1 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:23,759 Speaker 1: Hello everyone, and once episode one two six of the 2 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 1: heb a Territory podcast. I am your host of Brad Royland, 3 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: coming to you on a Sunday evening here in mid December, 4 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: and I'm joined as I often them, by Scott Coleman. Scott, 5 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: it's not quite an emergency podcast, but it kind of 6 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 1: is the brief signed someone, so we have to talk 7 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 1: about it. 8 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 2: Here we are, Hello Brad, live from your Las Vegas 9 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:42,880 Speaker 2: Hotel room. 10 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 3: That's true. 11 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 2: We are going to break down the move that not 12 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 2: just shook the baseball world, but maybe the entire planet. 13 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 2: Brian Dela Cruz feel the Mania show, hal Tony, watch 14 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,959 Speaker 2: your back. You have a new big man on campus 15 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 2: with with Brian dla Cruz a minor league deal. But 16 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 2: I think it's kind of a fitting state of the 17 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 2: off season for the Atlanta Braves when Brian dla Cruz 18 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:10,039 Speaker 2: is someone who gets everyone kind of worked up and 19 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 2: talking about him, and hell, we're gonna we're gonna talk 20 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 2: about him tonight. 21 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 3: So here we are. 22 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, we were going to do a podcast of some 23 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:18,040 Speaker 1: kind and our normal slot. This is our normal slot. 24 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 1: If you're just finding the podcast for the first time, 25 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: Welcome aboard. We often have a show on Sunday evening 26 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 1: into Monday. We were also power of Falla Territory, which 27 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 1: is a fantastic network of baseball shows. The flagship is awesome. 28 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:30,959 Speaker 1: Also have team shows across the board. We are Hammer Territory. 29 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 1: We cover the Braves. Please subscribe to the podcast anywhere 30 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:35,400 Speaker 1: you find your podcasts on the audio side. 31 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 3: Plus we are on YouTube. 32 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 1: You want to see Scott and the aforementioned hotel room 33 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: that I'm currently in as I covered basketball for my 34 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 1: sub my dad job. Also, we had four shows last 35 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: week and all of them are relevant still, so listen 36 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: to those shows if you missed them. We were busy 37 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: last week in the winter meetings, even if the Braves 38 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 1: were not. We had a loss to talk about. But yeah, 39 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: I mean talking and chic about emergency podcasts and such. 40 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: But it is a move that I wholly agree with. 41 00:01:57,560 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 1: You would not We would have covered at some point. 42 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: He's if they signed Brian de la Cruz at some 43 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 1: point in the winter. But it became a whole discussion 44 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 1: topic today on this Sunday on Braves Twitter. People getting 45 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 1: mad on all sides and maybe it's just the epitome 46 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:13,359 Speaker 1: of a dead zone. Move that gets a lot of 47 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:15,959 Speaker 1: a different attention here. And as you said, it's a 48 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 1: split contract which meets this non guaranteed. Could be in 49 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 1: the majors, could be in the minors, could be off 50 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 1: the team in a couple of months. None of that 51 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 1: would surprise me a lot. He's got minor league options. 52 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:28,079 Speaker 1: And just one more time, his name is Brian de 53 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 1: la Cruz. He is about to be twenty eight. Actually 54 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: he tur was twenty eight, I believe Monday, So happy birthday, 55 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: Brian da la Cruz. He just that's that's a little 56 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 1: present for him to get some contractual stability necessarily. 57 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 3: But okay, Scott, let's just start here. 58 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: Big picture is what is who is Brian de la Cruz? 59 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 1: And what was your reaction to this? Knowing that people 60 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 1: were ready to react on all sides. 61 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, so yeah, I think it's just worth quickly saying 62 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,640 Speaker 2: that if the Braves made this move a week before 63 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 2: spring training, like you know, and they had already added 64 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 2: a legitimate outfielder and a legitimate starting pitcher and maybe 65 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 2: a reliever or two, you know, it would be like, okay, cool, 66 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 2: he's going to come into spring training and be a 67 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 2: potential fourth outfielder type. Maybe he's in a platoon with 68 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 2: Jared Kelnick until Ronald Acuna Junior comes back. And of course, 69 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 2: because there's been basically no additions for the Braves so 70 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 2: far this winter, a very quiet winter meetings just passed by. 71 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 2: No we're all jones in for any kind of move. 72 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 2: So when the Braves pretty harmlessly announced a again, a 73 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 2: minor league, non guaranteed deal for Dai La Cruz on 74 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 2: a Sunday morning of all times, I mean it. 75 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 3: I mean we were sounding the alarms. I mean we 76 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 3: got the the I think they were joke tweets saying 77 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 3: emergency pod. 78 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: I mean you think so, but some people are always 79 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: serious but want to do that. I don't know who 80 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 1: is them, who isn't, But it's uh, and look, we 81 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: appreciate people wanting the podcast and thinking of us. Yeah, 82 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: it wasn't even it wasn't even a blue square like 83 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 1: that's the famous Braves thing, like, oh, lou square, here 84 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: we go. 85 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 3: It was just a tweet. 86 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 1: The Races announced it in a tweet, nothing fancy at all, 87 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: which kind of tells you the severity. 88 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 3: Or the importance of his signing. 89 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, and you know, frankly, I was thinking about this 90 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:16,720 Speaker 2: a little earlier. If Brian Dala Cruz was not on 91 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 2: a division rival the last couple of years, I'm gonna 92 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:23,479 Speaker 2: guess like ninety percent of Braves fans really wouldn't know 93 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:27,159 Speaker 2: who day La Cruz is just just based on his numbers. 94 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:29,400 Speaker 2: I mean, let's kind of hit on who this player is. 95 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 2: Brian Dala Cruz. He debuted with the Marlins in twenty 96 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 2: twenty one, so he's been around now for four seasons 97 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 2: and was really a pretty good hitter his first two 98 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 2: years in Miami and twenty twenty two especially, he had 99 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 2: a crazy statcast profile and it looked like the Marlins 100 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 2: had really kind of found someone, which was notable considering 101 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 2: Miami has really struggled to develop hitters over the last 102 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 2: I don't know decade basically, but you know, since then, 103 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 2: over the last two seasons, d Cruz has been quite bad. 104 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:04,480 Speaker 2: Maybe maybe this is kind of our segue into who 105 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 2: he is as a player and why the Braves might 106 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:09,840 Speaker 2: have been interested in him for a certain kind of role. 107 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 2: But I think we wanted to say right off the 108 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 2: jump here that by no means is this a permanent 109 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:18,719 Speaker 2: solution to the corner outfield spot. This is not meaning 110 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 2: the Braves are done in the outfield by any means. 