 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:29,440 Speaker 1: team now. They have more wiggle room to do that now, 725 00:34:30,120 --> 00:34:32,719 Speaker 1: and so to win now, and so that's the big 726 00:34:32,719 --> 00:34:35,680 Speaker 1: development from all this. So that's the reason why I 727 00:34:35,680 --> 00:34:38,680 Speaker 1: wanted to make that point. While we are not necessarily 728 00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:41,120 Speaker 1: thinking that going out and signing that qualified free agent 729 00:34:41,200 --> 00:34:43,319 Speaker 1: is the big move, if that or the best move, 730 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:46,680 Speaker 1: if that's the Braves motive, if that's their focus now 731 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:49,200 Speaker 1: and they get it done, there's no denying that edition 732 00:34:49,320 --> 00:34:51,560 Speaker 1: definitely puts this team in a better position now, and 733 00:34:51,640 --> 00:34:54,000 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, that's the huge focus 734 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:55,560 Speaker 1: with where this core is age wise. 735 00:34:57,520 --> 00:35:03,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, and so again, congrats to Drake. Congrats to I mean, 736 00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:05,960 Speaker 3: I'm sure his you know, it was funny they did 737 00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:08,680 Speaker 3: an interview with did you see were you watching the thing? 738 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:13,319 Speaker 3: They did an interview with Drake? Was he at Schwallenbach's house? 739 00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:14,160 Speaker 2: Did I see that right? 740 00:35:14,200 --> 00:35:17,239 Speaker 1: He was like, I didn't get to watch much of 741 00:35:17,239 --> 00:35:18,719 Speaker 1: it on my end, I was. 742 00:35:18,760 --> 00:35:22,239 Speaker 3: I think they were interviewing him at Spencer swallo Buck. 743 00:35:22,239 --> 00:35:23,839 Speaker 3: By the way, Spincher swallen Buck, you got to improve 744 00:35:23,840 --> 00:35:26,640 Speaker 3: your internet, buddy. Yeah, Drake Baldwin was being interviewed on 745 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:29,920 Speaker 3: a potato Yeah, but yeah, it was funny. You know, 746 00:35:31,320 --> 00:35:33,319 Speaker 3: you can tell his teammates love him to death, and 747 00:35:33,520 --> 00:35:36,400 Speaker 3: obviously fans love him to death. So yeah, more than 748 00:35:36,440 --> 00:35:39,680 Speaker 3: anything on this episode. Congrats to Drake Baldwin. That's an 749 00:35:39,719 --> 00:35:43,200 Speaker 3: awesome accomplishment. You earned it, you deserved it. I'm so 750 00:35:43,320 --> 00:35:48,319 Speaker 3: glad the voters saw that. And yes, the draft pick 751 00:35:48,360 --> 00:35:50,080 Speaker 3: is awesome, but you deserved that Rookie of the Year. 752 00:35:50,080 --> 00:35:50,960 Speaker 2: So congrats, buddy. 753 00:35:51,680 --> 00:35:54,160 Speaker 1: And another thing to mention with the fact that the Braves, 754 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:57,960 Speaker 1: Drake Baldwin won Rookie of the Year obviously, the Braves 755 00:35:57,960 --> 00:36:00,400 Speaker 1: now have another draft pick. One of the thing that 756 00:36:00,440 --> 00:36:02,279 Speaker 1: we want to mention that we've not mentioned that much. 757 00:36:02,320 --> 00:36:05,399 Speaker 1: Another important date that we'll cover here is December ninth. 