1 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: From the berkshears to the sound from wherever you live 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: in MLB America. This is inside the Parker. You give 3 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:11,560 Speaker 1: us twenty two minutes and we'll give you the scoop 4 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: on major League Baseball. Now here's Baseball Hall of Fame 5 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: voter number seventy, Rob Parker. 6 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 2: Welcome into the podcast. 7 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 3: I'm your host, Rob Parker, and man, what a show 8 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:28,639 Speaker 3: we have for you today. We're going to try to 9 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:33,279 Speaker 3: digest and figure out what happened with the Mets. Tim Britton, 10 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 3: who covers the Mets for the Athletic He stops by 11 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 3: with some answers. We'll do that plus more. 12 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 2: Let's go. 13 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:51,239 Speaker 1: Better up to lead off, it's getting robbed and keep 14 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: them up. Rob's hot take on the three biggest stories 15 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: in Major League Baseball. 16 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:05,680 Speaker 4: Number one, without question, the big winners of detrayed deadline. 17 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 2: Astros and the Rangers. 18 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 3: Those gotta be the two teams that jump out the most, 19 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:14,960 Speaker 3: and they're fighting neck and neck in the Al West 20 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 3: to win the division. I don't know how did the 21 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 3: Astros get Justin Verlander back? He left the Astros went 22 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 3: to the Mets for a more lucrative deal. They lost 23 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:27,320 Speaker 3: the guy who last year won the American League Cy 24 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 3: Young Award, winning Comeback Player of the Year, and they 25 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 3: wind up getting him back. And guess what, Verlander's pitching 26 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 3: well right now. So imagine adding a guy like this 27 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 3: for the last two months of the season, a guy's 28 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 3: familiar with the organization, nosey team, just one with you, 29 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 3: and you get them back. I mean it's a tremendous 30 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 3: blow to the Rangers and a great pickup for the Astros. 31 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 3: And I will say the Rangers, I give them credit. 32 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 3: This is not your grandfather's Texas Rangers because they went 33 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:09,600 Speaker 3: out spent big money for Simeon and Seeger up the 34 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 3: middle of half a billion dollars in free agency a 35 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 3: couple of years ago. Here they are in the division race, 36 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 3: despite losing Jacob to Gram earlier in the year. Guess 37 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 3: what they go do? They bring in Max Schurzer and 38 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:30,359 Speaker 3: Jordan Montgomery. I mean, that's when you're in That's when 39 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 3: you're saying, we want to win this division and we're 40 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 3: willing to fight against the Astros who have had a 41 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:40,920 Speaker 3: stranglehold on the Al West over the last five or 42 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:44,359 Speaker 3: six years, and the Rangers are refusing to give up. 43 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 2: Here we are in August. 44 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 3: Coming into Wednesday's action, they still led the division, even 45 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 3: though it's minuscule, but still they still lead. And that 46 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 3: says a lot about this team and that they are 47 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 3: still trying to win here. So I think those two 48 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 3: teams for sure were the biggest winners. And this is 49 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 3: gonna be a hell of a race down the stretch 50 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 3: between the Rangers between the Astros. I picked the Rangers 51 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 3: to start the season to win the AL West, and 52 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 3: back then people thought I was crazy. I was sugar though, 53 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 3: but I'm gonna stick with them. I still believe that 54 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 3: they will somehow, some way hang on even if they 55 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 3: lose the race, you know, lose the division for a 56 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 3: few days or a week or two, they'll get it 57 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 3: back and they'll win the AL West. But the Astros 58 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 3: are right there now that they have justin Ferland in 59 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 3: the fold. 60 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 4: Number two the biggest losers of the trade deadline, I'm sorry, 61 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 4: or two of the biggest franchises with two of the 62 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 4: biggest payrolls, the Yankees and the Dodgers. 63 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 2: The Yankees didn't do anything. I mean, how could they 64 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 2: not do anything? 