1 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: Hello, Everyone's episode ninety six of the Hamor Territory Podcast. 2 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 1: I am your host, Brad Roling, coming to you in 3 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: our traditional Sunday evening time slot, and I am joined 4 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: as I always am by Scott Coleman. Scott, it's kind 5 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:34,479 Speaker 1: of the first episode of the offseason. It is for 6 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: you and I. How are you feeling on a Sunday evening? 7 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 2: You Brad, Good to be on with you on this 8 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 2: Sunday night. It's a little different. No, it's first weekend 9 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 2: of October and the Braves do not have any baseball 10 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 2: games left to play. A little different. I mean, seriously, 11 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:53,520 Speaker 2: you could go back to twenty seventeen was the last 12 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 2: time the Braves really didn't have anything to play for 13 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 2: this early in the calendar month. But I think as 14 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 2: we as we talked to through and kind of the 15 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:05,319 Speaker 2: aftermath of a very very very challenging season wrapping up 16 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 2: a couple of nights ago, I think it was time. 17 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 2: I think mentally it was nice to have a little 18 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:13,400 Speaker 2: bit of a breather from just the grind of what 19 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:17,320 Speaker 2: this season ultimately turned into. But alast we're here. If 20 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:19,839 Speaker 2: you're a longtime listener, back on the Battery Power Days, 21 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 2: Talking Chop Days. We do podcasts twelve months out of 22 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 2: the year, and we are going to keep rolling. Maybe 23 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 2: not as frequent as we do during the season because 24 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 2: as we know, there's just not a ton of stuff 25 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:34,479 Speaker 2: to do once the game's end. But we are here 26 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:36,120 Speaker 2: and there is quite a bit to talk about on 27 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 2: the show today. 28 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, and we should say at the top of the 29 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:40,559 Speaker 1: show if you are finding us or a new listen, 30 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 1: we are part of the Foul Territory network of podcasts. 31 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: Check out the entire network of shows, the flagship and 32 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: on down. We are one of several team based shows 33 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 1: that continues to grow in a good way. Please subscribe 34 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: to us at ham A Territory anywhere you find your podcast. 35 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 1: We are on Apple and Spotify of course, and then 36 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: we're also on all the other audio platforms, and we're 37 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: on YouTube where if you want to watch which Scott 38 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: and I talk in visual formats, you certainly can do that. 39 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 1: And you alluded to we've actually did two kind of 40 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: rapid reaction shows after the season ended for the Braves 41 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 1: this past week. Scott and I did the funeral episode 42 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 1: basically on the night of the loss, and then our 43 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: colleagues Sean and Stephen came back with their own takeaways 44 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:21,359 Speaker 1: a few days later. And I'll say this, I mean, 45 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: we could talk a little if you wanted to. We 46 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: don't have to do this about like the ongoing playoffs. 47 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 1: Some of the people are really excited about that. We 48 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 1: are talking after two games of Mets Phillies, which have 49 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,239 Speaker 1: been completely bonkers. We're recording this after the Phillies even 50 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 1: things up. The Mets cannot play a normal baseball game, 51 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: So it's not just the Braves involved with the Mets. 52 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 1: The Mets have been playing these absolutely insane game. Almost 53 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:44,360 Speaker 1: sores got all these incredibly insane games the last few days. 54 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: But I'm still watching baseball when you and I still 55 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 1: like to watch baseball. So this is one of it's 56 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 1: for Braves fans. It's obviously quite painful to watch Mets Phillies. 57 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 1: And I joked or not so joked, that I was 58 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:57,840 Speaker 1: ready for a group disqualification at some point in the series, 59 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 1: like some event not too catastrophic where you get injuries, 60 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 1: just one of those things where like let's have everybody forfeit. 61 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: I'd be a great. 62 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:05,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, or like nine days in a row of rain, 63 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:09,519 Speaker 2: or like a crazy power outage at both stadiums. I 64 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,639 Speaker 2: don't know, whatever it is, whatever it takes to make 65 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 2: life difficult on the Phillies and the Mets, so we 66 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 2: would take it. You know, National League playoffs a little interesting. 67 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 2: You of course have New York in Philadelphia. You have 68 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:25,240 Speaker 2: the Dodgers, who I'm guessing our listeners don't have a 69 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 2: ton of love for, and then the Padres, who I 70 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:29,799 Speaker 2: kind of like. I mean, of course they're on the 71 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 2: West Coast where I am. I don't like them as 72 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 2: much because they just beat the Braves, but pretty clearly 73 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 2: for me, I'm rooting for the San Diego Padres. 74 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 1: And then I guess on the American. 75 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 2: League side, like anybody, but the Yankees is cool with me. 76 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 2: And you know, so far, through the first couple of 77 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 2: days of the division rounds, there's been some good baseball, 78 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 2: and I guess from a neutral perspective, it's been fun 79 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 2: to watch. 80 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 1: Yes, and I'll keep watching it. It's the point we 81 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: might we might talk about some stuff. Maybe we'll prove 82 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: the World Series like we won't do tons of like 83 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 1: daily play I'll coverage on the podcast. But there you go. 84 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: That's where we are. As we recorded this on Sunday. 85 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 1: But look, this podcast is mostly in fact, you know, 86 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: I would say the vast majority of it's going to 87 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: focus on the comments from Alex Enthopolis and Brian Snicker. 88 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: On Friday, they kind of did an exit interview. I'm 89 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: not sure if the Braves call up that. That's kind 90 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: of the NBA lingo, like when the season ends, the 91 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 1: next day or the day after that, everyone comes in, 92 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 1: everyone talks to the media. It's just a formal thing 93 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,839 Speaker 1: that happens. And Brian and Alex talked I believe on zoom. 94 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 1: So I've Scott, I have heard this audio. We've seen 95 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 1: the video. We can't share it with you. It's not 96 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 1: like one of those publicly available things, so like we 97 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 1: could just drop thirty minutes of audio. But we did 98 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:38,799 Speaker 1: listen to it, and there's some stuff to talk about, 99 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 1: not a ton of like outright news. There is one 100 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: thing that I would describe as like actually pretty newsy, 101 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 1: and that is the fact that Alex said pretty plainly 102 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: that the Braves are could playing to exercise the three 103 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,160 Speaker 1: kind of high profile club options they have at their disposal. 104 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 1: Technically they have until five days after the World Series, 105 00:04:58,120 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 1: so they don't This is not official. At this point, 106 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:02,599 Speaker 1: something goes crazier changes. They don't have to do this, 107 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 1: but he basically said, they're going to be picking up 108 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 1: Marcel Zuna, Travis Darnaut and Aaron Bummer and we'll go 109 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 1: I guess in order. Scott. Isn't it crazy that Marcelo 110 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 1: Zuna's option became a no brainer pick up? Because if 111 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 1: you said that to me two years ago, I would 112 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 1: have laughed in your face. It was like we were 113 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 1: all assumed that was going to be the end of 114 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 1: the line at the end of the season, but he's 115 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 1: been so good the last two years that it became 116 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 1: obvious in the other direction. 