1 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: Welcome everyone into this week's spare territory. The postseason is over, 2 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 1: the off season is on, and I want to get 3 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 1: right into it today. I'm not going to give you 4 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 1: my top ten free agent list, because you can read 5 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:18,919 Speaker 1: that Keith Law and the athletic Jim Bowden, everybody writes 6 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:21,160 Speaker 1: about top ten lists. We're gonna do it a little 7 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: bit differently. We're gonna go into five teams to watch. Now. Actually, 8 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: there are more than five teams to watch, and I 9 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:30,479 Speaker 1: might ignore your team. There are thirty teams to watch. 10 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 1: We all know that. But these five that I'm going 11 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: to discuss are at least to me, quite interesting. And 12 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: then I'm gonna add four more at the end, just 13 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: some quick thoughts on those particular clubs, because they too 14 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: are interesting. This is not meant to be all encompassing. 15 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: Spare me your comments. I'm ignoring your team. We'll get 16 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:51,199 Speaker 1: to everybody eventually. It's a long off season, but I 17 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:53,480 Speaker 1: want to start with these five teams, and I'm gonna 18 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: go one at a time, and I'm gonna start with 19 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who of 20 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: course did not get to where they wanted to be 21 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: this postseason, they were knocked out ignominiously by the Arizona Diamondbacks, 22 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:10,959 Speaker 1: and now they are in quite a pickle. They're in 23 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 1: quite a pickle because one of their top starting pitchers 24 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: from last year, Julio Ourrias, is a free agent and 25 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:21,319 Speaker 1: besides likely to be suspended for a domestic violence allegation. 26 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 1: And then Clayton Kershaw also a free agent, and of 27 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 1: course announced this week that he underwent shoulder surgery. So 28 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: let's look at what the Dodgers are left with in 29 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: their rotation, because that's where I want to start. I'll 30 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 1: get to Otani, but let's start with rotation. The current 31 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: rotation Walker Bueller, Bobby Miller, Ryan Peppio, Emma Chian, and 32 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: Gavin Stone. That would be my best guess. Dustin May 33 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 1: and Tony Gonsolin are recovering from surgeries, and as I mentioned, 34 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 1: Kershaw and Odias are unsigned. So a lot of Dodgers 35 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: fans and other fans are saying, well, wait, how can 36 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 1: the Dodgers go get Otani when they need all this pitching. 37 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:01,279 Speaker 2: I would say they. 38 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: Need Otani and they need the starting pitching both. And 39 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 1: I wrote recently about Otani for the Dodgers and why 40 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:11,799 Speaker 1: it makes so much sense. And my feeling is they 41 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:15,679 Speaker 1: need a little bit more sizzle now. Their fans are frustrated, 42 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 1: understandably with the fact that they've only won one World 43 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 1: Series in the Andrew Friedman era and in the shortened season, 44 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 1: and it's kind of going to be the same thing 45 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 1: all over again next year. Now, granted, these are rich 46 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: people problems. You have Freddie Freeman, you have Mooky Betts, 47 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:33,639 Speaker 1: you have Max Munzi who just signed an extension. You 48 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 1: have all these good players, but you haven't really kind 49 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: of captivated your fans or at least given them another 50 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:43,799 Speaker 1: reason to watch your team next season. The Dodgers will 51 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 1: draw either way. They'll draw big without Otani, but if 52 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 1: they have Otanim it makes things that much more interesting. 53 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: So I would say for the Dodgers, Otani is a priority. 54 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: To starting pitchers as well, is a priority, all right? 55 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 1: Moving on here, another team that badly is in need 56 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 1: of starting pitching. A team that just hired a new 57 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 1: head of baseball operations. I'm talking about the Boston Red Sox. 58 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:11,520 Speaker 1: Here's a team that obviously was disappointed in its performance 59 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:15,080 Speaker 1: last year, given that they fired their chief baseball officer, 60 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: Hein Bloom. And now let's take a look at their 61 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 1: rotation and why they are in need of starting pitching 62 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 1: as well. It starts with Chris Sale. Okay, Chris Sale 63 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: hopefully will stay healthy. Brian Bayo showed a lot of 64 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: promise last year, Nick Pavetta, Cutter, Crawford, Tana Hawk, and 65 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:33,359 Speaker 1: they've got some other needs as well. A right handed 66 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: bat and outfield are a second basement. But the Red 67 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: Sox what they want to fix, what they want to 68 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: address first and foremost is their pitching. And they were 69 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 1: a team that wanted to get Nathan evolved the last offseason. 70 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 1: Didn't happen. He ends up in Texas. You saw what 71 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 1: happened in the postseason. So I'm interested to see how 72 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 1: the Red Sox go about this. We've heard talk that 73 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: they too will be in the Otani sweepstakes, and I 74 00:03:56,560 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 1: believe that the only problem I have in vision Otani 75 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: in Boston is he's a guy who likes his privacy. 