1 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,120 Speaker 1: Hello, one and on, Welcome to the Ladies' edition of 2 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: the Hammer Territory Podcast. It is me and Steven Tolbert 3 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: back in the Satele. It's been a few weeks since 4 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: we have been together on a regular show, but it's 5 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:36,559 Speaker 1: good to be with you once again. And it was 6 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: a pretty active day and exciting day as we got 7 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:41,879 Speaker 1: to see some names that with some people that we 8 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 1: have been wanting to see for quite a while, and 9 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 1: those people said some interesting things into microphones and we're 10 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:52,199 Speaker 1: going to get into what Alexanthopolis in particular had to 11 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: say in spring trans Spring training started, Stephen, before we 12 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: get into that. Always a pleasure to see you, sir. 13 00:00:57,440 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 1: How are you today. 14 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 2: Sean, what's up brother, Yeah, it's good to be on 15 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 2: with you. Man. I decided to wear the Braves hat today. 16 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:05,479 Speaker 2: You know, we had the one guy in the YouTube 17 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 2: comments who is very mad that I had a Brewer's 18 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 2: hat on. I thought about worrying it again just to 19 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: double down, but we went Braves today just because you know, 20 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:19,759 Speaker 2: spring training has started. We've got pictures and catchers are reported, 21 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 2: a lot of the position players already. There's it's kind 22 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 2: of become a regular thing. You know, very few players 23 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 2: actually report the day that players are supposed to report. 24 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:32,520 Speaker 2: They come the same day or sometimes earlier than the 25 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 2: pitchers and catchers show up, so most of the players 26 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 2: are in camp already doing batting practice, doing interviews. Obviously, 27 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 2: Alex and Thoppoless gave a kind of a big interview 28 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 2: right at the start of camp, and that's going to 29 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:45,679 Speaker 2: be the focus of today's show because he had some 30 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 2: interesting things to say. 31 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely did. It will kind of go in a 32 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: bit of the order of what Alex and thoppols had 33 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 1: to discuss, you know, mainly hitting on a few topics 34 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 1: before we get into the main topic, which you know 35 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: will be you know, some interesting comments that the had 36 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 1: in terms of how the off season progressed. And you know, obviously, 37 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: you know, the big question on everybody's mind is, you know, payroll, 38 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: and we've talked about that at length on this show 39 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 1: in weeks past. But let's first start with the beginning 40 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 1: of the interview Stephen, where he talked about Ronald Acunya 41 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 1: Junior and Spencer Strider, and of course Ronald Accuonya Junior 42 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:21,639 Speaker 1: himself spoke it was good to see Ronald in action, 43 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 1: good to see Ronald, you know, engaged, and you could 44 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: tell that he was ready to get going once again. 45 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: In overall a positive report, But the big thing from 46 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: Alex Andhopolis was that really nothing had changed. Ronald is 47 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: not going to play in any of the spring training games. 48 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 1: He's going to do plenty of work, you know, basically 49 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:39,519 Speaker 1: on the backfields, I guess for a lack of a 50 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 1: better way of putting it, but the Raids are basically 51 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: going to keep you know, keep tabs on how he's doing, 52 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 1: and he'll continue to progress. So the big takeaway from me, 53 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 1: Stephen is that it's good to at least see proof 54 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 1: that Ronald is healthy and active and obviously has made 55 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: a lot of progress. But also the big takeaway is 56 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: nothing has really changed. Once we get to the start 57 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:01,800 Speaker 1: of the season, probably will get more information, but it 58 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,920 Speaker 1: still seems like that early to mid May makes sense 59 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 1: as when to really expect Ronald to be back in 60 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 1: good actions. 61 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:10,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was notable to me that he said he's 62 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 2: not that Ronald's not gonna play in any spring training games. 63 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 2: I don't know if that we had that information before. 64 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 2: I guess we kind of assumed, I thought he might 65 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,639 Speaker 2: get into a couple near the end, but Alex just 66 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 2: went ahead said he's not gonna play in any spring 67 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 2: training games. He might do stuff on the backfields and 68 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 2: dh and stuff like that. If you talk to Acunya, 69 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:32,800 Speaker 2: you know, if you listen to a Cunya talk, he 70 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 2: is much more I can play pretty soon. If you 71 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 2: listen to Alex talk, they're gonna be much much more 72 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 2: cautious about it. I think what they don't want is 73 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 2: they don't want a situation like we got in twenty 74 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 2: two where he's back, but he's not really back. He's 75 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 2: not Ronald Acuna Junior. He's kind of a shell of himself. 76 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 2: And I think they're trying to avoid that this time around, 77 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 2: where they just give him more time. Obviously, this injury 78 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 2: happened earlier in the calendar than the previous one. You know, 79 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 2: the first one he tour was in mid July. This 80 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 2: one was in May, late May, so he's already had 81 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 2: a you know, a month and a half more to 82 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 2: recover than he did last time, and so they're just 83 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 2: gonna take it very slow. And yeah, like you said, 84 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 2: I think May around the early May is gonna be 85 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:18,119 Speaker 2: you know, if he's not gonna play in any spring 86 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 2: training games. And obviously he's gonna have to rant back 87 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 2: up during April, you know, in the minor leagues or 88 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 2: wherever extended spring training, wherever they want to do it. 89 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 2: So yeah, early May looks like it's gonna be the mark. 90 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 2: But it was notable me that he's not gonna play 91 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 2: in any spring training games. I just came right out 92 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 2: and said it. There wasn't any you know, doubt. He didn't. 93 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 2: He didn't leave a question at the end of it. 94 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 2: He just said, matter of factly, he's not gonna play 95 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 2: in any spring training games. And so that kind of 96 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 2: takes the some of the questions out of it. When 97 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 2: we see the lineups every day in spring training and 98 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:50,359 Speaker 2: Acuna is not in it, now we know why, and 99 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 2: maybe that's why I did it to just to avoid 100 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:55,280 Speaker 2: the the constant questions about it, and it just kind 101 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 2: of settles it for the rest of spring. But yeah, 102 00:04:57,440 --> 00:04:59,600 Speaker 2: early May looks like when it's gonna he's gonna be back. 103 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 2: So hopeful we'll get more closer to the twenty twenty 104 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 2: three Ronald than the twenty twenty two Ronald. 