1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:01,800 Speaker 1: And if you're Bob Nutting and you're the owner of 2 00:00:01,800 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: the Pittsburgh Pirates, you're going to say, old on, I'm 3 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: not going to take disc risk when we know Paul 4 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 1: Skeens might blow out. He won't say that publicly, but 5 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:16,759 Speaker 1: that's what he's thinking. Welcome everyone to the Monday edition 6 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: of Fair Territory. And I almost said welcome everyone to 7 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:23,360 Speaker 1: the Winter Meetings, because in the last week it has 8 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: almost seemed like that, even though it's April, we've had 9 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: one extension after another, topped off by the big one 10 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: last night Sunday night, I should say that one fourteen years, 11 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 1: five hundred million for Vladimir Guerrero Junior. You see the 12 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:42,199 Speaker 1: news right there, No deferrals in this deal, straight up, 13 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: fourteen years, five hundred million. It was a deal that, 14 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: from the Blue Jays perspective, as I wrote this morning, 15 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 1: had to get done. It was a deal to lock 16 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 1: up their franchise player, a homegrown Blue Jay, a native Canadian, 17 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: at a time in their history when they have lost 18 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 1: one free agent after another, one big free agent after another. 19 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: They've signed a few, but no Otani, no Sodo, no 20 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: Corbin Bones. Right down the line, the Blue Jays had 21 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 1: Vladimir Guerrero Junior all these years, failed to extend him. 22 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: That was their mistake because in the end, when this 23 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 1: came down to crunch time during his walk year, they 24 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 1: had no choice, in my opinion, but to make a 25 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: deal with Guerrero Junior. They did it. It's a thirty 26 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: five point seven to one million average annual value. That's 27 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 1: the eleventh highest in baseball history. The total guarantee, and 28 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:35,759 Speaker 1: I want to show you right now, the total guarantee 29 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 1: of five hundred million without deferrals, that is the second 30 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:44,199 Speaker 1: highest in present value in major league history, behind only 31 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:47,040 Speaker 1: one Soto's seven hundred and sixty five million dollar deal. 32 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: You see the top five right there. Soto is seven 33 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 1: sixty five, vlad at five hundred, Shojo Tani comes in 34 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,639 Speaker 1: at four sixty point eight. That's reduced for deferrals. Of course, 35 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 1: his deal was ten years, seven hundred million, but it 36 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: was so massively deferred. The present value is for sixty 37 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: four sixty one. Mike Trout next at four to twenty 38 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: six point five. Aaron Judge then at three hundred and 39 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 1: sixty million. I want to give you some more context 40 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 1: to this deal as well. Just as where it fits 41 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:20,240 Speaker 1: in terms of other first basemen, both past and present. Now, 42 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: when you look at the first basement all time, Miguel 43 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 1: Cabrera's eight year, two hundred and forty eight million dollar 44 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: deal is still something of a standard, because one adjusted 45 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 1: for inflation, the average annual value is even higher than vlads. 46 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: But these are the biggest guarantees for first basement flat 47 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:39,920 Speaker 1: again five hundred Miguel Cabrera eight years, two hundred and 48 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 1: forty eight, Albert Poohole's ten years to forty, Joey vado 49 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:47,399 Speaker 1: ten years two twenty five, Prince Fielder nine years to fourteen. 50 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 1: What do those four guys besides Guerrero have in common. 51 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 1: They all got their contracts in the twenty tens, and 52 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:57,919 Speaker 1: that was an era in which teams valued first baseman 53 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:01,640 Speaker 1: more than they do today. Now look at the active 54 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: first baseman and wear Guerro ranks next to the Freddie 55 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 1: Freeman's and the Matt Olsens of the world. This chart 56 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 1: is even more telling. There's Guerrero at five hundred, matt 57 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 1: Olsen one sixty eight, Freddy Freeman one sixty two. That deal, too, 58 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 1: is worth less than that it's deferred, and Paul Goldschmidt 59 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:21,919 Speaker 1: five years, one thirty. That's his previous deal with the 60 