65 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 3: Their offense is dead, They're struggling to stay in the race, 66 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 3: Judges back, and then it's gotta be the Dodgers. The 67 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 3: Dodgers need pitching help. And guess what. Not only did 68 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 3: Justin Verlander to decide he'd rather go back to Houston 69 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 3: and come and play for the Dodgers, but also the 70 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 3: Dodgers had a trade in place to get the Tiger 71 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:24,240 Speaker 3: star lefty Eduardo Rodriguez, and the trade fell apart when 72 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 3: Rodriguez exercises no trade rights. How the Dodgers were one 73 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 3: of ten teams that Rodriguez would have had to approve 74 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:38,359 Speaker 3: a deal as part of trades rights negotiated in the 75 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 3: five year contract he signed as a free agent two 76 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 3: years ago. Why Los Angeles and the Dodgers are on 77 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:47,479 Speaker 3: that list is mind boggling. 78 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 2: They are a blue blood in baseball. 79 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 3: They're always in the mix over the last ten to 80 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 3: fifteen years, in the mix of trying to win a 81 00:04:56,120 --> 00:05:00,120 Speaker 3: World Series and having the resources and going after play. 82 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:03,919 Speaker 2: And this guy is the franchise of Jackie Robinson. 83 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:08,799 Speaker 3: They have history, tradition, all that stuff, and he doesn't 84 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 3: want to play for the Dodgers. There must be something 85 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 3: I'm missing, because I'm surprised that the Dodgers would wind 86 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 3: up being on any list that somebody didn't want to 87 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 3: go play for. 88 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 2: I can't figure it out. 89 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:30,239 Speaker 3: Number three, no surprise, the AL and the NL Player 90 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 3: of the Month al Sho hal Tani, who just had 91 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 3: an absurd month when you think about the entire season 92 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 3: that he's had, hosted a two to eighty two batting average, 93 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 3: one point two OPS and al best nine home runs 94 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 3: over twenty three games, and alongside four starts in which 95 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 3: he struck out twenty nine batters in twenty five in 96 00:05:55,360 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 3: a third innings. Heroics continue and and you know what, 97 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 3: the Angels aren't out of it. They're still playing some 98 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 3: pretty good baseball. Show haes a big part of it. 99 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:09,280 Speaker 3: So he won American League Player of the Month, and 100 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 3: the NL Player of the Month is a guy who 101 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:16,160 Speaker 3: you know is looking like he could be the comeback 102 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 3: player of the year. I mean, look at what he's done. 103 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 3: And that's Cody Bellinger. This is the guy won an MVP, 104 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 3: a Rookie of the Year and fell off. The Dodgers 105 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:29,840 Speaker 3: got rid of him, he went to the Cubs. He struggled, 106 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 3: and this past July he had slash numbers were crazy 107 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 3: four hundred, four point thirty two, six ninety that was 108 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:41,600 Speaker 3: his slash line with a one point one two to 109 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:47,359 Speaker 3: two ops, eight home runs and twenty four RBIs. This 110 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 3: is like the old Cody Bellinger and uh he has 111 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 3: a received This is the second time he's won a 112 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 3: Player of the Month award going back to twenty nineteen. 113 00:06:56,800 --> 00:07:00,679 Speaker 3: This is twenty twenty three. This is like a blast 114 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 3: from the past. But Cody Bellinger, for whatever reason, in 115 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 3: Chicago with the Cubs is playing some really good baseball. 116 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 3: He's only twenty eight years old, so maybe his career 117 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 3: is not totally on the down side. He looked like 118 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 3: the player of all this. 119 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 1: Past chalat number four. 120 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 3: Here's a bonus for getting robbed and we talked about it. 121 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 3: That trade deadline came and went, a lot of players 122 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 3: moved on. I think sometimes fans don't realize that players 123 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 3: get attached. They're not just like, well, wherever I go, 124 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 3: I go and here's the money, and it doesn't know 125 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 3: it makes everything better. But we talked to former Major 126 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 3: league slugger David Justice and he talked about how hard 127 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 3: it is he's been traded a few times in his career, 128 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 3: how hard it is to adapt and accept being. 