1 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, Radio News. 2 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 2: Hi everyone, welcome back to the DAL. I'm Jason Kelly 3 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 2: alongside Alex Rodriguez. This is a special edition, not your 4 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,919 Speaker 2: scheduled programming here, but we had to get together Alex 5 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 2: to talk about the World Series. You were there, You 6 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 2: saw it all unfold. I was watching on TV and candidly, 7 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:32,560 Speaker 2: there were a lot of people watching this. I want 8 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 2: to break it down with you. Get the perspective from you, 9 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 2: know you as a broadcaster, you was obviously a former 10 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,240 Speaker 2: All Star and also as a team owner because this 11 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 2: is a juggernaut of a business in the back to 12 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 2: back champion Los Angeles Dodgers, and also a really great 13 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:51,199 Speaker 2: moment it feels like for baseball. 14 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 3: So give me your top line thoughts. 15 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 2: You know, what did it feel like to watch this 16 00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 2: end up in the two best words in sports? 17 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 3: Game seven? You were there? What did it feel like? 18 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 4: And even better than Game seven? Game seven of a 19 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:08,040 Speaker 4: World series? Right, yeah, which is incredible. First of all, 20 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 4: it was the most incredible event. It was the best 21 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 4: World Series I've ever seen in my fifty years. You 22 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 4: had three countries heavily viewing, heavily involved with the US 23 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 4: Canada and Japan. 24 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:20,119 Speaker 1: You know, you can. 25 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:22,759 Speaker 4: Make an argument that the Jays outplayed them in every 26 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 4: facet of the game. But somehow, in order to be 27 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 4: a champion, you got to know, knock out the champion. 28 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:31,399 Speaker 4: And the Dodgers just simply don't make mistakes. Yeah, and 29 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 4: they don't make it in a three dimensional level, right, 30 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 4: They don't make it at the Mark Walter level with 31 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 4: the ownership. They don't make it at the Andrew Friedman 32 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 4: who runs you know, baseball operations for them. And Dave 33 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 4: Roberts just had one of the most magnificent I told 34 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 4: him on air and then off air again, is there 35 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 4: is the third Championship as a manager. This is by 36 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 4: far the best master Classes ever put on. It was 37 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 4: the most anti script world series we've seen in over 38 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 4: ten years, meaning he did things that were unconventional. It 39 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 4: was an old school style. Let pitchers pitch up to 40 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 4: one hundred and twenty pitchers. Obviously Yama Moto pitchers Game two, 41 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 4: six and seven, you've never seen. You had four starters 42 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 4: pitch for the Dodgers. They made a combined one point 43 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 4: four billion dollars in contracts, and ironically is the guy 44 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 4: that's basically making the minimum in Rojas who hits the 45 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 4: home run, and then you have you Savage on the 46 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 4: other side, the young pitchers twenty two years old, also 47 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 4: making the minimum. He started his season in Dunedin. So 48 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 4: what makes it great about baseball? 49 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: Jason? Sorry to geek out here, but you know how 50 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 1: much I love baseball is that I like basketball. 51 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 4: Unlike basketball and football, where you know the ball is 52 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 4: going to be in Tom Brady's hand throwing to his 53 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 4: favorite receiver or in basketball as Michael Jordan or Steph Curry, 54 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 4: in baseball, you have no idea who the next hero 55 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 4: is going to be, and we saw exactly that in 56 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 4: this series. 57 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:50,639 Speaker 2: Well, and it's interesting too because you know, you came 58 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 2: up in an age of baseball where it was a 59 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 2: star driven league. 60 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 3: You were one of those stars. 61 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 2: It feels like baseball has been lacking some of that 62 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 2: up until the last couple of years. And this series 63 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:06,919 Speaker 2: was really a showcase. I mean a showcase. Pun intended 64 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 2: was sho hey O Tani obviously doing things on the 65 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 2: baseball field that literally have never been done before, and 66 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 2: yet he doesn't even end up as the MVP. 67 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 3: Yamamoto does. 68 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 2: I think it's fair to say that had the Blue 69 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:23,360 Speaker 2: Jays one Vladimir Guerrero Junior, which obviously would have been 70 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 2: the MVP. So the starmaking aspect, which ultimately is very 71 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 2: important to the bottom line of this sport, I think 72 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 2: you would agree, was really on display in a way 73 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 2: that we haven't seen in a while. 