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: Saint Louis Cardinals. So for a first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Junior, 61 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 1: without having to go into free agency and have the 62 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 1: open market determine his actual value, he got a monster deal. 63 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: There's no other way to look at it. Now you 64 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 1: could say, well, it's still two hundred and sixty five 65 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: million below Soto, Yes it is, but Vladimir Guerrero Junior 66 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: is not the consistent force that Soto has been throughout 67 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 1: his career. He's not as accomplished offensively as Soto has 68 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: been throughout his career. So that's why there is a 69 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 1: difference there. And to some degree, it seems to me 70 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 1: that Soto's deal was an outlier. And you might say, well, Ken, 71 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: that's fairly obvious. It was an outlier. But it was 72 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 1: an outlier because Steve Cohen, the owner of the Mets, 73 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 1: was not going to lose this player. Cohen was going 74 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 1: to give Soda whatever it took to get that deal done. 75 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 1: So Vladimir Guerrero Junior is a blue jay. They can 76 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: now build around him. That's a story for another day, 77 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 1: because that is not going to be easy for a 78 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:26,679 Speaker 1: team with a relatively poor farm system, an aging rotation, 79 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: and questions all over the place. But at least now 80 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 1: your franchise pillar is in place. The Blue Jays had 81 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:36,279 Speaker 1: to get this done. We'll be back after a quick 82 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 1: word from our friends at foul Territory. AJ. 83 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 2: It is time for people to get some new clubs, 84 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 2: and to do that they need to go to their 85 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 2: local PXG for a fitting. 86 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 3: Right, no doubt. I was there today. I've been there before. 87 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:49,799 Speaker 3: Last time I was there, they gave me this killer 88 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 3: gap edge. Look at that sweet spot, Scott, it is 89 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 3: worn out. That is right in a sweet spot right there. 90 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 3: So I went and got new clubs today, new irons. 91 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 3: But more importantly, I got this bad boy. I got 92 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 3: me a new putter. This is my old putter. It's 93 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 3: on order. Yes, that's my putter cover PXG Mustang putter. 94 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 3: Now I'm going to the Allen putter. They talked me 95 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 3: into it because I was draining some putts today. Bob, 96 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:10,039 Speaker 3: the guy who helped me out, He helped me with 97 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 3: my irons. He got them teed up perfectly. But then 98 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 3: we went to the putt and green I was draining 99 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 3: them putts because that's the most important part of golf. 100 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 2: PXG fittings are fun. Schedule you're fitting today as you 101 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 2: can hear from AJ for a limited time, you could 102 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 2: save up to twenty percent on your entire order. Head 103 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:29,480 Speaker 2: over to pxg dot com slash foul. That's pxg dot 104 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:31,719 Speaker 2: com slash foul to save up to twenty percent on 105 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 2: your entire order. Pxg dot com slash foul restrictions apply. 106 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:37,919 Speaker 2: See site for details. 107 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 1: Over the weekend, back on the field, believe it or not, 108 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: we actually had baseball baseball all weekend. We had a 109 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 1: big series in Philadelphia when I attended the Phillies and 110 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 1: the Dodgers, and people were talking before the series, well, 111 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 1: what does this mean in terms of October, in terms 112 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: of could this be a playoff? Preview? And my thought was, 113 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 1: whoa hold on? Only in April, And actually, the way 114 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:04,720 Speaker 1: the series played out, you can look at it now 115 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 1: and say, yeah, there's no way to know how this 116 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 1: is going to look in October, or whether these teams 117 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 1: will even be in the same position. The Dodgers played 118 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 1: this series losing two of three without Freddie Freeman. Blake 119 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: Snell in this series goes on the injured list. He 120 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 1: has a shoulder issue. Shocker of shockers, a Dodger pitcher 121 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 1: getting hurt. So who knows what the Dodger rotation will 122 