105 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 1: Absolutely, and that's another thing that you know, he discussed 106 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 1: as well. And we will, you know, when we talk 107 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 1: more about you know, season previews and things such as that, 108 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: we'll discuss what Ronald mentioned, But I will say that 109 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:19,279 Speaker 1: and one thing that Ronald alluded to was that he 110 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 1: feels he's in a much better place in coming into 111 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 1: this season than he was going into the twenty two season. 112 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: And it's not just because this is a second time 113 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:31,839 Speaker 1: experiencing things. Alexanthopolis himself said that Ronald was in a 114 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: better position going into this year, much further ahead, so 115 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 1: that at the very least is encouraging that should you know, 116 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:43,360 Speaker 1: basically answer some questions in terms of what version of 117 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: Ronald we're gonna get when he comes back. Hopefully once 118 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 1: he returns, yes, you would expect you know, for you know, 119 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 1: a few weeks even to a month or so. He 120 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:53,599 Speaker 1: needs to you know, get you know, reallocated to the 121 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 1: game that he loves. But maybe he'll be back to 122 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 1: his normal self much quicker than what we saw in 123 00:05:58,839 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two. 124 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,599 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's the goal. I mean, you know, we'll do 125 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 2: a whole Ronald show a little bit later, but yeah, 126 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 2: if he's back to normal, then I mean that's everything 127 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 2: for the Braave. I mean he's just a you know, 128 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:13,799 Speaker 2: he got put on he got put on the MLB. 129 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 2: I think they did like a top one hundred and 130 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 2: he got put like sixteenth on the list. And that's 131 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 2: because of the injury obviously. I mean two years ago, 132 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 2: when he was healthy, he was the best player in baseball. 133 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 2: So the Braves need the best player in baseball. And 134 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 2: I said before when we were talking about Michael Harris, 135 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 2: and I'm not ready to give up on Acuna still 136 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 2: being that guy. Even though he's had two, you know, 137 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 2: full knee reconstructions. I still think that guy is in there. 138 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 2: I don't think we'll see the maybe the seventies stolen bases, 139 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:43,960 Speaker 2: but the bad is still very much a monster when 140 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 2: he's healthy. So yeah, here's to it. And you know, 141 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 2: may can't get here fast enough because baseball is just 142 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 2: more fun when Ronald's on the field. 143 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 1: I said reallocated. I think it's reacclimated. I don't know 144 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 1: what the word is. 145 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:00,720 Speaker 2: You're a Tennessee guy, you don't know. Yeah, I know 146 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 2: either of those words. 147 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 1: That's why I say so many words. So if I 148 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:06,160 Speaker 1: say a word wrong, by the tenth time that I've 149 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:08,160 Speaker 1: said what I've said over and over again, You'll get 150 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 1: what I said. But the point that I'm getting at 151 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 1: is is that getting Runnald back to feeling like himself 152 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 1: is what we're all waiting to see. But let's get 153 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: into the main, you know, and to the meat of 154 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 1: the conversation with Alex and Thopolis, and that was that's 155 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 1: the subject that many people have been waiting to hear 156 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 1: straight from him all off season, the lack of moves, 157 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 1: you know what has been out there. You know, we've 158 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 1: heard others, you know, such as just some Tuscano allude 159 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: to the fact that, you know, maybe the brains were 160 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 1: a bit more limited than they had thought at the 161 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: beginning of the off season. This the off season progressed 162 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:40,080 Speaker 1: and Alex and Thopolis. Of course, he didn't come straight 163 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: out and say it like he did earlier in the 164 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: off season when he kind of alluded to the fact 165 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 1: that they can increase payroll steven. There were several times 166 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 1: in this interview on Friday where Alex again didn't directly 167 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: talk about it. But you can take his comments and 168 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 1: what he said, and it's pretty clear to me that 169 00:07:56,920 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 1: a big takeaway from yesterday is that, yes, the Braves, basically, 170 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 1: while they're not going to allude to it. It does 171 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 1: seem as if many of the questions that people have 172 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 1: had about, you know, where payroll is and are they 173 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 1: a bit more limited, it seems like that there may 174 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: be a bit more truth to that then we had 175 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 1: initially anticipated at the beginning of the off season. Is 176 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: that the main takeaway as we start to dissect comments, 177 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 1: is that the main takeaway that you had from his 178 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 1: comments yesterday. 179 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 2: So yesterday when he was talking, and if you missed 180 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 2: the interview, it's all over social media. You can just 181 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 2: type in Alex and Thoppos's interview yesterday and there's actually 182 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:37,680 Speaker 2: video of it too, so you can go watch it 183 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 2: if you want to. While he was talking, he you know, 184 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 2: he was talking up how big their payroll already is, 185 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 2: how many contracts they already have on the books, and 186 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:52,680 Speaker 2: that is usually somebody somethings that gms say when they're 187 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 2: trying to defend not making any more moves, and so 188 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:57,560 Speaker 2: a lot of people took away from it that they're 189 00:08:57,559 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 2: not going to make any more moves, and it's very 190 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 2: possible that they don't make any more moves. I did 191 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:08,559 Speaker 2: note when Alex said that Jojamenez was the one loss 192 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 2: they haven't been able to account for yet. Part of 193 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:14,440 Speaker 2: me thinks that that's his way of saying they're still 194 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 2: looking for a reliever. There's still quite a few players 195 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 2: that haven't signed. There's still quite a few players that 196 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 2: haven't been traded. I think the Braves could still make 197 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 2: another move. I think the Braves need to make another move. 198 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 2: You know, you and I and Scott did that whole 199 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,319 Speaker 2: show about do they have enough pitching, And the answer 200 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 2: to that question is always no. Even if you do 201 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 2: have enough pitching, you don't have enough pitching. So I 202 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:37,680 Speaker 2: think the Braves should make more moves, specifically a reliever. 