1 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: Here we go, the official show on the fish Stripes 2 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: podcast channel where we cover the Miami Marlins every day 3 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: in our own way. I'm Eli Susman, the managing editor 4 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: of fish Stripes. Welcome to the show. Thank you guys 5 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 1: for tuning in. As always, recording this on the first 6 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:32,480 Speaker 1: off day in a while that the Marlins have had, 7 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: and they are entering the new home stands at nineteen 8 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 1: games below five hundred, But it's funny what a single 9 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 1: game can do to change your mood. They're coming off 10 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 1: one of the most convincing wins of the entire season, 11 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:48,839 Speaker 1: to finish off that road trip in San Diego, to 12 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:52,240 Speaker 1: salvage a game from what was otherwise a totally winless 13 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 1: road trip. This was mentioned on the previous pod that 14 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: we're creating a fundraiser for the Player's Alliance, and how 15 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: you get involved is simply leaving a rating and review 16 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:08,680 Speaker 1: of this podcast on Apple Podcasts. 17 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 2: Usually that's where it is. 18 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 1: I suppose you could do that on some other platforms 19 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 1: as well, but primarily Apple Podcasts if you haven't already. 20 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 1: Just a quick rating and review and that will add 21 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: one dollar to the donation that I'll be making to 22 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 1: the players Alliance on behalf of Fish Stripes at the 23 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: end of the season. I came up with this idea 24 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: on Sunday night Monday, and I want to follow through 25 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: with it. The base donation. We're going to start with 26 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 1: twenty five dollars and just add on a dollar from 27 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 1: there from every single new rating and review that we 28 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: receive on the podcast between this week and the end 29 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: of the season. So why the Players Alliance. They are 30 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 1: in partnership with Major League Baseball. They are devoted to 31 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: creating opportunities for black people in baseball to play baseball 32 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 1: at the lowest levels, but also to work in baseball 33 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: at all the variety of jobs in and around the 34 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 1: game that historically have been very hard to get for 35 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: minorities and especially for African Americans. They're working towards doing that. 36 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: Every dollar counts, every rating and review counts. So you 37 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: can make your own donation to the Players Alliance if 38 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: you choose, but if you want to get involved in 39 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: our pool, you don't even have to actually dip into 40 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 1: your own account. 41 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:23,079 Speaker 2: Just that rating and review on our podcast. 42 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 1: That'd be greatly appreciated, and that would add one dollar 43 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 1: on top of what we're already committed to giving at 44 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 1: the end of the season. We're making that donation right 45 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: at the end of this Marlin season, almost certainly the 46 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: fact that they won't be in a postseason. We know 47 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:38,799 Speaker 1: the firm end date of that October third. That's when 48 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:42,359 Speaker 1: we'll count everything up and make that donation to help 49 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 1: create those opportunities. The base being twenty five dollars, that 50 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 1: is not a coincidence. It is an homage to Lewis 51 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 1: Brinson's uniform number number twenty five. We have to talk 52 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,360 Speaker 1: about Brinson again, and I'm sure we'll continue to talk 53 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:57,239 Speaker 1: about him quite a bit on pods for the rest 54 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:00,240 Speaker 1: of the season. Just laying down where we are with 55 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: him at the moments entering this weekend series, with about 56 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,520 Speaker 1: still over a quarter of the season to go, things 57 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:11,080 Speaker 1: change fast because Brinson has missed a big chunk of 58 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: the season on the injured list and at Triple A. 59 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:18,080 Speaker 1: But what he's been doing recently is absolutely astounding. It 60 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:20,920 Speaker 1: is far and away different from anything he had previously 61 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:24,079 Speaker 1: done at the major league level, and people are understandably excited. 62 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 1: I have a one article again, just one of probably 63 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 1: several articles I'll be writing about Brinston kind of analyzing 64 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: how this happens. You can find that at fish stripes 65 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: dot com. Specifically at fish stripes dot com slash analysis 66 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 1: about Brinson's improvement, especially against off speed stuff and secondary 67 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 1: stuff in breaking balls off speed and breaking balls at 68 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: the knees, Like he had this hole in his swing, 69 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: especially in twenty eighteen twenty nineteen, where he was among 70 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: the very worst hitters in baseball at secondary stuff thrown 71 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 1: low in the zone. So, and that's an important distinction 72 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: between the bottom of the zone and you know, outside 73 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 1: the zone, because those are pitches where like you can 74 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 1: be very fearless as an opponent to attack there knowing 75 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 1: that even if he doesn't swing at it, you'll probably 76 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 1: get a call a called strike in that situation. And 77 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 1: I feel that was really holding him back, that that 78 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: was the book on him, not only to just go 79 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: with non fastballs, but specifically those low in the zone. 80 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: Like Brinson, I don't think people realize it that he 81 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,839 Speaker 1: is six foot five. He is, even by MLB player standards, 82 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 1: a really tall guy, and I feel that may have 83 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:37,239 Speaker 1: had a factor and why he was having trouble reaching 84 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:39,279 Speaker 1: those pitches low in the zone as well as of 85 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 1: course you know the velocity differential between that and the fastball. 