74 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 3: Does that track with you? 75 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 4: You're one hundred percent right, Jason. The other thing is 76 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 4: like covering this with Fox in the pre and posts, 77 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 4: with Kevin Burkhard and Derek Jeter and Big Poppy. It 78 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 4: was like the most delicious, most tasty, five star dinner 79 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 4: you can have. There was so much to talk about. 80 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 4: I have a longtime producer who's a dear friend of 81 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 4: mine who always said, the key to a big world 82 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 4: series or big you know sports is the three s's, superstars, 83 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 4: strategy and storylines. And just had it in abundance all three. 84 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 4: You had the biggest stars in the world, right, You 85 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 4: had incredible strategy, the stuff that was going on it 86 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 4: was like chess, three dimensional, and then the storylines. 87 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 1: Was just incredible. And what makes baseball so unique unlike 88 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 1: a Super Bowl. 89 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:19,280 Speaker 4: It's like a movie and it's a big time movie 90 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,160 Speaker 4: with Tom Cruise or you name your star. What's great 91 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 4: about baseball in a seven game series? It's like a 92 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 4: seven episode docu series where you're investing in the characters 93 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 4: and the storylines and the injuries, and so you must 94 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 4: watch that Game of Thrones. Game seven is the final, 95 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 4: the finality. Yeah, And it's everything that leads up to 96 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 4: that that makes it so like romantic and like I 97 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 4: just walked out from our practice the. 98 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:46,840 Speaker 1: Timberwolves here in New York, and I. 99 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 4: Had every guy come up to me, goes, I've never 100 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 4: watched a down of baseball, but I got to tell you, 101 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 4: I couldn't take my eyes off the thing. And when 102 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 4: we were flying, we had like the whole team in 103 00:04:56,200 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 4: this little TV just watching the games. It was a transformational, great, great, 104 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:02,480 Speaker 4: great moment for baseball. 105 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 2: You know, obviously you look at this through the lens 106 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 2: of being a broadcaster. Now twenty six million people tune 107 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,280 Speaker 2: into Fox peak of thirty one million, I believe, give 108 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 2: or take. In Game seven, I have to think that 109 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 2: the bosses at Fox had big smiles on their faces 110 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,839 Speaker 2: as you were walking around and traveling with them, because 111 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:26,480 Speaker 2: it wasn't a given. Fox doesn't show in Canada, and 112 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 2: so the Blue Jays that at least coming into it 113 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:35,720 Speaker 2: is not an optimal situation, and yet the numbers still delivered. 114 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 3: What do you make of that? 115 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 4: Yeah, you could make an argument, and I'm not sure 116 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 4: how the Fox executives felt, but any TV executive will say, boy, 117 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 4: I wish it's two American teams. 118 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 1: So we can get both markets. Right. Yeah. 119 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:48,840 Speaker 4: For example, you mentioned that thirty one point five at 120 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 4: the peak for Game seven, which was about eleven forty 121 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:53,919 Speaker 4: when things got a little dicey there. If that was 122 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 4: the Yankees, for example, that thirty one will probably jump 123 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 4: to like forty five, right, because all of New York. 124 00:05:58,480 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: Right. 125 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 4: So the fact that you got thirty one to five 126 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 4: is the highest rating since twenty seventeen when the Dodgers 127 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:08,359 Speaker 4: played the Astros. And that doesn't include you know, Canada, 128 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 4: that include Japan. It's just a magnificent number. They were thrilled. 129 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 4: They were thrilled, to say the least. And you had 130 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:17,160 Speaker 4: the best two teams playing the best style of baseball. 131 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:20,719 Speaker 4: And in many ways, Jason, the last ten years, the 132 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:23,039 Speaker 4: game of baseball that we all fell in love with 133 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 4: had been taken away from us. And what I mean 134 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 4: by that is they were scripting these scripts at ten 135 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 4: o'clock in the morning to do something at ten o'clock. 