1 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Fout's territory. Frit Jeroli here with Eric Kratz, 2 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: Kevin Palar, and Craig Alburn as the new Oriole Skipper, 3 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:16,440 Speaker 1: who was introduced on Monday in Baltimore. Craig, I talked 4 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 1: it up in the break, but I think your accent 5 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: might be vying for like best in baseball. I did 6 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:23,760 Speaker 1: grow up a die I'm from New England. I grew 7 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: up a diehard Boston Bruins fan. So whenever you talk, 8 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: I'm like, oh, it's like the nostalgia of the old Bees, 9 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 1: you know. So that's how I feel. So if you 10 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: could tell everyone on the show to maybe park the car, 11 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: I think we could maybe decide or not. 12 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 2: Yeah. 13 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:41,879 Speaker 3: I appreciate you saying this as the best accent. Yeah, 14 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 3: I really appreciate that. I think everyone else has an accent. 15 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 3: I talk normal, I talk the way it should be done. 16 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 3: I'm kidding, but yeah, it has a leftie since I 17 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 3: was seventeen. 18 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 4: So yeah, but the baseball baseball will take your accent away. 19 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 4: I mean, you know, some people from Alabama, they come 20 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 4: in a season and they tall like this. By the 21 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 4: end of the season, the only thing you hear is y'all. 22 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 4: So your accent must have been super thick. 23 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 2: That had to be. 24 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 3: I tell everyone, when your first second grade, third grade 25 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 3: teachers you learn, you know, learn English and stuff, and 26 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 3: they talk like you, it just gets embedded in grain. 27 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 2: So here I am still talking the same. Are you 28 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 2: gonna talk that way to your team? 29 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 1: Like? 30 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 4: What does that mean? What does that mean to you 31 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 4: being who you are? When you've now become I mean, 32 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:36,040 Speaker 4: reached the apex of being a coach. You've been a 33 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 4: coach since we got done playing against each other in 34 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 4: Triple A. Now you've reached that head coach status. You're 35 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 4: now a manager in the big leagues. What does it 36 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 4: mean to you to be who you are and not 37 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 4: who baseball needs. 38 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 5: You to be? 39 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I got to this position being who 40 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 3: I am. 41 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 2: It's almost gonna keep on doing the same thing. 42 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 3: Like that's the That's where I see is what players want, right, 43 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 3: And that's what players want to want to feel and 44 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 3: want to be a part of. Is someone that's authentic, 45 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 3: someone that has their back every step of the way, 46 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 3: and it's going to tell them the truth. And that's 47 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 3: who I am. I'm a truth teller. I let you 48 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 3: know where I see it right or wrong or indifferent, 49 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 3: And that's when the great conversations happened. And like I said, 50 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 3: I'm not going to change. I am who I am. 51 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 3: And you know, I joke around with Michael Elias like 52 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 3: I'm hoping you know what you're getting yourself into. So 53 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 3: you know, we joke around about it. But but yeah, 54 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 3: I just that's the only thing I know. You can't 55 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:35,360 Speaker 3: be fake in this game. 56 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 5: First Off, congratulations. 57 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 2: Secondly, thanks Ape. 58 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 5: Just talking talking to a lot of players in Cleveland, 59 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:45,959 Speaker 5: they always said Jose Ramirez is the guy that really 60 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 5: sets the culture there. Whatever Jose does we do. Have 61 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 5: you been able to kind of identify with your new 62 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:53,799 Speaker 5: team who you believe is going to kind of be 63 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 5: that culture center and if you if you have someone, 64 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 5: have you been able to get on the phone and 65 00:02:58,280 --> 00:02:59,359 Speaker 5: talk to them. 66 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, I've I've talked to a handful of players. Now 67 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 3: I'm trying to get to everyone. It's it's tough, man 68 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 3: point everything going on. But the cool part about it 69 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 3: is that this group has come up together through the 70 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 3: minor leagues. They kind of all broke in around the 71 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 3: same time and they're a very close knit group. So 72 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:20,359 Speaker 3: for me, there is multiple people that can that can 73 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 3: fill that role. And for me, leadership looks different for everyone. 