1 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, Radio News. 2 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 2: Welcome back to the Deal. I'm Jason Kelly alongside Alex Rodriguez. 3 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 2: It's emergency pod time partner. Like we had to jump 4 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,119 Speaker 2: on the mics. You know, this actually reminds me a 5 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:25,599 Speaker 2: lot of when One Soto signed his record setting contract. 6 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 2: Something very similar happened, which is you and I are 7 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:29,479 Speaker 2: texting over the weekend. 8 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 3: We've got to talk about this. 9 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:33,559 Speaker 2: You left me a very long voice memo on Saturday 10 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 2: morning after your workout, essentially saying this is like nothing 11 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 2: you've ever seen. I have a million questions for you. 12 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:44,480 Speaker 2: We're talking about the World Baseball Classic, of course, and 13 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 2: it has captivated the sports world and it comes at 14 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 2: such an interesting time in the sports calendar. Set the 15 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:53,240 Speaker 2: scene for me. You're there in Miami. You've been doing 16 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 2: pre and postgame over the weekend. We're talking hours before 17 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 2: the final. You're gonna be doing pre and posts tonight 18 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 2: for five What are you seeing right now? 19 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: You know, it's like nothing I've ever seen before, Jason, 20 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: because baseball has found something really big and really cool here. 21 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:12,479 Speaker 1: And when you tap into baseball, a great sport that's 22 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:14,959 Speaker 1: been around for over one hundred and almost forty years. 23 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:19,680 Speaker 1: You're tapping into the global ecosystem of the passion of 24 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: all these great countries, twenty of them that come into 25 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 1: a two week tournament just like March Madness, and they're 26 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:29,039 Speaker 1: playing to be the king of baseball. And just think 27 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:31,639 Speaker 1: about a team like Venezuela tonight playing against the US 28 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: or the dr playing. You can never beat the US 29 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 1: at anything, but if you can defeat them in just 30 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:41,400 Speaker 1: one game, what it does for the spirit, self esteem 31 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 1: and energy of a country is second to none. Look, 32 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: we work for Fox Right, and we go into we 33 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: do the pre and post game. We're there about four 34 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 1: or five hours. 35 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 4: For the game. 36 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: When I say, there's twenty five thousand people dancing and 37 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: singing and concerts and it feels like Alabama against LSU 38 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 1: on a Saturday. 39 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 4: It's awesome. 40 00:01:57,320 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 2: I mean, part of what is driving this is talent. 41 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 2: We talk about talent all the time. Seventy eight Major 42 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 2: League Baseball All Stars are participating or have participated in 43 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 2: this tournament. And one of the things you and I 44 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:09,600 Speaker 2: talk about all the time is this idea of like 45 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 2: best needs to play best. You really need to know 46 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 2: that if you win this game, you really are the 47 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 2: best in the world. Help me understand and then we 48 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:20,240 Speaker 2: can get into sort of what it means for baseball. 49 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 2: But help me understand the players perspective. 50 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 3: Here. You talked with Paul Skins for a segment on Fox. 51 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 3: I know you've been talking to a lot of players. 52 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 2: How are the players approaching this from the sort of 53 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 2: the business of themselves. 54 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:34,239 Speaker 1: I think when I first started, when I played with 55 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,799 Speaker 1: Jeter and at Chipper Jones twenty years ago, I think 56 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 1: it was totally different. 57 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:40,359 Speaker 4: We didn't know what we were coming into. It was 58 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 4: a new place. 