129 00:07:53,360 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 5: Traded hands who you're getting traded to. If you're going 130 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 5: to a team that's in contention, then you're excited. Like 131 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 5: when I got traded to the Yankees, there was an 132 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 5: excitement there because I knew I was going somewhere in 133 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 5: which we're trying to win. But the part that's challenging is, 134 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 5: you know, players are used to their routine, Like I 135 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 5: had a routine in Cleveland. I know my Starbucks I 136 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 5: go to in the morning. I know a time I'm 137 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 5: going to the stadium. I know the route that how 138 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 5: long it takes me to get to the stadium. When 139 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 5: you get traded, it's like your whole life is disrupted, 140 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 5: and every team expects you to be there the next 141 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 5: day because I know, usually Makeball gives you a couple 142 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 5: of days sometimes, right I know, you know, they expect 143 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 5: you to be there the next day. They expect you 144 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 5: to go five or five, they expect you to come 145 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 5: in bowling tell us. So there's a little bit of 146 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 5: pressure because you know you want to you want to 147 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:49,959 Speaker 5: come in and do well. You want to you want 148 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,680 Speaker 5: everybody to see why they traded for you. So there's 149 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 5: a level of pressure there. So there are teams that 150 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:58,320 Speaker 5: are challenging, definitely, the living conditions, because when you get traded, 151 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 5: you got to get out of one place, you got 152 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:02,079 Speaker 5: to find a place to live. They usually put you 153 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 5: in a sale for a week. I mean a lot 154 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 5: of things are kind of crazy in the very beginning 155 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 5: of a trade, specially during the season, but eventually you 156 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 5: know it works the self out. But if you get 157 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 5: traded from a real good team to a team that 158 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:15,679 Speaker 5: you know is not going to play in the playoffs, 159 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 5: that point really sucks. 160 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:23,679 Speaker 1: It's time for the pocket protector centrum, the analytic numbers 161 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 1: you need to know. 162 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 3: Well, maybe Anthony Masterson is his name, BS analytics is 163 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 3: his game. 164 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 2: What do you got for me, Anthony? 165 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 6: The trade deadline has coming gone, and with it some 166 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 6: fans hopes and dreams. Okay, just the Mets, but it 167 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:40,719 Speaker 6: got me thinking about some of the greatest deadline acquisitions 168 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:43,199 Speaker 6: in recent memory and how many times it's the minor 169 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:45,440 Speaker 6: move that makes the difference. Who could forget the Red 170 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,079 Speaker 6: Sox trading a minor leaguer for future World Series MVP 171 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 6: Steve Pearson twenty eighteen. But those guys don't make headlines. 172 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:54,559 Speaker 6: How about the Tigers getting Doyle Alexander for little known 173 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 6: pitching prospect John smolt in nineteen eighty seven. We all 174 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 6: know Smolts went onto the Hall, but Alexander went nine 175 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 6: to zero with a one to five to three ERA 176 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:04,600 Speaker 6: for the Tigers, finishing fourth in the Cy Young vote 177 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 6: after just eleven starts in the AL We know JD. 178 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 6: Martinez is a World Series champ with Boston, but he 179 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 6: was one of the best deadline deals in history in 180 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 6: twenty seventeen, going from Detroit to Arizona with the d Backs. 181 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 6: He hit twenty nine homers and drove in sixty five 182 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 6: both records for players traded in July or later, including 183 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 6: a four homer game that helped d Backs at the playoffs. 184 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 6: Hall of Famer Fred McGriff willed the Braves from eight 185 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 6: games back of the Giants in nineteen ninety three to 186 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 6: the n West title, hitting nineteen home runs and accumulating 187 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:36,440 Speaker 6: three point two wins above replacement Randy Johnson went ten 188 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 6: to one with a one two eight ERA and eleven 189 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 6: starts for Houston in nineteen ninety eight, though he went 190 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 6: oh and two in the NLDS that year, even allowing 191 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:46,720 Speaker 6: only three earned runs in his two starts. And of 192 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 6: course there's Manny Ramirez. The birth of Manny Wood in 193 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:52,559 Speaker 6: two thousand and eight after a deadline deal from Boston, 194 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 6: helped the Dodgers to the NLCS for the first time 195 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 6: in twenty years, as Manny hit three ninety six with 196 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 6: seventeen home runs in just fifty three games, proving so 197 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:04,960 Speaker 6: valuable he finished fourth in the nl MVP voting that season. 198 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 6: Who will have that kind of impact this year? How 199 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:08,720 Speaker 6: about Justin Verlander again? 200 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 1: Really turned money into more money. Now it's time for 201 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: betting on the basis with Dave Gascott. Love that money, 202 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 1: Love that money. 