117 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, it sure felt like it was one 118 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 2: of those options where we were going to be counting 119 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 2: down the days until the Braves could rid themselves of 120 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 2: that contract. And almost two full seasons later, we of 121 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 2: course know what Marcel has done for this team, brought 122 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 2: his career back from basically the dead, and for as 123 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 2: good as he was on the whole in twenty twenty three, 124 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:51,599 Speaker 2: Marcel was actually even better this past year, and that 125 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 2: was with him cooling down quite a bit down the 126 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 2: stretch the last couple weeks in September, so there's probably 127 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 2: a bigger discussion about the braves and roster construction and 128 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 2: the DH and the outfield situation and what Ronald Acunya 129 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:08,840 Speaker 2: Junr Is going to be able to do and what 130 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 2: where a Slayer is going to be able to do. 131 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 2: But at least as we sit here today in the 132 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 2: first week of October, I think it is a no 133 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:19,279 Speaker 2: brainer that you pick up Marcell's option for sixteen million 134 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 2: and then you kind of move around some other pieces 135 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:22,839 Speaker 2: to make it all fit. 136 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, to your point, it's probably going to be its 137 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 1: own episode. How complicated the DH outfield situation is because 138 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: they currently have two dhs on their roster making big 139 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: money in Ozuna and Solaire and then running my out 140 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: to DH two. So that's going to be a discussion, 141 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 1: and maybe we'll talk to trade stuff and look, they 142 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 1: could pick up Marcell's option and then trade him. That 143 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,359 Speaker 1: is a very possible thing that could happen. If the 144 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: market is such where no one is itching to trade 145 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 1: for Hari Hilaire, they might look around and say, all right, 146 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 1: what about Marcel's their value there, and that would not 147 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:54,159 Speaker 1: be probably received too favorably because to your point, he 148 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:56,359 Speaker 1: was as I've said, many times the only guy on 149 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:59,599 Speaker 1: the team offensively who outperformed or alwayst lipped up to 150 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 1: his pre expectations offensively. But that's his own show. But 151 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 1: certainly end a winner at sixteen million dollars from Marcel 152 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 1: and we'll leave it there for now. Darnau pretty much 153 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: always seemed like a lock too, unless he was going 154 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 1: to retire. It's eight million dollars. It's not nothing, but 155 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 1: Travis as I'm I've taken to saying it is the 156 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 1: best number two catcher in the sport. Basically, he should 157 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 1: be a starter. He's better than like fifteen stars in 158 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: the league. He's very good. He is older. I guess 159 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 1: we should mention the name of Drake Baldwin just in 160 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 1: this conversation. What do you make of that? I mean, again, 161 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 1: this is this is not could be its own show 162 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 1: later on. But they have Sean Murphy who they're committed to. 163 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: Darnau and maybe their best prospect are all at the 164 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 1: same position. 165 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, it's going to be interesting to see 166 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 2: what the Braves do with Drake Baldwin. Now, if the 167 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 2: name Drake Baldwin is not super familiar to listeners, Baldwin 168 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 2: has rapidly risen up the prospect rankings for the Braves 169 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 2: by most national outlets. Baldwin is a top fifty prospect, 170 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 2: if not top thirty, and he looks like he's going 171 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 2: to have a real chance to be a very legitimate 172 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 2: everyday catcher in the major leagues. He is solid defensively 173 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 2: based on the scouting reports that I've seen and read 174 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 2: from the good guys at Battery Power, and offensively he's 175 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 2: had a great year splitting time in the highest levels 176 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 2: of the minor leagues. So the fact that Braves have 177 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:25,640 Speaker 2: Sean Murphy, who I believe is under contract for four 178 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 2: more years, and I know that Murphy is a divisive player, 179 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,680 Speaker 2: and with good reason, because the fact was Sean Murphy 180 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:37,080 Speaker 2: stunk like Capitol letters stunk this past season, but the 181 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:40,320 Speaker 2: two years before that he was a five war catcher, 182 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 2: and those don't exactly grow on trees. You mentioned Darnault 183 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 2: kind of a no brainer. Eight million dollars is not nothing, 184 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 2: but for what that guy means to the clubhouse, and 185 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 2: especially at a position like catcher, which has such a 186 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 2: high injury rate, it felt very, very likely that Darnault 187 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 2: was going to be sticking around for at least one 188 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:03,079 Speaker 2: more year, and we will see if they do anything 189 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 2: to either free up a path for Drake Baldwin. They 190 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 2: could use Baldwin in a trade this winter, but for 191 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 2: all intents and purposes, it seems very likely that Travis 192 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 2: will be with the Braves in twenty twenty five and 193 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 2: we'll have probably a similar role to what he's had 194 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 2: the last couple of years. 195 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: One of the things that somebody actually asks this, and 196 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 1: this is a sidebar two, like could Baldwin be up 197 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 1: next year even if Murphy and Arnoultra on the team, 198 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,319 Speaker 1: And my answer basically was no. The only way I 199 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 1: could possibly see that would be if they cleared out 200 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: DH entirely and started using DH as a catch all, 201 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 1: which there again that would require multiple traits, so I 202 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 1: would be surprised. But that again, we'll do a kind 203 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:43,839 Speaker 1: of a catcher reset at some point this winter and 204 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 1: talk about Murphy, because as much as I will defend Murphy, 205 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 1: he was not good to your point this year. But yeah, 206 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 1: dar'n know, eight million dollars in the end is pretty 207 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 1: obviously yes for the Braves. If he wants to play 208 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: it seems like he probably does. Eight million dollars was 209 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:56,440 Speaker 1: a lot of money for a lot of people. And 210 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,319 Speaker 1: there you go the last one, Scott, let's try it 211 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 1: not do twenty minutes on this Aaron Bummer is being 212 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 1: brought back at seven point twenty five million dollars, and 213 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:09,960 Speaker 1: I would say predictably and immediately the backlash occurred on 214 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 1: social media from fans. We have been higher on Bumber 215 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 1: pretty much the entire time, but I mean, I know 216 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 1: you saw what I saw. People don't liked Aaron Bummer, 217 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 1: and that maybe includes Brian Snicker. We've joked about that, 218 00:10:23,679 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 1: but he's not really used him as a high leverage reliever. 219 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 1: I'll just give you a couple of stats before we 220 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:30,439 Speaker 1: dive into the reaction here. Aaron Bummer had a two 221 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:33,680 Speaker 1: point two three fifth this year. That is elite. He 222 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:37,559 Speaker 1: was literally a top ten in warm on lift left 223 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: end of believers this year. Like he was he was 224 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 1: quite good. I know its era wasn't like incredible, but 225 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: it was still a way three point five Like that's 226 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 1: a perfectly fine, too good era. So I guess he's 227 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 1: just one of these guys forever that people just don't like. 228 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 1: But for me, he's worth seven million dollars, Like it's 229 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: not that controversial. I don't even think. 230 00:10:56,679 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, there's always a player with the fan 231 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 2: base who so I think unfairly gets a reputation or 232 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 2: whatever it is, and I think Aaron Bummer was that player, 233 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:11,440 Speaker 2: kind of a lightning rod. He's up there with Charlie Morton, 234 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 2: Sean Murphy, Orlando Arcia, you know met. You laid out 235 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 2: the stats. Aaron Bummer, statistically speaking, not even this is 236 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 2: not Brad and I's opinion here. Statistically speaking, Aaron Bummer 237 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 2: was one of the top ten left handed relievers in 238 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:33,199 Speaker 2: baseball last season. Had a crazy strikeout to walk ratio. 239 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 2: You mentioned a fip an X tip of about two 240 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 2: point three. The guy's really good. And the one thing 241 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 2: that works against Bummer is he gives up a lot 242 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 2: of contact on the ground and sometimes that can lead 243 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 2: to inflated batting average on balls and play. That's something 244 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:52,600 Speaker 2: I think Bummer carried like a four to twenty five 245 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 2: babbit against this past season, which is crazy. And look, man, 246 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 2: Bummer had a couple of bad moments and bad games, 247 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:03,680 Speaker 2: especially early in the season, which I think is why 248 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 2: it kind of stuck with fans. But no reliever is perfect, 249 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:12,720 Speaker 2: other than maybe Ryce sele Iglasias and for seven million bucks. 