1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,000 Speaker 1: It was time for Bryce to hang up his fleets. 2 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:04,560 Speaker 2: The last time he played, I mean, the last team 3 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 2: he played for should be to pash to be he 4 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 2: should be the Philadelphia Phillies. 5 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 3: Guys, we're super excited to be here today. This is 6 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:16,440 Speaker 3: our first live show with Ruben Oamar Junior, the Venerable 7 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:21,600 Speaker 3: Rubenamar Junior, but the esteemed Jim Salisbury and of course 8 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 3: our very special guests, Phillies managing partner John Middleton. John 9 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 3: is part of our Citizens Conversation today and John, thank 10 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 3: you so much for joining us. 11 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 1: We know you are a busy. 12 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:36,559 Speaker 3: Man, so thank you for taking the time to talk 13 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 3: to do it. So, John, we you know the team 14 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 3: is off to a four and one start, And Jim 15 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 3: and I talked to you. I think it was the 16 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 3: first day of spring training in Clearwater, and you were 17 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 3: very optimistic, confident about the team going into the season, 18 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 3: of course and desert understandably. So what have you seen 19 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 3: from these first five games that maybe has you kind 20 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 3: of reinforcing those beliefs about this team and where could 21 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 3: potentially go in the next several months. 22 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 2: So I think the first thing, it says the pitching 23 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 2: has generally been what's we advertised it to be. 24 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: I think the starting rotation is tremendous. It as the ability. 25 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 2: I think it will prove to be the best rotation 26 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 2: in all of baseball by the end of the season. 27 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:27,040 Speaker 2: I think it's going to, frankly be interested in Ruben's opinion, 28 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 2: it's going to get close to the eleven team. I mean, 29 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:33,479 Speaker 2: it's really hard at the top of the eleven rotation 30 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 2: when you look at Holiday and Lee and Hammels to 31 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 2: equal that. Certainly, Zach can be as good as any 32 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 2: picture we've ever had, But the bottom of our rotation, 33 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 2: I think is going to be materially better than the 34 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 2: bottom of the eleven rotation. So you put the five 35 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 2: guys together on both rotations, mix them up, and I 36 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 2: think I think at the end of twenty twenty five 37 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 2: is going to look an awful lot like twenty eleven. 38 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:03,559 Speaker 2: And that's about considering Andrew Paynter coming up in July 39 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 2: ish whatever that is, and other you know, other things. 40 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 2: So you know, we don't even obviously have Ranger back yet. 41 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:16,920 Speaker 2: I think the bullpen's generally been strong. The hitters have 42 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 2: been good. They haven't you know, they're not going three 43 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 2: for five or two for five every single game, but 44 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:27,799 Speaker 2: they find a way and come together. It's been tended 45 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 2: to be towards the end of the game obviously against 46 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,519 Speaker 2: the relief pitching. They really pummel it and they and 47 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 2: they can string together runs and hits really well. And frankly, 48 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 2: I love kind of the small ball aspects of last 49 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:44,679 Speaker 2: night's game. I love I loved Rojas's two bunts. I 50 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 2: love the way Kyle came home on that play. I 51 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 2: just think, really heads up plays and new new things, 52 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 2: and you need to be able to do that over 53 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 2: of course of one hundred and well if you want 54 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 2: to go to the postseason, win one hundred and seventy 55 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 2: five games, or in order to win in the postseason. 56 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:03,800 Speaker 1: So I was curious. 57 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:05,640 Speaker 4: You know a lot of people talked about, you know, 58 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:07,639 Speaker 4: making big changes during the offseason. 59 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:09,679 Speaker 1: There were some changes made. 60 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 4: How do you speak to that and how do you 61 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 4: feel about some of the thing moves that Dave Dombrowski 62 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 4: has made so far? 63 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 2: So, you know, I start with the fact I talk 64 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:20,960 Speaker 2: to people all the time about Dave. I mean, I've 65 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:23,679 Speaker 2: had the privilege of working for now twenty years with 66 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:27,079 Speaker 2: Pat Killer, who is a legitimate Hall of famer who's 67 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 2: done things that very few people in the Hall of 68 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:31,520 Speaker 2: Fame have done. And if you look at Dave's career, 69 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 2: he matches Pack almost They both have won World Series 70 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 2: titles with two different franchises. Dave's only won two, Pats 71 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 2: won three, But Dave has taken four different teams to 72 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 2: the World Series. He's the only GM in the history 73 