203 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:19,439 Speaker 7: Well, Rob, we can officially say goodbye to the twenty 204 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 7: twenty three New York Mets as they ship off both 205 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 7: Justin Verlander and mag Scharzers. Sure's are going to Texas 206 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,440 Speaker 7: and ver Lender back with the Houston Astros. We're in 207 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:30,559 Speaker 7: New York against the Yankees on Friday night and I'll 208 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 7: take the Astros in that contest. Luis Severino this season 209 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:36,439 Speaker 7: he's been got awful a two and five record with 210 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:38,599 Speaker 7: an ERA at seven and a half almost seven to 211 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:41,719 Speaker 7: forty nine of me exact versus Hunter Brown. Browns five 212 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 7: seven and seven with an ERA of four to twelve, 213 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 7: but I'll take the Astros, a much better team and 214 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:50,559 Speaker 7: more explosive this year than the New York Yankees. Meanwhile, 215 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:53,679 Speaker 7: Tampa's in Detroit against the Tigers. Tigers also doing some 216 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 7: fire sales as well. Zach Lttel pitching for Tampa in 217 00:11:57,600 --> 00:11:59,959 Speaker 7: that contest. So why they pitched a handful of game 218 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 7: so far this year, but Tampa trying to keep pace 219 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,960 Speaker 7: with the Baltimore Warials. I will take Tampa in Detroit 220 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 7: against the Tigers. Cubbies aren't playing bad ball. They're against 221 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 7: the Atlanta Braves at home, KYLEA. Hendricks versus Max Free 222 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 7: and that pitching matchup. I'll take the Cubbies at home 223 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 7: against the atl Chicago try to do all they can 224 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 7: the National League Central Division while the Braves try to 225 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 7: run away with the American League East. 226 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:28,520 Speaker 1: When Rob was a newspaper columnist, he lived by this motto, 227 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 1: if I'm writing, I'm ripping. Let's bring in a writer 228 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 1: or broadcaster, old or new. 229 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:37,319 Speaker 2: All right, now, let's welcome into the podcast. Tim Britton. 230 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 2: He covers the Mets for The Athletic And. 231 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:43,480 Speaker 3: My, oh my, Tim, what a couple of days you've 232 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:47,959 Speaker 3: had and the Mets have turned into the mess MBSs. 233 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 3: What went wrong here and why did the Mets just 234 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 3: decide that this cannot go further and decide to dump 235 00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 3: all their star pitching. 236 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:00,559 Speaker 8: Yeah, I mean, so much has gone for the Mets 237 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 8: in the twenty twenty three season. I think you go 238 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 8: back to the World Baseball Classic, Edwin Diaz suffering that 239 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:07,560 Speaker 8: injury that seems to be kind of like that first 240 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:09,679 Speaker 8: push of the rock getting it down the hill in 241 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 8: the wrong direction for them this year. You know, Justin 242 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 8: Verlander missed the first month of the season. Max Scherzer 243 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:18,120 Speaker 8: struggled his first couple of weeks, you know, he had 244 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 8: his sticky stuff suspension. It's been kind of an everything 245 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 8: that could go wrong has gone wrong situation for them, 246 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 8: and just the talent level on the team that hasn't 247 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:28,719 Speaker 8: lived up to what they thought it was last year, 248 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:31,319 Speaker 8: and they decided that the best course moving forward was 249 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:34,160 Speaker 8: to kind of reset things, to get prospects that they 250 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:37,160 Speaker 8: could you know, basically pay for prospects and trading Verlander 251 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 8: and Schurzer and see if they could reset things for 252 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 8: you know, a couple of years down the road from now. 253 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 3: I think you're spot on just so many things right 254 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:46,720 Speaker 3: out the gig. This team won one hundred and one 255 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 3: games last year, and you figure, because I know a 256 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 3: lot of people are ripping the Mets. Oh you know, 257 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:55,319 Speaker 3: you can't buy a championship, and the owner went out 258 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 3: and spent all this money. 