1 00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 1: Is this a great game or what with the Hall 2 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 1: of Famer Tim Kirkshon. I'm his son, Jeff Kirkshon, and 3 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:14,319 Speaker 1: we are on location today on a beautiful. 4 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:16,439 Speaker 2: Maryland human July day. 5 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:21,960 Speaker 1: We are at Povich Field, home of the Bethesda Big Train. 6 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:22,440 Speaker 3: Dad. 7 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 2: In this place, this place a specialty, right. 8 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 3: This is the cal Ripken College Summer League, Okay, And 9 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 3: this is where kids from college kids from all over 10 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 3: the country come play here. They live at people's houses 11 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 3: during their time here, they work at camps, and they 12 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:44,560 Speaker 3: play at night. It's a great thing. And this ballpark, Jeff, 13 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 3: means so much to me because I spent all of 14 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 3: my childhood. This was my second home. I played a 15 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 3: million games on the little fields down here and the 16 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 3: big field here. When I wasn't playing as a little kid, 17 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 3: I was watching the big guys play. In fact, Jeff, 18 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 3: I used to stand right out there while I was 19 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 3: watching the game, and as soon as there was a 20 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 3: foul ball, there were a bunch of kids, usually me 21 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 3: and Matt, your uncle. We would run after the ball 22 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:13,119 Speaker 3: and they would give us a dime for every foul 23 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 3: ball that we brought back, because you know, they were 24 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 3: not an unlimited supple. Yeah, balls went flying out all 25 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:23,199 Speaker 3: the time, routinely would hit cars and everything else. But yeah, 26 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 3: and this is where I really really learned about baseball 27 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 3: was watching the older guys play in this ballpark and 28 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 3: it was absolutely great. And I used to broadcast. Well, 29 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 3: I used to be the public address guy, Matt Uncle Matt, 30 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 3: and I would do the public address for the Industrial League, 31 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 3: you know, the older guys beyond college. There were former 32 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 3: Major leaguers, former pro players that played here, and we 33 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 3: would do the public address. So now, so I remember 34 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 3: one team that played here was called Atlantic Masonry, okay, 35 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 3: and it was a famous team that played here. So 36 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 3: I would say Lee Off or Atlantic Masonry number two, 37 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 3: Matt Kirchin or whatever whoever it was. But I kept 38 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 3: calling him since I was only twelve years old. I 39 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 3: kept saying Atlantic Masonry okay because I didn't know the difference. 40 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 3: So jell O Legos, who was the manager of the team, 41 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 3: he comes over to me. I'm twelve years old, and 42 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 3: he goes, son, you're doing a great job with this, 43 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 3: but it's not Atlantic Masonary, it's Atlantic Masonry. So I 44 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 3: learned something about the rock and mortar business when I 45 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 3: was twelve years old. It was absolutely that's. 46 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 1: Better than calling them the mercenaries. That should be completely different, right, 47 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:35,679 Speaker 1: And of course. 48 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 2: Yes, I was gonna say, we got to talk about who. 49 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 3: Got burying the lead. Here, this, of course is Walter Johnson. 50 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 3: Did I ever tell you I went to Walter Johnson 51 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 3: High School? Yeah, this is the greatest picture of all time. 52 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:50,959 Speaker 3: Walter Johnson High School is about three miles from here, 53 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 3: and that's where I went to high school, of course. 54 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 3: And here Walter Johnson is speaking with Shirley Povich, one 55 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:01,080 Speaker 3: of the great baseball was one of the great sports 56 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 3: writers of all time. He's in the Hall of Fame 57 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 3: as a baseball writer. And miraculously, three years ago I 58 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 3: joined the same club as Shirley Povich. You have no 59 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:13,679 Speaker 3: idea what a thrill that was. I spoke to him 60 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 3: many many times late in his career. He wrote until 61 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:20,639 Speaker 3: he was ninety years old. So we have these incredible 62 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 3: statues right behind us, Shirley Povich interviewing Walter Johnson. How 63 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:26,959 Speaker 3: great is that? 64 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: It's great, But it's also sad to think this will 65 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,239 Speaker 1: be the closest we ever get to interviewing Walter Johnson, 66 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 1: who far beyond any other player has the most mentioned 67 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 1: on this podcast. 68 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 2: Well, it has to be right. 69 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 3: And again, Jeff, I have such a connection to this place. 