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 2: of baseball who's ever taken more than two different teams 74 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 2: to the World Series. And that tells you a lot 75 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 2: about who Dave Dobroski is. And so I don't get 76 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 2: in the way of Dave Dombrowski tells. What that tells 77 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 2: me is that guy knows has probably forgotten more this 78 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 2: morning about technical baseball and evaluation of baseball talent than 79 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 2: I'll ever know in my life. So I my job 80 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 2: is to encourage Dave to give to kind of knock 81 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 2: down the obstacles for him and basically get him the 82 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 2: money that he needs to put the team on the 83 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 2: field that he wants to put on the field. And so, 84 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 2: you know, I always thought, you know, he's got a 85 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:27,040 Speaker 2: great eye. He's got his staff is Keyton tenants have 86 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:30,039 Speaker 2: great eyes too. For talent, Uh for a you know 87 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,160 Speaker 2: the medical staff is. I think we're as good as anybody. 88 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:35,480 Speaker 2: You look at the pitching rotation of the last four 89 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 2: or five years and how good these guys are and 90 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 2: how healthy they've been. So when they start evaluating people 91 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 2: like Romano and Kepler for you know, how they're going 92 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:48,480 Speaker 2: to perform this year, I have a lot of confidence 93 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 2: in them. 94 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: I mean you go all the way back to Zach 95 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 1: when he came to us. 96 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 2: He he came to us with, you know, an injury history, 97 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:56,600 Speaker 2: and we looked at him and said, now, this guy 98 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:00,039 Speaker 2: is absolutely fine. So I think they I have a 99 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 2: a lot of confidence to day, and just to date, 100 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:06,159 Speaker 2: his decisions have proven to be really good ones, no doubt. 101 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 5: John Todd mentioned we spoke to you back in spring 102 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 5: training first day of pitches and catches, in fact, I 103 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 5: think it was YEP, and I asked you, knowing how 104 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 5: competitive you are and how much you've wanted and how 105 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:23,280 Speaker 5: intense you are defensive post season three years in a row, 106 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 5: I haven't gotten there. I asked you that today, what 107 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 5: is going to be your message to this ball club 108 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 5: when you address the open spring training? 109 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:33,840 Speaker 1: You said, I'm going to keep that for myself. Are 110 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: you at liberty now to say what that message. 111 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:39,839 Speaker 2: Does, well, yeah, probably about forty eight hours later, because 112 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 2: once I addressed the team, it's kind of more or 113 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 2: less out there. So I had really two themes this year, 114 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:48,159 Speaker 2: which I think are important anyway, but coming on the 115 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 2: heels of last seasons postseason, you know, which was really 116 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 2: a tough loss to take. I talked about the need 117 00:05:56,360 --> 00:06:02,480 Speaker 2: to be adaptable and accountable, and I used my conversation 118 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 2: I had with Roy Holliday's father out in Colorado in 119 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:07,279 Speaker 2: twenty ten. 120 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 1: I was sitting next to him. Roy was pitching. 121 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 2: Roy was kind of doing what he always does when 122 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:14,720 Speaker 2: he's pitching well, which is mowing people down. About the 123 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 2: seventh inning, I looked at his father and I said, 124 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:21,280 Speaker 2: I understand you were Roy's first pitching coach. And said yeah, 125 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 2: And I said, so, how many of his five pitches 126 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 2: did you teach you? 127 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 1: And he goes none? He said, what do you mean none? 128 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 1: He goes none? 129 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:29,840 Speaker 2: I said, not even his fastball. He is now not 130 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 2: even his fastball. So you may remember Roy came up 131 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 2: struggled and the Blue Jays sent him down to the 132 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 2: low levels of minders like triple a single a ball, 133 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:43,279 Speaker 2: and Roy thought his career was over and almost walked away, 134 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 2: but he said he stuck with it, and he decided 135 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:48,839 Speaker 2: he needed to learn five new pitches if he were 136 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 2: going to make it. So he jettisoned all five of 137 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 2: the pitches he had learned new five new pitches and 138 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 2: came up and I said, so he's using those pictures. 139 00:06:58,640 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 1: No, So what do you mean No? 140 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 2: He said, well, you know, seven or eight years in, 141 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 2: he thinking he's getting a little too predictable. 142 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 1: So he's learned five new pitches. 143 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 2: And he said, look, sometimes it's as simple as moving 144 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 2: from one side of the rubber to the next. Sometimes 145 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 2: it's a matter of a slight change in a grip 146 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:16,760 Speaker 2: on maybe you know, curveball or. 147 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: Something like that. 148 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 2: But the point was that this guy was constantly reinventing himself. 