1 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 1: Welcome everyone to stare at character and where it is. 2 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 1: No early teams are starting to figure out, ah, maybe 3 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: we're not as good as we thought in spring training. 4 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:18,119 Speaker 1: Maybe some teams are thinking, hey, we're a little bit 5 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:20,120 Speaker 1: better than we thought in spring training. But you're starting 6 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:22,440 Speaker 1: to see a little bit of drama. It happens every 7 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 1: year once we get to May. Now, we're going to 8 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 1: start off today by talking about the best series of 9 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: the weekend, and then we'll get into some of these 10 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: teams and we'll talk about them as the show goes on. 11 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 1: But the best series of the weekend, yes Padres Dodgers, 12 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 1: culminating last night with that dramatic win by the Dodgers, 13 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: the Mookie home run with two outs and the ninth 14 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 1: the kids coming through in the tenth bush with the 15 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: RBI single, and then Outman the two run homer. This 16 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: series started off, if you remember, with the Padres winning 17 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 1: the first game and then showing that Clayton Kershaw meme, 18 00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: the Kershaw crying meme, and Kershaw saying, quite appropriately, he 19 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: had the exact right response, if you don't like that 20 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: kind of stuff, play better, well, the Dodgers played better. 21 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 1: They've been playing better they've won seven of eight. They're 22 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: not exactly in commanding lead in the division, but they've 23 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:17,400 Speaker 1: got a one and a half game lead over the Diamondbacks, 24 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 1: a three game lead over the Padres, and in a 25 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:24,039 Speaker 1: year in which they've cut payroll, they've turned it over 26 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 1: to some younger players. They seem to be finding their 27 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:30,039 Speaker 1: footing here. And it coincided with the return of Will 28 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: Smith as their catcher. And he was a DH for 29 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 1: a little bit too in this run, but he is 30 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 1: so important to what they do. So this was a 31 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 1: great series. Actually, the Dodgers outscored the Padres just by 32 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 1: nine to eight. Every game was decided by three runs 33 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 1: or fewer. And you see the quality of these two clubs. Now, 34 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: the Pods are not playing still as well as they should. 35 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 1: And here is the telling stat. It's not era. The 36 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: Padres have a slightly better ERA. But the offensive stat 37 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 1: that I look at the one that matters the most 38 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 1: runs per game the Dodgers and runs per game fifth 39 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 1: in the Majors, the Padres twenty third. They are twenty 40 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:17,079 Speaker 1: third with Fernando Tattists now back, Manny Machado, Juan Soto 41 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 1: the rest of the gang, and they still have not 42 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 1: clicked offensively. Now, if you're a Padres fan, you're thinking, 43 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: no problem, it's going to come. But I'd be a 44 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: little bit concerned that it hasn't come yet. I'd be 45 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 1: a little concerned that Sodo really has not hit the 46 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 1: way you used to hit with the Nationals in a 47 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 1: Padres uniform. And here we go again. Are the Padres 48 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:43,519 Speaker 1: going to be as good as we thought? Or are 49 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: they not as good as the collection of the sum. 50 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 2: Of their parts. 51 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:50,359 Speaker 1: We're gonna find out as the season goes on. These 52 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:52,960 Speaker 1: two teams play again next weekend. I'm headed out to 53 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 1: La on Thursday. We've got that series coming up on 54 00:02:55,560 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: Fox Saturday Night. Now to two other teams that are 55 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 1: not playing to their capabilities, that are extreme disappointments. And 56 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,359 Speaker 1: for these two teams, no, it is not too early 57 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:12,239 Speaker 1: to start worrying. I am talking first about the Saint 58 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 1: Louis Cardinals and second about the New York Mets. But 59 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: I'll start with the Cardinals. Now, the Cardinals came into 60 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: the season. 61 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:21,399 Speaker 2: With their usual high expectations. 62 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 1: They play in one of the game's weakest divisions. The 63 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 1: Cubs are starting to come. The Brewers are always trying 64 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 1: to scramble and patch it together with a lower payroll. 65 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 1: The Reds forever rebuilding or whatever it is they're doing, 66 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 1: and the Pirates were not expected to even get off 67 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 1: to the strong. 68 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 2: Start that they did. 69 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 1: So the Cardinals were in commanding position, it would seem 70 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 1: at the start of the year. Their record is eleven 71 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 1: and twenty four. It is the worst record in the 72 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: National League. And you started to see some cracks this weekend. 73 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 1: One big crack the Wilson Contraras move. First, there was 74 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 1: going to be an outfielder in DH. Now he's just. 75 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 2: Going to be a DH. But he's no longer, at. 76 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 1: Least for the time being, going to be a catcher. Now. 77 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 1: I wrote about this today, this situation in the Athletic, 78 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 1: and I've written about it actually a few times now 79 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 1: going back to spring training. That was another one. And 80 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 1: then also after the Sean Murphy trade, the Cardinals had 81 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 1: a choice in the off season. They could have gone 82 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: all out for Sean Murphy in a trade with the Athletics, 83 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 1: or they could have signed a free agent. Wilson Contreras 84 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 1: was the best free agent, Christian Basquez the next best. 85 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 1: Murphy would have cost a lot in prospects. As I reported, 86 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 1: it was some combination of neot Bar Donovan and a 87 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 1: pitching prospect that the A's wanted, and the Cardinals were 88 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 1: not willing to go there. They didn't want to part 89 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:46,359 Speaker 1: with that talent. They didn't also part with that talent 90 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: for a guy like Pablo Lopez, who they also could 91 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 1: have used. So they made their choice, and they went 92 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 1: from the all time best defensive catcher or one of them, 93 00:04:56,320 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: in Yadier Molina, to a player who, while extremely gifted 94 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 1: offensively and a good player, has defensive questions surrounding him. 95 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 1: The Cubs did not want Wilson Contreras back. That speaks volumes, 96 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: and as I wrote today, the Cardinals when they interviewed 97 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:17,799 Speaker 1: controllers for almost three and a half hours. 