203 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 2: I think reliever has jumped to the top of my 204 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 2: list of what they need. I think you can talk 205 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 2: yourself into Grant Holmes being able to replace Charlie Morton. 206 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,959 Speaker 2: Even if I don't necessarily believe that, I can understand 207 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 2: where the Braves believe that, and I can I can 208 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:56,800 Speaker 2: see that argument. The bullpen is an argument I have 209 00:09:56,840 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 2: a hard time buying at all. So but yeah, I 210 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 2: was listening to those comments and it was the first 211 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 2: time I was like, Okay, he's talking about what they've 212 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 2: already spent in kind of a defensive manner. That's typically 213 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 2: what you do when you're trying to convince people why 214 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:16,320 Speaker 2: you're not gonna spend any more money. And so, yeah, 215 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 2: yesterday was the first time I really thought, man, maybe 216 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 2: they really are resetting the tax. And you know, that's 217 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 2: disappointing if I'm being one hundred percent honest and we 218 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 2: try to be honest with fans. You know, the year 219 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 2: that they're hosting the All Star Game, the year after 220 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 2: they had so many injuries, an off season where they 221 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,680 Speaker 2: lost so much in free agency. You know, the battery 222 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 2: is packed every night. It is disappointing if they're cutting 223 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 2: you know, payroll is about twenty million down from where 224 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:48,960 Speaker 2: it ended last year. And if they're really cutting payroll 225 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 2: by that much now again, Alex will spend money in season, 226 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:53,559 Speaker 2: so it won't end up being that much at the end. 227 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 2: But that's disappointing. I mean, there's no other way to 228 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:00,200 Speaker 2: say it. And I'm still gonna hold out hope that 229 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:03,800 Speaker 2: there's another move in there somewhere. I really, I just 230 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 2: have a hard time believing this is the bullpen they're 231 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 2: gonna go. I know there are people that love Perdomo. 232 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:11,560 Speaker 2: I know there are people that love polar I know 233 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:15,040 Speaker 2: there are people that love Day's Bell, and I get that, 234 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 2: but even with those three guys, there's another spot open 235 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:19,959 Speaker 2: in the bullpen. And it's much better if those guys 236 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 2: are you're, you know, six seven eight versus your five 237 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 2: six seven. I think they need another high leverage guy, 238 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 2: you know, even just like a David Robertson signing or 239 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:32,440 Speaker 2: a trade for a decent reliever makes the off season 240 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 2: just look so much better. I'm gonna hold out hope 241 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:36,199 Speaker 2: that that's what's gonna happen. I still think that's what's 242 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 2: gonna happen. But I will say yesterday, and I want 243 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 2: to get your opinion on this, Yesterday was the first 244 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 2: time I thought to myself, Wow, they they maybe really 245 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 2: are gonna cut payroll and reset the tacks. And I 246 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:51,720 Speaker 2: know they're gonna be fans like, yeah, we said that 247 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 2: all along, and there have been people that have said 248 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 2: that all along, but I just I couldn't believe it 249 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 2: until I saw it. And it's we're not done yet. 250 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 2: This the season still a month away, so you know, 251 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 2: we're going to reserve judgment. But yesterday was the first 252 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 2: time I thought to myself, Wow, they they really might 253 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:09,760 Speaker 2: do this. 254 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:13,720 Speaker 1: I know people have, you know, in comments and things 255 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 1: like that, they they've really been wanting us to kind 256 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:19,079 Speaker 1: of you know, you know, rant and for lack of 257 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 1: a better way of putting it, they've been wanting us 258 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 1: to have that opportunity to really you know, you know, 259 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: show disappointment. And I agree, I'm disappointed as well. I 260 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 1: reference back a few about a month ago. You know, 261 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:32,319 Speaker 1: we had this conversation where I still really did not 262 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:35,240 Speaker 1: feel that it was the case that payroll was having 263 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 1: a big of an impact on the off season that 264 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:39,080 Speaker 1: some may think because it just didn't make sense for 265 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 1: it to do that coming off two straight seasons, or 266 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 1: it should be coming off you know, last season, but 267 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:47,200 Speaker 1: also twenty twenty three where we had so many injuries. 268 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 1: Depth certainly is something that was in need. You've had 269 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: both expected and unexpected needs pop up this offseason. You 270 00:12:55,440 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 1: have the Battery, which is a consistent opportunity of making 271 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,640 Speaker 1: money that you know that we feel has certainly helped 272 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 1: them increase payroll over the past several years. You've got 273 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 1: the All Star Game coming up. You're obviously in the 274 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 1: midst of what you feel is a very clear window 275 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:15,920 Speaker 1: to try to win another championship. All those factors to 276 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 1: me point two continuing to increase payroll, and Alex himself 277 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:23,680 Speaker 1: said it as well. But then yesterday it just I 278 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 1: didn't want to accept it. But yesterday, to your point, 279 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 1: was kind of the first time where I'm like, Okay, 280 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: there's some truth to it, more than likely. And the 281 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 1: biggest thing to me that stood out was, I know 282 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:37,520 Speaker 1: a lot of people took towards the end of the interview, 283 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 1: when Alex talked about, you know, they have to be 284 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 1: a bit more selective when it comes to how they 285 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 1: spend their money, they took that as the big comment. 