1 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: Welcome everyone to another edition of Fair Territory. 2 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 2: I come to you this week from a secret, undisclosed location. 3 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 2: Now I'm not going to tell you where I am. 4 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:17,479 Speaker 2: I don't want my competition knowing what I'm up to. 5 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:20,279 Speaker 1: You never know. Now, this is an. 6 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 2: Important day, a holiday, Juneteenth, a celebration of black freedom. 7 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 1: I want to wish everyone a happy Juneteenth. And we 8 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:27,319 Speaker 1: start this. 9 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 2: Week talking about a guy that we often talk about 10 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 2: on this show, and some people get tired of hearing 11 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 2: about this guy only because he's not on their team. 12 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: If you've got Otani fatigue, I suggest. 13 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 2: You become a fan of another sport, because what we 14 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:46,239 Speaker 2: are seeing from this player again is something that is 15 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 2: frankly unfathomable. He's coming off one of the best weeks 16 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:52,599 Speaker 2: of his career. He is now the major league home 17 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 2: run leader with twenty four. He has a fifteen game 18 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 2: hitting streak right now, six multi hit games in that 19 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 2: fifteen game each streak. And here's the best news of 20 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 2: all or at least best. 21 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: News for Angels fans. He's not getting traded. 22 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 2: And he's not getting traded, not because we have to 23 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:11,839 Speaker 2: debate whether it's the right thing to do. No he's 24 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,759 Speaker 2: not getting traded because right now the Angels hold one. 25 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: Of the wildcard positions. 26 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 2: Believe it or not, they have a better record than 27 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 2: the Astros, a better record than the Yankees. 28 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: They're in the second wildcard spot. 29 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:26,680 Speaker 2: They are on something of a role, at least for them. 30 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 2: They've won eleven of fourteen. That includes three or four 31 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 2: in Texas in which Atani went nuts, three home runs, 32 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 2: big pitching performance as well. People say he hasn't played 33 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 2: big games. Well, he did in the WBC, and he 34 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:43,760 Speaker 2: did in Texas over the weekend. Now always possible the 35 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 2: Angels could collapse. We can't rule that out with this team. 36 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 2: But I don't see that happening. This is Otani at 37 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 2: his absolute best. And I want to show you now 38 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 2: a comparison between this season and what he's done so 39 00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 2: far and his twenty twenty one envy P season, because 40 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 2: these comparisons are rather telling. 41 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: And let's start off by looking at the hitting comparison. 42 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:13,399 Speaker 2: Yes, Otani versus himself twenty twenty one versus twenty twenty three. 43 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:16,959 Speaker 2: You look at the onbase percentage higher this year, slugging 44 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:21,359 Speaker 2: higher this year, ops higher this year. He's on a 45 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,079 Speaker 2: forty six home run pace that is what he hit 46 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty one forty six. 47 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:27,960 Speaker 1: So really he is. 48 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:31,399 Speaker 2: Performing at a higher level offensively than he was when 49 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 2: he was the MVP. 50 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 1: That's pretty impressive, Loan. Now let's look at the pitching 51 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 1: side of this. 52 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 2: Twenty twenty one versus twenty twenty three, same thing again. 53 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 2: I want to show you what he's doing this year 54 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 2: compared to twenty one. Okay, you're a slightly higher, but 55 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 2: the strikeout rate is also higher. And the innings here 56 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 2: are telling his innings are at a pretty high level. 57 00:02:57,240 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 2: He's at a pace where he's going to surpass what 58 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 2: he did twenty one, and the Angels are slowing him down. 59 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:04,920 Speaker 2: You remember he had a four point eight eight ERA 60 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 2: over an eight start span going into that start in 61 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:11,079 Speaker 2: Texas when he pitched really well six innings, tour and runs, 62 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 2: and the Angels have said, hey, we're going to back 63 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 2: off him a little bit, space him out a little 64 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 2: bit more. Otani has talked about fatigue. Well, obviously they're 65 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 2: gonna need to max out this guy. 66 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 1: That's what they have to do every year. So sho 67 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 1: heo Tani again, He'll be. 68 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 2: The player of the week. I assume that's going to 69 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:33,920 Speaker 2: be the case. He is on an MVP pace again. 70 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 2: He is the best player in the game, the most 71 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 2: exciting guy going, and I love watching him play period. 72 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 2: Now we move on to another story, not as happy 73 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 2: a story as Shoe Heyo Tani. In fact, it's not 74 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 2: a happy story at all. It's the A's move to 75 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 2: Las Vegas. And I want to talk about the commissioner's 76 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 2: news conference after the Nevada legislature basically approved the public 77 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 2: funding that. 78 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: Is required at least by the A's for this relocation. 