98 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 2: They fell in love. 99 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: And you can fall in love in a job interview, 100 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 1: that's fine, but you got to do the rest of 101 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 1: the new diligence. And it seemed to me that the 102 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 1: Cardinals just kind of ignored the warning signs and proceeded 103 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:32,359 Speaker 1: full steam ahead. Now they're saying what they want to 104 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: do is just step back, have Wilson Contrerists learn some 105 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 1: more about their pitching staff and the way they want 106 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 1: things done. Okay, Braves don't have this problem with Sean Murphy. 107 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:46,599 Speaker 1: Braves have the best record in the National League. Braves 108 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 1: have a better pitching staff, yes, but they also have 109 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:56,040 Speaker 1: a player who, while switching leagues, adapted rather well. Wilson 110 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 1: Contrera's staying in the same division to this point has not. 111 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:03,600 Speaker 1: Wilson Contreras, in my opinion, wants to be a good catcher. 112 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 1: He tries to be a good catcher, and he's saying 113 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 1: all the right things, but for now he is not 114 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 1: their catcher. And where this goes over the next five 115 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 1: years at a price of eighty seven point five million 116 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:19,279 Speaker 1: is at this point anyone's guess. But of course the 117 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:22,280 Speaker 1: blame Contreras solely for the cardinals problems would be folly. 118 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 1: Let's take a look at where they stand in the 119 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:28,599 Speaker 1: world of baseball right now. I mentioned the eleven and 120 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:30,599 Speaker 1: twenty four record. That's part of it. Their last in 121 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,480 Speaker 1: the NL Central the rotation era. 122 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:34,600 Speaker 2: This is the big. 123 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:37,599 Speaker 1: One, five point three to three, twenty third. 124 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 2: In the majors. 125 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 1: We could all see this coming. Their rotation has quality pictures, 126 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:47,159 Speaker 1: but not dominant pictures. And then the bottom stat that 127 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 1: is the big one, that is the one that has 128 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 1: crushed them all season long. Twenty one home runs allowed 129 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 1: with two strikes. 130 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 2: That is tied for second in the majors. The Cardinals 131 00:06:56,680 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 2: have a lot of problems. 132 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:01,679 Speaker 1: And so does one of the teams in the Ana, 133 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 1: least that we thought was going to be a dominant 134 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 1: team at least on paper, because they had spent oh, 135 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: I don't know, six million dollars, actually only three hundred 136 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: and seventy million. That would be the New York Mets, 137 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 1: and they play in a division with a dominant team, 138 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: the Atlanta Braves, and they the Mets have all kinds 139 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 1: of problems right now. They are seventeen and eighteen, one 140 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 1: game under five hundred. They just are coming off a 141 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: week in which they played the Tigers and Rockies to 142 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 1: lesser clubs and went one and six. Now the Mets problems, 143 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: somewhat like the Cardinals, were kind of easy to forecast. 144 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 1: Some of this stuff we saw coming. What do we 145 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 1: see coming? Number one, the age and the injury risk 146 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,679 Speaker 1: in the starting rotation, and that has played out. Scherzer 147 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 1: with the physical issues, not to mention the suspension, Verlander 148 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: just coming back, Carlos Carrasco soon to come back, but 149 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: has been hurt. Was not very good before he got hurt. 150 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: Jose Quintana we still haven't seen and are not going 151 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 1: to see for quite some time. That was always going 152 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 1: to be a question with the Mets. They're banking on 153 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 1: two older pitchers to be their aces. That's one issue. 154 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: The other issue, and this was also something people talked about, 155 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 1: a lack of power in that lineup beyond Pete Alonso. Now, Alonzo, 156 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: of course, is one of the great power hitters in 157 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: the game eleven home runs right now, right up there 158 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:30,239 Speaker 1: with the league leaders. Next on the New York Mets 159 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: is Francisco Lindor with five and Lindor again has not 160 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 1: been the Lindor we were accustomed to seeing in Cleveland, 161 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: at least on the offensive end. So where do the 162 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: Mets go from here? We've already seen them bring up 163 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,679 Speaker 1: Brett Baty, who does have power and who could really 164 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 1: help them at third base, and Francisco Alvarez, a catcher 165 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 1: who has not hit yet but is one of the 166 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:58,079 Speaker 1: top prospects in the game and expected to be an 167 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 1: offensive force at some point. They've got two other top 168 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 1: prospects in the miners still, Ronnie Maurisio is one of them. 169 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:08,840 Speaker 1: The other is Mark Vientos. How those guys would fit 170 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:12,079 Speaker 1: is not as clear. Whether they'll come up and make 171 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 1: an impact, that's certainly not known, but they do have 172 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 1: those options. Pitching, They're going to have to ride with 173 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 1: what they have, and what they have is problematic. They're 174 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 1: twenty fourth in the league in rotation era right now, 175 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 1: twenty second in slugging. This is who the Mets are. 176 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:32,680 Speaker 1: This is kind of who we thought they might be, 177 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 1: not this bad, obviously, So I'm not exactly shocked by 178 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: what is happening to them. I do expect them to 179 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 1: play better. But at the same time, as I said, 180 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 1: these problems were not exactly coming out of nowhere. These 181 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 1: were fears that the Mets had, or at least should 182 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 1: have had, going into the season. All Right, So, as 183 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:58,080 Speaker 1: I said, we're in early May. Now it's no longer early. 