286 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 1: The other big part of the comment was when he 287 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 1: started off talking about the payroll, that they already had 288 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:50,560 Speaker 1: so many guys that they had invested in, you know, 289 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:53,320 Speaker 1: years a few years ago. It was clear the reason 290 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 1: why they were doing this. They were trying to get 291 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: long term savings in place, long term financial flexibility to 292 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:02,560 Speaker 1: where those contracts were so elevated later on in this decade, 293 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 1: to where they could still continue to add to the team. 294 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:07,960 Speaker 1: But yesterday, I'm not gonna say it sounded like he 295 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:11,160 Speaker 1: regretted it, but it was more towards that. It was 296 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:13,679 Speaker 1: more like well, we've already got so much invested in 297 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 1: the team, and I know that some of these contracts 298 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 1: are starting to elevate, but it looked like for the 299 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 1: first time also those long term investments. With Alex's comments, 300 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 1: he seemed to be referred to them more as a 301 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:27,360 Speaker 1: burden than a benefit in order to sit here and 302 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: add to the team. And that really made me raise 303 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 1: my eyebrows. When it came to what to expect before 304 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 1: the start of the season. 305 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 2: Well, I mean, Alex. Listen, Alex did this to himself. 306 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:43,800 Speaker 2: Like two days after the season ended. He came out 307 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:46,520 Speaker 2: into a press conference and set into a microphone. He 308 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 2: was just point Blake asked his payroll going up, and 309 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 2: he said, yeah, it's going up. He didn't give any qualifiers. 310 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 2: He didn't say, well, I got to find the right 311 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 2: guys to pay. He didn't say well, I haven't talked 312 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 2: to Terry yet, I don't know. You know, there's all 313 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 2: sort of things he could have said to quantify, to obfuscate, 314 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 2: you know, that answer, and he didn't do any of that. 315 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 2: He just came out flat out and said, yeah, Perol's 316 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 2: going up. And so when you say that, you obviously 317 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 2: create the expectation among fans that Perol is gonna go up. 318 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 2: You can't. You can't tell everybody it's gonna go up 319 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 2: and then wonder why people are questioning why it hasn't 320 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 2: gone up. You you kind of made this bed yourself. 321 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 2: And so you know, I know they're gonna be people 322 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 2: that will defend Alex and defend the team. And it's 323 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 2: a Listen, the Braves are a very good team. The 324 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 2: Braves are probably gonna win ninety plus games this year. 325 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 2: So you know, we do want to make sure we're 326 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 2: we We don't want to get too crazy with this. 327 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 2: But if the GM says Peril's going up and then 328 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:51,480 Speaker 2: Perrol doesn't go up and in fact goes down, you 329 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 2: open yourself up for criticism. I mean, that's just how 330 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,160 Speaker 2: it is. If I was, if I was, you know, 331 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 2: advising Alex, I'd say, next time somebody asks you that 332 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 2: question two days after the seat over, don't give such 333 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 2: an affirmative answer, you know, give give a wishy, washy answer, 334 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 2: Give a word slid answer that doesn't mean anything, that 335 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 2: doesn't tie you to anything. But when you just come 336 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 2: and flat out and say payroll's going up and it 337 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 2: doesn't go up and in fact goes down. You get 338 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 2: what you get in terms of criticism. Like I I 339 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 2: you know, there's not really any defending that, so I 340 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:26,480 Speaker 2: understand why fans are mad. I could listen. I completely 341 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 2: get it. I am still holding out hoped. I think 342 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 2: they're gonna make another move. I've said that. I know, 343 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 2: I've said that all off season. I said that before 344 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 2: the Profile signing. I still believe it. I think they're 345 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 2: gonna make another move. I think they're gonna add a reliever, 346 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 2: and then then they'll obviously make moves in season to 347 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 2: increase payroll as well. So I'm not I'm not there yet. 348 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 2: I'm not there yet where I fully believe this is 349 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 2: just the team. They're not adding anything else until we 350 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 2: get to opening day and there's nobody else available, then 351 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 2: we can have that conversation. I still think they're gonna add. 352 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 2: The comment about Joejamenez, you know, when he was talking 353 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:04,399 Speaker 2: about Charlie Morton, he said, you know, we believe that 354 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:06,879 Speaker 2: Grant Holmes can take that role. He didn't say Charlie 355 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:08,919 Speaker 2: Morton as a hole that we haven't filled yet. He 356 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:13,439 Speaker 2: said specifically, we think Grant Holmes can be what Charlie 357 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:17,959 Speaker 2: Morton is currently so in their mind, obviously internally they 358 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:21,360 Speaker 2: feel like Grant Holmes is the replacement for Charlie Morton. 359 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 2: But when he got to Joemennez, he didn't say that. 360 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 2: He didn't say we think Daves Beel Hernandez can be 361 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:30,640 Speaker 2: what Joejimennez was he said, maybe he can, hopefully he can. 362 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 2: But what he started with is we haven't filled. We 363 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,680 Speaker 2: haven't been able to account for that loss yet. So 364 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 2: that tells me, and maybe I'm crazy, and if I'm wrong, 365 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:42,320 Speaker 2: I'll admit i'm wrong. And I know I've said this 366 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 2: all all season, but that tells me they're still working 367 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:47,320 Speaker 2: on something. I think they're still trying to add a reliever. 368 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:50,560 Speaker 2: And until we get to the end of the to 369 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 2: the end of spring training, which is the official end 370 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:56,600 Speaker 2: of the offseason, I'm gonna believe that they're still trying 371 00:17:56,600 --> 00:17:59,399 Speaker 2: to add a reliever. And you know, if they do, 372 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:01,360 Speaker 2: they do. If they they don't, well obviously talk about 373 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 2: it either way. But I'm not there yet where I'm 374 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:07,160 Speaker 2: fully convinced this is the team, this is the payroll, 375 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 2: you know, going into the season. 376 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 1: And I want to clarify on my end that I'm 377 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:15,439 Speaker 1: not to the point to where I don't feel like 378 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:18,680 Speaker 1: they're going to add I'm basically saying that, you know, 379 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:22,440 Speaker 1: them taking care of every hole with a significant addition. 