79 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 2: To happen, and Manfred said some things in this press 80 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 2: conference that frankly, we're upsetting to a lot of people 81 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 2: in Oakland, really a lot of baseball fans everywhere, because 82 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 2: he engaged in something called punching down. And punching down 83 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 2: is basically when you're talking down to people who are 84 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 2: in less of a position of power than yourself and 85 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 2: you're kind of condescending toward them, you're treating them not well. 86 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,160 Speaker 2: And I want to show you what he said. I 87 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:31,840 Speaker 2: know a lot of people are well aware of these 88 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 2: quotes already, but I want to go back to them. 89 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 2: This is what he said first about the reverse boycott. 90 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 2: And this was the comment that got so many people upset. 91 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 2: He said, And I'm going to show you this quote 92 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 2: right now. This is Rob Manfred at his news conference. 93 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:48,599 Speaker 2: It is great to see what is this year almost 94 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 2: an average Major League Baseball crowd in the facility for 95 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 2: one night. 96 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:53,920 Speaker 1: That's a great thing. 97 00:04:55,880 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 2: That's sarcastic, that is not necessary. And that was night 98 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 2: in which the Oakland fans turned out showed their spirit. 99 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 1: No, they didn't fill the place or at. 100 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 2: Least get to the capacity of the Oakland Coliseum, but 101 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 2: guess what, it got pretty damn near the capacity of 102 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 2: what the Las Vegas Stadium is gonna be, which is 103 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:14,679 Speaker 2: thirty thousand. 104 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 1: It was a show of support. 105 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 2: It is something where all the commissioner had to say was, hey, 106 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 2: that was great to see. 107 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 1: Unfortunately it didn't work out in Oakland. 108 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 2: And this move is going to happen, at least if 109 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:29,040 Speaker 2: it's approved by the Major League owners. 110 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: That's not what he said. He engaged in punching down 111 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: a commissioner of Baseball should not be doing that. Now. 112 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 2: There was another disputed comment with regard to this particular issue, 113 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 2: and it involved Oakland's negotiations with the a's now for 114 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:47,040 Speaker 2: years this was going on. A person in Baseball showed 115 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 2: me a news release from two thousand and nine last 116 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 2: week in which bud Selig said he was then the commissioner. 117 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:55,039 Speaker 1: We've got to get this thing resolved. That was fourteen 118 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:55,600 Speaker 1: years ago. 119 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 2: So granted Oakland had many chances here and this never 120 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 2: got done. But here's what Manfred said, and I want 121 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 2: to show you this comment too, because this too got 122 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 2: a reaction. He said, there is no Oakland offer. Okay, 123 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:12,599 Speaker 2: they never got to a point where they had a 124 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 2: plan to build a stadium at any site. 125 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:17,279 Speaker 1: Well, of course that. 126 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 2: Got an immediate response from the Oakland people, who of 127 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 2: course thought that was not exactly the truth. In fact, 128 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,159 Speaker 2: I want to show you this statement from Julie Edwards. 129 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 2: She's the spokespersman for Oakland Mayor Sheng Tau, and she 130 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 2: said this in response to what. 131 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: Manfred remarked at his news conference. This is just totally false. 132 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 2: Referring to the no offer, there was a very concrete 133 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 2: proposal under discussion, and Oakland had gone above and beyond 134 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:49,280 Speaker 2: to clear hurdles, including securing funding for infrastructure, providing environmental review, 135 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 2: and working with other agencies to finalize approvals. The reality is, 136 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 2: and this is a key part here, guys, The reality is, 137 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 2: the A's ownership had insisted on a multi billion dollar, 138 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 2: fifty five acre project that included a ballpark, residential, commercial, 139 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 2: and realtael space in Las Vegas. For whatever reason, they 140 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:11,440 Speaker 2: seemed satisfied with a nine acre lease ballpark on leased land. 141 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 2: If they had proposed a similar project in Oakland, we 142 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 2: feel confident a new ballpark would already be under construction. 143 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 2: Oakland showed its commitment to the A's and that is 144 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 2: why the A's belong in Oakland. Okay, this is he said, 145 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 2: she said. To some degree. Of course, people can have 146 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 2: different views of negotiations. I get that, but clearly there 147 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 2: were negotiations that took place. Clearly, John Fisher, the owner 148 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 2: of the A's, asked for a hell of a lot 149 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 2: more from. 150 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 1: Oakland than he got from Las Vegas. These are facts. 