149 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 2: As good as he was, he constantly was reinventing himself 150 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 2: because he saw the need to do that. 151 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 1: So about two weeks later. 152 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 2: I'm sitting in the stands here talking to Mike Schmidt 153 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 2: telling him that story. I said, Mike, does it make 154 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 2: sense that a guy could have fifteen pitches over the 155 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 2: course of his professional career. 156 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: Mike just looks at. 157 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 2: Me and he goes, well, yeah, because I had three 158 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 2: different swings in my career. And he said, in point 159 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 2: of fact, I not only had three swings, John, but 160 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 2: in the middle of each of those swings, that made 161 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 2: such a major adjustment that people could actually look at 162 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 2: me and say, you had six different swings over your career, 163 00:07:57,360 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 2: but I consider it three, each one having a major 164 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 2: mid mid course correction. 165 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 1: And so that was the message to the team that 166 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 1: And the. 167 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 2: Point I said is it's not that they're Hall of 168 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 2: Famer so they have the ability to do that. I said, 169 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 2: they're in the Hall of Fame because they did that. 170 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 2: I mean they saw the need to change. They saw 171 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 2: the need to continue to push themselves to learn something new, 172 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 2: to be better. And and I think that was an 173 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 2: important message. And I think that thing is you have 174 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 2: to be accountable. It's accountable to yourself, accountable to your teammates, 175 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 2: accountable to your managers and your staff the front office, 176 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:32,680 Speaker 2: to the fans. 177 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:36,559 Speaker 1: I mean, you really have to be pushing yourself. 178 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 5: Uh. 179 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 2: And and you know, we have a I think a 180 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 2: really terrific staff, you know, beginning with Rob obviously, but 181 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 2: all through these guys are are great and they're here 182 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 2: to help the players. I think when the players accept 183 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:53,960 Speaker 2: the help, I think they get better. And I think 184 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 2: there's plenty of op You know, you can look at 185 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:59,680 Speaker 2: plenty of pitchers or plenty of position players who have 186 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 2: learned from Kevin and Caleb about how to get a 187 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,199 Speaker 2: little bit better and a little bit better at this level. 188 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:07,640 Speaker 1: Is a big difference, or it can be a big difference. 189 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 3: Johnny, you mentioned Mike Schmid. I think of nineteen eighty 190 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 3: of course, like everybody does. Do you see any parallels 191 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:18,679 Speaker 3: or potential similarities between the twenty twenty five Phillies and 192 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 3: the nineteen eighty Phillies in that they lost in the 193 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 3: NLCS seventy six, seventy seven, seventy eight, they bring in 194 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 3: Pete Rose, they don't even make the playoffs, and everybody's like, 195 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 3: this team is probably cooked. They don't have what you 196 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:34,719 Speaker 3: know they can they get over the top. And this 197 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 3: group twenty two to twenty three, twenty four falling short 198 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 3: of the ultimate price? 199 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:40,439 Speaker 1: Is this team going to be able to get over 200 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: the edge. 201 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 3: Do you see any potential similarities between the team, and 202 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 3: if so, what are what is it? 203 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 1: Well? 204 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 2: I think I do see them, and I think one 205 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 2: of the biggest things is, first of all, there's a 206 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:52,439 Speaker 2: lot of talent on both squads, right, and you can 207 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 2: throw in that eight squad, you know, for added measures. 208 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:58,560 Speaker 2: I think there's similarities between that squad and the squad 209 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 2: too that are important. I think when you've gone through 210 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 2: what the years that the seventy six, seventy seventy eight 211 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 2: Phillies did and seventy nine for that, and then you 212 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 2: compare it to what these guys are want through, you've 213 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 2: got to come back hungry and hungrier every year. And 214 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 2: everybody knows that an athlete's career is short. That there's 215 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 2: been you know, this is now the fourth year, and 216 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 2: that's a pretty big chunk of a pro athlete's career 217 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 2: unless you're twenty two years old and you think, well, 218 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 2: I got I can do this forever. But most of 219 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 2: these guys aren't, and they realize that they're