74 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 3: You know that you get the vocal guys, you get 75 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 3: the guys that lead by example. You know, you got 76 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:31,919 Speaker 3: the guys that behind the scenes, well we'll call we'll 77 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 3: call you out, we'll talk to you. You know, there's 78 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 3: a variably different ways to do it, and for me, 79 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 3: it's just allowing the players to be themselves and figure 80 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 3: out how they want to lead. And once once I 81 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 3: identify that, then you can kind of use that through 82 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 3: your conversations, through looping them in to to certain you know, 83 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 3: areas of the game that you want to that you 84 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 3: want to improve. But then there's also like the veteran guy. 85 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 3: You know, it's crazy to think about, like Tyler O'Neal. 86 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 3: He's you know, he's only thirty years old, but the 87 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 3: most veteran guy on the team, and he's the one 88 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 3: that reached out to me. 89 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 2: I didn't reach out to him. 90 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 3: So that right there just shows that you know, he's 91 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 3: eager to step into that quote unquote veteran leadership role. 92 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 2: So that's going to be a great, a great asset 93 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 2: for us. 94 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 3: And then you know, hopefully our coaching staff can come 95 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:20,479 Speaker 3: in and cultivate the same environment that I want to 96 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 3: as well. And that's what we're trying to identify right now. 97 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 5: Hey, since you mentioned his name, are you going to 98 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 5: try to do curls with him? 99 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:31,159 Speaker 3: That guy's a unit, dude, he is a unit. I'm 100 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 3: gonna try to do some curls with him because I. 101 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:34,479 Speaker 2: Just want to see what he can what he can curl? 102 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 2: What can you put up. 103 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 5: First spring training and be like, hey, let's you know, 104 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 5: let's bond. Let me work out with. 105 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 2: Him like you squatting today deadlift and I got you. 106 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 3: You don't you don't have to unrack the plates and 107 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 3: as I throw my back out, Yeah, that dude, he's 108 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 3: a specimen though. 109 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, the early injury of report on Craig Albernas all 110 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: write that now headed to the the. 111 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 2: I L s frand hand no doubt, no doubt. 112 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:03,920 Speaker 1: As I'm sure you're where. The Orioles have not won 113 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 1: a playoff game in a decade. There's been a lot 114 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 1: of fan unrest because they went through the rebuild. They 115 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,039 Speaker 1: won the American League East and then they really had 116 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 1: nothing to show for it in terms of October wins. 117 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 1: And you know, kind of making the fans feel like 118 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 1: sitting through all that was worth it. Often the manager 119 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: job inherits like a rebuild, but you are inheriting a 120 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: team that really is set up to win. Now, how 121 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: does that change the job and how you go about 122 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: learning on the job, because there's not a whole lot 123 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 1: of easing in like there would be if you say 124 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 1: we're taking over the Colorado Rockies. 125 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. 126 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 3: I mean to me, every team, every player when they 127 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 3: show up the spring training, the goal should be to 128 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 3: win the World Series. Like, if you're in that that 129 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:49,480 Speaker 3: locker room and you don't feel that way, you shouldn't 130 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 3: be in there. 131 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 2: It doesn't matter what team you're on. 132 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:54,279 Speaker 3: Like, the ultimate goal for every player to start the 133 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 3: seasons to win the World Series. So for us, that 134 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 3: doesn't change it. For me, it doesn't change And for me, 135 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 3: the only way for our guys to do that is 136 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 3: for them to be themselves, use this shrinks and then 137 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 3: play together as a unit. 138 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 2: You know, it's it's such a grind of a season. 139 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 3: This game is so hard as KP and cratch, you know, 140 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 3: like one hundred and sixty two games is the hottest 141 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 3: thing to do in spots and navigate that season and 142 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 3: then when you punch your ticket to your playoffs, to the playoffs, 143 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:21,360 Speaker 3: that's the fun part. But you have to get there first. 144 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 3: And to get there, you have to play baseball. You know, 145 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 3: you have to do the little things right. You have 146 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 3: to grind out at bats, you have to you know, 147 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 3: get bunts down, you know, because ideally, you know, nine 148 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 3: guys in the lineup, you want them to all feel great. 149 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:38,239 Speaker 3: But we all know that's not gonna happen. And also, 150 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:40,480 Speaker 3: if we go out and hit twelve hour runs a game, 151 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:43,760 Speaker 3: sign me up. But that's not the world we live in. 152 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 3: So we have to do the little things to compete 153 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 3: and win every day, and that's gonna be the mindset 154 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 3: is like, what can we do today to win tonight's game? 155 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,239 Speaker 5: Yeah, we all know everyone in baseball. No, Stephen Bot's 156 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 5: a special person. Look no further than what he did 157 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:01,599 Speaker 5: for you yesterday. Obviously a good friend of mine, was 158 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 5: one of my most favorite teammates. Never got a chance 159 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 5: to play for him. What was kind of what'd you 160 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 5: learn from him? What was kind of his secret sauce 161 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 5: as a manager to be able to kind of be 162 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 5: maybe a one or two years removed from playing and 163 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 5: and and you know, taking his team to the playoff, 164 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 5: winning a Manager of the Year. 165 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:21,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean when when Kratzy asked me the question 166 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 3: about changing and like being yourself, like by KP Like, 167 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 3: that's what that's what body he is, like, he's himself 168 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 3: and he's an elite person, elite communicator. 