59 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: It was a bit of a pilot. We knew it 60 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: was going to be around for five years or ten years. Well, 61 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: here we are twenty years later, and it's ballooned to 62 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 1: the biggest events in baseball according to the players now. 63 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:52,640 Speaker 4: I talked to. 64 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 1: About five or six Dominican players about three or four 65 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 1: Venezuela and yesterday, and they all told me unanimously, and 66 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 1: we'll get to judge in a minute, this is much 67 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 1: bigger than us winning a World Series game. We're playing 68 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: for being a patriot of our country. And by the way, 69 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 1: we had Garcia in the post game, who had the 70 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:12,359 Speaker 1: game winning hit last night. He goes, if we don't win, 71 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: we would be it would be scary to walk on 72 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 1: our country. This is how much it means to the 73 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: people of our country. So that's really cool. And then 74 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: on Aaron Judge side, who had a quote he said, 75 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:24,400 Speaker 1: this is bigger than playing in a World Series. Now 76 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: I'm paraphrasing a little bit, but for Aaron Judge, who's 77 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: very smart and very measured and the captain of the 78 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 1: team to say that, I know it opened some eyes 79 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: in New York and even for New York fan base 80 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: for the Yankees. 81 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 2: So here's the exact quote quote the crowd we had 82 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 2: when we played against Mexico, it's bigger and better than 83 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 2: the World Series. 84 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 3: So let me ask you this, what change? 85 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 2: How did this go from like, oh, yeah, we're gonna 86 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 2: do this thing in the off season. It's a bit 87 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 2: of an afterthought. As you said, thank you for mentioning 88 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 2: Chipper Jones. I always appreciate and shout out to the 89 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 2: former Braves, Braves legends, you know you, Chipper Jeter and 90 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 2: others are playing. How did it become this thing? Is 91 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 2: it the world we're living in? Is it better marketing? 92 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 2: Is it more viewership? 93 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 1: Like? 94 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 4: What is it, honestly, I think is social media. 95 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: And the reason why is I can tell you from 96 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 1: Dominican because my algorithm is all Dominican in the US, 97 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: right the two teams that I follow most the amount 98 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: of dancing, singing, celebrating. By the way, the country, the 99 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: world's not in a great place right now, but when 100 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: you see so many people dancing and singing and loving 101 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: each other, and the pride that is tied into you know, 102 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: Puerto Rico beating Venezuela, Venezuela been in the US, US 103 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:33,280 Speaker 1: beating Dominican, it's like second to none. And I think 104 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: they're feeling the pressure, and I think they see this 105 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: as a global stage to be able to not only 106 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:40,919 Speaker 1: become the king of baseball, but for players alone to 107 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:43,679 Speaker 1: establish themselves as kings of their own country. 108 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:45,679 Speaker 2: All right, so let's talk a little bit about viewership. 109 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:49,040 Speaker 2: Viewership versus twenty twenty three. This is based only on 110 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 2: pool play, so not even into the knockout phase where 111 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:54,479 Speaker 2: we're in now, where we'll have to wait for a 112 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 2: subsequent episode for those numbers, Viewership up one hundred and 113 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 2: forty two percent versus twenty twenty three. 114 00:04:58,760 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 3: That's incredible. 115 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 2: The US Mexico game on March tenth averaged five point 116 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 2: zero two million viewers. That's bigger than the twenty twenty 117 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 2: three Japan USA final that was around four point nine 118 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:15,479 Speaker 2: to seven million. Uh and so so far, and I'm 119 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 2: guessing this will be surpassed tonight again. Most watched World 120 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 2: Baseball Classic game in history. Here's the stat that blew 121 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 2: me away. And this goes to something we've talked a 122 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:29,679 Speaker 2: lot about on this show, the Otani effect. One hundred 123 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 2: million Japanese fans have tuned into the World Baseball Classic. 124 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:35,679 Speaker 3: One hundred million. 125 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 4: Unbelievable. Unbelievable. 126 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:41,479 Speaker 1: And to add to that, Jason I was talking to 127 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:44,480 Speaker 1: Francisco Cervelli, who was my former teammate with the New 128 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 1: York Yankees, and he's doing a really respectable thing. 129 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 4: I mean, he's he's he was torn last night, right. 