380 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 1: I never really expected for that to be the case. 381 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,439 Speaker 1: But I'm more saying that going into the season, I 382 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 1: think there's still going to be there's going to be 383 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:31,879 Speaker 1: more questions out there than many of us had hoped 384 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 1: there would be remaining as we go into the season, 385 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:36,159 Speaker 1: if that makes sense. And I'm also not trying to 386 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 1: defend Alex, but when you take what he said at 387 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:40,800 Speaker 1: the beginning of the season and yesterday, when you kind 388 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 1: of look, you know, further into his comments, you know, 389 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:46,439 Speaker 1: he looked like he wasn't necessarily scrambling, but he was 390 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 1: basically just trying. He didn't seem convinced himself that the 391 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:53,199 Speaker 1: reasons is for the lack of moves this offseason, the 392 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:55,359 Speaker 1: reasons that that didn't occur. He didn't really seem to 393 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:57,679 Speaker 1: believe in the words that he was saying. And I'm 394 00:18:57,720 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 1: not sitting here trying to, you know, overly criticize. The 395 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:03,119 Speaker 1: point that I'm getting at is I wonder if something 396 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:06,280 Speaker 1: has happened like at the time that Alex made the 397 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 1: comment tried after the season to now, did something occur 398 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 1: as the off season progressed where the Braves ability to 399 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:16,439 Speaker 1: add was more limited than they thought. I don't have 400 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:18,880 Speaker 1: the answers to that. I'm not sitting here again trying 401 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 1: to say this is the reason why not to criticize Alex. 402 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:23,960 Speaker 1: To your point, he should have probably not been so 403 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:26,199 Speaker 1: direct at the beginning of the off season. But I 404 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 1: wonder as the offseason has progressed, the Braves just realized 405 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:31,960 Speaker 1: they just didn't have the ability to add as they thought. 406 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:34,400 Speaker 1: That's something else that kind of came to mind yesterday. 407 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:37,160 Speaker 1: It just seems like as the off season progressed, the 408 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:39,239 Speaker 1: Braves did not have as much room to add as 409 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:42,640 Speaker 1: they thought. So now going into the season, they're really 410 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:45,120 Speaker 1: focused on what they've got to work with to maybe 411 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:47,440 Speaker 1: feel some of these needs internally, feel more of these 412 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:50,280 Speaker 1: needs internally than they had originally thought to start the 413 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: off season. 414 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 2: Well, yeah, and the off season started with a bunch 415 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:56,440 Speaker 2: of cost saving moves. Remember, I mean they declined Darnault's option, 416 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 2: which was very controversial, and Darneaud is a beloved player 417 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:01,159 Speaker 2: in Atlanta. He was a very good He was one 418 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 2: of their best hitters last year when Murphy was so bad, 419 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:07,280 Speaker 2: and it was a very reasonable options, like eight million 420 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 2: dollar option, and they declined it. And they restructured Ronaldo 421 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:13,399 Speaker 2: Lopez's deal, they restructured Aaron Bummer's deal, They moved on 422 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:16,399 Speaker 2: from Solaire, saved a bunch of money there. You know, 423 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:20,080 Speaker 2: they non tendered Loreano, they non tendered Driffin Kaneing, who 424 00:20:20,119 --> 00:20:23,440 Speaker 2: was the return for Solaire. So they did all these 425 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:25,320 Speaker 2: moves at the beginning of the offseason. And the way 426 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:28,480 Speaker 2: they sold it was, we are not cutting payroll. We 427 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:32,719 Speaker 2: are giving ourselves as much room so we can go 428 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 2: out and be aggressive in the market. Right, That's how 429 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 2: they sold it. And so naturally, when you're not aggressive 430 00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 2: in the market after that, you know people are gonna 431 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:48,199 Speaker 2: ask questions like why downgrade from Travis Darnaud to to 432 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 2: Chadwick Trump. If you're not going to use those savings 433 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:53,879 Speaker 2: anywhere else on the team, it just looks like you 434 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 2: just got worse at catcher just to save money. And 435 00:20:57,320 --> 00:21:01,159 Speaker 2: that's listen, that's fair. That's a fair criticism, and it 436 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:03,639 Speaker 2: doesn't mean the team's not good. The team's fantastic. And 437 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:06,360 Speaker 2: I actually kind of like having Sean Murphy being able 438 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 2: to play more now that he has a traditional backup. 439 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 2: But like if you spin it as we're doing these 440 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 2: coll saving moves so that we have ammunition to go 441 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 2: add to the team during the winter, and then you 442 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:21,880 Speaker 2: do very little in the winter. People are gonna ask questions, 443 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:23,879 Speaker 2: and you know, Alex knows that he's been in this 444 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:26,000 Speaker 2: business long enough. And again when you tie that also 445 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:27,679 Speaker 2: to the fact that you said payroll is going up 446 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,720 Speaker 2: and it doesn't go up, people are gonna get mad. 447 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 2: And so again I'm not ready to say this is 448 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 2: the team yet. I don't think this is the team. 449 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:39,040 Speaker 2: I think they're gonna add another reliever between now and 450 00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 2: opening day, and I think payroll's gonna go up, and 451 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:43,240 Speaker 2: then they'll do stuff in season and payroll's gonna go 452 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 2: up more. I don't know what the final number will be, 453 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:50,960 Speaker 2: but listening to him talk about Joejamannaz yesterday made me 454 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:54,719 Speaker 2: even more believe that they know they need another reliever 455 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:58,240 Speaker 2: and we'll see. You know, it has to match up. 456 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:00,199 Speaker 2: I think they were in on Tenor Scott and I 457 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:01,919 Speaker 2: think the Dodgers outbit him. I think they were in 458 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:04,960 Speaker 2: on Jeff Hoffman and they didn't like his shoulder. If 459 00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:07,040 Speaker 2: they sign either one of those contracts, payroll looks a 460 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:10,920 Speaker 2: lot different. This is a different conversation. So I don't 461 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:13,400 Speaker 2: know if their ability to sign free agents has diminished 462 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:15,800 Speaker 2: or they just never got to the finish line on 463 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:20,000 Speaker 2: the ones they liked. And that's fair like that, you know, 464 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 2: if you don't if you try to sign a guy 465 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:24,280 Speaker 2: and he doesn't sign because he the Dodgers paid him 466 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:26,159 Speaker 2: more money, or he doesn't sign because you don't like 467 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:30,879 Speaker 2: the medicals like, I get that that happens. So but 468 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:32,640 Speaker 2: at the end of the day, people are just gonna 469 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:35,399 Speaker 2: judge you based on what you get done. And Alex 470 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 2: knows that. And I think that's why he was in 471 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 2: a bit of a defensive posture yesterday, quite honestly, is 472 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:43,120 Speaker 2: that he knows he's gonna catch criticism, and I think 473 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:44,639 Speaker 2: he knows it's a bit of his own fault for 474 00:22:44,680 --> 00:22:48,399 Speaker 2: saying unequivocally that payroll was going to go up in November. 