86 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: But there's been improvement on that and actually it dates 87 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 1: back to even the twenty twenty season where he had 88 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: some good moments during that season as well. And that's 89 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:53,160 Speaker 1: kind of the conclusion I'm at right now with him again, 90 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:55,919 Speaker 1: this could change that. This is kind of related to 91 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:58,359 Speaker 1: what he also showed last year in twenty twenty, that 92 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: this has been building for a little while well now 93 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 1: about him being just a more complete hitter. And so 94 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 1: that's one thing that stuck out for me, is that 95 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:10,839 Speaker 1: he's not performing even above league average on that secondary stuff. 96 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:13,840 Speaker 1: Ethanees some other things to go through with him, that 97 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: he's been solid against right handed pitching in general, and 98 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 1: you remember even last year when he had some good 99 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: signs that they were hiding him against sane handed pitching, 100 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:26,159 Speaker 1: he was in that platoon situation almost always playing against lefties. 101 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:29,039 Speaker 1: During this most recent stretch with the Marlins by default 102 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: because they have nobody else that's established in the outfields, 103 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:36,280 Speaker 1: he's been basically an everyday player, playing against both lefties 104 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: and rightys. 105 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 2: This year. His production against righties is it's good. 106 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: It's let's say his overall numbers I should probably get 107 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 1: to that. Again, these are going to change fast because 108 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 1: it's still a small sample size. But this year slashing 109 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 1: two eighty two, three, nineteen, five, nineteen overall, that's a 110 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:56,279 Speaker 1: slash line by far career highs in all those categories. 111 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: It's an OPS of eight thirty eight. It's a weighted 112 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 1: runs creator plus of one twenty seven. We love to 113 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 1: visit that stat because it's really easy, easy to digest. 114 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 1: One hundred is the league average hitter based on the 115 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 1: conditions you play in, the environment you play in the 116 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 1: league you play in, and one hundred is league average. 117 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 1: He is twenty seven percent better than a league average 118 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:19,599 Speaker 1: as a hitter this year, and so that's for the 119 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:21,839 Speaker 1: year overall. When he's been in the majors. You'll remember 120 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 1: he was struggling early on in his first few stints. 121 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 1: His most recent stint is just off the charts. 122 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:30,040 Speaker 2: Man. He is closing in on a two hundred. 123 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: WRC plus since he got called up shortly after the 124 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 1: All Star break. It's incredible, and it's it's there's precedent 125 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 1: for guys doing that and then fading away like this 126 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 1: on its own isn't proof of anything, but it is 127 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 1: highly highly encouraging and to get back to his performance 128 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 1: against right handed pitching, something that had been a huge 129 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: weakness for him for really his entire career up to 130 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: this point. He is above average against right handed pitching 131 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, and he has four of his 132 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,599 Speaker 1: seven home runs against righty's this season. He's striking out 133 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 1: less than a third of the time against righty's. It's 134 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: a very low bar to clear, but that is a 135 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 1: pretty substantial improvement over where he used to be against righty's. 136 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: He had some big moments against righty's on this most 137 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: recent road. 138 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 2: Trip as well. 139 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: That's really encouraging to see because, as I concluded in 140 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: this article, I don't think we can close the door 141 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 1: anymore on him potentially being an everyday outfielder at the 142 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: major league level, and a huge key to dead is 143 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 1: just being consistent against righty's and lefties. For the moment 144 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 1: he is doing that, he's also earning himself a bit 145 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 1: of money heading into next year. Next year is going 146 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 1: to be his first year of arbitration eligibility, and even 147 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 1: though there's still a lot of room for him to 148 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:52,559 Speaker 1: regress the rest of the season, and you know, spoiler alert, 149 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 1: I kind of think he will by a considerable amount. 150 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 1: That some of his counting stats are in the books, 151 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: the seven home runs that he has this year, the 152 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: forty something games that he's played, and the inevitability that 153 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 1: he's going to be playing virtually every day the rest 154 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 1: of the season as long as he's healthy again by default, 155 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 1: that's the reality based on the trades that the Marlins made, 156 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 1: that he'll be close to an everyday player the rest 157 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: of the year, even if he does dip off a 158 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 1: little bit. Counting stats are a big driver of your 159 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: earnings in arbitration, and this is going to be his 160 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: first year of eligibility where he entered this year with 161 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,080 Speaker 1: over two and a half years of service time, even 162 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 1: though he spent a big chunk of this year in 163 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 1: the miners. All he had to do is get close 164 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:38,600 Speaker 1: to three years of service time this year to qualify, 165 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:42,199 Speaker 1: and so he did. After for his career to this point, 166 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:45,319 Speaker 1: he's been earning right around the league minimum salary when 167 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 1: he's been in the big leagues. He is due for 168 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 