136 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 1: At night, and it doesn't work that way. 137 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, when you saw Dave Roberts and John Schneider, both 138 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 4: managers were brilliant here. 139 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 1: They were brilliant. 140 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 4: They were doing things unconventional in real time, whether it's 141 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 4: starting Rojas or whether it's you know, Benching their center fielder. 142 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 4: And then he comes in and makes the catch of 143 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 4: the century as he runs over Keika Hernandez Pahes and 144 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 4: it was just incredible. 145 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:55,839 Speaker 1: Stuff you saw is just you fell. 146 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:57,719 Speaker 3: In love with just staying on the numbers for a second. 147 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 2: So you have that that twenty six million were for 148 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,159 Speaker 2: the US, you have another you know, ten or eleven 149 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 2: in Canada, which, by the way, based on the population 150 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 2: of Canada, essentially one in four Canadians were watching this, 151 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 2: which is wild. We haven't seen numbers around any event 152 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 2: in television maybe bar the Super Bowl in forever. I mean, 153 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 2: that's insane. And then the Japan of it all. We 154 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 2: all have sort of friends and colleagues who've been to Japan. 155 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 2: It's Dodger Mania over there, obviously, between Otani, Yamamoto and 156 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 2: other players who are sort of coming through the American system. 157 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 3: It was an actual World Series. 158 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 1: It really was. 159 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:38,240 Speaker 4: And again it had a little bit of an Olympics 160 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 4: feel because when you know the Canadians, there's such a 161 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 4: fantastic job of the pregame ceremonies was just wild. They 162 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 4: would pull out the beautiful red Canadian flag and it 163 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 4: would start all the way in center field and it 164 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 4: would end up at home played, and it was I 165 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 4: get goosebumps talking about it now, Like you first go 166 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 4: with the national anthem and that was beautiful, and then 167 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 4: that stops. And then and I'm telling you, you had 168 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 4: fifty thousand people singing every word of the Canadian It 169 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 4: felt more than baseball. 170 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 1: And look, we're in the world today. 171 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 4: That's kind of very spicy between political stuff arrosts, which 172 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 4: I'm not going to get into, but you certainly felt. 173 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 4: And you think about this, Jason, if you're the Canadians 174 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:20,080 Speaker 4: and you're you have one team, one country, first time 175 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 4: in the history of Canada as far as Major League 176 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 4: Baseball that even in ninety two when the Blue Jays 177 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 4: won ninety two and ninety three, you still had the 178 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 4: Montreal Expos that were really really good at that time. 179 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: This is one country, one team. 180 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 4: So you had forty one million people Canadians cheering for 181 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 4: one team, and they would have gone through our two 182 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 4: Tiffany blue Blood franchises, the New York Yankees and the 183 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:46,720 Speaker 4: LA Dodgers. My god, how sweet would they have tasted? 184 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 4: And they literally tasted it. I've never seen a game 185 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 4: six and a game seven both end on a double play, 186 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 4: the most radical double playing Game six with a time 187 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:00,960 Speaker 4: run on third. It was just you know, watch TV. 188 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:02,960 Speaker 2: Well and it's funny, you know, we keep talking about 189 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 2: you know, it went seven games. I mean, it went 190 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 2: almost nine games when you figure in all you know, 191 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:10,719 Speaker 2: I mean the fact there was an eighteen inning game 192 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 2: that's the equivalent of two games right there, and then 193 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:15,080 Speaker 2: extra innings to boot. All right, So put on your 194 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 2: owner's hat. You and your partner, Mark Lori owned the 195 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 2: Minnesota Timberwolves and the Minnesota Link at which everybody who's 196 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 2: listening to this probably knows. But I know you have 197 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 2: a lot of admiration for Mark Walter and his group. 