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 1: look like come October. If you recall last year, Jack 123 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 1: Flaherty was not part of the Dodger rotation in April, 124 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:37,599 Speaker 1: Yoshinobu Yamamoto was, but he got hurt, didn't come back 125 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: until September, and you had just a different kind of look. Ultimately, 126 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 1: once the playoffs started, Walker Buehler came back. He wasn't 127 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 1: in the rotation at the start of the season coming 128 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 1: off an injury. So here are the Dodgers. Yes, they 129 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: have a question about Snell. Now, they have a question 130 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,839 Speaker 1: about whether rookie Sasaki can pitch a full season in 131 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 1: his first year in Major League Baseball. And they also 132 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 1: have three pitchers who are not even pitching yet who 133 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:06,279 Speaker 1: could be significant parts of their rotation at various points 134 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 1: of the season and maybe even in October. I'm talking, 135 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 1: of course about sho Hey Otani. I'm talking about Clayton Kershaw, 136 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 1: and I'm talking about Tony Gonsolin. Now Otani threw a 137 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: bullpen on Saturday. They are slow playing this like no 138 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: other and the reason they're slow playing it is because 139 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 1: they want Otani healthy for the postseason. Otani understands what's 140 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 1: going on. He wants to be healthy for the postseason. 141 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 1: And there are some people, as I mentioned on the broadcast, 142 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 1: who believe that once Otani returns, he could be the 143 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: best pitcher, the best starting pitcher the Dodgers have. They're 144 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 1: number one, Yes, even over Snell, yes, even over Yamamoto. 145 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: So good for the Phillies to win two of three 146 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 1: in this series. And if they had been maybe a 147 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 1: little bit more patient against Roki Sasaki on Saturday, they 148 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 1: could have won three of three. But it was really 149 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,480 Speaker 1: the first time Sasaki showed that great split, put it 150 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: in the strike zone, or at least close enough to 151 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 1: the strike zone where he got some chase. So a 152 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: good series. Tayo Hernandez big obviously offensive performance for the 153 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: Dodgers on Sunday, wasn't quite enough to make that a 154 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 1: series victory for Los Angeles. Now, elsewhere in the NL West, 155 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 1: we saw the Padres get off to an amazing start. 156 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 1: It's still a really good start. And now we're seeing 157 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: the Giants, the eight to one San Francisco Giants kind 158 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 1: of surprising baseball with how they've come out of the 159 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 1: gates here in the early part of the season. Now, 160 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: if you remember, the Giants were Cactus League champions, and 161 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 1: ordinarily no one should put any stock in anything that 162 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 1: happens in spring training, But in spring training with the Giants, 163 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:46,840 Speaker 1: you started hearing about this better vibe, about the transition 164 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: from far Anxiety to Buster Posey, and how there just 165 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 1: seemed to be a better culture around the Giants, And 166 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:56,440 Speaker 1: now we're kind of seeing it come to fruition in 167 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:59,440 Speaker 1: the regular season. Now, this is going to be an 168 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: easy now arrative for people like myself to latch onto. Well, 169 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 1: Buster is a baseball guy. Farha Anxiety was an analytical guy, 170 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 1: and now the Giants are just happier and feel better 171 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:13,239 Speaker 1: about the way things are being done in the organization 172 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 1: under Buster. That's part of it. But we're also seeing 173 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 1: some different things too. Willie adamis their biggest free agent signing, 174 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 1: clearly having an effect. Robbie Ray having added Tarek School's 175 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:28,320 Speaker 1: change up, he is looking like he's going to be 176 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 1: kind of like his cy young self. There's also Justin Erlander, 177 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:34,080 Speaker 1: who has had one okay start and one not so 178 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: good start, But other than that, the team is essentially 179 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:41,319 Speaker 1: the same. We're seeing a better offensive club so far. Warmer, 180 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 1: Flora's hot start, mike Yastremsky, Jung Huley, Matt Chapman, all 181 