1: a pretty substantial uptick. This is what you call the 169 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:53,560 Speaker 1: platform year for arbitration, where they weigh more heavily than 170 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,679 Speaker 1: his previous years. Which is very convenient because it's by 171 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:00,440 Speaker 1: far his best year in the big leagues. Someone that 172 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 1: is earning less than six hundred thousand annually so far 173 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 1: in his major league career, I would expect him to 174 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 1: triple that heading into next year. He could close in 175 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:15,319 Speaker 1: on again. It depends quite a bit on exactly how 176 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 1: he finishes this season, but I would not be surprised 177 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,560 Speaker 1: at all if he's a two million dollar player next year, 178 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 1: which I mean is still a very small risk from 179 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:27,200 Speaker 1: the team's perspective, which is why I think it's something 180 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 1: that's pretty easy to support as a fan, is that 181 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:34,680 Speaker 1: he's finally setting himself up to be more comfortable, regardless 182 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: of what happens the rest of his career, to finally 183 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: be collecting that seven digit, seven figure salary, and the 184 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 1: Marlins again, because of how low a risk it is 185 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 1: in the grand scheme of things, no matter what happens 186 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:49,960 Speaker 1: from here, I think you would expect them to pick 187 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 1: it up and see what happens. The final point I 188 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: wanted to touch on with Brentson for the moment is 189 00:09:57,520 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: this comparison that people are making between him and Yet 190 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 1: and from a lot of people, I imagine it's just 191 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: sarcastic and trash talk. 192 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 2: The fact that. 193 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: This particular year, Brinson's numbers overall are better than Yelich. 194 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:14,440 Speaker 1: So that is a bragging right that you do have 195 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 1: and that you could use ad nauseum if he wants that. 196 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: Brinson as an overall player in terms of wins above replacement, 197 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 1: he edges out Yelich this year despite having about half 198 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 1: as much playing time. So far, he is slugging way 199 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:32,560 Speaker 1: more than Yelich's to this point. He's getting more hits 200 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:36,679 Speaker 1: in general. And I think this is a little bit 201 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:39,839 Speaker 1: more subjective, but he is the better defensive player right 202 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: now than Yelich is as well. It's a really fun twist, 203 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 1: of course, but the fact that Yelich was one of 204 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:50,560 Speaker 1: the very best players in baseball in twenty eighteen in 205 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen, this is something we'll get into, I guess 206 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 1: later in September or the offseason. But if you really 207 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:02,200 Speaker 1: want to like trick yourself to be in a happy 208 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:05,079 Speaker 1: mood about all this, you could trick yourself into thinking 209 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 1: that Yelich, yeah, was incredible in twenty eighteen and twenty nineteen, 210 00:11:10,640 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: but because of the team around him, in the direction 211 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 1: that the team is heading in. There was just no 212 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 1: way that they would be a contending team even with 213 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:19,959 Speaker 1: him in the fold. You'd be able to appreciate his 214 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:24,680 Speaker 1: individual greatness without moving the franchise really anywhere in a 215 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:28,439 Speaker 1: beneficial direction. In fact, if you want to pinpoint twenty 216 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:31,320 Speaker 1: eighteen or Yelich of course won the most Valuable Player 217 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 1: award in the National League, that any contributions he made 218 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 1: this year would have driven the Marlins a little bit 219 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 1: further up the standings, drop them lower in the draft order, 220 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 1: and would not allowed them to do the brilliant work 221 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:47,319 Speaker 1: that they did in the subsequent draft. The twenty nineteen 222 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:49,959 Speaker 1: draft class, where in that class, off the top of 223 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 1: my head, I think five of those players are among 224 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 1: my top thirty prospects right now in the Marlins organization, 225 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 1: if not even higher than that, including JJ Blode, Peyton Burdick, 226 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 1: Cameron Meisner, Nasim Nunez overlooking someone was that Troy Johnston 227 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 1: draft as well. Yeah, I mean that was potentially a 228 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 1: transformative draft class for the Marlins, and it was helped 229 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:16,680 Speaker 1: by the fact that they were a really terrible team 230 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 1: in twenty eighteen because they traded Yellowchi, because they got 231 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 1: that Lewis Brentson contributed to the tank unfortunately during his 232 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 1: very disappointing rookie season. Overall, I just I can't get 233 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 1: in that mindset that trade was anything short of a disaster. 234 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:38,680 Speaker 1: That the Marlins had five years of club control over 235 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: yell At remaining on his contract when they made that trade, 236 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 1: and that simply by keeping him for those first couple 237 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:48,320 Speaker 1: of years, I don't know if they ever would have 238 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:51,200 Speaker 1: pulled the plug, But there is so much immense value, 239 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:55,080 Speaker 1: especially for this franchise, of having an awesome individual player 240 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: that actually has some longevity with the team, because that's 241 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:00,679 Speaker 1: been so rare in this franchise history. To me, no 242 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 1: matter what Brinson does from here, that's always going to 243 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 1: be a huge regret that they would take Yelich a 244 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 1: thousand times out of a thousand over whatever Brinson does 245 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:13,960 Speaker 1: from here. It is, that being said, going to be 246 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 1: a fascinating story to follow in Milwaukee if you care 247 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:21,200 Speaker 1: about that. With Yelich's his next extension, he signed that 248 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 1: monster deal with to make himself essentially a Brewer for 249 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 1: life not that long ago, and ever since that new 250 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 1: money kicked in, he has struggled a lot both on 251 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 1: the field and with his health, so you wonder if, yeah, 252 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 1: if his team in Milwaukee is ever going to break 253 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 1: through with him involved, and if he is in fact 254 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: kind of dragging them down a little bit just because 255 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 1: of all the money. 