70 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 3: I've already explained all the games I played, watched and 71 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 3: umpired here, and I have this connection to Shirley Povich. 72 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 3: But going to Walter Johnson High School, it was more 73 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 3: than that, Jeff, I've told you this before. Walter Johnson 74 00:03:56,240 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 3: died on December tenth, nineteen forty six, and I was 75 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 3: born on December tenth, nineteen fifty six, so ten years 76 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 3: to the day that Walter Johnson died, I was born. 77 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 3: He is buried in Rockville, not far from here, which 78 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 3: is a town over from where we lived. He used 79 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 3: to live at times in Germantown, one town away. And 80 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 3: of course he was the greatest pitcher in the history 81 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 3: of baseball, the greatest Washington Senator ever, and did so 82 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 3: much in the community because he was way more than 83 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 3: a baseball player. He was just a part. He took 84 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 3: part in local government and he made sure people had 85 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 3: what they needed. He was an amazing man, not just 86 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 3: an amazing baseball player. 87 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 1: You know, we have something framed in our basement. Our 88 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 1: basement was formerly completely themed baseball until it was themed 89 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: vintage furniture by my mom, who switched everything out to 90 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:51,239 Speaker 1: make her business. 91 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 2: But in there, if you remember, Dad, we got to 92 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 2: was a gift. 93 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 1: It was I believe a receipt of a check that 94 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:01,480 Speaker 1: Walter Johnson cashed or put into his account in a 95 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: Germantown bank, Yes, which was interesting. And when I was 96 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 1: like sixteen, I tried to cash. 97 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:07,920 Speaker 2: It and it didn't work. 98 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,119 Speaker 1: I guess it's more for show or they don't accept 99 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: checks out one hundred yourself. 100 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 3: Let's not forget our bobblehead arrangement. Here we've got on 101 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 3: this side, we've got the bobblehead of Walter Johnson. Next 102 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,320 Speaker 3: to him is Brian Doser, former Major GaX second baseman, 103 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:25,039 Speaker 3: hit a ton of home runs. He played here. And 104 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 3: of course this is my bobblehead, which, as we all know, 105 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 3: is actual size. 106 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 2: I am not a crooked looks a little bit like 107 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:32,119 Speaker 2: Nixon does. 108 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 3: The gray hair is really unnecessary, Old Dad, that was 109 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:36,679 Speaker 3: a touch of gray. 110 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 1: Now we're glad that that was the year you got 111 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: the bibblehead. Not as much with your power alleys. 112 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 3: Right, Well, you know our grandchildren, our grandson Carson, he 113 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:50,160 Speaker 3: has taken at least five of the bobbleheads and just 114 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:53,280 Speaker 3: decapitated me. Arms and legs have been taken off of 115 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 3: the of course, I don't kiddle with it. 116 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:59,359 Speaker 1: Although the one thing with this bobblehead Dad lacking the 117 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:01,719 Speaker 1: ear hair. It needs a little more ear hair to 118 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: make it accurate, you know. 119 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:06,279 Speaker 3: I think the gray hair is plenty and unnecessary. Next 120 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 3: to me to my right is Shirley Povich, the great 121 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:12,719 Speaker 3: sports writer, and next to him is Cal Ripken Senior, 122 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 3: who I covered when he was a coach with the 123 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 3: Orioles of course late seventies, early eighties, and then when 124 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 3: he was the manager of the team eighty seven through 125 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:25,039 Speaker 3: the early nineteen eighty eight. 126 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 2: This is what this place is all about. 127 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 1: I had a number of birthday parties here, including I 128 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 1: think it was my twelfth birthday. Dad, and we sat 129 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 1: in the awning that actually is behind us right now, 130 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 1: and it was such a cool memory. Because this place 131 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 1: makes baseball accessible for everyone. Listen, nothing is better than 132 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:46,040 Speaker 1: going to a major League baseball game. But I'd make 133 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 1: the argument is it's even cooler to see these college 134 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 1: baseball players in their summers off staying with people in 135 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 1: the area, Dad and working with the kids at the 136 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:59,720 Speaker 1: camps and then playing on this field and getting work 137 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 1: in and then eventually hopefully living the dream of becoming 138 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: a major league baseball player. 