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 1: of these guys are hitting. They're a bullpen with Doval 182 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:53,240 Speaker 1: and Walker as the anchors. That also has been a 183 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 1: bright spot for them so far. They're playing well, there's 184 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 1: no question about it. Will they sustain it? Will they 185 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 1: be this this much improved team that they look like 186 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 1: right now? I'm not so sure, but certainly good things 187 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 1: are happening with the Giants. That left side of the 188 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 1: infield with the Domas and Chapman, is one of the 189 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 1: better left sides of the infield or infield in the game, 190 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 1: and they're pitching overall has been really good. So far, 191 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 1: So good for the Giants getting off to this start. 192 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:23,959 Speaker 1: But again we're talking about I don't know, almost one 193 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: twentieth of the season, a long way to go, folks. Well, well, well, well, 194 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:33,760 Speaker 1: time now for the Inside Dish, the part of the 195 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 1: show where I talk about maybe a story I've written, 196 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 1: maybe a trend in the game, maybe some big news item, 197 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: maybe something else entirely, And this week I want to 198 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: go back to something I mentioned on foul Territory last week. 199 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 1: It was after I wrote this story about Juans Toto 200 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:51,320 Speaker 1: and how we spent three weeks with the minor league 201 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 1: host family and still keeps in touch with them. Now, 202 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 1: this story was unusual for a couple of reasons, and 203 00:10:57,800 --> 00:10:59,559 Speaker 1: it was a lot of fun to do, and that's 204 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 1: kind of I want to revisit it. It was unusual 205 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:06,079 Speaker 1: one in the way I got put onto it. Now, 206 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:10,320 Speaker 1: you guys know from Twitter especially, but in general, that 207 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:15,040 Speaker 1: baseball writers, writers in every sport are competitive with each other. 208 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 1: They want to be first with stories, first with news. 209 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:20,160 Speaker 1: They want to be better than the next person. That's 210 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 1: just like any other business, right. But in this case, 211 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 1: it was another writer that actually put me onto this story. 212 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 1: Now I'm not going to name this writer because I 213 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 1: don't know some editor somewhere might get mad at him. 214 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 1: But the fact of the matter was this writer had 215 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 1: nothing he could have done with this. He is a 216 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: beat writer for a team somewhere. So he said, listen, Kenny, 217 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:43,960 Speaker 1: I've heard about this guy. He was the head of 218 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: Wan Soto's host family. I've got his number. Would you 219 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 1: want to maybe look into this, and I said, yeah, absolutely, 220 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 1: I'm always looking for stories, always looking for new ideas, 221 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:59,079 Speaker 1: especially different ideas about superstar players. So the writer passed 222 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 1: me the number, contacted Brian Campbell, and we started talking 223 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:08,080 Speaker 1: about his time with Juan Sodo. Now, it only happened 224 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 1: after I texted Campbell initially and he said, let me 225 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 1: get back to you. I want to check with Wan. 226 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 1: He got back to me within a half hour, and 227 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 1: Jan obviously gave him his blessing. And I was very 228 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: surprised by that for starters, that he had this kind 229 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: of relationship with Soda where Soda would get back to 230 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:28,600 Speaker 1: him like that. And this was during the middle of 231 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:31,440 Speaker 1: spring training, so it wasn't like Soda was overloaded. But 232 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 1: at the same time, he's getting ready for the season, 233 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:36,480 Speaker 1: he's got media commitments, all kinds of things going on, 234 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:40,679 Speaker 1: and yet Soda responded to him that quickly, and that's 235 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 1: what led me to believe, Okay, there's something here. These 236 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:46,559 Speaker 1: guys are still tight. And then Campbell told me his 237 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:50,080 Speaker 1: story and how he hosted Sodo with his three sons 238 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 1: and his ex wife at the time. He had a 239 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 1: daughter who was also obviously part of the family, but 240 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 1: not there she was older and out of the house, 241 