256 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:44,440 Speaker 2: That they committed to him. 257 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:46,960 Speaker 1: The main focus I wanted to get to on the 258 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 1: rest of this episode is the acting manager for the Marlins, 259 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 1: who's his ten years acting manager, I guess officially expires 260 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:57,840 Speaker 1: on Friday. James Rouson, ordinarily the bench coach and the 261 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:01,839 Speaker 1: offensive coordinator for the Marlins. In case you've been totally unplugged, 262 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 1: Don Mattingly has not been with the team for the 263 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:07,720 Speaker 1: previous two weeks. He tested positive for COVID. I guess, 264 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 1: if you want to get the order of events perfect, 265 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 1: he was exhibiting some symptoms of being sick, and they 266 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:17,080 Speaker 1: got him tested and those tests concluded that he did 267 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 1: have COVID. Even as a vaccinated individual. He was feeling 268 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: some symptoms. So that's a big cygh of relief that 269 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 1: he was vaccinated in the first place, because those symptoms 270 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 1: could have been even worse. But fortunately he was feeling 271 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 1: better within a matter of days, and then it was 272 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: just a matter of making sure that he was no 273 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 1: longer infectious and making sure he was fully recovered to 274 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: do his job, so he didn't go on that road 275 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 1: trip at all, awaiting the team as they come back 276 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 1: from San Diego and he'll take over again. For the 277 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:49,560 Speaker 1: CUB Series, Rowson had the opportunity to manage twelve games 278 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 1: for the Marlins against the Yankees, the Mets, the Rockies, 279 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 1: and the Padres. The Marlins went four to eight during 280 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 1: those games. Overall, it was not an inspiring stint for 281 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 1: the team. They were outscored by a bunch of runs, 282 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 1: especially mostly during that Rocky Series. 283 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 2: I actually think for. 284 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 1: Overall you'd be fairly satisfied with how they played in 285 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 1: those other against those other opponents. But that Rocky Series 286 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: was didn't really have any redeeming qualities to it whatsoever. 287 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 1: With Rouson, his hiring was pretty popular. They kind of 288 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 1: stole them away from the Twins by giving him a 289 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 1: half step promotion. You know, he was previously the hitting 290 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 1: coach in Minnesota, and he was someone that everybody thought 291 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 1: was very influential in turning the Twins into a great 292 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 1: offensive team in that role. So the Marlins hired him 293 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 1: into being the second in commands on the coaching staff 294 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 1: behind Mattingly as bench coach and offensive coordinator, and even 295 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:51,320 Speaker 1: in the middle of this stints, even prior to getting 296 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 1: to sit in the big seat, during these couple of weeks, 297 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 1: he's done little things that really make you take notice. 298 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:01,840 Speaker 1: And it's unsurprising that he is by many to be 299 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 1: a future major league manager in the very near future. 300 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 1: If I remember correctly, he did interview to be Twins 301 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 1: manager when they had that opening a few years ago. 302 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 1: And what was more widely reported is that this past 303 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 1: offseason he was one of the finalists in the Red 304 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 1: Sox managerial search. Now the Red Sox they had to 305 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: let go of Alex Cora for a year while he 306 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 1: was suspended by Major League Baseball, and they ultimately re 307 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 1: hired him. There's a difference of opinions in terms of 308 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 1: whether this was a real search or not, whether there 309 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 1: was ever going to be competition for Cora to regain 310 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:40,040 Speaker 1: himself in that position that he already had before that 311 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 1: suspension came down. Nonetheless, it's interesting that he got multiple 312 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 1: interviews there and that he pursued it. He and I 313 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 1: don't think there's any question that he's going to continue 314 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: to pursue jobs this offseason. He won't be managing the 315 00:16:56,080 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 1: Marlins in twenty twenty two, health permitting. Because you remember 316 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: Don Mattingly. Last month he had his mutual option picked 317 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:07,440 Speaker 1: up in his contract. That was a decision that I'm 318 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:09,959 Speaker 1: not surprised that they made, but it was still a 319 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 1: tough choice. Nonetheless, to fully commit to having Mattingly back 320 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 1: and staying in charge of this organization, which means that, yeah, 321 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:23,840 Speaker 1: it sends the message to Rouson that it's fully, fully 322 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:27,920 Speaker 1: reasonable for him to be seeing what else is out there. 