1 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: Welcome one and all to the Hammer Territory Podcast. My 2 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 1: name is Sean Coleman. Hop wherever you are and wherever 3 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: you are listening, you are having a magnificent start to 4 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 1: your week. I told Stephen before the show had occurred, 5 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: it's been a long week so far, totally Tuesday. But 6 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:38,599 Speaker 1: you know what that means. It's time to talk brace baseball. 7 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 1: And I don't care whatever bad week that you're having, 8 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: whether it's a good week of bad week, a week 9 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: from hell, or a week from heaven, it's always good 10 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:46,160 Speaker 1: to talk brace baseball with you. Steven. 11 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 2: Hope you've been well, Sir Sean, what's up, brother, Yeah, 12 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 2: it's always good to do these with you. Man. You know, 13 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 2: this is a fun week. This is kind of the 14 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 2: week where everybody kind of tweets out. The spring training 15 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 2: buses and team wheelers are getting loaded up and heading 16 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 2: down to to get ready. You know, pictures and catchers 17 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:09,960 Speaker 2: report in about a week, you know, all the all 18 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 2: the spring training hats got released. I know that's a 19 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 2: niche thing, but one of my favorite things to do, 20 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 2: honestly is like this time of year, I usually dropped 21 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:20,760 Speaker 2: like one hundred and fifty bucks on like four or 22 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 2: five different teams spring training hats. So I got to 23 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 2: do that this week, which is the tail Tales. So 24 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:29,960 Speaker 2: I always try I always trying to get the Braves 25 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 2: because obviously and then I just looked for best designs. 26 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 2: I never buy any Mets gear or Phillies gear, just 27 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:39,400 Speaker 2: on principle, even if they've got awesome designs. I don't 28 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 2: touch that nonsense. But this year I bought the Brewers. 29 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 2: The Brewers always have really good that logo is amazing. Yeah, 30 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 2: they always have really good branding. H I like, I 31 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 2: bought Tampa's, I bought Pittsburgh's, and I bought one more 32 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 2: braves Milwaukee Tampa pitch No. Four. Yeah, I did four. 33 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 2: I bought four of them. So I'm a big spring 34 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 2: training hat guy. I like the kind of the off 35 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 2: off color, off brand stuff they do on spring training. 36 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:14,359 Speaker 2: So but yeah, you know, we're we're we're kind of here, 37 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 2: we're you know, football season. We got one more game 38 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 2: obviously Super Bowls on Sunday, and then after that, you know, 39 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:24,079 Speaker 2: it's it's springtime. It's March madness, and it's baseball. It's 40 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 2: my favorite time of year personally, So yeah, excited. We 41 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:28,959 Speaker 2: got some stuff to talk about. To now we're gonna 42 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 2: talk about a couple of moves and then one of 43 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 2: the most more important guys on the roster. Kind of 44 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 2: season he's gonna have. But yeah, it's always good to 45 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 2: do these with you man. 46 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, same here and yeah, no, the Diamondbacks, they always 47 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 1: have a dimond. 48 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 2: I almost bought that one. It was a little it 49 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 2: was a little two out there for me this year. 50 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 2: I think I bought there last year. I have to 51 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 2: go back and look. But yeah, spring training hats are fun. 52 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, they typically do a good job when it comes 53 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: to spring training hats. But as you mentioned, I mean know, 54 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: we got plenty to discuss Hammer Territory, probably the part 55 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 1: of the Foul Territory family of podcasts. And listen, we're 56 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 1: all excited because you know, we've seen the move made. 57 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: We've got jerks and profar you know in the has 58 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 1: the one major move in the clubhouse so far. I 59 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: know that there's been some rumblings out there that the 60 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,079 Speaker 1: Braves could potentially make other moves, and you know there's 61 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: a good chance Alexandopolis themselves said we could go into 62 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 1: spring training, but we still have had plenty of great 63 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 1: content for you when it comes to special guests. For instance, 64 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 1: me and Steven have had the chance to talk with 65 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:29,519 Speaker 1: various people such as Grant McCauley, Ben Badler, Aj Prazinski. 66 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: You know, recently Brad and Scott talked to Kyle Glazer, 67 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 1: who covers the Padres on various topics. So if you 68 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 1: have not been able to catch up in a while, 69 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: there's plenty of great content out there Hammer Territory Pile 70 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: of the Foul Territory Family podcast. But Steven, before we 71 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 1: get into you know another what we call position slash 72 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 1: player capsle looking at you know, current Braves and how they, 73 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: you know, really can make the most of twenty twenty five, 74 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 1: another former Brave landed in an interesting spot when it 75 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 1: came to Ramon Loreano signing a one year, four million 76 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: dollar deal with the Baltimore Orioles. And the reason why 77 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: I mentioned this is I know that Loreano, No, he's 78 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 1: not probably going to be remembered even two or three 79 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 1: years from now is his time with the Braves. But 80 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: I do think that he possibly had a bit of 81 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: a career resurgence when it came to his time in Atlanta. 82 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 1: The one thing that stood out with Loriano when he 83 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 1: was here, Steven was that his ability to be able 84 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: to put the bat on the ball and hit the 85 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: ball hard, it was up there in his time during 86 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:32,919 Speaker 1: the stint with the Braves, it was up there with 87 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: among the better hitters in baseball. It seemed like he 88 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 1: kind of recaptured some of the success he had had 89 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:41,479 Speaker 1: earlier in his career. I don't necessarily know what, you know, 90 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 1: role he'll have other than possibly being a platoon outfielder 91 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 1: with the Orioles, but it does go to show that 92 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 1: once again, even if the Braves don't retain these players, 93 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 1: they do a good job of helping these players recapture 94 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: some of their best practices that you know, really unlocked 95 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:00,279 Speaker 1: their potential. And I think we could see Loriano kay 96 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 1: carry over some of his success from last year into 97 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: this season. 