1 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: Welcome everyone to another addition of their territory. A lot 2 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 1: to discuss this week, and we're going to start off 3 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: with something that I don't like to discuss, but it's 4 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 1: inevitable when you cover this sport injuries. Two big ones 5 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: actually coming in the same game of sorts. Aaron Judge 6 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:24,319 Speaker 1: for the Yankees, Jacob de Gram for the Rangers. This 7 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: was Friday night. Jacob de Gram. He officially goes on 8 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 1: the injured list with elbow inflammation. It was initially described 9 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:35,840 Speaker 1: as forearm tightness. Whatever, it's de Gram. He's heard again. 10 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:39,879 Speaker 1: And while they say it's not serious, this is just 11 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,199 Speaker 1: the nature of it with Jacob de Gram at this 12 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: stage of his career, really for the last several years, 13 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:48,200 Speaker 1: and I thought the athletics Andy McCullough put it really 14 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 1: well in his column that appeared on Saturday. He said, 15 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: at this stage of his career, de Gram is dealing 16 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 1: less with his opponents than he is with his own 17 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 1: physical limitations. And we can talk forever about the different 18 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 1: issues that de Gram has faced over the last several years, 19 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: but here are the key numbers. Last two seasons, one 20 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty six and a third combined innings one 21 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty six and a third over two years. 22 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:17,759 Speaker 1: It's not a lot. But the thing with the Grama 23 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 1: is he is so good that you don't necessarily need 24 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: thirty starts. If the Rangers get twenty to twenty five, 25 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: my guess is they'll probably be satisfied. And yes, he's 26 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: getting thirty seven million dollars a year, but he is 27 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: so good in those twenty to twenty five starts, or 28 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: could be that you're actually getting the value that you want. 29 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:42,399 Speaker 1: If you look at his pitching war and all of that, 30 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: it kind of adds up. It's crazy, but I know 31 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: that's what ultimately teams look at. Now this season so far, 32 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 1: he has pitched thirty and a third innings in six starts. 33 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 1: He's remembered starting slowly because of the issues that he 34 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: had in his side in spring training. Then he had 35 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: the risk, he got the elbow, and here we go again. 36 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 1: The bigger picture with Jacob de gram is can he 37 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:08,920 Speaker 1: get you twenty to twenty five starts or eighteen to 38 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:11,080 Speaker 1: twenty two whatever the number is going to be. As 39 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:13,959 Speaker 1: long as it's not five to ten, it's got to 40 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: be higher than that. It's got to be higher than 41 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:18,799 Speaker 1: fifteen to two. He's got to pitch. But de Gram, 42 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 1: as we have seen over the years, is a fragile 43 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 1: sort and it's not something he likes in his career. 44 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 1: He hates being asked these questions, understandably so, but that 45 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: is the reality for him and it's going to be 46 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 1: that way until he shows if he can ever pitch 47 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:37,920 Speaker 1: thirty to thirty five starts again, which I don't know 48 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 1: that anyone can expect. Aaron Judge with the Yankees. Different story, 49 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,119 Speaker 1: and Aaron Judge has been quite durable in recent seasons 50 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 1: for the most part. Now he has a hip issue. 51 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 1: As we tape this on Monday morning Eastern time, we 52 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: don't know if he is going on the injured list 53 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,359 Speaker 1: or not. But you see over the last three and 54 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: a half games what the Yankees were like without Aaron Judge, 55 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 1: and frankly, the Yankees problems with Aaron Judge on the 56 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 1: offensive end are sort of pronounced. Aaron Judge is one player. 57 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 1: You've got eight other positions in a lineup, and I 58 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: want you to look at some different things that we 59 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:17,640 Speaker 1: cooked up for the show today on where the Yankees 60 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 1: rank offensively. Let's start with where they are in their 61 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: own division, the Ale East, arguably the best division in baseball. 