323 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:30,680 Speaker 1: Yet again this coming off season, I want to play 324 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 1: a series of clips of him addressing the media. Even 325 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,399 Speaker 1: though he'd been around the team of course in twenty 326 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 1: twenty and through the first out of twenty twenty one, 327 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:43,400 Speaker 1: I'd say that he'd had more media availability these past 328 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 1: couple of weeks than he had in almost two years 329 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 1: as there in his other regular role. Some of that 330 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 1: is just because the team at one time you choose 331 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:57,480 Speaker 1: the manager as your main spokesperson. As much as people 332 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:00,400 Speaker 1: respect Rowson and want to hear his insight on things, 333 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:02,840 Speaker 1: you don't want to say anything that might contradict what 334 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:07,080 Speaker 1: the regular manager says on certain topics. So I'm going 335 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:09,160 Speaker 1: to play you just a series of comments that he made. 336 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:11,200 Speaker 1: Maybe you were able to catch them on the pregame, 337 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:13,600 Speaker 1: in postgame shows and on social media, but if not, 338 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 1: I think this is a great insight into why people 339 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 1: feel so highly about Rouson as a leader, as a friends, 340 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:25,720 Speaker 1: and as against somebody that could be on the verge 341 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:26,920 Speaker 1: of a promotion. 342 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:31,680 Speaker 3: I've been blessed to be in this in this industry 343 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:34,240 Speaker 3: long enough to know that you don't know when it's 344 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 3: going to click. You look at the player, you look 345 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 3: at their work ethic, you look how they get after it. 346 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:41,439 Speaker 3: There's a lot of things you have to measure, how 347 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 3: guys deal with failure, how they're able to be persistent 348 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:47,360 Speaker 3: and come back. I mean, this game is a tough game, 349 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 3: and you're judged very early for sample sizes of work, 350 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:54,720 Speaker 3: and you know it happens to a lot of players, 351 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 3: and obviously it happened a lot, but you know it's 352 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 3: a credit to him. Like I said that, the player 353 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 3: has kind of battle through it all. He's been resilient 354 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:04,640 Speaker 3: through it all. He's never quit on himself, he's never 355 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 3: quit on his ability. 356 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:06,679 Speaker 4: He believes in himself. 357 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,159 Speaker 3: He keeps working and then all of a sudden, you 358 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 3: get success from that player. And that's why I say 359 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 3: the player deserves it all because they go through. So 360 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 3: it's such a tough battle to get there and to 361 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:19,440 Speaker 3: be successful in this league, and you have to keep going. 362 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 3: You know, he's in a great spot right now, but 363 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 3: like I said, his confidence is building. He's going to 364 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 3: continue to go because the legal try to make adjustments 365 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:27,840 Speaker 3: and then you have to make adjustments. 366 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 4: Again. It's a never ending battle. 367 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 3: But there's nothing like once you get to that hunt 368 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:34,159 Speaker 3: that you know you can do it at this level 369 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 3: and you have the confidence to know you can succeed. 370 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:38,920 Speaker 3: And I think he's at that point. He believes in himself, 371 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:41,399 Speaker 3: he believes in his work ethic, and you never know 372 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 3: what's going to click. But it's nice to see a 373 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:45,160 Speaker 3: click for this player right now for everything he's done 374 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:47,480 Speaker 3: and all the work he's put it on. We don't 375 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:50,360 Speaker 3: make excuses, We never make excuses, but we do examine 376 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:52,920 Speaker 3: the process. And you know, if you continue to get 377 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 3: those that type of soft contact at different times and 378 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:57,879 Speaker 3: make those pitches and stay away from some wamps or 379 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:00,199 Speaker 3: some tough pitches at times, he's going to continue to 380 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 3: have success here. Some of these guys are really starting 381 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:06,119 Speaker 3: to get comfortable up there, starting to get comfortable with 382 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 3: getting regular at bats, and you're starting to see more 383 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 3: quality of bats come through. 384 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:12,800 Speaker 4: You know, we can't. We would love to get hits 385 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:13,200 Speaker 4: every time. 386 00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:15,639 Speaker 3: You can't get hits every time, you know, but you 387 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 3: can't judge the quality of your plate of parents. 388 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:19,920 Speaker 4: Am I swinging at the stripes? Taking the balls? When 389 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 4: I chase the pitch? 390 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 3: Do I make an adjustment lay off that pitch the 391 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:24,160 Speaker 3: next time to get a better pitch? 392 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:26,919 Speaker 4: I mean, there's so many things that you use to judge. 393 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 3: At bats, and I feel like our players are getting 394 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:31,400 Speaker 3: a lot better as time goes on. Like I said, 395 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 3: you'd love for these to come together kind of like 396 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 3: they did in that beginning we had and. 397 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:37,919 Speaker 4: You to see it more often. But you know, you 398 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:38,919 Speaker 4: keep seeing the steps. 399 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 3: I mean, the one thing you have to do is 400 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 3: ask yourself to keep moving forward and keep seeing the steps. 401 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:45,439 Speaker 3: And I feel like our guys are doing that, and 402 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:47,120 Speaker 3: we just have to keep going and hopefully the love 403 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 3: turns around. 404 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:50,400 Speaker 4: And I think the key to hitting in a place 405 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:52,280 Speaker 4: like this is trying to. 406 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:54,080 Speaker 3: Keep your same approach, trying not to do too much, 407 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 3: try to still stay you know, short and quick to 408 00:20:56,760 --> 00:20:58,400 Speaker 3: the ball, try and drive the ball in the line 409 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:00,199 Speaker 3: with backspin. Try to do the things that are going 410 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:03,280 Speaker 3: to be conducive to whatever ballpark to play in, because 411 00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:05,199 Speaker 3: you can't have the tendency of getting a little bit 412 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:07,000 Speaker 3: too big, maybe at this ballpark, and trying to do 413 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:08,879 Speaker 3: too much where it could potentially work against you. 414 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:12,320 Speaker 4: So what a couple of great sins by Trey. 415 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:14,200 Speaker 3: And you know, those sins change the game, I mean 416 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:17,679 Speaker 3: we're safe, change the score, change the outlook, changes how 417 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:20,160 Speaker 3: you're doing everything with the bullpend. There's so many things 418 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:21,880 Speaker 3: that go into you know, getting the lead and doing 419 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:25,120 Speaker 3: things so you know him, you know, making those great 420 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:27,640 Speaker 3: sins and doing his homework and being prepared and being 421 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:28,920 Speaker 3: able to read those plays. 