111 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 2: He is truly a depth piece. And I mean, frankly, 112 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 2: if if you go to a lot of Gwinnett games, 113 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 2: you're probably gonna see Brian Daalea Cruz at some point. 114 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 1: Yeah, he has options and that's I'm sure part of 115 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: this as well. He's kind of a I want to 116 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:38,159 Speaker 1: I want to. There are different levels of Alex Anthopolis 117 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,480 Speaker 1: reclamation projects. He's a low end one, to be sure. 118 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:43,480 Speaker 1: It's not like he's someone they're gonna pay a lot 119 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:47,040 Speaker 1: of money to, for instance, But he is someone who has, 120 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: as you reference, already a relatively intriguing profile when it's 121 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: gone well in the past. He's got some real pop 122 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:56,159 Speaker 1: in the bat, which I'm sure is part of what 123 00:05:56,200 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: Alex has seen. He has underperformed his stackasthmetrics, which generally 124 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 1: something that the Braves look for. And my whole takeaway, 125 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 1: honestly was that the Braves just see something that they're 126 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 1: intrigued by with Brian Dayla Cruz. He's available for cheap 127 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,919 Speaker 1: and they just like are intrigued and we'll see. But 128 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 1: you know, you laid it out a little bit, but 129 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:16,720 Speaker 1: he's been quite bad for about the last year and 130 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:20,160 Speaker 1: a half or so, like a below replacement level player. 131 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 1: So if that's what the Braves get, they'll know it 132 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 1: pretty quickly and that'll be the end of the Brian 133 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:27,039 Speaker 1: Dayla cruz Era. If they get him in, if they 134 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 1: get him into spring training and they can see something, 135 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:31,600 Speaker 1: it's kind of maybe unlock something. Then it becomes interesting. 136 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 1: You eventually play with Miami. He was in Pittsburgh after that, 137 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:38,039 Speaker 1: he really you know, twice pointy two truly, it was 138 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 1: like if you look at the stack Guss like bat 139 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:43,159 Speaker 1: of ball data, it is very impressive. It looks like 140 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 1: Marcelo Zuna's profile, like just rocketing the baseball but and 141 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: the results were okay, they weren't that. But since then 142 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 1: it's not been quite as impressive. I mean, he's been 143 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 1: not just a a part of this defense, which we'll 144 00:06:56,920 --> 00:07:00,279 Speaker 1: come back to, not just a blow blow replacement replacement player, 145 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 1: but also a blow average hitter, like strong blow average 146 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 1: hitter for the last year and a half or so. 147 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: And if it doesn't hit, like there's nothing there because 148 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:08,480 Speaker 1: the defense is not. Plus he can run a little bit, 149 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 1: but nothing particularly intriguing and as I want to get 150 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: to at some point in this conversation, he isn't a 151 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 1: big platoon split guy. So like there's the thought that 152 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 1: and maybe they still do this because Ronald Acunya will 153 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: come back to later on, is gonna probably out for 154 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 1: a while. They're gonna need some depth. And one of 155 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 1: the ideas that many have had is like, all right, 156 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: if you want to go cheaper low coster or bargain 157 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 1: biting hunting, maybe you find a right handed lefty masher 158 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 1: to pair with Jared Keellnick for a while, et cetera, 159 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 1: et cetera. That's not really what the profile says for 160 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: Brian day la Cruz. In fact, most recently he was 161 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 1: better against right he's and lefties. I don't think he's 162 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 1: a reverse platoon guy, but he's about even for his career, 163 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: and I don't know, man like he's a major league player. 164 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:52,160 Speaker 1: I think we'll see at least he has been in 165 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 1: the past. 166 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 3: But uh, it's a what you said, it's parfect earlier. 167 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: But it really is the fact that the Braves just 168 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 1: I'm confidence, sees something they like and that's probably as 169 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: far as we have to go with this. And they 170 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 1: also have this situation in the outfield where even even 171 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: if they sign someone or trade for someone who's a 172 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 1: permanent starter, they got this month, maybe month and a half, 173 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 1: maybe two months maybe of Ronald of Cunya, an uncertainty 174 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 1: where they're gonna have to play somebody in the other 175 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: corner along with Kevich. And and there's a spot, there's 176 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 1: an avenue for potential like fifth outfitter or fourth outfitter 177 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 1: kind of thing for Dyla Cruz. 178 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, two numbers here for Brian Dala Cruz that are 179 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 2: interesting or of note. So since the twenty twenty three 180 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 2: All Star break, so the last year and a half, 181 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:42,679 Speaker 2: Dala Cruz has a seventy six WRC plus over about 182 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 2: nine hundred plate appearances. If those are the territory there, 183 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:49,320 Speaker 2: that's the n territory, folks. That's not the same as 184 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 2: Floorci has done. Is a good defender and Paila Cruz 185 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 2: is not. 186 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 3: So where's that? 187 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 2: So one hundred is league average? So seventy six do 188 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:00,080 Speaker 2: the math quite bad? And you know you mentioned the 189 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 2: the platoon thing. 190 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:02,199 Speaker 3: That was my first guess. 191 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 2: You know, when whenever the Braves go out and target 192 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 2: an outfielder, you know they they've tried to play the 193 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 2: platoon game a little bit with Kelnick and Adam Duval 194 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:15,079 Speaker 2: and Rosario and Solaire. Like the outfielders they've added, they 195 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 2: really have not found like that permanent solution now for 196 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 2: a couple of years at least in the corner along 197 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 2: with Acunya and Harris. But for his career, De la 198 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 2: Cruz only a ninety two WRC plus against lefties, and 199 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 2: it's eighty nine against right handed pitching, so basically the 200 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:34,679 Speaker 2: same hitter left and right. So that you know, that 201 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:36,679 Speaker 2: caught me by a little bit of a surprise when 202 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:38,959 Speaker 2: I was trying to understand this move. And I think 203 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 2: you said it a minute ago, Brad. Once upon a time, 204 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:45,080 Speaker 2: De la Cruz hit the ball really hard and did 205 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 2: some things that I'm sure the Braves are at least 206 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 2: intrigued by. But it's pretty clear that I mean, they're 207 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 2: picking up on a player who was traded to the 208 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 2: Pirates in the middle of the year and posted a 209 00:09:56,440 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 2: negative one point one war in two months. That's like 210 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 2: impossible to do. I have a good buddy who's a 211 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 2: Pirates fan, and he said, quote, he's the worst baseball 212 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 2: player I have ever seen. 213 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 3: End quote. 