169 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 2: That's why I'm throwing seeds on him right here. 170 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 3: But he's, uh, you know, he has a way about 171 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 3: him where he can he can make everyone in that 172 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 3: clubhouse feel like their jse Aman Mirras you know. And 173 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 3: and that's and that's a special sauce with him, Like 174 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 3: he genuinely cares and loves every person that's in that 175 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 3: locker room, every person that's. 176 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 2: In the organization. 177 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 3: And he's he's really great at the excess and those 178 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 3: two you know, he does again enough credit for that, 179 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 3: but he's really good with the end game decisions and 180 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 3: that also can municating those decisions and why why we 181 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 3: did something or why we didn't do something. He's open 182 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 3: and honest at every step, you know, every turn. And 183 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 3: that's something I'm gonna bring as well. And that's something 184 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 3: I learned from him, is just that over communication piece 185 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 3: and making everyone feel value valued because they do because 186 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 3: they do have value no matter what role you're in. 187 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 5: Was that moment tense right there when you're throwing seeds 188 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 5: at him? And what do you say to you? 189 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 2: No, I always throw seeds at him. 190 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 3: So our normal cadence would be, you know, we you know, 191 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 3: during the game, we always eat you know, chwo seeds 192 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 3: at some point in the game, and we always have 193 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 3: Doug Albanto talking about a variety of different situations, and 194 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 3: you know, we both throw dumb ideas out there, and 195 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 3: just so happened that he threw a dumb idea out there. 196 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 2: That's why I kind of gave like a quick glance 197 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 2: at him. 198 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 3: Then I threw seeds on him, and then he's kind 199 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:52,960 Speaker 3: of like shaking his head like yeah, I'll be I know. 200 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 3: But then he kept on talking. So that's that's just 201 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:58,440 Speaker 3: the usual usual cadence between us two. We try to 202 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 3: keep the light but also check each other of the craig. 203 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 4: The other part was his jersey didn't fit as nice 204 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:07,199 Speaker 4: as your jersey, like he was he was filling out 205 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 4: his jersey a little bit. Are you prepared for the 206 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:13,880 Speaker 4: stresses that come with being a manager. Obviously you can't 207 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 4: get gray hair because you ain't gotten none exactly exactly. 208 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 4: I mean, you're gonna start filling the jersey out like 209 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 4: like voter did and it's not I mean there's buttons. 210 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 4: They're hanging on for dear life. So are you prepared 211 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 4: for that? And do you have people around you to 212 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 4: be able to handle that? 213 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:33,400 Speaker 2: Yeah? 214 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:35,719 Speaker 3: My wife, My wife will keep me, will keep me 215 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 3: in check, dialed. Yeah, I mean, you know she did uh, 216 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:41,720 Speaker 3: you know, she trained m M A and stuff, so 217 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 3: she fought a little bit. So she'll definitely uh if 218 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:47,199 Speaker 3: she needs to get a little physical uh, in a 219 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 3: good way, not in a bad way. So there's there's that. 220 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 3: But also that's why they make the pollovers. That's why 221 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:56,559 Speaker 3: they make the you know, the the other articles of 222 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:57,360 Speaker 3: clothing to wear. 223 00:09:57,559 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 2: You know. 224 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:01,199 Speaker 3: So those days were you know, you and eating you 225 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 3: know for two weeks. You know, you feel a little flabby, 226 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:06,199 Speaker 3: you can just throw on the pullover and try to 227 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:07,080 Speaker 3: hide it a little bit. 228 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 4: And keep it baggy. I appreciate that, all right now, 229 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 4: the title. 230 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 3: But also we got we got Tyler O'Neill too, you 231 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 3: know Tyler O'Neal. 232 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 2: He'll look at him every day. I'm like, shit, I 233 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:18,720 Speaker 2: got to stay clean. 234 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 4: Okay, Okay, that's fair. 235 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 2: That's fair. 236 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 4: So you keep it, you keep it healthy by looking 237 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 4: at your players. I got a question for you, though, 238 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:27,679 Speaker 4: and this is a tough one, all right. It is 239 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:31,680 Speaker 4: your tough first tough question as a manager. You came 240 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 4: in and you brought in Dustin Lynn as your new 241 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 4: hitting coach. The hitting coach that was there is gonna 242 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 4: get a lot of flak for what happened with the organizations. Hey, 243 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:42,840 Speaker 4: you know what, this offense didn't do what they needed 244 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 4: to do all that stuff. How hard of a decision 245 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 4: is that when you get rid of a guy who 246 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 4: was there and worked with some of these guys coming 247 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:55,680 Speaker 4: up through the minor leagues, some continuity and really the 248 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:58,960 Speaker 4: Orioles didn't win because they're pitching was trash. But you 249 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 4: bring in a hitting coach. How hard is that first decision? 