139 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 2: We're going to talk to Bruce Bruce Adams here. 140 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 3: Short, we have buried the lead here, Jeff. Bruce Adams 141 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 3: is the reason that all of this works. Bruce Adams 142 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 3: is almost ten years older than me. He looks ten 143 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 3: years younger than me. He is does this out of 144 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 3: the goodness of his heart. Basically, he's a volunteer essentially 145 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 3: running all of this. He got this stadium built, He 146 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 3: put Povich Field together, He runs the big train here. 147 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 3: And the profits from all this go to building fields 148 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 3: for kids. Yeah, in Montgomery County and around the Maryland area. 149 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:44,239 Speaker 3: I mean, is there a better thing that can be done? 150 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 3: Bruce Adams is the hero of all of this, more 151 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 3: than Walter Johnson, more than Shirley Povich, more than anyone. 152 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 3: If it weren't for Bruce Adams, this place simply doesn't happen. 153 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 3: And we will talk to him later. 154 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, And when we pulled up, I saw he had 155 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 1: a little blower. He was cleaning up morel That's the 156 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: kind of thing that it takes to be successful, right, 157 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 1: you're cleaning up the mulch, but you're also greeting the 158 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: Hall of Famer Tim Kirkshon to do his podcast today. 159 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:13,239 Speaker 1: I think that is what makes successful people is being willing. 160 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: It's like Walt Disney always used to say, like Walt 161 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 1: Disney would walk around Disney World picking up trash. He's 162 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: Walt Disney for goodness sake. But you have to be 163 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 1: able to do those things in order to have a 164 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 1: successful company. And clearly, if you're ever in Bethesda, Maryland 165 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: in the summer, you've got to go to a big train. 166 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 2: Baseball, right. 167 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 3: And the players that have come through here who have 168 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 3: played in the big leagues, who already told you about 169 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 3: Brian Doser, there have been so many more, including Hunter 170 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 3: Renfro who had a ton of homers, and the other hunter, 171 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 3: Hunter Brown, who just made the All Star team and 172 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 3: as of the other day was leading the American League 173 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 3: in eer. So great players come through here, really really 174 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 3: good players play here every summer and it's a wood 175 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:55,840 Speaker 3: bat league because he gets them ready for pro ball. 176 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 3: These are college players here, They're from all over the 177 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 3: country and I speak to them once a year and 178 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 3: it just does my heart. Good to talk to a 179 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 3: bunch of kids who've got that hungry look in their 180 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 3: eyes because all they want to do is play pro 181 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 3: ball and someday get to the big leagues. 182 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 1: All right, Dad, we're gonna talk a lot more about 183 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 1: where we're coming live from. But let's get into the 184 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 1: takeaways of Major League base Yet. 185 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:22,080 Speaker 3: The takeaways every week now has to start with dominant, 186 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 3: overpowering pitching, because that's what we see on a nightly basis, 187 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 3: every single night. It's unbelievable. Jacob Mizerowski of the Brewers 188 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 3: the other night, face the world champion Dodgers, pitch six innings, 189 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 3: struck out twelve. So the only other rookie to strike 190 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:41,760 Speaker 3: out twelve in a game against the defending world champions 191 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 3: was Jim Bibbie in nineteen seventy three. Nobody has a 192 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 3: chance against Jacob Mizerowski and half of the pictures of 193 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:53,319 Speaker 3: the big leagues right now because of the velocity that 194 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:56,000 Speaker 3: we see. And when you take all the pitchers that 195 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:59,680 Speaker 3: pitched in that game that Miserowski started for the Brewers, 196 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 3: their average fastball velocity was ninety nine point one. That's 197 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:08,559 Speaker 3: what hitters are facing these days. And Jeff I'm telling 198 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:11,200 Speaker 3: you we're coming close to a dilemma in the big 199 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 3: leagues that hitters have virtually no chance when a great 200 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:19,560 Speaker 3: pitcher like Paul Skeins or Jacob Degram locates with this 201 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 3: amazing stuff. And I talked to I talked to twenty 202 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 3: different hitters when I was in San Diego, Rangers and Padres, 203 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:30,080 Speaker 3: and they all acknowledge the same thing. This is the 204 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 3: hardest hitting environment they've ever seen. It's not even close. 