198 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 2: Magic Johnson being you know, one of the owners. You 199 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:32,080 Speaker 2: talked to him on the postgame show on Fox. As 200 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:35,520 Speaker 2: you're thinking about this from an ownership perspective, what do 201 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:37,959 Speaker 2: you take away, how does this inform your playbook as 202 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 2: an owner? 203 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: It's all people. 204 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 4: I mean when Mark Walter, I remember, you know, over 205 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:44,560 Speaker 4: a decade ago, Jays, I'm sure you remember when he 206 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 4: paid two point two billion. Mark Walter was a laughing 207 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 4: stock of the market. Yeah, can you pay so much money? 208 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 4: You overpaid? 209 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 1: Da da da. 210 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:53,439 Speaker 4: But what he knew more than anybody is that he 211 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 4: had two hundred and fifty million dollars a year coming 212 00:09:56,280 --> 00:10:00,280 Speaker 4: for basically the next twenty years from the TV contract. Acentually, 213 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 4: what you're looking at is NFL economics that just happens 214 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 4: to have been the mob umbrella. And the fact that 215 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 4: they're the first team ever in Major League Baseball sports 216 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 4: to go over a billion dollars in gross revenue. It's 217 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 4: really a remarkable feat. But it's all people. I mean, 218 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 4: look at look at the people they have. And I 219 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 4: break it down. 220 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:19,080 Speaker 1: Into three layers. 221 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 4: You have Mark Walters, you have Todd Bowley, you have 222 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 4: Peter Gouber, you have standcasting, Lonrosen, Magic Johnson, and then 223 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 4: you go Andrew Friedman, who's you know, came from Tampa, 224 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,520 Speaker 4: did wonderful things there. And then on the field you 225 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 4: have Dave Roberts and you have a world class roster. 226 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 4: I mean, it's hard not to get it right with 227 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 4: so much talent in the room. And what Mark Walter's 228 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 4: done better than anyone is he has a big vision. 229 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 4: Obviously he has deep pockets, but he's wonderful at bringing 230 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 4: the best people in the world to surround him and 231 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,960 Speaker 4: then have a balance between you know, analytics and humans, 232 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 4: and he does that better than anyone. 233 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 2: It's also funny to think about, you know, in your 234 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:58,560 Speaker 2: in your relatively new job as an NBA owner. 235 00:10:58,720 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 3: I'm sure you're looking that. 236 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 2: On the one hand, you have a lot of admiration 237 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 2: for him as the owner of the Dodgers. On the 238 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 2: other hand, you're looking and said, oh, wait, now he 239 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 2: owns the Lakers, right so right and right there at 240 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 2: the Western Conference. 241 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:11,319 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, exactly. 242 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:14,440 Speaker 2: So maybe that's coming a little closer to home as 243 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 2: you go. So one of the things that does sort 244 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 2: of stick in my mind. And I'm not the first 245 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 2: person to say this. 246 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 3: Is baseball. 247 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 2: It's doing great. The numbers bear it out. You know, 248 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:30,679 Speaker 2: some brilliant moves with the pitch clock. Obviously you think 249 00:11:30,679 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 2: about that eighteen in the game. Can you imagine how 250 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:34,720 Speaker 2: long that would have been without the pitch. I mean 251 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:40,440 Speaker 2: they'd still be playing it right now. Yeah, so great moment. 252 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:45,319 Speaker 2: And yet you and I both know CBA expires next December, 253 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 2: just over a year from now. 254 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:49,480 Speaker 3: How worried are you. 255 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:52,319 Speaker 2: Not to put too fine a point on it that 256 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 2: baseball could just like blow this again and and sort 257 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:59,080 Speaker 2: of squander this moment of increased popularity. 