758 00:36:05,480 --> 00:36:09,080 Speaker 1: The MLB two thousand and six Draft lottery will be 759 00:36:09,120 --> 00:36:12,439 Speaker 1: occurring as well. Braves only have slightening under a five 760 00:36:12,440 --> 00:36:15,080 Speaker 1: percent chance to land the top pick, but the big 761 00:36:15,120 --> 00:36:18,040 Speaker 1: thing is a forty five percent chance to land in 762 00:36:18,080 --> 00:36:21,040 Speaker 1: that top six, which could be a great development as well. 763 00:36:21,280 --> 00:36:23,839 Speaker 1: Don't necessarily know what that means they'll get a top 764 00:36:23,880 --> 00:36:26,560 Speaker 1: five player, but it's a lot of money to spend 765 00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:29,600 Speaker 1: in what should be a pretty quality draft. So that'll 766 00:36:29,640 --> 00:36:30,960 Speaker 1: be another date to watch out for. 767 00:36:31,719 --> 00:36:34,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's in the it's at the winter meetings. Yes, 768 00:36:34,120 --> 00:36:36,399 Speaker 3: that's what is at the Winter meetings. Yeah, it's actually 769 00:36:36,440 --> 00:36:38,600 Speaker 3: the GM meetings happening right now, by the way, which 770 00:36:39,719 --> 00:36:41,040 Speaker 3: no clue that that was happening. 771 00:36:41,040 --> 00:36:42,800 Speaker 2: I mean, I guess I did know, I just forgot. 772 00:36:43,040 --> 00:36:45,640 Speaker 3: The GM meetings are just so such a non event 773 00:36:45,719 --> 00:36:48,719 Speaker 3: relative to the Winter Meetings, which are there at the 774 00:36:49,120 --> 00:36:51,439 Speaker 3: kind of the first two weeks in December. So that's 775 00:36:51,480 --> 00:36:54,240 Speaker 3: the big one. But we are in we are technically 776 00:36:54,280 --> 00:36:56,600 Speaker 3: in all season mode. Even though no one signed, there's 777 00:36:56,640 --> 00:36:58,760 Speaker 3: been no movement of any kind all over baseball. 778 00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:00,279 Speaker 2: We are at off season modes. 779 00:37:00,400 --> 00:37:02,880 Speaker 3: Any at any moment, we could get any sort of 780 00:37:02,880 --> 00:37:05,320 Speaker 3: blue box, any sort of signing, any sort of trade. 781 00:37:05,840 --> 00:37:07,600 Speaker 2: It's all. It's open season. 782 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:10,719 Speaker 3: So if you're not subscribed already, you make sure you're 783 00:37:10,719 --> 00:37:14,239 Speaker 3: subscribe because obviously, the moment something drops, we're gonna do 784 00:37:14,239 --> 00:37:16,839 Speaker 3: an emergency podcast on it, and until then we're gonna 785 00:37:16,880 --> 00:37:19,120 Speaker 3: cover the team, you know, two or three times a 786 00:37:19,160 --> 00:37:21,360 Speaker 3: week until we get some news. 787 00:37:21,880 --> 00:37:25,040 Speaker 1: And the thing is that you can find us anywhere YouTube, Spotify, Apple, 788 00:37:25,080 --> 00:37:27,440 Speaker 1: wherever you choose to listen to your podcast, or if 789 00:37:27,480 --> 00:37:30,719 Speaker 1: you enjoy YouTube my smiling Face, Steven's smiling face as well, 790 00:37:31,040 --> 00:37:34,480 Speaker 1: you can do all that by simply hitting that subscribe button. 791 00:37:34,680 --> 00:37:36,720 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for joining us here on Hammer Territory. 792 00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:39,440 Speaker 1: You can find me at Stat's sac on Twitter, slash 793 00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:43,120 Speaker 1: x Steven at the underscore outliers. Hammer Territory across all 794 00:37:43,160 --> 00:37:45,840 Speaker 1: forms of social media part of the foul Territory family 795 00:37:45,880 --> 00:37:48,160 Speaker 1: of podcasts, which you can find as well. Subscribe to 796 00:37:48,200 --> 00:37:51,840 Speaker 1: all the great shows under the foul Territory name. Until 797 00:37:51,880 --> 00:37:56,120 Speaker 1: next time again, congratulations to two thy and twenty five 798 00:37:56,239 --> 00:37:59,920 Speaker 1: in our Rookie of the Year, Drake Baldwin, Go Brains. 799 00:38:00,040 --> 00:38:02,560 Speaker 1: We'll talk to Jiggins soon here on the Hammer Territory 800 00:38:02,600 --> 00:38:03,080 Speaker 1: podcast