151 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: So for Manford to say there was no offer, now, 152 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: there were negotiations, there were things going on. 153 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 2: There was an offer. So that was a comment that 154 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 2: is worse than punching down. It's just the falsehood. And again, 155 00:07:57,560 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 2: this is the Commissioner of Baseball, and this is the 156 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 2: point I want to make here he can say what 157 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:04,160 Speaker 2: he wants. And Evan Drelik wrote a great column for 158 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 2: The Athletic about this whole matter, and Evan said, you 159 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 2: know what, at times we prefer our leaders and people 160 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 2: in positions of power to tell the truth. And that's true, 161 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 2: we do prefer that. But you can tell the truth, 162 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 2: or at least give your truth in a way that 163 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:23,240 Speaker 2: it's not snide and condescending, in a way that is 164 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 2: unbecoming for a commissioner of baseball, a person in Rob 165 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 2: Manfred's position when he speaks like this, and I understand 166 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 2: he is the owner's out front guy and he's there 167 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 2: to take the hits, and we all know this, We 168 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 2: all understand his position, and it's not. 169 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,679 Speaker 1: An easy one, by the way, working with the thirty owners. 170 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 1: But when you conduct yourself in that fashion, I'm sorry, 171 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 1: it reflects poorly on your sport. Finally, we move on 172 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:53,319 Speaker 1: to the National League West. 173 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 2: This is a fascinating division, and I'm going to start 174 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 2: off by showing you the standings because they're rather shocking 175 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:02,840 Speaker 2: in the LA right now and we're seeing what we 176 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:05,960 Speaker 2: haven't seen in a while, kind of the crumbling of 177 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 2: the Dodgers at least. 178 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: To this point. It's still mid June. 179 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 2: We're not talking about the end of the season. But 180 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 2: let's take a look at the standings because they're kind 181 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 2: of stunning, to say the least. 182 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: Arizona. 183 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 2: The Arizona Diamondbacks, a team that has been down for 184 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:23,559 Speaker 2: several years, a team that lost one hundred and ten games. 185 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:25,959 Speaker 1: Just two years ago. They leave this division. 186 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 2: They've won fourteen of their last twenty. The Giants they've 187 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:31,960 Speaker 2: won ten of twelve, and they're doing it with some 188 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:36,079 Speaker 2: young guys Casey Schmidt and Patrick Balley. It's pretty impressive 189 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 2: to see this going on. Grise Mato's just joined the team, 190 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:41,559 Speaker 2: replacing Mitch Hanniger who is down for a while. So 191 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 2: the Giants are surging here. 192 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 1: Do I think they're great? No, but they're pretty good. 193 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 2: Then the Dodgers four out, they've lost ten to twelve. 194 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:52,320 Speaker 2: And then the Padres, who have played better. They're finally 195 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 2: starting to show some good things here. They've won seven 196 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 2: of ten. So what the heck is going on here? Well, 197 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 2: first of all, the Dodgers a mess. Their bullpen era 198 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 2: is next to last in the majors. Los Angeles Dodgers 199 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:10,199 Speaker 2: next to last in bullpen. E Ra Vessia has been 200 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:13,840 Speaker 2: a mess yency. Almonte has not been good either. They 201 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:16,080 Speaker 2: just seem to be out of sorts, and of course 202 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 2: they lost their closer, Kenley Jansen, and that has hurt them. 203 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 2: But you would have thought that this bullpen, which performed 204 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 2: really well last year, would have held it together, and 205 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:25,320 Speaker 2: they have not. 206 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 1: They've got Rias coming back in the rotation at the 207 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 1: end of the month. 208 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:31,880 Speaker 2: They expect Daniel Hudson to come back to the bullpen 209 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 2: at the end of the month as well. Ultimately, they 210 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:38,200 Speaker 2: could be looking at a pretty decent rotation. We're talking 211 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 2: about Kershaw and Gonsolen and Orias and the two kids 212 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:45,320 Speaker 2: right now, Bobby Miller and we saw Emmett she And 213 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 2: make his major league debut and he was brilliant six 214 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 2: scoreless innings against the Giants. 215 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 1: So ultimately they. 216 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:52,199 Speaker 2: Could be okay, and they could be okay in the 217 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:55,120 Speaker 2: bullpen as well, once they get some people back. They 218 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:57,439 Speaker 2: might even get Blake Tryning back as well as Walker 219 00:10:57,480 --> 00:10:59,680 Speaker 2: Buler for that matter, at the end of the season. 220 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 1: But right now they're not okay. 221 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 2: Now do I believe the Diamondbacks can win this division? 222 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 2: Not without rotation? Help, and not without bullpen help. They 223 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 2: are really a force behind Gowan and Merrill Kelly, and 224 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 2: after that the rotation's basically young. Zach Davies is there, 225 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:19,719 Speaker 2: but he's inconsistent. 226 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 1: They need help there. 