214 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 2: Now, of course that was in jest, but I mean 215 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 2: to get that reaction out of a fan who just 216 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 2: watched him play for two months is probably a little telling. 217 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 2: But hopefully Brian Daala Cruz has never really counted on 218 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 2: for a big, big role, and the Braves get Acuna 219 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,560 Speaker 2: healthy and Michael Harris stays healthy and then they're able 220 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 2: to add a good left fielder to the mix. And 221 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 2: obviously the signing today does not exclude that or preclude 222 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:34,319 Speaker 2: it by any means. 223 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's a good place to kind of leave that 224 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:38,439 Speaker 1: for a second. We'll come back to Dayla Cruz and 225 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 1: also just a big picture where the outfield is going 226 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:41,560 Speaker 1: to be first of. 227 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 3: The work my partners on the podcast today. 228 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 4: This holiday season, I want to give a gift to 229 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 4: my loved ones that makes them feel special and unique. 230 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:51,080 Speaker 4: That gift is story Worth. 231 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 5: Here's how it works. 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That's story worth dot com. Slash foul to 250 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 4: save ten dollars on your first purchase. 251 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:48,720 Speaker 1: Okay, Scott, we are in a full agreement that they 252 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:50,720 Speaker 1: start to add an outfielder you led with that. 253 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:52,680 Speaker 3: I will echo it now, Dayla Cruz. 254 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:56,440 Speaker 1: While potentially intriguing, and if you squint hard enough, I 255 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:59,560 Speaker 1: can see the end. I can see the potential intrigue. 256 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:02,760 Speaker 1: I'm sure the Braves are not counting on him. They're 257 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 1: not building their whole strategy of the axis and around 258 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 1: around the Dayla Cruz. They're just trying to builow on 259 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:09,679 Speaker 1: a guy that they see something in and that's as 260 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 1: simple as that. And the option thing is important too, 261 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:13,840 Speaker 1: like so if nothing else, stick them with the miners. 262 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 1: If he just destroys the baseball there, maybe comes back whatever. 263 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:20,880 Speaker 1: But this is not check any boxes. I teased it 264 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:24,199 Speaker 1: a minute ago, but Ronald Acunya is not gonna be 265 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 1: ready for opening day. That's been said already very plainly 266 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 1: by the Braves. What we don't know is how long 267 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 1: he's going to be out, and what we don't know 268 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:34,400 Speaker 1: beyond that is that how long he could play the outfield, 269 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: because dating back to the early portion of the austis 270 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 1: when we did a lot of Horus Hilaire talk and 271 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:40,960 Speaker 1: the fall out about that, and even before that with happening, 272 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:43,599 Speaker 1: we were like, hey, guys, they have two dhs of 273 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: Zuna and Hilaire, and they might have a third. 274 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 3: And Ronald Acunya. 275 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 1: Not that Ronald will be able to play out after 276 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 1: the all season long, but they might have a situation 277 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 1: where they take it easy on him for a little while. 278 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 1: They're gonna need some more death. Even if they bring 279 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:59,200 Speaker 1: in your favorite outfielder, jerks and profar whoever that guy is, 280 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 1: they probably start to fill at least a month Scott. 281 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 1: I mean between they have Kelnick, who they clearly like 282 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 1: to some degree. They're probably in love with him anymore 283 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 1: after a year of what he was able to do 284 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:12,840 Speaker 1: or not do this last season. But there is some 285 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:17,359 Speaker 1: playing time and Kelnick has not hit lefties ever basically 286 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:21,439 Speaker 1: in his profile. So is there a world in which 287 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 1: that's Brian dayla Cruz's role this season? It's just like, okay, 288 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 1: we'll give you a six week tryout against lefties. Essentially, 289 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 1: it's a tiny sample size. Of course, he has sprint 290 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 1: training to evaluate him as well, But does that make sense? 291 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 1: And I think that's the big thing that people were 292 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 1: I think rightly pointing out, was like, Hey, this Ronald 293 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 1: thing is gonna loom a little bit and it's on 294 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 1: the back burner because people are not thinking about that, 295 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 1: thinking about left field and shortstop and started pitching, and 296 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 1: with good reason. 297 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 3: But your your best player. 298 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 1: Is gonna come back, but we just don't know exactly when. 299 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 1: And he would do that and that leaves a little 300 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:52,559 Speaker 1: bit of uncertainty overall. 301 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:57,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, ron Dacunya's knee really does kind of complicate this 302 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 2: a bit for the front office because we know that 303 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 2: Kelnick is under control and Kelnick showed last year that 304 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:07,439 Speaker 2: he can play center field. Now, he's not going to 305 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 2: win a Gold Glove out there, but the fact he 306 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 2: can play all three positions defensively is valuable. Here's the issue. 307 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,680 Speaker 2: You're not going to be able to add a good 308 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 2: platoon partner with Kelniic because once Acunya comes back, he's 309 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:25,640 Speaker 2: going to play every day, assuming he's healthy. And we 310 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 2: you know, I think the Braves just have to operate 311 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 2: that at some point Acunya is going to be healthy 312 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 2: every day. And I mean, now, if he's not healthy, 313 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 2: this team has problem. It's like full stop. Next year's 314 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 2: ceiling is Ronald Acunya Junior and Spencer Streider coming back healthy. 315 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 2: It can still be a good team, Don't get me wrong. 316 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 2: I mean if if they don't get a ton out 317 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:47,160 Speaker 2: of either of those guys, they can still be good. 318 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 3: It's a team now. But yeah, you're right, the ceiling 319 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 3: part of that is the is the operative word for sure. 320 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 2: The one hundred win Mega team falls on Acunya being 321 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 2: close to his MVP level Schreider being close to what 322 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 2: he was before, and we frankly just won't know that 323 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:07,520 Speaker 2: until Memorial Day, quite honestly. But because you need Kelnick 324 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 2: and presumably De la Cruz or a similar type of player, 325 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 2: and similar is the key word there, you basically have 326 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 2: to offer a position and try to entice a free 327 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 2: agent who presumably will never play after mid to late May, 328 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 2: because if they add a corner outfielder, which we all 329 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 2: think they will, a startable corner outfielder, he's going. 