259 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:58,560 Speaker 2: You won one hundred and one games, and you add 260 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 2: the American League SA Young Award when a comeback Player 261 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 2: of the Year, you would think you'd be better, Am 262 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 2: I right? Tim? Yeah? 263 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:07,320 Speaker 8: I mean, and you look at it. It was so 264 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:09,560 Speaker 8: many things that went wrong this year. They went right 265 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:12,199 Speaker 8: last year that probably wasn't a true talent one hundred 266 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 8: and one win team. You had a lot of players playing, 267 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 8: you know, even if they weren't career best seasons, they 268 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 8: were seasons close to it for them. And then this 269 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 8: year a lot of those guys have taken pretty large 270 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:24,000 Speaker 8: steps back. You look at a guy like Starling Marte, 271 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 8: who was such an integral part of their lineup last year, 272 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 8: he just hasn't found a rhythm really at all, four 273 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 8: months into the season. He's missed some time lately as well, 274 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 8: So I think, you know, you look at this roster 275 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 8: as a whole, and it's so many steps back by 276 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 8: veterans that makes you question you know, man, we're bringing 277 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 8: back the same group again in twenty twenty five, in 278 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 8: twenty twenty four, what really can we expect out of them? 279 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:46,520 Speaker 8: And that's why they decided to push the time frame 280 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 8: a little further beyond that. 281 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 3: How about when it comes to Scherzer and Perlander. Obviously, 282 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 3: whenever you sign or you have older pictures, this can happen. 283 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 3: I mean, god, break down, guys can not perform as well. 284 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:07,800 Speaker 3: You know, you never know. But in this case, why 285 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 3: not say, well, just it was a bad year, things 286 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 3: didn't go right for us. We'll hold on to them 287 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 3: and try again next year. Or do they just realize 288 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 3: this is broken and can't be we're paid? 289 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 8: I think this reasonable question. I think that was That's 290 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 8: a route they could have taken over this last week. 291 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 8: You know it's I know, people say, you signed a 292 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 8: thirty eight year old pitcher and Max Suers, or in 293 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 8: a forty year old and Justin Berlin, what do you expect? Well, 294 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 8: the forty year old Justin Erlin won the Cy Young 295 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 8: last year. He's been the third best pitcher in baseball. 296 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 8: The last month and a half, thirty eight year old 297 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 8: Maxuers had the lowest ERA of his career last season. 298 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 8: It's it's not like these guys were already in decline. 299 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 8: But I think the Mess looked at it, you know, 300 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 8: both of their stuff, that the stuff that each pitcher 301 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 8: has has declined a little bit this year. I think 302 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 8: they said, you know, the odds of these guys being 303 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:54,840 Speaker 8: healthy A and B as good as there they usually 304 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:57,760 Speaker 8: are next year when they're thirty nine and forty one 305 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 8: is probably not that high. And you know, in this instance, 306 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 8: if you consider the money spent the way the Mets have, 307 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 8: you could maybe trade them in for prospects who help 308 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 8: you on a different timeline. I think it's it's arguable 309 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 8: whether that was the right move, but when they decided 310 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 8: to go for it, they went all in on that decision. 311 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 3: Our guest is Tim Britton. He covers the Mets for 312 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 3: the Athletic Anybody else other than Buck Showalter would have 313 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 3: been fired during the season. 314 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 2: I mean, it just was really bad. 315 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 3: And Buck is a veteran manager and a good one 316 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 3: and won one hundred and one games last year, so 317 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 3: I understand why he got the benefit of the doubt 318 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 3: to see if it could turn around. 319 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 2: But can he survive this? And I have to ask 320 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 2: the same question about the GM after such a disaster. 321 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 8: Well, I think that they gave Billy Eppler kind of 322 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 8: the latitude to make trades this large at the deadline 323 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 8: suggest that he's going to be an integral part of 324 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:55,480 Speaker 8: this front office moving forward. You know, Steve Cohen said 325 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:58,320 Speaker 8: in late June, they're still looking to hire a president 326 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 8: of Baseball operations. They've been looking to hire or president 327 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 8: of baseball operations since he came aboard, basically in late 328 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:05,679 Speaker 8: twenty twenty. So, you know, Billy Eppler might not be 329 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 8: the chief baseball decision maker by this time next year, 330 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:10,840 Speaker 8: but I think he'll still be part of the decision 331 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 8: making group, a key part of it. With Show Walter. 332 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:15,479 Speaker 8: He's got one year left on his contract after this season. 