closer to 220 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:33,199 Speaker 2: the end than they are to the beginning. And I 221 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 2: think that's a great motivation for players. What I do 222 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 2: see though, I think this team rubent is because of 223 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 2: the strength and the pitching staff, and that if you 224 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 2: look at like ten and eleven in particular, I think 225 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 2: those two teams and especially eleven, were really driven by 226 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 2: their pitching staffs. And I mean, as Dave Dombrowski has said, 227 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 2: you know, whenever you have a when you can put 228 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 2: a matchup out there that generally favors you one hundred 229 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 2: and sixty two games every night, you're gonna you're you're 230 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 2: gonna win an awful lot of games. I mean, they 231 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 2: may not be perfect, but they are strong and and 232 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 2: they can go deep into the games. They could go 233 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 2: deep in the season. And I think that's where if 234 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 2: you combine the motivation of the you know, eighty team 235 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 2: to this with this team, and you look at the 236 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 2: kind of the way these A eleven and this team 237 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:27,439 Speaker 2: are comprised that you know, the way that Grooven organized 238 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 2: eleven team and the way Pat has organized Pack sorry 239 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 2: Dave has organized this team. 240 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 1: I think I think they're. 241 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 2: Really I think those two teams are more similar in 242 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:40,359 Speaker 2: their composition where their strengths loot lay right uh and frankly. 243 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:43,080 Speaker 1: Where some of their their weaknesses are. I mean, you know, 244 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 1: I was curious, Sean. You know I've known you for 245 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:47,559 Speaker 1: a long time. 246 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 4: Will you tell I don't get too deep, but I 247 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 4: think it's an important element of what you're about how 248 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 4: personal is it for you for this team to have success? 249 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, well it's at you know room, and it's it's 250 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:05,080 Speaker 2: my legacy. I mean, I I've done other things in 251 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 2: my life, but I think this role. I think when 252 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:13,560 Speaker 2: I retire, when my time comes ten years from now, 253 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 2: if anybody remembers me for anything, they're not gonna be 254 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 2: remembered for anything else. They'll remember me for this. So 255 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 2: however well or I'm not well, I serve and function. 256 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:26,080 Speaker 2: That's gonna be my legacy. So it is, it is 257 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 2: everything to me. You don't have my trophy, gotta have 258 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 2: that bleeping trophy, you know. 259 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:32,960 Speaker 1: I gotta tell you. 260 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:34,320 Speaker 3: I don't know if you remember this, but if people 261 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:36,679 Speaker 3: like you know, like they hear you say how much 262 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:38,800 Speaker 3: you want to win? So in spring training, I don't 263 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:41,320 Speaker 3: if you remember this. I'm standing between the half field 264 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 3: and the and the bullpen mounts at Baker Ballpark and 265 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:47,240 Speaker 3: I'm sending it to Garrett Stubbs and mac Elp from 266 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 3: the athletic and you walking in from the parking lot, 267 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 3: and we go, good morning, John, how are you going? 268 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 1: And you keep moving, you go. 269 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 3: I'll tell you at four o'clock and a pause, and 270 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 3: then Subs goes, this guy really he wants to win. 271 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:03,200 Speaker 3: He's talking about winning a great FRED League game. 272 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:07,080 Speaker 4: You're talking about that earlier today, this, you know this, this, 273 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 4: these last two games only anything unless they sweep. 274 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:13,840 Speaker 2: I think, well, you know, look, I can tell you 275 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:17,080 Speaker 2: when I when I wrestled and I had scrimmages, my 276 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:19,720 Speaker 2: coach never congratulated me for putting up a good show 277 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:24,640 Speaker 2: and you know, and losing, it was more about like, well, 278 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:26,680 Speaker 2: here's what you did wrong and don't do that again. 279 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:28,079 Speaker 1: Yeah. 280 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, I understand what spring training is, but spring training 281 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:35,640 Speaker 2: is also about, you know, to just Vince Lombardi's great phrase, 282 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 2: practice doesn't make perfect perfect, practice makes perfect. Right, you know, 283 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:42,840 Speaker 2: you need to drive yourself to be perfect all the 284 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 2: time because that's when you when you get into those 285 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 2: crunch situations and games that really matter your your your 286 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 2: body has to know exactly how to perform. You can't 287 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 2: be thinking that through at that moment. You've got to 288 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 2: kind of have complete confidence in your athletic skills, complete 289 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:02,719 Speaker 2: confidence in your prepera and just react. React to the 290 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:04,520 Speaker 2: ball if you're a hitter, or reacted if you're the 291 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 2: pitcher to the batter, to where your arm slot is, 292 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 2: to where your release point is, to how far your 293 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 2: stride is. All of that has to be automatic. And 294 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:16,560 Speaker 2: you get it that way by constant repetition. I mean 295 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 2: thousands of times. When I was told when I was 296 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 2: fourteen fifteen years old, if you're going to learn a 297 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 2: new move and wrestling, before you try it in a match, 298 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:29,760 Speaker 2: you do it. You practice it five hundred times by yourself. 