330 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 3: To be in left field. 331 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:34,480 Speaker 2: Michael Harris is going to be in center field every night, 332 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 2: and at some point Acunya is going to be in 333 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 2: right field every night. 334 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 3: Well you'd only. 335 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 2: Play three of them, yeah, and Kelnick did your fourth 336 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 2: because he can cover center field if Michael Harris gets 337 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 2: beat up or Acunya needs a couple of days or 338 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 2: whatever the situation is, and then you're talking about a fifth. 339 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 3: Outfielder on the roster. 340 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:54,680 Speaker 2: And I hate to say it, but most big leaguers 341 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 2: worth the dam are not going to sign a contract 342 00:15:57,080 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 2: to be a fifth outfielder or go playing Gwinett and 343 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 2: they never see life pitching, so that that does complicate 344 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 2: this quite a bit. 345 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:07,320 Speaker 1: No, it's a good point I can already hear, and 346 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 1: this is not unreasonable. I mean, I don't think this 347 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:11,840 Speaker 1: a way, but people are going to be skeptical that 348 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 1: they're going to sign or acquire a starting left fielder 349 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:17,520 Speaker 1: until they do it right. So the assumption there that 350 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: we're making is one that has not happened yet and 351 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:21,240 Speaker 1: that's notable. So just to get an out of front 352 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:23,480 Speaker 1: of that, we're not saying it's one hundred percent, because like, 353 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 1: maybe it won't happen, Maybe they'll go into the season 354 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 1: with Kelnick and whatever else in that corner spot. But 355 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 1: it is to your point, there are logistics and players 356 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 1: have choices. If if the Braves decided and pivoted to 357 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 1: the fact that, hey, you know what, we can't find 358 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 1: our guy right now, we're going to turn left field 359 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,720 Speaker 1: into our O platoon spot this year. We're going to 360 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 1: be in the market for a really good lefty Masher 361 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 1: number one. That's not Daila Cruz. Number two, that's not sexy. 362 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 1: We don't love that. You know, that's plausible to me. 363 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:58,320 Speaker 1: It's oh look, we've discussed many times and Sean Stephen 364 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 1: has as well. It's always been plausible that they would 365 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: go into the season with with a Kelnick platoon and 366 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:07,639 Speaker 1: left field. That's even including Ronnie. Like, we don't like 367 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 1: that idea very much, but it's plausible that it would happen. 368 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 3: But you're right. 369 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 1: Trying to get someone to sign that contract, presumably for 370 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 1: a modest rate, to be a part time split player 371 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:21,360 Speaker 1: in December is not very easy to do. So if 372 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:23,120 Speaker 1: a guy comes to a round that you like for 373 00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 1: quite literally free and as far as baseball finances are concerned, 374 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 1: you add the player and if he doesn't do anything, 375 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:32,239 Speaker 1: he doesn't do any thing. This will not stop them 376 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 1: from doing anything. That's a crucial point that I think 377 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 1: people understand, probably, but just put it very sign Branilla 378 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 1: Cruz in on December fifteenth stops them from doing nothing nothing. 379 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 3: So that's that's where I would be. 380 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:46,199 Speaker 1: Maybe maybe they end up with a platoon again of 381 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:48,680 Speaker 1: Kellnick and Ramon Loreano old Pal just to throw a 382 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 1: name out there. You know that wouldn't excite anybody. I 383 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 1: get that, but I don't think it's going to be 384 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:58,240 Speaker 1: a plan go in go into March and April with Hey. 385 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: Our leftfield solution is Countic and briand new Cruz. Like 386 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: if they do the Keelnic thing and that's a pivot, 387 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:07,160 Speaker 1: I think they will. They will bring in someone else 388 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:11,959 Speaker 1: that is a more established, probably better against left handed 389 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 1: pitching in history kind of player, whether it's Loreano or whatever, 390 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 1: whoever else it would be. So that's the long Winter. 391 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 1: I understand that. And we're talking a lot about Branla 392 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:21,359 Speaker 1: la Cruz. It's kind of funny that we're doing that, 393 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 1: but it's just a good indication of like just kind 394 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:26,200 Speaker 1: of subtle just I'm not big on like programming the 395 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:29,680 Speaker 1: show from twitter and social media reactions. I'm just trying 396 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:31,879 Speaker 1: to address things that I saw today that I was like, okay, 397 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 1: and some of us was nuanced, like the people that 398 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 1: are smart talking about the stuff, like, hey, but if 399 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:38,440 Speaker 1: they do the platoon thing, it's not gonna be de 400 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:40,119 Speaker 1: la Cruz, I don't think so. 401 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:43,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm curious. 402 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 1: I mean I mean permanently, like not not yeah, just 403 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:49,359 Speaker 1: to be just to be clear, the acuna first six 404 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 1: weeks thing that I can see happening, I mean a 405 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:55,680 Speaker 1: I mean a permanent we don't get another outfielder situation 406 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 1: in left field, which is still plausible even if we 407 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 1: don't like it, but you and I agree there is 408 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 1: a chance that for six weeks or eight weeks Dayla 409 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:06,360 Speaker 1: cruise is is isn't a part time role in their outfield. 410 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: That is plausible to me. If he looks good in spring, 411 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:10,439 Speaker 1: if he doesn't, coodn't spring, then you cut bait and 412 00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:10,720 Speaker 1: that's it. 413 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 3: Sure. Yeah. 414 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 2: The only way I could see like a full time 415 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:18,200 Speaker 2: everyday roll for a Kelnick and pick a platoon guy 416 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:22,480 Speaker 2: is if they would really go big at shortstop and Frank, 417 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 2: I mean, Hassan Kim is not big enough for me. 418 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:26,640 Speaker 3: I mean they would have to go out and do. 419 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:31,440 Speaker 2: Like like Carlos Korea has very loosely like if they 420 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 2: want to trade, you could do Kim. 421 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 1: You yeah, you can do Kim and like a starting 422 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:40,200 Speaker 1: pitching smash, you know what I mean? Like that maybe 423 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 1: that would be like somewhat excusable, but I would we agree. Again, 424 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:47,920 Speaker 1: no one on this podcast right now is is excited 425 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 