205 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,680 Speaker 3: In fact, Jake Berger, who as you said, is in 206 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 3: every single episode that we do on this podcast, he 207 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 3: told me he's been in the league five years. He 208 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 3: goes the difference in the stuff we see now compared 209 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 3: to five years ago is absolutely night and day. And 210 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 3: he said, I'm just wondering, where is the pitching going 211 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 3: to be five years from now? I mean, where's the 212 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:56,840 Speaker 3: velocity going to be there? 213 00:10:57,080 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 1: Jell Dad, one of our members of our family who 214 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 1: listens to the sh show, messaged us great game or 215 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:03,320 Speaker 1: what dot com if you ever want to message us 216 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 1: and get in touch, and said, Tim, is this not 217 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 1: the time for the knuckleball and the off speed pitcher 218 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: to be successful because things are so the velocity is 219 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 1: so high right now, to have a guy that just 220 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 1: totally throws everybody off, Why aren't we having that right? 221 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:20,160 Speaker 3: Well, we might, but as Charlie Huff once told me, 222 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 3: great knuckleball pitcher, when I asked him, Charlie, and I 223 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 3: was like twelve years old when I asked him, I said, Charlie, 224 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 3: why do more people throw a knuckleball? And Charlie's a 225 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 3: nice man in the world, but he yelled at me. 226 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 3: He goes, well, why do more people throw one hundred 227 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 3: miles an hour? It's really hard to do, unless, of course. 228 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 1: What we need a catcher that can catch it too, right, 229 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 1: Doug Mirabelly isn't playing Major League baseball anymore. In fact, 230 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:44,559 Speaker 1: I kind of went down a little bit of a 231 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:48,679 Speaker 1: rabbit hole recently. Do you remember when Doug Mirabelly obviously 232 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 1: played for the Red Sox, then he didn't. And they're 233 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 1: getting ready to play a Sunday night baseball game at 234 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: Fenway Park against the Yankees. It's Johnny Damon's return to 235 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 1: Fenway after the trade that sent him to the Evil 236 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 1: Empire and New York and the Red Sox are saying 237 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:05,319 Speaker 1: we're dead, We're dead. I can't remember who was catching 238 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 1: the knuckleballer before Tim Wakefield, of course, but he had 239 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:11,320 Speaker 1: like ten pass balls in seven games. And they're gonna 240 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:14,440 Speaker 1: lose this game on Sunday Night Baseball because they don't 241 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 1: have somebody who can catch them. 242 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 2: So they trade back for Doug Mirabelli. 243 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 3: Who is in a cab trying to get to Fenway, 244 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:24,000 Speaker 3: and he's telling the cab driver, you gotta drive faster. 245 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:28,080 Speaker 3: I'm catching Tim Wakefield tonight. And he barely made it 246 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 3: to the game, put on a uniform, and caught the knuckleball. 247 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:33,960 Speaker 3: That's how hard it is for knuckleball to be thrown 248 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:36,560 Speaker 3: and to be caught. But back to the original statement, 249 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 3: jeb I wrote a story this spring for ESPN dot 250 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 3: com that the most important pitch in the game today 251 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 3: is the change up right, and a lot of guys 252 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 3: have an elite change up, including Cherk Scoble, Because if 253 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 3: you could throw a change up at eighty six miles 254 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:53,080 Speaker 3: an hour and you throw a fastball at ninety eight 255 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 3: miles an hour, the hitter has to guess one or 256 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 3: the other, and he can't sit on the change up 257 00:12:58,040 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 3: because he'll never get to ninety eight if he looks 258 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:02,319 Speaker 3: for ninety eight. It's going to be really hard to 259 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:05,800 Speaker 3: get to eighty six. So that's why knuckleballers may make 260 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 3: a comeback. But I repeat, Jeff, it's a really, really 261 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 3: hard pitch to throw. But everything is difficult for a 262 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:14,840 Speaker 3: hitter today in baseball, and it's getting close to the 263 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 3: time or we're going to have to come up with 264 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:19,440 Speaker 3: some sort of solution as to what to do, because 265 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:22,839 Speaker 3: we're getting close to nineteen sixty eight days where they 266 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 3: said no one could get a hit anymore, and then 267 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 3: they lowered the mount in nineteen sixty nine and back 268 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 3: came the offense. 269 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:30,679 Speaker 1: I always wondered what it would have happened had they 270 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:33,599 Speaker 1: never done that. And then a guy named Randy Johnson certain. 