299 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 2: You practice it five hundred times with somebody on top 300 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 2: of you just kind of you know, but not really work, 301 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 2: stressing you out. And then you do it five hundred 302 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:43,080 Speaker 2: times in scrimmages, during practice or live scrimmage before you 303 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:46,040 Speaker 2: take it onto the back for when it counts. Because 304 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:48,600 Speaker 2: if you can't do it a thousand, fifteen hundred times perfectly, 305 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 2: you're not going to do it the right in the match. 306 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 1: So that's why I said, I'll tell you at four 307 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 1: o'clock you want to lost that day, But I was 308 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 1: thinking about that all day. Yeah, yeah, is competitive? How 309 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:05,600 Speaker 1: much you want it? You guys are carrying a huge paper. 310 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:07,800 Speaker 1: I think it's number three in the game. Yeah, and 311 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 1: that and not far behind the Mets, not far. 312 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 5: Behind the US. 313 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 1: Number three in the game what tax tros. We're over 314 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 1: the top, over the top. I hear from fans all 315 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 1: the time. 316 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 5: Are they gonna if they have needs at the Trade Devil, 317 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 5: will they have the flexibility Yeah, to addressment. 318 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, the answer is yes. I mean, you know, I'm 319 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 2: telling you it's this is Dave's call. It's not my call. 320 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 2: It's Dave's call. And if you go back, for example, 321 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 2: the last year, I mean, we looked hard, we talked 322 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 2: to a lot of people. I mean, we pursued certain 323 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 2: people very hard, and we made offers that I can't 324 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 2: believe people rejected, but they did, and they were so 325 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:50,280 Speaker 2: so I won't say accessive, but so generous on our 326 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 2: part that Dave and I looked at each other and 327 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 2: just said, you know what, we're ambivalent. 328 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 1: If the deal comes through, We're okay. 329 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 2: If it doesn't go through, we're perfectly fine keeping these 330 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 2: plays that we we've offered, and we kept them. And 331 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 2: you know what, I think in the long run, it's 332 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 2: going to be better for us that we did that, 333 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 2: or that was the way it panned out. But you 334 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 2: know it's so that's but that's days, that's Stave's ball. 335 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 4: So speaking of that, you know, there's other teams that 336 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 4: have sort of infiltrated the Japanese market. 337 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:20,640 Speaker 1: D that market. 338 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 4: How important is it for your organization and for and 339 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 4: for the sustainability of the organization for you to jump 340 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 4: into that market. 341 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 2: I know you've been trying. Yeah, I think it's really important. 342 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 2: It's it's any source of talent, Ruben as you know, 343 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 2: you need to you need to have access to it, 344 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 2: you need to mine it. We've put a lot of 345 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 2: time and effort money over the last sepist and staves 346 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 2: arrived at having a presence not just in Japan, but 347 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 2: also in permanent in the presidence in Korea and frankly 348 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:51,360 Speaker 2: around the world and so and we make you know, 349 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 2: Japan is probably the best international market, uh, you know 350 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:57,880 Speaker 2: in terms of I'll call m ll be ready players 351 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 2: and you're not. It's not like Latin America where you're 352 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 2: you're you're signing sixteen year olds and sending him off 353 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 2: to the Dominican Republic and hoping that they'll you know, 354 00:17:05,320 --> 00:17:07,119 Speaker 2: by the time they're eighteen or nineteen, that they'll be 355 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:09,920 Speaker 2: up here in the States. So you know, we're gonna 356 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:12,359 Speaker 2: keep question and we're keep thinking, we're trying to think 357 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 2: about how we can make more more of an oppression 358 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 2: to people and the players and the teams and and 359 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 2: try to just develop relationships that are going to prove 360 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 2: to be fruitful in the long run. 361 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 1: But we feel that we need to do that, and 362 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 1: I think with Dave and. 363 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:31,359 Speaker 2: Uh, you know, Jorge h pushing, I think will would 364 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:32,159 Speaker 2: be successful. 