184 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:01,560 Speaker 1: It's time to start talking about teams more seriously, start 185 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 1: looking at trends more seriously. We're gonna do that all 186 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 1: show long. All Right, We've talked about two teams, the 187 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:10,320 Speaker 1: Mets and Cardinals, who have been early disappointments. Here's a 188 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:13,679 Speaker 1: team that I thought was going to crash and has 189 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,840 Speaker 1: been anything but an early disappointment as the season has 190 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 1: played out. Now we're gonna do a little true confessions here, 191 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: and I'm gonna confess that at five and eight I 192 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:27,319 Speaker 1: was pretty critical of the Red Sox in the Athletics 193 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 1: Free Newsletter. The rotation was a mess at the time, 194 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 1: their depth was a question, and I wrote these words, 195 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 1: it's fairly obvious where this is heading. Trouble for him Bloom, 196 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:42,959 Speaker 1: president of Baseball Operations, and maybe even for Alex Korra. Well. 197 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:45,840 Speaker 1: Since that five and eight start, the Red Sox have 198 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 1: gone sixteen and seven. They're twenty one and fifteen, playing 199 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 1: in the toughest division in the game, the ale East. 200 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 1: They've had, unlike the Rays and Orioles, a difficult schedule 201 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 1: and they've endured it rather well, and they deserve a 202 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 1: lot of credit for that. And this is something that 203 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 1: I didn't see coming. I don't know that a lot 204 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:06,440 Speaker 1: of people saw coming. But here they are and they're 205 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:09,439 Speaker 1: doing some really interesting things. Had an eight game winning 206 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 1: streak that ended Sunday. We've seen Masataki Yoshida, their ninety 207 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: million dollar free agent, emerge as a force, one of 208 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:19,959 Speaker 1: the better hitters in the game. And again, that eight 209 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: game winning streak was against the Guardians, the Blue Jays, 210 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:26,440 Speaker 1: and the Phillies, three good teams. The Blue Jays are 211 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: a team that tortured the Red Sox all last season. 212 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 1: So they're getting it done without Trevor Story, who's been 213 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:37,559 Speaker 1: out all year recovering from elbow surgery, Without Adam Duval, 214 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 1: who was their best hitter early and then fractured his 215 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:44,319 Speaker 1: wrist on April ninth. So that's impressive. And it's also 216 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 1: impressive that the Red Sox offense, which is one of 217 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:51,079 Speaker 1: the best in the game, conceivably could get even better 218 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:56,319 Speaker 1: one Story returns, and if they ever get at Albaltmondisy healthy. 219 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 1: They traded for him in the offseason. He's never healthy, 220 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 1: but he's extremely talented and he's an infielder again. If 221 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 1: they get him healthy along with Story again, assuming no 222 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 1: other injuries, of course, they're in a really interesting spot. 223 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 1: Jaron Duran has come a long way. Tristan Cassis hasn't 224 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 1: really performed to expectations yet, but he's still drawing his walks. 225 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 1: He's got plate discipline, he's not wavering in his approach. 226 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:26,559 Speaker 1: What we're seeing is a team built much like the 227 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:31,200 Speaker 1: twenty thirteen World Series Championship club. If you remember, Ben 228 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 1: Sherrington was the GM back then. They signed a bunch 229 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 1: of mid level free agents, no really big names, guys 230 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 1: like Victorino and Johnny Gomes and Mike Napoli, and they 231 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 1: got great performances out of them. David Ross was another 232 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:49,760 Speaker 1: one and they won the World Series. This team is 233 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:54,440 Speaker 1: constructed in kind of a similar manner. Justin Turner, Ken 234 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 1: Lee Jansen, Chris Martin. These are some of the free 235 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 1: agents they signed, Corey Klueber, with your sheet of being 236 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:03,319 Speaker 1: the foremost one among them. This was an off season 237 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 1: in which they lost Xander Bogarts didn't really. 238 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:07,680 Speaker 2: Compete for Xander Bogarts, so. 239 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:10,440 Speaker 1: A lot of people, including myself, thought, ah, the Red 240 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:13,679 Speaker 1: Sox no identity, They're not gonna be very good now. 241 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 1: I'm not saying they're twenty thirteen Red Sox yet, And 242 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:21,680 Speaker 1: in fact, that Red Sox team had a much stronger core. 243 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:25,199 Speaker 1: There was Ortised, there was Perdroya, there was Elsbury, there 244 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 1: was Lester. They had some homegrown guys like Will. 245 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,959 Speaker 2: Muddlebrooks, Clay Buckholtz, Bogarts. 246 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 1: At the end of the year, this team. The corp 247 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:38,680 Speaker 1: is kind of Devor's maybe Verdugo now, but it's not 248 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: the same. And I still question their pitching though Chris 249 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 1: Sale and his last two starts has been almost. 250 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:46,480 Speaker 2: Back to old Chris Sale. 251 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:50,439 Speaker 1: Paxton comes back this week. A lot of questions still 252 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:54,199 Speaker 1: with the pitching staff. Okay, but they've played extremely well. 253 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,000 Speaker 1: They are going to be a team that looks like 254 00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 1: they're going to compete. And yes, they're getting what the 255 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:03,680 Speaker 1: executives called ninetieth percentile outcomes out of a lot of 256 00:14:03,679 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: these players right now. Guys playing at really high levels, 257 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:10,600 Speaker 1: maybe above where they should be playing. But that's what 258 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:13,240 Speaker 1: it takes. That's what kind of happened in twenty thirteen, 259 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 1: and I'm not saying it's gonna happen again. Not when 260 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:18,679 Speaker 1: the Rays are twenty eight and seven. We'll get to 261 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 1: them later in the show. Not when the Blue Jays 262 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:24,400 Speaker 1: are so good, not when the Orioles are emerging. Played 263 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 1: a great series against the Braves this weekend. But the 264 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 1: Red Sox are better than I thought. So good for 265 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 1: the Red Sox and I'm already eating words, even though 266 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:36,360 Speaker 1: what it's I don't know. May eighth, ninth, whatever their 267 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 1: date might be never too early to say I might 268 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 1: have missed on that one. I might have missed on 269 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 1: that one. Now some other news over the weekend, this 270 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: is something I wanted to touch on, the retirement of 271 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 1: Matt Harvey. Now, in some senses, this is something. 