98 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're kind of that time of year where a 99 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 2: lot of guys are signing these one year kind of 100 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:17,279 Speaker 2: five million dollar bench platoon outfield roles. I think Randall 101 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 2: Gritchick just signed one of these with with the Diamondbacks 102 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 2: today as well. You're gonna see a lot of those 103 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 2: of the next week. Basically, these guys kind of wait 104 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 2: all off season for their name to get called, hoping 105 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 2: that somebody will call with it with at very least 106 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 2: a major league job. A lot of them wi end 107 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 2: up taking minor league deals. But yeah, I mean you're 108 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 2: gonna see a number of these. And obviously Loreano had 109 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 2: a really good year last year with the Braves. It 110 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:43,480 Speaker 2: was probably a little fluky if for being honest, that's 111 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:46,160 Speaker 2: not something I would have bet on. You know, I 112 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 2: think Loriano's arbitration number was like six million, and then 113 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:50,840 Speaker 2: he got four million on the open market, so it 114 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 2: probably justifies the Braves non tendering him. He probably quite 115 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:58,040 Speaker 2: wasn't quite worth what his arbitration number was, but I'm 116 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 2: happy for him. He was massive for the I don't 117 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 2: think the Braves win the division. I mean they didn't 118 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:05,480 Speaker 2: win the division. I don't think they make the playoffs 119 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 2: without Loriano. Last year, the outfield just you know, with 120 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 2: a Kuna hurt, Michael Harris was hurt, Kelnick and Duval 121 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 2: were both different levels are bad for most of the year. 122 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,359 Speaker 2: Loreoanno kind of saved them in a lot of ways, 123 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 2: and you know, I'm happy for I thought maybe the 124 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 2: Braves might try it again. You know. Obviously they signed 125 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 2: Daily Cruz and then they added Profar, so the need 126 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:31,720 Speaker 2: for an outfielder declined very quickly for the Braves. But yeah, 127 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:34,040 Speaker 2: good for him. You're gonna see a lot of these deals. 128 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 2: You know, one year four million, one year five me 129 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,559 Speaker 2: is the exact same deal the Braves gave Duval last year, 130 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 2: so it's very common and this time of the year, 131 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 2: but he's trying to show up their bench, show up 132 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 2: the week side of a platoon or something like that, 133 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 2: So this is kind of the time these guys signed. 134 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 2: But good for Loriano. You know, I'll be rooting for him. 135 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:52,919 Speaker 2: He's not gonna play a ton in Baltimore. They've got 136 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:55,839 Speaker 2: a deep, deep, deep lineup in a deep pharm system 137 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:58,560 Speaker 2: full of outfielders, so it's probably not gonna play a ton, 138 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 2: but you know, he's still on a major league roster, 139 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 2: and after he got dfaed last year, that wasn't a guarantee. 140 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:06,599 Speaker 2: So so good for him. 141 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:08,799 Speaker 1: And it also seems to go back to the fact 142 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 1: that you know, we talk about, you know, all these 143 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: moves being made, but I think that one thing that 144 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: you know, kind of goes under the radar at times. 145 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: I know I talk about it a lot because he's 146 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:20,320 Speaker 1: just so consistent in this aspect of doing his job 147 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 1: that so many GMS have a hard time doing. Is 148 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 1: that in season, whether it be through trade or whether 149 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 1: it be through waiver wire pickup or things like that, 150 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: it's the move of the margins, the master of the 151 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 1: move on the margins. And I talk about with Alex 152 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 1: and thopplss, you know, being able to turn you know, 153 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 1: non elite prospects into useful major leaguers, being able to 154 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: bring in guys who were you know, let go elsewhere 155 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 1: to come in and be productive major leaguers here. You know, 156 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: Ramon Loreano, Gio Orcilla with Mierfield all last year did it. 157 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 1: I'm not saying that Alex and Thoppless is betting on 158 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: that and that's the reason why he's slowed this off season. 159 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 1: But I think that what it does show is is 160 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 1: that even if the Braves again don't do as much 161 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 1: heavy lifting this offseason as many would ex affect him too. 162 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 1: One of the things that Alex and Alex and Thoppless 163 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 1: stands out about among his is season moves. And I 164 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: think that once again it's important to point that out 165 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 1: where the off season may not work out with all 166 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: the needs being met Alex and Thopless is going to 167 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: keep a hand on his pulse or a hand on 168 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: the post of the situation and make the most of 169 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 1: it because I think he'll make other productive moves as 170 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 1: we go along. 171 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean he's always kept money, you know, he 172 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 2: always keeps money on the side just for that situation. Obviously, 173 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 2: last year it was an unusual situation with the number 174 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 2: of injuries they had. We've talked about before the Braves 175 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 2: aren't the deepest in terms of a farm system, especially 176 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 2: in the higher levels, double A, triple A, especially on 177 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 2: the position player side, So anytime they experienced injuries like 178 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:49,560 Speaker 2: they did last year, the Braves are gonna have to be, 179 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 2: you know, monsters on the of the waiver wire. And 180 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 2: Alex was last year. He'll probably do it again this 181 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 2: year as needs pop up. But yeah, I mean he's 182 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 2: been good at it. Orschello was amazing, wit Mirrifield was amazing. 183 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 2: Loreano obviously everybody knows. So it really did save the 184 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 2: Braves last year. I really hope we don't have to 185 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:11,080 Speaker 2: have that same conversation this year about who you know 186 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 2: which which guy off the scrap heap? Alex is gonna 187 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:17,559 Speaker 2: sign to be the starting third baseman. You know, I 188 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:21,199 Speaker 2: would much rather have a talk about Austin Riley's you know, 189 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 2: m v P year or Ronald the Cunyr Junior's MVP year. 190 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 2: But yeah, when when he's needed it, when he's had 191 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 2: to have it, and doubtless has always been able to 192 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 2: go get guys and turn them into a productive player, 193 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 2: you know, you know, Nicky Lopez. I mean, they've always 194 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 2: been able to go get fringe guys and and turn 195 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:42,320 Speaker 2: them into something. So it's a it's a good skill 196 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:45,679 Speaker 2: to have, and you know, I would love to not 197 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 2: have to use it again, but my guess is the 198 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 2: Bridges are gonna need it again at some point. 199 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:54,199 Speaker 1: Absolutely, And you know, you hope, as we segue into 200 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 1: the main topic of tonight, you know, you hope that 201 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 1: injuries don't pop up this year like they had the 202 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 1: past couple of years that make it a requirement for 203 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:08,200 Speaker 1: Alexanthopolis to hit on multiple signings in season or trades 204 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:11,319 Speaker 1: in season. You hope that many of the Brave's best 205 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 1: talents who they've already got internally can have good seasons. 206 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:21,080 Speaker 1: But there is one candidate, in my opinion, who potentially 207 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 1: has the breakout label on him more than any other 208 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 1: bread because we've already seen Austin Riley and Ronald Acunye, 209 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 1: Junior Spencer Strider and others break out to become stars 210 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:35,320 Speaker 1: or superstars. But the name Michael Harris the second stands 211 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: out as being the one player on this Brave's team. 212 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 1: But I think is already flashed star potential, especially with 213 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,960 Speaker 1: his glove. But you see the potential for there to 214 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 1: be a superstar, not only in terms of his talent, 215 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 1: but in terms of a personality. He's beloved by many 216 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:53,200 Speaker 1: in the Braves fan base, and for good reason. But Steven, 217 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:55,800 Speaker 1: before we get into the reasons why it's there to 218 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:58,560 Speaker 1: be optimistic for twenty twenty five, I think if we 219 00:10:58,640 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 1: kind of take a step back and look at his 220 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:04,440 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four season as a whole, at least offensively, 221 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 1: it was a bit disappointing at times, especially early in 222 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:11,320 Speaker 1: this season, when you look at Michael Harris the seconds, 223 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 1: you know, early start to the season as he was 224 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 1: trying to kind of figure things out. What do you 225 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 1: take from his twenty twenty four season when it came 226 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:20,840 Speaker 1: to over the long haul Before we get into some 227 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:22,440 Speaker 1: encouraging segments of the season. 