258 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 4: It'sunny you see commissioners go through evan flows of like 259 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 4: popularities and all that, and you know Rob went through 260 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:08,320 Speaker 4: a hard time. I personally think Rob Manford, our commissioner, 261 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:10,559 Speaker 4: I think he gives too much of a hard time. 262 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 4: He's just a real guy, very honest, doesn't really play 263 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 4: the political game, and in some ways that's hurt him. 264 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:18,719 Speaker 4: And I actually think what he's done over the last 265 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 4: five years, I mean, he should be on his way 266 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:23,679 Speaker 4: to the Hall of Fame because he really saved the 267 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 4: game of baseball with the clock, the bases and just 268 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:29,240 Speaker 4: implementing these things and make the game a lot more 269 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 4: progressive and more fun to watch. This has been such 270 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:35,680 Speaker 4: an extraordinary year and has taken us over ten years 271 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 4: to get this moment back, to get baseball back, to 272 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:41,680 Speaker 4: bring back starting pitching, to bring back, strategy, to bring back. 273 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 4: We had more hit and runs and buns in this 274 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,720 Speaker 4: series in the last five or seven combined. I hope 275 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 4: that between Tony Clark, who's very capable, and Rob Manford, 276 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 4: that they figure out a way not to strike or 277 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 4: have any work stoppage, because when you have everybody in 278 00:12:57,160 --> 00:13:00,200 Speaker 4: the game talking about baseball, this is the time to 279 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:01,839 Speaker 4: add on that to subtract. 280 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:02,320 Speaker 3: Yeah. 281 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, Tony Clark, of course the head of the PA, 282 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 2: well regarded ahead of the PA. 283 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 3: Yeah. 284 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 2: I mean there's a lot of work to do, you know. 285 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 2: I mean there's talk of, you know, potential expansion, you know, 286 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 2: in the next couple of years. Obviously, the media deals, 287 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 2: which you're very familiar with, you know, that continues to 288 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:22,240 Speaker 2: be a challenge because, as you mentioned earlier in the conversation, 289 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 2: the Dodgers have that incredible TV deal. 290 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 3: Not every team has that. 291 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:29,200 Speaker 2: Because it doesn't Baseball doesn't have the national deals that 292 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:30,319 Speaker 2: some of the other leagues have. 293 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 3: So I am so excited about baseball. 294 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 2: I of course want the Atlanta Braves to be a 295 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:38,440 Speaker 2: little bit better, but I do worry a little bit 296 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:41,319 Speaker 2: because we've seen it go away before and we've also 297 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 2: seen and you mentioned the last ten years. I remember 298 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 2: back to the nineties when there was the work stoppage 299 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:50,959 Speaker 2: and how long it took to sort of get people back. 300 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 2: You know, the Yankees obviously had a lot to do 301 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:56,440 Speaker 2: with it. But it's interesting since you played for the 302 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 2: New York Yankees to think about the Dodgers now being 303 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 2: I mean, they are what the Yankees were, you know, 304 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 2: back to back champions. I believe the last team to 305 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 2: do it was the Yankees. They've got a target on 306 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:09,560 Speaker 2: their backs. But you know they're the odds on favorite. 307 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 2: I mean, they could three peat. They are an absolute 308 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 2: juggernaut right now. 309 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, just to equo a little bit what 310 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 4: you're saying that this has only happened when I mean 311 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 4: repeat right, like what the Dodgers just accomplished, It's happened 312 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 4: twice in the last forty six years to your point, 313 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:28,760 Speaker 4: the Yankees ninety eight, ninety nine, two thousand three p 314 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 4: and then before that it was the Blue Jays two 315 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:34,480 Speaker 4: and ninety three. It is very difficult to do, but 316 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 4: the Dodgers are not going anywhere. The New York Yankees 317 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 4: had a lock on the top franchise and on the 318 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 4: game probably for about a century, one hundred years, and 319 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 4: for the first time you can actually say, without a doubt, 320 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 4: the Dodgers have now taken over that position and they're 321 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:48,880 Speaker 4: only getting stronger. 322 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 1: A little bit more bad news if you're not a 323 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: Dodger fan. 324 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 4: They have the number one farm system in baseball, they 325 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 4: have the number one pitching farm system in baseball, and 326 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 4: they have the number one hitting that yeah, nothing's going well. 327 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean it's crazy, and it's also crazy to 328 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 2: think about, you know, the deals that they've done in 329 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 2: the past few years. You know, obviously Otani is the 330 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 2: one that everybody will point to, but you think about 331 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 2: Freddie Freeman, a key role that he played in this series. 