272 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 2: Of a baseball tragedy. A guy that had all. 273 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: The talent in the world, was a top ten draft, 274 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 1: burst onto the scene as the Dark Knight of Gotham 275 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:05,480 Speaker 1: with the Mets and looked like he was. 276 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:07,440 Speaker 2: Heading to a brilliant career. 277 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 1: There were injuries, there were off field issues, there was 278 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 1: poor performance. We don't have to go into all that. 279 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 1: The memory I will have of Matt Harvey always was 280 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 1: from Game five of the twenty fifteen World Series. I 281 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 1: was working that game right next to the dugout for Fox, 282 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 1: the Mets dougout, that is, and I remember the feeling 283 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 1: in the ballpark as Harvey threw eight shutout innings, and 284 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 1: of course I remember him coming out for the ninth 285 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 1: and the crowd and what the crowd was like at 286 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:45,520 Speaker 1: that moment. Harvey, in that instant, was the King of 287 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 1: New York. He was about to win this World Series game, 288 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 1: get the Mets back in this series. He had pitched brilliantly. 289 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 1: A lot of the negative stuff had not yet occurred. 290 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 1: He goes out there, and there were questions later should 291 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 1: he have gone out there with one hundred pitches facing 292 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: some of the Royals better hitters, And of course he 293 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 1: walked Kane. Kane steals second, he gives up the double. 294 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 2: To Hosmer and that's it. Terry Collins had to go 295 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 2: get him. 296 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: Familiar blows the same Mets lose the game, lose the 297 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:18,280 Speaker 1: World Series, and the next day, of course, their second guessing, 298 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 1: as there always is after a World Series game with 299 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 1: a controversial decision. And I have an argument going with 300 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 1: Brian Kenny of MLB Network to this day, and I 301 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 1: will never relent on this. If you had been in 302 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 1: the park, if you had sensed the crowd, if you 303 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 1: had watched Harvey in that game, you're not pulling him. 304 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 1: I know what the analytics might have said. I know, yes, 305 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 1: you could have gone to a fresh bullpen to start 306 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 1: the inning and set to Harvey. 307 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 2: You did your job. Of course, in. 308 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 1: Hindsight it looks like that. But the feeling in that ballpark, 309 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 1: the emotion, the dominance, all that factors in this is 310 00:16:58,160 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: a game played by human beings. I have to remind 311 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: Brian of this every so often, actually every day. 312 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:05,480 Speaker 2: But it didn't work out. 313 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 1: But that, again, is the last thing memory I had 314 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 1: of Harvey. I wish his career had turned out better. 315 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:14,040 Speaker 1: I wish certain things hadn't happened for him, and I'm 316 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: sure he wished it the same. But Matt Harvey in 317 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 1: his day was something of Behold time now for a 318 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:23,680 Speaker 1: segment that we occasionally roll out here on Fair Territory, 319 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:26,960 Speaker 1: Worried or Wait? And we talked at the top of 320 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:29,680 Speaker 1: the show, how it's no longer early, how it's time 321 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:33,119 Speaker 1: for some serious self evaluation. So we're gonna bring in 322 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:35,680 Speaker 1: one of our producers, Claudia Olsen, and we're gonna take 323 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:39,480 Speaker 1: you through this segment and try to decide whether teams 324 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:42,919 Speaker 1: and players should be worried or should they wait before 325 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:46,360 Speaker 1: being truly concerned. All right, Claudia, kick it off. Let's 326 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 1: get going. 327 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 3: Cool, Kay, Let's get into it all right. Worried or Wait? 328 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 3: First topic, Cardinals Nolan Arnado Worried or Wait? 329 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 2: Cardinals obviously worried. 330 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:57,679 Speaker 1: We talked about them in the first segment. 331 00:17:57,840 --> 00:17:58,960 Speaker 2: They're a mess. 332 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:01,879 Speaker 1: Arnatto is an interesting case and I'm not going to 333 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 1: go as far as to say worried, but I will 334 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:08,119 Speaker 1: say troubled. And I'm troubled because No One on on 335 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:10,159 Speaker 1: a guy was third in the MVP voting in the 336 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 1: National League last year. He's still only thirty two years old. 337 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:18,359 Speaker 1: He's off to a dismal offensive start, worst start of 338 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:22,200 Speaker 1: his career six oh eight ops, it's the thirteenth lowest 339 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 1: in the majors. He's a guy who can be hard 340 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:27,880 Speaker 1: on himself. He can press at times. So yes, I'm 341 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:29,920 Speaker 1: a little worried about No One or do I think 342 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 1: he's going to perform better? Of course, but worried. Maybe 343 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:34,880 Speaker 1: not worried, but troubled. 344 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, I would say the same in a sense where worried. 