1: or endorsing a permanent platoon in left field. I think 426 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 1: we all want it to be better than that. I 427 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:55,880 Speaker 1: just don't want to rule it out as a potential 428 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 1: thing because or in mid December, man, like, there's plenty 429 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:02,600 Speaker 1: to go like people hate this. One says we're still 430 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:05,000 Speaker 1: relatively early in the AUF season. It doesn't feel that way. 431 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: We still relatively are, but until they signed someone, you 432 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 1: have to leave the door cracked open for them to 433 00:20:10,359 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 1: do what. 434 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 3: They have now basically on their team. 435 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:15,679 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I think the next ten days, so 436 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 2: I mean we're recording this deep on the fifteen, so 437 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:21,119 Speaker 2: I guess the next nine days before front office is 438 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 2: closed down around Christmas time. I think there's gonna be 439 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,399 Speaker 2: a pretty good sized wave of both free agent and 440 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 2: trade activity in the next week and a half and 441 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:31,480 Speaker 2: then things quiet down and then they will ramp up. 442 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:34,879 Speaker 2: Usually second week of January things get going again. But 443 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 2: I think we kind of set it off the jump. 444 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:40,080 Speaker 2: We'll say it one more time, this is not going 445 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 2: to be the move for the outfield by any means. 446 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 2: This was a depth piece and it's not even just. 447 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:45,480 Speaker 3: Our opinion here. 448 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 2: So the trio of beat writers, justin, Mark and dB 449 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:54,960 Speaker 2: I'm guessing all conversed with someone in the organization because 450 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 2: within a couple of minutes they all had very similar 451 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:00,480 Speaker 2: tweets about what Brian day La cruz Is role is 452 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:03,400 Speaker 2: going to be. That tells me either they reached out 453 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:06,480 Speaker 2: or the team source reached out to them and said, hey, guys, 454 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:09,199 Speaker 2: this is what we're thinking. Because Rags, I mean, they 455 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 2: understand the pr side of it. They're not immune or 456 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 2: oblivious to social media and what's you know being said 457 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:17,920 Speaker 2: and thought. They try to get ahead of things when 458 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:21,280 Speaker 2: they can, and I'm pretty confident that somebody in the 459 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:24,199 Speaker 2: organization was like, yeah, guys, this is we are not 460 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 2: penciling in one hundred and fifty. 461 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:28,320 Speaker 3: Starts of Brian Day La Cruz. We're not nuts. 462 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:32,200 Speaker 2: This is truly a depth piece that probably got blown 463 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 2: out of proportion a little bit just because it has 464 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:38,200 Speaker 2: been so painfully quiet the last month and a half. 465 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:42,359 Speaker 1: The big guys all mentioned the options to the miners. 466 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:44,399 Speaker 1: They all talked about program with Kellnick like it was 467 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:48,200 Speaker 1: you're right, it was very not stenographer, but you know 468 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 1: what I mean, Like somebody said something to those guys, 469 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:53,119 Speaker 1: which happens, Like I'm on that kind of level with 470 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:54,879 Speaker 1: Hawk stuff where like I get to spin from the 471 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 1: team and that's just what happens, Like you get someone 472 00:21:57,280 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 1: told a lot of times it's actually not even spin, 473 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:00,919 Speaker 1: it's just like, hey, this is actually what we're thinking. 474 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:03,679 Speaker 1: So there you go share it with the masses, And 475 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 1: no one of those guys was like banging the drum 476 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:09,959 Speaker 1: that this is some awesome signing, like they're not being unrealistic. 477 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:12,200 Speaker 1: I'm sure the team is not trying to say that either. 478 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:14,520 Speaker 1: In fact, they're probably trying to lower recitations if I 479 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 1: have to guess for this signing before we get out 480 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 1: of here on what is probably gonna be a shortened 481 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:23,639 Speaker 1: episode relatively speaking by our standards. We've got a question 482 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:26,680 Speaker 1: from Jared with a y thanks for Thanks for the question, Jared. Also, 483 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:29,119 Speaker 1: people can always ask us questions on social media if 484 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:31,200 Speaker 1: they want to. We'll some come Scot in the show 485 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 1: or on YouTube comments, et cetera. Jared asks where would 486 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:36,760 Speaker 1: the Braves rank in left field if they only rolled 487 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:39,680 Speaker 1: with Kellenick and Daly Cruz? And as a bonus question, 488 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:41,639 Speaker 1: this is also from Jared, where would they rank an 489 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:45,400 Speaker 1: overall outfield assuming Ronald is back fairly soon. 490 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:46,359 Speaker 3: That's his question. 491 00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:48,879 Speaker 1: I will add that isssus Michael Harris of course every 492 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 1: day in centerfield, et cetera, et cetera. I have some numbers, 493 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 1: Scott that I will present to you and you can 494 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 1: react to them. This should not be surprised anyone, but 495 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 1: Fangrafts has their depth choir projections up right now there's 496 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:01,560 Speaker 1: some sort of mix between Steamer and zips or whatever. 497 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:04,200 Speaker 1: It's not it's just one number, like it's not gospel, 498 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 1: but it is what it is. They have the Braves 499 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:10,240 Speaker 1: twenty ninth out of thirty teams in left field, and 500 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:13,080 Speaker 1: that is the combination of Jared Kellennick and brid day 501 00:23:13,119 --> 00:23:15,000 Speaker 1: La Cruz, who I men surely at the end of 502 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:18,439 Speaker 1: that it does include daily Cruz, who, look given his 503 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 1: numbers recently, is not going to project well in a 504 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:22,359 Speaker 1: system like that, you know what I mean, He's not 505 00:23:22,359 --> 00:23:24,959 Speaker 1: gonna He's seen as a below average blow not even 506 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:27,959 Speaker 1: blow average blower replacement level player. And Kelnick has not 507 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:30,119 Speaker 1: ever lit the wild fire either, so that combination is 508 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 1: pretty dismal in a projection system, which makes sense. They 509 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:37,360 Speaker 1: are quite good. The Braves are in center and right. 510 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:40,000 Speaker 1: I think Harris is in the top three in center field, 511 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 1: which is actually super high. But I love Michael Harrison. 512 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:43,800 Speaker 1: I know you do too, and like I think he's 513 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:46,680 Speaker 1: still super underrated by both people, like he's an awesome player, 514 00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:51,080 Speaker 1: and then Ronald they do reduce his plant appearances, which 515 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:53,679 Speaker 1: makes sense, but he's still a top five right fielder 516 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:56,280 Speaker 1: by their projection. So the Braves are essentially top five 517 00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:59,680 Speaker 1: in center, top five and right, and worse than the 518 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:01,640 Speaker 1: league essentially it left. 519 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:03,720 Speaker 3: So what does that mean to you? Does it make 520 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:04,680 Speaker 3: sense to you? Scott? 