228 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:27,839 Speaker 2: Yeah, listen, Michael is a tremendous talent. I mean he 229 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 2: won Rookie of the Year and he came up in 230 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 2: June the year he did. I mean, that's how good 231 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 2: he was. He was an elite player. And just on 232 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 2: skill And you and I have talked about this before, 233 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:43,080 Speaker 2: but just on pure talent and skill, especially now that 234 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 2: Acunya has had two knee surgeries, Michael Harris might be 235 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 2: the most talented player on the team. Yeah, just in 236 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 2: terms of raw talent, like raw potential. I'm not ready 237 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 2: to give up on Acunya just yet. You know, I 238 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 2: think he still got another MVP level year in and 239 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 2: but you know, two ACL surgeries, no joke, Michael is 240 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 2: twenty three years old. Like, it's it's very possible that 241 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 2: he is now in terms of just pure potential, the 242 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 2: most talented player on the team. And the things that 243 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 2: I've always that have always concerned me about Michael are 244 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 2: his inability to take walks. And that hurts him a 245 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:22,760 Speaker 2: ton because he it really his on base percentage really 246 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 2: struggles when he doesn't when he's not running a high 247 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 2: batting average, and that's that's a tough way to go 248 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 2: through life. If you have to be running a high 249 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 2: batting average to run a high obp it gets it 250 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 2: can get dicey, and I don't I don't like seeing 251 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 2: guys at like four percent walk rates. Those are very 252 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 2: low numbers and it's very hard to meet your offensive 253 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:46,440 Speaker 2: potential when you're walking that little. So the walks scare me. 254 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 2: And then kind of along with the walks is the 255 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:51,960 Speaker 2: chase rate. Is how often he swings at bad pitches, 256 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:55,160 Speaker 2: And obviously that's tied to walking, but it's not just 257 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:57,160 Speaker 2: about strikeouts and walks. It's about how many times he 258 00:12:57,200 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 2: makes contact on a bad pitch and rolls over the second. 259 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:05,720 Speaker 2: You know, swinging at bad pitches is it can It 260 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 2: can literally wreck your entire offensive career. I mean, we 261 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:12,680 Speaker 2: watched Hobby Bayez. I've actually made this comp before between 262 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:16,199 Speaker 2: Michael Harrison Hobby By as being elite defenders at premium positions. 263 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 2: We have a ton of power to struggle knowing when 264 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 2: to swing and when not to swing, and we watched 265 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 2: it destroy Hobby Bye as his career basically like he 266 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 2: looked like one of the best players of baseball for 267 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:29,200 Speaker 2: the first couple of years, but he can never figure 268 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 2: that part out. About when to swing, when not to swing. 269 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 2: And this is what I want. This is the next 270 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 2: step for Michael. This is the big step for Michael. 271 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 2: I want to see is that that chase rate, how 272 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:42,600 Speaker 2: many times you swing at pitches out of the zone. 273 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 2: I want to see that number come down. And when 274 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 2: if we ever see that number come down drastically, I 275 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 2: think you're gonna see an MVP level. See, that's his talent, 276 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 2: that's his that's his potential is MVP. When you play 277 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 2: a premium defensive position at the level that Michael plays, 278 00:13:58,280 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 2: you don't have to hit a ton to be an MP. 279 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 2: Like if he puts up a one twenty five, one 280 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 2: to thirty WRC plus playing that kind of defensive center, 281 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:07,720 Speaker 2: he's gonna get MVP votes. Like, that's the potential he 282 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 2: has with his power, his speed, his defense. If we 283 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 2: can get that last part, which is the plate discipline, 284 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 2: then I think it unlocks everything for him. And you know, 285 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 2: we saw that a lot last year. You and I 286 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 2: talked about it last year when he was going through 287 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 2: his rough stretches. He just swings at everything and and 288 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 2: pitchers run out of reasons to throw him fastballs. If 289 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 2: he's swinging at every curve ball and change up in 290 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 2: the dirt, and so that's the next thing for him, 291 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 2: and that's what held him back in twenty twenty four. 292 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 2: Obviously the injuries were part of that as well, but 293 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 2: even when he did play, he didn't reach his full 294 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 2: potential really until the very end of the season when 295 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:44,480 Speaker 2: he came back, and then the postseason. You know, we saw, 296 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 2: we saw flashes, but that chase rate, that's the numb 297 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:51,040 Speaker 2: If I'm looking at one number for Michael, I'm looking 298 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 2: at that chase rate. 299 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, you know, let's just you know, look 300 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 1: at his rookie season versus last year. Last year and 301 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 1: his rookie season he he had four hundred and forty 302 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 1: one played appearances. Last year he had four hundred and 303 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 1: seventy and just you know, a couple of quick, you know, 304 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 1: statistical snapshots here. His rookie season, he had an ISO 305 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 1: of two seventeen last year one fifty five. His rookie season, 306 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: he had a slugging percentage of five fourteen last year 307 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 1: four eighteen. A WRC plus at one thirty seven is 308 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:22,360 Speaker 1: rookie year, a ninety nine WRC plus in twenty twenty four, 309 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 1: and his f R went from five to two between 310 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 1: his rookie year and last year. One thing that definitely 311 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 1: stands out a reason for the regression is his rookie year, 312 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 1: he had a three sixty one batting average on balls 313 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 1: in play. Last year it was three hundred. And that's 314 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:41,120 Speaker 1: the thing that stands out, Stephen, is that if you 315 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 1: but what's been consistent about Michael Harris is that walk 316 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 1: rate between four point five and four point nine percent 317 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:49,640 Speaker 1: in his three years in the majors. But if you're 318 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 1: not walking a ton and he doesn't have a you know, 319 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 1: truly high strikeout rate. If you're not walking a ton, 320 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:58,720 Speaker 1: but you are putting the ball in play quite a bit, 321 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 1: the thing that stands out is that if you're not 322 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 1: having a lot of luck, then your numbers are not 323 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 1: going to be as good. You're relying a lot on look, 324 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 1: if you don't get on base a lot, if you 325 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: don't strike out a ton, But also to your point, 326 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 1: you don't consistently swing at good pitches. That is the 327 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 1: concerning part when you compare Michael Harris's twenty twenty four 328 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: two is rookie season. But there's another aspect, and this 329 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 1: is what I love about baseball. So much is that 330 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 1: the full story is not on the surface. When you 331 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 1: dig into the numbers a bit, it gets a bit 332 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:33,880 Speaker 1: more encouraging. And it's a keyword with Michael Harris, and 333 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 1: we could talk about, you know, him having less luck 334 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 1: leading to lower numbers, but another keyword for his twenty 335 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 1: twenty four that's been encouraging for twenty five and beyond 336 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 1: his underperformance, and I think that stood out about his 337 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four season as well. 338 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, listen, he did have an expected oba underperformance last year. 339 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 2: His expected number was about three forty five, his actual 340 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 2: number was about three fifteen. A lot of that was 341 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 2: in the powered department, and we saw all across baseball 342 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 2: last year power, you know, there was a big drop off. 343 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 2: It wasn't just you know, you mentioned the io numbers. 