333 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:19,680 Speaker 8: You know, it's an interesting debate. Does the decision not 334 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:21,679 Speaker 8: to punt on twenty twenty four but maybe not to 335 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,240 Speaker 8: be a serious World Series contender, does that make them 336 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:26,760 Speaker 8: more likely to bring him back and you know, find 337 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 8: someone else at the end of his contract in twenty 338 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:30,960 Speaker 8: twenty five, or do they say this is the chance 339 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:33,119 Speaker 8: to get someone else in who fits our timeline a 340 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 8: little bit better, someone who integrates young players at a 341 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 8: different level than than Buck has over his past couple 342 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 8: stops and decide to go in a different direction. 343 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:42,960 Speaker 2: There popball fans in New York. 344 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 3: I mean, they were optimistic after last year, even though 345 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 3: it was disappointing when they lost to the Padres. But 346 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:50,880 Speaker 3: the Padres had something going at the end of the year. 347 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:54,199 Speaker 3: They beat the Dodgers, they beat the Mets. But I 348 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 3: just wonder, where's the fan base. You know, you got 349 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 3: the big time Mets fan owner with deep pockets and 350 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:06,200 Speaker 3: we're going forward and look what we did and a dud. 351 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 2: Are they bummed out? Well? 352 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 8: I think actually the last couple of days have given 353 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:14,399 Speaker 8: them some cautious optimism because they, you know, Schuzer and 354 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 8: Verlander were guys who have not necessarily endeared themselves to 355 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:19,360 Speaker 8: the fan base because they've barely been here. I mean, 356 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 8: Justin Verlander made sixteen starts as a New York Met. 357 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:23,520 Speaker 8: It's going to be a very weird lip in his 358 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:26,480 Speaker 8: Hall of Fame career. So it's not like, you know, 359 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 8: it's not trading Tom seaver in nineteen seventy seven for 360 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:31,920 Speaker 8: the Mets. It's not trading someone who was more entrenched 361 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:35,119 Speaker 8: with this organization. So there is a plan now that 362 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:36,680 Speaker 8: that's a little bit more obvious, But I think the 363 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:39,200 Speaker 8: real question is going to be what happens this offseason. 364 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:41,360 Speaker 8: Do they go right back into free agency and dive 365 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 8: in and try to sign some you know, there's obviously 366 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,359 Speaker 8: show Heyo, Tony, there's obviously some pretty big free agent 367 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 8: pictures out there, and that's where the need is on 368 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:50,920 Speaker 8: this roster. Or do they do what they've been saying 369 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 8: they're going to do and take a more conservative approach, 370 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 8: see what they can sign up up for smaller short 371 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:58,439 Speaker 8: term deals and see what pans out there, and then 372 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:00,880 Speaker 8: try to be better in twenty twenty five, twenty twenty six. 373 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 8: I don't know if the fan base is of that 374 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:04,280 Speaker 8: patient here in New York. 375 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:06,639 Speaker 3: I was going to say, you know, when I hear 376 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 3: people say, oh, they should strip it down, do what 377 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 3: the Astros did or whatever. I don't know if you 378 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:13,840 Speaker 3: could do that in New York. You can't tell people that, hey, 379 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,919 Speaker 3: come back in five years, come see us in five years, 380 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:20,680 Speaker 3: because people expect you to compete to a certain degree. 381 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 3: Not not that you've got to win a World Series, 382 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 3: but nobody's looking for the Mets to scale back to 383 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 3: the point where they're unwatchable and you just you got 384 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:30,359 Speaker 3: kids out there. 385 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:31,760 Speaker 2: Am I misreading it? 386 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:32,359 Speaker 4: No? 387 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 8: I think you're right. I think the front office knows 388 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:37,639 Speaker 8: that that's Billy Eppler has said it's not a rebuild. 389 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 8: He's not going to go on a five to seven 390 00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:42,040 Speaker 8: year process. You know. I think we can semantically debate 391 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 8: whether it's a rebuild if it's a three year process. 392 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 8: You know, but fans might look at what the Astros 393 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:50,480 Speaker 8: did or the Cubs did and said, oh, like, I'd 394 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 8: be okay with that, But they didn't live through those 395 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 8: years in Houston and Chicago when they were losing one 396 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:57,120 Speaker 8: hundred and five plus games year in and year out. 397 00:19:57,680 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 8: That's a tough thing to go through, especially when you 398 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:01,159 Speaker 8: don't know that it's going to come out on the 399 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:02,400 Speaker 8: other side of the championship. 