250 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,440 Speaker 4: Bringing in somebody that you know and are comfortable with. 251 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 4: I assume you guys were together in San Francisco if 252 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 4: I'm not correct, Yeah, how hard is that? 253 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 2: We were? How hard is that? Yeah? 254 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 3: I mean to be honest with you, Cratsey, it wasn't 255 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 3: that hard because that move a lot of coaching moves 256 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 3: were made before I got the job, and so I 257 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 3: came in with with I had a you know, we 258 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 3: had to bring in a new a new hitting group, 259 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,959 Speaker 3: and Dustin Lynn was the first day on my list. 260 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 3: You know, I was around them in San Francisco. You know, 261 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 3: he he has in a very diverse background. I mean 262 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 3: he's a you know, formerly a physical therapist. He's a doctor, 263 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:43,200 Speaker 3: so he has he knows everything to know about the body, 264 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 3: and he's also knows the swing, knows the hit, has 265 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 3: you know, teaches a variety of different approaches, you know, 266 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 3: like he's a he's a really a unicorn hitting coach. 267 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 3: But then also he got to be in Philadelphia and 268 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 3: get to work under Kevin Long. We all know Kevin Long. 269 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,080 Speaker 3: He's one of the best hitting coaches ever. I mean 270 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 3: just looking at his track record, that dos an elite 271 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 3: leader and communicator and could teach hitting and beating you know, 272 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 3: in Philadelphia with that group of players and learning on 273 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 3: the k Long like, it to me was a no 274 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 3: brainer to bring him in, Like he's ready for this 275 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 3: opportunity and our players are going to be communicated with 276 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 3: every step of direction, and he's going to cater to them. 277 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:24,320 Speaker 3: This is not going to be a one size fits 278 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 3: all approach. That's something that really excites me about, you know, 279 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 3: bringing Dustin linn In and you know in the players 280 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 3: feedback so far is that they're fired up about it. 281 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 1: Craig, I gotta say, I'm a little disappointed because you 282 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 1: signed on and your two year old daughter, Gigi, who 283 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:44,439 Speaker 1: I was at the press conference Monday, she's the highlight. 284 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 1: Was was there and she's not here, so I want 285 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:50,680 Speaker 1: to know is she taking a nap much the rest 286 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 1: right now? It's it's that afternoon naptime for Gigi. It 287 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 1: was such a cute moment. I think we have a 288 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 1: little video to show of her, but the whole family. 289 00:12:59,559 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 1: I'm sure this was your wife wearing the matching shoes, 290 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 1: the little Oriel outfits. For those who are not there, 291 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 1: Orioles owner David Rubersin picked up Gigi, the youngest of three, 292 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:14,600 Speaker 1: put to put her on Craig's lap during this press conference. 293 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 1: It was a really sweet moment. Is she excited to 294 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 1: to go to Baltimore? She probably doesn't really know what's 295 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:22,280 Speaker 1: going on, but it seems like your two older sons 296 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:25,960 Speaker 1: are very into baseball and what you do. How how 297 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: ready is the family to to be in Baltimore long 298 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 1: term and to switch all their stuff to orange and black. 299 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:35,000 Speaker 2: They are excited. 300 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 3: Both of my boys initially were not, you know, they're 301 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 3: upset that we were leaving Cleveland, Like what do you mean, 302 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:44,080 Speaker 3: like we're not going to see like obviously body has 303 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 3: has kids and not going to see his kids. And 304 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:47,719 Speaker 3: also the players, like we mean we're not going to 305 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 3: see Hoosey and David fry and and Hedgi. But then 306 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:53,079 Speaker 3: they start to realize like, oh, this is this is 307 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 3: a good thing. So they're they're fired up. And little 308 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 3: Gigi she's I mean, she's the best. She can have 309 00:13:59,280 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 3: whatever she wants. And then when David picked her up, 310 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 3: I was like, in my head, I was like, David, 311 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 3: do you know what you're doing? Like this is going 312 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:08,079 Speaker 3: to be this This can go a variety of different directions. 313 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 2: So it's they're fired up. It's great. It was such 314 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 2: a great day. 315 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 3: I mean for me, honestly, that's something that I wasn't 316 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 3: looking forward to just because it was like a whole 317 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 3: day about me, and that's something that is not in 318 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 3: my personality. So but you know, the way they incorporated 319 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 3: the family and made my family, feel welcome and all 320 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 3: the little stuff behind the scenes. It was such a 321 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 3: great day and I'm glad that the world got the 322 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 3: CGGI and you know how great of a kid she 323 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 3: is and how lucky I am. 324 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, and two little boys. Craig, No, you're fine. I 325 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:44,080 Speaker 1: was worried for you when she went up there, because 326 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 1: I was like, oh, this could go really well or 327 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 1: she could have a total melt down here on the podium. 