62 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 1: This is runs per game Yankees twenty third in the 63 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 1: majors and yes, last in their own division. Now let's 64 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: look at how they are faring position by position, and 65 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 1: you can imagine it's not going to be all that 66 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: good considering where they are ranked from the league's perspective. 67 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: So you can see here where the Yankees are at 68 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 1: each position. This is again ops combined at each position, 69 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 1: so essentially what they're getting from an offensive standpoint at 70 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: each spot. They are below average in a number of 71 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: places catcher, third base, left field. Most notably, you'll note 72 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 1: that centerfield and right field isn't great. Judges kind of 73 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 1: split his time between them, played more center. Now they 74 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 1: have some injuries. There's no question Harrison Bader has been out. 75 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: He's on his way back. Stanton is out probably until June. 76 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:17,359 Speaker 1: Donaldson out probably until at least mid May. But with 77 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 1: the Yankees, you've got to believe going into the season 78 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:23,480 Speaker 1: that injuries are going to occur. This is an older 79 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: group of position players. So my point here is that 80 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 1: even with Aaron Judge, this team has some problems offensively. 81 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 1: They don't have great depth Franchie Cordero. That experiment lasted 82 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: what about two weeks, So I can see the Yankees 83 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: having difficulties all season in this regard. They're going to 84 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 1: play better. Of course, this weekend you can look at 85 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: as an aberration if you choose, But at the same time, 86 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:49,359 Speaker 1: you can also see the issues starting to kind of 87 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 1: bubble up a little bit. And we're not even talking 88 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:54,279 Speaker 1: about the pitching, where they have a number of injuries 89 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:57,239 Speaker 1: as well. Rotation has been good, bullpen a little shaky. 90 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,480 Speaker 1: All right, that's de gram, that's judge. Now let's keep 91 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 1: going with the team that I would argue is the 92 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:07,479 Speaker 1: most disappointing in the majors right now. We'll get to 93 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 1: another one that's disappointing at the end of this segment. 94 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 1: But this is the most disappointing given the expectations. That 95 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 1: would be the Saint Louis Cardinals. It's May first, ladies 96 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 1: and gentlemen, and the Saint Louis Cardinals are ten games 97 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 1: out of first place. Ten Now. I know it's the 98 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: Pirates who are leading the division and no one expects 99 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,160 Speaker 1: them to play at a six ninety clip the whole year. 100 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: But as I wrote in the Athletics Newsletter Today, the 101 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 1: free newsletter that we publish every day Monday to Friday. 102 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:39,600 Speaker 1: The Cardinals are a team with a rotation that was 103 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: questionable at the start of the season, and nothing we 104 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: have seen so far would lead me to believe that 105 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:50,159 Speaker 1: those questions aren't any less pronounced. This is a team 106 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:53,159 Speaker 1: that if you look at from the standpoint of rotation 107 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 1: to ra from quality starts, their ranks are not very good. 108 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 1: You can see it on the board right there. Hey, 109 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: bottom third in those categories rotation in the array and 110 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:08,040 Speaker 1: quality starts. Also bottom third or at least close to 111 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:10,919 Speaker 1: that in runs per game, and that's been the disappointing area. 112 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,200 Speaker 1: That's the area I expect to improve. They have too 113 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: much offensive talent. Arnatto has been in a two weeks slump. 114 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: They're not going to be in that position all year long. 115 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 1: But where is their rotation strength going to come from? 116 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 1: I know Adam Wainwright's coming back, but Adam Waynwright is 117 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: forty one. You cannot expect him to be an ACE 118 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 1: at this stage of his career. Four of those six 119 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 1: quality starts have come from Jordan Montgomery, so really they 120 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 1: need a lot more from that rotation. And I'm not 121 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: so sure they're going to get it. So, yes, I 122 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: would call them the most disappointing team in April. The 123 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:48,160 Speaker 1: next team I'm going to talk about, well, they've been 124 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: a disappointment all their own in a different kind of way. 125 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 