76 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 1: So a guy who likes his privacy in that fish bowl. 77 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 2: I'm not feeling it. All right, Let's keep moving on here. 78 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: The Cardinals are another team, yet another team in dramatic 79 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: need of starting pitching. They need not just one, not 80 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: just two, but three starters at least, because right now, 81 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 1: let's look at their rotation, it is basically in tatters. 82 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: They have Miles Michaelis at the top, with Steven Matts, 83 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:29,160 Speaker 1: Zach Thompson. 84 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 2: Dakota Hudson, Drew Rong. 85 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: We have like an eight e RA after coming over 86 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: in the Jack Flowerty trade. So you see their needs 87 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 1: right there, starting pitcher, starting pitcher, and starting pitcher. The 88 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 1: Cardinals have been vocal about this. They've said quite openly 89 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 1: that they plan to address their rotation and in a 90 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: big way. Could come through a trade, could come through 91 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: free agency, probably most likely will come through free agency. 92 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: The question with the trade and the Cardinals is will 93 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: they be willing to give up, say. 94 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:57,600 Speaker 2: A Nolan Gorman in a trade. 95 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 1: They're willing to give up Dylan Carlson, we know that, 96 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: and Cardinal fans dreaming of some kind of Dylan Carlson 97 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: package for a top starter and don't see that happening. 98 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:08,599 Speaker 1: You've got to give up one of your guys that 99 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: actually is drawing more interest from teams. So with those 100 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:15,720 Speaker 1: three teams and the needs that they have, let's look 101 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 1: at the starting pitchers who are available in free agency, 102 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:21,120 Speaker 1: the top guys, and you can see that it's a 103 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 1: pretty deep group. It's not bad. Blake Snell likely National 104 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 1: eksa young winner, Aaron Nola who has excelled for the 105 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:31,920 Speaker 1: Phillies for quite some time, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the twenty five 106 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 1: year old Japanese sensation, Sonny Gray, he's a guy who's 107 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 1: been linked to the Cardinals. Jordan Montgomery, a guy who's 108 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:38,359 Speaker 1: been linked. 109 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 2: To the Cardinals. 110 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: And Water Rodriguez opted out of his deal with the Tigers, 111 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,600 Speaker 1: Marcus Stroman opted out of his deal with the Cubs. 112 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: And Shota Imanaga, another top Japanese pitcher. Obviously, these guys 113 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 1: are going to be in high demand because, as one 114 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 1: agent told me yesterday, he has identified six teams and 115 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: we just named three of them who need at least 116 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 1: two starting pitchers. Six teams, and of course then there 117 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 1: are the rest of the clubs that needs starting pitching 118 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 1: as well. All right, moving on to teams four and five. 119 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 1: These are teams that don't necessarily need starting pitching, but 120 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 1: certainly are going to be fun to watch or interesting 121 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 1: to watch anyway. The Yankees, The New York Yankees the 122 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:21,719 Speaker 1: team that keeps promising changes and new things and all 123 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 1: kinds of improvements, Well, what exactly are they going to do? 124 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:27,039 Speaker 2: Their needs? 125 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 1: Quite obviously, as you'll see here are in the outfield, 126 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 1: Giancarlo Stanton likely is not going to play much outfield 127 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,840 Speaker 1: next year. Harrison Batter is gone, Aaron Hicks is gone, 128 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 1: Isaiah kine Phileffe is gone. Right now, if you had 129 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 1: to put an outfield on the field, it would be 130 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 1: Aaron Judge, Estevan Florial, and Jake Bowers most likely. So 131 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,600 Speaker 1: the Yankees need outfielders. They need left handed hitting outfielders. 132 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 1: Cody Bellinger is an obvious free agent target. Juan Soto 133 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:58,919 Speaker 1: is an obvious trade target. The Yankees, too, have a 134 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 1: disenchanted fan base. It's a different kind of disenchantment than 135 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 1: the Dodgers. The Dodgers keep winning, they just don't win 136 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: in the playoffs. The Yankees didn't make the playoffs, haven't 137 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: been to the World Series since two thousand and nine 138 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 1: when they won it, and people are wanting to see 139 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: a new way here, some kind of different outlook with 140 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: the Yankees. Obviously, left handed hitting should be at a premium. 141 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: We know that starting pitching to maybe one more, maybe 142 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 1: some extra help in the bullpen, always a wise thing 143 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: to do for a team. But the Yankees are definitely 144 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: a team to watch, seemingly a team that is intent 145 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 1: on doing some things differently, though we have yet to 146 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: see any evidence of any significant changes in their front 147 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: office or in the way they operate. 148 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 2: All right. 149 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: Finally, the Houston Astros now the Astros, of course, seven 150 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 1: straight appearances in the ALCS. Amazing run that they've had here. 151 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: But as I said on our final ALCS broadcast right 152 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: before they were eliminated, they are at an interesting crossroad. 