344 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 2: It wasn't just Michael. You know, power and offense were 345 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 2: down across the board last year. And obviously there's been 346 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:16,640 Speaker 2: conversations about the ball, but Michael did underperform. Is bad 347 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:19,560 Speaker 2: at ball data, so there is like there's hope and 348 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 2: there is a positive sign. And then of course what 349 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:23,159 Speaker 2: he did at the end of the season is the 350 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:26,120 Speaker 2: ultimate positive sign because we saw we were like oh, 351 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 2: this is this is Rookie of the Year Michael Harris. 352 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 2: And then we got to the posted it was the 353 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:31,480 Speaker 2: best player on the team in the postseason. Obviously it 354 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:34,880 Speaker 2: was a very short postseason. It was two games. But 355 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:38,399 Speaker 2: but the thing with Michael is when he chases, it 356 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 2: doesn't lead to strikeouts like it does like it does 357 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 2: with Baiaz for instance, since we made that comparison earlier. 358 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:47,199 Speaker 2: His his swings don't lead to strikeouts. His swings on 359 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 2: bad pitches lead to ground balls. And Michael has always 360 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 2: run a relatively high ground ball rate. I think he 361 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 2: ran like fifty one percent last year. I think he's 362 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:59,719 Speaker 2: done one season he had like fifty seven percent. So 363 00:17:59,880 --> 00:18:02,960 Speaker 2: that's high and that you know, and that's where what 364 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 2: especially when guys pitch him low in the zone, beneath 365 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:09,159 Speaker 2: the zone, change ups down, curveballs down, sliders down, and 366 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 2: he swings that. He is always hitting the top of 367 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:13,200 Speaker 2: the ball, and that's where you get it. That's where 368 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:15,919 Speaker 2: he gets into his funks. He gets that little that 369 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:18,639 Speaker 2: rollover to second. You know that Duran Crta rollover to 370 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 2: second from a lefty that can just it just zaps 371 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 2: all of your production because you're not going to beat 372 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:27,040 Speaker 2: that out. You know, it's such a weak hit that 373 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:30,119 Speaker 2: are a week you know, bat a ball very rarely 374 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 2: is it going to be an error anything. He's just 375 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:35,679 Speaker 2: it just kills your production. And so if he cleans 376 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 2: that up, and that's why the chase rate is so 377 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 2: important to me. He grounds out a lot because of 378 00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 2: the chase rate, because he's swinging at so many pitches 379 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:43,920 Speaker 2: down in the zone. If he cleans up the chase rate, 380 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:46,639 Speaker 2: the the ground ball rate will go down as well, 381 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:49,919 Speaker 2: and then you can get into more of that power. 382 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:52,880 Speaker 2: He hits the ball very hard on average, like he's 383 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 2: at like ninety one percent I mean ninety one miles 384 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 2: per hour for his average exit velocity, which is above 385 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 2: at average, especially for a guy who plays center field. 386 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:04,600 Speaker 2: That's you know, you could do a lot of damage 387 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:07,119 Speaker 2: with ninety one mile hour average exit velocity. 388 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:09,920 Speaker 1: You just gotta get I don't mean interrupt to your point. 389 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:12,600 Speaker 1: When he's when he's in the zone, when he's locked 390 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:15,199 Speaker 1: in and hitting the ball hard. He also is a 391 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:18,679 Speaker 1: underrated candidate for pretty swing in baseball. That left handed 392 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:21,080 Speaker 1: swing when it's on is about as pretty as you 393 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 1: see in today's game. 394 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:23,960 Speaker 2: Oh and he's got light tower power. He had a 395 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 2: ball last year like four sixty or something like that 396 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:31,040 Speaker 2: over the child, Like, he has got unbelievable power when 397 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 2: he's going right and he's swinging its pitches in the zone. 398 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 2: He's not swinging below the zone, hitting the top of 399 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 2: the ball, rolling off the second. Like, the potential is 400 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 2: so high if you can just swing at good pitches, 401 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:46,120 Speaker 2: If he just swings at strikes, Michael Harris will get 402 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:49,199 Speaker 2: pegos next year. Like, I think it's that simple. If 403 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 2: Michael Harris just swings at strikes. Now, a lot of 404 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 2: guys can say that. It's it's obviously much easier said 405 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:56,920 Speaker 2: than done. It's major league pitching. They have major league 406 00:19:56,960 --> 00:20:01,200 Speaker 2: breaking balls, major league change ups. It's not easy, right, 407 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:03,479 Speaker 2: It's one of those things. It's simple, but it's not easy. 408 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:08,040 Speaker 2: So he's but that's the number for him, is the 409 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:11,960 Speaker 2: chase rate. If he gets that down, the ground balls 410 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:14,199 Speaker 2: will go down. That means the fly balls will go up. 411 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 2: That means the power will go up. That means the 412 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:18,480 Speaker 2: walks will go up. Now you're into like an MVP 413 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 2: level profile where you're getting walks, you're getting power, you 414 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:25,440 Speaker 2: have elite defense at a premium position and that's where 415 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:27,960 Speaker 2: MVPs come from. And that's what I mean. If the 416 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:32,639 Speaker 2: chase rate comes down, then the sky is the limit 417 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:35,600 Speaker 2: for this kid. And so that's what you know in 418 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:38,119 Speaker 2: terms of what I'm gonna be watching in early in 419 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:41,080 Speaker 2: twenty twenty five, specifically for him, how often is he 420 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:44,320 Speaker 2: is he leaving the bat on his shoulders when people 421 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:46,919 Speaker 2: when pitchers throw him down in the zone that's and 422 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:49,359 Speaker 2: above the zone that's his two weakest above the zone, 423 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:56,680 Speaker 2: below the zone. That's gonna be the big question for him. Yeah. 424 00:20:56,800 --> 00:20:58,760 Speaker 1: Now, and the other thing that stands out to me 425 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:05,320 Speaker 1: is that we are completely on track, Stephen with doing 426 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:08,240 Speaker 1: a classic Sean and Stephen podcast. And well, what I 427 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 1: mean by that is this is when we talk about 428 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:14,119 Speaker 1: a subject, we're gonna acknowledge the bad, but we're also 429 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 1: gonna have fun with the good. Well, check the boxes 430 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:18,960 Speaker 1: with the bad, but we're gonna emphasize the good. We 431 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: acknowledged that last year was a bit of a struggle 432 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:24,560 Speaker 1: at times with Michael Harris the second but now let's 433 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:27,920 Speaker 1: break down why we discuss him being a breakout candidate 434 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 1: and having the potential of a superstar and with Michael Harris, 435 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,560 Speaker 1: the's no better place to start than his defense. And 436 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:37,240 Speaker 1: I know, when it comes to baseball, defense at times 437 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 1: is hard to quantify, but Michael Harris the Second really 438 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 