1: The White Sox. I wrote at the start of the 126 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 1: season my preseason story lines that Tony LaRussa was gone, 127 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 1: and I will find out how much of a problem 128 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 1: Larusa was, and how much the roster is flawed, how 129 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,280 Speaker 1: these things might balance out. Now we've seen the White 130 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: Sox start. It's brutal. I know they had that great 131 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 1: comeback yesterday and maybe that will be a launching point 132 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: for them, let's hope. So it ended a ten game 133 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 1: losing streak that was brutal in every way, and even 134 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: yesterday they weren't all that great. They had the great 135 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 1: seven run ninth inning that kind of saved them because 136 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 1: before that they had not played all that well. Now, 137 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 1: this was supposed to be a different kind of season, right, 138 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 1: new manager Pedro Griffal, new coaching staff. Larusa was gone, 139 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 1: and as I said, this was going to be the test. 140 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: So the other day, when I wrote about the White 141 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 1: Sox and their trade possibilities, and yes, we should be 142 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 1: talking about the White Sox trade possibilities at this point. 143 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 1: A reader commented, Ken, why don't you apologize to Larusa. 144 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 1: You need to apologize to Larusa. And last year, if 145 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: you recall, I wrote a column that was basically addressed 146 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 1: to Larusa, Dear Tony, saying, hey, this was at a 147 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 1: point where he was not with the team, he was 148 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: having health problems, and I said he probably shouldn't come back. 149 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 1: Just take the time he needs to get healthy and 150 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: let the team play because it hadn't worked. And it 151 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 1: didn't work, And two things can be true Tony LaRussa 152 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 1: was not the right manager for the White Sox, and 153 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 1: the other thing being the White Sox are a mess 154 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: and flawed. I don't know where they go from here. Now, 155 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 1: let's give them the benefit of the doubt to may first, 156 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 1: maybe they get back into contention. I don't see it, 157 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 1: but maybe. But at the deadline they're going to face 158 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 1: some really difficult decisions. And I wrote about this the 159 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 1: other day. You can trade your potential free agents. That's 160 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 1: one thing. It doesn't really do much in terms of 161 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:47,559 Speaker 1: what you might get back. We're talking about Giolito, we're 162 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 1: talking about Yesmani Grondal, who's own owed a ton of money, 163 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 1: Keenan Middleton, Ronaldo Lopez. You're not gonna get much for 164 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:55,839 Speaker 1: any of these guys. Then you could take it a 165 00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:58,839 Speaker 1: step further and go to players who have an extra 166 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:02,559 Speaker 1: year of control beyond this season. Tim Anderson, who would 167 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 1: have some value. He is certainly one guy in that category. 168 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 1: Liam Hendrix if he comes back healthy, and Kendall Graveman 169 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: another reliever that could have some value in the market. 170 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:16,320 Speaker 1: I can see that Lancelne if he pitches better, also 171 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:20,200 Speaker 1: fits in this description. One year beyond this one. And 172 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 1: then if you want to go even further, you've got 173 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 1: Dylan Cees with a couple of years remaining after this one, 174 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 1: and you can really tear it all down. Here's the problem. 175 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 1: The White Sox just tore it all down twenty sixteen seventeen. 176 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: That's what they did. Their owner, Jerry Reinsdorf, is eighty 177 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 1: seven years old. You think he wants to go through 178 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 1: another rebuild. There's no way he wants to go through that. 179 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 1: And yet, at the same time, this is a team 180 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 1: that went backwards in payroll this year, so Ryansdorf is 181 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 1: not going to want to rebuild, but it doesn't seem 182 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:54,199 Speaker 1: like he wants to spend. I don't have an answer here, folks, 183 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: and they're gonna face some really hard questions at the deadline. 