227 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:23,000 Speaker 2: They're gonna have to do some things the deadline to 228 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 2: kind of hold their own. I don't know if they 229 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:28,959 Speaker 2: can do it, but this is a fascinating division. Division 230 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 2: that is playing out in a way that hardly any 231 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 2: of us expected. And what is going to be really 232 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 2: interesting over the next couple of months is to see 233 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:39,720 Speaker 2: whether the Dodgers can figure it out, both internally and 234 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 2: at the deadline, and also to see whether the Padres 235 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:46,439 Speaker 2: become what we expect the Padres to be. 236 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 1: They have not been that team so far. Time now 237 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:50,839 Speaker 1: for the Inside Dish. 238 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 2: This is the segment where every week I go inside 239 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 2: a story I've written, or inside a story of relevance, 240 00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 2: either in baseball. 241 00:11:57,440 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 1: Or perhaps even in journalism. 242 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 2: I want to talk about journalism a little bit because 243 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 2: we had a really difficult period at the Athletic. We 244 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 2: had some layoffs last week, and I want to start 245 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 2: off by showing you a tweet that I sent out 246 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 2: on Friday. It summed up my feelings rather well. The 247 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:17,200 Speaker 2: tweet said, it was a heartbreaking week at the Athletic 248 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 2: personally and professionally. I will miss Rob Beer, Temple, Corey brock, 249 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 2: Zach Buchannan, Dan Connolly, James Vegan, and Nick Crook. 250 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 1: I love them all. Those names. Those are six baseball 251 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 1: writers that were laid off. These are guys that have 252 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 1: been out in a while. 253 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:36,439 Speaker 2: Most of them have families, and when you go through layoffs, 254 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 2: there's no good thing to say. 255 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 1: It's terrible. 256 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 2: It's painful, and it's especially painful at our site, the 257 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 2: baseball end of the Athletic, because we work so closely together, 258 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 2: we are quite collaborative, intensely collaborative. 259 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 1: I would say I worked with every one of those 260 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 1: writers closely. 261 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 2: I work with all of our writers closely, and you'll 262 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:01,119 Speaker 2: see from time to time we'll have stories with multiple bylines. 263 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:05,839 Speaker 2: That's a reflection of the collaboration that is going on now. 264 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 2: Our greatest strength at the Athletic, in my opinion, has been, 265 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 2: at least on the baseball side, the side of our 266 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 2: staff and the reach the things we could do because 267 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 2: of the size of that staff. Obviously we're not there now. 268 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 2: We're not in the same place. We're not as big 269 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 2: as we were, and you talk about layoffs, and it's 270 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:27,560 Speaker 2: not only us going through this. A lot of media 271 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 2: outlets are going through similar kinds of things and it's 272 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 2: never easy. And young people ask me all the time 273 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 2: about getting into the business, and I'd say to them, 274 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 2: you better really want to do this because the hours 275 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 2: are long, pay is not usually great, and things happen, 276 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 2: really tough things happen. 277 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:49,800 Speaker 1: And we've all been through this. I had lost jobs before. 278 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 1: It's just part of this business and it's not a 279 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,120 Speaker 1: particularly fun part. Now I want to. 280 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:58,199 Speaker 2: Talk a little bit about where our direction is at 281 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 2: the Athletic and what is going on here. And I've 282 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 2: got some thoughts, and they're my thoughts as the senior 283 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 2: baseball writer. They are not the New York Times thoughts. 284 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:09,840 Speaker 2: They are not the Athletics thoughts. This is coming from me. Okay, 285 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:12,200 Speaker 2: I can't speak for the Times. I can't speak for 286 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 2: the Athletic. 287 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 1: Now. 288 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 2: If you've noticed people who subscribe, people who follow us, 289 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 2: we've been going in this direction for a little while now, 290 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 2: away from covering every team, which is what we were 291 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 2: doing at one point. It was amazing that we could 292 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 2: cover every team, but it wasn't successful. And when I 293 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 2: say it wasn't successful, what I mean is that in 294 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 2: certain markets we just weren't making headway. We were getting 295 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 2: crushed financially. And obviously, if you can cover every team, 296 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 2: that's an amazing thing to do, but it just wasn't working. 297 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 1: So we started pulling back, I think. 298 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 2: Starting in twenty twenty twenty, and this series of layoffs 299 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 2: is basically a continuation of that. 300 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 1: So it's really, in a sense nothing new. 301 00:14:57,560 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 2: But now we are pulling back and pulling back more 302 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 2: so people are gonna ask, and this is a fair question, 303 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 2: can we make this work? 304 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:07,800 Speaker 1: Can the Athletic work as a website. 