328 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 1: So as a toddler parent, I was a little I 329 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: was sweating it out for you. But she was excellent. 330 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 2: It was excellent. 331 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 4: Yeah. 332 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:56,160 Speaker 3: Yeah. My two boys are sitting in the front and 333 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 3: they're looking at me like can I come up? 334 00:14:57,920 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 2: Can I come up? 335 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 3: And I'm mouth until I'm like no, can't come up yet. No, 336 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 3: And I'm like as like David's talking and Mike's talking. 337 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 3: I'm like, oh, no, this is this has got to 338 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 3: get chaos real quick. 339 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:11,880 Speaker 5: Well, speaking of change, and I guess now chaos cans 340 00:15:11,880 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 5: he use the word for someone who spent parts of 341 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 5: seventh season in the Al East. Are you prepared for 342 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 5: this change? And seeing the Blue Jays, you know, win 343 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 5: the division obviously get to the World Series has to 344 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 5: you know, service some sort of motivation, knowing that if 345 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 5: you're able to get out of the al Beast, which 346 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 5: we like to call it beast, you got a good 347 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 5: chance of running the table. 348 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it is. It's a gauntlet of the division. 349 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:43,080 Speaker 3: It's but it's also so much fun. I think as 350 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 3: a competitive as a baseball fan, like, that's something where 351 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 3: you want to be, like, you want to go up 352 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 3: against the best every night, which is what this league is, 353 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 3: and everyone in this division is ready to win every 354 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 3: year and that's the best part about this place. 355 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 2: And that's that's the challenge of it and the beauty 356 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 2: of it. 357 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 3: And even coming up as a minor leaguer in the 358 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 3: Raised organization, that's something our you know, old farm director 359 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 3: used to speach. 360 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 2: To us all the time. 361 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:11,680 Speaker 3: Was every time we're competing against someone another vision, whether 362 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 3: it's ping pong, shuffle board, pick up basketball, whatever, it is, 363 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 3: like we're trying to beat them. And that's something that 364 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 3: I've had my upbringing, grown up as a as a 365 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 3: player in the minor leagues and also as a staff member. 366 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 3: So the opportunity to jump in here and jump in 367 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 3: the al Beast, which is real, you know, it's it's 368 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 3: it's awesome. And what the Blue Jays did you know 369 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 3: they were in last place last year and you know 370 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 3: in the division now you know, go to the World 371 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 3: Series and take it to seven games. I mean, what 372 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:41,680 Speaker 3: a great series it was to watch, and it was 373 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:44,800 Speaker 3: just it's great for baseball and being able to jump 374 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 3: right into that. I mean, it's exciting. 375 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:52,360 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for joining us, Craig, best of 376 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 1: luck in Baltimore. We really appreciate it. 377 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 5: Good luck. 378 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 2: Thanks guys. Yeah, thanks for having me on. 379 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 1: Welcome back, foul Territory Aircraft. It's Kevin Fuller Bridge ROI 380 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:06,119 Speaker 1: here with you. We have Cody Stavenhagen, who covers MLB 381 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 1: and the Tigers for the Athletic. He also co hosts 382 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:12,920 Speaker 1: Tiger's Territory here on the Foul Territory Network. Cody, how 383 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:14,119 Speaker 1: are you. It's good to see you. 384 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:18,119 Speaker 6: Yeah, doing all right, guys, How are you? 385 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: Good s? 386 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:20,679 Speaker 5: Sheels, good shols. A lot of stuff on your shelves. 387 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:21,399 Speaker 5: I appreciate it. 388 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 2: I appreciate that. 389 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, A little a little dig there, Cody. You had 390 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:30,640 Speaker 1: such a great timely piece today with our colleague Will 391 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 1: Salmon about the KBO and everything that we should expect, 392 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:37,639 Speaker 1: and then of course we get the news today about 393 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:39,680 Speaker 1: the posting of I'm gonna have to I'm gonna have 394 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:42,120 Speaker 1: to look down at my notes because I do such 395 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 1: a terrible job at pronunciation with these names. Some of 396 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 1: the last names, Jerolie, I'm very sensitive to that. Munataka 397 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 1: Murakami the big news today, obviously. Can you talk to 398 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: us a little bit about how this guy profiles? It 399 00:17:57,320 --> 00:18:01,200 Speaker 1: seems like he's like the guy that teams potentially our targeting, 400 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:04,359 Speaker 1: but he's not like an Otani or a Sasaki type 401 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:07,639 Speaker 1: of like impact talent. Right, What did you gleam in 402 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:10,680 Speaker 1: your reporting from executives and from people around the game 403 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 1: as to what to expect from a guy like that? 404 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 6: Yeah, I think there are three big names to know 405 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 6: coming over from Japan likely to be posted this winter. 