153 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 1: And they're at an interesting crossroads because some guys are 154 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 1: coming up on free agency, some pretty big names. Let's 155 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: take a look at this now, two guys who are 156 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:13,120 Speaker 1: up for free agency after this season, Jose Altuve and 157 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 1: Alex Bregman free after twenty twenty four, free after twenty 158 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: twenty five, Kyle Tucker and From ber Valdez. Now, both 159 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 1: Altuve and Bregman are represented by Scott Bors. Scott Bors 160 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 1: generally likes to take his clients to the open market, 161 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 1: though he didn't with Altuve the last time. Altuve did 162 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: sign an extension, so it's not going to be easy 163 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 1: necessarily to get those guys done. Maybe al Tuove I 164 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: would think less so on Bregman fromber Valdez. Certainly he's 165 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 1: up in a couple of years. It's a little bit different. 166 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 1: Kyle Tucker the same, and Kyle Tucker had a miserable playoff, 167 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:49,559 Speaker 1: but Kyle Tucker has been a huge part of what 168 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 1: they do and what they have done these past several years. 169 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 1: So there has been talking of an extension. We'll see 170 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 1: what the Astros end up doing. Of course, they need 171 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 1: a manager right now. We'll get into that in a 172 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 1: little bit. But the Astros, again, they may come back 173 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 1: with similar players next year, the same kind of team. 174 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 1: Those guys are all under contract or under control for 175 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 1: next season, but at some point they're going to have 176 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 1: to face all of these situations contractually that are coming up. 177 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: All right, Four other teams I want to mention here, 178 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 1: Four teams that yes could have made by top five 179 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 1: quite easily. I'm talking about the Padres. First of all, 180 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: the Padres. You might have read our report Evandrelic, Dennis 181 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:33,719 Speaker 1: Lynn and I last week about how they took out 182 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: a fifty million dollar loan toward the end of the 183 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 1: last season to be payroll and how they are cutting payroll. 184 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:42,600 Speaker 1: They plan to cut payroll. You saw over the weekend 185 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 1: they did not pick up the options on Michael Waka 186 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: and Nick Martinez, and maybe the next move is trade 187 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 1: of Juan Soto, who is projected to make some thirty 188 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 1: million dollars in arbitration. Padres is definitely a team to 189 00:09:55,800 --> 00:10:00,360 Speaker 1: watch how they put this all back together. The Orioles now, 190 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 1: the Orioles are a team that had a great season, 191 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 1: but they, as I've said numerous times, need to spend 192 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 1: some money. It's time and I know their owner John 193 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 1: Angelos hasn't done that before. Their general manager Mike Elias 194 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:17,520 Speaker 1: hasn't done it either. But they're in a position now 195 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 1: where they can be one of the leading contenders in 196 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: the American League next season, just as they were this season. 197 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:25,719 Speaker 1: But they need some veteran starting pitching help. They need 198 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 1: to get one of those guys on that list that 199 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 1: we just had up there before too. Ideally, though I 200 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 1: don't expect them to do that. The other thing they 201 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 1: could do is trade one or more of their prospects 202 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:39,239 Speaker 1: for a starting pitcher as well. They have the ability, 203 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 1: as I've said numerous times, to do whatever they want 204 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 1: all right, the final two teams the Cubs. Now, the 205 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 1: Cubs are in an interesting spot here. They just lost Stroman, 206 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 1: which I don't know that they expected to lose. He 207 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:55,559 Speaker 1: gave them twenty one million dollars of financial flexibility by 208 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:58,320 Speaker 1: opting out. They picked up the option on Kyle Hendrix, 209 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 1: picked up the option on Yan Gomes. They are a 210 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 1: team that seems ready to win. I would expect they 211 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 1: reinvest that twenty one million in their pursuit of starting pitching. 212 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:11,199 Speaker 1: They're obviously going to need to address either the loss 213 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:13,440 Speaker 1: of Bellinger or re sign him one or the other. 214 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:18,320 Speaker 1: And then finally the Giants. Now, the Giants are a 215 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: team that just hired a new manager, Bob Melvin. They 216 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:24,479 Speaker 1: are a team that has been seeking a star centerpiece 217 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 1: for years. 218 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 2: Now. 219 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 1: Goes back to trying to get John Carlos Stanton before 220 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 1: he went to the Yankees. Goes all the way back 221 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 1: to that, and yet they have not succeeded. Bob Melvin 222 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 1: has had good relationships with Japanese players in the past. 223 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 1: I imagine that would help in a pursuit of Otani, 224 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 1: but it remains to be seen whether the Giants can 225 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 1: pull it off. In free agency if they can't. They've 226 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 1: got young talent now, and they've got a president of 227 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 1: base operations for anxiety who recognizes that he needs to 228 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 1: do things a little bit differently. So a trade for 229 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:58,080 Speaker 1: a star should not be out of the question for 230 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 1: the Giants. A run at Otani certainly not out of 231 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 1: the question, and it could come down to Giants and 232 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 1: Dodgers and others for the great Japanese two way Star. 233 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 1: Time now for the inside dish, and this week we're 234 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 1: gonna go inside all of the managerial openings that still exist. 