422 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 4: You know, it's just as every bit is important to us. 423 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 3: Being able to get those those victories and win that 424 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:36,399 Speaker 3: series in New York is anything else we did. My 425 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 3: goal is to keep them focused, keep them playing hard, 426 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:42,439 Speaker 3: keep them energetic, keep guys going. I feel like this 427 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:44,200 Speaker 3: team is at a great job of doing that over 428 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 3: this time, you know, regardless of the win loss record. 429 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 4: I mean I look at the process. 430 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:50,399 Speaker 3: I tell you that all the time on the hitting 431 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 3: side of it. I look at it in every aspect 432 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:54,880 Speaker 3: of the game. I believe you can only judge yourself 433 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:58,480 Speaker 3: on the effort you put forward, the preparation that goes 434 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:01,200 Speaker 3: into it, and if you can leave every night and say, 435 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 3: you know what I prepared myself, I went up there, 436 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 3: I gave I had a good at batch, or I 437 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:07,120 Speaker 3: had a good outing or whatever. I made the right 438 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 3: pitch at the right time. I mean, you have to 439 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 3: judge the process and at the end of the day 440 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 3: you hope that that produces the results. So what I 441 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:15,960 Speaker 3: would say is like, I feel good about my time 442 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:18,879 Speaker 3: doing this that I feel like our guys have played 443 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:20,960 Speaker 3: hard and have gone about their business the right way. 444 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 4: So I'm proud of that. 445 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 1: Again, it's my interpretation that he's not a shy individual. 446 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:33,199 Speaker 1: It's just again about having a consistent messenger on the 447 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:37,000 Speaker 1: coaching staff for any major league team. While Maddingly is 448 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:41,120 Speaker 1: on duty, you just don't get many opportunities to hear 449 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:44,040 Speaker 1: from rous and at least things not anything really on 450 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:47,160 Speaker 1: the record like that that gives you a good idea 451 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 1: for his personality, for his ability to analyze the game. 452 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 1: He is somebody that did play for several years in 453 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 1: the minor leagues, but not to the same prowess, of course, 454 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:02,160 Speaker 1: that Maddingly had, so it's a different perspective. But he's 455 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:05,440 Speaker 1: been in coaching pretty much since his playing career ended, 456 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 1: so for almost two decades now he has been in 457 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 1: the coaching ranks, in the development ranks. Even though he's 458 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:18,359 Speaker 1: relatively young by MLB managerial standards, he is rapidly moving 459 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:21,359 Speaker 1: towards the front of the line for someone that deserves 460 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:25,919 Speaker 1: that opportunity. With the extension of Mattingley's deal by an 461 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:29,200 Speaker 1: extra year, I think it's guaranteed that he'll be interviewing 462 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 1: for other jobs that are open around baseball at this time. 463 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:36,880 Speaker 1: I wanted to run through some of them that could 464 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 1: be open. It's a weird year where there isn't guaranteed 465 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:44,200 Speaker 1: to be a whole lot of turnover this year by 466 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:47,800 Speaker 1: usual baseball standards. The two that really stick out are 467 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:50,800 Speaker 1: the Diamondbacks and the Rockies. The Diamondbacks have the worst 468 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 1: record in the majors. They've just every single way this 469 00:23:55,080 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 1: season has been agonizing for them, losing even more games 470 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:02,800 Speaker 1: than they should in close and tight situations, but of 471 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:05,760 Speaker 1: course depleted by injuries, yet despite all that, they have 472 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 1: a pretty strong farm system and they're not all that 473 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:13,440 Speaker 1: far removed from like being a competitive team. So they 474 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:16,280 Speaker 1: have Tory Lavello as their manager for I think this 475 00:24:16,359 --> 00:24:18,439 Speaker 1: is his fifth year now, but he doesn't have a 476 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:22,159 Speaker 1: contract beyond this season, so I think there's a pretty 477 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:24,400 Speaker 1: good chance at that job is open up. The one 478 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:27,720 Speaker 1: that's probably more guaranteed to be open is the Rockies job. 479 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:32,600 Speaker 1: The Rockies despite kicking some Marlins but a few days ago, 480 00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:35,800 Speaker 1: they're having a very mediocre season. They're on the verge 481 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:37,960 Speaker 1: of having a front office shakeup. They have yet to 482 00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:43,000 Speaker 1: find their next long term general manager, but that search 483 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:45,919 Speaker 1: will happen after the season. It's pretty frequent that the 484 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:49,960 Speaker 1: new front office brings in a new field general as well. 485 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:53,600 Speaker 1: Bud Black has been there for a while and they 486 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:55,879 Speaker 1: haven't been good either of the last couple of years. 487 00:24:56,160 --> 00:24:58,320 Speaker 1: I think he has one more year left on his contract. 