184 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:00,560 Speaker 1: So there you have it, Judge de Gram, Cardinals, the 185 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:03,199 Speaker 1: White Sox. We've got a lot more common time. Now 186 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 1: for the inside Dish. This is the part of the 187 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 1: show where each week I go inside a story I 188 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:11,400 Speaker 1: have written, or inside a developing story in Major League 189 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: Baseball on which maybe I have some thoughts and some 190 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 1: ideas and some information that you might not have known. 191 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: This week, though, I'm going to focus on a story 192 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 1: I wrote last week. It appeared last Wednesday on The Athletic, 193 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:27,679 Speaker 1: and it was a long story about Jared Kellenick of 194 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:30,680 Speaker 1: the Mariners and how he is finally living up to 195 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 1: the hype. And this was a really interesting one to 196 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:38,080 Speaker 1: work on because it was building for several months. It 197 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 1: started with his agent, Nick Channick of Wasserman basically telling 198 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: me during the off season, Kellenick's going to have a 199 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 1: big year. You watch Kellenick's gonna have a big year. 200 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 1: Now you hear this kind of talk from agents once 201 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 1: in a while, and sometimes it comes true, sometimes it doesn't. 202 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:56,599 Speaker 1: And it's not that I didn't trust Nick Chaddick and 203 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:59,680 Speaker 1: what he was saying, but okay, I just kind of 204 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 1: kept it in the back of my head. Then on 205 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 1: February twentieth, I get a text message from Tim Laker. 206 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: He's the Mariners former hitting coach. He works now for 207 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 1: the Dodgers as a minor league hitting coordinator, but his 208 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:15,680 Speaker 1: mentor and what he does privately is worked with Craig 209 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,680 Speaker 1: wallen Brack, who, of course is a famed hitting guru. 210 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:22,600 Speaker 1: He's the guy that kind of got JD. Martinez turned 211 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: around and has worked with many other hitters. Greg Wahllenbrock 212 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:29,319 Speaker 1: is a big name within baseball circles, and Tim Laker 213 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:31,960 Speaker 1: said in this text to me the same thing. Essentially. 214 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 1: Nick Channick had said, watch out for Kellenick. I was 215 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 1: working with him this winter and he looks great. He 216 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 1: looks like he can be a star. Now I knew 217 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:47,559 Speaker 1: Tim from previous engagements. I had talked to him for 218 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 1: that story I did on Matt Carpenter oh way back 219 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 1: in the winter of twenty twenty one twenty two before 220 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 1: Carpenter's resurgence, and that story was about how Carpenter had 221 00:11:57,320 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 1: rebuilt his swing and done all these things. Car Printer 222 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 1: had worked with Laker and wallen Brock. So here we go. 223 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: Now my antenna are way up. I'm paying attention to 224 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:09,440 Speaker 1: Jared Kellennick in spring training, and I'm paying attention to 225 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 1: him as the season starts, and lo and behold, he 226 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 1: starts off really hot. So I'm thinking, now I want 227 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 1: to write this, but it's a little bit tricky because 228 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,200 Speaker 1: Kellenick is a guy who, even though he's quite young 229 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 1: twenty three, has been through a lot in his career. 230 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 1: Number six pick overall in the draft, centerpiece of a 231 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:33,520 Speaker 1: huge trade involving Edwin Diaz going to the Mets, he 232 00:12:33,559 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: goes to the Mariners. He was the subject of a 233 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 1: service time manipulation debate started by one of his former owners, 234 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 1: and he flopped in his first two major league seasons 235 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one and twenty two. So I knew, and 236 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: I was told by his agent that Jared's not going 237 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 1: to want to do a story right away. But the 238 00:12:53,679 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 1: way I sold it was saying to the agent, Nick Channick, again, hey, 239 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 1: I just want to write about the process. I just 240 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: want to write about what he did this winter to 241 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 1: get himself right. And I'm not going to blow him 242 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 1: up and say this guy's a star and look out, 243 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 1: he's the next this or that and the other thing. No, 244 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 1: it wasn't going to be that. It was pretty towing 245 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,839 Speaker 1: the line on just what he did and how he 246 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 1: fixed himself. So Kelenick agreed to do that, and then 247 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 1: I interviewed him. And I must say, I interview players 248 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 1: all the time. It's what I do, right, this was 249 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 