130 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 1: He's managing the Italian team, Francisco Cervelli. But he was 131 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: born and raised in Venezuela, so one parent is Italian, 132 00:05:58,040 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: yeah one. 133 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 4: So he was an ultimate conflict. Yeah, and he's done 134 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:03,480 Speaker 4: something beautiful. 135 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 1: He's moved six months out of the year to to 136 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: move to Italy and he's going in buses all around 137 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: the country promoting and talking about baseball. And they had 138 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 1: a game at two o'clock when they were in Houston, 139 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 1: called it about a week ago, which was prime time 140 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 1: in Italy, and like soccer, all the bars were open, 141 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:25,920 Speaker 1: people were talking baseball, and he's break great attention and 142 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 1: energy to Italy about baseball. It's a beautiful thing. 143 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 3: I mean, it's also amazing. Just to make it hyper local. 144 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 2: Lone Depot Stadium, You're to be there tonight, thirty five 145 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:39,040 Speaker 2: thousand fans sellout, right, I mean it's gonna be. It's 146 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 2: gonna be sold out with all you know, respect and 147 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 2: admiration for our friends at the Marlins. When was the 148 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 2: last time there was a crowd like this at Lone 149 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:48,720 Speaker 2: Depot Park. 150 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 3: I mean, it's crazy. 151 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 4: Well, I'll give you one better. Jason is my Dominican friends. 152 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 1: I had one of my colleagues by a flight in 153 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 1: an American Airlines coach. Now, this flight from Dominican to Miami, 154 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: it's very common, probably an average five hundred dollars for economy. 155 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 4: He played seven thousand dollars. What right? 156 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 1: And you had about twelve thousand people come from dr 157 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: to Miami. 158 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 4: And then you've seen online. 159 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 1: Tickets going for five or six thousand dollars per ticket. 160 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: You know, obviously in the front, second to row. This 161 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 1: has become really big, and I got to tell you, 162 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 1: baseball has something here and I hope they just keep 163 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 1: it going because it's a good, good day for baseball. 164 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 2: So you obviously know Rob Manfred and his team the 165 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 2: commissioner are watching this very closely. How do they take 166 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 2: advantage of this? What do they do? What can baseball? 167 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 2: What can major League Baseball do to as they say 168 00:07:55,560 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 2: in the investment world, consolidate these gains and really just 169 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 2: build on this as we get into what you have 170 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 2: said is one of the most important seasons in the 171 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:07,679 Speaker 2: history of Major League Baseball. 172 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think we're starting to do that. I think 173 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 1: by having you know, a lot of media there from 174 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: all over the world bringing attention and focus to it. 175 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 1: Social media helps because you can have so many viral 176 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 1: moments that are tied into emotion and self esteem and 177 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 1: countries being happy. But even having Fox there right the pregame, 178 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 1: in the postgame, it feels big. You have John Smoltz 179 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:32,200 Speaker 1: and Joe Davis on the call. That feels big. But 180 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 1: I would just talk about it. I mean This is 181 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 1: a page from Roger Goodell and the NFL. Yeah, to 182 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 1: find a property in March when really nobody's really they're 183 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: starting to think about basebus more March madness. They taken 184 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 1: a bite at the Apple the other day, and I'm 185 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 1: sure on Sunday when the Oscars were there, they took 186 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:50,200 Speaker 1: a nice chunk of that fan base in the middle 187 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: of March that was non existent. 188 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 4: It was a non starter. 189 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, the calendar is a really important point because you know, 190 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 2: that's what to echo what you're saying about the NFL. 191 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 2: The NFL has made the business of football a three 192 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 2: hundred and sixty five day a year proposition, whether it 193 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 2: is playing up the combine, whether it's playing up the draft, 194 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:12,679 Speaker 2: making a spectacle of all these different things. There is 195 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 2: a beauty in this, as you say, because it's the 196 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 2: it's the conference tournaments that are happening in basketball. You're 197 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:24,960 Speaker 2: not fully into March Madness yet. Obviously football is out 198 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 2: of the picture. It's as you know from the Minnesota Timberwolves. 