332 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:17,520 Speaker 2: Mookie Betts was you know, somewhat quiet, but you know 333 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:20,120 Speaker 2: there he was helping make the very last out to 334 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 2: secure the championship. So, I mean, these are marquee players. 335 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 2: And again I go back to this idea because you 336 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 2: and I both know this, stars are really important and 337 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 2: sort of these name brand stars that baseball didn't have 338 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 2: for a long time they have now. 339 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 4: Jayson want to I want to make one quick point, 340 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 4: just to put a button on this. You know, I 341 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 4: get often asked by a lot of folks, you know, 342 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:44,000 Speaker 4: where should I invest my money? You know, you have 343 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 4: all the big obviously, you have the big four, right, NFL, NBA, 344 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 4: and will be NHL, and then you have all the 345 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 4: secondary ones like pick a ball and volleyball. But I've 346 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:56,160 Speaker 4: always said the NHL has been on a honeymoon here. 347 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 4: They've been up like twenty seven percent over the last 348 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:01,520 Speaker 4: few years. NFL the monster that just keeps on giving. 349 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 4: NBA has been on fire. And what I mean by 350 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 4: that is some of these multiples have gone from NBA, 351 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 4: NFL anywhere from you know, eleven to like eighteen times 352 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 4: just top line revenue. Right, Baseball is the one sport 353 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 4: that's gone up about three or four percent. So when 354 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 4: I talk to investors, I've always been a contrarian. I 355 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 4: think the actually the best asset to buy right now 356 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 4: is to invest in the mob baseball because you have 357 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 4: the uncertainty of the work stoppage. You have a lot 358 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 4: of uncertainties, a lot of headwinds, you know. So I 359 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 4: think if you're an investor, you can look at a 360 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:36,640 Speaker 4: Major League baseball team at a six or seven time 361 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:40,080 Speaker 4: multiple and there's some real value there. There's a value 362 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 4: buy and you haven't seen this in sports in the 363 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 4: last seven or eight years. 364 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:45,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, and it'll be interesting to see sort of who 365 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 2: emerges next year as we think about next season. You know, 366 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 2: it wasn't that long ago that it looked like, you know, 367 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 2: one of the teams that was going to make it 368 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 2: all the way was the much lower payroll Milwaukee Brewers. 369 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 2: Our friend Mark out Anaco obviously as stewarded that club 370 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 2: very well. That they did not make it all the way, 371 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:05,480 Speaker 2: and we'll sort of see how the economics continue to change. 372 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:17,920 Speaker 2: All right, So, speaking of stars, you came back from 373 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:20,959 Speaker 2: doing that. You're here in New York this week and 374 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 2: premiering a documentary series, Alex Versus a Rod. I got 375 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:28,880 Speaker 2: to be with you at the premiere. Congratulations. I would 376 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 2: say two things, Congratulations and whoe beast. 377 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:36,719 Speaker 3: I mean, it is it's intense. How are you feeling? 378 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:41,479 Speaker 4: You know, some nervousness, some anxiety is definitely triggering. I 379 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:44,399 Speaker 4: talk about a lot of difficult, intimate things in this 380 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 4: documentary on HBO Alex Versus a Rod. 381 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:49,439 Speaker 1: I think people are going to be very surprised. 382 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:51,399 Speaker 4: I think you're gonna expect one thing and see another 383 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 4: as you saw in the first episode, and I really 384 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 4: dive into the mental health part of things and how 385 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 4: that affects and I think we the great Mike Francessa 386 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:04,360 Speaker 4: who's a legendary sports radio icon here in New York 387 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:05,919 Speaker 4: for the last almost forty years. 