235 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:15,720 Speaker 2: Six of them. 236 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 1: I should mention at the top. The Marlins had an 237 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 1: opening for a head of baseball operations. They have filled 238 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 1: that opening. I reported Sunday night. Their choice will be 239 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 1: the Raise general manager, Peter Bendix. The Marlins have been 240 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 1: looking for someone with a raised background. Could have been 241 00:12:31,679 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 1: High and Bloom, could have been Peter Bendix. Maybe it 242 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 1: could have been James Klick. They wanted someone who had 243 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:39,920 Speaker 1: worked in a low payroll situation similar to their own. Bendix, 244 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 1: of course, comes from the team that has excelled at 245 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 1: managing low payrolls better than any in the sport. 246 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 2: The Tampa Bay Rays. 247 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:51,839 Speaker 1: Now onto the managers. Six openings currently exist now we're 248 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 1: taping this Sunday night. Maybe one gets filled overnight, maybe 249 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 1: one gets filled in the morning, but six going into 250 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 1: Monday into this week. That's fifth of the jobs in baseball. Now. 251 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:06,319 Speaker 1: We don't know exactly if all of them will have 252 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 1: different managers, because this all starts with Craig Counsel. Conceivably, yes, 253 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:13,720 Speaker 1: he could go back to the Milwaukee Brewers, that's certainly 254 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:16,679 Speaker 1: a possibility. He could end up with the New York Mets. 255 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:19,840 Speaker 1: He also has interviewed it with the Cleveland Guardians. So 256 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 1: Council is kind of the pivot point for this whole thing. 257 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:27,319 Speaker 1: And as we've written in The Athletic really for months now, 258 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 1: one of them prime considerations for Counsel is money. He 259 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:34,200 Speaker 1: was very prominent in the Players Union when he was 260 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 1: an active Major leaguer, and now as a manager, he 261 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:40,560 Speaker 1: wants to set a standard for managers, raise the bar, 262 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 1: so to speak. The Mets certainly would give him that 263 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,560 Speaker 1: opportunity if he is that choice. At that point, it 264 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 1: becomes a question of whether the Brewers could match it 265 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:51,680 Speaker 1: or get close enough to where he would stay. 266 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 2: I don't know the answer to this question. No, one 267 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 2: seems to. 268 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 1: And it gets really interesting if you think about it 269 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 1: this way. What if Council goes back to Milwaukee. What 270 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 1: if Carlos Mendoza, who also is in the running for 271 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 1: the Mets job, the Yankees bench coach, goes to Cleveland, 272 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 1: then what do the Mets do? I don't know, And 273 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:15,120 Speaker 1: to me, hiring a first timer to be the New 274 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 1: York Mets manager would be really dangerous. They tried it 275 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 1: with Mickey Callaway, they tried it with Luis Rojas. 276 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 2: Didn't work. 277 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 1: Now David Stearns is the strong president of Baseball Operations. 278 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 1: Maybe he feels he can hire a first time or 279 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 1: and collaborate with that person and have it all work out. 280 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: I'm not convinced. New York much different market, much more 281 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 1: rigorous in many ways than other markets. Just the amount 282 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 1: of media a manager faces on a daily basis, the 283 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 1: amount of attention the Mets get in general, the amount 284 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: of issues that inevitably surface. So Council again is kind 285 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 1: of at the center of all this, and we'll see 286 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:54,840 Speaker 1: how this plays out in the coming days. Now, San 287 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: Diego also has an opening. Remember Bob Melvin has left 288 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:02,400 Speaker 1: for the Giants. Padres are somewhat in a similar position 289 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 1: to the Mets in one respect. They have hired first 290 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 1: time managers in the past under AJ Preller. Andy Green 291 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 1: was one, Jase Tangler was another. Those didn't work out. 292 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 1: So here's Ryan Flaherty, who is a leading candidate for 293 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:19,239 Speaker 1: the Padres job. He's been a coach with the Padres. 294 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 1: He of course is familiar and close with Manny Machado 295 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 1: from their time together in Baltimore as playing teammates. Would 296 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:29,320 Speaker 1: you hire Ryan Flaherty as a first time manager? Maybe 297 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 1: that will be their choice. It would be a dangerous 298 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 1: one in my opinion. Mike Schildt is there, He's been 299 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 1: there for quite some time. They could hire him as well. 300 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: But I don't know if it matters necessarily who they 301 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:44,160 Speaker 1: hire because they run through managers under Preller like nothing else. 302 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 1: This next manager is going to be there sixth in 303 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:51,480 Speaker 1: ten years under AJ Preller. I'm counting Pat Murphy, who 304 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 1: was the interim for a better part of a season 305 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 1: the twenty fifteen season after replacing by Black. So the 306 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 1: question is what kind of manager exactly. 