488 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:03,679 Speaker 1: But it's pretty run of course for new front offices 489 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:05,919 Speaker 1: to be willing to part with those guys even with 490 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:08,920 Speaker 1: a year remaining, and being willing to you know, pay 491 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:11,760 Speaker 1: them even that salary that's still owed to them. So 492 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 1: that's the one that is highly highly likely to be 493 00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:19,480 Speaker 1: available with the Rockies. Some others that are more up 494 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:22,560 Speaker 1: in the air could be Cleveland. They'll be blowing their 495 00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:25,960 Speaker 1: first season as the Cleveland Guardians, and Terry Francona has 496 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:28,360 Speaker 1: stepped away dealing with some health issues which have been 497 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 1: on and off for him in recent years. He's going 498 00:25:32,119 --> 00:25:34,080 Speaker 1: to have that job as long as he's physically able 499 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:37,040 Speaker 1: to do it, But if he's not physically able to 500 00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:40,680 Speaker 1: do it, that's one that certainly could be open, and 501 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:44,160 Speaker 1: that team has been From a competitive standpoint, I think 502 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 1: that's a more appetizing job than the Diamondbacks for the Rockies, 503 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:50,480 Speaker 1: depending on what your perspective is. The Rangers are having 504 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:54,159 Speaker 1: a pretty yucky year and they're near the bottom floor 505 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 1: of a rebuild, but they have a brand new ballpark. 506 00:25:57,720 --> 00:26:00,280 Speaker 2: They have perhaps more than any of those other teams. 507 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:03,320 Speaker 1: They have the potential to have a huge payroll and 508 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:07,919 Speaker 1: actually contend for championships if they're in a position to 509 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:10,439 Speaker 1: do so. They're not in that position yet, So I 510 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:13,240 Speaker 1: wonder what the status of Chris Woodward is this year 511 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:15,960 Speaker 1: now that the team has kind of slid backwards even 512 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 1: compared to where they thought they were last year. In 513 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:22,520 Speaker 1: the year before and some really wild card possibilities. How 514 00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 1: about the White Sox and the Astros. They have the 515 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:27,120 Speaker 1: two oldest managers in baseball, the White Sox with Tony 516 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:30,760 Speaker 1: Lvarussa and the Astros with Dusty Baker. I wonder if 517 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:32,880 Speaker 1: either of those teams win the World Series this year, 518 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:35,640 Speaker 1: could those guys just decide to go out on top, 519 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:38,480 Speaker 1: to walk off into the subset sunset as a champion. 520 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:41,800 Speaker 1: I feel like with Dusty Baker that's a really likely 521 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:46,480 Speaker 1: possibility because Dusty has been so close so many times 522 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:49,320 Speaker 1: to being a champion and never quite got over the hump. 523 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:52,880 Speaker 1: With LaRussa, this is only his first year back from 524 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:56,720 Speaker 1: what people thought was the retirement from managing, so with him, 525 00:26:56,760 --> 00:26:59,119 Speaker 1: I think it's less likely that he would just dip 526 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:00,640 Speaker 1: after be one and done. 527 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:03,879 Speaker 2: With the White Sox, I'm just throwing it out there. 528 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 1: Because there really aren't a whole lot of obvious openings 529 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:10,720 Speaker 1: as there would normally be when we're evaluating these things 530 00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:13,680 Speaker 1: like three quarters of the way through the season usually. 531 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:17,400 Speaker 1: Of course, a factor that dictates this is how these 532 00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:20,960 Speaker 1: playoff races play out in late September, and also the 533 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:24,440 Speaker 1: nature of certain playoff exits. You could see some pretty 534 00:27:24,520 --> 00:27:29,800 Speaker 1: reactionary decisions to make changes if a certain team flames 535 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:33,320 Speaker 1: out in the playoffs and embarrassing faction. So that's certainly 536 00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:35,879 Speaker 1: a possibility as well. There'll be a clear picture of 537 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:37,240 Speaker 1: this once it gets to the end of the season. 538 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:40,000 Speaker 1: I just felt it was worth mentioning now because this 539 00:27:40,040 --> 00:27:42,080 Speaker 1: is probably the only time that James Rouson is going 540 00:27:42,119 --> 00:27:43,720 Speaker 1: to come up on the podcast between now and the 541 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:47,520 Speaker 1: end of the regular season. As highly as he's regarded 542 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 1: and as interesting as he is, he's just he fades 543 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:54,199 Speaker 1: into the backgrounds when he's not managing the team on 544 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:57,520 Speaker 1: a daily basis, and fingers crossed everything goes fine with 545 00:27:57,560 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 1: Mattingly the rest of the season, so he'll kind of 546 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:01,760 Speaker 1: face into the background. But I wanted to flow up 547 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:06,359 Speaker 1: that possibility of what could happen for him next. It's 548 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:09,719 Speaker 1: always difficult to kind of anticipate when you get that 549 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:13,080 Speaker 1: first crack at being a manager, even though as an 550 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:15,880 Speaker 1: industry it's trending younger and younger to less and less 551 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:18,800 Speaker 1: prior experience. I don't think that's going to be a 552 00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:21,440 Speaker 1: disadvantage for him at all that he hasn't managed before. 553 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:25,000 Speaker 1: But I don't want to make everything about race, just 554 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 1: noting the pretty obvious observation that there's hardly any black 555 00:28:30,359 --> 00:28:35,120 Speaker 1: representation among MLB managers right now. There's Dusty Baker, and 556 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:39,040 Speaker 1: I'll have to double check this once we're finished recording 557 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:43,200 Speaker 1: as to whether there are any other MLB managers right 558 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 1: now anywhere. 559 00:28:44,360 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 2: In the league. 560 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:48,800 Speaker 1: It's been a big problem with a representation, and there's 561 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:51,800 Speaker 1: a lot of factors that go into it. But Ralston 562 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:55,080 Speaker 1: is someone that is considered by many in the industry 563 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:57,400 Speaker 1: as somebody that is ready for that opportunity. It doesn't 564 00:28:57,440 --> 00:28:59,960 Speaker 1: mean that he's going to get that opportunity for some reason, 565 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:03,080 Speaker 1: since I could go beyond his control. At the very least, 566 00:29:03,120 --> 00:29:05,880 Speaker 1: I assure you that he'll be interviewing for those jobs again. 567 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 1: Maybe the Marlins can get their cake and eat it too. 568 00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:12,080 Speaker 1: I am on the record as predicting that Rowson would 569 00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:14,240 Speaker 1: be the next manager of the Marlins. He would be 570 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:18,320 Speaker 1: Maddenly's successor, and Maddenly threw a curveball into that by 571 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:21,520 Speaker 1: winning an l Manager of the Year in twenty twenty 572 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:25,040 Speaker 1: for leading the team to the playoffs through their COVID issues. 