1: stands out as one of the few major league defenders 439 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:48,080 Speaker 1: who can check all the boxes himself when it comes 440 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:51,120 Speaker 1: to playing good defense. If he is facing the Phillies, 441 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 1: there is about a ninety seven percent chance Michael Harris 442 00:21:56,040 --> 00:21:58,480 Speaker 1: the Second every third game is going to make a 443 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:00,280 Speaker 1: play that's gonna be worthy of Defensive place of the 444 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 1: Year or Defensive Player of the Year. Look at his 445 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:04,800 Speaker 1: play a couple of years in the twenty twenty three 446 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:07,879 Speaker 1: playoffs and on the Drive by Nick Castianos. Look at 447 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:09,679 Speaker 1: the amazing play that he had last year late in 448 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:11,359 Speaker 1: the season when of the best plays, one of the 449 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 1: best home run robs we've ever seen. But it's not 450 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 1: just about the spectacular plays. If you want to talk 451 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:19,920 Speaker 1: about an overall defender when it comes to center field, 452 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:22,360 Speaker 1: I know that Michael Harris the Second is not yet 453 00:22:22,359 --> 00:22:24,520 Speaker 1: won a Gold Glove, Stephen, But when you want to 454 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:28,440 Speaker 1: talk about an all encompassing defensive talent, he has every 455 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 1: elite tool that you would want in a defensive outfielder. 456 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 1: There are not many who are better than Michael Harris 457 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 1: the second covering ground in the outfield. 458 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:42,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, he's gonna win. I mean, I don't give a 459 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:46,040 Speaker 2: shit about go gloves. Quite honestly, I would tell people 460 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:48,400 Speaker 2: not to care about them either, because those awards are 461 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:50,879 Speaker 2: have gotten crazier and crazier. But he is going to 462 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:55,040 Speaker 2: win all the awards at some point. He's that good defensively, 463 00:22:57,359 --> 00:23:01,800 Speaker 2: really strong alarm, gets incredible jumps, tons of range. I mean, 464 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:04,440 Speaker 2: he he does remind me of Andrew, like I'm old 465 00:23:04,560 --> 00:23:07,960 Speaker 2: enough to remember. I I'm not quite old enough to 466 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:10,120 Speaker 2: remember like the very beginning of Andrew's career, but I'm 467 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:12,439 Speaker 2: old enough to remember like the prime of it, and 468 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:16,960 Speaker 2: like he just always got unbelievable jumps and he was 469 00:23:17,080 --> 00:23:19,719 Speaker 2: just on balls that no one else could get to. 470 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:22,720 Speaker 2: And then Michael Harris it's very similar, Like he gets 471 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 2: incredible jumps. You know, it's one of those things. It's 472 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 2: just pure talent and instinct. Like it's hard. It's a 473 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:30,639 Speaker 2: hard thing to teach. You can teach guys how to 474 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:33,240 Speaker 2: be fast, you can teach our guys, you know, the 475 00:23:33,359 --> 00:23:36,440 Speaker 2: perfect router or whatever, but jumps, like it's very hard 476 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:39,399 Speaker 2: to just teach somebody how to them get It's always 477 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:41,800 Speaker 2: been Akunya's problem. He's not a natural at He's not 478 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:45,760 Speaker 2: natural that jumps. Michael is an unbelievable natural just knowing 479 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:48,760 Speaker 2: exactly where the ball is gonna be and immediately heading 480 00:23:48,760 --> 00:23:51,000 Speaker 2: that direction as soon as you know, the ball hits 481 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 2: the bat, and he's an unbelievable defender, and that's where 482 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:59,159 Speaker 2: so much of his value lies right now. There is 483 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 2: tons of potential on that bat, however, and that's that's 484 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:05,760 Speaker 2: what's exciting about Michael is that, you know, as he 485 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 2: gets older and older and older and gets into you know, 486 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 2: late twenties, thirties, you know, center field defense is one 487 00:24:11,040 --> 00:24:13,600 Speaker 2: of those things that regresses once you get, you know, 488 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 2: to that age. But his bat is so good that 489 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:19,560 Speaker 2: it's going to carry him into his thirties. So like, 490 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:21,520 Speaker 2: he has the profile of somebody that can play for 491 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:24,359 Speaker 2: twenty years and still be productive because he's got the 492 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:27,520 Speaker 2: defense now, but he's got enough potential in the bat 493 00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:29,719 Speaker 2: where he could have the bat in his thirties and 494 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:33,199 Speaker 2: just be an unbelievable player for fifteen twenty years. And 495 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:36,280 Speaker 2: that's not hyperbole. That's what I think Michael. I think 496 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 2: Michael could be that level hitter where he's a great 497 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 2: player for more than a decade because he's he does 498 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:48,359 Speaker 2: have the profile that matches that. So yeah, his defense 499 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:50,639 Speaker 2: is incredible. I mean, he's made some unbeliev I mean 500 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:53,119 Speaker 2: the play he made the playoffs to end that game. 501 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:55,960 Speaker 2: You know, he robbed the home run last year in Philadelphia. 502 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:58,240 Speaker 2: You're right, he does seem to pick on the Phillies, 503 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 2: which is fine by me. But yeah, one of the 504 00:25:02,520 --> 00:25:04,520 Speaker 2: I mean, he'll win at some point. He's going to 505 00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:08,200 Speaker 2: win a Gold Glove or a Fielding Bible, whatever, whichever 506 00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:10,880 Speaker 2: fielding award is your cup of tea. At some point, 507 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:14,680 Speaker 2: Michael Harris will win them all. 508 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:18,320 Speaker 1: Speaking of them all, I know that I've used the 509 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:21,400 Speaker 1: phrase checked the boxes a bit too much in one podcast, 510 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:25,119 Speaker 1: but it just seems perfect to describe to me what 511 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:29,560 Speaker 1: is the most exciting, most intriguing part of Michael Harris's 512 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four season, and going back to, you know, 513 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:34,480 Speaker 1: his career as a whole so far, one thing that 514 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:36,679 Speaker 1: I think is important to acknowledge is that for the 515 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:39,920 Speaker 1: stretch run of the season, Michael Harris has shown that's 516 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:42,880 Speaker 1: really when he's at his best. His rookie year from 517 00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:45,479 Speaker 1: the start of August through the middle of September, it 518 00:25:45,520 --> 00:25:48,919 Speaker 1: was only Aaron Judge who was the most more value. 519 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:51,640 Speaker 1: He was the most second. He was the second most 520 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:54,480 Speaker 1: valuable outfitter in the game outside of Aaron. Just what 521 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 1: I'm trying to say in that six week stretch, that's 522 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:59,959 Speaker 1: why he won Rookie of the Year. But last year, 523 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:03,640 Speaker 1: you think about it, Austin Riley goes down, we start 524 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:06,159 Speaker 1: to have issues with our pitching. Other members of the 525 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 1: team go down due to various injuries. We needed Michael 526 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 1: Harris the Second to step up into the leadoff spot 527 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:16,479 Speaker 1: just because he was one of our most talented hitters. 528 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:18,520 Speaker 1: We got to the point last year where Michael Harris 529 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 1: had to lead off because he had one of the 530 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:24,680 Speaker 1: highest upside of hitters in the lineup. And it's how 531 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 1: he did when we needed him to step up in 532 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:31,200 Speaker 1: that leadoff role that seems so encouraging. Now, I don't 533 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 1: think that Michael Harris the Second is the leadoff hitter 534 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:35,239 Speaker 1: as of yet. He's got the speed, he's got the 535 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 1: bat potential, but he doesn't have the discipline. He doesn't 536 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:40,240 Speaker 1: have the plate discipline as yet. Maybe it comes in time. 537 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:43,200 Speaker 1: But when we talk about the concerns that we have 538 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 1: with Michael Harris hitting in a prime spot in the lineup. 539 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:49,960 Speaker 1: Last year, he had a one thirty two w or 540 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:53,720 Speaker 1: a one thirty two w RC plus in the second 541 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:56,280 Speaker 1: half of the Sea or in August in September from 542 00:26:56,280 --> 00:27:00,440 Speaker 1: the leadoff spot. Can he hit left handers two o 543 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:04,160 Speaker 1: nine WRC plus against left handers over the last two 544 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:07,640 Speaker 1: months of the season. Can he take on a big 545 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:10,880 Speaker 1: offensive load and still be able to play elite defense. 