250 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:15,360 Speaker 2: It feels like a lot for a reliever, and it is, 251 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 2: but you know, the Braves have also been pretty bad 252 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:23,160 Speaker 2: at developing relievers in recent years. It's really something I 253 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 2: think the organization could stand to get better at. There's 254 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:28,880 Speaker 2: not a lot of homegrown, cheap talent in the bullpen, 255 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:32,119 Speaker 2: and that's something that Alex has spent on and apparently, 256 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:34,439 Speaker 2: based on his comments this past week, they're going to 257 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 2: bring back Bummer for seven million and as long as 258 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 2: he has a larger role next year, I'm fine with it. 259 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:43,600 Speaker 2: But I would like to see Bummer get more than 260 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 2: just like mop up duty or you know, the fourth 261 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 2: inning of a blowout, because he has shown that he 262 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 2: is quite good whenever he's on the mound. 263 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:53,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, and we'll move on. But you compared him in 264 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:55,880 Speaker 1: our document, I think you're right about this to what 265 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 1: happened with Joeanmennez the previous year, where Jimenez was like 266 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 1: pretty obviously good, I didn't fully trust him. He came 267 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:04,439 Speaker 1: in this year, was fantastic and was suddenly used in 268 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:06,200 Speaker 1: high leverage. Whether that was a conversation that had to 269 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 1: be had between Alex instead or whatever to say, Hey, 270 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:11,080 Speaker 1: this guy's good, you might want to use him. Bummer's 271 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:14,240 Speaker 1: kind of the same thing and also relevant here too. 272 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 1: Things Number One, at some points people are going to 273 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 1: adjust and they just haven't yet to like what monetary 274 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:23,480 Speaker 1: figures actually mean. Seven million dollars is not like a 275 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: crazy amount of money in the modern landscape of baseball. 276 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 1: Number Two, Alex has not exactly been afraid of payroll 277 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 1: in the last couple of years. To their credit, Liberty 278 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 1: Media has spent the payroll is going up every year. 279 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 1: Alex already says, we'll talk about later on this episode, 280 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:41,200 Speaker 1: it's going to go up again. So like they're not. 281 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 1: It's not taking away something that's going to go up 282 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:45,959 Speaker 1: that you could use for somewhere else. I understand it, 283 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 1: like in somewhat of a reality, resources are finite. But 284 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 1: I don't think that Alex is going to be limited 285 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:53,959 Speaker 1: because they're bringing back Aaron Bubber. I don't think that's 286 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 1: going to be a thing. 287 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:57,200 Speaker 2: So as long as the rest of the roster is 288 00:13:57,200 --> 00:14:01,600 Speaker 2: in really good shape, no issues with spending on the bullpen. Seriously, 289 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 2: I mean, if if there's an area of a team 290 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 2: that can wreck and otherwise really good roster in season, 291 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,559 Speaker 2: it's the bullpen because games that should have been won 292 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 2: four to three end up being five to four losses. 293 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 2: Games that should have been blowout wins turned into very 294 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 2: close games where you really get pedal to the metal 295 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 2: the whole time. It's something that is fine in my 296 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 2: eyes to invest in as long as the rest of 297 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 2: your roster is good. And as we'll probably talking about 298 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 2: a little bit tonight, there are some areas of the 299 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 2: roster that absolutely need improving. And again, as long as 300 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 2: it's not a one for one proposition, I'm fine with 301 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 2: spending the money on the bullpen. 302 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that's a philosophical thing that Alex has just done. 303 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 1: Like Alex has been spending on on bullpen almost I 304 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 1: would say, even more than I would And we've talked 305 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: about that in the past, like, for instance, some of 306 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 1: the deals that have that have objectively worked out, like 307 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 1: taking on a Glaciers was a lot of money and 308 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:52,880 Speaker 1: they took on. They took that on, they've paid him 309 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 1: as they're not afraid of spending money on the bullpen. 310 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 1: It's worked, I mean, the result, it's been very good results. 311 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 1: They both a team wisely, and one more major note 312 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:03,520 Speaker 1: and we'll move on on the Aaron Bummer front. As 313 00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 1: a left handed reliever, AJ Mincher is a free agent, 314 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 1: so he might be back. That could happen, and we'll 315 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 1: circle back to that at some point. But it's like 316 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 1: you have the dominant lefty reliever on your roster already 317 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 1: and that mentor's been for the last couple of years. 318 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 1: You have Dill Lee, he's there. That's a nice safe 319 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 1: you bug at the have too, but you need more 320 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 1: than one lefty and Air Mumber is a pretty good 321 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 1: and hopefully Aj we'll be back too. But it's a 322 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 1: big TVD at this point. All right, Scott, let's move 323 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 1: on to the rest of what Alex and Brian had 324 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:32,360 Speaker 1: to say. But first, or from our partners at Fell Territory. 325 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 3: Hey FT fan, it's Alana Rizo. I can't stop talking 326 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 3: about viewory. Viewery is perfect if you are sick and 327 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 3: tired of traditional old workout gear. I wear viewery in 328 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 3: all settings, not just in the gym, because honestly, it's 329 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:48,160 Speaker 3: comfier than whatever you're currently wearing. 330 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 2: No joke. 331 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 3: I'm wearing Bewery daily leggings right now. They're high waisted 332 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:54,600 Speaker 3: with the drawstring and cupped ankles. They look good and 333 00:15:54,640 --> 00:15:57,760 Speaker 3: they feel great. You're going to love them. Viewory is 334 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 3: an investment in your happiness. There are listeners. They are 335 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 3: offering twenty percent off your first purchase. Get yourself some 336 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 3: of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on the planet 337 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 3: at Viewory dot com slash foul. That's v u O 338 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 3: ri i dot com slash foul. Not only will you 339 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 3: receive twenty percent off your first purchase, but enjoy free 340 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 3: shipping on any US orders over seventy five dollars and 341 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 3: free returns. Go to vieory dot com slash foul and 342 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 3: discover the versatility of Viewery clothing. 343 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 1: All right, Scott, We talked about the pitching a little 344 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 1: bit with Aaron Bummer and just how good things were 345 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 1: for the pitching. We'll probably do a deep dive on 346 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 1: that in general. But Alex, I'm sure you listened to 347 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 1: this too. It was funny. I think he mentioned that 348 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 1: they led Beliga in the ra about fifteen times in 349 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 1: a half hour. He was not shy about talking about 350 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 1: how good the pitching was, and he's correct for the record. 351 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, fifteen times might be light, Yeah, yes, And it's 352 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 2: it's important to I think naturally as fans we kind 353 00:16:56,680 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 2: of focus on the bad and the negative. Sometimes it's 354 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 2: worth pointing out that this was arguably the best pitching 355 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:06,160 Speaker 2: staff the Braves have had in I mean decades. 356 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:08,880 Speaker 1: Seriously talk to about them, like by the numbers. Sure, 357 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 1: I get it, like that some of the names do 358 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 1: not match up with some of the names that you 359 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 1: know when you're younger. In particular, the guys that they're 360 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:17,160 Speaker 1: on the team seem like these godlike figures, all these things, 361 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:20,160 Speaker 1: and I get it. And losing Strider the first week 362 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 1: of the season or whatever it was like that would 363 00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:24,919 Speaker 1: have seen unthinkable and we're guilty of that too. We 364 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:27,239 Speaker 1: did previews on our on our old show, and it 365 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:29,160 Speaker 1: was like, not that it was a weakness. We talked 366 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:31,399 Speaker 1: about it being a strength, but obviously the offense was 367 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:33,199 Speaker 1: supposed to be the strength of the team. And in 368 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:35,120 Speaker 1: the end, it was the best pitching staff in baseball 369 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 1: and an all time great staff. I mean they led 370 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:40,360 Speaker 1: the league just for the backup Alex in not only 371 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 1: era but also in Fangraft's War, which is the over 372 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,879 Speaker 1: arching staff for the full pitching staff Answrake out Rape, 373 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:49,479 Speaker 1: they led. They led the Vaders in runs allowed if 374 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:52,159 Speaker 1: you're just into the raw numbers like that, everything up 375 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:53,920 Speaker 1: and down the board. They