305 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 2: When it's not covering all the teams, when it's simply 306 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 2: picking and choosing here and there and getting to all 307 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 2: the teams through guys like myself and Jason Stark, and 308 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 2: Rick Coroli and Andy McCullough or national writers, but not covering. 309 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:22,720 Speaker 1: Them on a daily basis. 310 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:26,320 Speaker 2: People are asking, Okay, is the Athletic a viable model? 311 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 2: And people are saying, and this I don't think. 312 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:32,800 Speaker 1: Is as fair. I told you so. I thought you 313 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 1: guys could never make it. 314 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 2: People aren't going to pay you guys that it's not 315 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 2: gonna work. Well, there are all kinds of ways to 316 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 2: measure success in this world. I would say from an 317 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:47,040 Speaker 2: artistic standpoint, we are an unqualified success. 318 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 1: And just read us and you know that. 319 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 2: From my financial standpoint, one aspect were a success. We 320 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 2: sold or founders sold us for five hundred and fifty 321 00:15:57,640 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 2: million dollars to the New York Times. 322 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 1: That's pretty good. Now. 323 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:04,360 Speaker 2: The next step of success, of course, is making money. 324 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 2: We haven't done that yet, and we're part of a 325 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 2: public company now you can see that we have not 326 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 2: made money. But at the same time, we've made an 327 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 2: impact far beyond what I ever thought. 328 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 1: When I joined in twenty seventeen, I was given this 329 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 1: place a year. 330 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:23,240 Speaker 2: I was hoping in a year's time I would still 331 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 2: have a job writing for the Athletic, and we became 332 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 2: something that I never ever imagined. We became a force 333 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 2: in the industry, and we did it at a time 334 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 2: when people were saying, ah, the written word is dead, 335 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:40,160 Speaker 2: remember the pivot to video movement. Well, I never believed that, 336 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:44,040 Speaker 2: and we proved that that wasn't the case, that the 337 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 2: written word was not dead, that there is an audience 338 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 2: for this now the next step is, yes, we've got 339 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 2: to try, and well not try, We've got to make money, 340 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 2: and we understand that, and we are going to keep going. 341 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:01,080 Speaker 2: This obviously is a rocky period for us, not something 342 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:05,160 Speaker 2: any of us is even remotely happy about. Frankly, last 343 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:07,480 Speaker 2: week was a really upsetting week, one of the most 344 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 2: upsetting weeks of my career. 345 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:10,640 Speaker 1: But I do know this. 346 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 2: We have the largest independent staff covering baseball in North America. 347 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 1: The largest. 348 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 2: Can't count MLB dot Com. They're owned by the league. 349 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 2: They are not independent. We are independent of the league 350 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 2: of anyone. Okay, I believe, and I don't even know 351 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:30,159 Speaker 2: that this is much of an argument. We are the 352 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:33,200 Speaker 2: best baseball writing staff in North America. 353 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:36,879 Speaker 1: You put us against anyone, I'll take our chances. Okay. 354 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:40,160 Speaker 2: We cover the sport aggressively, We ask the hard questions, 355 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 2: we tackle every issue, and of course we do great 356 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:45,680 Speaker 2: features and analysis and all the things that you would 357 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 2: want I would expect from a baseball writing site. And 358 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 2: I will tell you this, as we keep going here, 359 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 2: We're not gonna stop now. 360 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:55,400 Speaker 1: Will we succeed long term? 361 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:58,000 Speaker 2: I can't say that with any certainty, but I can 362 00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 2: tell you we're gonna give it our best shot, as 363 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 2: we've done from the very beginning. 364 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:06,360 Speaker 1: And I will say, and I will believe this always. 365 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 2: If you're a baseball fan and you're not reading us, 366 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 2: you're missing out. 367 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:13,120 Speaker 1: I'm now for dude and dork of the Week. 368 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:15,960 Speaker 2: Now, obviously I could go with the dude in Dork 369 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 2: of the Week from the first segment due to the 370 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 2: week could be show Heeo Tani. Dork of the week 371 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:22,280 Speaker 2: could be Rob Manford and we could call out a 372 00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:26,160 Speaker 2: day and I think everyone would be satisfied with those choices. However, 373 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:29,080 Speaker 2: that's copping out. We've talked about those guys. So let's 374 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 2: do something different. Let's give you a different dude of 375 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 2: the week. And if it's a guy, the dude who 376 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 2: is not getting nearly enough attention, he's an amazing player 377 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:39,120 Speaker 2: and he's playing in a market that. 378 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:42,479 Speaker 1: Doesn't get much play. I get it. But Corbyn Carroll, 379 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 1: my goodness, are you noticing what this dude is doing? 