1: one of the best interviews I've done in the years, 250 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:37,600 Speaker 1: and I would even say ever wasn't anything I did. 251 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 1: It was just how expansive he was about his process 252 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 1: to rebuild himself, not just from a mechanical standpoint and 253 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: a thought process standpoint and all the things hitters must 254 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 1: do to correct what ails them, but also he talked 255 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:55,960 Speaker 1: about the work he had done with a sports psychologist 256 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 1: and how much that had meant to him, how it 257 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 1: changed him both on and on off the field. I 258 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:04,440 Speaker 1: really could not believe what I was hearing, and I 259 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 1: got excited, and I normally do not get excited about 260 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 1: an interview or anything like that. It's my job. It's 261 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 1: kind of a clinical thing. You put it all together, 262 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:18,160 Speaker 1: you're right, and that's that. But he was so good, 263 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 1: so interesting to talk to, and as I said, so 264 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 1: eloquent and expansive that I thought, Okay, I've got a 265 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 1: good story here. And when I get to that point 266 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 1: in my head, I'm always thinking the same thing. I've 267 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 1: got it, only I can screw it up. Now. You 268 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 1: hope not to screw it up. You hope to write it. Well, 269 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 1: obviously I had more work to do on it. I 270 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 1: had to talk to the agent, had to talk to 271 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:47,600 Speaker 1: Laker Mariners GM Justin Hollander, Mariners hitting coach as well 272 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:50,960 Speaker 1: Jared to Hart. There was a lot that goes into it. 273 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 1: And I ended up talking to Jared twice more on 274 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: the phone. He prefers phone to texting. So it was 275 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: a fascinating conversation and a fascinating story to work on. 276 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:05,280 Speaker 1: And yes, the headline said living up to the hype 277 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: or something along those lines. How he's finally living up 278 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 1: to the hype. He's three for eighteen since the story 279 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 1: came out. But it seems to me, and it seems 280 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 1: to people with the Mariners and people around baseball, that 281 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 1: this kid now is on his way and I would 282 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 1: expect he will have a special season. That what his 283 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 1: agent told me and what Tim Laker told me back 284 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 1: in the winter. Well, it all seems to be coming 285 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:34,760 Speaker 1: together and good for Kellenick because we see this all 286 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 1: the time. Development of prospects is not always linear. It 287 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 1: doesn't always go like this. It's more like this for 288 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:45,800 Speaker 1: many of them. Even Mike Trout got sent back to 289 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 1: the miners in his first season with the Angels. So 290 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:52,080 Speaker 1: for Kellenick to endure all that he has and come 291 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 1: out now on the other side, that's a tribute to him, 292 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:57,520 Speaker 1: his work ethic. It was just a really interesting story 293 00:15:57,560 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 1: that I had a lot of fun doing. And that 294 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 1: is how that one came about. And I'm proud of it. 295 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: Actually thought I didn't screw it up. And I hope 296 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:07,680 Speaker 1: you guys the ones who read it enjoyed it. Time 297 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:10,560 Speaker 1: now for the dude and dork of the week. As 298 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 1: for the dude, there can be only one choice this week, 299 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 1: and fans reveled in his promotion to the major leagues 300 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 1: and then in his two hits on Saturday. And I'm 301 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: talking about the one and only Drew Magie. Now Drew Maggie, 302 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 1: you know his story by now, if you're a fan 303 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: following the game, he's with the Pirates. He spent thirteen 304 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 1: years in the minor leagues, played more than eleven hundred 305 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: games in the minor leagues, had almost five thousand plate 306 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 1: appearances in the minor leagues. He had one major league 307 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 1: call up with the Twins, never got to play. So remember, 308 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 1: this guy had never played in a Major league game, 309 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 1: gets called up by the Pirates at thirty three years old, 310 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 1: and finally gets into a game on Saturday, and it 311 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 1: was so interesting. He already had been optioned. The only 312 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:02,360 Speaker 