546 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:13,720 Speaker 1: His production out of the lead y'all spot and the 547 00:27:13,720 --> 00:27:16,080 Speaker 1: consistency out of the lead all spot is what allowed 548 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:18,359 Speaker 1: for our lineup to at least be passable as an 549 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:20,640 Speaker 1: offense without many of our stars, to win the needy 550 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:23,280 Speaker 1: games to make the playoffs. And the big thing overall 551 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:26,159 Speaker 1: Steven is the fact that he showed up in the playoffs. 552 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:28,879 Speaker 1: He hit for power, he got he got on base, 553 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:31,639 Speaker 1: he played good defense. He showed that he could be 554 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:35,119 Speaker 1: a valuable contributor when we needed it the most. So 555 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 1: all the questions that many had had about Michael Harris 556 00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:40,800 Speaker 1: the second whether or not they are going to stay 557 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 1: consistently from now on remains to be seen. But the 558 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:45,760 Speaker 1: reason why the end of the year was so encouraging 559 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:48,520 Speaker 1: was because many of the questions that people have asked 560 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:51,639 Speaker 1: about Michael Harris, can he answer these questions with a 561 00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:55,720 Speaker 1: yes to elevate to be in a superstar He started 562 00:27:55,720 --> 00:27:58,920 Speaker 1: to answer them last year, and it was really encouraging. 563 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:04,240 Speaker 2: To see, Yeah, you know, the fact that he does 564 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:07,080 Speaker 2: hit lefties, like for his career, he's gonna one oh 565 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:10,879 Speaker 2: five WRC plus against lefties, which is not, like, you know, 566 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:14,960 Speaker 2: insanely high production. But you know, when you add in 567 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:17,080 Speaker 2: that he kills righties, the fact that he still is 568 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:20,680 Speaker 2: above average hitter against lefties, especially you know, as young 569 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:22,800 Speaker 2: as he is, that's a big deal. Like it's a 570 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 2: very big deal and allows him to be just an 571 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:29,199 Speaker 2: everyday player no matter what. I was happy for him 572 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:31,080 Speaker 2: to have success in the playoffs. You know, his first 573 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:35,160 Speaker 2: two years and the playoffs were pretty much a disaster. 574 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 2: I mean, if we're being fair, he was like one 575 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:40,360 Speaker 2: for twenty seven in those first two series against Philadelphia 576 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:43,640 Speaker 2: his first two years in the playoffs, and I'm sure 577 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 2: that was a monkey on his back. And he was 578 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:50,240 Speaker 2: unbelievable against the Padres last year in those two games. 579 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:53,239 Speaker 2: So I'm happy for him. I'm hoping that we'll you know, 580 00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:55,719 Speaker 2: take the pressure off a little bit and just let him, 581 00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:59,680 Speaker 2: you know, play when he gets there. Again, I agree 582 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:01,600 Speaker 2: with you. I don't think he's a lead off hitter. 583 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:03,640 Speaker 2: You have to be able to take pitches and walk 584 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:05,760 Speaker 2: more to be a lead off hitter. But again that's 585 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 2: that's also the power of having Profar, who is a 586 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 2: switch hitter, who takes pitches, who's very patient, has a 587 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:15,760 Speaker 2: high walk rate. Right with Acunya out, a lot of times, 588 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 2: Michael Harris just automatically gets put in that spot because 589 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:20,720 Speaker 2: there's really no one else to do it. Well. Now 590 00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:23,760 Speaker 2: the Brave's that Profar, and so that's gonna help Michael, 591 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:26,239 Speaker 2: who probably needs to be in the middle, you know, 592 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:28,960 Speaker 2: to the lower middle part of the order. Now he 593 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:31,480 Speaker 2: can kind of stay there even when Acunya is out, 594 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 2: because I'm guessing Profar is gonna lead off while Acunya 595 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:38,880 Speaker 2: is out. So but I think Michael could be a 596 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:41,560 Speaker 2: lead offitter at some point. He's just got to, you know, 597 00:29:41,640 --> 00:29:44,520 Speaker 2: play discipline. It is something you can improve on. It 598 00:29:44,560 --> 00:29:46,960 Speaker 2: is something that you know, we have seen players get 599 00:29:46,960 --> 00:29:49,240 Speaker 2: better at as they get older, get used to the 600 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:52,360 Speaker 2: league more. So I'm not completely ruling it out. It's 601 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:54,480 Speaker 2: just at this point the profile is certainly not one 602 00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:57,160 Speaker 2: of a lead offitters. So that's that's the important part 603 00:29:57,160 --> 00:30:00,800 Speaker 2: of profar. But all the POTENTI the world there is 604 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:04,320 Speaker 2: no I mean again, I haven't given up on Acunya 605 00:30:04,360 --> 00:30:07,720 Speaker 2: just yet still being the best player in the world. 606 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:10,120 Speaker 2: But if you want to tell me that the player 607 00:30:10,160 --> 00:30:13,120 Speaker 2: with the most potential out of anybody in the Braves 608 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:16,520 Speaker 2: organization is Michael Harris, I'm not gonna argue too much. 609 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:20,280 Speaker 2: I certainly believe he's at least second. I think second 610 00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:24,480 Speaker 2: is the lowest you could put him. So he is 611 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:28,480 Speaker 2: an unbelievable player, and he's an unbelievable potential player, like 612 00:30:28,640 --> 00:30:31,240 Speaker 2: MVP level player. And like I said, I think his 613 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:34,360 Speaker 2: glove can carry him, you know, as a premium center 614 00:30:34,360 --> 00:30:36,640 Speaker 2: fielder for the first ten years of his career. I 615 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:38,680 Speaker 2: think his bat could carry him for another ten years. 616 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:40,920 Speaker 2: I really you know, maybe as a corner outfit. I 617 00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:42,760 Speaker 2: think he's got longevity in this game. He's got to 618 00:30:42,760 --> 00:30:45,800 Speaker 2: stay healthy, of course, But if he can clean up 619 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:51,200 Speaker 2: that chase rate, what should lower the ground ball rate, 620 00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:53,800 Speaker 2: which should increase the walk rate. Like it's all tied together, 621 00:30:54,080 --> 00:30:57,680 Speaker 2: and just that one fix alone, I think would elevate 622 00:30:57,720 --> 00:31:02,240 Speaker 2: his game to all stars AH MVP level player. And 623 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:05,920 Speaker 2: twenty twenty you know, there's no time like the president 624 00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:09,840 Speaker 2: twenty twenty five would be absolutely my my favorite time 625 00:31:09,840 --> 00:31:12,040 Speaker 2: for him to do it. I'm rooting like crazy for him. 626 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:14,680 Speaker 2: He's an incredible kid, Like he's the nicest kid in 627 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:17,560 Speaker 2: the world. He's big on social media, He's he's got 628 00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:20,400 Speaker 2: a you know, hilarious personality. You know, people love him 629 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:25,000 Speaker 2: in the clubhouse, like he's a great kid. And I 630 00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:29,040 Speaker 2: think he's just one. I think he's one adjustment away 631 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:33,040 Speaker 2: from being a perennial MVP player type player, and that's 632 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:35,960 Speaker 2: that chase rate. And we'll see how he does, you know, 633 00:31:36,480 --> 00:31:42,320 Speaker 2: coming coming into twenty twenty five, I. 634 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:44,640 Speaker 1: Guess I'm gonna go un characteristic here and look at 635 00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:48,880 Speaker 1: it from again. One other perspective, another twist in this conversation. 636 00:31:50,520 --> 00:31:56,520 Speaker 1: If Michael Harris the second can take what he did 637 00:31:56,600 --> 00:31:59,360 Speaker 1: at the end of last year and pulled over to 638 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:01,880 Speaker 1: the start of this season, that'll be such a huge 639 00:32:01,960 --> 00:32:07,200 Speaker 1: boost to the brains. But the other thing is turning 640 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:12,560 Speaker 1: that perspective one eighty because to start the season, you're 641 00:32:12,600 --> 00:32:17,560 Speaker 1: gonna have profar and left, Michael Harris the second and center, 642 00:32:17,960 --> 00:32:23,479 Speaker 1: and Kellnick in right field. Michael Harris the second, I believe, 643 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:25,920 Speaker 1: in each of the past two seasons, has had an 644 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:29,360 Speaker 1: early season injury. Now, as we discussed last year, you 645 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:31,840 Speaker 1: missing nearly forty games due to over forty games due 646 00:32:31,840 --> 00:32:38,200 Speaker 1: to the injury. This outfield situation has the potential to 647 00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:40,640 Speaker 1: be one of the best in the league. If Profar 648 00:32:40,760 --> 00:32:43,280 Speaker 1: is healthy and productive like he was last year, Michael 649 00:32:43,280 --> 00:32:46,000 Speaker 1: Harris the second breaks out, Ronald Acuna Juter comes back 650 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:48,760 Speaker 1: and is any We're close to normal ronald'cunya. That's what 651 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:53,080 Speaker 1: we all hope. But this outfield is also one Michael 652 00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:59,360 Speaker 1: Harris the second significant injury away from being potentially a 653 00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:03,240 Speaker 1: weakness of the team if that occurs, and I don't 654 00:33:03,280 --> 00:33:04,960 Speaker 1: I don't like to think that way. I'm not hoping 655 00:33:05,040 --> 00:33:08,400 Speaker 1: this happens. But we're we're one Michael Harris injury away 656 00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:12,080 Speaker 1: from it being Jerks and Profar and left, Jared kelnickan center, 657 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:16,680 Speaker 1: and what Brian de la Cruz and right. And you 658 00:33:16,720 --> 00:33:19,120 Speaker 1: know the purpose of looking at these, you know, capsules, 659 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:21,200 Speaker 1: as we call them, is not just about when player. 