406 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:24,119 Speaker 6: Murakami is probably the most famous of this group. My 407 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:26,800 Speaker 6: colleague Will Salmon at the Athletic helped on a story 408 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 6: we kind of broke all these guys down with a 409 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:32,120 Speaker 6: lot of perspective from the scouting realm. Murakami's really interesting 410 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:34,720 Speaker 6: because he's a bona fide power hitter. Some scouts have 411 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:39,080 Speaker 6: graded him at a seventy or eighty grade power, I mean, elite, 412 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:42,239 Speaker 6: real stuff, But it's really the other parts of his 413 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 6: game that are more questionable. The big concern is the 414 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 6: contact rate, the strikeout rate. There's a lot of whiff 415 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:50,920 Speaker 6: and it's a little bit unknown how his game will 416 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 6: translate when he's facing major league pitching every night. In Japan, 417 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:57,720 Speaker 6: he has not handled velocity very well at all. A 418 00:18:57,760 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 6: sixty three percent contact rate again ninety three miles an 419 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:03,920 Speaker 6: hour plus over the past three years, and an even 420 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 6: worse contact rate against breaking stuff. MPB is a lower 421 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:11,680 Speaker 6: strikeout rate than MLB, so this seems to me to 422 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:14,760 Speaker 6: profile of someone who can hit thirty plus homers and 423 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:17,280 Speaker 6: is also going to strike out at a thirty percent 424 00:19:17,359 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 6: plus clip in Major League Baseball with probably not a 425 00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:23,160 Speaker 6: lot of defensive value. He can play third, he's probably 426 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:26,280 Speaker 6: better suited for first. He might not be great at 427 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:29,199 Speaker 6: either position, So who is going to be willing to 428 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:32,159 Speaker 6: bet on his power? And then also see can he 429 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,239 Speaker 6: make adjustments? Can he make more contact, learn to hit 430 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:38,359 Speaker 6: velocity better, because if so, there could be some really 431 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 6: big upside in more Commi's bat. 432 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 4: Is his posting the timing like kind of more advantageous 433 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 4: because of the fact that a lot of free agency 434 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 4: kind of gets pushed back to the end of the winter, 435 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:56,160 Speaker 4: and now his clock is ticking already. Yeah. 436 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:58,240 Speaker 6: I don't know if that was the strategy behind it 437 00:19:58,359 --> 00:20:01,239 Speaker 6: or not, but I like it forces some action. He 438 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 6: has forty five days to negotiate with MLBA teams he 439 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:07,280 Speaker 6: will be signed by I think December twenty second is 440 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:09,399 Speaker 6: going to be the deadline there. So if you're one 441 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 6: of these other big ticket free agents who might be 442 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:15,240 Speaker 6: looking to push things into January or February, or maybe 443 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 6: not looking, but that's just how the market seems to 444 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:20,760 Speaker 6: play out in recent years, some teams might be willing 445 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 6: to pivot and move on to a guy like Murakami. 446 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:25,800 Speaker 2: Yeah. 447 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:29,120 Speaker 5: I mean, maybe the timing is good, maybe the timing's bad, 448 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:31,800 Speaker 5: because my hopes is that what we saw in the 449 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:34,240 Speaker 5: World Series this year, that contact is a way of 450 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:37,360 Speaker 5: winning games, and hopefully it's a way forward. But what 451 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 5: you're talking about from this guy is the prototypical Major 452 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 5: League Baseball player hits thirty homers and punches out thirty 453 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:46,879 Speaker 5: percent of the time. So I guess two questions is, 454 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 5: do you believe that what we saw kind of in 455 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 5: the postseason is a way teams are going to start 456 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 5: to kind of move forward. I guess that would be 457 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 5: my only question right now. I'll follow up after Yeah. 458 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 6: I think quietly. I mean, I mean, you would probably 459 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:02,160 Speaker 6: no better than I, Kevin, But I think quietly, behind 460 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 6: the scenes, we've already been seeing a shift back toward 461 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:07,359 Speaker 6: contact for the past couple of years. Look at the 462 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 6: Milwaukee Brewers, who have built a team through kind of 463 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:13,920 Speaker 6: pesky contact type hitters and speed. Some of the new 464 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:17,160 Speaker 6: rules have incentivized that a little bit more. I think 465 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:21,399 Speaker 6: teams are realizing that that contact matters. That's not to 466 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:23,680 Speaker 6: say power doesn't. That's not to say laun jingle is 467 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:26,320 Speaker 6: going to go away. That's to say slug and pulling 468 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 6: the ball in the air is going away. But some 469 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:31,840 Speaker 6: of these boom or bus type players, maybe like Morikami, 470 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:35,680 Speaker 6: aren't going to be attractive to everyone. They haven't been 471 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 6: in the last couple off seasons, and they might not 472 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:40,560 Speaker 6: be going forward. I do think you're right that there's 473 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:42,800 Speaker 6: going to continue to be even more of a premium 474 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:45,440 Speaker 6: on guys who can hit the ball put the ball 475 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 6: in play. In the playoffs where it's an unpredictable environment, 476 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:52,960 Speaker 6: contact matters, Power matters as well, though, so there's certainly 477 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:56,919 Speaker 6: still a blend, and maybe that over correction towards power 478 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:58,360 Speaker 6: is coming back to earth a little bit. 479 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:03,120 Speaker 1: All Right, Cody, I feel like I need to ask 480 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 1: you about Trek Scooble, because like, that's all you're gonna 481 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:09,359 Speaker 1: get asked about this entire winter. From your interactions with 482 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 1: Scott Harris, from knowing that front office and kind of 483 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:15,199 Speaker 1: how they operate, Where do you place your bets here? 484 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:18,919 Speaker 1: What are the chances that Scooble is a Tiger next season? 