345 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:41,159 Speaker 3: But he started the season with WBC and it's like 346 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:43,200 Speaker 3: the World Series for them. So now he's coming back 347 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:46,440 Speaker 3: down from the cloud and fair. I think he'll bounce 348 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 3: back for sure, all right. Next worried or wait? Mets 349 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 3: and Starling Marte worried or wait? 350 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:56,120 Speaker 1: Well, I detailed the Mets totally worried one in five 351 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:59,240 Speaker 1: against the Tigers and Rockies. Not good. We need to 352 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:02,679 Speaker 1: see better from Verlander, of course, look good. We need 353 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:05,280 Speaker 1: Carrasco to come back before we start taking his team 354 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:08,280 Speaker 1: and saying, Okay, they're better and we need them also 355 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:12,640 Speaker 1: to hit before we rally around their bandwagon. Now, one 356 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:15,960 Speaker 1: of the guys who has to hit is Morte. Here's 357 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:18,959 Speaker 1: a guy a fourteen ops last year. He's got the 358 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:22,360 Speaker 1: sixth lowest ops in the major leagues this year. Now, 359 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 1: he had that neck issue, so it wasn't physically right necessarily, 360 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:30,200 Speaker 1: but he is such a dynamic player that when he 361 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:34,040 Speaker 1: is right, it enables the Mets offense to have an 362 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 1: entirely different look. And so far this season he's been 363 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:40,680 Speaker 1: in disappointment. He's got the one home run, that's it, 364 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 1: nine stolen bases in twelve attempts. Great, but he needs 365 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:46,360 Speaker 1: to get on base more. He needs to hit, needs 366 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:49,160 Speaker 1: to hit for power. So worried about him as well. 367 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:51,640 Speaker 1: I need to see from him at age thirty four, 368 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 1: a little bit more for sure. 369 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:56,640 Speaker 3: And I saw him on the articles as well about 370 00:19:56,680 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 3: the age of all the Mets players too, because they're 371 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 3: a little bit older, you know, a little bit Yeah, yeah, true, 372 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:05,480 Speaker 3: you're right, Yeah, you're right. But I think they're gonna 373 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 3: end up doing just fine in the end. Anyway, all right, 374 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 3: so next wright Er Wait Phillies and Kyle Schwarber. 375 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:15,840 Speaker 1: Worry or wait, worried someone about the Phillies, even though, 376 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: of course last year they had a terrible start. What 377 00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:21,440 Speaker 1: I'm worried about is the rotation. It's twenty first in 378 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 1: the league in rotation era. They just ended their losing 379 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 1: streak on Sunday with a win against the Red Sox. 380 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:31,879 Speaker 1: They're gonna play better, but coming off a World Series, 381 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:34,439 Speaker 1: it's always tough on your pitching. You're starting pitching in 382 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 1: particular Aaron Nola, Zach Willey. These guys pitch deep into October. 383 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:42,440 Speaker 1: Of course they're adjusting to the pitchclock like all teams. 384 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 1: A little worried there. Schwarber not worried. And I'll tell 385 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:48,880 Speaker 1: you why. Schwarber has started like this before, maybe not 386 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 1: quite this badly, but he's had some rough moments in 387 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 1: the early parts of seasons. Now, I entered Sunday batting 388 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:58,280 Speaker 1: one to seventy six. He had a six seventy two. 389 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:00,159 Speaker 1: Hope he has he was old for twenty one with 390 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:03,160 Speaker 1: nine strikeouts, but he went two for three and had 391 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:05,399 Speaker 1: a home run in that victory over the Red Sox. 392 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:09,000 Speaker 1: But the reason I'm not worried about Schwarber is because 393 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:12,000 Speaker 1: wait until the calendar turns to June. That is when 394 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:15,480 Speaker 1: he turns into Superman. Almost every season, He's gonna be fine. 395 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:18,440 Speaker 1: He's going to hit. He always does, and once June 396 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:21,840 Speaker 1: comes around, Kyle Schwarber will be Kyle Schwarber again, all. 397 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 3: Right, Ken final worried or wait? Astros and Jose Breu 398 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:27,359 Speaker 3: worried or wait. 399 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:28,800 Speaker 2: Worried about both. 400 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:31,680 Speaker 1: And I'm worried about the Astros because of the state 401 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: of their rotation. Remember they lost Justin Verlander to start 402 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:37,280 Speaker 1: the year, it still looked like they had a lot 403 00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:40,119 Speaker 1: of depth. Orlando goes to the Mets as a free agent. 404 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 1: They are fourth in the majors in rotation, Iray, but 405 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:47,520 Speaker 1: this group is sort of crumbling. Garcia, Luis Garcia, Tommy 406 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:50,760 Speaker 1: John surgery, Jose Orchaty shoulder, he's down for a while. 407 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 1: Mccullor still is not pitched. He's on his way back, 408 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:57,479 Speaker 1: should be there shortly, but they're down three starters right 409 00:21:57,520 --> 00:22:03,200 Speaker 1: now in their rotation at the moment, fromer Valdez Christian Haavier, 410 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:07,640 Speaker 1: two guys who have been great, but also Brandon Beelock, 411 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 1: j P Franz and the rookie who has done really well, 412 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:15,640 Speaker 1: Hunter Brown. That's worrisome. Jose Abrady worrisome on an entirely 413 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 1: different levels. The guy who's still not hit a home 414 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:20,679 Speaker 1: run this season. I know his home runs were down 415 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:24,760 Speaker 1: last year, but there's none this year. Second lowest ops 416 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:27,359 Speaker 1: in the majors. He does not look like himself. He 417 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:30,160 Speaker 1: is not a young man anymore. He's thirty six. And 418 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:32,160 Speaker 1: is this the start of a decline in the first 419 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:34,359 Speaker 1: year of a three year, fifty eight point five million 420 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 1: dollar deal. It's quite possible it is. So. Yes, I'm 421 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:38,760 Speaker 1: worried about a. 422 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 3: Bray Ken, as you should be worried about Obrau because 423 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:46,760 Speaker 3: on foul Territory Todd father picked that he would be 424 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:49,480 Speaker 3: hitting the most home runs this season, and as it 425 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 3: showed with our guys in Bedding, if you pick them, 426 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:56,120 Speaker 3: they're probably not gonna win for absolutely anything. So it's 427 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 3: a bad luck on them. 428 00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:01,399 Speaker 1: Actually, Claudia, maybe we should be worried about Yeah, that 429 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:03,399 Speaker 1: kind of pick. I mean I've made my bad picks 430 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:06,240 Speaker 1: as well. I excited one earlier about the Red Sox. Brad, 431 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 1: you're leading the majors and homers not looking great right now. 432 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, definitely potential worry there. All right, Ken, that was great, Talk. 433 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:16,320 Speaker 2: To you next time, Thanks Claudia. 