1: reason he was with the Pirates was that they named 313 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 1: him the twenty seventh man for the double header. Remember 314 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:07,640 Speaker 1: you could add an extra guy to the roster when 315 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:10,120 Speaker 1: you play a double header. Drew Maggie was that guy. 316 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 1: Doesn't play in the first game, doesn't start the second game, 317 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 1: but the Pirates get out to a twelve nothing lead, 318 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 1: and here we go, it's Drew Magie time. He gets 319 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 1: a hit in his first at bat, gets an extra 320 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 1: base hit, and his second at bat. The games are 321 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 1: in Washington, and yet there are a good number of 322 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:29,400 Speaker 1: Pirates fans there, which is great to see in its 323 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 1: own right. That fan base, starting to travel and getting 324 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: excited again. They're chanting his name as he's doing his 325 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 1: postgame interview. It was just a great moment. And if 326 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:40,880 Speaker 1: you caught him on Foul Territory last week, I suggest 327 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: you go back to see that interview if you haven't already. 328 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 1: His story is just amazing and he said that his 329 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 1: agent told him to retire eight years ago. He said 330 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:54,119 Speaker 1: that there were times when he had to effectively pay 331 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 1: to play right. He wasn't making enough money to get 332 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 1: by and he was losing money by playing in the minors. Now, 333 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: not every player can do this, obviously, this is how 334 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:07,639 Speaker 1: a lot of players get filtered out. But for whatever reason, 335 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:10,639 Speaker 1: Madgie was able to hang in there, able to keep going, 336 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:14,320 Speaker 1: and at age thirty three, he got his moment. Such 337 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 1: an easy choice this week drew Maggie due to the 338 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:20,240 Speaker 1: week all Right, Dirk of the Week, Well, this one 339 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 1: to me is obvious as well. And it's whoever edited 340 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:26,639 Speaker 1: out of the highlights of the Oakland game on Friday 341 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:31,280 Speaker 1: night the signs that were essentially critical of the a's 342 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:35,040 Speaker 1: proposed move to Las Vegas. This was a silly act 343 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:37,240 Speaker 1: that brought more attention to the issue that it would 344 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:41,240 Speaker 1: have gotten otherwise. Now, if you are paying attention to this, 345 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 1: and if you saw what happened, you saw the signs, 346 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:46,639 Speaker 1: and there were some pretty pointed ones, to say the least, 347 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 1: several of them said sell, meaning John Fisher the owner 348 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:54,360 Speaker 1: should sell. Two of them said Fisher out, meaning John 349 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 1: Fisher should get out. There was one directed at the 350 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:00,199 Speaker 1: club president, Dave Cavill, basically calling him a liar, and 351 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:04,120 Speaker 1: there was another one that simply said stay Now, these 352 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 1: are fans engaging in their rights to free speech, and 353 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 1: it's allowed at the Oakland Ballpark. To their credit, they 354 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: don't force people to take these signs down. But when 355 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 1: the highlights of the game came out, when home run 356 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:21,640 Speaker 1: by Ryan Noda was shown, went out to right field 357 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 1: where the signs were hanging. When the highlights initially came out, 358 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 1: you could not see the signs. Miraculously, digitally they were gone. 359 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:37,360 Speaker 1: Obviously this caused some stir on social media. Someone noticed 360 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 1: someone always notices this kind of thing, right, So the 361 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 1: dork of the week goes to the people who edited 362 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:49,160 Speaker 1: these signs out. And I can assure you it wasn't 363 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:53,160 Speaker 1: one person just making this decision. It was a directive 364 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 1: because that's how this kind of thing works. I worked 365 00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:59,880 Speaker 1: at the MLB network. I get it. I know. Major 366 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:02,560 Speaker 1: Baseball is to the statement saying we were unaware of 367 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 1: the edit. When it came to our attention, we corrected 368 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 1: it as it isn't consistent with our policy. Actually, major 369 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 1: League Baseball was caught then they had to issue this statement. 