521 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:07,200 Speaker 1: And then, like I remembers it earlier once, but I 522 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 1: want to say this one more time, Like the brains 523 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:12,239 Speaker 1: are really good on paper right now, Like we're not 524 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:15,120 Speaker 1: satisfyed with their team, but I think people have kind 525 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:17,920 Speaker 1: of they're not They're not seeing the fourth through the tree. 526 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:20,680 Speaker 3: What IF's that's that old adage is. 527 00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 1: Like this is still the Verger baseball team, and this 528 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:25,280 Speaker 1: output thing kind of reminded me of that. Like they 529 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:27,919 Speaker 1: have this glaring weak spot in my mind, I think 530 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:29,000 Speaker 1: your mind too, in left field. 531 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 3: But even if you go just two more spots. 532 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:34,520 Speaker 1: Over the outfield, there's still like a very good outfield 533 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:36,119 Speaker 1: even with a terrible spot and left, because they were 534 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:37,720 Speaker 1: so good in center and right. 535 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:41,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I think this team has the makings 536 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:43,760 Speaker 2: of having one of the best outfields in the game. 537 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:47,760 Speaker 2: I mean, maybe top three, depending on what they do 538 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:51,120 Speaker 2: in left field full time and Acuna's health and right. 539 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:55,320 Speaker 2: But to answer the question, you know, I mean, look, man, 540 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:59,719 Speaker 2: at the end of the day, Jared Keelnick. I know, 541 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:02,200 Speaker 2: he once a top draft pick and all the hype, 542 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:04,560 Speaker 2: and he's been traded in big deals and all that, 543 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:07,960 Speaker 2: But at the end of the day, here's Jared Kelnick. 544 00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:11,960 Speaker 2: He has more than fourteen hundred plate appearances at the 545 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:16,480 Speaker 2: major league level. He has an eighty six WRC plus 546 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:21,919 Speaker 2: brad eighty six and fourteen hundred plate appearances with a 547 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:26,200 Speaker 2: thirty and a half percent strikeout rate, which is also 548 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 2: not good. And he's done with three organizations. And I'm 549 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:32,880 Speaker 2: not saying that Kelnick is a finished product. I do 550 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:35,040 Speaker 2: think the Braves can get more out of him than 551 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:37,600 Speaker 2: what he gave him this year. But the fact is, man, 552 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:39,200 Speaker 2: I mean, you have to call it what it is. 553 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:40,960 Speaker 2: And I think Stevens said it on the show a 554 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:44,680 Speaker 2: while back that generally players do not just suddenly get 555 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:49,000 Speaker 2: a lot better after fourteen hundred played appearances over four years. 556 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:52,679 Speaker 2: It's not impossible, but it's pretty rare for players to 557 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 2: break out in year five of their careers. I am 558 00:25:56,880 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 2: curious to see what changes, if any, of the Braves 559 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:02,320 Speaker 2: make with kellin this upcoming season. But I mean, if 560 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:05,440 Speaker 2: you told me that circumstances happen and it is Kelnick 561 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:09,639 Speaker 2: and Dala Cruz for one sixty two, I mean, twenty 562 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:12,840 Speaker 2: nine feels right to me. There's probably someone worse, because 563 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 2: there's always someone worse, but that would be about as 564 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:18,640 Speaker 2: uninspiring as it gets. And I think if you're the Braves, 565 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:20,919 Speaker 2: you have to one at a good outfielder for the 566 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:24,120 Speaker 2: nineteenth time this episode at a good outfielder and then 567 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:27,080 Speaker 2: just crush your fingers and hope that over a month 568 00:26:27,119 --> 00:26:30,520 Speaker 2: or month and a half that Kelnick and Dala Cruz, 569 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:33,399 Speaker 2: or if they bring in another right handed outfielder between 570 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:37,440 Speaker 2: now and spring training, which they could, those that pair 571 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:41,200 Speaker 2: will give you enough where you're not just like banging 572 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:44,200 Speaker 2: your head against the wall every night until Akuoni comes 573 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:46,960 Speaker 2: back and God, let's pray that knee is healthy and 574 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:47,560 Speaker 2: ready to go. 575 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:51,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, And with Kelnich, like he's projected by fang Rafts 576 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:53,560 Speaker 1: and by other things I've seen, like as like a 577 00:26:53,560 --> 00:26:57,679 Speaker 1: one win player, which is not very good as a 578 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:00,800 Speaker 1: primary like not full time starter, but like the strong 579 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:03,000 Speaker 1: side of platoon, like you're facing you're out there more 580 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:05,880 Speaker 1: often than or not. In this projection, it's four hundred 581 00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:08,359 Speaker 1: and twenty seven plate appearances, So that's not a very 582 00:27:08,359 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 1: good player. 583 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:11,320 Speaker 3: It's not a terrible player. Kellic is not without use. 584 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:13,760 Speaker 1: He has used and I think if he's your fourth outfielder, 585 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:16,639 Speaker 1: that's not a bad spot to be in. And I 586 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:19,480 Speaker 1: still believe while Steven's point, I one hundred percent agree with, 587 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:22,159 Speaker 1: you cannot bank on him breaking out. There is a 588 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:25,240 Speaker 1: little upside with Jerry Kullich. I do believe that still, 589 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 1: He's a talented guy. Pedigree is there. I'm not banking 590 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:30,800 Speaker 1: on it, though, and the Brave shouldn't either. I don't 591 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:33,919 Speaker 1: think so. It is what it is on that front. 592 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:37,399 Speaker 1: I'm not surprised that they're that low in left field, 593 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:40,680 Speaker 1: like they're also, I don't know if they're that levelok, 594 00:27:40,840 --> 00:27:42,199 Speaker 1: in real time. I don't to see where they are 595 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:46,160 Speaker 1: on shortstop right now, they're yeah, twenty seventh at shortstop. 596 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:50,360 Speaker 3: So better, although the the bar is higher at shortstop. 597 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:52,320 Speaker 1: Like Orlando Arcia as much as we picked on him 598 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:55,879 Speaker 1: for a while, is better than what the Braves have 599 00:27:55,960 --> 00:28:00,280 Speaker 1: projected in left field. Honestly, because the gul I mean, 600 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:03,119 Speaker 1: it's the glove, it's the glove at shortstop is I mean, honestly, 601 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:05,880 Speaker 1: that's as simple as it is. Like Rcia has been 602 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:07,679 Speaker 1: better than what the Braves are projected to get from 603 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:09,680 Speaker 1: left field. Let's just say that at least he doesn't 604 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:12,000 Speaker 1: mean he's he's guaranteed to be that that good or 605 00:28:12,119 --> 00:28:16,199 Speaker 1: that mediocre. But anyway, uh, that is just the question up. 606 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:18,000 Speaker 1: By the way, the people I think will be surprised 607 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:21,040 Speaker 1: by this, and paragraphs does separate, there's actually a free 608 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:24,840 Speaker 1: agent team on their depth charts that leads like every 609 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:30,080 Speaker 1: projection because it's every free agent roe and one. But uh, okay, Scott, 610 00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:32,720 Speaker 1: did you write I think you bought the doctor. I 611 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:35,719 Speaker 1: can't guess, I can't have you guess. But what did 612 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:37,480 Speaker 1: it have surprised you before I wrote this down? That 613 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:42,040 Speaker 1: the Braves are fourth