400 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 3: Tim Britton from the Athletic joining us here on Inside 401 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 3: the Parker. He covers the Mets, and you mentioned show 402 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:11,880 Speaker 3: he Tani and I want to get to him because 403 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 3: Bob Nightingale, the baseball columns for USA Today, does a 404 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 3: great job. He tweeted out that the Mets are off 405 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:25,200 Speaker 3: o Tani's list, and they're not. He wouldn't be interested 406 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 3: especially with what happened this year. Do you think that 407 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 3: that's real legit or you know, nobody really knows at 408 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:32,800 Speaker 3: this point. 409 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:34,879 Speaker 8: I mean, I'm never going to presume to know what 410 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:37,679 Speaker 8: showe Heyo Tani wants. I don't think anyone does. He 411 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:39,960 Speaker 8: hasn't kind of made a whole list of printeria. I 412 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:41,960 Speaker 8: think there is the assumption that he wants to win 413 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:44,879 Speaker 8: now and in the present tense, and that would be 414 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:46,679 Speaker 8: one of the reasons he would leave Anaheim is to 415 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 8: win now. And if the Mets are in d taking 416 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:50,680 Speaker 8: a little bit of a step back, even if it's 417 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:52,879 Speaker 8: just for twenty twenty four, might be a little bit 418 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:55,480 Speaker 8: harder for them to for them to sell him on 419 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:57,480 Speaker 8: the vision of like, hey, come here, win a World 420 00:20:57,520 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 8: Series right away, in the same way that you know, 421 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:02,479 Speaker 8: the Dodger can pitch that Teham a little bit more 422 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:05,480 Speaker 8: easily with their successive l The. 423 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:07,359 Speaker 3: Other thing is, and I know we talk about the 424 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 3: pitching and whatnot, but the hitting, and you mentioned it. 425 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:13,640 Speaker 2: Even Francisco Lindor. 426 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:16,639 Speaker 3: He had a really good year last year when they 427 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:19,119 Speaker 3: won one hundred and one, but his tenure in New 428 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 3: York just hasn't really been that good. Or lived up 429 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 3: to the contract. What do the Mets do with him? 430 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 3: I mean, when can they go from here a home dinner, 431 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:28,919 Speaker 3: maybe a show. I mean, I don't know what to do. 432 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:31,120 Speaker 8: You can do all that in New York. At least 433 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:34,679 Speaker 8: he's signed through twenty thirty one, so you know, it 434 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:36,679 Speaker 8: doesn't matter how far you're pushing the timeline back. He's 435 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:40,040 Speaker 8: part of this organization for a while now. You know, 436 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:42,200 Speaker 8: it's been an up and down tenure for him so far. 437 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 8: I think because of the presidency brings as a plus 438 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:48,399 Speaker 8: defender at a premium position at short stop, that he 439 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:51,160 Speaker 8: is pretty much in the lineup every day. I think 440 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 8: he's had one stint on the injured list in his 441 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:57,439 Speaker 8: three years here that that makes him a valuable player, 442 00:21:57,480 --> 00:21:59,760 Speaker 8: even if he's not the superstar player that you want 443 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:02,280 Speaker 8: him to be for his contract. And he's had stretches 444 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:05,199 Speaker 8: this season where he's carried the offensive load a little bit. 445 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 8: It just hasn't been the same consistent offensive production that 446 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:09,120 Speaker 8: we saw from him last year. 447 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 3: One last thing, Ronald Lacunya's brother was traded to the Mets, 448 00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:17,560 Speaker 3: and I mean, of course Mets fans here Acuna and go, 449 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 3: oh my god, maybe we got something, give me the 450 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 3: you know, scouting report on him, and you know, tell 451 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:29,119 Speaker 3: people who don't know who he is, and you know 452 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 3: what the people are saying about his possible future in 453 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:34,120 Speaker 3: the major league. 454 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:37,200 Speaker 8: It's luis Anhelacuna. He is an infielder at this point. 