365 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 1: But it's going to take time. 366 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 3: Johnny, you talk about the Japanese talent you have, Andrew Painter, 367 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:42,880 Speaker 3: Adan Miller, Justin Crawford, I. 368 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:47,320 Speaker 1: Know, yeah, what's that catcher? Yeah, yeah, absolutely so. 369 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 3: I mean there was a I know you can't get 370 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 3: into specifics, but you potentially could have traded some of 371 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 3: those guys away last year from Has there been any 372 00:17:56,600 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 3: talks since then about men I'm sorry about about trading, 373 00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 3: like you know, maybe a Miller or Crawford, some of 374 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:04,440 Speaker 3: these top prospects last summer maybe involved in a deal 375 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 3: where uh, well, I. 376 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 1: Say that you never know, and again it's day's decision. 377 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:15,280 Speaker 2: But I think I think this off season, certainly the 378 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:19,439 Speaker 2: trading deadline last July was a an inflection point, and 379 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:23,520 Speaker 2: I think this past off season was too, because if 380 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:26,360 Speaker 2: you you know, these guys are now I mean painters 381 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 2: virtually here, right, I think I think Crawford could easily 382 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 2: be up here if he has a good you know, couple. 383 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 1: Of months at trip a Miller's could charge and hard. 384 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:40,120 Speaker 2: I think those three guys in particular, you know, there's 385 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:43,160 Speaker 2: they're close enough to be MLB ready that I don't. 386 00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:45,760 Speaker 1: I think you'd have to have a really. 387 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 2: Spectacular trade to think about trading even any of those people. 388 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 1: I mean, and look, Reuben went to this, I mean, 389 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:54,640 Speaker 1: he was how long were were we trying to get doc? 390 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 2: You know, about a year and a half something like that, 391 00:18:57,160 --> 00:18:59,200 Speaker 2: but I think it was like two off seasons and 392 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:03,240 Speaker 2: in a July trading deadline, and you know, eventually he 393 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 2: said yes to get given up to the bleek guys 394 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 2: what they wanted for generally. But you know, it's just 395 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:12,919 Speaker 2: it's it's hard. As they get closer and closer, they 396 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:15,680 Speaker 2: become more valuable to you, and so it's harder to 397 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:16,199 Speaker 2: give them up. 398 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:19,360 Speaker 3: And you need these guys coming to the system because 399 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:21,280 Speaker 3: you have a lot of free agents coming up this year. 400 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 3: And Jeffrey Lourie I think, was just talking the other 401 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:25,679 Speaker 3: area in the press conference, saying, how you know it's 402 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:28,600 Speaker 3: when you're a good franchise and a good organization, it's 403 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:30,640 Speaker 3: almost impossible to keep everybody. 404 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 1: Do you imagine you. 405 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:34,240 Speaker 3: It's kind of I don't know how that what's that 406 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 3: feeling like when you have Kyle Schwarber, GT. Reil Muto, 407 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:40,480 Speaker 3: Ranger Suarez, they're all free agents after the season. I'm 408 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:43,000 Speaker 3: sure you would love to keep them all. Maybe you do, 409 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:46,200 Speaker 3: maybe you don't. You know, how do you feel about 410 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 3: that when those guys are coming up? You know, it's 411 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 3: it's unfortunately, it's just part of the game. It's part 412 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 3: of the job. And no Reuven knows that as well 413 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 3: as anybody. I mean, I you know, it's really hard. 414 00:19:58,320 --> 00:19:59,720 Speaker 3: I just don't know how else to say it, and 415 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:02,359 Speaker 3: yet have to try to, you know, I I do 416 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:07,640 Speaker 3: talk to players conceptually about, you know, to tell them 417 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 3: if you if you want to win, you know, maximizing 418 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:13,959 Speaker 3: your salary to the last nickel puts the team in 419 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:16,919 Speaker 3: a less lesser position where they can't it's harder to 420 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:20,359 Speaker 3: spend the next nickel on getting the next player right. 421 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:21,879 Speaker 1: And so you know, yeah, at. 422 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 2: Some level, it does really kind of come down to 423 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 2: what's the player's values, what what do they want? 424 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:30,159 Speaker 1: And again, Reuben lived this. 425 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:33,359 Speaker 2: But you know, Cliff Lee gave up twenty six million 426 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:36,919 Speaker 2: dollars to not sign with two other teams and to 427 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:41,200 Speaker 2: sign with us, and that it's because, you know, Cliff said, 428 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:43,159 Speaker 2: I want to win and it was more important for 429 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 2: me to win than. 430 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 1: To get the last you know, dollar on a on 431 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 1: a contract. True statement. Yeah, I mean it was. 432 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:53,679 Speaker 2: It was unbelievable that we got them, but that was 433 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:55,760 Speaker 2: what it takes. And by the way, I would tell 434 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:59,040 Speaker 2: you when I was signed talking to Bryce and signing him, 435 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 2: that's exactly the conversation I had. 436 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 1: I said, you know, we'll give you the money. 