370 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:16,399 Speaker 1: It sort of is their policy, and now they have 371 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:18,480 Speaker 1: to change their policy or at least not do this 372 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:21,920 Speaker 1: kind of thing again because people will notice and people 373 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:25,480 Speaker 1: will see that it's ridiculous. So Dirk of the Week 374 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 1: goes to whoever was involved in this initially, you shouldn't 375 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 1: have done it, and I trust that you won't be 376 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:34,159 Speaker 1: doing it again because now the secret is out. So 377 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:38,960 Speaker 1: Dork of the Week, it's some random people we don't 378 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:42,400 Speaker 1: know who their names are, but whoever made those decisions initially, 379 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:46,919 Speaker 1: and Major League Baseball for basically creating an environment in 380 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:50,400 Speaker 1: which this decision type of decision could be made. You're 381 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:53,399 Speaker 1: all Dork's of the week. My game this week on 382 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:57,639 Speaker 1: fox Weather, permitting will be Red Sox at Phillies, and 383 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:00,320 Speaker 1: I'm really looking forward to it, not just because the 384 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:02,760 Speaker 1: Red Sox are kind of interesting in their own weird way, 385 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,720 Speaker 1: and because the Phillies, of course are the defending national champions, 386 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:09,880 Speaker 1: but for the possibility that Bryce Harper might be back 387 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:13,040 Speaker 1: as a designated hitter. Now, as we tape this on 388 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:16,440 Speaker 1: Monday morning, Eastern Time, we are waiting for the news 389 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 1: of his visit to a doctor today in which he 390 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:23,119 Speaker 1: will receive word on whether he can be activated. It 391 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:26,520 Speaker 1: has been only one hundred and sixty days since his 392 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:30,520 Speaker 1: Tommy John surgery. Now, pitcher usually is at what twelve 393 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:34,280 Speaker 1: to eighteen months, different for a position player. Different again 394 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:36,560 Speaker 1: for a position player who does not or will not 395 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 1: play the field immediately, and that's Harper's situation. He if 396 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,800 Speaker 1: he returns, will be the DH. But that said, one 397 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:48,040 Speaker 1: hundred and sixty days, that's like nothing for Tommy John surgery. 398 00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:50,720 Speaker 1: So hopefully we all do get to see Bryce again 399 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:54,360 Speaker 1: this week, and certainly I'll be quite excited to see 400 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:56,760 Speaker 1: him on Saturday. As always, Bryce Harper one of the 401 00:21:56,800 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 1: great players in the game. Now time for your question. 402 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:03,960 Speaker 1: Let's start with this one from that guy Garrett also 403 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:07,360 Speaker 1: known as Gary stood ninety four. He asked, are there 404 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 1: more average teams this year than normal? Or is it 405 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:13,720 Speaker 1: too early to tell? How good or bad. Some teams 406 00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:18,879 Speaker 1: are good. Question. Now, generally speaking, Memorial Day is the 407 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:22,960 Speaker 1: better gauge of where teams are. It's about a quarter 408 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:24,960 Speaker 1: of the season, in a little bit more than that, 409 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:28,520 Speaker 1: and that's when teams start to make assessments about just 410 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:31,600 Speaker 1: what they have. So it's still a little early. Now, 411 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:35,040 Speaker 1: what I've seen this year is not so much an 412 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:38,760 Speaker 1: increase in average teams. There are about twelve teams right 413 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 1: now within three games of five hundred. I didn't go 414 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 1: back and research this, but I would expect that's fairly normal. 415 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:49,240 Speaker 1: What is standing out so far are the number of 416 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 1: not just bad teams, but really bad teams. And we've 417 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:55,720 Speaker 1: got the Nationals on pace to lose one hundred and two, 418 00:22:55,880 --> 00:22:57,800 Speaker 1: the Rockies one hundred and twelve, the White Sox one 419 00:22:57,880 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 1: hundred and seventeen, the Royals one hundre in twenty three, 420 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:04,320 Speaker 1: and the A's one hundred and twenty eight. Now, if 421 00:23:04,359 --> 00:23:07,680 Speaker 1: you recall back in the day, losing one hundred games 422 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:09,800 Speaker 1: was a real black mark. It was kind of like 423 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:14,160 Speaker 1: the way strikeouts are now. Strikeouts were once considered really bad. 424 00:23:14,359 --> 00:23:16,399 Speaker 1: Now people are kind of accepted, and we've come to 425 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:20,240 Speaker 1: accept one hundred loss seasons. If they just happened in 426 00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:24,159 Speaker 1: the tanking era, they happen more often than not twenty nineteen, 427 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:27,240 Speaker 1: twenty one and twenty two. The last three full seasons, 428 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 1: we've had four one hundred loss teams since the realignment 429 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:36,359 Speaker 1: that brought us six divisions in nineteen ninety five. That 430 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:40,320 Speaker 1: happened only once before in two thousand and two. So 431 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:44,120 Speaker 1: that's my bigger concern right now. More bad teams, and 432 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:46,080 Speaker 1: we'll see some of these teams will level off a 433 00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:49,800 Speaker 1: little bit and play better. Some might not. Next question 434 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:55,080 Speaker 1: from Ethan Booth, how real is Cody Bellinger's comeback? Good question, 435 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:58,600 Speaker 1: and I would say it's real as we sit here 436 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:00,720 Speaker 1: on Monday morning. He's bat in two ninety five with 437 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:06,280 Speaker 1: six homers, nine to fifty six ops. That's MVP Cody. Essentially. 