were top three in both 376 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:57,119 Speaker 1: starters and believers, like they were that good. And you know, 377 00:17:57,240 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 1: some of it's pr if you're Alex, like you don't 378 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 1: want to come. I'm sure sure he thought about this. 379 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:03,680 Speaker 1: I actually want to get your reaction to someone who's 380 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:05,359 Speaker 1: a little bit less hard into these things than I am, 381 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:09,200 Speaker 1: and somebody less press conferences. But it felt like Alex's 382 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:12,399 Speaker 1: tone in general was like, obviously, nobody's happy there. It 383 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:15,120 Speaker 1: wasn't as somber as it could have been. He kept 384 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:17,960 Speaker 1: kind of spinning it back to what went well. He 385 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:21,359 Speaker 1: gave an answer that maybe we'll reference later to about 386 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:26,360 Speaker 1: the offense that was not wrong and that he basically 387 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:28,879 Speaker 1: kept blaming it all the injuries. He didn't really get 388 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:31,000 Speaker 1: into the approach stuff that we that you and I 389 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 1: and others have been taking issue with. But it felt 390 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:35,919 Speaker 1: like it was almost intentional for Alex to come in 391 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:37,639 Speaker 1: and just do a little bit of a spin, not 392 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:41,159 Speaker 1: a crazy way, but like put some positivity and just 393 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 1: kind of know like, hey, we're not bad everywhere. We 394 00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:46,000 Speaker 1: had some bad luck, and I understood that approach. I 395 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:49,879 Speaker 1: think sure, Yeah, I think. I mean, Alex is a 396 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 1: very seasoned executive at this point. Yeah, and he's paid 397 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 1: very well to bring nuance and reason to his decision. 398 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:02,400 Speaker 1: I mean, obviously we would not want some crazy fan 399 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:05,719 Speaker 1: making all the decisions for this organization, as fun as 400 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: that might be. Bring out, bring John Coppolala back and 401 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:12,719 Speaker 1: just starts swinging forty five deals of winter with no 402 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: real plan. 403 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:15,440 Speaker 2: But hey, it worked out in the regal. 404 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:17,399 Speaker 1: Be great for us and content if you were just 405 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 1: if all we wanted was content, copy was great at 406 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 1: that you would just provide things. 407 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, So you know, I thought Alex, you know, he 408 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:29,200 Speaker 2: talked for a while and I thought it was pretty forthcoming. 409 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 2: And as a GM, you obviously cannot always say every 410 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:36,359 Speaker 2: single thing that's in your mind. But on the pitching front, 411 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 2: he is absolutely right. This was a fantastic pitching staff 412 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:43,760 Speaker 2: really since day one. They did it without Spencer Streider 413 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 2: and without Aj Minter, who coming into the year was 414 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:50,639 Speaker 2: I would say probably their number two reliever overall based 415 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:53,679 Speaker 2: on his track record, and they were fantastic. And we 416 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 2: don't have to rehash the same talking points we've had 417 00:19:56,080 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 2: for six months, but basically every night once spent Schwellenbach 418 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:05,000 Speaker 2: joined the rotation. The rotation gave the Braves a chance 419 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 2: to win nearly every single night for what five months, 420 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 2: four and a half months, and that is something that 421 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 2: very few teams can say. And we'll see what shakes 422 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 2: out with the rotation this winter, but at least on paper, 423 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 2: assuming health, they look like they're in pretty good shape, 424 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:23,600 Speaker 2: with a couple of holes of course to fill over 425 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:24,680 Speaker 2: the next few months. 426 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 1: Even my favorite or maybe less than favorite stat about 427 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 1: the Braves going eleven and sixty when they give up 428 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:34,680 Speaker 1: four or more runs, famously, that was all they allowed, 429 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:38,160 Speaker 1: four more runs, a lot fewer games, fit for fewer 430 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:40,439 Speaker 1: games this year than they did last year. Like the 431 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 1: pitching was undoubtedly much much better this year, it just 432 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:46,680 Speaker 1: the office was that much worse and that's what led 433 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 1: to everything else. A quick one here. Alex unsurprisingly said 434 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:54,320 Speaker 1: they were kind of playing to be deliberate and careful 435 00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:57,639 Speaker 1: with both Lacunya and Strider as they come back. No 436 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:00,720 Speaker 1: definitive timetables, Like I know people always want timetables, but 437 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 1: executives hate giving those timetables. They just don't want to 438 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:05,760 Speaker 1: do that. There's no upside for him to be like, yeah, 439 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 1: opening day, we'll see you there. Like, unless you're one 440 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:10,639 Speaker 1: hundred percent sure, you don't say that. It makes for 441 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:13,680 Speaker 1: some interesting choices. I mean, well, this will probably become 442 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:15,399 Speaker 1: a theme when we talk about Max Freed at some 443 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:18,680 Speaker 1: point in more depth. And even Morton as he may 444 00:21:18,760 --> 00:21:21,240 Speaker 1: or may not retire, maybe probably will be retiring. But 445 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:24,880 Speaker 1: still but Strider, obviously, as soon as he is back, 446 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 1: is going to be a part of your rotation. But 447 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:29,040 Speaker 1: do you plan on him in the same way you 448 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 1: would have gone into this last season as your unquestioned ace. 449 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:35,640 Speaker 1: Obviously you have Chris Sale, that's helpful, but you could 450 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 1: say this, they have four starters if you include Stryder 451 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:41,159 Speaker 1: that are kind of written in ink. You know, you 452 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:45,400 Speaker 1: got Strider, Sale, Lopez who was great this year, and Schwellenbach. 453 00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:48,640 Speaker 1: And it's like, all right, we're cooking with gas. All 454 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 1: you need is one more. But I know that, I 455 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:52,159 Speaker 1: will say, and I think you'll agree with me. You 456 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 1: can never have too much pitching. So like, you need 457 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:57,440 Speaker 1: more than five starters, and that's with four guys who 458 00:21:57,440 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 1: are healthy, and one of them at this moment in 459 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 1: time in October is not so. 460 00:22:03,280 --> 00:22:06,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know the way they're going to approach Spencer 461 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:09,560 Speaker 2: Strider with the roster construction is I mean it might 462 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 2: be my biggest question for the offset that's not true, 463 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 2: maybe second or third. Uh, the outfield is a massive question. 464 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:19,879 Speaker 2: And then shortstop as well, but pretty clearly shortstop, outfield 465 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:23,640 Speaker 2: starting rotation because I was looking into this a bit. 466 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:27,840 Speaker 2: There's a pretty mixed bag of pitchers who have undergone 467 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 2: two elbow surgeries, whether it's Tommy John or what did 468 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 2: Strider have, like the internal brace procedure. Yeah, so as 469 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 2: a reminder, Strider had Tommy John, I believe in college 470 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:45,120 Speaker 2: at Clemson. That's why he dipped down draft boards quite 471 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:48,160 Speaker 2: a bit and then the Brave struggled and the rest 472 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:51,400 Speaker 2: is history. But the fact is that coming back from 473 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:55,000 Speaker 2: not only Tommy John once but then another elbow surgery 474 00:22:55,080 --> 00:22:58,760 Speaker 2: and what six years for him, it's a pretty short 475 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:01,120 Speaker 2: list of pictures who have done it and come back 476 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:06,240 Speaker 2: and then completely successful. Now, at the same time, Strider 477 00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 2: has youth on his side. He is already a phenomenal pitcher, 478 00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 2: So even if his talent level drops off a bit 479 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:16,880 Speaker 2: coming back from the surgery, he is still a very 480 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 2: good arm. But the fact is, man until he starts 481 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:25,560 Speaker 2: throwing regularly in January February and of course in spring training. 482 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:28,240 Speaker 2: I just don't think there is any way to know 483 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 2: what he's going to be able to give you next season. 484 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:33,520 Speaker 2: If he's going to be limited to start the year, 485 00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:37,200 Speaker 2: what's the velocity like? Do they feel like he can 486 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:39,680 Speaker 2: throw one hundred and eighty innings, because if they don't, 487 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 2: they might have to hold him back for the first month. 488 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:44,600 Speaker 2: All of these are things I am sure the front 489 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:47,399 Speaker 2: office has talked about, and I'm very, very interested to 490 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:53,200 Speaker 2: see what they do to bolster Sale, Lopez, Schwellenbach, because 491 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 2: if those three are healthy, they're great, But man, Schwalenbach 492 00:23:56,960 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 2: just blew past his record innings in a season. Ronaldo 493 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 2: Lopez had elbow and shoulder issues, albeit minor ones, but 494 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:07,320 Speaker 2: did have issues during this past year as a starter. 