307 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:03,800 Speaker 2: Will succeed in San Diego. 308 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:07,320 Speaker 1: But Black didn't with AJ Preller, Bob Melvin didn't with 309 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 1: aj Preller, Jase Tinkler didn't, Andy Green didn't. Pat Murphy 310 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 1: was not retained. So we'll see what they come up 311 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 1: with out in padre Land. But it's going to be 312 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 1: really interesting to see how the relationship between Preller and 313 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 1: this next manager evolves. I've talked about Cleveland a little bit. 314 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 1: If they do not hire Carlos Mendoza, the consensus, according 315 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 1: to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and others, 316 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:33,680 Speaker 1: seems to be that Stephen Vote would be their other 317 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 1: choice first timer. Obviously, Mendoza would be a first timer 318 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 1: as well. If they can't get counseled, don't forget he's 319 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 1: in their mix as well. I'm not as worried about 320 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: a first time or in Cleveland, where the expectations are lower. 321 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: It's a different scenario entirely. You have a lower payroll. 322 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 1: You also have a winnable division, pretty good talent in 323 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: that organization. So that's a good place in my estimation 324 00:16:56,880 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 1: for a first time manager. The Angels in the Astros, 325 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 1: those are the other two openings, both quite interesting and 326 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:08,560 Speaker 1: somewhat similar. Actually, you might say, how are the Angels 327 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 1: and Astros similar? I'll tell you how They're similar because 328 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:16,720 Speaker 1: they're owners. Jim Crane. In Houston, Artie Moreno and Anaheim 329 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 1: are quite involved in the process. Their owners are perhaps 330 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: the ones making the selections here now. In Anaheim, my 331 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 1: understanding is Buck Showalter is indeed a candidate, but Artie 332 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 1: Moreno might prefer someone with a two thousand and two 333 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:37,080 Speaker 1: Angels pedigree. Yes, from the championship team twenty one years ago, 334 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 1: Darren Erstad, Tim Salmon, someone in that group. 335 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 2: Why would you do that? 336 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 1: Those are first time guys who have no experience managing. 337 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 1: Actually Eerstad coached at Nebraska, but no other experience. 338 00:17:50,119 --> 00:17:50,640 Speaker 2: I don't know. 339 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 1: Buck Showalter would seem to be the kind of guy 340 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:56,159 Speaker 1: who could stabilize that place, but I don't know that 341 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: he's necessarily going to be the choice. And then in Houston, 342 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:02,440 Speaker 1: Joe Spatta, who has been their bench coach for quite 343 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:06,879 Speaker 1: some time now under AJ Hinch and under Dusty Baker, 344 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 1: he would seem to be an obvious candidate, but Jim 345 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 1: Crane might want a bigger name. Who that bigger name 346 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 1: would be. I'm not sure you've heard of Brad Ostmas's 347 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 1: name being thrown around. He's got the link to Jeff 348 00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 1: Bagwell and Craig Bigio, both of whom are in the 349 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:25,880 Speaker 1: Astros front office. Austmas also has failed twice as a manager, 350 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:29,160 Speaker 1: so that one is going to be really interesting too. 351 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:33,200 Speaker 1: What we have seen in this sport is a copycat 352 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:37,920 Speaker 1: trend always, and we've also seen this trend toward collaboration. Right, 353 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:41,640 Speaker 1: the president of Baseball Operations, the gym wants a manager 354 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 1: with whom he can collaborate. 355 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 2: Share the processes. 356 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 1: Okay, but let's look at the last three World Series 357 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 1: winning managers. I want to show you this right now. 358 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 1: It's interesting. Brian Stinker sixty six years old, Dusty Baker 359 00:18:55,840 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: seventy three, Bruce Bochie sixty eight. Now, I'm not saying 360 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:05,360 Speaker 1: age and experience is what matters most. Obviously, these postseasons 361 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:06,480 Speaker 1: could have turned out differently. 362 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 2: We all know that. 363 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 1: But there is something to experience. There is something to 364 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:16,480 Speaker 1: the old school mentality. Bruce Bochi Hello, the way he 365 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 1: manages a game, I feel, as well as by the 366 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 1: information he has given from his analytical people. It's a 367 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:26,639 Speaker 1: combination and he's allowed to do what he needs to 368 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:31,879 Speaker 1: do while watching the game. It's important, really important, So 369 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:36,119 Speaker 1: I would expect that there would be a trend or 370 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:38,920 Speaker 1: maybe some kind of pattern towards some of these guys 371 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:42,399 Speaker 1: coming back. Showalter would be one of them. Joe Madden 372 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:47,080 Speaker 1: might be another. The problem is that the individual styles 373 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 1: of show Walter and Joe Madden sometimes do not play 374 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:53,679 Speaker 1: well with front offices. Showalter for a variety of reasons, 375 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:55,639 Speaker 1: Madden for a variety of reasons. I don't need to 376 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:59,120 Speaker 1: go into great detail here, but they are seen as individualists. 