475 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:50,840 Speaker 2: I think if he could have that press conference back, 476 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:53,680 Speaker 2: he would have been a little more, you know, he 477 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:55,960 Speaker 2: would have been a little more conservative in his answers 478 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:59,919 Speaker 2: versus just being so emphatic in his answers because that 479 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 2: whole looking back at that whole press conference, I mean 480 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:05,200 Speaker 2: when he talked about the all the coaches were gonna 481 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 2: come back, they fired three coaches. Like a week later, 482 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 2: you talked about all the guys with options are gonna 483 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 2: get picked up. They declined our those options. He said, 484 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 2: payroll is gonna go up. Looks like payroll is gonna 485 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:16,960 Speaker 2: go down. Like that whole press conference is kind of 486 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:18,719 Speaker 2: comical now when you go back and listen to it. 487 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:21,040 Speaker 2: But I'm guessing if he had it to do over again, 488 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:25,240 Speaker 2: he would maybe be a little more conservative in his answers, 489 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:26,440 Speaker 2: you know, back in November. 490 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:30,879 Speaker 1: And then the last thing that I'll end with is 491 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:34,080 Speaker 1: that Okay, So you know, again coming back to the 492 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:38,520 Speaker 1: perspective of questions and answers, right, plenty of questions have 493 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 1: been there throughout the off season, more than we More 494 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:44,720 Speaker 1: of those questions than we thought are still unanswered as 495 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:47,160 Speaker 1: we go into spring training. But I would have broaden 496 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:50,159 Speaker 1: the scope of these questions a bit more because now 497 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 1: as we've seen this payroll occur, We've seen we've seen 498 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:57,240 Speaker 1: Alex and Thopoulos's comments occur. We've got some big contracts 499 00:23:57,240 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 1: that are in the final year are of their contract. 500 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:02,639 Speaker 1: We've got some big payroll guys in the final year 501 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:06,760 Speaker 1: of their contract. This starts to shed light on the fact, okay, 502 00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:10,480 Speaker 1: do we fill them with significant contributors? You know, Dansby 503 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:14,159 Speaker 1: Sponson left before the start of the twenty twenty three season. Now, 504 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:15,600 Speaker 1: I'm not saying we should have paid Hi one hundred 505 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:18,640 Speaker 1: and seventy five million, but we obviously have stayed focused 506 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:21,400 Speaker 1: on filling him with the cheap option. In Orlando Arcia, 507 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 1: Max Reed and Charlie Morton both have left. I know 508 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:26,359 Speaker 1: you can sit there and say, well, Spencers Wellemach and 509 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:29,160 Speaker 1: Chris l are the replacements for them. I don't think 510 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:31,720 Speaker 1: that's true. We have not gone out and added another 511 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 1: significant arm when we had the need. What occurs with 512 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:38,200 Speaker 1: Rice Iglesias, who's owned sixteen meion this year and Marcelo Zuna, 513 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:41,080 Speaker 1: who's owned sixty meion this year. If they have good years, 514 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:43,640 Speaker 1: they potentially could get the twenty million dollar range each 515 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:46,680 Speaker 1: for both of them. What if after this season they 516 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:49,480 Speaker 1: obviously leave in free agency and now we've got other 517 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:53,040 Speaker 1: significant holes to feel the ability for this team to 518 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:55,960 Speaker 1: be able to fill significant holes as we start to 519 00:24:56,040 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 1: lose more and more players to free agents, which we've 520 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:01,720 Speaker 1: really seen happen this off and our ability to replace 521 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:05,080 Speaker 1: that value now does it become as certain? And that 522 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:07,960 Speaker 1: to me is the big long term question that comes 523 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:10,200 Speaker 1: from Alexanthopoulos's comments yesterday. 524 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, listen, that's fair. I mean, you know, they obviously 525 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:17,959 Speaker 2: lost a lot this offseason to free agency, and like 526 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:20,440 Speaker 2: you said, they've got the two big guns next year 527 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 2: coming off the books are Iglesias and Ozuna on top 528 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:27,399 Speaker 2: of some other smaller stuff. Are they gonna replace those guys? 529 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 2: You know, we've watched you know, Freddie Freeman leave, We've 530 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 2: watched Dancy Swanson leave, we watched Max Freed, Charlie Morton, 531 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:38,480 Speaker 2: AJ Minter. You know, the Braves have watched a lot 532 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:43,840 Speaker 2: of really good guys leave and it's a fair question 533 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:45,639 Speaker 2: to ask are they going to replace them because they 534 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:48,439 Speaker 2: didn't really replace them this offseason, at least not in 535 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:52,439 Speaker 2: the marketplace. Now they will tell you that, you know, 536 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:56,000 Speaker 2: Spencer Stryder coming back is kind of the replacement for 537 00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 2: Max Freed, and Grant Holmes emergence is kind of the 538 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:01,359 Speaker 2: replacement for Charlie Morton and on. Hel Perdomo is the 539 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:05,359 Speaker 2: replacement for aj Minterter. We'll see. The proof will be 540 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:07,119 Speaker 2: in the putting on that. You know, if Grant Holmes 541 00:26:07,119 --> 00:26:09,919 Speaker 2: goes out and throws an incredible year and he's like 542 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:14,680 Speaker 2: a legitimate starting pitcher, then that opinion is a lot 543 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:17,240 Speaker 2: more valid. Right. If on hel Perdomo comes out and 544 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:21,080 Speaker 2: shows that he can be a really good reliever, that 545 00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:23,960 Speaker 2: validates that opinion, you know that it validates that move. 546 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:25,679 Speaker 2: So the proof will be in the pudding in a 547 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 2: lot of ways. We'll learn a lot this year, you know. 548 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:31,520 Speaker 2: But it's fair to ask after this offseason are they 549 00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:33,879 Speaker 2: cutting you know, is this a one year thing of 550 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 2: just resetting the tax? Are they winding back payroll overall? 551 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:40,800 Speaker 2: Is this kind of the new level that they're gonna 552 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:42,600 Speaker 2: be at and that means they're not gonna be able 553 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 2: to replace the guys that leave next year. I don't know. 554 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:48,200 Speaker 2: That's a fair question. This offseason has gone very different 555 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 2: than I thought it would. I think it's gone very 556 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:52,600 Speaker 2: different than a lot of people thought it would. I'll 557 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:54,560 Speaker 2: say it again, I'm not convinced the off season is 558 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:58,560 Speaker 2: necessarily over yet, And until some guys come off the 559 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 2: board and go somewhere else, I still think the Braves 560 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:05,240 Speaker 2: are looking to maybe add but there's no doubt this 561 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:07,280 Speaker 2: off season has gone very different than people thought it would, 562 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:12,000 Speaker 2: and the Braves are banking on some internal some guys 563 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 2: internally stepping up and filling roles that they've never filled before. 