495 00:24:08,320 --> 00:24:11,800 Speaker 2: And then Chris Sale we all know extremely durable for 496 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:14,280 Speaker 2: six months, and then of course the last week of 497 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:16,879 Speaker 2: the season he has back spasms and it can't go 498 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:17,679 Speaker 2: in the playoffs. 499 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:18,960 Speaker 1: So there are a lot of. 500 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:22,399 Speaker 2: Questions in this regard, But let's hope that Strider is 501 00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:24,320 Speaker 2: back and close to the guy who we all just 502 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 2: love pitching so much, absolutely and we'll do a deep 503 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 2: dive on this too, but you can't ignore and I 504 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:32,720 Speaker 2: know fans are not going to forget guys like Smith 505 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:34,800 Speaker 2: Sholver's guys who was in a playoff start, like is 506 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:37,640 Speaker 2: still a very young talented guy, Herson Walters the first 507 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:39,800 Speaker 2: round pick who they're excited about, like they have guys 508 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:43,760 Speaker 2: in the system. But honestly, a lot of organizations, I 509 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:46,120 Speaker 2: would say the majority of organizations you'd probably be going 510 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:48,119 Speaker 2: into next year penciling in at least one of the 511 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:51,200 Speaker 2: young guys into a wrot chasan spot. And I don't 512 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:52,879 Speaker 2: think the brateist want to necessarily do that. 513 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:55,760 Speaker 1: They might come up, You'll probably see them at some point, 514 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:57,800 Speaker 1: but I think they probably would be more comfortable going 515 00:24:57,840 --> 00:24:59,719 Speaker 1: with go with five guys who have done it before 516 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 1: and have those guys be six, seven and eight, that 517 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:04,280 Speaker 1: kind of thing. But uh, we'll come back to that 518 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:08,840 Speaker 1: at a later date. Okay, Well, I guess we could 519 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:11,240 Speaker 1: have done more of a more of a Freed Morton discussion. 520 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:13,439 Speaker 1: Let's put that on hold, just because I don't think 521 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:16,240 Speaker 1: Alex instead said anything notable about those guys, Like Alex 522 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:18,239 Speaker 1: gave the answer you give about Max Freed, like we 523 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:20,840 Speaker 1: love Max kind of thing like, but like, you're not 524 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 1: going to glean anything from what was said on that 525 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 1: call about those guys. I know, I know Max's postgame 526 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:29,879 Speaker 1: interview was being dissected. He was pretty emotional. You know, 527 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:32,639 Speaker 1: that could mean he's leaving it. Comedi's not just to 528 00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:34,480 Speaker 1: say this out loud, and maybe you can push back 529 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:37,280 Speaker 1: if you want to. I have not spoken to a 530 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 1: human being that covers the sport that fixed Max coming 531 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:43,280 Speaker 1: back to Atlanta. But nobody's closed the door either. No 532 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 1: one said it's like zero percent and uh, that's actually 533 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:49,199 Speaker 1: curve ball Scott. But did you see like the floida 534 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:50,720 Speaker 1: somebody like I think it was like spa track to 535 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:52,560 Speaker 1: like like a projection of what it was going to 536 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:55,240 Speaker 1: be to bring him back. I will say it was 537 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:57,440 Speaker 1: a more modest number than I thought, and a lot 538 00:25:57,440 --> 00:25:59,920 Speaker 1: of the reaction from Braves fans and I think right 539 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:02,160 Speaker 1: so was like, wait, if that's it, they better pay 540 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 1: this guy. And obviously we don't know. I think it 541 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:06,560 Speaker 1: was what was like it was like six and one 542 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:09,520 Speaker 1: point fifty or whatever. It was six Yeah, it was 543 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 1: six years. 544 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:15,120 Speaker 2: Just in case folks missed it, spoke Track said their 545 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:18,240 Speaker 2: projection for Max Freed was a six year, one hundred 546 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:20,879 Speaker 2: and twenty four million dollar contract. 547 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:23,359 Speaker 1: I believe that is cheaper than I thought it was 548 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:25,399 Speaker 1: going to be. Again, it's it's one person's projection, So 549 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:26,679 Speaker 1: we're not saying this is going to be happening. But 550 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:28,240 Speaker 1: would you agree? I mean for me, that was like, oh, 551 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:30,399 Speaker 1: if that's what it is, Alex might actually do it. 552 00:26:31,119 --> 00:26:34,160 Speaker 2: Yes, if it was six years at twenty two million 553 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 2: dollars a year, all right, let me say this. If 554 00:26:37,560 --> 00:26:40,760 Speaker 2: Max Freed's side was looking for six years and just 555 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:43,720 Speaker 2: over twenty million dollars a year, and they had then 556 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:46,480 Speaker 2: for the last winter or two, and presumably the two 557 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:49,240 Speaker 2: sides have talked, I'm pretty confident it would have been 558 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 2: a deal. 559 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 1: I tend to agree. 560 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:54,119 Speaker 2: Yeah, something tells me the way that picture salaries have 561 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:57,480 Speaker 2: exploded on the open market, Max Freed is not going 562 00:26:57,520 --> 00:26:59,560 Speaker 2: to get a six year, one hundred and twenty two 563 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:04,679 Speaker 2: million dollar deal. You know, Aaron Nola is a similar pitcher. 564 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:07,800 Speaker 2: They're not perfect one for one comps, but Nola got 565 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:12,240 Speaker 2: seven years and one hundred and seventy million. You know, 566 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:17,840 Speaker 2: there's there's I think with pitching. It is such it 567 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:21,679 Speaker 2: is in such short supply these days, good reliable starting pitching. 568 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:24,719 Speaker 2: It feels like no matter who signs Max, they're probably 569 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:28,440 Speaker 2: going to have to overpay. And I ultimately don't think 570 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:30,720 Speaker 2: it's going to be the Braves, but I would agree 571 00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:33,280 Speaker 2: that of course, the door is always open, and all 572 00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 2: of a sudden you just kind of come together and go, 573 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:37,960 Speaker 2: you know what, Max wants to stay in Atlanta. 574 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:40,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, And we saw last winter there were some high 575 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:43,200 Speaker 1: profile pitchers, the Scott Boris clients that didn't get contracts 576 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:45,199 Speaker 1: that they were hoping to get. And you know, you 577 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:47,360 Speaker 1: never know what the agent looks for and all of that. 578 00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:49,560 Speaker 1: So maybe Freed and his agent have a number in 579 00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:50,879 Speaker 1: mind that they think they're going to get, and that 580 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:53,880 Speaker 1: numbers not available to them, and that opens the door 581 00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:57,560 Speaker 1: to return, either on a short term deal or a 582 00:27:57,600 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 1: deal like this, or a six for one thirty deal 583 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:02,040 Speaker 1: that I think both sides might find agreement in at 584 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:04,480 Speaker 1: some point. So I know it's brutal to think about 585 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:06,360 Speaker 1: a guy as good as he has been that might 586 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:11,760 Speaker 1: just leave for nothing, but that's what happens sometimes. One 587 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:14,439 Speaker 1: more topic here, at least a major topic, is that 588 00:28:14,720 --> 00:28:17,919 Speaker 1: Alex and Snitt both said pretty matter of factly that 589 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:21,119 Speaker 1: they're expecting to bring back the entire coaching staff short 590 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:25,359 Speaker 1: of retirement or something else. It seemed like it would 591 00:28:25,359 --> 00:28:28,040 Speaker 1: take a different factor for them to move on from anyone. 592 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:31,600 Speaker 1: And of course we've been pretty openly discussing Kevin Seizer, 593 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:36,480 Speaker 1: and you know, Alex did kind of more than once 594 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:39,200 Speaker 1: circle back, and it's I would say, overlap with the 595 00:28:39,240 --> 00:28:42,840 Speaker 1: overall discussion of the offense this season. He just so 596 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 1: heavily leaned the leaned of the injuries and the absences 597 00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 1: from the offensive decline that it seems like he's not 598 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:53,160 Speaker 1: particularly and look, part of this might be a pr dance. Again, 599 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:55,520 Speaker 1: not to overemphasize this, but like, if you know you're 600 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:57,960 Speaker 1: going to bring back your hitting coach, you probably don't 601 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:00,600 Speaker 1: want to go in hard on your team's open approach 602 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:03,280 Speaker 1: on a zoom call with the media, So like, what's that, 603 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:05,160 Speaker 1: what's that decision's made you kind of have to not 604 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:08,240 Speaker 1: go crazy about. So maybe he thinks differently than what 605 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:12,400 Speaker 1: he said on this call, but he blamed their injuries 606 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:14,560 Speaker 1: and we've acknowledged like the injuries are a huge part 607 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 1: of it the whole time. Like it is both in 608 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:19,080 Speaker 1: my opinion, I think in yours too, and I'll go 609 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:21,720 Speaker 1: up to you. But the injuries are a huge, huge, 610 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:24,760 Speaker 1: huge factor. You lose Akunya. Guys are her all year long. 611 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:26,600 Speaker 1: Rudy has gone for the Lest we all know this 612 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:29,080 Speaker 1: understanding if you are a dire Brace fan listening to 613 00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:32,640 Speaker 1: this podcast. But for me, and I think for you, 614 00:29:33,600 --> 00:29:36,320 Speaker 1: the story does not end at the injuries because even 615 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:39,200 Speaker 1: when guys were playing, they other than Azuna were not 616 00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:42,000 Speaker 1: playing at their normal level. And there is a debate 617 00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:44,040 Speaker 1: that's happening. And look, people are smart that I think 618 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 1: are smarter or smarter than I am, or like, no, 619 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:49,440 Speaker 1: it's not they're not out on sights here. There was 620 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:51,360 Speaker 1: a more mixed reaction that I thought for people that 621 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:55,120 Speaker 1: I tend to trust. But uh, my first reaction was whoa, 622 00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:57,080 Speaker 1: this is not gonna go over. Well, what do you think? 