380 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:48,560 Speaker 1: And I say dude because he is a dude. 381 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:51,639 Speaker 2: He is the National League leader in his rookie season 382 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:54,879 Speaker 2: in OPS, the National League leader in his rookie season 383 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 2: in OPS, plus he has hit fifteen homers, he's nineteen 384 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:00,880 Speaker 2: for twenty one in stolen bases. 385 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: And to give you some. 386 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 2: Context on this guy, Corbyn Carroll, So he was the 387 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 2: sixteenth pick in the twenty nineteen draft. 388 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:11,040 Speaker 1: All right, that's his first year he plays a little 389 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:13,440 Speaker 1: bit after becoming a pro twenty twenty. 390 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:16,639 Speaker 2: There's no minor league season he played before coming to 391 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 2: the majors, a total of one hundred and forty two 392 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:23,240 Speaker 2: minor league games. And right now he is not only 393 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:25,880 Speaker 2: the overwhelming choice for National League Rookie of the Year, 394 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,200 Speaker 2: he is a factor in the MVP race. 395 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: Now. 396 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:31,640 Speaker 2: Is he having a better year than Akunya? I don't 397 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:33,159 Speaker 2: know that you can say that, even though he's got 398 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 2: the league lead in ops. But he's in the conversation 399 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 2: Corbyn Carroll near to the week DRK of the week. 400 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 1: It's actually a multi headed dork. And if you. 401 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:47,480 Speaker 2: Saw the Yankees on ESPN Sunday night, if you saw 402 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 2: them all weekend, well, they didn't perform very well in 403 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:54,200 Speaker 2: Boston at all. They have not performed very well since 404 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 2: losing Aaron Judge. And the reason they have not performed 405 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 2: very well for the most part, there are many of course, 406 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:04,119 Speaker 2: is the performance of their veteran hitters not named Aaron 407 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 2: Judge since he was injured on June third. These are 408 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 2: the guys who have had to step up and have 409 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:12,719 Speaker 2: not at all. And I want to show you just 410 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:16,880 Speaker 2: how poorly their veteran hitters are performing, or have performed 411 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 2: since Judge went out. 412 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:18,879 Speaker 1: Look at this. 413 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:24,200 Speaker 2: Anthony Rizzo three for forty again all since Judge went down. 414 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:26,239 Speaker 1: Giancarlo Stanton four for thirty eight. 415 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:29,399 Speaker 2: One homer, DJ Lemayhew five for thirty one, one homer 416 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:33,200 Speaker 2: Josh Johnson four for twenty nine, three homers Labor Torres nine. 417 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 1: For forty one. He's the leader of the pack here with. 418 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:39,720 Speaker 2: Three homers totals twenty five for one seventy nine. They're 419 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:43,159 Speaker 2: batting a collective one now. North of the Week is 420 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:46,040 Speaker 2: usually preserved for someone who says something stupid or does 421 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:46,880 Speaker 2: something stupid. 422 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:49,040 Speaker 1: These guys haven't done anything like that. They're just not 423 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:50,200 Speaker 1: performing well. 424 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 2: But I did want to highlight what is going on 425 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:56,119 Speaker 2: here because it's not pretty. And you heard hal Steinbrenner, 426 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:59,920 Speaker 2: their owner last week. Probably the most mild mannered owner 427 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 2: is or one of them. He said he didn't call 428 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:05,879 Speaker 2: anybody out by name, but he said, our veteran hitters 429 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:09,000 Speaker 2: need to perform better. For a Halse time runner, that's 430 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:11,639 Speaker 2: practically front page tabloid news. 431 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:13,640 Speaker 1: And he was right. 432 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:16,919 Speaker 2: These players do have to perform better. And the Yankees, 433 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:20,840 Speaker 2: this is a stat that blew me away, have the third. 434 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:23,120 Speaker 1: Worst on base percentage in the majors. 435 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:27,399 Speaker 2: The new Yankees, obviously they need Judge back, but they 436 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 2: also need these guys, the ones we just mentioned, to 437 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:33,080 Speaker 2: perform better as well. All Right, we got an exciting 438 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 2: week coming up, at least an exciting week for me. 439 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:37,920 Speaker 2: I'm flying to London on Wednesday and getting ready for 440 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:40,960 Speaker 2: the London Series. And good news for those who watched 441 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:44,160 Speaker 2: the London Series in twenty nineteen, that was the last 442 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 2: time we had it, and if you remember, those games 443 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 2: were just an absolute mess andn homers were hit in 444 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 2: the two games. The scores were seventeen thirteen Yankees and 445 00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:57,400 Speaker 2: twelve eight Yankees over the Red Sox. So the good 446 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 2: news is that they've changed the dement a little bit, 447 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:03,480 Speaker 2: made it, in theory a little bit more difficult to 448 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 2: hit a home run. The centerfield wall is getting pushed back. 449 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:10,120 Speaker 2: I believe it's seven feet to three hundred and ninety 450 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:12,440 Speaker 2: two feet. The alleys also are going to be a 451 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 2: little bit deeper. So as long as they don't use 452 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:15,760 Speaker 2: juice balls. 453 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:16,639 Speaker 1: Not that I'm. 454 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 2: Suggesting there were juice balls in London in twenty nineteen. 