00:12:57,080 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 1: and how he just had a really wonderful time. I'm 242 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:04,200 Speaker 1: hosting Soto and just enjoying him and different players. There 243 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 1: were I believe four players in the house at that 244 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 1: time when Juan was there. Now Soto was there for 245 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:15,079 Speaker 1: only three weeks. That was twenty eighteen. In twenty eighteen, 246 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:18,080 Speaker 1: he starts off at low A, then he goes to 247 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 1: High A, Double A, and the Majors. He's in low 248 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:23,320 Speaker 1: A for three weeks, then he makes those three jumps 249 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: that I just said, High A, Double A, Majors within 250 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:30,079 Speaker 1: a month. He was in the majors by May twentieth, 251 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 1: at age nineteen. And yet even in those three weeks, 252 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 1: Soto formed a bond with this family and a bond 253 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 1: that continues to this day. They will go see him 254 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: play from time to time. They don't ask for tickets, 255 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 1: but he'll give them batting practice passes at times. Brian Campbell, 256 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:47,959 Speaker 1: the father, will go out to dinner with Soto when 257 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 1: he's in Baltimore or Washington. And when I finally spoke 258 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 1: to Soto about this in Houston, right at the start 259 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 1: of the season, when the Mets were in Houston, Soto 260 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 1: lit up talking about this guy his family, and he 261 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 1: just said, basically was the time of his life. They 262 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:06,840 Speaker 1: had a basement, the guys would go downstairs, players would come, 263 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 1: not just the ones in the house, but they would 264 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 1: sing karaoke, they would play cards, they would play video games, 265 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 1: all kinds of things, and it was kind of just 266 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 1: a very memorable time at a time in his life 267 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 1: when he was quite impressionable and still relatively new to 268 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:25,280 Speaker 1: the United States New English. Even then, moan Soto has 269 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 1: known English really the whole time he's been a professional, 270 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 1: so he communicated well, and again it was just a 271 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 1: happy story to do. And the other interesting part of 272 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 1: it is that host families no longer exist in minor 273 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:41,520 Speaker 1: league baseball, and the reason for that. It's actually a 274 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 1: good reason that there is a minor league collective bargaining 275 00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 1: agreement that guaranteed minor league players more money and guaranteed 276 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 1: them housing. So host families are not really necessary. And 277 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:57,440 Speaker 1: yet even as something has been gained, and something clearly 278 00:14:57,560 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 1: was gained in this minor league agree these guys are 279 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: getting paid better. The host family experience is something that 280 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 1: a lot of players who went through it still speak 281 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 1: of fondly On the show Friday, Todd Fraser and Eric 282 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 1: Kratz both spoke fondly of host families that they had. 283 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 1: They're still in touch with them, and you can go 284 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 1: to countless major leaguers ones who were all part of 285 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: this and they will tell you the same thing. In 286 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 1: the case of players from Latin America like Sodo, they 287 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 1: could be especially meaningful because of course they're transitioning to 288 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: new culture. But even in the case of players who 289 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 1: were born here, like Fraser and Kratz, host families can 290 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 1: leave an indelible impression. And that's what happened. That's what 291 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 1: the story was about. I thank this writer. He knows 292 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 1: who he is. I've thanked him personally for putting me 293 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 1: on to this story, and I hope people enjoyed reading it. 294 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:50,400 Speaker 1: It's a lot of fun to do. We'll be back 295 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:53,119 Speaker 1: after a quick word from our friends at Foul Territory. 296 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 2: Krats, do you like spending an hour on grocery shopping? 297 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:56,200 Speaker 1: Nope? 298 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:59,280 Speaker 3: Speed up the process please, introducing hungry route to the 299 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 3: ft fan. 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Now for grilling Ken, Let's get to your questions. 