623 00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:01,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I've I had many thoughts on Kevin Sitzer. 624 00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:08,040 Speaker 2: I'm fine with bringing him back for one more year, 625 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:17,600 Speaker 2: but they have to change something internally with approach. This 626 00:30:17,920 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 2: cannot be in twenty twenty five a team that can 627 00:30:21,960 --> 00:30:26,000 Speaker 2: only hit home runs and do nothing else because as 628 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:29,800 Speaker 2: evidence of the last couple of postseasons and when everything 629 00:30:29,840 --> 00:30:33,680 Speaker 2: went wrong this year, it is very hard to live 630 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:38,600 Speaker 2: and die by the home run ball and reach the 631 00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:41,880 Speaker 2: goals that a team is trying to reach. And to 632 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:45,240 Speaker 2: be fair, Kevin Sitzer, there is not a hitting coach 633 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:49,680 Speaker 2: on planet Earth who could turn Orlando Arcia into a 634 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:50,160 Speaker 2: good hitter. 635 00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:55,120 Speaker 1: I think, sorry, Orlando, if you're listening to Honestly, that 636 00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:58,480 Speaker 1: kind of folds in because I don't know, I don't 637 00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:00,840 Speaker 1: if I'll said this, but somebody, somebody did. You know 638 00:31:01,040 --> 00:31:03,760 Speaker 1: you could also say Kevin Sidser presided over the best 639 00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:07,360 Speaker 1: offens in league history right the previous season, and guys 640 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:10,520 Speaker 1: like Almando Arcia had much better seasons, like he had 641 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:13,480 Speaker 1: a career year under Kevin Seiser a year ago. So 642 00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:15,640 Speaker 1: I think it's fair, and I don't think that we've 643 00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:18,520 Speaker 1: ever said this. To be fair to us, we've never 644 00:31:18,520 --> 00:31:20,400 Speaker 1: said Kevin Sicht's a bum who's no idea what he's not. 645 00:31:20,520 --> 00:31:22,880 Speaker 1: That's not what we've done. Like he does get credit 646 00:31:22,960 --> 00:31:26,239 Speaker 1: and deserves credit for them being as good as they were. 647 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:27,960 Speaker 1: He's been around for a long time. We talked about 648 00:31:28,160 --> 00:31:30,080 Speaker 1: a few weeks ago, he's been a head coach for 649 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:31,800 Speaker 1: like ten years, Like it's been a long time. He 650 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:36,719 Speaker 1: was there before Snith, So like, I get it, but 651 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:39,680 Speaker 1: I've covered enough sports to know, like when things go 652 00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:42,600 Speaker 1: wrong like this, and you know the manager and the 653 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:47,000 Speaker 1: general manager slash Pobo are safe oftentimes, like you get 654 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:50,000 Speaker 1: a staff shakeup and that's not happening. I guess you 655 00:31:50,040 --> 00:31:51,560 Speaker 1: can say it's to their credit, you can say it's 656 00:31:51,600 --> 00:31:54,160 Speaker 1: patient or whatever. I'm with you. I'm not outraged by 657 00:31:54,160 --> 00:31:55,960 Speaker 1: it at all. Like I'm fine with Kevin Sidzer. I 658 00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:58,680 Speaker 1: think he's an established guy who's fine. I just think 659 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:01,560 Speaker 1: that way to signal that you're going to change something 660 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:03,200 Speaker 1: is to make that change. But if you're not gonna 661 00:32:03,280 --> 00:32:04,880 Speaker 1: do that, I agree with you. You kind of have to 662 00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:07,560 Speaker 1: go into the off season with a different kind of plan, 663 00:32:07,640 --> 00:32:09,760 Speaker 1: and there's there's more nuance. Like I know, you know 664 00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:11,800 Speaker 1: Sarah's may comments that I want you to talk about 665 00:32:11,800 --> 00:32:14,480 Speaker 1: because you found them on Earth them but it was 666 00:32:14,520 --> 00:32:17,800 Speaker 1: basically finding some approach issues that like the league kind 667 00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:19,960 Speaker 1: of adjusted to the Braves and they didn't seem to 668 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:23,120 Speaker 1: adjust back, which that kind of comes down to organizational 669 00:32:23,160 --> 00:32:24,520 Speaker 1: approach more than individual players. 670 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:29,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, So Ineno, sarahs who for my money, is one 671 00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:33,920 Speaker 2: of the better analysts in baseball. You Eno was asked 672 00:32:33,960 --> 00:32:36,840 Speaker 2: about the Braves as struggles and basically to the tune 673 00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:40,560 Speaker 2: of why were the Braves historic last year? But basically 674 00:32:40,640 --> 00:32:44,920 Speaker 2: everybody struggled this season, and again even with the injuries, 675 00:32:45,080 --> 00:32:48,320 Speaker 2: Akunya was having a down year, Riley was having a 676 00:32:48,360 --> 00:32:50,720 Speaker 2: down year. I mean, it wasn't just like the injuries 677 00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:53,600 Speaker 2: were the only thing that wrecked this team. Across the board, 678 00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:57,640 Speaker 2: production was down. But Eno was tweeting and these are 679 00:32:57,840 --> 00:32:59,920 Speaker 2: probably three or four days old now, but I'm sure 680 00:32:59,920 --> 00:33:03,520 Speaker 2: you could find them. But Eno pointed out that his 681 00:33:03,720 --> 00:33:08,800 Speaker 2: feeling was in twenty twenty three, the Braves saw a 682 00:33:09,040 --> 00:33:14,960 Speaker 2: ton of sliders and not as many fastballs, and ENO's 683 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:18,800 Speaker 2: kind of hypothesis was that the Braves this year and 684 00:33:18,920 --> 00:33:23,760 Speaker 2: last were really sitting on sliders. And in twenty twenty three, 685 00:33:24,440 --> 00:33:28,240 Speaker 2: Atlanta was the second best team in baseball against the slider, 686 00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:33,719 Speaker 2: but this year they were sixth worst. So from second 687 00:33:33,760 --> 00:33:38,520 Speaker 2: best to twenty fourth best, that's pretty drastic. And to 688 00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:42,640 Speaker 2: back up that point, Eno pointed out that this year 689 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:47,360 Speaker 2: the Braves saw the third most low in the zone 690 00:33:47,520 --> 00:33:51,440 Speaker 2: fastballs of any team, And that would make sense because 691 00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:54,040 Speaker 2: if you're thinking about how a pitch comes, if it's 692 00:33:54,080 --> 00:33:57,120 Speaker 2: a low fastball and a slider. They're going to have 693 00:33:57,240 --> 00:34:00,880 Speaker 2: pretty similar trajectories towards the plate, but of course one 694 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:04,240 Speaker 2: stays straight and one hangs a left or right depending 695 00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:08,560 Speaker 2: on who's throwing it. And how many times, Brad did 696 00:34:08,719 --> 00:34:11,600 Speaker 2: we talk about on the show where the Braves would 697 00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:16,440 Speaker 2: just swing through eight million meatballs right down the middle 698 00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:19,000 Speaker 2: of the plate, they would not be able to punish 699 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:21,240 Speaker 2: a ninety two mile an hour fastball on the zone, 700 00:34:21,719 --> 00:34:24,040 Speaker 2: and then they would strike out or weekly ground out 701 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:26,759 Speaker 2: or whatever it is. I think it's pretty clear that 702 00:34:26,840 --> 00:34:29,800 Speaker 2: after being so good in twenty twenty three, the league 703 00:34:29,880 --> 00:34:33,600 Speaker 2: made an adjustment to the Braves offensively, and it's on 704 00:34:33,719 --> 00:34:37,440 Speaker 2: Kevin Seitzer and the front office to then adjust to 705 00:34:37,480 --> 00:34:41,640 Speaker 2: the adjustments. And pretty clearly, at least from our untrained eyes, 706 00:34:42,440 --> 00:34:44,279 Speaker 2: the Bridves really did not do a whole lot of 707 00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:47,719 Speaker 2: adjusting in twenty twenty four. And let's hope that they 708 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:49,560 Speaker 2: make some changes for the better next year. 709 00:34:50,719 --> 00:34:52,360 Speaker 1: Yep, that's a good way to put in and we 710 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:54,640 Speaker 1: will digiven even more to this. This probably its own 711 00:34:55,200 --> 00:34:56,560 Speaker 1: show too. I know I'm teasing a lot of things 712 00:34:56,600 --> 00:34:58,120 Speaker 1: in the future, but we have a lot of time. 713 00:34:58,160 --> 00:35:01,160 Speaker 1: And also one of the big questions, you know. Of 714 00:35:01,160 --> 00:35:03,560 Speaker 1: course there are personnel questions and roster production questions, but 715 00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:05,040 Speaker 1: one of the big questions is kind of like, what 716 00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:07,640 Speaker 1: the heck happened to the offense? And we'll kind of 717 00:35:07,640 --> 00:35:10,200 Speaker 1: combine forces with Steve and Shawn and do a little 718 00:35:10,200 --> 00:35:12,400 Speaker 1: bit more info gathering. But I think it was a 719 00:35:12,400 --> 00:35:14,000 Speaker 1: good note that you found with with you know, and 720 00:35:14,440 --> 00:35:16,400 Speaker 1: it makes sense to me, having watched this team all 721 00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:19,200 Speaker 1: season long, that that's what I've spoken kind of speak 722 00:35:19,200 --> 00:35:22,240 Speaker 1: to that, And yes, to your point, Kevin Seizer cannot 723 00:35:22,280 --> 00:35:26,759 Speaker 1: fix Orlando Arcia or g Orchella or whoever you want 724 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:28,840 Speaker 1: to say that that should have been playing for the Braves. 725 00:35:28,840 --> 00:35:32,240 Speaker 1: That's also a more than fair point to make by Alex, 726 00:35:32,280 --> 00:35:35,520 Speaker 1: even if he's kind of incentivized to do so. Before 727 00:35:35,520 --> 00:35:37,520 Speaker 1: we sign off, Scott a couple of other like more 728 00:35:37,560 --> 00:35:41,080 Speaker 1: shorty nuggets that came out of this. I wish I 729 00:35:41,120 --> 00:35:42,880 Speaker 1: could play the answer for me for people, but it's 730 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:44,719 Speaker 1: we're not allowed to do that. I don't have the 731 00:35:45,160 --> 00:35:48,319 Speaker 1: for sharing license there. Alex did not really give what 732 00:35:48,360 --> 00:35:51,160 Speaker 1: I would describe as a resounding endorsement of Orlando Arcia 733 00:35:51,880 --> 00:35:54,520 Speaker 1: as the starter for next year. He didn't say he 734 00:35:54,520 --> 00:35:56,719 Speaker 1: wouldn't be, but he definitely didn't say it would be. 735 00:35:56,920 --> 00:35:59,920 Speaker 1: And I think that it's a good time to remind 736 00:36:00,080 --> 00:36:03,960 Speaker 1: people that when they got Orlando, and when they paid 737 00:36:04,040 --> 00:36:07,640 Speaker 1: Orlando the very small contract that they gave him, he 738 00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:10,840 Speaker 1: was not supposed to be the full time shortstop. He 739 00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:14,000 Speaker 1: played very well in twenty twenty three and that led 740 00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:15,719 Speaker 1: to them being kind of okay with it going into 741 00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:17,640 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four, but that did not happen this year, 742 00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:19,960 Speaker 1: and it seemed to me, I don't know about you, 743 00:36:20,080 --> 00:36:23,000 Speaker 1: that that seemed like the voice of a guy who 744 00:36:23,080 --> 00:36:25,520 Speaker 1: did not want to have Orlando Arcia as a starting shortstop. 