437 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 2: It's a record for any pro athlete and any sport 438 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 2: in North America. But I gotta spread it out because 439 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:14,160 Speaker 2: if you want me to compress the time frame the contract, 440 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 2: then he drive the a v up. I said, you're 441 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 2: you're gonna restrict what we can do, the flexibility we 442 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:21,200 Speaker 2: have to sign additional players. 443 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 1: And that's Bryce's commitment to winning. 444 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:27,200 Speaker 2: If that's before he even decides to change positions in 445 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:29,360 Speaker 2: the middle of the year, right. 446 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 3: So, I mean he has a fanatic tattoo in his arm. Now, yeah, 447 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 3: to me, says I see myself as a Philly for life. 448 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 1: I hope he does, because I see him as a 449 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:39,720 Speaker 1: Philly for I was gonna ask you that at Hell. Yeah. 450 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:41,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, you know, why would you want Mike 451 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:44,240 Speaker 2: Schmidt to play for any other team? You know, why 452 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 2: why would you want, you know, Bryce Harper to play 453 00:21:46,720 --> 00:21:47,800 Speaker 2: for any other team? 454 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:50,440 Speaker 1: You know? That's when when when it's time for Bryce 455 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:53,119 Speaker 1: to hang up his cleats, he the last time he plays. 456 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 1: And I don't mean just come back for the day 457 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:55,480 Speaker 1: to retire. 458 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:58,159 Speaker 2: I mean the last team he plays for should be, 459 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 2: has to be, should be the Philadelphia Phillies. 460 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:03,480 Speaker 5: John, You've got the Dodgers coming in this weekend. 461 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:04,879 Speaker 1: I mean, everybody's rebbed up for that. 462 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:08,240 Speaker 5: They're off to an unbelievable start. 463 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:12,280 Speaker 1: They are a behemoth. They are. You get the meds. 464 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:17,680 Speaker 2: Remind you we did beat them both series last year, correct, Yeah? 465 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:20,520 Speaker 1: And not by and not by a little. Yeah. I 466 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:22,639 Speaker 1: mean we mash up really well against him, I believe 467 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 1: we do. 468 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:26,639 Speaker 5: And the Mets are in the National League, and we 469 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 5: know about Steve Cohen, and I think he has the 470 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:33,560 Speaker 5: same type of competitiveness as you do, what type of 471 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:36,240 Speaker 5: a challenges at matching up being the same league, as 472 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:39,320 Speaker 5: as the Dodgers and the Mets. 473 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:42,960 Speaker 1: Well, obviously the stronger your competition is. 474 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:46,840 Speaker 2: Wait, that's a pretty obvious statement, but look, if you 475 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:48,639 Speaker 2: want to win the World Series, whether they're in the 476 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:51,520 Speaker 2: American League, of the National League, the National League West, 477 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 2: of the National League East, you're gonna have to beat 478 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 2: him at some point in time. 479 00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:56,840 Speaker 1: To be the best, you have to beat the best. 480 00:22:56,880 --> 00:23:00,720 Speaker 2: And so I you know, it's it's difficult because the 481 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:05,479 Speaker 2: financial resources that the Yankees have, the Mets have, and 482 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:10,200 Speaker 2: you know the Dodgers have is it's just significantly more 483 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:13,640 Speaker 2: than other people. In fact, how Steinbrenners is quoted as saying, 484 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:16,200 Speaker 2: you know, we're at a huge disadvantage to compared to 485 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:18,439 Speaker 2: the Dodgers. So that gives you a sense of a 486 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:23,399 Speaker 2: where how perceives the competition and where he stands. But 487 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:26,560 Speaker 2: I'll also remind people that I think it was starting 488 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:29,840 Speaker 2: in nineteen eighty one, the Yankees had the highest payroll 489 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:33,679 Speaker 2: in baseball for fifteen consecutive years and they never managed 490 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:36,200 Speaker 2: to win the East, the Eastern Division title and make 491 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:36,960 Speaker 2: the postseason. 492 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:40,360 Speaker 1: So it's not just about money. It's about having the. 493 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:45,080 Speaker 2: Right players and developing them and keeping them healthy and 494 00:23:45,119 --> 00:23:47,640 Speaker 2: as Pat Gillick love to say, having the luck that 495 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:51,080 Speaker 2: you have twenty five healthy players playing at the best 496 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 2: of the game at precisely the right moment in time. 497 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:56,480 Speaker 2: So you know, that's why you play one hundred and 498 00:23:56,520 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 2: sixty two games and then you play you know, seven, 499 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:01,520 Speaker 2: five and seven game series, because you don't win it 500 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:03,240 Speaker 2: on paper, you don't win in the off season, and 501 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:05,560 Speaker 2: you don't win it in the media talk rooms. 