199 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 2: It's like it's later in the season, but it's not 200 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 2: quite crunch time. The WNBA season hasn't started yet, so 201 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 2: there really is a nice window here and it's a 202 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 2: great prelude to baseball, you know, and you can see 203 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 2: some of these players, you know, again taking it back 204 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:50,200 Speaker 2: to the Braves as I love to do Acunya. You know, 205 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 2: it's like you see what he's doing, Ronald Acuna Junior. 206 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 2: That makes me excited as a Braves fan, like it 207 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 2: sort of reminds me what a great player he is 208 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 2: and and that it's going to carry presumably into the season. 209 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 3: Yeah. 210 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:04,920 Speaker 1: I agree with all of that, Jason, And a few 211 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: things to add. Number one, if you're Rob Manford, I 212 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 1: like your question. And Dan Halom and other powers to 213 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: be pat coordinate at the Major League Baseball who do 214 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 1: a great job. Think about the last six months for 215 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,319 Speaker 1: Major League Baseball, arguably the best six months over the 216 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:22,000 Speaker 1: last twenty years. You have a world breaking World Series 217 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 1: that's represented Japan, Canada and the US. 218 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:26,359 Speaker 4: You go seven games. 219 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: And you have fifty three million people watch with absolute 220 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:33,760 Speaker 1: brilliant baseball, full of stars, strategy and everything else in between. 221 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 1: Now you go to the World Baseball Classic and you 222 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 1: have this and in a few weeks you have an 223 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 1: opening Day on Netflix. I mean, the game is changing 224 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 1: for the better. And to your point, Jason, I think 225 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:49,120 Speaker 1: Rob has to do everything in his power to continue 226 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:53,079 Speaker 1: the momentum as we embark in the most important season 227 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: in the history of a sport with the CBA. 228 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 4: Why nineteen ninety four. I was there when we walked 229 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:00,840 Speaker 4: off the field. Send me down. 230 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 1: A week earlier, I think it is August twelfth, nineteen 231 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 1: ninety four. We're playing Oakland, A's Mariners against Oakland. We 232 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: walked off the field, and at that time baseball was 233 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:13,559 Speaker 1: still king. At that time, there was no Netflix, no Apple, 234 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 1: no Prime, no YouTube. 235 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 4: No none of this, No what's up. 236 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: There's so many companies fighting for consumer eyeballs today that 237 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 1: we're not alive. Then that baseball has to have a 238 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: great year and please keep them whens them going. 239 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:32,440 Speaker 2: We're going to be talking a lot about baseball over 240 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 2: the coming weeks. We've got a really exciting calendar. You 241 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 2: and I just to tease ahead to things we have 242 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:41,199 Speaker 2: coming up. Later on this week, we'll drop an episode 243 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 2: one of our regularly scheduled episodes with David Levy. He 244 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:46,560 Speaker 2: of course going back to March madis he sort of 245 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 2: created the modern March madness as we consume it now, 246 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:52,320 Speaker 2: So he has a lot of thoughts on what's happening there. 247 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 2: I'm gonna I'm gonna turn the mic on you again 248 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:57,200 Speaker 2: and really talk about what we can expect this coming 249 00:11:57,240 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 2: baseball season for the business of baseball. This will be 250 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:04,120 Speaker 2: a great sort of prelude to that. And we're going 251 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:07,600 Speaker 2: to talk to the founder. We have recorded this and 252 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 2: you and I both were blown away by Jesse Cole, 253 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 2: who is the founder of the Savannah Bananas. I mean 254 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 2: a different view of baseball for sure, but it all 255 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:21,560 Speaker 2: is of a piece here of you know, something is 256 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 2: going on. And listen, I love talking to you about baseball. 