745 00:36:25,840 --> 00:36:29,640 Speaker 1: He didn't say that, but like I said before, how 746 00:36:29,800 --> 00:36:32,000 Speaker 1: positive all of his pr was, he did not give 747 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:34,200 Speaker 1: the endorsement he probably could have given to Orlando. 748 00:36:34,640 --> 00:36:35,799 Speaker 3: Yeah. 749 00:36:36,080 --> 00:36:40,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, And you know, we will say improving shortstop is 750 00:36:40,440 --> 00:36:42,839 Speaker 2: maybe the most difficult thing to do in the major 751 00:36:42,920 --> 00:36:48,680 Speaker 2: leagues because the best shortstops are usually making a billion 752 00:36:48,760 --> 00:36:52,759 Speaker 2: dollars in free agency, or they're very young, and you 753 00:36:52,760 --> 00:36:56,359 Speaker 2: couldn't even dream of trading for them because teams don't 754 00:36:56,400 --> 00:36:58,759 Speaker 2: just give away shortstops. They don't just give away young 755 00:36:58,800 --> 00:37:01,520 Speaker 2: starting pitchers. It's not like you're trying to find a 756 00:37:01,560 --> 00:37:05,200 Speaker 2: corner outfielder, and presumably you have two dozen candidates who 757 00:37:05,239 --> 00:37:07,480 Speaker 2: could be a fit. So it's going to be easier 758 00:37:07,480 --> 00:37:10,919 Speaker 2: said than done. That being said, I think you have 759 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:15,160 Speaker 2: to improve the position. I know Orlando is pretty solid defensively, 760 00:37:15,320 --> 00:37:18,440 Speaker 2: but you know he's not like Andrelton Simmons, who is 761 00:37:18,480 --> 00:37:22,120 Speaker 2: like single handedly saving you a run every single night. Yep. 762 00:37:22,239 --> 00:37:28,160 Speaker 2: And the offense is just so unbelievably bad it's painful 763 00:37:28,160 --> 00:37:28,600 Speaker 2: to watch. 764 00:37:28,680 --> 00:37:32,160 Speaker 1: We've come full circle. We come full circle. Do you 765 00:37:32,200 --> 00:37:34,279 Speaker 1: remember like I used to get I used to get 766 00:37:34,320 --> 00:37:36,960 Speaker 1: screamed at for suggesting, Hey, guys, he's not a very 767 00:37:36,960 --> 00:37:39,000 Speaker 1: good hitter if you look at his history. Well, he's 768 00:37:39,040 --> 00:37:41,560 Speaker 1: hitting for Okay, he's hitting for us, and that's true. Look, 769 00:37:42,239 --> 00:37:44,120 Speaker 1: he had a good year last year. Alex hit sneak in. 770 00:37:44,160 --> 00:37:45,759 Speaker 1: He was an All Star last year, which did happen. 771 00:37:46,080 --> 00:37:47,719 Speaker 1: He made the All Star team in twenty twenty three. 772 00:37:48,560 --> 00:37:50,720 Speaker 1: He's never been an All Star little player, all due respect, 773 00:37:50,800 --> 00:37:55,200 Speaker 1: and look, he's being paid like a backup infielder. That's 774 00:37:55,200 --> 00:37:57,000 Speaker 1: what he is. And that's not a shot at him 775 00:37:57,160 --> 00:38:01,680 Speaker 1: or if he's starting shortstop for the Marlins, It's totally fine. 776 00:38:01,920 --> 00:38:04,480 Speaker 1: Like if he's a major, big starter on a team, 777 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:06,600 Speaker 1: he's that good of a player, like he can he 778 00:38:06,600 --> 00:38:07,759 Speaker 1: can go out, he can go out there. If he plays 779 00:38:07,800 --> 00:38:09,000 Speaker 1: every day for you, he's gonna he's gonna be a 780 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:11,799 Speaker 1: two win player, one and a half win player. That's 781 00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:14,840 Speaker 1: totally fine. There's a market for that. If you're a contender, 782 00:38:15,520 --> 00:38:17,920 Speaker 1: you don't want him to do that. And look, we 783 00:38:17,960 --> 00:38:19,400 Speaker 1: even talked about it last year, and I feel like 784 00:38:19,400 --> 00:38:21,840 Speaker 1: we were proven to be right how they should have 785 00:38:21,840 --> 00:38:24,239 Speaker 1: at least been looking at shortstop last winter, even coming 786 00:38:24,239 --> 00:38:25,879 Speaker 1: off of that year from Orlando, which did not seem 787 00:38:25,880 --> 00:38:29,560 Speaker 1: sustainable to us, and we were right on that. But 788 00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:32,400 Speaker 1: now you've put a year on film, so to speak, 789 00:38:32,480 --> 00:38:35,120 Speaker 1: and you can see they can't do that again. And 790 00:38:35,960 --> 00:38:38,919 Speaker 1: the only thing I'll defend there is Alex did say 791 00:38:38,960 --> 00:38:40,560 Speaker 1: like he wasn't supposed to be hit I mean, actually 792 00:38:40,560 --> 00:38:42,680 Speaker 1: the surprise he said this, as Candilis did, he wasn't 793 00:38:42,680 --> 00:38:45,840 Speaker 1: supposed to be hitting fifth. Like the whole idea of 794 00:38:45,920 --> 00:38:48,320 Speaker 1: Orlando Arcia is that he can hit ninth for you 795 00:38:48,440 --> 00:38:50,239 Speaker 1: every day and not kill you, and you can you 796 00:38:50,239 --> 00:38:52,880 Speaker 1: can live with one of those guys and I've said that, 797 00:38:52,960 --> 00:38:55,239 Speaker 1: I know you have too, like you can have you 798 00:38:55,239 --> 00:38:56,560 Speaker 1: can't have a line up. I know the race have 799 00:38:56,640 --> 00:38:58,480 Speaker 1: tried this. You can't have a line up of all 800 00:38:58,520 --> 00:39:00,839 Speaker 1: stars at every position. It's hard to do that even 801 00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:04,000 Speaker 1: the best teams. But when the rest of your team 802 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:07,240 Speaker 1: crumbles and suddenly you're starting shortstop, is your guy batting 803 00:39:07,280 --> 00:39:10,200 Speaker 1: sixth every day? Like that becomes a glaring, glaring issue. 804 00:39:10,760 --> 00:39:13,680 Speaker 2: Yeah. So I think that maybe the position with the 805 00:39:13,680 --> 00:39:18,320 Speaker 2: most uncertainty on this roster for next year is shortstop. 806 00:39:19,320 --> 00:39:21,279 Speaker 2: You know, we can at least kind of outline a 807 00:39:21,320 --> 00:39:25,400 Speaker 2: picture for the rotation and the outfield, even if there 808 00:39:25,400 --> 00:39:29,319 Speaker 2: are some questions there, but shortstop. Again, it's going to 809 00:39:29,360 --> 00:39:32,520 Speaker 2: be very very interesting to see what Alex does to 810 00:39:32,600 --> 00:39:36,759 Speaker 2: address the position, or hopefully address the position, because yeah, 811 00:39:36,760 --> 00:39:41,840 Speaker 2: I if opening day comes around in Orlando or starting shortstop, 812 00:39:41,880 --> 00:39:44,799 Speaker 2: I am going to be very very very pick your 813 00:39:44,800 --> 00:39:48,480 Speaker 2: word of choice, I just like nonplussed. 814 00:39:48,520 --> 00:39:49,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, you. 815 00:39:50,640 --> 00:39:56,560 Speaker 2: Annoyed, angered, in shock, disbelief, whatever, whatever you want. We 816 00:39:56,600 --> 00:39:59,759 Speaker 2: have seen it for two years now. They have to 817 00:39:59,800 --> 00:40:03,239 Speaker 2: be editor at shortstop somehow. It might require trading some 818 00:40:03,280 --> 00:40:07,280 Speaker 2: of your young prospects, It might require overpaying and free agency. 819 00:40:07,840 --> 00:40:11,759 Speaker 2: We'll see what they decide to ultimately do. But I 820 00:40:11,840 --> 00:40:13,760 Speaker 2: just can't sign up for another one hundred and sixty 821 00:40:13,760 --> 00:40:15,440 Speaker 2: two games of Orlando and shortstop. 822 00:40:15,760 --> 00:40:17,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, and maybe they were hoping at some point in 823 00:40:17,880 --> 00:40:20,040 Speaker 1: the middle of this season that it would be Nacho Alvarez, 824 00:40:20,080 --> 00:40:22,680 Speaker 1: but he was not ready and they kind of announced 825 00:40:22,719 --> 00:40:24,839 Speaker 1: that with authority after that, didn't bring him, didn't bring 826 00:40:24,920 --> 00:40:26,200 Speaker 1: him back up when they could have at the end 827 00:40:26,239 --> 00:40:27,960 Speaker 1: of the year, like they knew that was not going 828 00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:30,319 Speaker 1: to be. And I'm not saying he's gone forever, but 829 00:40:31,080 --> 00:40:32,960 Speaker 1: I'm with you, there is a world of which Arcia 830 00:40:33,040 --> 00:40:34,839 Speaker 1: is on the team and it's a backup because again 831 00:40:34,880 --> 00:40:37,480 Speaker 1: he's making back up money. That's totally fine, and he 832 00:40:37,480 --> 00:40:39,160 Speaker 1: could play third, he could play second, he could puestion. 833 00:40:39,480 --> 00:40:41,680 Speaker 1: That's actually a very useful player to have on your team, 834 00:40:41,680 --> 00:40:46,200 Speaker 1: hopefully not starting every day. I mentioned this earlier. But payroll, 835 00:40:46,600 --> 00:40:48,960 Speaker 1: I'm going to quote Alex here. I know it's not 836 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:51,080 Speaker 1: going down. I expect it to rise, but to what 837 00:40:51,200 --> 00:40:53,279 Speaker 1: level we'll spend the office isn't going through that so 838 00:40:53,960 --> 00:40:55,520 Speaker 1: pretty defendive that they're not going to go down and 839 00:40:55,560 --> 00:40:57,880 Speaker 1: payroll and the brands were top five and in the 840 00:40:57,920 --> 00:41:00,400 Speaker 1: majors in payroll if you go back several years. And 841 00:41:00,440 --> 00:41:01,880 Speaker 1: I saw some of this in the last couple of 842 00:41:01,920 --> 00:41:03,560 Speaker 1: days on Twitter, and I was I was vexed by it. 843 00:41:05,040 --> 00:41:07,399 Speaker 1: I will raise my hand. I used to be quite 844 00:41:07,480 --> 00:41:11,719 Speaker 1: skeptical of Liberty spending money, and they didn't used to 845 00:41:11,719 --> 00:41:16,080 Speaker 1: spend like this. In my slight defense, they've given us 846 00:41:16,160 --> 00:41:19,600 Speaker 1: no reason in my opinion, to think that they're penny 847 00:41:19,600 --> 00:41:22,920 Speaker 1: pitching in the last couple of years like they are 848 00:41:22,960 --> 00:41:25,719 Speaker 1: spending now like a team that's a top five team 849 00:41:25,840 --> 00:41:29,359 Speaker 1: in baseball. And it helps that they print money. I mean, 850 00:41:29,440 --> 00:41:32,279 Speaker 1: they are top five and attendants every year basically the 851 00:41:32,320 --> 00:41:35,120 Speaker 1: last several years. So that's part of this too. But 852 00:41:35,800 --> 00:41:39,600 Speaker 1: as a reformed skeptic, like, look, I'm not saying that 853 00:41:39,600 --> 00:41:41,879 Speaker 1: they're gonna go out and pay everyone that can poss 854 00:41:41,960 --> 00:41:44,080 Speaker 1: like Wan Soto is probably not gonna quat not coming. 855 00:41:44,840 --> 00:41:47,719 Speaker 1: But I have a hard time criticizing Liberty for their 856 00:41:47,719 --> 00:41:50,000 Speaker 1: payroll right now in the way that alex Is navigated, 857 00:41:50,040 --> 00:41:51,920 Speaker 1: because they're spending thre hundred million dollars a year like 858 00:41:52,160 --> 00:41:52,799 Speaker 1: it is what it is. 859 00:41:54,080 --> 00:41:56,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, the Braves have been a luxury tax 860 00:41:56,320 --> 00:42:00,359 Speaker 2: team the last two years. They I mean, they would 861 00:42:00,400 --> 00:42:03,120 Speaker 2: have to really trim down some money, which does not 862 00:42:03,239 --> 00:42:05,799 Speaker 2: seem like what they're going to do to get under it. 863 00:42:06,600 --> 00:42:09,000 Speaker 1: It will go again. He literally said, I know it's 864 00:42:09,040 --> 00:42:11,000 Speaker 1: not going to go down. It doesn't get more demand 865 00:42:11,200 --> 00:42:13,120 Speaker 1: than that. It's not going to go down. 866 00:42:13,560 --> 00:42:18,560 Speaker 2: So from the mouth of the opinion that matters, it's 867 00:42:18,600 --> 00:42:21,600 Speaker 2: not going down. We'll see what it ultimately ends up being. 868 00:42:22,080 --> 00:42:24,359 Speaker 2: The Braves do have a decent amount of money coming 869 00:42:24,440 --> 00:42:28,719 Speaker 2: off the books this year breed Morton, some of the 870 00:42:28,760 --> 00:42:32,560 Speaker 2: dead money they had from the Jared kellmc trades. You 871 00:42:32,600 --> 00:42:34,560 Speaker 2: know that there will be some money to spend, and 872 00:42:34,680 --> 00:42:37,840 Speaker 2: ultimately we just don't know. And Alex is always famous 873 00:42:37,840 --> 00:42:39,440 Speaker 2: for saying, well, I'm not going to tell you how 874 00:42:39,520 --> 00:42:40,680 Speaker 2: much money i have to spend. 875 00:42:40,880 --> 00:42:42,480 Speaker 1: No, he will not tell us. 876 00:42:42,880 --> 00:42:47,000 Speaker 2: But I think, because sure, there are some questions with 877 00:42:47,040 --> 00:42:50,000 Speaker 2: the roster, but I think as long as Alex is 878 00:42:50,000 --> 00:42:51,960 Speaker 2: correct and the payroll is at least going to go 879 00:42:52,040 --> 00:42:55,640 Speaker 2: up somewhat, this should be a very competitive and well 880 00:42:55,680 --> 00:42:58,480 Speaker 2: compensated roster six months from now. 881 00:42:58,880 --> 00:43:02,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm noterned, and we'll see. I got in this 882 00:43:02,480 --> 00:43:05,319 Speaker 1: argument with somebody the other day about like, actually through 883 00:43:05,320 --> 00:43:07,520 Speaker 1: the lens of more you want to be surprised by 884 00:43:07,520 --> 00:43:09,640 Speaker 1: this about Charlie Morton's salary the last couple of years, 885 00:43:10,480 --> 00:43:14,000 Speaker 1: and how my point has been, Yes, twenty million dollars 886 00:43:14,120 --> 00:43:15,640 Speaker 1: is a lot of money. I get that, but like 887 00:43:15,760 --> 00:43:18,239 Speaker 1: it came with no long term risk and more importantly, 888 00:43:18,280 --> 00:43:20,959 Speaker 1: it did not stop them from doing anything else right, 889 00:43:21,000 --> 00:43:22,839 Speaker 1: which is the same thing about Aaron Umer we mentioned earlier. 