573 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:25,680 Speaker 2: They could not. 574 00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:29,520 Speaker 1: If they wanted to, They couldn't say goodbye to him 575 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:33,640 Speaker 1: right then, And I think that performance alone made it 576 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:37,040 Speaker 1: always very very likely that that twenty twenty two option 577 00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:39,360 Speaker 1: was going to get picked up. It's a big deal 578 00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:41,520 Speaker 1: the work that he did, and he did do a 579 00:29:41,560 --> 00:29:46,640 Speaker 1: genuinely great job, regardless of any of the other flukiness 580 00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:49,720 Speaker 1: that may have gone into that season. It is a 581 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 1: very open question whether he'll be here beyond twenty twenty two. 582 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:56,400 Speaker 1: There are We'll be hammering this point home in the 583 00:29:56,440 --> 00:29:59,680 Speaker 1: coming months. Is how high the expectations will be heading 584 00:29:59,680 --> 00:30:02,520 Speaker 1: into next year. How much pressure I should say, is 585 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:05,600 Speaker 1: going to be on everybody involved and Matting Lee almost 586 00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:08,120 Speaker 1: as much as the players, to take a considerable step 587 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:11,880 Speaker 1: forward next year. You can't really sugarcoat what's happened this year. 588 00:30:11,920 --> 00:30:14,920 Speaker 1: The Marlins have been done really poorly in close games 589 00:30:14,920 --> 00:30:18,640 Speaker 1: this year. They have twenty three losses in one run games. 590 00:30:18,960 --> 00:30:22,400 Speaker 1: They have underperformed their run differential by a considerable margin 591 00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:27,640 Speaker 1: by eight games. There are eight games worse than their Pythagorean. 592 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:28,200 Speaker 2: Record this year. 593 00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:30,840 Speaker 1: The Pythagorean record says they should be hovering near five 594 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:33,360 Speaker 1: hundred right now, which would still have them very much 595 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 1: alive in a postseason push for the NL. East title instead, 596 00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:42,000 Speaker 1: they are totally out of it. And I don't think 597 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:46,680 Speaker 1: Mattingly is totally absolved of blame with how he's managed 598 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:49,240 Speaker 1: the bullpen, the lack of urgency and putting together certain 599 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:54,240 Speaker 1: lineups and resting players strategically. Like there have been plenty 600 00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:58,200 Speaker 1: of stuff to second guests about him. The team absolutely, 601 00:30:58,360 --> 00:30:59,760 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, needs to win more 602 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:02,640 Speaker 1: games teams in twenty twenty two for it to even 603 00:31:02,920 --> 00:31:06,640 Speaker 1: be a possibility that, you know, he continues to stick 604 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:11,200 Speaker 1: around beyond that season. So if Rouson does get shut 605 00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:14,880 Speaker 1: out of those interviews with other teams, and if unfortunately 606 00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:18,160 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty two season isn't a big step forward 607 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:22,200 Speaker 1: like the Marlins are aiming for, or maybe Maddenly decides 608 00:31:22,720 --> 00:31:25,760 Speaker 1: that to transition to a different role at that time. 609 00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:28,080 Speaker 1: I don't think he's going to retire this yet. He 610 00:31:28,160 --> 00:31:31,280 Speaker 1: still has plenty of juice left in him to contribute 611 00:31:31,320 --> 00:31:34,200 Speaker 1: to this game. But maybe Maddenly does reach a decision 612 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:36,640 Speaker 1: or come to a mutual decision with you know, some 613 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:39,680 Speaker 1: pressure from the team to transition into a different role, 614 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:43,320 Speaker 1: and then Rouson takes over beginning in twenty twenty three, 615 00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:47,880 Speaker 1: that's certainly a possibility too, but this is a good 616 00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:50,000 Speaker 1: problem to have to have somebody that he feels capable 617 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:52,680 Speaker 1: of doing the job and is kind of blocked from 618 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:54,400 Speaker 1: reaching that level. It's the same thing we talk about 619 00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:58,280 Speaker 1: with players of having really qualified depth in your organization 620 00:31:58,360 --> 00:32:01,120 Speaker 1: at different positions. This is really no different that they 621 00:32:01,160 --> 00:32:03,960 Speaker 1: have roused in kind of waiting in the wings if 622 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:07,560 Speaker 1: and when that opportunity presents itself. So thank you guys 623 00:32:07,560 --> 00:32:10,560 Speaker 1: again for listening. Another reminder that if you haven't already 624 00:32:10,640 --> 00:32:13,600 Speaker 1: rated and in review the Fish Stripes podcast on Apple, 625 00:32:13,960 --> 00:32:16,200 Speaker 1: take a second to do so, and we'll add an 626 00:32:16,200 --> 00:32:21,040 Speaker 1: extra dollar to our building donation to the Player's Alliance 627 00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:24,840 Speaker 1: to create more opportunities for black people in baseball. It 628 00:32:24,840 --> 00:32:26,880 Speaker 1: takes just a moment to leave that rating and review. 629 00:32:27,280 --> 00:32:30,040 Speaker 1: We hope you do, so, we hope you tune into 630 00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:33,320 Speaker 1: all of our content on fish Stripes are continued bri 631 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:36,680 Speaker 1: Insanity coverage on the pod and on Fishtripes dot Com. 632 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:41,040 Speaker 2: Are live streams as well that prior to every series. 633 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:42,000 Speaker 2: We're going to keep them going. 634 00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:43,840 Speaker 1: The audience has been great for those live streams, the 635 00:32:43,840 --> 00:32:46,360 Speaker 1: participation has been great, so we're gonna keep it up 636 00:32:46,360 --> 00:32:48,560 Speaker 1: through the rest of the season, and we have a 637 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:51,760 Speaker 1: new presenting sponsor of Fish Stripes Live as well, three 638 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:55,120 Speaker 1: zero five Candles. You've seen them collaborate with us already 639 00:32:55,520 --> 00:32:58,400 Speaker 1: in some other avenues, including the fish Picks contest. We're 640 00:32:58,440 --> 00:33:02,080 Speaker 1: keeping the fish Picks contest going. Use our discount code 641 00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:04,880 Speaker 1: fish Stripes All one word to get ten percent off 642 00:33:04,920 --> 00:33:07,880 Speaker 1: your order on three oh five Candles as well. We 643 00:33:07,960 --> 00:33:11,040 Speaker 1: appreciate them supporting us and we appreciate the sport that 644 00:33:11,080 --> 00:33:14,200 Speaker 1: you give us. In falling along with all of our 645 00:33:14,240 --> 00:33:17,600 Speaker 1: content here on fish Stripes, should be a fun weekends 646 00:33:17,680 --> 00:33:20,000 Speaker 1: coming up for the Marlins against the Cubs. I'm pretty 647 00:33:20,040 --> 00:33:24,200 Speaker 1: optimistic that they're gonna play well against a really undermatched 648 00:33:24,200 --> 00:33:27,840 Speaker 1: opponent at this moment, so we'll more about that on 649 00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:31,280 Speaker 1: Friday Small Pod in our series preview article on Fish Stripes, 650 00:33:31,280 --> 00:33:33,280 Speaker 1: and of course on the live stream that's counting down 651 00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:36,400 Speaker 1: to first pitch of the opener of a brand new 652 00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:38,800 Speaker 1: homestands at Lone Depot Park. 653 00:33:39,280 --> 00:33:57,680 Speaker 2: As always, go fish