388 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 1: He had a great line in. 389 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:09,840 Speaker 4: It where he said, you know, a rod is a 390 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 4: Shakespearean figure, and he's a very flawed man, or he 391 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 4: was a very flawed man. 392 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 1: And I thought that was spot on. 393 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 4: And then I talk about my therapy and what I 394 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:21,679 Speaker 4: did about being that flawed man and all of that, 395 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 4: and is a human story and that human just happened 396 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:27,439 Speaker 4: to play baseball, is not a baseball story with a 397 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 4: guy that had issues. So and my hope is that 398 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:33,240 Speaker 4: the next generation of athletes or young people out there 399 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:36,640 Speaker 4: like our kids, can take some of my mistakes, learn 400 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 4: from them, and hopefully avoid them and move up to 401 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:40,199 Speaker 4: the front of the line. 402 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:42,439 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was quite an experience to be in that 403 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:45,280 Speaker 2: room with you know a lot of other friends and 404 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:48,480 Speaker 2: friends and family, and you know, notable folks showing up 405 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:52,119 Speaker 2: to show their support. Tom Brady, Michael Strahan among them, 406 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 2: Constant Swartz, Marini, a lot of people who who have 407 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 2: been in and around the deal cinematic universes, I like 408 00:18:57,800 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 2: to say, and obviously you have been key figures in 409 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:02,880 Speaker 2: your life, your family, your daughters, you know, your brother 410 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 2: and sister, your mom, you know, everybody sort of sort 411 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 2: of in the room. 412 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:09,360 Speaker 3: You know, you and I are closed. It was intense. 413 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:11,359 Speaker 2: It was intense to sort of sit there with you 414 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 2: and and sort of take all that in. So congratulations 415 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 2: on that. I'm excited for the world to see it 416 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 2: and again excited to be your partner in this. So 417 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:22,360 Speaker 2: thank you for putting that out into the world. Congratulations 418 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 2: on another baseball season in the books. It was fun 419 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:28,920 Speaker 2: to watch you on TV and you guys were obviously 420 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:30,840 Speaker 2: having a lot of fun doing it, and it's great 421 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:33,200 Speaker 2: to see baseball. You know, we talk all the time 422 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 2: on this show about this intersection of business, sports and culture. 423 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 2: I don't know that I've seen baseball feel as much 424 00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:42,160 Speaker 2: a part of the culture as it does right now 425 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:44,720 Speaker 2: in a long time, to your point, like ten twenty years, 426 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 2: you know, going back to you know, probably when you 427 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:49,440 Speaker 2: guys were winning World Series in you know, fifteen twenty 428 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:49,920 Speaker 2: years ago. 429 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, two things to close here, Jason is one, this 430 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 4: World Series had a feel like when you guys won 431 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 4: the Atlanta Braves, I mean in the mid nineties, right 432 00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 4: ninety five, and then you go to the Braves and 433 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:04,400 Speaker 4: you go twins and you had some of. 434 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 1: The Blue Jays. 435 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:08,719 Speaker 4: It just felt like an old school series and it 436 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 4: reminded us all why we fell in love with baseball, 437 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:14,920 Speaker 4: and it was very It had the resemblance of those 438 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:17,480 Speaker 4: feelings we had when we were all younger, and that's 439 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:20,920 Speaker 4: great for baseball. The second part in closing, I'm really 440 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 4: looking forward to what you think about. But I'm even 441 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,720 Speaker 4: thinking about more where your mom's gonna think about the documentary, 442 00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:28,680 Speaker 4: and I would love to hear what she thinks. 443 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:34,240 Speaker 2: Oh my god, the Debbie Kelly review will be an 444 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:38,399 Speaker 2: honest and for both one, I believe. So just maybe 445 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,359 Speaker 2: we'll have to book some time in Atlanta for that one. 446 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:43,480 Speaker 2: All right, thank you so much for listening to the Deal. 447 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:54,119 Speaker 2: We will see you next time. The Deal is hosted 448 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:57,399 Speaker 2: by Alex Rodriguez and me Jason Kelly. This episode was 449 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 2: made by Anamazarakus, Stacey Wong, and Phillip Amy. Kean is 450 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:05,360 Speaker 2: our editor and Will Connolly is our video editor. Our 451 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:08,720 Speaker 2: theme music is made by Blake Maples. Our executive producers 452 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:12,919 Speaker 2: are Kelly Leferrier, Ashley Hoenig, and Brenda neonham Sage Bauman 453 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 2: is the head of Bloomberg Podcast. Additional support from Rachel 454 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 2: Carnivale and Elena Los Angeles. Thanks so much for listening 455 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:21,880 Speaker 2: to the deal. If you have a minute, subscribe, rate 456 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 2: and review our show. It'll help other listeners find us. 457 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:26,800 Speaker 2: I'm Jason Kelly. See you next week.