377 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 1: They are seen as guy who want to do their 378 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:05,320 Speaker 1: own thing, not necessarily in the collaboration mode or as 379 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:08,080 Speaker 1: much as some others. They might object to that, they 380 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:11,199 Speaker 1: might feel that that's an unfair characterization, but that is 381 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 1: the way many. 382 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 2: Front offices see them. 383 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 1: So as we go through this process, we see all 384 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:20,760 Speaker 1: these managers get hired in the coming days. It will 385 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 1: be interesting to see if show Walter gets another chance, 386 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 1: if maybe Madden gets an interview somewhere some kind of interest. 387 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 1: I don't know, and I don't know if there are 388 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:33,640 Speaker 1: other veteran managers out there that suddenly might become more 389 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 1: appealing to teams. But the success of the three guys 390 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:42,680 Speaker 1: I just mentioned, Snicker Baker, Boachie speaks for itself, and yes, 391 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:46,200 Speaker 1: They're all different. They all are much different in their 392 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:48,120 Speaker 1: approaches and the way they go about it. 393 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 2: But they have experience. 394 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 1: They have decades of watching games and gaining feel and 395 00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:59,160 Speaker 1: understanding for what goes on in a game in a clubhouse, 396 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:03,200 Speaker 1: how you do the job. I'm not saying only experienced 397 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:06,479 Speaker 1: managers should get these jobs. Managers have to start somewhere. 398 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:08,359 Speaker 1: Someone has to be a first timer before they can 399 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 1: be experienced. All I'm saying is, perhaps now it's time 400 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 1: to look at the veteran managers a little bit differently, 401 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 1: all right, a little bit different dude in dork approach. 402 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,960 Speaker 1: This week we are going to do the dude and dork. 403 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:21,920 Speaker 2: Of the postseason. 404 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: Now, due to the postseason, I could have gone any 405 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 1: number of ways, right Corey Seeger dude, Adolices, Garcia dude. 406 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:33,600 Speaker 1: But the biggest, baddest dude. I just talked about him 407 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:37,400 Speaker 1: in the previous segment. Bruce Bochie, manager of the Texas Rangers, 408 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 1: and I want to take you back to the end 409 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:42,359 Speaker 1: of the regular season when the Rangers lost three or 410 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:45,359 Speaker 1: four in Seattle, lost the tiebreaker to the Astros for 411 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:48,359 Speaker 1: the division title. I was there for Fox that final 412 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:52,160 Speaker 1: weekend in Seattle, and I watched the Rangers, and I thought, man, 413 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:55,160 Speaker 1: there is no way, there is no way this team 414 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:58,120 Speaker 1: is going to make much of an impact in the postseason. 415 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:00,639 Speaker 1: They've got to fly all the way across the country 416 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:03,840 Speaker 1: to Tampa Bay to play the Rays, very good raised 417 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:06,720 Speaker 1: team as opposed to getting a buye, and then they've 418 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 1: got to keep going from there. Well, what happened, You 419 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:12,320 Speaker 1: guys saw what happened. They beat the Rays, they beat 420 00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:15,160 Speaker 1: the Orioles, they beat the Astros, they beat the Diamondbacks, 421 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:19,959 Speaker 1: and all along we saw again the mark of Boche 422 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:22,960 Speaker 1: all over this thing, with the way he handled his pitching, 423 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:26,320 Speaker 1: just with the way his club responded to adversity and 424 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:31,720 Speaker 1: stayed cool. Bochie's greatest strength is his even demeanor. I 425 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:34,679 Speaker 1: wrote about this in my final column on the World Series. 426 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:37,800 Speaker 1: People talk about his bullpen management. That's really good, of course, 427 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:43,199 Speaker 1: but it's his personality. It's his calmness that really resonates 428 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 1: with players and his coaches as well. So Bruce Bochie 429 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 1: fourth World Series title. He was going to the Hall 430 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 1: of Fame even before this. Now he's going to the 431 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:56,120 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame with an extra added thing on his resume. 432 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:59,240 Speaker 1: And what a great thing. It is four World Series titles. 433 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:01,600 Speaker 1: The only manager with four or more to do it 434 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:05,000 Speaker 1: with two different teams. Bruce Boti Dude of the postseason, 435 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:08,919 Speaker 1: Dork of the Postseason, I'm going to give it to 436 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 1: two different entities, Major League Baseball and the Umpires Union. 437 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:17,480 Speaker 1: The reason I'm going to give the Dork of the 438 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:21,080 Speaker 1: Week to those two particular entities is because of the 439 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:25,399 Speaker 1: lack of transparency that goes on with the selection of 440 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:28,000 Speaker 1: umpires for the postseason. Now, I'm going to show you 441 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:32,439 Speaker 1: the criteria that MLB has shared with me and explains 442 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:34,640 Speaker 1: how they choose the umpires, but it doesn't go far 443 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 1: enough in my opinion. Let's take a look right here. 444 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:42,720 Speaker 1: Here's the criteria. Regular season performance, situation, handling, communication and 445 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:49,880 Speaker 1: conflict resolution, rules enforcement, and experience. Experience also is a factor. Now, 446 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 1: regular season performance, I know there is obviously a Twitter 447 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:57,560 Speaker 1: account or an x account that rates the umpires. You 448 00:23:57,560 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 1: can see the ball strike ratings for each particular game. 449 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:03,880 Speaker 1: That's fine, but that's not what Major League Baseball is using. 