320 00:16:57,200 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 1: The first question comes from Atom, not the insider, who 321 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:04,920 Speaker 1: asks what is going on with the reds Adam. It's 322 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:07,200 Speaker 1: a good question as you watch your team struggle to 323 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 1: score runs almost on a daily basis. What's interesting about 324 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:14,640 Speaker 1: the Reds is they scored fourteen in one game, eleven 325 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:18,440 Speaker 1: in another, and in their other eight games combined, they've 326 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 1: only scored fourteen runs. So what is going on. Part 327 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:25,400 Speaker 1: of it is health. They don't have Tyler Stevenson, they 328 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:28,960 Speaker 1: don't have Bostin Hayes. Spencer Steer has a shoulder issue, 329 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:32,399 Speaker 1: he's been compromised. That's three players that they were counting 330 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:36,160 Speaker 1: on and are counting on to be significant contributors. Of 331 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:39,199 Speaker 1: the guys that are healthy, really, Matt McClain is the 332 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:43,199 Speaker 1: only one performing I would say to expectations or even above. 333 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 1: His OPS is over eight hundred. No other Red, including 334 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:49,639 Speaker 1: Elie Dela Cruz, is over eight hundred. And this was 335 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:52,879 Speaker 1: a team that earlier in the offseason, going into spring training, 336 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 1: I thought might surprise. I still believe they might surprise. 337 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:00,480 Speaker 1: But I had someone tell me right before the season started, 338 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 1: someone in their organization who said, you know what, I'm 339 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:05,879 Speaker 1: a little worried. We're still one bat short. And that 340 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:10,040 Speaker 1: was even with all of the injured players. So I 341 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:12,399 Speaker 1: thought the bullpen would be the Red's biggest question, and 342 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:15,439 Speaker 1: it still might be. But right now. The offense is 343 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:18,439 Speaker 1: somewhat of a concern. I want to see what they 344 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 1: look like when they're healthier, but they've got to get 345 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 1: going a little bit from an offensive perspective. So far 346 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 1: not good. Next question comes from Enzo, who asks, with 347 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:32,920 Speaker 1: William Abreu the best hitter on the planet, not really 348 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:36,760 Speaker 1: exaggerating there. COR's love of Raphaela's defense in center and 349 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 1: Duran in left and Roman Anthony ready for the big leagues, 350 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 1: what do the Red Sox do? Fair question? Great problem 351 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:45,399 Speaker 1: to have if you're the Red Sox and you left 352 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:48,439 Speaker 1: Yoshida out of the equation. I don't see how he 353 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 1: fits now that Devers is the DH now once Anthony 354 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:56,400 Speaker 1: is ready, Yes, it really becomes an interesting question. At 355 00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 1: the moment, they're using Christian Campbell in center field on 356 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:02,920 Speaker 1: certain days when they want to get David Hamilton into 357 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: the lineup as a left handed hitting second baseman. I 358 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 1: don't know how long that will continue once Roman Anthony 359 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:12,440 Speaker 1: is ready. And again, having all of these players, all 360 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:15,679 Speaker 1: these talented players, guys who are really going to be 361 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 1: or are already significant contributors. This is not a problem 362 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:23,960 Speaker 1: generally speaking. Managers and coaches and front office people like 363 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:26,720 Speaker 1: to say these things have a way of working out 364 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:30,880 Speaker 1: on their own. That's true, and sometimes someone will get hurt, 365 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:33,679 Speaker 1: and sometimes there will be underperformance or something else. But 366 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 1: the real issue to me is going to be Yoshida 367 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 1: and will he be ultimately a guy that they might 368 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 1: have to DFA. I don't know where this is going. 