485 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:21,719 Speaker 1: And real quick, can I just can I just say 486 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 1: one of the issues that I felt like I have 487 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:27,200 Speaker 1: with baseball is that teams now think like, oh, what's 488 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:29,640 Speaker 1: gonna happen after next season? What about if the Tigers 489 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 1: go all in when the World Series this year, if 490 00:22:32,119 --> 00:22:35,040 Speaker 1: they lose Scoble, who cares at that point? Like flags 491 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 1: fly forever? I don't know why you wouldn't go all 492 00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 1: in try to win, And then if you miss out 493 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 1: on Schooble, fans would be a little bit more like, well, 494 00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:43,639 Speaker 1: we had a great final year with him, but if 495 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 1: you trade him away now it feels like a faction 496 00:22:45,359 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 1: of that fan base will be upset. And we'll never 497 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:49,119 Speaker 1: get over it because he will go somewhere else and 498 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:50,400 Speaker 1: he will win anyway. 499 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:53,879 Speaker 6: To you, it's a hard spot to be in, right. 500 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:56,280 Speaker 6: This is why the executives make the big box because 501 00:22:56,359 --> 00:22:59,480 Speaker 6: if you make a push and don't win at all 502 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:02,520 Speaker 6: and then Google walks for nothing, how are we going 503 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:05,200 Speaker 6: to look back on that decision in two or three years. 504 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 6: I do think if you have the best pitcher in baseball, 505 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:11,359 Speaker 6: I do think that represents a real window. That doesn't 506 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:14,120 Speaker 6: mean your window closes after Schooble leaves, when you have 507 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:17,080 Speaker 6: a good organization with a lot of young talent when 508 00:23:17,119 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 6: the rise. But we've seen what Scooble can do in 509 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 6: the playoffs. This is why this is not This is 510 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:25,720 Speaker 6: just speculation in my personal opinion, but I think it 511 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:27,800 Speaker 6: would be wise for the Tigers to pick a lane 512 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:30,280 Speaker 6: either except the fact you're not going to re sign 513 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:33,040 Speaker 6: him and you're really playing the long game and look 514 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 6: long and hard at trading him, or you have to 515 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:38,040 Speaker 6: make a more meaningful push to win the World Series 516 00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:41,680 Speaker 6: in twenty twenty six. That means spending. That means blocking 517 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:44,959 Speaker 6: some young players with a veteran bat or two in 518 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 6: this lineup. That means going after some big ticket swing 519 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 6: and misrelievers. That's a compelling argument, something fans would love. 520 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 6: We also haven't seen in the Scott Harris era really 521 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 6: the idea that the Tigers are going to pursue free 522 00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 6: agency at that level, that that is their mo as 523 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 6: an organization. That would require a little bit of a pivot. 524 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 6: So what's going to happen. I'm not sure, but I'm 525 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 6: not sure trying to thread the needle here is the 526 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:09,439 Speaker 6: right answer. 527 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:12,560 Speaker 5: Hey, but guess what if they do keep them, as 528 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,040 Speaker 5: me and Brittain and Kratzy were discussing, you'll get a 529 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:18,280 Speaker 5: qualifying offer, so you're not, you know, missing out entirely, 530 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:19,560 Speaker 5: and that's very valuable. 531 00:24:20,440 --> 00:24:23,440 Speaker 6: Well, the Tigers do love their draft picks. I am 532 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:26,120 Speaker 6: probably a little more skeptical personally, like a draft picks 533 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 6: not nothing, you're right, but the value of a compensation 534 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:33,399 Speaker 6: round pick compared to what you could get if you 535 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:38,080 Speaker 6: traded him right now that the trade return is obviously better, 536 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:40,000 Speaker 6: And I'm not saying they should trade Schooble, but I'm 537 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 6: saying I understand that thinking and why it seems like 538 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:45,879 Speaker 6: a decision point for the Tigers this winner. 539 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:50,080 Speaker 4: If they move in that direction. Is it a clear 540 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:52,600 Speaker 4: step back? I mean, you mentioned all the things that 541 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 4: you could get for them, but is it a clear 542 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:57,680 Speaker 4: step back because when we go into the office or 543 00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:01,520 Speaker 4: when we go into the postseason, Okay, they're set up 544 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:04,480 Speaker 4: where Schooble's gonna pitch game one in game five, they 545 00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:07,400 Speaker 4: have to figure out how to win one more. Now 546 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 4: you don't have that. Is that a clear step back, 547 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:13,200 Speaker 4: which would then indicate, Hey, you know what, we're also 548 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:15,359 Speaker 4: gonna get rid of this guy. We're also gonna go 549 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:18,119 Speaker 4: down the line and get rid of that these other guys. 550 00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:22,119 Speaker 6: Well, I think you're right cratzy in that if you 551 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:24,879 Speaker 6: move Trek'scooble, it's hard to see the Tigers being better 552 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:27,440 Speaker 6: in twenty twenty six than they were in twenty twenty five, 553 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:28,919 Speaker 6: regardless of what else you do. 554 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:30,399 Speaker 5: It just is No. 555 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:34,720 Speaker 6: I don't think that means they would rebuild or move 556 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:37,399 Speaker 6: other pieces because they move Schooble. Like, the Tigers have 557 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:40,840 Speaker 6: this young core, they have more young guys on the rise. 558 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:46,479 Speaker 6: They've pretty clearly incentivized a core of homegrown hitters. So 559 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:48,880 Speaker 6: I don't think it would represent a step backward for 560 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:52,720 Speaker 6: like the entire organization and its trajectory necessarily, but I 561 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:56,000 Speaker 6: do think do you feel better or worse about your 562 00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:59,120 Speaker 6: chances of winning ninety games without Trek Scouble? It would 563 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 6: take quite a lot of major league ready players to 564 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:04,560 Speaker 6: feel any better about that. In twenty twenty. 