564 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:22,760 Speaker 2: And if that works and people stay healthy, then Alex 565 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:24,439 Speaker 2: will get a lot of credit. And if it doesn't, 566 00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:26,959 Speaker 2: then Alex is gonna catch a lot of shit. And 567 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:29,800 Speaker 2: that's just the that's the name of it. When you 568 00:27:29,840 --> 00:27:34,320 Speaker 2: have a quiet off season and and things work, then 569 00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:36,280 Speaker 2: no one cares. If you have a quiet off season 570 00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:40,119 Speaker 2: and things don't work, everybody cares. So you know, in 571 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:42,720 Speaker 2: a lot of ways, the play on the field will 572 00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:45,720 Speaker 2: determine the final opinion on this off season. 573 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, and again it comes back to, you know, the 574 00:27:49,280 --> 00:27:53,600 Speaker 1: thing about certainty versus uncertainty, right, you know, we were 575 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:57,199 Speaker 1: so coming off twenty twenty four, the performance of the 576 00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:59,919 Speaker 1: off season. We're a lot more uncertain going into this season. 577 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:02,520 Speaker 1: We were a year ago, two straight years when we've 578 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:05,920 Speaker 1: had to deal with significant injury problems. In this time 579 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:09,800 Speaker 1: around to our who was our most valuable pitcher, who 580 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:12,200 Speaker 1: is our most valuable pitcher and our most valuable position 581 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:14,639 Speaker 1: player in terms of what they've done in recent years, 582 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:18,560 Speaker 1: and now in Ronald Cooney Junior and Spencer Strider, that's uncertainty. 583 00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:21,440 Speaker 1: Now we have you know, payroll, you know what's there 584 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:24,640 Speaker 1: in terms of payroll, and we've lost so many sources 585 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:27,600 Speaker 1: of certainty. Right Max Reed was reliable as a starter 586 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:29,440 Speaker 1: as you could be as a top of the rotation starter. 587 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 1: Charlie Morton was as reliable as you could be, taking 588 00:28:31,840 --> 00:28:33,800 Speaker 1: the ball every fifth day, a j miner from the 589 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:36,000 Speaker 1: left side, being a back into the bullpen option was 590 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 1: as reliable as you could be most years. But now 591 00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:41,480 Speaker 1: we've had those become holes to feel and what are 592 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:44,760 Speaker 1: we filling them with? Sources of uncertainty? So I think 593 00:28:44,760 --> 00:28:46,840 Speaker 1: that that's the other thing that stands out is that 594 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:52,600 Speaker 1: if we had you know, more you know guys, more option, 595 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:55,480 Speaker 1: internal options like higher prospects that we knew more about 596 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:57,720 Speaker 1: and things such as that, that we're filling these holes. 597 00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:00,200 Speaker 1: That may be the case, but I think that as 598 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 1: we're just seeing a stretch of uncertainty that is continuing 599 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:07,400 Speaker 1: to rise with this team. And while the known sources 600 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:10,440 Speaker 1: of success in production we know are very good, we 601 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:13,239 Speaker 1: also know that they are not as reliable as they 602 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:15,080 Speaker 1: once work to stay healthy. I don't mean that as 603 00:29:15,080 --> 00:29:18,480 Speaker 1: a criticism, it's just the simple truth. So the depth 604 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:21,720 Speaker 1: behind those options being more uncertain than it has ever 605 00:29:21,760 --> 00:29:26,160 Speaker 1: been before. Again, I definitely feel that anybody who wants 606 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:28,720 Speaker 1: to criticize that, it's fine. But if you don't feel 607 00:29:28,760 --> 00:29:31,320 Speaker 1: as confident that this team going into this season, while 608 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 1: the talent level was there, is going to be able 609 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:35,960 Speaker 1: to have the consistent production health what it may be 610 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:38,560 Speaker 1: to really get to the expectations than many of us have. 611 00:29:38,680 --> 00:29:41,600 Speaker 1: I don't blame you for feeling uncertain yourself that they're 612 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:43,320 Speaker 1: going to be able to rise to the occasion and 613 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:45,360 Speaker 1: get the job done. I still think this team should 614 00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:47,640 Speaker 1: be World Series of US. I definitely think the World 615 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,600 Speaker 1: Series is an a reasonable outcome. But again, there's just 616 00:29:50,640 --> 00:29:52,160 Speaker 1: a lot more questions at this point in time of 617 00:29:52,160 --> 00:29:54,560 Speaker 1: the off season that are still relevant than I thought 618 00:29:54,560 --> 00:29:55,760 Speaker 1: there would be a few months ago. 619 00:29:56,680 --> 00:29:59,080 Speaker 2: And that's what it is. Really. Our expectation was we 620 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:01,920 Speaker 2: would have more answer at this point than we have 621 00:30:02,360 --> 00:30:05,680 Speaker 2: right and that's where people are upset or not upset, 622 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:08,640 Speaker 2: but confused, Like we just thought we'd have more answers 623 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:10,800 Speaker 2: and right now we're gonna go into the season, it 624 00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:13,640 Speaker 2: looks like with a lot of questions, that doesn't mean 625 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:16,520 Speaker 2: it's gonna be bad. Like all, you know, most of 626 00:30:16,560 --> 00:30:19,320 Speaker 2: those questions could be answered, like Spencer Strider could really 627 00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:22,760 Speaker 2: just be back and back to cy young level Spencer Strider, 628 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:25,080 Speaker 2: Ronald Kunye could just be back. I do think the 629 00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:27,840 Speaker 2: offense will be better next year than it was last year. 630 00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:31,080 Speaker 2: I don't think they're gonna have to pitch as well 631 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:32,920 Speaker 2: as they did last year to win. I mean, last 632 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:34,640 Speaker 2: year they won a lot of games like two to one, 633 00:30:34,920 --> 00:30:37,959 Speaker 2: three to one because the offense wasn't doing anything. I 634 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:39,800 Speaker 2: don't think that's gonna be the case again this year. 635 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:41,720 Speaker 2: I do think that I do think the pitching staff 636 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:44,920 Speaker 2: as a whole can take a step back and the 637 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:48,640 Speaker 2: results not be any worse because the offense is gonna 638 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:51,400 Speaker 2: be better. I think Profar is a big addition. I 639 00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:53,200 Speaker 2: think he helps in a lot of ways. And I think, 640 00:30:53,320 --> 00:30:55,240 Speaker 2: you know, Olsen will be better. I think Riley will 641 00:30:55,280 --> 00:30:57,479 Speaker 2: be better. I think Ozzie will be better. I think 642 00:30:57,560 --> 00:31:00,760 Speaker 2: Murphy will be better. Akunya is a you know, Acunya 643 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:02,840 Speaker 2: is just a wild card. At this point, We'll see 644 00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:06,760 Speaker 2: what happens. But the pitching staff shouldn't have to be 645 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:08,360 Speaker 2: as good this year as it was last year. I 646 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:11,000 Speaker 2: could be wrong about that, but I think the offense 647 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:12,480 Speaker 2: will carry more of the load this year than it 648 00:31:12,520 --> 00:31:15,280 Speaker 2: did last year. And we'll see, you know, most of 649 00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:17,440 Speaker 2: the questions of this team are around the pitching staff. 650 00:31:17,480 --> 00:31:20,320 Speaker 2: We'll see, we'll see what Grant Holmes looks like. You know, 651 00:31:20,720 --> 00:31:24,239 Speaker 2: the schedule early on is very tough. They go to 652 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:26,680 Speaker 2: San Diego to LA the first two series of the year, 653 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:29,680 Speaker 2: they come home, they play the Marlins and the Phillies. 