455 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 8: He's actually a shortstop who the Mets have sent double a. 456 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 8: There's the idea that he might move around defensively, play 457 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:46,399 Speaker 8: second base or even center field down the line. A 458 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:48,480 Speaker 8: guy who looks a lot like his brother in terms 459 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:51,119 Speaker 8: of his swing, but doesn't have quite the same power 460 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:53,600 Speaker 8: as Ronald does. So I don't think you're going to 461 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:56,399 Speaker 8: project you know, forty home or eighty stolen based season 462 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:58,880 Speaker 8: the way around. Lacuna Junior is on pace for this year. 463 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:00,399 Speaker 8: But a guy that the Mets think and be a 464 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 8: solid regular for them. He's probably the best prospect they 465 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:05,439 Speaker 8: got back in the last week to ten days and 466 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:08,280 Speaker 8: the guy they're pretty excited about, feeling that he could 467 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:10,000 Speaker 8: be ready, you know, by the end of twenty twenty 468 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 8: four or early twenty twenty five. 469 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 3: His name is Tim Britton, and man who got information 470 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:18,680 Speaker 3: for us on the Mets, or as I call him now, 471 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 3: the mess MBSs. My goodness, gracious, I thought they bounced back. 472 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 3: I just thought they had too much talent, especially when 473 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 3: you have pictures like that at the top of your rotation. 474 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:32,359 Speaker 3: I just cannot believe they're not. They fell out of 475 00:23:32,359 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 3: it and aren't making the playoffs. But thanks for your insight. 476 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:38,200 Speaker 3: We appreciated, Tim, and I guess for the rest of 477 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:40,119 Speaker 3: the season you could bring that mop with you and 478 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:42,879 Speaker 3: mop things up because that's that's where the Mets are 479 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:44,520 Speaker 3: added anytime. 480 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:45,440 Speaker 8: Thanks for having me round. 481 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:52,000 Speaker 1: Now bring in the closer, right. You know, here's why 482 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 1: MLB is better than the NFL or NBA, and it 483 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 1: isn't even close. 484 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 3: Reason number of five and fifty five. Why Major League 485 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:07,200 Speaker 3: Baseball is better than the NBA and better than the NFL. 486 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:13,119 Speaker 3: It's because the game is better. I'm sorry. And you 487 00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:16,119 Speaker 3: know what when I say to the game is better 488 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:20,280 Speaker 3: is because of some of the changes that have changed 489 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:25,800 Speaker 3: the game and made it more appealing. Major League Baseball's 490 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:30,440 Speaker 3: attendance is up nine percent. I think you'd be hard 491 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 3: pressed to find the NFL or the NBA to say 492 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:36,639 Speaker 3: that they ever had a nine percent increase on attendance 493 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:40,480 Speaker 3: and the games which we know with the rule changes, 494 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:45,639 Speaker 3: the pitch clock and no shifts and larger bases. The 495 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:49,959 Speaker 3: games are average are now two hours and thirty nine minutes, 496 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:53,640 Speaker 3: not the four hour jobs, and people are showing up 497 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 3: in droves at the ballpark. The best attendance in Major 498 00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:03,800 Speaker 3: League Baseball. It's nineteen ninety eight, since the steroid era 499 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:08,000 Speaker 3: when everybody was hitting home runs out the park. The 500 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:12,960 Speaker 3: changes have worked and people are enjoying their experience at 501 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:13,679 Speaker 3: the ballpark. 502 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 2: Even though it's shorter. 503 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 3: Sure you have shorter beer sales, and you don't have 504 00:25:19,119 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 3: a lot of time to mess around doing anything else. 505 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:24,480 Speaker 3: If you blink, you might miss six innings. I mean, 506 00:25:24,520 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 3: that's how fast the game is moving. But the pace 507 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:32,000 Speaker 3: is right. It's not too fast, it's not too slow. 508 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:33,399 Speaker 3: It feels right. 509 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 2: You know. I've been to a. 510 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:38,200 Speaker 3: Ton of games this summer all over America, and I've 511 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:43,119 Speaker 3: enjoyed it, and fans have enjoyed it. If you're the commissioner, 512 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 3: Rob Manford, you've got to be thrilled to make major 513 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 3: changes in the game and see these kind of attendance numbers. 514 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:57,120 Speaker 3: Streamings up, TV waitings are up. There are a lot 515 00:25:57,119 --> 00:26:00,760 Speaker 3: of young stars in baseball. I just we'll wait and see. 516 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:05,320 Speaker 3: In the NFL and the NBA, but I cannot imagine 517 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:09,879 Speaker 3: neither one of those sports showing a growth in attendance 518 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:14,719 Speaker 3: at the stadiums of nine percent. It is truly remarkable 519 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:17,160 Speaker 3: when you think of where we were a few years 520 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 3: ago with the pandemic and no fans in the crowd. 521 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:30,200 Speaker 3: It's incredible. In the words of New York TV legend 522 00:26:30,240 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 3: the late Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for your time this 523 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:37,440 Speaker 3: time until next time, Rob Parker out DK Davin. 524 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:38,920 Speaker 2: This could be an inside the 525 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:42,080 Speaker 1: Parker See you next week, same bat time from same 526 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:42,720 Speaker 1: Matt station.