434 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 1: Time now for the dude and dork of the week. 435 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 1: The Dude of the week is multi layered. It's one person, 436 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:26,240 Speaker 1: but it's one person for several reasons. 437 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 2: Bryce Harper. 438 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:31,080 Speaker 1: Now, the main reason, of course, the reason we're talking 439 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:33,920 Speaker 1: about Bryce Harper is because he returned from Tommy John 440 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:37,400 Speaker 1: surgery in one hundred and sixty days. That is a record. 441 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:39,560 Speaker 1: No one has ever done that before. Granted he's a 442 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:42,760 Speaker 1: position player and coming back only as a DH but 443 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:46,720 Speaker 1: that alone is incredible shows what kind of work he 444 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:49,640 Speaker 1: put in and how much he desired to get back 445 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 1: with his team. Also due to the week, for his 446 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:56,159 Speaker 1: performance since coming back, he already has been brilliant. No 447 00:23:56,280 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 1: rehab assignment. And here's Harper starts off all first game, 448 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 1: understandable adjustment period could take a while. Then he goes 449 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:07,840 Speaker 1: seven to thirteen with the homer in his next few games. 450 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:12,000 Speaker 1: He's performing already at a Bryce Harper type level. But 451 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 1: he's the dude of the week for reasons that go 452 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:17,960 Speaker 1: beyond his sheer comeback and his sheer performance. This is 453 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 1: a guy who when he signed his three hundred and 454 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:23,399 Speaker 1: thirty million dollar contract with the Phillies did not ask 455 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:26,639 Speaker 1: for an opt out. And I was, let's just say, 456 00:24:26,680 --> 00:24:30,000 Speaker 1: skeptical at the time of this whole thing. What I 457 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 1: thought was happening is that Harper didn't care about the 458 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:36,119 Speaker 1: opt out, was willing to let the opt out go 459 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:39,000 Speaker 1: because he wanted to be above Gen. Carlos Stanton for 460 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 1: the record total value in a deal. Stanton had the 461 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:44,359 Speaker 1: record at the time three hundred and twenty five million. 462 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:47,200 Speaker 1: Harper wanted to get to three thirty with his agent, 463 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:51,520 Speaker 1: Scott Boris, and if it took sacrificing an opt out, 464 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 1: sacrificing anything else, they were going to do it. And 465 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:58,919 Speaker 1: I wrote at the time that that was questionable, and 466 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:02,240 Speaker 1: Harper's respond and Boris's response, was that he did not 467 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 1: want to get into a situation again where people were 468 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:07,680 Speaker 1: wondering and talking. 469 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:09,159 Speaker 2: About where he was going to go next. 470 00:25:09,560 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 1: He wanted to settle in one place. Well, he has 471 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:17,240 Speaker 1: proven that he chose one place for a reason, Philadelphia, 472 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:21,040 Speaker 1: and that he is indeed comfortable with the way the 473 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:23,919 Speaker 1: contract played out. Of course, he's been surpassed in average 474 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 1: annual value even then, it wasn't that great an annual value. 475 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:31,399 Speaker 1: And he's playing, he's happy in Philadelphia, he has roots. 476 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:34,440 Speaker 1: He was true to his word. And the other reason 477 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:37,120 Speaker 1: he's due to the week, and this is one other thing. 478 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:39,520 Speaker 1: And some of our people at Fox were talking about 479 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:43,440 Speaker 1: this after our broadcast Saturday. A lot of people thought 480 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:45,720 Speaker 1: of Bryce Harper when he was a younger player as 481 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:49,440 Speaker 1: a punk. He proved that he's not a punk. He's 482 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:51,479 Speaker 1: a guy who plays with a ton of passion, but 483 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:54,399 Speaker 1: he's not a punk. In fact, is kind of what 484 00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:56,960 Speaker 1: you want your players to be. Right. And if you 485 00:25:57,040 --> 00:26:00,359 Speaker 1: go back to last postseason and those interviews I did 486 00:26:00,480 --> 00:26:03,080 Speaker 1: in the dugout during the games. I was with the 487 00:26:03,080 --> 00:26:05,040 Speaker 1: Phillies for much of the postseason, and of course they 488 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:06,240 Speaker 1: were hitting home runs left. 489 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:07,400 Speaker 2: And right, and I was in the dugout a lot 490 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:08,320 Speaker 2: talking to these guys. 491 00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:13,960 Speaker 1: Well, those interviews happened mainly, in my opinion, because Harper 492 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:16,159 Speaker 1: was willing to do it. And once Harper, as the 493 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 1: best player, was willing to do. 494 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:19,200 Speaker 2: It, then other players followed. 495 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:23,040 Speaker 1: Now I'm not giving him due to the week because 496 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 1: he was nice to me, because he was willing to 497 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:28,240 Speaker 1: be interviewed on Fox. No, what that was was a 498 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:33,000 Speaker 1: recognition that there's something bigger going on here, that players 499 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:37,280 Speaker 1: need to put themselves out front in the spotlight, that 500 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:40,119 Speaker 1: fans want to see them, want to see them in 501 00:26:40,160 --> 00:26:43,720 Speaker 1: those moments. So for all of that, for the comeback, 502 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:47,080 Speaker 1: for performance, for living up to his word with the contract, 503 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:49,919 Speaker 1: and for just a general way he has conducted himself 504 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 1: as one of the best players in the game. Bryce 505 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:56,600 Speaker 1: Harper dude of the week, now the dog of the week. 506 00:26:57,560 --> 00:26:59,679 Speaker 2: I'm sorry, it's faceless. 507 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:03,680 Speaker 1: I don't have one specific person. I have a group, 508 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:06,720 Speaker 1: a general group, and I'm gonna call them, for lack 509 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 1: of a better term, the enforcers, the enforcers of the 510 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:15,680 Speaker 1: new rules. Now, most of us would agree the rules 511 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 1: have been good, the pitch clock in particular, the games 512 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:20,200 Speaker 1: are moving, there is. 513 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:22,560 Speaker 2: More action overall. 514 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:26,840 Speaker 1: But at the same time, while I understand that Major 515 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 1: League Baseball wants strict enforcement, definitely early on, to get 516 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:33,359 Speaker 1: all the players in line to make sure this thing works, 517 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:38,600 Speaker 1: there have been several instances where things have looked a. 518 00:27:38,720 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 2: Bit ridiculous, to say the least. 