455 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 2: I'm not saying that at all, but as long as 456 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:25,439 Speaker 2: they don't, and it should be a better brand of baseball, 457 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 2: I should say also, when we were in London the 458 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:32,800 Speaker 2: last time, it was unseasonably hot. It was crazy hot 459 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 2: for London and that might have contributed to the balls 460 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 2: flying all over the place as well. This year it's 461 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:40,920 Speaker 2: Cubs Cardinals and again I fly out Wednesday. The game 462 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 2: on Fox will be Saturday, looking forward to doing it 463 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:46,919 Speaker 2: from there and looking forward to bringing that broadcast to 464 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:47,439 Speaker 2: you guys. 465 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:48,720 Speaker 1: I'm now for the. 466 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:51,639 Speaker 2: Reader questions, and I always enjoy these. Actually they are 467 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 2: the viewer questions. I get a little confused with my 468 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 2: job sometimes these are the viewer and listener questions. 469 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:59,480 Speaker 1: And we're going to start off this week with Robert Smith. 470 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 2: And Robert has an interesting question, and he asked, will 471 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:06,800 Speaker 2: MLB ever consider doing away with divisions and returning to 472 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:09,760 Speaker 2: just al and L seems you can maintain the same 473 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:12,159 Speaker 2: playoff format but actually have the best teams in the 474 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 2: postseason still a single elimination followed by a seven game 475 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 2: DS and CS would be more ideal to me, Robert, 476 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:22,719 Speaker 2: this is not happening. If anything, we are going to 477 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:25,800 Speaker 2: have expansion to thirty two teams at some point, and 478 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:28,800 Speaker 2: at that point, we're going to have eight four team divisions, 479 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:31,600 Speaker 2: and what divisions give you. 480 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:32,920 Speaker 1: Are more races. 481 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:35,760 Speaker 2: And that's kind of a healthy thing, I would think 482 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:39,800 Speaker 2: in Baseball's mind, and it's certainly something that sparks fan interest. 483 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:41,879 Speaker 1: It gives you rivalries, it gives you all. 484 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:45,240 Speaker 2: Kinds of context. I don't see that changing anytime soon. 485 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:48,400 Speaker 2: I understand your point, but it's going the other way. 486 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:50,639 Speaker 2: It's going toward the eight fourteen divisions. 487 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:53,320 Speaker 1: All right. Now for the next question, and this one 488 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:56,520 Speaker 1: comes from well be our Cord whatever that is. 489 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:59,040 Speaker 2: Br Cord asks, and this is a common question from 490 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:03,359 Speaker 2: Yankee fans. How does Brian Cashman keep his job? I 491 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 2: can't think of another GM with a longer tenure that 492 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:10,800 Speaker 2: has gone fourteen years without a championship. Okay, let's talk 493 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:13,399 Speaker 2: about Cashman a little bit, because I know fans. Yankee 494 00:24:13,480 --> 00:24:16,720 Speaker 2: fans do love this topic and it drives a certain 495 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:19,480 Speaker 2: segment crazy that they haven't won a World Series. 496 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:20,280 Speaker 1: Since two thousand and nine. 497 00:24:20,440 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 2: Oh my gosh, Well, Brian Cashman has been in this 498 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:25,200 Speaker 2: job twenty five years. 499 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 1: This is your twenty six. 500 00:24:28,119 --> 00:24:31,120 Speaker 2: They've had a winning record every one of those seasons, 501 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:34,520 Speaker 2: failed to make the playoffs only three times in that 502 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:35,679 Speaker 2: entire span. 503 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:39,320 Speaker 1: It's incredible. Now, yes, they have not. 504 00:24:39,359 --> 00:24:41,639 Speaker 2: Won a World Series or even been in a World 505 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:43,639 Speaker 2: Series since two thousand and nine. And yes, if you 506 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:46,159 Speaker 2: want to take a snapshot of this current roster and 507 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:48,360 Speaker 2: start screaming your head off if you're a Yankee fan, 508 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 2: not unfair to do that. 509 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:52,360 Speaker 1: They've had a lot go wrong. 510 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:55,560 Speaker 2: Here, and there have been some decisions made over the 511 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:59,040 Speaker 2: past several years, signing of Aaron Hicks to trade for 512 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:01,879 Speaker 2: Joey Gallo, trade for gian Carlos Stan. You can go 513 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:04,159 Speaker 2: back and look at these, maybe even the signing of 514 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:07,560 Speaker 2: DJ Lemayhew and say, hey, these were not good moves. 515 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 2: And one thing I always think with large market teams 516 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:13,240 Speaker 2: is that the ability to spend money is both a 517 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:16,880 Speaker 2: blessing and a curse because these teams, and the Yankees. 518 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 1: Are not alone among them, make more mistakes than others. 519 00:25:19,119 --> 00:25:23,080 Speaker 2: Because they are able to take these chances, sign players 520 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:25,680 Speaker 2: do bigger things, and it doesn't always work out. 521 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:27,600 Speaker 1: Now, Cashman has also. 522 00:25:27,359 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 2: Done a number of good things that reflect on this 523 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:33,439 Speaker 2: roster as well, that are reflected play Holmes, that was 524 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 2: a trade that was brilliant for the most part, Jose Travino, 525 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:41,280 Speaker 2: they've developed some pitching Severino and Schmid. Garrett Cole certainly 526 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:43,639 Speaker 2: was a good signing I think by any stretch of 527 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:47,680 Speaker 2: the imagination. They've also had a great development system going 528 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:50,120 Speaker 2: for several years now. They've traded a number of young 529 00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:53,320 Speaker 2: pitchers to get other pieces that they needed. Those trades 530 00:25:53,359 --> 00:25:56,320 Speaker 2: haven't worked out. I didn't even mention Frankie Montas, But 531 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:57,320 Speaker 2: for the most part. 532 00:25:57,240 --> 00:26:01,240 Speaker 1: They're developing well. And look at the infielders, right Volpi Perrazza. 