450 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:07,480 Speaker 1: They're using their own methodology. And then the other things 451 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:10,760 Speaker 1: that I saw listed there or had listed there from 452 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:15,520 Speaker 1: Major League Baseball, those are somewhat subjective conflict resolution, how 453 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:18,840 Speaker 1: they handle the new rules, all these different things. That's 454 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 1: how baseball judges, and that's fine. Baseball is entitled, as 455 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:26,320 Speaker 1: are the umpires to determine the umpires however they see fit. 456 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:27,040 Speaker 2: I get that. 457 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:31,640 Speaker 1: What I would like to see is more transparency. That's all, 458 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:34,879 Speaker 1: show us the ratings. The players have this complaint, and 459 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:38,679 Speaker 1: it's a very valid complaint. They say, we're rated. You 460 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:41,000 Speaker 1: see our numbers on the scoreboard every time we come 461 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:43,399 Speaker 1: to bat, every time we take them out. Yet we 462 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:47,320 Speaker 1: never know which umpires are rated the highest. That's a 463 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:50,440 Speaker 1: fair complaint. And the reason I included the Umpire's Union 464 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:52,480 Speaker 1: in this and I don't know this for a fact, 465 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:55,560 Speaker 1: but I am assuming it. Maybe unwisely, but I'm assuming it. 466 00:24:56,080 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 1: The Umpire's Union doesn't want that stuff out there. If 467 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 1: they did, I assume it would be out there, so 468 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:04,360 Speaker 1: major League Baseball in the Umpire's Union. I know we're 469 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:08,359 Speaker 1: moving toward a challenge system with robo umps in the future, 470 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:11,159 Speaker 1: and that will be a great thing, no doubt, challenge 471 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:13,080 Speaker 1: a couple of calls a game that would be healthy 472 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:16,560 Speaker 1: for the sport. But until then, in that moment, is 473 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 1: not coming next season most likely until then, I would 474 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 1: like to see greater transparency. It's not that much to 475 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:25,560 Speaker 1: ask all right, time now for grilling Ken. This is 476 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:28,200 Speaker 1: the segment, of course, in which I answer your questions, 477 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:31,520 Speaker 1: the ones you submitted to our show on X. Let's 478 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:33,880 Speaker 1: start with the first question this week. It comes from 479 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:37,679 Speaker 1: fire Press Tailor. Not sure what that's a reference to, 480 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:41,760 Speaker 1: but that's the person's account. Fire Press Tailor asks, are 481 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 1: the Marlins going to rebuild? Have to think with the 482 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:46,960 Speaker 1: front office and instability, they are going back to square one. 483 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:50,800 Speaker 1: Bruce Sherman should sell to someone with money. All right, 484 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 1: none of those things are happening. They're not going to rebuild, 485 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:56,399 Speaker 1: not going to tear it down in a classic sense. 486 00:25:56,840 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 1: Josh Bell has taken his player offtion and exercise that 487 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:05,000 Speaker 1: he'll be back next year, so Laire declined his option. 488 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:07,359 Speaker 1: They need to decide now whether to give him a 489 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:11,760 Speaker 1: qualifying offer. Johnny Cuato won't be back, but they have again, 490 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:14,760 Speaker 1: even without Sandy al Contra for next season coming off 491 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:17,679 Speaker 1: to Tommy John the makings of a good rotation. They 492 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:20,680 Speaker 1: had a decent bullpen this year. They need more offense. 493 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:23,080 Speaker 1: We know that, but I don't see them going backwards. 494 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:27,200 Speaker 1: They just hired or are about to hire Peter Bendix 495 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:30,880 Speaker 1: to run their baseball operations. What they want Peter Bendix 496 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:34,480 Speaker 1: to do is kind of emulate what he did along 497 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:38,080 Speaker 1: with Eric Neander and Tampa Bay, which has put a 498 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:42,320 Speaker 1: competitive team on the field for as little money as possible. 499 00:26:42,560 --> 00:26:44,679 Speaker 1: That's what Tampa Bay does. They do it very well. 500 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:47,639 Speaker 1: That will be the idea in Miami. They're not going 501 00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:50,359 Speaker 1: into a rebuild, and we have seen no signs at 502 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 1: least as of yet, that Bruce Sherman intends to sell. 503 00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:56,960 Speaker 1: Whether we want him to sell, whether he should sell, 504 00:26:57,000 --> 00:26:59,439 Speaker 1: whether the franchise would be best served by him selling, 505 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:02,840 Speaker 1: that is another question entirely. All right, Next we go 506 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:05,800 Speaker 1: to Chris Donald, who asks, do you think Bryce Harper 507 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:08,960 Speaker 1: should permanently move to first base or return to the outfield? 508 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 1: Which is better for him and which is better for 509 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:14,080 Speaker 1: the Phillies. This is a really interesting question, and it's 510 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:18,360 Speaker 1: a question Chris that kind of the Phillies offseason hinges 511 00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:20,320 Speaker 1: on at least part of it. They're gonna have to 512 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:24,160 Speaker 1: address their rotation, whether it's resigning Nolo or getting someone else. 513 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:27,520 Speaker 1: But the Harper question is a big one. Dave Dombrowski, 514 00:27:27,560 --> 00:27:30,359 Speaker 1: the president of Baseball Operations, has said he wants to 515 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 1: hear from Bryce what he wants to do. Now. What's 516 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:37,000 Speaker 1: interesting here is that Bryce Harper played an above average 517 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:39,800 Speaker 1: first base according to the Advanced Metrics, even though that 518 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:41,880 Speaker 1: was the first time this season that he had ever 519 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:45,840 Speaker 1: played that position. For the wear and tear on his body, 520 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:49,119 Speaker 1: first base probably is better for him long term, and 521 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 1: maybe he sees it that way, or maybe he says, 522 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:55,080 Speaker 1: you know what, I really would rather play the outfield. 