519 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:44,760 Speaker 1: Example one Harper's elbow guard, which he needs to protect 520 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:48,080 Speaker 1: the surgically repaired elbow that he puts on when he 521 00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:51,680 Speaker 1: gets on base. MLB has told him, no exceptions, you 522 00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:55,600 Speaker 1: gotta get that thing on right away. We're not gonna delay, guys. 523 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:59,560 Speaker 1: If it takes Bryce Harper five more seconds, the Republic 524 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:03,440 Speaker 1: is not going to crumble. Zach Eflin of the Tampa 525 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:07,639 Speaker 1: Bay Rays order to remove the wedding ring from his 526 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:15,080 Speaker 1: glove hand or face ejection. Guys, the glove hand, the 527 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:18,959 Speaker 1: wedding ring. It's not going to really change much. It's okay, 528 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:22,720 Speaker 1: he can wear the wedding ring. And then, finally, something 529 00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:27,240 Speaker 1: I witnessed Saturday, the standoff between Matt Strom of the 530 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:30,120 Speaker 1: Phillies and Cutter Crawford of the Red Sox. Now you've 531 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:34,240 Speaker 1: seen these before. They're kind of entertaining, they're fun. Player 532 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:36,680 Speaker 1: from each team stands on the foul line basically waits 533 00:28:36,680 --> 00:28:39,400 Speaker 1: for one of them to move so he can say, hey, 534 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:42,240 Speaker 1: I outlasted you. This is right after the anthem plays, 535 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:48,440 Speaker 1: before the game starts, so, unbeknownst to me, Strom and 536 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:52,080 Speaker 1: Cutter Crawford engaged in this kind of competition on Saturday. 537 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:55,400 Speaker 1: I was right there seeing it. In fact, I went 538 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:58,880 Speaker 1: live on the air standing right next to Strom as 539 00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 1: this was still going on. So instead of the umpires 540 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:04,400 Speaker 1: just telling these guys, guys get off the field now 541 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:07,360 Speaker 1: it's time for the game to start, they were ejected. 542 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:10,480 Speaker 1: Both of them were rejected. In Cowford because he's on 543 00:29:10,520 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 1: the injured list, faces a larger fine than Strama received 544 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:16,080 Speaker 1: because when you're on the il, you get nowled. As 545 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:20,640 Speaker 1: Alex Corus said, the Red Sox manager, I asked for 546 00:29:20,680 --> 00:29:23,800 Speaker 1: an explanation. The explanation I got was the players were warned, 547 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:25,600 Speaker 1: they were told they'd be ejected if they can get 548 00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:26,400 Speaker 1: off the field, and. 549 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:32,240 Speaker 2: That was that it's a standoff. It's supposed to be fun. 550 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:35,560 Speaker 1: We can go on with these stands offs and not 551 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:39,840 Speaker 1: have ejections. The enforcers are the dorks of the week. Guys, 552 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:42,160 Speaker 1: we've got to use common sense once in a while. 553 00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 1: Mark Wino, one of our producers, suggested that baseball needs 554 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:48,840 Speaker 1: a department of common sense, and I would suggest that 555 00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 1: he is absolutely correct. The enforcers you need. 556 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:53,960 Speaker 2: To let up. 557 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:57,560 Speaker 1: As I mentioned earlier, I'm headed to California this week. 558 00:29:57,880 --> 00:30:01,720 Speaker 1: Very excited for Dodgers Padres Round two that will take 559 00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:04,960 Speaker 1: place over the weekend at Dodgers Stadium. We've got the 560 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:08,080 Speaker 1: second of the three games on Fox Now. You may 561 00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:12,800 Speaker 1: have seen yesterday that we reported the Dodgers and Padres 562 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:17,320 Speaker 1: could repeat could be the matchup also next season for 563 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:21,320 Speaker 1: the first ever series that will take place in Korea. Now, 564 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:24,000 Speaker 1: not all of the details have been finalized for this yet. 565 00:30:24,040 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 1: It's still kind of unofficial, but those teams are on 566 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:30,000 Speaker 1: the short list. Those teams make a lot of sense 567 00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:33,040 Speaker 1: to play in Korea, and it would be really cool 568 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:37,040 Speaker 1: to see baseball expand its international reach by going to 569 00:30:37,120 --> 00:30:40,600 Speaker 1: that country. All right, now it's time for the fan questions. 570 00:30:40,640 --> 00:30:41,719 Speaker 1: We do this every week. 571 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:42,920 Speaker 2: Let's get started. 572 00:30:43,160 --> 00:30:45,880 Speaker 1: First question comes from Zach Anderson, and Zach I always 573 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:48,560 Speaker 1: appreciate a guy who uses his real name and his handle. 574 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:52,320 Speaker 1: Zach asks a very fair question, how long can the 575 00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:53,440 Speaker 1: Pirates keep it up? 576 00:30:54,280 --> 00:30:55,440 Speaker 2: I've got some bad news. 577 00:30:55,960 --> 00:30:58,840 Speaker 1: They already are not keeping it up. They've lost seven 578 00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:02,000 Speaker 1: straight to the Nationals, three to the Rays, three to 579 00:31:02,040 --> 00:31:05,160 Speaker 1: the J's. Now that's tough competition. The Rays and J's 580 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:08,920 Speaker 1: are two of the better teams in baseball. It's understandable 581 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:11,640 Speaker 1: that the Pirates early season run would come to something 582 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:16,160 Speaker 1: of a halt against those clubs. The starting pitching is 583 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:18,520 Speaker 1: teetering now a little bit where it had been so 584 00:31:18,560 --> 00:31:19,360 Speaker 1: strong earlier. 585 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:21,080 Speaker 2: And here's the key thing. 586 00:31:21,440 --> 00:31:24,280 Speaker 1: During that losing streak, that seven game losing streak, they 587 00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:29,200 Speaker 1: scored only nine runs. Nine runs in seven games. Again, 588 00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:31,880 Speaker 1: you're playing the Rays and the J's. It can happen. 589 00:31:32,480 --> 00:31:35,560 Speaker 1: But it's going to be really interesting now to see 590 00:31:35,560 --> 00:31:37,320 Speaker 1: how the Pirates come out of this. How do they 591 00:31:37,360 --> 00:31:40,480 Speaker 1: respond to their first adversity of the season. 592 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:43,080 Speaker 2: All right, we go to the next question. 593 00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:46,040 Speaker 1: This comes from not a person who uses his name 594 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:50,040 Speaker 1: in his handle sports for Dorks. He asked, what are 595 00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:52,800 Speaker 1: your thoughts on adding a salary floor to prevent what 596 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:56,160 Speaker 1: teams like the A's are doing now Sports for Dorks. 597 00:31:56,240 --> 00:31:58,320 Speaker 1: This is a good question. A lot of fans ask 598 00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:03,040 Speaker 1: this constantly. Hey, make those teams spend money. Especially in 599 00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:05,840 Speaker 1: the case of the A's and others, they get revenue 600 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:08,560 Speaker 1: sharing money. Let's go make them spend it. 601 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:09,800 Speaker 2: All right. 602 00:32:10,040 --> 00:32:13,360 Speaker 1: The salary floor as a concept is one I love. Right, 603 00:32:13,480 --> 00:32:17,080 Speaker 1: It makes a lot of sense. The problem is Baseball. 