in all of baseball imposition player 614 00:28:42,520 --> 00:28:47,320 Speaker 1: war projection for next season that includes that includes Ronnie 615 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 1: missing a month, plus that includes Countick and Dayla Cruz 616 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:54,920 Speaker 1: in left field, that includes Orlando Arcia at shortstop and 617 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 1: no one behind Sean Murphy essentially a catcher, and there's 618 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 1: still fourth in all of base So another reminder, like 619 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:04,480 Speaker 1: this is still a good team. I'm whispering, but like 620 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:07,000 Speaker 1: it's still pretty good even it, And again we're not 621 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:09,560 Speaker 1: saying to keep it this way. It should still upgrade 622 00:29:09,560 --> 00:29:11,479 Speaker 1: at the team, but they're pretty good as it is. 623 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:16,200 Speaker 2: Yes, it is a very very good core. They need 624 00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:18,320 Speaker 2: to add to the core and we all think they will. 625 00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:21,560 Speaker 2: And again, if we're having this same podcast in two months, 626 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:25,120 Speaker 2: then absolutely, man, we'll be banging the table and going, 627 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:27,960 Speaker 2: what are they doing? This is ridiculous. It's a World 628 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:31,800 Speaker 2: Series contender. Spend the money, spend the prospects whatever. I 629 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:33,520 Speaker 2: don't think we're going to get to that point, and 630 00:29:33,920 --> 00:29:36,080 Speaker 2: I hope we don't get to that point of a podcast, 631 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:39,760 Speaker 2: But yes, I think we almost become spoiled by the 632 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:43,000 Speaker 2: fact that this team's core is like the envy of 633 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:44,880 Speaker 2: eighty percent of the rest of the league. 634 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:48,080 Speaker 3: It's good, a lot of the talent is in their prime. 635 00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:50,840 Speaker 2: That like kind of twenty five to thirty two year 636 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:52,320 Speaker 2: old sweet spot for players. 637 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:54,400 Speaker 3: A lot of these guys are locked up. 638 00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:57,040 Speaker 2: And they've been around for a long time, So there's 639 00:29:57,040 --> 00:29:59,080 Speaker 2: not going to be a ton of newness with the 640 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:03,400 Speaker 2: Atlanta Braves year over year during this I guess era 641 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:07,520 Speaker 2: of long term deals for Olsen and Riley and Harris 642 00:30:07,560 --> 00:30:10,720 Speaker 2: and Kunya and Murphy and Stryder and right, like, there's 643 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:13,560 Speaker 2: just not that much turnover, at least on the offensive side. 644 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 2: Pitching staffs are going to turn over more because of 645 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:19,640 Speaker 2: injuries and just year over year variants, But offensively, man, 646 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:21,840 Speaker 2: this is not a team that's gonna run out five 647 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:26,680 Speaker 2: new regulars anytime soon. I mean, we're talking five plus 648 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:28,520 Speaker 2: years from now when this team is going to have 649 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:31,920 Speaker 2: significant overhaul with the lineup. And maybe that doesn't make 650 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:34,680 Speaker 2: for the most fun off seasons in the world, but 651 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:37,600 Speaker 2: I tell you, man, there are teams that dream of 652 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:40,520 Speaker 2: having the core of offensive players the Braves have in 653 00:30:40,520 --> 00:30:42,640 Speaker 2: this lineup right now. And I mean most of them 654 00:30:42,680 --> 00:30:45,480 Speaker 2: are also signed below market, which is also another dream 655 00:30:45,520 --> 00:30:46,000 Speaker 2: of teams. 656 00:30:46,040 --> 00:30:47,320 Speaker 3: And again, man. 657 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:49,440 Speaker 2: Does it make for fireworks that the off seasons the 658 00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:52,160 Speaker 2: last couple of years have been Okay, I mean they 659 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:54,480 Speaker 2: haven't done nothing, but they also have not been like 660 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:57,120 Speaker 2: the Mets have so much turnover and so much money 661 00:30:57,240 --> 00:30:59,920 Speaker 2: changing right now, like they're going to have a busier 662 00:31:00,040 --> 00:31:02,680 Speaker 2: off season than the Braves because they do not have 663 00:31:02,720 --> 00:31:05,400 Speaker 2: the same core that Atlanta does at the same dollar 664 00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:06,920 Speaker 2: in contracts Atlanta does. 665 00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:10,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, one more statn then we'll we'll walk off here, 666 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:13,720 Speaker 1: but I mentioned the Reds per fourth and that projection 667 00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:17,760 Speaker 1: on the on the position player side. Overall, Scott, they 668 00:31:17,800 --> 00:31:22,960 Speaker 1: are second in baseball, behind only the reigning champion Dodgers, 669 00:31:22,960 --> 00:31:24,680 Speaker 1: who then got better in the off season. So the 670 00:31:24,680 --> 00:31:27,160 Speaker 1: Dodgers are kind of monstrous with their roster right now. 671 00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:27,880 Speaker 3: Uh. 672 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:30,320 Speaker 1: They also added Michael Confordo, which is Steven's mind, means 673 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:33,320 Speaker 1: just like a seven to win jump I think. And 674 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:35,360 Speaker 1: by the way, we you and I did forget Michael 675 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:37,960 Speaker 1: Conforido on our last show. As far as the contracts 676 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:40,080 Speaker 1: that we could have considered signing, we'd never mentioned his name. 677 00:31:41,160 --> 00:31:42,520 Speaker 1: I would have liked that. I want to speak for 678 00:31:42,600 --> 00:31:44,840 Speaker 1: you that it would have been fine for me. Steve 679 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:46,440 Speaker 1: would have thrown a party if they signed that contract. 680 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:48,160 Speaker 1: I would have been fine with it, just to say 681 00:31:48,160 --> 00:31:49,840 Speaker 1: that out loud. We just didn't mention his name. So 682 00:31:50,040 --> 00:31:51,840 Speaker 1: we saw, we saw your comments. Everybody we saw. 683 00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:52,400 Speaker 3: I get it. 684 00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:56,719 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, uh, that was a fun exercise. We get 685 00:31:56,760 --> 00:32:00,000 Speaker 2: a lot of on what deal would you have done 686 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:04,000 Speaker 2: for the Braves? But yeah, just again, I said it 687 00:32:04,040 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 2: a couple of nights ago. Patience, It is very, very 688 00:32:06,960 --> 00:32:10,880 Speaker 2: difficult to do. I find myself getting annoyed when I 689 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:13,160 Speaker 2: scroll Twitter and you know, we're like, I'll be away 690 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:15,080 Speaker 2: from my phone for four hours. I'm like, oh man, 691 00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:16,200 Speaker 2: let me open up the apps. 692 00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:17,560 Speaker 3: I mean we're doing it too. 693 00:32:17,760 --> 00:32:19,080 Speaker 1: We're doing it too, but I mean as much as 694 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:21,840 Speaker 1: we're I'm and I'm famous with dead inside, We're all 695 00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:26,000 Speaker 1: doing it our our hammertary Hamm territory. DM chat is 696 00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:28,360 Speaker 1: essentially just complaining with the Brave's not doing anything. That's 697 00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:30,280 Speaker 1: what we're doing right now. Everybody's doing the same thing. 698 00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:34,960 Speaker 1: I understand it. Holy I do try to, though, take 699 00:32:34,960 --> 00:32:36,479 Speaker 1: a step a half step back and be like, all right, 700 00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:36,720 Speaker 1: this is. 701 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:38,920 Speaker 3: A good it's a good team. It's still early in 702 00:32:38,960 --> 00:32:39,560 Speaker 3: the offseason. 703 00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:41,800 Speaker 1: It doesn't feel that way, but it is like the 704 00:32:41,800 --> 00:32:43,720 Speaker 1: clock is not moving as fast as we wanted to move. 705 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:45,400 Speaker 3: But it's not even Christmas yet. 706 00:32:45,440 --> 00:32:48,200 Speaker 1: Like last year, man, I don't want to go back 707 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:49,960 Speaker 1: the last year, but do you remember forre agency just 708 00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:53,960 Speaker 1: didn't even start until January basically across baseball last year. 709 00:32:54,080 --> 00:32:56,360 Speaker 1: Things are going faster this year, which is making the 710 00:32:56,400 --> 00:32:58,160 Speaker 1: Braves seem slower. 711 00:32:57,880 --> 00:32:58,800 Speaker 3: If that makes sense. 