523 00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 1: That's home to me, is where I've been my whole career, 524 00:27:57,560 --> 00:27:58,879 Speaker 1: or pretty much my whole career. 525 00:27:59,160 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 2: I'd like that. 526 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:04,800 Speaker 1: Obviously, whatever he decides, then a number of other decisions 527 00:28:04,840 --> 00:28:08,359 Speaker 1: will follow. If Bryce Harper decides to play the outfield, 528 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:10,640 Speaker 1: maybe at that point the Phillies say, okay, let's bring 529 00:28:10,680 --> 00:28:12,080 Speaker 1: back Rhys Hoskins, who of. 530 00:28:12,040 --> 00:28:14,840 Speaker 2: Course missed the entire season with knee surgery. 531 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 1: The Phillies also, if Bryce Harper plays first base, on 532 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:20,880 Speaker 1: the other hand, would be perhaps in a more flexible 533 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:24,879 Speaker 1: position with their outfield and d. H. Schwarber put marsh 534 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:28,800 Speaker 1: pache Rojas and of course Castaiano some combination of those 535 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:31,400 Speaker 1: guys in the outfield, you'd be better defensively as they 536 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:33,960 Speaker 1: were when Bryce was at first and they had Schwarber 537 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:37,119 Speaker 1: dhing this season. There are all kinds of ways they 538 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 1: can go, but it seems to me, based on Dombrowski's comments, 539 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:43,280 Speaker 1: that they're going to put a lot of stock into 540 00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 1: what Bryce Harper's desires are, and understandably so. He is 541 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:49,920 Speaker 1: their centerpiece. He's signed for a long time and they 542 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:51,720 Speaker 1: want to do what's best for him and of course 543 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:55,760 Speaker 1: what's best for the franchise as well. Finally, the third 544 00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:59,760 Speaker 1: question this week comes from Jeff quit Jeff says the 545 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:03,160 Speaker 1: Cubs have money and prospects and have publicly valued to content. 546 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:06,320 Speaker 1: What free agent are they most likely to sign? Your opinion, 547 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:09,960 Speaker 1: could Soto be in the mix? To answer the Sodo question, 548 00:29:10,040 --> 00:29:12,720 Speaker 1: he certainly should be in the mix. If Wan Soto 549 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:16,080 Speaker 1: is going to get traded this offseason, every team with 550 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:18,960 Speaker 1: a need like the Cubs, and even some without a need, 551 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:23,240 Speaker 1: would want Juan Soto. Granted only one year left of control, 552 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:26,000 Speaker 1: it's about thirty million in the final year of arbitration, 553 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:30,560 Speaker 1: and then you obviously face the possibility of losing him 554 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 1: in free agency. It's a risk you take, but it 555 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:36,760 Speaker 1: also depresses the trade return. It's not going to be 556 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:40,000 Speaker 1: as significant as what the Padres gave the Nationals for 557 00:29:40,040 --> 00:29:42,560 Speaker 1: Sodo when he had two plus years of control. One 558 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:46,040 Speaker 1: year of control, a thirty million price goes down. So 559 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:48,400 Speaker 1: the Cubs, yes, they should be in the mix. I 560 00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:51,080 Speaker 1: don't like to predict which teams are going to sign 561 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:55,400 Speaker 1: which free agents because free agency is so unpredictable that 562 00:29:56,040 --> 00:29:59,520 Speaker 1: those things are invariably silly when you make predictions. See 563 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:02,240 Speaker 1: I don't have the inside information, but if they don't 564 00:30:02,280 --> 00:30:05,640 Speaker 1: get Soto and they can't resign Bellinger, clearly an outfielder 565 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:08,400 Speaker 1: with power is going to be in need. There aren't 566 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 1: many available in free agency other than Bellinger, quite frankly, 567 00:30:12,360 --> 00:30:15,600 Speaker 1: so I expect the Cubs to do that address the outfield. 568 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:18,000 Speaker 1: I also expect them to look for a free agent 569 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:21,520 Speaker 1: starting pitcher to replace Stroman and address other areas of 570 00:30:21,560 --> 00:30:24,520 Speaker 1: the team as well. Thanks everyone for your questions, Thanks 571 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 1: for watching, Thanks for listening. I am off on Monday 572 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:31,160 Speaker 1: to the GM meetings in Phoenix. I'll be there until Thursday. 573 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 1: Then I'm traveling to Saint Louis for a celebration of 574 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:37,040 Speaker 1: Tim mccarver's life and this is going to be something 575 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:40,240 Speaker 1: that's held over two days. And Tim, of course played 576 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:42,880 Speaker 1: a great role in my career. He was incredibly kind 577 00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:44,920 Speaker 1: to me when I joined the broadcast team in two 578 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:47,440 Speaker 1: thousand and six. If he had not accepted me and 579 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:50,320 Speaker 1: not been so professional in the way he treated me, 580 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:51,440 Speaker 1: it would not. 581 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:53,040 Speaker 2: Have worked him and Joe Buck both. 582 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:56,480 Speaker 1: So I'm indebted to Tim, I love Tim, I miss him, 583 00:30:56,880 --> 00:30:58,560 Speaker 1: and I'm looking forward to that event. 584 00:30:59,320 --> 00:31:00,320 Speaker 2: All right, you know what to do? 585 00:31:00,760 --> 00:31:04,240 Speaker 1: Like us, Subscribe to us, YouTube, Apple, Spotify, wherever you 586 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:05,120 Speaker 1: get your podcasts. 587 00:31:05,360 --> 00:31:06,480 Speaker 2: Have a great week everyone. 588 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:08,880 Speaker 3: Hey, get in on the action with the ft fam. 589 00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:10,000 Speaker 2: At BETMGM. 590 00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 3: New customers use the bonus code foul foul for a 591 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:18,680 Speaker 3: fifteen hundred dollars first bet offer. 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