890 00:43:22,840 --> 00:43:25,240 Speaker 1: Oh I one more known an Aaron Bummer. Aaron Mumber 891 00:43:25,280 --> 00:43:27,440 Speaker 1: was worth eight point eight million dollars this year according 892 00:43:27,440 --> 00:43:30,399 Speaker 1: to Fangrafts. That's that's more than seven point twenty five 893 00:43:30,719 --> 00:43:37,080 Speaker 1: million dollars on that anyway. I mean, okay, so I 894 00:43:37,120 --> 00:43:39,719 Speaker 1: had said to even bring this up, what was your 895 00:43:39,760 --> 00:43:43,719 Speaker 1: reaction to them, very very intentionally pointing out that Chris 896 00:43:43,719 --> 00:43:45,600 Speaker 1: Sale could have pitched the NDS. 897 00:43:48,160 --> 00:43:50,480 Speaker 2: In the middle of the night. Have you ever gotten 898 00:43:50,560 --> 00:43:53,719 Speaker 2: up to go pee and like bang your toe on 899 00:43:53,760 --> 00:43:57,400 Speaker 2: a door frame? That was my reaction to hearing, Oh, 900 00:43:57,560 --> 00:44:02,359 Speaker 2: Chris Sale's back is good to go, right, fantastic love 901 00:44:02,440 --> 00:44:07,480 Speaker 2: that I mean, in a choking aside, It's good that 902 00:44:07,600 --> 00:44:10,040 Speaker 2: it's it seems like it's not going to become like 903 00:44:10,160 --> 00:44:15,239 Speaker 2: now a chronic back issue for Sale, as evidence by 904 00:44:15,239 --> 00:44:17,560 Speaker 2: the fact he did not pitch the last two weeks 905 00:44:17,560 --> 00:44:22,440 Speaker 2: of the season. It's pretty clear that these were extreme backspasms. 906 00:44:23,480 --> 00:44:26,200 Speaker 2: I know, there's always the contingency of the fan base. 907 00:44:26,239 --> 00:44:35,160 Speaker 2: Oh he saw suck it up. Oh I thankfully I 908 00:44:35,200 --> 00:44:38,040 Speaker 2: have never dealt with backspasms. But I had people respond 909 00:44:38,200 --> 00:44:41,600 Speaker 2: in my mentions who have dealt with bad backspasms, and 910 00:44:41,640 --> 00:44:44,480 Speaker 2: they basically said, you have no idea what you're talking about. 911 00:44:44,880 --> 00:44:50,200 Speaker 2: They are incredibly painful and debilitating if not addressed. 912 00:44:50,440 --> 00:44:55,040 Speaker 1: And to even like live much less go pitch baseball game, right, 913 00:44:55,680 --> 00:44:59,839 Speaker 1: That's that's number one, that's insane. And number two, I mean, 914 00:45:00,120 --> 00:45:02,160 Speaker 1: this is probably the same people that were praising Chris 915 00:45:02,239 --> 00:45:06,200 Speaker 1: Sale for being what's the less Chris Chris Sale is 916 00:45:06,239 --> 00:45:09,439 Speaker 1: kind of a I don't want to say this. He's 917 00:45:09,480 --> 00:45:13,200 Speaker 1: known as for his passion. We'll say he's he's He's 918 00:45:13,200 --> 00:45:15,560 Speaker 1: not a guy that you would even I wouldn't say 919 00:45:15,560 --> 00:45:17,200 Speaker 1: anybody would do this. But even if you were trying 920 00:45:17,200 --> 00:45:18,480 Speaker 1: to pick out the guy on the Braves roster that 921 00:45:18,520 --> 00:45:22,160 Speaker 1: would be least likely to like, you know, mail it 922 00:45:22,200 --> 00:45:23,799 Speaker 1: in with injury, it would be Chris Sale. Like the 923 00:45:23,800 --> 00:45:26,560 Speaker 1: guy's of maniac by all accounts in a good way. Competitively, 924 00:45:26,719 --> 00:45:28,760 Speaker 1: you think that guy didn't want to pitch when the season, 925 00:45:29,200 --> 00:45:30,959 Speaker 1: there's no chance that guy did not want to pitch. 926 00:45:31,239 --> 00:45:33,440 Speaker 1: And my favorite conspiracy and my favorite, I mean least 927 00:45:33,480 --> 00:45:37,200 Speaker 1: favorite Phillies fans thought Chris Sale didn't pitch the last 928 00:45:37,280 --> 00:45:39,680 Speaker 1: day of the season to save his e ra a 929 00:45:39,880 --> 00:45:45,320 Speaker 1: lead and his young candidacy. Chris Sale, come on, anyway, 930 00:45:45,800 --> 00:45:48,840 Speaker 1: come on. I was someone at tagged me in that 931 00:45:48,960 --> 00:45:50,759 Speaker 1: and some Phillies thing and I was like, guys, I 932 00:45:50,840 --> 00:45:52,839 Speaker 1: wish I hadn't seen that. I wish don't don't send 933 00:45:52,840 --> 00:45:55,080 Speaker 1: me that stuff again. It's me speaking of subbing your toe. 934 00:45:55,080 --> 00:45:57,320 Speaker 1: That was how I felt reading that reading that thread 935 00:45:57,680 --> 00:46:01,080 Speaker 1: by Phillies fans anyway, it was funny. I understand people 936 00:46:01,120 --> 00:46:04,239 Speaker 1: that were mad or frustrated. To your point, you were frustrated. 937 00:46:04,920 --> 00:46:07,880 Speaker 1: It does suck. I do think that it's not just 938 00:46:07,920 --> 00:46:10,960 Speaker 1: a showman thing by Alex to point that out. It 939 00:46:11,000 --> 00:46:13,080 Speaker 1: is good that he will be prepared to do a 940 00:46:13,120 --> 00:46:16,160 Speaker 1: full winter sail through more endings this year than he's 941 00:46:16,160 --> 00:46:18,279 Speaker 1: thrown in a long time, and him being healthy ready 942 00:46:18,320 --> 00:46:20,880 Speaker 1: to go for a full program this winter is a 943 00:46:20,880 --> 00:46:24,120 Speaker 1: good thing. He had a fantastic season. Is it maddening 944 00:46:24,520 --> 00:46:26,399 Speaker 1: because it wasn't just that. I mean, one time fans 945 00:46:26,400 --> 00:46:28,239 Speaker 1: will know this, but like the last several years in 946 00:46:28,280 --> 00:46:30,160 Speaker 1: a row, they've had just pitching crumble at the end 947 00:46:30,160 --> 00:46:32,880 Speaker 1: of the season for like bizarre ways. It wasn't like 948 00:46:32,920 --> 00:46:35,359 Speaker 1: just injury that you could kind of foresee, you know, 949 00:46:35,360 --> 00:46:37,560 Speaker 1: when Max got sick, it lost like twenty pounds in 950 00:46:37,600 --> 00:46:38,320 Speaker 1: like a week. 951 00:46:38,920 --> 00:46:41,640 Speaker 2: Like that kind of crap, Like, yeah, it's you know, 952 00:46:41,719 --> 00:46:43,840 Speaker 2: I do I have twenty pounds to lose, sure, Brad, 953 00:46:43,880 --> 00:46:46,680 Speaker 2: but Max Freed does not have twenty pounds to lose, 954 00:46:47,040 --> 00:46:49,399 Speaker 2: And of course he got I think Rick Kranit said 955 00:46:49,400 --> 00:46:51,840 Speaker 2: it was like the nastiest stomach bug of all time, 956 00:46:52,280 --> 00:46:55,440 Speaker 2: like three days before the playoffs started, and guys. 957 00:46:55,280 --> 00:47:01,239 Speaker 1: Getting hit with comebackers and Charlie's ankle and Max just it's, uh, look, 958 00:47:01,280 --> 00:47:03,880 Speaker 1: you gotta be lucky in baseball, and they've not been 959 00:47:03,960 --> 00:47:07,080 Speaker 1: lucky in that particular area the last few years. It 960 00:47:07,160 --> 00:47:10,719 Speaker 1: is what it is. But uh, yeah, I got all 961 00:47:10,760 --> 00:47:12,799 Speaker 1: the reactions. I saw all the reactions to the sale news. 962 00:47:12,800 --> 00:47:14,080 Speaker 1: I said that to the end of this podcast. For 963 00:47:14,080 --> 00:47:17,279 Speaker 1: a reason, it's not really important or impactful as far 964 00:47:17,320 --> 00:47:19,560 Speaker 1: as like, oh you can, but it was a I 965 00:47:19,600 --> 00:47:21,360 Speaker 1: get that it stirred something and everyone. It was a 966 00:47:21,360 --> 00:47:21,920 Speaker 1: little bit different. 967 00:47:21,920 --> 00:47:25,040 Speaker 2: It felt like, yeah, it is not a small thing that, 968 00:47:25,120 --> 00:47:27,600 Speaker 2: by all accounts, Chris Sale will go into the off 969 00:47:27,640 --> 00:47:31,840 Speaker 2: season healthy and free of the back problems. He talked 970 00:47:31,960 --> 00:47:35,960 Speaker 2: openly about how important it was last off season that 971 00:47:36,040 --> 00:47:39,680 Speaker 2: it was basically his first healthy off season for workouts 972 00:47:39,960 --> 00:47:42,480 Speaker 2: and conditioning and everything he does to get ready for 973 00:47:42,520 --> 00:47:45,359 Speaker 2: a full one sixty two. It was the first time 974 00:47:45,640 --> 00:47:48,640 Speaker 2: last winter that Sale had gone into it healthy in 975 00:47:48,680 --> 00:47:51,880 Speaker 2: like five or six years. And clearly that matters to 976 00:47:51,960 --> 00:47:54,719 Speaker 2: him because he was healthy up until basically the last 977 00:47:54,800 --> 00:47:58,520 Speaker 2: day this past year, and let's hope another fantastic year 978 00:47:58,560 --> 00:48:02,279 Speaker 2: on the horizon for Sale. Just brutal timing with the 979 00:48:02,320 --> 00:48:05,120 Speaker 2: back spasms. But again, man, it's it's been par for 980 00:48:05,200 --> 00:48:06,800 Speaker 2: the course the last couple of years. 981 00:48:07,480 --> 00:48:09,839 Speaker 1: That's right, all right, Scott, Well, we've covered I think 982 00:48:09,880 --> 00:48:13,360 Speaker 1: the gamut of what Alex and Snicker had to say 983 00:48:14,320 --> 00:48:16,600 Speaker 1: on Friday as we're talking on this Sunday. If you 984 00:48:16,600 --> 00:48:18,480 Speaker 1: want to read more, I know every everybody covered it. 985 00:48:18,480 --> 00:48:21,760 Speaker 1: Battery Power did AJC did the Athletic did or Booman 986 00:48:21,760 --> 00:48:24,480 Speaker 1: did am dot com. People had all their stuff, and 987 00:48:25,440 --> 00:48:27,600 Speaker 1: but there you go. That's kind of the cliffs notes, 988 00:48:27,600 --> 00:48:29,319 Speaker 1: and there's been I'm looking right now to make sure 989 00:48:29,360 --> 00:48:31,320 Speaker 1: I'm not crazy. Nothing else is basically happened in the 990 00:48:31,360 --> 00:48:33,160 Speaker 1: last two days, which is not a huge surprise because 991 00:48:33,160 --> 00:48:36,640 Speaker 1: it's still that zone where until the World Series ends, 992 00:48:36,800 --> 00:48:38,799 Speaker 1: it's kind of has to be quiet. What you could 993 00:48:38,840 --> 00:48:41,600 Speaker 1: do is resign your own players. Last year, the Braves 994 00:48:41,680 --> 00:48:44,320 Speaker 1: made some news with like bringing back Pierce Johnson quickly 995 00:48:44,400 --> 00:48:46,359 Speaker 1: and Charlie Morton that kind of stuff, But they don't 996 00:48:46,360 --> 00:48:48,400 Speaker 1: really have those guys this year, other than if they 997 00:48:48,440 --> 00:48:50,360 Speaker 1: were to come to some weird agreement with Charlie to 998 00:48:50,360 --> 00:48:54,040 Speaker 1: come back one more year for cheap or cheaper. That's 999 00:48:54,120 --> 00:48:55,680 Speaker 1: kind of it. I mean, it's we're just kind of 1000 00:48:55,840 --> 00:48:58,000 Speaker 1: holding steady until the World Series ends and then the 1001 00:48:58,040 --> 00:49:01,280 Speaker 1: floodgates kind of opened. But we'll be here throughout anything 1002 00:49:01,320 --> 00:49:03,520 Speaker 1: else you want to say, Scott, and if not, please 1003 00:49:03,640 --> 00:49:06,120 Speaker 1: tell folks where they can find you on the internet. 1004 00:49:07,000 --> 00:49:09,880 Speaker 2: Nothing else. Thanks everybody for sticking with us. As the 1005 00:49:09,880 --> 00:49:13,880 Speaker 2: off season begins again, we were sincerely hoping that we 1006 00:49:13,880 --> 00:49:17,080 Speaker 2: wouldn't start doing these shows for three four weeks from now, 1007 00:49:17,160 --> 00:49:20,560 Speaker 2: but here we are. But yeah, good to do one 1008 00:49:20,600 --> 00:49:22,759 Speaker 2: of these with you, Brad. There was plenty to talk 1009 00:49:22,760 --> 00:49:26,000 Speaker 2: about from Alex and from snit and I'm sure we'll 1010 00:49:26,040 --> 00:49:29,439 Speaker 2: have more shows this upcoming week and yeah, so stay 1011 00:49:29,440 --> 00:49:34,080 Speaker 2: tuned and let's hope for a productive and bountiful off 1012 00:49:34,080 --> 00:49:34,760 Speaker 2: season ahead. 1013 00:49:35,960 --> 00:49:38,440 Speaker 1: We've been already passing around between the four of us 1014 00:49:38,480 --> 00:49:41,120 Speaker 1: some ideas and shows that we're going to do and 1015 00:49:41,160 --> 00:49:43,319 Speaker 1: all that stuff, So please stay tuned. You will not 1016 00:49:43,400 --> 00:49:46,680 Speaker 1: be disappointed for the price of zero dollars subscribing to 1017 00:49:46,800 --> 00:49:49,239 Speaker 1: this podcast. But we will be here, I would say, 1018 00:49:49,320 --> 00:49:52,000 Speaker 1: multiple times every week. And let's maybe like Christmas week 1019 00:49:52,000 --> 00:49:54,239 Speaker 1: will take off or something like that. But basically until then, 1020 00:49:54,320 --> 00:49:55,799 Speaker 1: we'll be here all the time. So please go ahead 1021 00:49:55,840 --> 00:50:00,760 Speaker 1: subscribe to Amateurbatory anywhere you find your podcasts, Apple, Spotify, 1022 00:50:01,080 --> 00:50:03,719 Speaker 1: a game, more on video sometimes with Scott and I 1023 00:50:03,719 --> 00:50:05,400 Speaker 1: I'll be twisting in the arms of Shawn and Stephen 1024 00:50:05,400 --> 00:50:07,000 Speaker 1: at some point to do some video just because I 1025 00:50:07,040 --> 00:50:08,719 Speaker 1: know everyone wants to see Shawn and Steven my video. 1026 00:50:08,760 --> 00:50:09,080 Speaker 2: Everyone. 1027 00:50:09,280 --> 00:50:11,040 Speaker 1: All I hear about in the streets of Atlanta is 1028 00:50:11,040 --> 00:50:14,800 Speaker 1: someday toll Shawn Agun video one day anyway, please subscribe 1029 00:50:14,880 --> 00:50:17,160 Speaker 1: to the podcast. Everybody. Follow us on social media as 1030 00:50:17,160 --> 00:50:20,760 Speaker 1: well at Hammer Territory on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, follow Scott, 1031 00:50:20,760 --> 00:50:22,440 Speaker 1: follow me if you want to. Thanks for being here, 1032 00:50:22,520 --> 00:50:24,359 Speaker 1: enjoy your week, See you all next time.