533 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:04,280 Speaker 2: Cabrera is not really an infielder, but they have done 534 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 2: a good job on that front. 535 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:09,479 Speaker 1: So he's not perfect. But to say he should be fired, 536 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:10,879 Speaker 1: that's probably strong. 537 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:14,679 Speaker 2: It's tough to say with that track record that he 538 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:17,159 Speaker 2: has done a bad job. All right, let's go to 539 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:19,640 Speaker 2: the final question now, and the final question comes from 540 00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:20,479 Speaker 2: Greg kmfer. 541 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:23,120 Speaker 1: Greg, I appreciate you using your name. It's a good 542 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:24,359 Speaker 1: tweet there, and. 543 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:28,119 Speaker 2: Greg asks, has the Ools front office proved that tanking 544 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:32,040 Speaker 2: and stockpiling draft picks to be a sound strategy for success. 545 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:34,560 Speaker 2: If so, does MLB have an issue to deal with? 546 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 2: I would say the Oriels have proven this to a 547 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:41,320 Speaker 2: certain degree, just as the Cubs proved it, just as 548 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:45,399 Speaker 2: the Astro has proved it before then. And it is 549 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:49,080 Speaker 2: a problem. MLB has identified and acknowledged it's a problem, 550 00:26:49,119 --> 00:26:51,240 Speaker 2: and this was a big topic in the most recent 551 00:26:51,240 --> 00:26:55,880 Speaker 2: collective bargaining negotiations and this led to the first ever 552 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 2: creation in this sport of a draft lottery. And the 553 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 2: lottery is not perfect. It doesn't do as much as 554 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 2: I thought needed to be done to address tanking. I 555 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:07,840 Speaker 2: think at some point you got to have a minimum payroll, 556 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:10,960 Speaker 2: and the owners say, well, you give us a minimum. 557 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:13,160 Speaker 1: Then we have to have a maximum. That's a salary cap. 558 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:14,280 Speaker 1: Not gonna happen. 559 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:18,160 Speaker 2: But the lottery, and I don't know that everyone's really 560 00:27:18,160 --> 00:27:20,480 Speaker 2: aware of the details, But the lottery is an interesting thing. 561 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:23,520 Speaker 2: Every team that did not make the playoffs qualifies for 562 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:27,479 Speaker 2: the lottery. That's eighteen teams, and the worse your record, 563 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:28,720 Speaker 2: the better your odds. 564 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:31,200 Speaker 1: Also, the three teams. 565 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:34,439 Speaker 2: With the worst records, the three worst they get the 566 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:38,560 Speaker 2: same odds, So you can't just race all the way 567 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:40,400 Speaker 2: to the bottom and expect you're gonna get that number 568 00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:40,760 Speaker 2: one pick. 569 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 1: It doesn't work that way. In a lottery. 570 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:46,520 Speaker 2: You can finish with the worst record and theoretically pick seventh. 571 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:50,680 Speaker 2: Now there's other aspects of this as well. A large 572 00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:53,160 Speaker 2: market team can't be in the lottery two straight years. 573 00:27:53,160 --> 00:27:55,280 Speaker 2: A small market team can't be in the lottery. 574 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:58,399 Speaker 1: Three straight years. These are all anti tanking measures. Do 575 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 1: they go far enough? No, go far enough, but it's 576 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 1: a start. 577 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:04,520 Speaker 2: So the draft order this year is going to be 578 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:07,680 Speaker 2: the Pirates, the Nationals, and the Tigers. The Pirates and 579 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:10,880 Speaker 2: Nationals had two of the three worst records in the game. 580 00:28:11,119 --> 00:28:14,160 Speaker 2: They are drafting one two. The other team with one 581 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:16,920 Speaker 2: of the three worst records, the A's, ended up sixth. 582 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:19,399 Speaker 2: So that's how the lottery works. 583 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:20,600 Speaker 1: Again. 584 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:24,080 Speaker 2: Yes, the Oils and the Astros and the Cubs prove 585 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:26,720 Speaker 2: that you can do this and do it rather successfully. 586 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:30,040 Speaker 2: Tanking that is. Other teams have not been successful, but. 587 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:34,560 Speaker 1: The lottery at least is a step toward a better way. 588 00:28:34,760 --> 00:28:35,520 Speaker 1: Put it that way. 589 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:38,400 Speaker 2: Thanks to everyone for their questions, Thanks to you guys. 590 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:40,920 Speaker 1: For listening, for watching it. You can subscribe to us 591 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:41,600 Speaker 1: on YouTube. 592 00:28:41,640 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 2: You can get us wherever you get your podcasts, Apple, Spotify, 593 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:46,040 Speaker 2: wherever it might be. 594 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:51,960 Speaker 1: We'll be back next week on another secret, undisclosed location. No, 595 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:53,840 Speaker 1: we're not going to tell you where it is. 596 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:59,160 Speaker 2: Thanks to everyone, Spicy Ball is back for BETMGM sports players. 597 00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:02,400 Speaker 2: Download the Men Sports app on iOS or Android, or 598 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:05,360 Speaker 2: visit betimgm dot com. 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