369 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 1: But again, if you're the Red Sox and you've got 370 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:47,359 Speaker 1: all these players and Rafaela still is an offensive question, 371 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 1: let's face it, you're in a good position. The final 372 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:53,639 Speaker 1: question comes from al who asks what would a contract 373 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 1: extension for schemes look like? He has many arbitration years left, 374 00:19:57,640 --> 00:19:59,879 Speaker 1: but what would it take to convince him to forego 375 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:03,760 Speaker 1: free agency? A. I like the question, but at the 376 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:07,479 Speaker 1: same time, it's almost irrelevant because Bob Nutting is not 377 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: going to do what it takes as owner of the 378 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh Pirates to convince Paul Skeens not to go to 379 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 1: free agency. It's just not going to happen, right, based 380 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:18,719 Speaker 1: on everything we've seen from Nutting, there is no way 381 00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:21,960 Speaker 1: this gets done. But for purposes of this exercise, let's 382 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:25,119 Speaker 1: consult my colleague Tim Britton from The Athletic, who is 383 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:28,880 Speaker 1: the expert on extension valuations. He does them basically all 384 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:31,440 Speaker 1: year long for the Athletic and he wrote an entire 385 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:34,560 Speaker 1: story on Skeens, I believe it was in spring training 386 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,760 Speaker 1: and what an extension might look like for him. Now, 387 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:41,719 Speaker 1: Skeens has one more pre orb year left after this 388 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 1: one one more year before arbitration, a time when the 389 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 1: club can dictate his salary, and then the three years 390 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 1: of arbitration. Tim determined that those years would be worth, 391 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 1: including this year, about thirty eight million. And then he said, Okay, 392 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:58,200 Speaker 1: what if you think of Skeens as a guy who 393 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:01,199 Speaker 1: will be in position to a manned a record average 394 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 1: annual value as a starting pitcher. He might be that good. 395 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:07,560 Speaker 1: And let's say that's forty four million. So the way 396 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 1: Tim started out this process, he had skiened somewhere along 397 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 1: the lines of seven years point eighty. But that's assuming 398 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:17,320 Speaker 1: just three years of free agency. So ultimately, when Tim 399 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:20,200 Speaker 1: played this thing out, he kind of looked at it 400 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 1: like Julio Rodriguez is deal with Seattle, and you know 401 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:27,359 Speaker 1: that deal. It's complicated, but he guarantees Julio a certain 402 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:31,119 Speaker 1: amount north of two hundred million, and then there's a 403 00:21:31,119 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 1: club option after I believe the fifth season, and if 404 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:38,000 Speaker 1: the Mariners pick that up, there's another two hundred million 405 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 1: coming something along those lines. It's complicated. Go to Cotts 406 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:44,440 Speaker 1: Baseball Contracts look it up. But basically what it involves 407 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:48,400 Speaker 1: is escalators and the ability for the Mariners to make 408 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:51,120 Speaker 1: this deal even more lucrative if they want to keep 409 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:53,680 Speaker 1: the player from opting out. That's the kind of deal 410 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 1: you would do with Paul Skins. It's a different situation, 411 00:21:57,520 --> 00:22:00,919 Speaker 1: obviously than Julio Rodriguez, because Paul Skans is a starting pitcher, 412 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:03,920 Speaker 1: and as Steven Nesbitt wrote last week in The Athletic, 413 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:08,680 Speaker 1: the entire sport is basically holding its breath hoping Paul 414 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 1: Skein stays healthy and warrants an extension. And if you're 415 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:14,359 Speaker 1: Bob Nutting and you're the owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates, 416 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:17,480 Speaker 1: you're going to say, hold on, I'm not going to 417 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:20,560 Speaker 1: take this risk when we know Paul Skeins might blow out. 418 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:22,920 Speaker 1: He won't say that publicly, but that's what he's thinking. 419 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:26,480 Speaker 1: And it's not unfair to think that because all pictures 420 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:30,120 Speaker 1: generally do get hurt at some point. So I don't 421 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:33,080 Speaker 1: know where this is going. I would expect Paul Skeins 422 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:36,040 Speaker 1: is going to be a free agent after four more 423 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 1: years beyond this one. And when he becomes a free agent, 424 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 1: assuming he's healthy, he's going to make a lot of money, 425 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:47,479 Speaker 1: period and paragraph. Thanks everyone for your questions, Thanks everyone 426 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 1: for watching, for listening. You know where to find us YouTube, Apple, Spotify. 427 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 1: We will be back on Thursday. Myself and my co 428 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:58,480 Speaker 1: host Elana Rizzo are normal Thursday program live at twelve 429 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:00,720 Speaker 1: thirty Eastern. Have a great everyone. 430 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:03,640 Speaker 4: Let's shout out the BETMGM first bet fifteen hundred dollars 431 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:06,119 Speaker 4: offer when you use the bonus code foul. 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