257 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 2: You're so passionate about it. I can't even imagine what 258 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 2: the feeling was for you in your hometown and watching 259 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:37,200 Speaker 2: us versus the Dominican Just to close it out, what 260 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:40,199 Speaker 2: did that feel like for you? I mean, as the 261 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 2: sort of uber dr American man. 262 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: Well, I'm going to answer that, and then I want 263 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:46,079 Speaker 1: to turn the tables on you because I do have 264 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 1: a question about you and your experience. For me, you 265 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: have twelve million people in Dominican Republic, and I think 266 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 1: this is as close as one hundred percent attendance as 267 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:57,199 Speaker 1: you're going to get for the whole country watching the game. 268 00:12:57,600 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: Basically friends of mine down there. 269 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 4: Excuse me, said. 270 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:03,760 Speaker 1: To me, Alex, if you walked or drove down the 271 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 1: street in the highway, you can go a mile and 272 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:07,080 Speaker 1: I's see another car. 273 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 4: It was empty. And it's just a really, really beautiful thing. 274 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:13,960 Speaker 1: Again, trying to establish themselves as a king of baseball, 275 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:15,920 Speaker 1: you know, is a missed opportunity. 276 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:17,679 Speaker 4: But they'll be back and the backstrong. They did a 277 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 4: beautiful job. 278 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:22,600 Speaker 1: My question to you is, talk to me about your 279 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:26,559 Speaker 1: mom and your dad and your wife and your kids 280 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 1: even attract them because I'm sure mom and dad are 281 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 1: huge Atlanta Brace fans, but they're not watching baseball in March. 282 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 4: Are they watching? 283 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 3: For example, tonight, They're tuning in for sure. 284 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 2: And I think, you know, in part because of you, 285 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 2: they'll probably tune in because you know you're there. You're 286 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 2: their other son, brother, uncle, whatever whatever it is, uncle 287 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 2: a Rod. But yeah, I mean this has captured the imagination. 288 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 2: I think in part because of an Acunya. You know, 289 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:54,880 Speaker 2: the players like that these are not I think it 290 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 2: is so important that these are the players that were 291 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 2: rooting for throughout the year, and so I think having 292 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:06,080 Speaker 2: that connection with the individual players because keep in mind 293 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:08,720 Speaker 2: this is what you know this better than anyone because 294 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 2: you have Anthony Edwards and Nafisa Collier as two examples 295 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:14,920 Speaker 2: of athletes that you work with, you know through your 296 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:19,840 Speaker 2: basketball teams. We love individual stars and we'd love to 297 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,000 Speaker 2: follow individual stars. And so if we can get to 298 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 2: know them, You've been talking about this for so long, 299 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 2: If we can get to know them in different context, 300 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 2: if we can see them achieve different things in different 301 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:33,120 Speaker 2: formats or in different venues. That's why we love the Olympics. 302 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 2: That's why we love the Dream Team, That's why that 303 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 2: helped the NBA. So I do think I'm giving you 304 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 2: a much broader answer to your question. But I think 305 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 2: these individual stars and these starmaking moments are really the 306 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 2: things that bring in those more casual fans, not just 307 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 2: the diehards like you and me. So all right, have 308 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 2: a great time tonight. It's gonna be it's gonna be wild. 309 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 2: I'll be tuning in, so good luck, It'll be fun. 310 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 2: The Deal is hosted by Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly, 311 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 2: and this episode was made by Alexis HoTT and Stacy Wong. 312 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 2: Will Connelly is our video editor. Our theme music is 313 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 2: made by Blake Maples. Our executive producers are Ashley Zingaro 314 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 2: and Amy Keene. Additional support from Rachel Carnivale, Nick Silva, 315 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 2: and Elena Los Angeles. Thanks so much for listening to 316 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 2: the deal. If you have a minute, subscribe, rate and 317 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 2: review our show. It'll help other listeners find us. I'm 318 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 2: Jason Kelly. See you next week.