604 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:22,080 Speaker 1: Major League Baseball, to agree to a salary floor, wants 605 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:25,480 Speaker 1: a salary cap. What MLB is saying is, if you're 606 00:32:25,520 --> 00:32:28,440 Speaker 1: going to put a limit at the bottom, or a 607 00:32:28,520 --> 00:32:31,400 Speaker 1: set number at the bottom. We want a set number 608 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:34,240 Speaker 1: at the top. If you follow this game over the years, 609 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:37,360 Speaker 1: you know the union is never going for a salary cap. 610 00:32:37,400 --> 00:32:39,760 Speaker 1: And there was some proposals floated around in the last 611 00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:43,680 Speaker 1: collective bargain negotiations with a floor, and it was introduced 612 00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:48,800 Speaker 1: by MLB with a very restrictive luxury tax type system. 613 00:32:49,320 --> 00:32:51,800 Speaker 1: The numbers would have been lowered at the top. It 614 00:32:51,840 --> 00:32:52,640 Speaker 1: was a pain in the. 615 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:54,160 Speaker 2: Rear from the union's perspective. 616 00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:57,480 Speaker 1: It was never ever going to fly. Now. From a 617 00:32:57,520 --> 00:33:01,440 Speaker 1: practical standpoint, a floor also presents certain problems, and one 618 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:04,240 Speaker 1: of these was raised to me during the CBA negotiations. 619 00:33:05,320 --> 00:33:08,120 Speaker 1: If you're telling let's say the A's they've got to 620 00:33:08,120 --> 00:33:11,440 Speaker 1: spend one hundred million, and really they're operating in around 621 00:33:11,480 --> 00:33:14,920 Speaker 1: sixty or seventy, how do you get to one hundred? 622 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:18,720 Speaker 1: Most likely the A's aren't signing Shoho Tani this winter. 623 00:33:19,640 --> 00:33:23,000 Speaker 1: What they might be doing is simply swallowing bad contracts 624 00:33:23,040 --> 00:33:25,000 Speaker 1: from other teams to get through their number while they 625 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:30,720 Speaker 1: continue their rebuilding dance. That's not exactly what you want here. 626 00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:34,080 Speaker 1: A floor would help. It would force these teams to 627 00:33:34,120 --> 00:33:37,400 Speaker 1: think differently. I agree, it would make them more competitive, 628 00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:40,200 Speaker 1: but a floor is not fool proof, and as long 629 00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:42,440 Speaker 1: as it is linked to a cap, the Union is 630 00:33:42,560 --> 00:33:44,720 Speaker 1: never going to go for it. You're gonna hear talk 631 00:33:44,760 --> 00:33:47,960 Speaker 1: about a cap over the next several years. You're already 632 00:33:47,960 --> 00:33:51,280 Speaker 1: hearing little rumblings and little feelers about it, as we 633 00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:54,600 Speaker 1: always do in this sport. I will say it again, 634 00:33:55,160 --> 00:33:59,200 Speaker 1: not happening. All right, On to the next question. Final 635 00:33:59,320 --> 00:34:02,520 Speaker 1: question from and Drew Bostwick. And Andrew asked, are the 636 00:34:02,640 --> 00:34:06,960 Speaker 1: Rays the World Series favorite right now? Very fair question 637 00:34:07,120 --> 00:34:10,000 Speaker 1: considering the way the Rays have started the season. And 638 00:34:10,040 --> 00:34:12,759 Speaker 1: I'm gonna show you a graphic now to demonstrate why. 639 00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:16,440 Speaker 1: The answer to your question is yes, at least based 640 00:34:16,520 --> 00:34:20,359 Speaker 1: on past history. So go back to nineteen oh one, 641 00:34:20,440 --> 00:34:22,800 Speaker 1: and here are the most wins through thirty five games 642 00:34:22,840 --> 00:34:25,880 Speaker 1: since nineteen oh one. We're talking more than a century. 643 00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:29,680 Speaker 1: Nineteen eighty four Tigers thirty and five ultimately went on 644 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:31,680 Speaker 1: to thirty five and five, one of the great teams 645 00:34:31,680 --> 00:34:32,960 Speaker 1: of our generation. 646 00:34:33,040 --> 00:34:34,080 Speaker 2: Won the World Series. 647 00:34:34,640 --> 00:34:37,160 Speaker 1: Nineteen oh two Pirates didn't win the World Series even 648 00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:39,200 Speaker 1: though they were thirty and five because. 649 00:34:39,239 --> 00:34:40,560 Speaker 2: There was no World Series. 650 00:34:41,160 --> 00:34:43,800 Speaker 1: Nineteen thirty nine Yankees, one of the great teams in history, 651 00:34:44,000 --> 00:34:46,800 Speaker 1: twenty eight and seven won the World Series, twenty eight Yankees, 652 00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:50,080 Speaker 1: twenty eight and seven won the World Series, nineteen twelve 653 00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:50,880 Speaker 1: New York Giants. 654 00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:53,600 Speaker 2: Okay, they lost the World Series, but they got. 655 00:34:53,360 --> 00:34:56,600 Speaker 1: There, which brings us at twenty eight and seven to 656 00:34:56,640 --> 00:34:58,440 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty three Rays. 657 00:34:59,239 --> 00:35:00,920 Speaker 2: Now, it's a much different era. 658 00:35:01,600 --> 00:35:03,600 Speaker 1: Back in the day when most of those teams are 659 00:35:03,640 --> 00:35:06,360 Speaker 1: going to the World Series except for the eighty four Tigers, 660 00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:08,200 Speaker 1: one team from each league. 661 00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:08,839 Speaker 2: That was it. 662 00:35:09,480 --> 00:35:12,920 Speaker 1: That was who went to the World Series. Now expanded playoffs, 663 00:35:12,960 --> 00:35:15,319 Speaker 1: you've got to get through multiple rounds. It's much more 664 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:18,759 Speaker 1: difficult to get there and of course to win it 665 00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:22,239 Speaker 1: and be the survivor. At the end of this that said, 666 00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:25,120 Speaker 1: how can you go against the Rays right now? They've 667 00:35:25,160 --> 00:35:29,279 Speaker 1: done everything a team can ever show to this point 668 00:35:29,320 --> 00:35:34,799 Speaker 1: in the season offensively, run, prevention, pitching, defense. They are 669 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:37,839 Speaker 1: a complete team. They have shown the ability to come 670 00:35:37,880 --> 00:35:40,360 Speaker 1: back like they did against the Yankees yesterday. They have 671 00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:42,640 Speaker 1: just done so many things. Right now, They're going to 672 00:35:42,760 --> 00:35:46,520 Speaker 1: hit their little valleys all teams do, and maybe they 673 00:35:46,600 --> 00:35:47,400 Speaker 1: hit a big value. 674 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:49,040 Speaker 2: I don't know. It could be injuries. 675 00:35:49,600 --> 00:35:53,319 Speaker 1: But they're also a team with the ability to make 676 00:35:53,360 --> 00:35:55,319 Speaker 1: a move of the deadline because their farm system is 677 00:35:55,360 --> 00:35:58,640 Speaker 1: so strong, they will take on payroll if they're in it. 678 00:35:59,160 --> 00:36:03,360 Speaker 1: And I just see them right now as the dominant 679 00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:05,440 Speaker 1: team in the game. As we all see them. The 680 00:36:05,520 --> 00:36:08,000 Speaker 1: Braves are a force. I can see them coming on. 681 00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:10,720 Speaker 1: I can see maybe the Padres if they ever figure 682 00:36:10,760 --> 00:36:11,799 Speaker 1: things out, getting. 683 00:36:11,560 --> 00:36:12,680 Speaker 2: There as well. 684 00:36:12,719 --> 00:36:15,240 Speaker 1: But the Rays right now, yes, I would answer Andrew, 685 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:18,360 Speaker 1: they are the favorites to win the World Series. Thanks 686 00:36:18,360 --> 00:36:20,880 Speaker 1: to everyone for their questions. We always get great questions 687 00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:23,560 Speaker 1: from you guys. Really appreciate it. Thanks to everyone from 688 00:36:23,560 --> 00:36:27,080 Speaker 1: watching and for listening. You can subscribe to us on YouTube. 689 00:36:27,200 --> 00:36:30,280 Speaker 1: You can subscribe to us wherever you get your favorite podcast. 690 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:33,520 Speaker 1: We are Fair Territories. Have a great week everyone. We'll 691 00:36:33,560 --> 00:36:34,279 Speaker 1: talk to you next week. 692 00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:37,719 Speaker 4: Foul Territory fans, listen up. Our friends at BETMGM are 693 00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:41,160 Speaker 4: running an MLB bet ten dollars get one hundred dollars 694 00:36:41,400 --> 00:36:44,960 Speaker 4: instantly promo with the bonus code spicy MLS. Here's how 695 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:47,480 Speaker 4: it works. Sign up and deposit at least ten dollars 696 00:36:47,560 --> 00:36:51,080 Speaker 4: into your newly created account. Download the bet MGM Sportsbook 697 00:36:51,080 --> 00:36:54,000 Speaker 4: app on iOS or Android Play say free game money 698 00:36:54,080 --> 00:36:56,960 Speaker 4: Line wager at least ten dollars on any MLB team 699 00:36:57,000 --> 00:36:59,480 Speaker 4: to win. At standard ODS price, you will receive one 700 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:02,560 Speaker 4: hundred dollar dollars in bonus bets instantly. 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