660 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:24,840 Speaker 1: It's about the position. And we're talking about the outfit 661 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:27,160 Speaker 1: as a whole. Michael Harris the second is one of 662 00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:30,360 Speaker 1: the most important outfield lynch pins for a team in 663 00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:34,440 Speaker 1: baseball because if he breaks out, this breaks out outfield, 664 00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:36,719 Speaker 1: you could stack it up against anyone. If he gets injured, 665 00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:37,840 Speaker 1: it gets dire quickly. 666 00:33:39,080 --> 00:33:43,640 Speaker 2: Well, even when sorry Cook, even when Akunya comes back. 667 00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:50,680 Speaker 2: You know, Profar is not a good defender. No, Akunya 668 00:33:50,760 --> 00:33:53,480 Speaker 2: is not a good defender. I think that's fair. I 669 00:33:53,520 --> 00:33:55,160 Speaker 2: know people get mad when you say that, but like 670 00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:56,880 Speaker 2: the number is kind of bearing out. Acunya is not 671 00:33:56,960 --> 00:33:59,520 Speaker 2: a He's not a great right fielder. And that was 672 00:33:59,560 --> 00:34:03,880 Speaker 2: before you to knee surgeries to torn a cls. So like, 673 00:34:03,920 --> 00:34:05,960 Speaker 2: even when those guys come back, and even if they're 674 00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:09,440 Speaker 2: hitting well, Michael's defense is going to be of dire 675 00:34:09,520 --> 00:34:11,960 Speaker 2: importance because he is going to be running all over 676 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:16,000 Speaker 2: the field with Profar on his right and Acuna on 677 00:34:16,040 --> 00:34:19,200 Speaker 2: his left. So yeah, I mean he's even when those 678 00:34:19,200 --> 00:34:22,000 Speaker 2: guys are healthy, his defense is going to be of 679 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:23,759 Speaker 2: major importance. 680 00:34:24,760 --> 00:34:26,520 Speaker 1: Which brings me to the point. When we look at 681 00:34:26,520 --> 00:34:30,040 Speaker 1: the center field position as a whole, the spotlight comes 682 00:34:30,080 --> 00:34:33,480 Speaker 1: on one very interesting character, and that's one Jared Kilinick. 683 00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:36,880 Speaker 1: Now we've discussed, we talked about it during the Profar 684 00:34:37,880 --> 00:34:42,160 Speaker 1: you know signing reaction show. Over the past eight months, 685 00:34:42,239 --> 00:34:44,880 Speaker 1: Jared Kilnick has lost his job twice. He lost it 686 00:34:44,920 --> 00:34:46,960 Speaker 1: to Ramon larrey Io during the season, and he's now 687 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:50,319 Speaker 1: lost a long term to Jerkson Profar. But again, that 688 00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:54,040 Speaker 1: doesn't mean that Jared kelnk does not have significant value 689 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:56,960 Speaker 1: for this outfield. If Michael Harris the second word to 690 00:34:57,000 --> 00:34:59,520 Speaker 1: go down, Jared Kilnick is the one guy that could 691 00:34:59,520 --> 00:35:01,520 Speaker 1: step up in play centerfield and don't play every day 692 00:35:01,520 --> 00:35:03,080 Speaker 1: because he's the only guy that you can rely on 693 00:35:03,480 --> 00:35:05,759 Speaker 1: in center field. He's not an elite centerfielder, but he's 694 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:09,120 Speaker 1: at least passable. With good defense in the corners. Jared 695 00:35:09,160 --> 00:35:12,240 Speaker 1: Kelnick could be a potential defensive replacement for Jarrickson Profar 696 00:35:12,440 --> 00:35:14,839 Speaker 1: when we have the lead late in games. But when 697 00:35:14,840 --> 00:35:18,560 Speaker 1: we're looking at the centerfield position as a whole, and 698 00:35:18,640 --> 00:35:21,160 Speaker 1: we talk about it being an important season for Michael 699 00:35:21,160 --> 00:35:23,759 Speaker 1: Harris the second, I again put the spylight on Jared 700 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:26,719 Speaker 1: Kelnick Stephen and that his role obviously is going to 701 00:35:26,719 --> 00:35:29,919 Speaker 1: be a lot different this year than it was last year. 702 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:33,080 Speaker 1: A lot more uncertainty of where he gets consistent playing 703 00:35:33,120 --> 00:35:36,719 Speaker 1: time once Ronald ac Counya Junior comes back. But I 704 00:35:36,719 --> 00:35:39,840 Speaker 1: think Jared Kelnick could also really help out his future 705 00:35:40,440 --> 00:35:43,640 Speaker 1: if he focuses on being successful no matter what role 706 00:35:43,680 --> 00:35:46,000 Speaker 1: he has. And the thing that stands out is that 707 00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:48,239 Speaker 1: if Michael Harris the second were to go down all 708 00:35:48,239 --> 00:35:51,960 Speaker 1: of the sudden, Jared Jared Kelnick becomes really valuable for 709 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:55,560 Speaker 1: this Braves team, especially due to the defensive upside he 710 00:35:55,560 --> 00:35:58,319 Speaker 1: can offer in the outfield. 711 00:35:59,280 --> 00:36:03,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm pretty fascinated to see what happens with Kelnick 712 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:07,919 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty five before Profar you know, everybody said 713 00:36:07,920 --> 00:36:09,399 Speaker 2: it's kind of a make or break here for him 714 00:36:09,400 --> 00:36:11,560 Speaker 2: because everybody thought he was gonna be the starting left fielder. 715 00:36:12,800 --> 00:36:16,000 Speaker 2: Now he's not. He's gonna play until a Kunya comes back. 716 00:36:16,320 --> 00:36:18,560 Speaker 2: And let's be honest, there's gonna be injuries in the outfield. 717 00:36:18,600 --> 00:36:20,799 Speaker 2: He's probably gonna get a decent amount of playing time 718 00:36:21,440 --> 00:36:23,480 Speaker 2: even after Akunya comes back. There are gonna be days 719 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:25,799 Speaker 2: where Ronnie can't play in the outfield. He's gonna need 720 00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:28,319 Speaker 2: days off. There's gonna you know, Michael's had some sort 721 00:36:28,360 --> 00:36:32,279 Speaker 2: of injury every year. You know, Profars, you know, over 722 00:36:32,360 --> 00:36:35,840 Speaker 2: thirty and an outfielder, that's always a recipe for an 723 00:36:35,880 --> 00:36:38,960 Speaker 2: injury at some point. So I do think Kelnick's gonna 724 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:41,600 Speaker 2: get a decent amount of run assuming he's on the team. 725 00:36:42,360 --> 00:36:46,200 Speaker 2: You know, I guess we're not. We're not official to 726 00:36:46,200 --> 00:36:48,239 Speaker 2: the point where he's gonna be on the team. You know, 727 00:36:48,320 --> 00:36:51,040 Speaker 2: Eli White is still technically in the organization and Kelnick 728 00:36:51,080 --> 00:36:54,120 Speaker 2: has options, and Kelnick might even be traded, we don't know. 729 00:36:54,680 --> 00:36:56,920 Speaker 2: But as the roster stands right now, he's gonna be 730 00:36:56,960 --> 00:36:59,040 Speaker 2: the fourth outfielder and he should get a decent amount 731 00:36:59,040 --> 00:37:03,319 Speaker 2: of run. So it really is kind of a make 732 00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:05,400 Speaker 2: or break year for like, he's got to do something 733 00:37:05,560 --> 00:37:10,759 Speaker 2: to justify being on a roster quite honestly, Like if 734 00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:14,080 Speaker 2: you're gonna be a fourth outfielder, you do need to 735 00:37:14,160 --> 00:37:17,440 Speaker 2: hit a little bit. And you know he's got potential 736 00:37:17,480 --> 00:37:20,040 Speaker 2: in him. He strikes out a ton, which has always 737 00:37:20,200 --> 00:37:23,080 Speaker 2: been his big thing. He runs like a thirty thirty 738 00:37:23,120 --> 00:37:26,440 Speaker 2: one percent strikeout rate, which is very high. That's like 739 00:37:26,520 --> 00:37:30,440 Speaker 2: Aaron Judge level high, but without the power, which is 740 00:37:30,480 --> 00:37:33,640 Speaker 2: a problem. Obviously, Aaron Judge can justify the strikeouts because 741 00:37:33,640 --> 00:37:37,359 Speaker 2: he hits seventy five home runs a year. You know, 742 00:37:37,440 --> 00:37:39,359 Speaker 2: if you don't do that, then when you strike out 743 00:37:39,360 --> 00:37:42,359 Speaker 2: thirty one percent of the time, you're probably gonna get 744 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:45,000 Speaker 2: benched for Ramon Moreano at some point. And that's exactly 745 00:37:45,080 --> 00:37:48,040 Speaker 2: what happened to Jared Kilnick. So he's got to figure 746 00:37:48,120 --> 00:37:49,879 Speaker 2: he's got to stop striking out so much. He's got 747 00:37:49,880 --> 00:37:52,920 Speaker 2: to walk more. It's a it's a it's an ugly profile, 748 00:37:53,000 --> 00:37:55,040 Speaker 2: quite honestly. It's not one that I would bet on 749 00:37:55,160 --> 00:37:58,400 Speaker 2: long term. I've said it on this podcast before. We're 750 00:37:58,480 --> 00:38:00,960 Speaker 2: kind of fifteen hundred play appearances in to Kelnick's career. 751 00:38:01,960 --> 00:38:05,800 Speaker 2: I don't know how much more potential there is, quite honestly, 752 00:38:05,880 --> 00:38:09,120 Speaker 2: but he's gonna get a chance. And the Braves sees 753 00:38:09,160 --> 00:38:11,480 Speaker 2: something in him. Obviously they gave they spend a lot 754 00:38:11,520 --> 00:38:13,879 Speaker 2: of money on him last year, so they think there's 755 00:38:13,920 --> 00:38:15,680 Speaker 2: something in there. You know, he's gonna have a new 756 00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:19,960 Speaker 2: hitting coach. We'll see if he can unlock something. There 757 00:38:20,000 --> 00:38:22,239 Speaker 2: is talent there. We saw it in June last year 758 00:38:22,280 --> 00:38:23,719 Speaker 2: when he was the best hitter on the team for 759 00:38:24,719 --> 00:38:29,520 Speaker 2: thirty days. But it's just fleeting, you know, it's never consistent. 760 00:38:29,640 --> 00:38:33,040 Speaker 2: So it is a very important year for him, assuming 761 00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:36,600 Speaker 2: he's on the team, assuming he's on the roster, he's 762 00:38:36,600 --> 00:38:39,120 Speaker 2: gonna get chances. You know, Akuni is not gonna play 763 00:38:39,160 --> 00:38:42,720 Speaker 2: for at least a month. We know that Michael always 764 00:38:42,719 --> 00:38:44,839 Speaker 2: has an injury to Profar is probably not gonna play 765 00:38:44,840 --> 00:38:47,560 Speaker 2: one sixty two. He's gonna get a chance at some 766 00:38:47,640 --> 00:38:50,880 Speaker 2: point if he's around. So it's a big even though 767 00:38:50,920 --> 00:38:52,480 Speaker 2: he's not to start anymore. It's a big year for 768 00:38:52,560 --> 00:38:55,120 Speaker 2: Jared Kelnick. He's gonna show something. And even if it's 769 00:38:55,120 --> 00:38:58,360 Speaker 2: not for the Braves, for another team, who who, you know, 770 00:38:58,400 --> 00:39:00,920 Speaker 2: they might need a left field or you know, somebody. 