712 00:32:59,080 --> 00:33:02,360 Speaker 1: But some time to do something and Brian dea la 713 00:33:02,400 --> 00:33:05,760 Speaker 1: Cruz man inspiring an entire podcast in mid December, shout 714 00:33:05,760 --> 00:33:07,280 Speaker 1: out to you, my friend, I have word of the 715 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:08,000 Speaker 1: Bride de la Cruz. 716 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:09,120 Speaker 3: There we go. 717 00:33:09,280 --> 00:33:12,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm sure a longtime listener of the show, Brian. 718 00:33:12,840 --> 00:33:14,800 Speaker 3: He'll be dialed into this show. Nothing else. 719 00:33:14,840 --> 00:33:17,640 Speaker 1: Hey, oh, man, I got a podcasts like Oh, they'd 720 00:33:17,640 --> 00:33:19,440 Speaker 1: be mean to me. I'm not being mean either. I 721 00:33:19,480 --> 00:33:22,160 Speaker 1: think there's actually a tiny bit of intriguing Brian de 722 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:22,640 Speaker 1: la Cruz. 723 00:33:22,640 --> 00:33:25,560 Speaker 2: But hey, yeah, if the Raves want to turn him 724 00:33:25,600 --> 00:33:28,440 Speaker 2: into a really good hitter, yeah baby, let's do it 725 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:30,000 Speaker 2: for half a million dollars. 726 00:33:30,720 --> 00:33:34,320 Speaker 3: That would be a dream. I don't think anyone's holding. 727 00:33:34,120 --> 00:33:37,840 Speaker 2: Their breath, but hey, the Braves are good at developing hitters. 728 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:41,640 Speaker 2: The Marlins are not. Maybe there's something. I mean, clearly, 729 00:33:41,680 --> 00:33:44,320 Speaker 2: the front office sees something in Dyla Cruz that they like. 730 00:33:44,400 --> 00:33:47,920 Speaker 1: That's all it is. They see something somewhere. It's probably 731 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:50,920 Speaker 1: the bad ball profile from a couple of years ago. Honestly, 732 00:33:51,120 --> 00:33:53,040 Speaker 1: it could be as simple as that, like, at one 733 00:33:53,080 --> 00:33:57,880 Speaker 1: point this individual was rocketing Baseball's he has a so 734 00:33:58,240 --> 00:34:00,240 Speaker 1: there is a this is kind of a sign bar, 735 00:34:00,280 --> 00:34:04,840 Speaker 1: but there is a baseline of professional hitters where like 736 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:07,840 Speaker 1: if you are capable, even on a one off or 737 00:34:08,080 --> 00:34:10,320 Speaker 1: five times, hitting the ball as hard as he is 738 00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:13,319 Speaker 1: hit the ball in the major leagues, you have some 739 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:17,839 Speaker 1: sort of talent that is not easily replicable. That doesn't 740 00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:19,680 Speaker 1: mean you're gonna be good, but it means like there's 741 00:34:19,680 --> 00:34:21,600 Speaker 1: probably only one hundred people in the world that can 742 00:34:21,640 --> 00:34:23,480 Speaker 1: hit the ball as hard as Brian Dayla Cruz did 743 00:34:23,480 --> 00:34:27,160 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty two. Like that's not everything. Just to 744 00:34:27,160 --> 00:34:28,799 Speaker 1: be very clear, you get hit the ball hard and 745 00:34:28,880 --> 00:34:31,920 Speaker 1: it's still be bad at baseball. That's actually possible. But 746 00:34:32,239 --> 00:34:33,600 Speaker 1: there's a little bit of something and. 747 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:39,040 Speaker 2: It's it is the equivalent of a relief pitcher who 748 00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:41,120 Speaker 2: throws ninety eight miles an hour. 749 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:42,439 Speaker 3: That is it, yep. 750 00:34:42,800 --> 00:34:45,240 Speaker 2: And you might leave a ninety eight mine hour fastball 751 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:48,000 Speaker 2: right down the middle and Austin Riley hits it twenty 752 00:34:48,080 --> 00:34:50,799 Speaker 2: rows deep. Or you might not have a curveball or 753 00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:52,759 Speaker 2: a slider or a change up to work off that 754 00:34:52,840 --> 00:34:55,480 Speaker 2: ninety eight mini hour fastball. But you can bet that 755 00:34:55,600 --> 00:34:58,080 Speaker 2: some team is going to give you a chance because 756 00:34:58,239 --> 00:34:59,879 Speaker 2: they think, Okay, maybe we can. 757 00:34:59,800 --> 00:35:00,480 Speaker 3: Fi the guy. 758 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:03,560 Speaker 2: And guess what if Dala Cruz comes to spring training 759 00:35:03,800 --> 00:35:06,960 Speaker 2: and he goes oh for forty five, then you cut 760 00:35:07,040 --> 00:35:09,799 Speaker 2: him two or you send him to Grunette. And yeah, 761 00:35:09,840 --> 00:35:13,680 Speaker 2: there's always the Adam Duval types in the spring too. 762 00:35:13,760 --> 00:35:17,600 Speaker 2: And hopefully now I speak of my language, Scott, hopefully 763 00:35:17,719 --> 00:35:20,520 Speaker 2: a little better than what Adam gave the I'm sorry, Adam. 764 00:35:20,560 --> 00:35:23,400 Speaker 3: I hope you revironment. I think it's over for Adam. 765 00:35:23,400 --> 00:35:23,799 Speaker 3: It's okay. 766 00:35:23,880 --> 00:35:28,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, well it was I long defended at Duvald then 767 00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:30,760 Speaker 1: last year it was just it was too bad to defend. 768 00:35:30,800 --> 00:35:31,279 Speaker 3: And there you go. 769 00:35:31,760 --> 00:35:35,080 Speaker 1: Okay, Scott, we've done enough on this Sunday evening late. 770 00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:38,920 Speaker 1: I appreciate your patience as I'm traversing the globe this week. 771 00:35:39,239 --> 00:35:41,200 Speaker 1: What's going on in your world, working folks that might 772 00:35:41,239 --> 00:35:43,920 Speaker 1: be new to the podcast find all of what you 773 00:35:43,960 --> 00:35:47,560 Speaker 1: maybe write, share on social media, et cetera about the Braves. 774 00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:51,160 Speaker 2: Well, first, Brad, I want to wish you a great 775 00:35:51,200 --> 00:35:56,480 Speaker 2: time in Vegas. I know you're on day three in Vegas, 776 00:35:56,560 --> 00:35:57,279 Speaker 2: which this is. 777 00:35:57,480 --> 00:36:01,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, day three, oh yeah, Vegas, uh, day three of 778 00:36:01,920 --> 00:36:04,920 Speaker 1: six because and by the way, no one cares about this, 779 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:06,960 Speaker 1: but I'm here to cover the NBA Cup, which the 780 00:36:06,960 --> 00:36:08,000 Speaker 1: Hawks lost. 781 00:36:07,719 --> 00:36:08,360 Speaker 3: It on Saturday. 782 00:36:08,360 --> 00:36:10,560 Speaker 1: But I was coming anyway, value after by the Hawks. 783 00:36:11,120 --> 00:36:15,240 Speaker 1: The Atlanta Falcons, my nemesis, play in Las Vegas on Monday. 784 00:36:15,480 --> 00:36:18,000 Speaker 1: I'm going to the game as a fan. I am 785 00:36:18,040 --> 00:36:21,600 Speaker 1: prepared for the worst. Could be a disaster, we'll see. 786 00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:24,399 Speaker 1: And then after work Tuesday here for the makeup final. 787 00:36:24,440 --> 00:36:27,439 Speaker 1: Then I fly home. The fund never stops, Scott. But uh, 788 00:36:27,520 --> 00:36:29,080 Speaker 1: you haven't lived till you have to come to it. 789 00:36:29,080 --> 00:36:30,760 Speaker 1: And I have to come to Vegas regularly. 790 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:31,520 Speaker 3: For sport, for work. 791 00:36:31,719 --> 00:36:33,840 Speaker 1: I mean, it's it's a bizarre thing. Summer leagues here 792 00:36:33,840 --> 00:36:36,040 Speaker 1: every year. Like I just I'm like a parsonal resident 793 00:36:36,040 --> 00:36:37,920 Speaker 1: of Las Vegas. It is definitely the place that I 794 00:36:37,960 --> 00:36:40,120 Speaker 1: come more often than any other place other than Atlanta, which, 795 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:40,839 Speaker 1: as weird as that is. 796 00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:41,440 Speaker 3: It's just three out. 797 00:36:41,920 --> 00:36:45,200 Speaker 2: So Vegas is the ultimate forty eight hour city if 798 00:36:45,239 --> 00:36:48,640 Speaker 2: you can help it. Six days in Vegas you start to, 799 00:36:48,680 --> 00:36:50,280 Speaker 2: I think, lose sense of all time. 800 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:53,359 Speaker 3: And I don't know, but but no. 801 00:36:53,400 --> 00:36:55,719 Speaker 2: Well, I'm glad you're you're doing okay still far you're 802 00:36:55,719 --> 00:36:59,239 Speaker 2: halfway home, hanging in again a live podcast from your 803 00:36:59,360 --> 00:37:04,480 Speaker 2: hotel room, and we did it. If folks want to 804 00:37:04,520 --> 00:37:07,239 Speaker 2: hear my ramblings, I am at Scott Coleman. 805 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:08,799 Speaker 3: At fifty five on socials. 806 00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:11,080 Speaker 2: I do a little bit of writing over at battery 807 00:37:11,160 --> 00:37:13,719 Speaker 2: power dot com, which of course is where our old 808 00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:16,239 Speaker 2: show used to be. And if you are interested in 809 00:37:16,239 --> 00:37:18,960 Speaker 2: the Atlanta Braves, the team of writers at Battery Power, 810 00:37:19,360 --> 00:37:21,719 Speaker 2: I mean, for my money, cover the team better than 811 00:37:21,760 --> 00:37:25,879 Speaker 2: anyone and really great content year round three sixty five. 812 00:37:25,920 --> 00:37:28,160 Speaker 2: So shout out to those guys and gals on the 813 00:37:28,160 --> 00:37:31,479 Speaker 2: writing team. And yeah, we've said it for like every 814 00:37:31,480 --> 00:37:32,360 Speaker 2: show for three weeks. 815 00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:32,560 Speaker 3: Now. 816 00:37:32,640 --> 00:37:36,240 Speaker 2: Hopefully we have a transaction, a trade or a signing 817 00:37:36,560 --> 00:37:39,160 Speaker 2: maybe bigger than Brian day La Cruz to talk about 818 00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:42,319 Speaker 2: on one of these shows soon. And as Brad always says, 819 00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:44,560 Speaker 2: if you subscribe to the show or follow us or 820 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:47,120 Speaker 2: whatever it might be, you will have that in your 821 00:37:47,160 --> 00:37:49,640 Speaker 2: feed the moment it comes out, and let's hope for 822 00:37:49,719 --> 00:37:50,880 Speaker 2: a busy couple weeks ahead. 823 00:37:51,200 --> 00:37:54,080 Speaker 1: Well done, Scott in the plug department. Nothing else to add. 824 00:37:54,320 --> 00:37:57,600 Speaker 1: Subscribe rate review folks. We appreciate you listening. We'll have 825 00:37:57,600 --> 00:37:59,440 Speaker 1: more this week. I don't know when the show will come. 826 00:37:59,480 --> 00:38:01,640 Speaker 1: If there's a move, we will have a podcast in 827 00:38:01,719 --> 00:38:04,359 Speaker 1: rapid succession, as we try to do. But uh, even 828 00:38:04,360 --> 00:38:06,080 Speaker 1: if there is in the move. We'll have something later 829 00:38:06,120 --> 00:38:07,920 Speaker 1: on this week, so stay tuned, subscribed to the podcast, 830 00:38:08,080 --> 00:38:09,279 Speaker 1: and we'll see you all next time.