438 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:10,800 Speaker 1: The most encouraging thing, though, is his performance against left handers. 439 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:13,520 Speaker 1: His ops against left handers over a thousand. It's even 440 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:16,119 Speaker 1: better than it is against right handers. Cody, of course, 441 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:19,679 Speaker 1: is a left handed hitter, and Megan Montemuro of the 442 00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:22,760 Speaker 1: Chicago Tribune pointed out this stat yesterday. It really is telling. 443 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:27,359 Speaker 1: Last three seasons prior to this one, Cody Bellinger six 444 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:30,080 Speaker 1: home runs in three hundred and thirty nine played appearances 445 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:34,760 Speaker 1: off left handers this season, four home runs already off 446 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 1: lefties in forty played appearances. Cody Bellinger looks like he's back. 447 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:40,480 Speaker 1: I saw him in Oakland a couple of weeks ago. 448 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 1: He seemed really happy with the Cubs. Maybe the fresh 449 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:46,520 Speaker 1: start just did him good. This one is from Braydon, 450 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:50,440 Speaker 1: also known as Howard Underscore one one four. Who are 451 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 1: some of your dark horse MVP candidates? Is Wander Franco 452 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:58,120 Speaker 1: or Randy Rose Arena a candidate as of now? Absolutely, 453 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:00,720 Speaker 1: both those guys are candidates. They're playing for the best 454 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:03,840 Speaker 1: team in baseball. They are both in the top six 455 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 1: in the American League and wins above replacement. That's the 456 00:25:06,560 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 1: Fangrafs version. They're having great years now. Mike Trout, he's 457 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:13,160 Speaker 1: also having a great year. Not a dark horse candidate. 458 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:16,720 Speaker 1: The guy who is leading in winds above replacement in 459 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 1: the American League is actually Matt Chapman of the Blue Jays. 460 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:22,200 Speaker 1: I don't know if you consider him a dark horse, 461 00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:25,560 Speaker 1: but he's never really been an MVP candidate before, so 462 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:28,920 Speaker 1: I would put him in that conversation as well. It's 463 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:31,760 Speaker 1: only one month, but Yeah, we've got some interesting candidates 464 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:36,719 Speaker 1: for sure. Next question, WHOA from the one and only 465 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:39,800 Speaker 1: Eric Kratz. Eric Kratz thirty one. He actually uses his 466 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:44,200 Speaker 1: real name in his handle. Eric asks could you beat 467 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:49,879 Speaker 1: Aj Prazinski in a spell contest? Now, there aren't a 468 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:52,960 Speaker 1: lot of things from a physical standpoint that I could 469 00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:55,680 Speaker 1: beat Aj Persinski, and I would suggest that there probably 470 00:25:55,720 --> 00:26:01,160 Speaker 1: are none. But spelling. That's my wheelhouse. I'm a great speller. 471 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:03,160 Speaker 1: You can ask my kids, you can ask my wife. 472 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:05,080 Speaker 1: That's one thing I can do well. There's not a 473 00:26:05,119 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 1: lot that I can do well in this world, but 474 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:10,920 Speaker 1: spelling is one of them. So if Aj on Foul 475 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:14,159 Speaker 1: Territory wants to come at me with some kind of 476 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:19,760 Speaker 1: spelling challenge, I'm ready. Thanks to everyone for listening and watching. Hey, 477 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:22,119 Speaker 1: thanks for your questions as well. They're really good and 478 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 1: we enjoy answering them. You can like us or subscribe 479 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:29,320 Speaker 1: to us on our YouTube channel. You can also, of course, 480 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:33,199 Speaker 1: subscribe to this podcast wherever you get your podcasts. We 481 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:35,960 Speaker 1: will be back next Monday. Of course. I want everyone 482 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:38,960 Speaker 1: to have a great week. Enjoy your baseball. We'll talk 483 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:41,879 Speaker 1: to you soon. Foul Territory fans listen up. 484 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:44,880 Speaker 2: Our friends at betmgm are running an MLB bet ten 485 00:26:44,960 --> 00:26:48,320 Speaker 2: dollars to get one hundred dollars instantly. 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