565 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:08,879 Speaker 4: Six, all right, best case scenario, you signed free agent 566 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:13,399 Speaker 4: Glabor Torres. Now you offer him a qualifying offer. What 567 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:16,960 Speaker 4: is the best case scenario out of this qualifying offer 568 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 4: that he comes back hits two to eighty for the 569 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:24,359 Speaker 4: team on a twenty centilly twenty two million dollars deal 570 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:28,280 Speaker 4: for one year, or that he takes the qualifying offer 571 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:31,000 Speaker 4: and says no, thank you, I'm gonna go to free 572 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:32,800 Speaker 4: agency and they get a draft pick. 573 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:34,320 Speaker 2: Yeah. 574 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 6: Another great question. If you guys don't follow the Tigers 575 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:38,359 Speaker 6: every day, I hope you can see why they're in 576 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:41,639 Speaker 6: an interesting spot because they have some tough calls. I 577 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:44,719 Speaker 6: think because they extended Glaber to where's the qualifying offer? 578 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:47,040 Speaker 6: I think that's a sign they wouldn't mind having him back. 579 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 6: We talked about contact, we talk about good at bats. 580 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:51,639 Speaker 6: That's something that Tigers need a lot more of, and 581 00:26:51,680 --> 00:26:54,920 Speaker 6: that's something Glabor Torres did probably better than any other 582 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:57,720 Speaker 6: hitter in their lineup. He slumped in the second half. 583 00:26:57,760 --> 00:27:00,119 Speaker 6: He was playing through a hernia. So if you get 584 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:01,920 Speaker 6: him back on a one year deal, I'm not sure 585 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 6: you feel terrible about that at all. You might feel 586 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:06,520 Speaker 6: kind of good about it. The question is what does 587 00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:08,840 Speaker 6: it mean for the rest of your infield and the 588 00:27:08,840 --> 00:27:11,880 Speaker 6: rest of your off season, Because when you have Cole 589 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:14,560 Speaker 6: Keith and Zach McKinstry, you can play third. When you 590 00:27:14,600 --> 00:27:17,199 Speaker 6: have Kevin McGonagall knocking loudly on the door and he 591 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:21,400 Speaker 6: can play second or third. Could you bring back Labor 592 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:24,280 Speaker 6: Torres and still go after a Bregman or a Boba 593 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:26,680 Speaker 6: Shad or whoever else you want to name, or is 594 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 6: it kind of Glaber Tores and then you're going with 595 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 6: the young players you have. I think that's a real 596 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:35,240 Speaker 6: question because I think one thing the playoffs revealed is 597 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:38,000 Speaker 6: that the Tigers, if they're serious about winning a World Series, 598 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:40,080 Speaker 6: they have to find a way to reshape this lineup 599 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:43,080 Speaker 6: beyond just running it back with the group they had, 600 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:47,400 Speaker 6: And that's tough when you have ascending young hitters. Maybe 601 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 6: they could upgrade at shortstop, maybe they could upgrade at 602 00:27:49,840 --> 00:27:52,720 Speaker 6: center field. These are things to certainly keep an eye on. 603 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:55,919 Speaker 6: You like the profile Glabor Torez brings you, though, So 604 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:58,920 Speaker 6: if he accepts this qualifying offer and comes back one 605 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:01,440 Speaker 6: year and then you can move on, I'm not sure 606 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:02,360 Speaker 6: that's a bad thing at all. 607 00:28:03,359 --> 00:28:06,240 Speaker 4: They can go after all those guys. You know that, Cody, 608 00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:09,760 Speaker 4: You're just asking the questions. But the biggest question I 609 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:15,520 Speaker 4: have are the Tigers twenty twenty five first half tigers 610 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:19,240 Speaker 4: or are they twenty twenty five second half tigers going 611 00:28:19,280 --> 00:28:20,600 Speaker 4: into the twenty sixth season. 612 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:22,800 Speaker 2: Yeah? 613 00:28:23,119 --> 00:28:25,520 Speaker 6: I think the answer right, it's not the fun answer, 614 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:28,000 Speaker 6: but the answer is neither. They're some blend of that. 615 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:31,960 Speaker 6: If they had the weirdest possible season, and they kind 616 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:33,840 Speaker 6: of had a very weird season the year before that 617 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:36,280 Speaker 6: they won eighty six and eighty seven games, I think 618 00:28:36,320 --> 00:28:38,720 Speaker 6: they're an eighty six eighty seven win team. It'd just 619 00:28:38,760 --> 00:28:41,440 Speaker 6: be nice if they could find a more normal, smooth 620 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 6: way to get there. I think the projections are going 621 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:47,360 Speaker 6: to come out and unless they do something groundbreaking this offseason, 622 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:49,840 Speaker 6: they're going to be picked eighty two, eighty three, eighty 623 00:28:49,840 --> 00:28:52,520 Speaker 6: four wins, and they think with Aj Hinch managing this 624 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:55,200 Speaker 6: team and some young guys who can get better and 625 00:28:55,280 --> 00:29:00,000 Speaker 6: maybe some unheralded pitching, they can win eighty seven, eighty eight, 626 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:03,320 Speaker 6: eighty nine games. I think that's clearly kind of the 627 00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:05,640 Speaker 6: team they are if you look at the talent they have, 628 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:08,040 Speaker 6: that seems to match up in my view. 629 00:29:11,280 --> 00:29:13,680 Speaker 1: Thank you, Cody, we appreciate it, and be sure to 630 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:16,440 Speaker 1: check out Tiger's territory with Kieran Steckley where they will, 631 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:19,880 Speaker 1: i'm sure, get into trek spooble and all of the 632 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:27,360 Speaker 1: offseason questions using a very interesting Detroit Tigers team.