502 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:08,600 Speaker 1: You win it on the field. So I think we 503 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:09,800 Speaker 1: match up with any of them. 504 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:15,560 Speaker 2: Frankly, I think it's a challenge, but I'm I guess I'm. 505 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:15,879 Speaker 1: Looking forward to it. 506 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:18,520 Speaker 4: So the game has been evolving, John, and I wanted 507 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 4: to get your opinion about this set torpedo bat stuff. 508 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:25,320 Speaker 1: Obviously there are some Phillies who are using it. 509 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:27,959 Speaker 4: I know that there's been some movement as far as 510 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:30,640 Speaker 4: the Phillies using them. What you're feeling about at number 511 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:36,400 Speaker 4: one and number two? You know, I think that it's 512 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 4: something's gonna help a lot of guys. Do you think 513 00:24:38,560 --> 00:24:39,680 Speaker 4: the Phillies need that help? 514 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:44,240 Speaker 2: Well, look, I think anytime there seems to be I 515 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:47,000 Speaker 2: don't know that you chase every rabbit hole down. 516 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:48,480 Speaker 1: You know, if you go down every rabbit hole. 517 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:52,520 Speaker 2: But I think I think there are moments when a 518 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:56,359 Speaker 2: variation of a product or what having becomes available. And 519 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:58,399 Speaker 2: I think I think if you really go back to 520 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:01,280 Speaker 2: the comments about Doc and Mike, you know, if you. 521 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:02,399 Speaker 1: Really want to. 522 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 2: Change and stay at the top of your game, you 523 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:05,879 Speaker 2: need you need to kind of experiment. 524 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:08,399 Speaker 1: And there's nothing wrong with that. And I and I 525 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:09,480 Speaker 1: know you know, look. 526 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:12,680 Speaker 2: Alec Bohm has used used that already. 527 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:15,240 Speaker 1: Other people have tried it out. Rice and Stock tried 528 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:15,680 Speaker 1: it out. 529 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:18,560 Speaker 2: You know it's gonna work, As I think Bryson put it, well, 530 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:20,320 Speaker 2: it's gonna work for some people and it's not. 531 00:25:20,359 --> 00:25:22,680 Speaker 1: Gonna work for others. But you don't know that until 532 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:24,919 Speaker 1: you try it enough to kind of come to that conclusion. 533 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:27,199 Speaker 2: So I think it's I think it's great. I think 534 00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 2: it's part of just the evolution of the game. 535 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 3: John, last one, and we will let you go. We 536 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 3: appreciate the time. This is this is the most important 537 00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 3: question I'm gonna ask you. You were at the Super Bowl, 538 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:41,320 Speaker 3: So the Eagles win the Super Bowl? Yeah, what do 539 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:45,520 Speaker 3: you think about the tush push? Should they not ban it? 540 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:45,879 Speaker 1: So? 541 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:48,000 Speaker 2: I think it's I personally, I think it's like the 542 00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:49,240 Speaker 2: torpedo back. 543 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:52,560 Speaker 1: It's it's legal, So I don't know why teams don't 544 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:55,399 Speaker 1: use it while it's legal. And what I. 545 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:58,879 Speaker 2: Understand, everybody's so upset about talking about banning it. 546 00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:01,119 Speaker 1: Why don't you just daft can use it? 547 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:08,159 Speaker 2: And I think about the torpedo bat but refusing to try. Guys, 548 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:12,240 Speaker 2: just try it, you know what. So I can't I 549 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:14,840 Speaker 2: can't see why there aren't you know, thirty one other 550 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:18,359 Speaker 2: teams that are actually experimenting. 551 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:21,120 Speaker 1: And using the push push. I get it real quick, John, 552 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:21,600 Speaker 1: real quick. 553 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:22,520 Speaker 5: I know we're running on time. 554 00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:25,280 Speaker 1: But Todd brought up the Super Bowl. You and your 555 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 1: wife were at the Super Bowl. Just tell us about 556 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:30,280 Speaker 1: the walk back to the hotel. Oh? Yeah, walk. 557 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:33,320 Speaker 2: So the walk back was really really great. I mean, 558 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:35,760 Speaker 2: I mean, obviously the Eagles had won and one handily. 559 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 2: I mean, the place was a giant Eagles party, which 560 00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:43,240 Speaker 2: was great, but the fans were just so revved up, 561 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:47,000 Speaker 2: and and you know, we're walking along with just thousands 562 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:50,399 Speaker 2: and thousands of fans. You know, sometimes they some people 563 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:53,480 Speaker 2: recognized us, sometimes they didn't, but you know, the people 564 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:56,640 Speaker 2: recognized us. They were high fiving and saying, this is now, 565 00:26:56,640 --> 00:26:59,239 Speaker 2: it's your turn. And you gotta win it, and uh 566 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:01,479 Speaker 2: taking pictures and things like that. 567 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:03,160 Speaker 6: So it was it was just it was a lot 568 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:06,960 Speaker 6: of fun. There was a great memory. Thanks so much 569 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 6: for your time, so much, Thank you so much, guys. 570 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:12,800 Speaker 6: That's the Citizens Conversation. 571 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:15,760 Speaker 1: Phillies manager partner John Milton, thanks for the time.