654 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:32,400 Speaker 2: So they played basically three of the four best teams 655 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:35,000 Speaker 2: in the National League, you know, in their first four series. 656 00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:38,280 Speaker 2: And they're not gonna have Strider or Acunya. So we'll 657 00:31:38,320 --> 00:31:41,719 Speaker 2: learn pretty early what this team looks like. You know, 658 00:31:41,840 --> 00:31:43,840 Speaker 2: Spring training is going to be fascinating for guys like 659 00:31:43,920 --> 00:31:46,320 Speaker 2: Ian Anderson and Grant Holmes, just to see how they look. 660 00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:49,640 Speaker 2: Same thing with guys like Perdomo and Polar. If they 661 00:31:49,640 --> 00:31:51,760 Speaker 2: don't add another reliever, these guys all of a sudden 662 00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:56,880 Speaker 2: become critically important. So you know, one good thing about 663 00:31:56,880 --> 00:31:58,760 Speaker 2: a lot of questions is it does lead to a 664 00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:01,120 Speaker 2: lot of intrigue, Like there will be things to talk 665 00:32:01,160 --> 00:32:03,560 Speaker 2: about this spring because we don't have a lot of 666 00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:05,719 Speaker 2: answers to some of you know, the questions that we 667 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:07,760 Speaker 2: started the off season with. We don't have a lot 668 00:32:07,760 --> 00:32:10,840 Speaker 2: of answers, so you know, that does lead to at 669 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 2: least some entertaining, you know, topics for spring training. But 670 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:16,239 Speaker 2: I think the offense will be better. I still think 671 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:19,400 Speaker 2: they're going to get another reliever. And this is still 672 00:32:19,440 --> 00:32:21,680 Speaker 2: a very good team. And I know people are upset 673 00:32:21,720 --> 00:32:24,000 Speaker 2: with Alex right now because of the payroll stuff, but 674 00:32:24,240 --> 00:32:27,360 Speaker 2: this is a very good team. And I still think 675 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:29,600 Speaker 2: they're trying to add and we'll see, we'll see what happens. 676 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:33,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, And and the other thing that the best way 677 00:32:33,280 --> 00:32:34,760 Speaker 1: I could sum it up is this is that I 678 00:32:34,760 --> 00:32:37,719 Speaker 1: think myself, you, Stephen and Mini, when you look at 679 00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:40,080 Speaker 1: this team on paper going into spring training the past 680 00:32:40,080 --> 00:32:42,560 Speaker 1: three seasons and right before the season started, you look 681 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:44,600 Speaker 1: at them on paper and you say to yourself, Wow, 682 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:47,600 Speaker 1: this team legitimately has a case to be the best 683 00:32:47,640 --> 00:32:50,720 Speaker 1: team in baseball so far this spring training or going 684 00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:52,280 Speaker 1: into the start of spring training this year. When you 685 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:54,360 Speaker 1: look at this team on paper, you still say wow 686 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:56,440 Speaker 1: for the same reason, but you also see yourself saying 687 00:32:56,480 --> 00:32:59,320 Speaker 1: while a second time where you're like, hey, there are 688 00:32:59,320 --> 00:33:01,560 Speaker 1: a bit more questions, don't hear that I had originally thought? 689 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:03,440 Speaker 1: So I think that's a good way to sum it up. 690 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:06,720 Speaker 1: But here's the thing that I'll say, is this just 691 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:11,920 Speaker 1: because there's more questions, that does not mean that they 692 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:15,120 Speaker 1: won't wind up having positive answers once we get into 693 00:33:15,120 --> 00:33:17,680 Speaker 1: the season. And I will say this, I will defend 694 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:21,560 Speaker 1: Alex all day long than this. Typically, when he has 695 00:33:21,680 --> 00:33:24,400 Speaker 1: questions to answer when it comes to putting the product 696 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:27,000 Speaker 1: on the field, more often than not, his track worker 697 00:33:27,080 --> 00:33:30,400 Speaker 1: shows he answers with the quality response. So if we're 698 00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:32,800 Speaker 1: going to bank on that, I'll continue to bank on it, 699 00:33:33,120 --> 00:33:34,680 Speaker 1: even if we may not have as much to bank 700 00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:37,200 Speaker 1: with as we once thought. Stephen, any more comments from 701 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:38,880 Speaker 1: you as we wrap up this edition of the Hammer 702 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:40,120 Speaker 1: Territory podcast. 703 00:33:41,440 --> 00:33:44,520 Speaker 2: Now, I'm just having Baseball's back. We're actually gonna get 704 00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:47,560 Speaker 2: you know, the technically the position players report Monday. Of 705 00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:49,960 Speaker 2: course for the Braves, most of them are already there anyways. 706 00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:51,800 Speaker 2: But then we're gonna get full squad workouts and then 707 00:33:51,800 --> 00:33:54,360 Speaker 2: we're gonna get in the games. I get their spring 708 00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:56,320 Speaker 2: training games. They don't mean a ton. But again, like 709 00:33:56,360 --> 00:33:58,560 Speaker 2: we just talked about here, the Braves are gonna have 710 00:33:58,600 --> 00:34:01,000 Speaker 2: some things that they need to see and training. They're 711 00:34:01,000 --> 00:34:02,920 Speaker 2: gonna have bullpen spots open. They're gonna have back of 712 00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:05,960 Speaker 2: the rotation spots open. Especially since Strider is not gonna 713 00:34:05,960 --> 00:34:08,120 Speaker 2: be there to start the year, They're gonna have two 714 00:34:09,320 --> 00:34:12,440 Speaker 2: rotation spots that they're gonna have to fill internally. So 715 00:34:12,520 --> 00:34:15,080 Speaker 2: how these guys look in spring is gonna matter. Same 716 00:34:15,080 --> 00:34:16,879 Speaker 2: thing with the bullpen guys, how they look. They they 717 00:34:16,880 --> 00:34:18,840 Speaker 2: brought it in an army of minor league free agents, 718 00:34:19,160 --> 00:34:23,080 Speaker 2: so you know spring training is gonna have some some 719 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:26,360 Speaker 2: interest and you know we'll be able to see it 720 00:34:26,360 --> 00:34:28,560 Speaker 2: and talk about it. They're they're they're showing a lot 721 00:34:28,640 --> 00:34:30,680 Speaker 2: more spring training games. We're actually gonna get video of 722 00:34:30,680 --> 00:34:33,200 Speaker 2: it more this year. You know, you can stream games 723 00:34:33,200 --> 00:34:34,880 Speaker 2: a lot more often in spring training than you used 724 00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:38,759 Speaker 2: to be able to. So I'm excited. I do. I 725 00:34:39,160 --> 00:34:40,680 Speaker 2: would love for the Brace to get one more reliever. 726 00:34:40,719 --> 00:34:43,400 Speaker 2: I'd feel so much better with one more reliever. But 727 00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:46,600 Speaker 2: we'll see what they do. But baseball is back. March 728 00:34:46,640 --> 00:34:48,560 Speaker 2: Madness is almost here. Best time of the year for 729 00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:51,080 Speaker 2: a sports fan, so I'm excited. 730 00:34:51,560 --> 00:34:54,160 Speaker 1: I definitely am as well. And hey, you know what again, 731 00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:56,239 Speaker 1: the other good thing about it is is that if 732 00:34:56,239 --> 00:34:59,560 Speaker 1: it's fitted disappointing offseason for you, if now we we 733 00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:02,479 Speaker 1: have more, you know, more as certain truth than ever 734 00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:04,279 Speaker 1: that Hey, a lot of the questions that we have 735 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:06,880 Speaker 1: are gonna be answered internally by the talent that's already 736 00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:09,719 Speaker 1: on the team. Replace that disappointment from the offseason. As 737 00:35:09,719 --> 00:35:12,680 Speaker 1: Steven mentioned with intrigue for spring training, because if the 738 00:35:12,680 --> 00:35:14,640 Speaker 1: answers are going to reveal himself on spring training, that 739 00:35:14,719 --> 00:35:17,000 Speaker 1: just allows for us to enjoy it more, and thus 740 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:19,359 Speaker 1: we'll also be able to talk about it, enjoy it 741 00:35:19,480 --> 00:35:23,200 Speaker 1: and have some fun. So because baseball is fact. For 742 00:35:23,280 --> 00:35:25,720 Speaker 1: Steven Tober, you can find him at be Underscore Outliers. 743 00:35:25,760 --> 00:35:27,640 Speaker 1: My name is Sean Comen. You can find me at 744 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:30,319 Speaker 1: Stat's sac Find us on the next Twitter, find Hammer 745 00:35:30,400 --> 00:35:33,879 Speaker 1: Territory across all forms of social media, and also part 746 00:35:33,920 --> 00:35:37,279 Speaker 1: of the Found Territory family of podcasts. I've got the 747 00:35:37,280 --> 00:35:40,040 Speaker 1: Braves hat on this time, but we will be with 748 00:35:40,120 --> 00:35:42,520 Speaker 1: you again soon. Thanks so much for joining us, Go Braves. 749 00:35:42,560 --> 00:35:44,480 Speaker 1: We'll talk to you again soon here on the Hammer 750 00:35:44,560 --> 00:35:46,200 Speaker 1: Territory podcast.