771 00:39:00,960 --> 00:39:03,359 Speaker 2: There's always other teams watching. Even if the Braves don't 772 00:39:03,360 --> 00:39:05,680 Speaker 2: have a spot open the next three years because they 773 00:39:05,680 --> 00:39:10,160 Speaker 2: signed Profar, somebody else does. So, Yeah, big year for Jared. 774 00:39:09,960 --> 00:39:15,640 Speaker 1: Kelnick and it's probably an insignificant fact. But let's also 775 00:39:15,719 --> 00:39:18,200 Speaker 1: you know, point out that Tim Hyres, you know, is 776 00:39:18,280 --> 00:39:21,520 Speaker 1: the new hitting coach for the Braves, and he's someone 777 00:39:21,880 --> 00:39:24,279 Speaker 1: that we were talking about two young outfielders, mainly when 778 00:39:24,280 --> 00:39:27,120 Speaker 1: we're focusing on this centerfield position. We're talking about Michael 779 00:39:27,120 --> 00:39:30,359 Speaker 1: Harris the second and Jared Kilnick. Hires has a little 780 00:39:30,360 --> 00:39:32,640 Speaker 1: bit of familiarity with Kilnick. You know, Hires was with 781 00:39:32,680 --> 00:39:35,719 Speaker 1: the Rangers while Kelnick was with the Mariners. Hires had 782 00:39:35,760 --> 00:39:39,280 Speaker 1: some success with young outfielders like Evan Carter and Wyatt 783 00:39:39,320 --> 00:39:41,800 Speaker 1: Langford over the past couple of years, a Doulas Garcia, 784 00:39:41,880 --> 00:39:44,840 Speaker 1: you know, he helped become and at least for a few years, 785 00:39:44,920 --> 00:39:48,640 Speaker 1: an elite level player. So this is so so asking 786 00:39:48,760 --> 00:39:52,279 Speaker 1: for Hires to unlock the next level of offense for 787 00:39:52,360 --> 00:39:55,360 Speaker 1: both Michael Harris the second and Jared Kelnick. It's not 788 00:39:55,520 --> 00:39:58,319 Speaker 1: something he has not been asked before, and he's had 789 00:39:58,480 --> 00:40:01,000 Speaker 1: the type of success you would to see from those two. 790 00:40:01,200 --> 00:40:04,360 Speaker 1: So I think that that's another you know, maybe insignificant 791 00:40:04,360 --> 00:40:08,000 Speaker 1: to some, but work discussing point is that hires pass 792 00:40:08,080 --> 00:40:11,600 Speaker 1: success with this type of player profile could bid you know, 793 00:40:11,719 --> 00:40:15,680 Speaker 1: good potential in terms of returns for Harris and Jared 794 00:40:15,760 --> 00:40:17,640 Speaker 1: Kilnick being able to make the most of their twenty 795 00:40:17,680 --> 00:40:18,320 Speaker 1: five seasons. 796 00:40:19,880 --> 00:40:24,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, and listen, if Kelnick plays well, I mean, that's 797 00:40:24,920 --> 00:40:27,000 Speaker 2: that's a good problem to have. You know, the Braves 798 00:40:27,000 --> 00:40:29,560 Speaker 2: have run out of outfielders like three of the last 799 00:40:29,600 --> 00:40:32,480 Speaker 2: four years, and Alex has had to go acquire multiple 800 00:40:32,920 --> 00:40:36,640 Speaker 2: guys at the trade deadline. So you know, Ronald's always 801 00:40:36,640 --> 00:40:38,920 Speaker 2: going to need days off. I mean, we saw in 802 00:40:38,960 --> 00:40:40,719 Speaker 2: twenty two when he came back from the ACL that 803 00:40:40,760 --> 00:40:43,080 Speaker 2: he just wasn't quite the same guy. He needed days off. 804 00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:47,600 Speaker 2: You know, Kelnick being good is a fantastic problem for 805 00:40:47,640 --> 00:40:51,680 Speaker 2: the Braves, and you know, he could really rewrite the 806 00:40:51,680 --> 00:40:54,400 Speaker 2: story of his career if he starts to show some 807 00:40:54,480 --> 00:40:56,359 Speaker 2: growth in some of these areas. The problem is he's 808 00:40:56,400 --> 00:40:58,719 Speaker 2: run like the exact same profile for like three straight 809 00:40:58,800 --> 00:41:02,839 Speaker 2: years now, and you know, they just they you got 810 00:41:02,840 --> 00:41:05,400 Speaker 2: to show some growth somewhere or you're not gonna be 811 00:41:05,440 --> 00:41:06,920 Speaker 2: around much longer, and you're not gonna be in the 812 00:41:06,960 --> 00:41:08,879 Speaker 2: majors much longer, especially when you have a minor league 813 00:41:08,880 --> 00:41:11,960 Speaker 2: option like he does. So yeah, big year for Kelnick. 814 00:41:13,480 --> 00:41:17,200 Speaker 2: You know Tim Hires could certainly help him. But for 815 00:41:17,560 --> 00:41:23,319 Speaker 2: Michael Harris, you know, the I don't want to say 816 00:41:23,360 --> 00:41:26,000 Speaker 2: I'm predicting him to be an MVP level player because 817 00:41:26,040 --> 00:41:29,320 Speaker 2: that's not fair to him. That's that's an incredible expectation 818 00:41:29,400 --> 00:41:31,840 Speaker 2: to put on somebody. But I kind of am I 819 00:41:31,920 --> 00:41:35,040 Speaker 2: kind of am expect I kind of expect him to 820 00:41:35,200 --> 00:41:38,560 Speaker 2: really to use last year. The end of last year 821 00:41:38,560 --> 00:41:40,239 Speaker 2: in the playoffs last year as a jump off point 822 00:41:40,239 --> 00:41:43,520 Speaker 2: for twenty twenty five and be like an MVP level 823 00:41:43,520 --> 00:41:45,960 Speaker 2: player for the Braves in twenty twenty five. I'm I 824 00:41:45,960 --> 00:41:51,160 Speaker 2: would love to see it. I think he's that good, 825 00:41:51,280 --> 00:41:54,759 Speaker 2: and I think he's that talented, and I again, I 826 00:41:55,239 --> 00:41:56,839 Speaker 2: think we could get to the end of this year 827 00:41:57,239 --> 00:42:00,320 Speaker 2: and every Braves fan agrees that the most talented player 828 00:42:00,360 --> 00:42:02,359 Speaker 2: on the team is now Michael Harris, Like he's got 829 00:42:02,400 --> 00:42:05,279 Speaker 2: that level of ability in him. 830 00:42:05,560 --> 00:42:08,120 Speaker 1: Stephen, remind me again, where's the twenty twenty five All 831 00:42:08,120 --> 00:42:08,920 Speaker 1: Star Game occurring? 832 00:42:10,000 --> 00:42:14,200 Speaker 2: It's occurring in Truest Park in Cobb County in Georgia. 833 00:42:14,640 --> 00:42:16,960 Speaker 1: How about how about Michael Harris man in center field 834 00:42:16,960 --> 00:42:18,600 Speaker 1: for the National League teams? 835 00:42:19,440 --> 00:42:22,600 Speaker 2: Has he made an All Star team yet? Maybe because 836 00:42:22,600 --> 00:42:24,680 Speaker 2: he came up so late in his rookie year. 837 00:42:24,800 --> 00:42:28,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, yep, yep, how about this. We won't say that 838 00:42:28,440 --> 00:42:31,600 Speaker 1: he's to an MVP level yet, But what will compromise 839 00:42:32,440 --> 00:42:34,400 Speaker 1: What me and Steven are predicting for Michael Harris the 840 00:42:34,440 --> 00:42:38,080 Speaker 1: second his first go glove and his first All Star selection. 841 00:42:38,320 --> 00:42:40,040 Speaker 1: I like it. 842 00:42:40,040 --> 00:42:42,759 Speaker 2: It's got to stay healthy, yes, got it? We try to. 843 00:42:42,960 --> 00:42:44,080 Speaker 2: We need to try to play like at least one 844 00:42:44,120 --> 00:42:46,960 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty games. Possibly he's never done that before. 845 00:42:47,320 --> 00:42:49,799 Speaker 2: So he gotta stay healthy, and we got to stop 846 00:42:49,840 --> 00:42:52,760 Speaker 2: swinging at crap in the dirt. We do those two things, 847 00:42:52,800 --> 00:42:54,919 Speaker 2: Michael Harris is going to get MVP votes. 848 00:42:55,200 --> 00:42:58,120 Speaker 1: And more than anything, just Michael Harris, if you happen 849 00:42:58,160 --> 00:43:00,760 Speaker 1: to listen to this show, just stay true, stay true 850 00:43:00,760 --> 00:43:03,520 Speaker 1: to yourself, because you're a hell of a guy like that. 851 00:43:05,280 --> 00:43:08,000 Speaker 1: I know you could say that about several people across baseball, 852 00:43:08,120 --> 00:43:10,400 Speaker 1: but Michael Harris the second just seems like a genuinely 853 00:43:10,680 --> 00:43:13,760 Speaker 1: great guy. Just one that you're lucky that the Braves 854 00:43:13,800 --> 00:43:16,160 Speaker 1: have in the clubhouse, especially with all the departures that 855 00:43:16,200 --> 00:43:18,799 Speaker 1: they have going on. But just a fan favorite for 856 00:43:18,840 --> 00:43:21,160 Speaker 1: good reason, someone who knows how to interact with the fans. 857 00:43:21,239 --> 00:43:24,000 Speaker 1: Just a really good personality, and it's always fun to 858 00:43:24,040 --> 00:43:26,839 Speaker 1: see him when he's playing baseball good. He's a great 859 00:43:26,840 --> 00:43:28,919 Speaker 1: ambassador for the game, and you hope that you see 860 00:43:28,920 --> 00:43:29,799 Speaker 1: it plenty of times. 861 00:43:29,840 --> 00:43:32,439 Speaker 2: This season they got to film a different commercial. Though 862 00:43:32,719 --> 00:43:37,000 Speaker 2: they showed that four Bronco commercial seventy five thousand times 863 00:43:37,080 --> 00:43:39,359 Speaker 2: last year, we got to get a different commercial. If 864 00:43:39,400 --> 00:43:42,560 Speaker 2: I'm Michael Harris. I'm like, guys, please stop showing this 865 00:43:42,640 --> 00:43:45,960 Speaker 2: damn commercial. You guys show it like he's probably sick 866 00:43:46,000 --> 00:43:47,600 Speaker 2: of it. At this point, we need, Michael, we need 867 00:43:47,600 --> 00:43:51,040 Speaker 2: another commercial, maybe a couple of them, so we can 868 00:43:51,160 --> 00:43:54,799 Speaker 2: rotate them through. You know, I'm not a pr guy, 869 00:43:54,960 --> 00:44:00,600 Speaker 2: but that's just my suggestion. We can't play this commercial 870 00:44:00,600 --> 00:44:02,879 Speaker 2: one thousand times. You know that's no what. No one 871 00:44:02,880 --> 00:44:06,799 Speaker 2: wins there. So it's a beautiful blue Ford Bronco as 872 00:44:06,840 --> 00:44:08,760 Speaker 2: everybody saw. But we need another commercial. 873 00:44:09,320 --> 00:44:11,399 Speaker 1: How about we do multiple commercials where he shows off 874 00:44:11,400 --> 00:44:14,719 Speaker 1: of gold Glove and one Yes the Other and a 875 00:44:14,760 --> 00:44:15,640 Speaker 1: world series range. 876 00:44:15,760 --> 00:44:18,960 Speaker 2: Just play highlights, just play home robbing home runs from 877 00:44:18,960 --> 00:44:22,200 Speaker 2: the Philadelphia Phillies for thirty second spot. I'll take it. 878 00:44:22,719 --> 00:44:25,200 Speaker 1: There you go, there you go. Well, guys, it's been 879 00:44:25,239 --> 00:44:26,960 Speaker 1: a pleasure talk with you once again here on the 880 00:44:26,960 --> 00:44:31,480 Speaker 1: Hammer Territory Podcast. Michael Harris. The second we truly feel, 881 00:44:32,360 --> 00:44:35,239 Speaker 1: truly feel internal improvement. I think is going to be 882 00:44:35,280 --> 00:44:40,319 Speaker 1: the biggest either story of success or struggle for the 883 00:44:40,320 --> 00:44:42,920 Speaker 1: Braves in twenty twenty five, for them to live up 884 00:44:42,920 --> 00:44:44,560 Speaker 1: to the potential that we all know that they have. 885 00:44:44,840 --> 00:44:47,879 Speaker 1: But again, if there's one breakout candidate who we're all 886 00:44:47,920 --> 00:44:51,080 Speaker 1: going to be hoping truly breaks out. It'll be Michael Harris, 887 00:44:51,080 --> 00:44:53,879 Speaker 1: the second manning center field for the Braves. For Steven Tober, 888 00:44:53,880 --> 00:44:55,799 Speaker 1: you can find him at the Underscore Outliers on Twitter 889 00:44:55,840 --> 00:44:58,160 Speaker 1: slash x. My name is Sean Coleman. You can find 890 00:44:58,160 --> 00:45:01,440 Speaker 1: me at Stat's Sac. You can find Hammer Territory across 891 00:45:01,440 --> 00:45:04,239 Speaker 1: all forms of social media and foul Territory. We're part 892 00:45:04,280 --> 00:45:07,640 Speaker 1: of the foul Territory family of podcasts. So many great 893 00:45:07,680 --> 00:45:10,000 Speaker 1: podcasts from foul Territory popping up all. 894 00:45:09,920 --> 00:45:10,439 Speaker 2: Over the place. 895 00:45:10,719 --> 00:45:12,759 Speaker 1: Make sure you check them out. But until next time, 896 00:45:12,880 --> 00:45:15,640 Speaker 1: for Steven told Her, my name is Sean Coleman. Go Braves. 897 00:45:15,680 --> 00:45:18,880 Speaker 1: We'll talk to you again soon. Here Hammer Territory Podcast