271 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:36,840 Speaker 2: He would be like seven and a half feet tall up. 272 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:41,199 Speaker 3: There, right, Totally understand, all right. The other takeaway, Jeff, 273 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 3: is that the Blue Jays at this taping had won 274 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 3: ten games in a row to take a healthy lead 275 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:50,600 Speaker 3: in the American League East, and with the A's coming 276 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 3: up this weekend nothing against the A's, there's a chance 277 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:56,839 Speaker 3: the Blue Jays are going to roll into the All 278 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 3: Star Break with a pretty healthy lead in the American 279 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:01,320 Speaker 3: League East. Now, I didn't not see this coming but 280 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 3: nobody did. But the American League East has made no 281 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 3: sense whatsoever this year, Jeff. The Orioles were supposed to 282 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 3: be really good and they haven't been all year. The 283 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 3: Red Sox were supposed to be really good and then 284 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 3: they stopped being and now they're making a little comeback here. 285 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:17,960 Speaker 3: The Yankees had a six and a half game lead. 286 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 3: They've lost their lead obviously. And the Rays are a 287 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 3: team that you know, really made a run. Now they've 288 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 3: hit a bit of a slow point. So American League 289 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 3: makes no sense whatsoever. And that's why I think the 290 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 3: Blue Jays have a chance to hang around and maybe 291 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 3: even win the division, because really four teams still have 292 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 3: a chance to win that. 293 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 1: And speaking of the Blue Jays, Dad, we are going 294 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:40,320 Speaker 1: to do the best of all ten. We do it 295 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 1: every single Thursday episode where you pick a different team 296 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 1: and you name the greatest player to play in that franchise. 297 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 1: And today the Blue Jays is who were picking because 298 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 1: of their hot streak, And I have no idea. He 299 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: told me, Dad, you told me who it was ahead 300 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 1: of time, and I had to google it because. 301 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 2: I had never even heard of the name. 302 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 1: And listen, I'm the first to admit I am not 303 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 1: even close to his eligible as probably eighty to ninety 304 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 1: percent of our listeners, and of course you but I 305 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: think a lot of people will be surprised for this pick. 306 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 2: But you're going to defend it, so I absolutely will. 307 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 3: All right. The last takeaway, Jeff, is that my friend 308 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 3: Jeremy Shapp did a documentary on Jim Abbott. Jim Abbott 309 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 3: is one of the great untold stories in a lot 310 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 3: of ways in the history of baseball. Jim Abbott pitched 311 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 3: in the major leagues, as we know, without a right hand. 312 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 3: He was a really good pitcher, had a great slider 313 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 3: through a no hitter in the big leagues, and amazingly, 314 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 3: his first spring training he hit a triple in an 315 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 3: exhibition game. Unbelievable with one hand. So I saw him 316 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 3: this spring in spring training and I went up to him. 317 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 3: We were talking. He's the nicest man in the world. 318 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 3: I talked to him for twenty minutes. It was just glorious. 319 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 3: So I said, Jim, how about that triple you hit? 320 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:54,680 Speaker 3: And he went like this, Rick Rushell, sinker down. He 321 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 3: will remember the pitch and the location of the pitch. 322 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 3: When he hit a triple in the spring training game 323 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 3: and what we learned from this amazing documentary done by 324 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:08,040 Speaker 3: Jeremy Shap, who, by the way, is the best journalist 325 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:11,040 Speaker 3: in the business. There's nobody better than Jeremy Shapp. Of 326 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 3: course he learned from his father, Dick Shap. Dick Shap nobody, 327 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 3: but nobody did a better job interviewing people than Dick 328 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 3: shab and his son is second best on that list. 329 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 3: That's how good Jeremy Shapp is. So you got to 330 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 3: watch this. It's called South Paul and it details the 331 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 3: story of Jim Abbott, which is one of the great 332 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 3: stories you'll ever see. And I promise it'll make you 333 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 3: cry because it's that emotional. 334 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, you just threw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium. 335 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 1: I can't wait. You texted me telling me I gotta 336 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 1: watch this, so it's on my watch list. 337 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 2: So I'm really looking forward to it. 338 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:48,720 Speaker 1: Okay, all right, dad, jumping into the quirk jins, What 339 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: do you have. 340 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:51,840 Speaker 3: For We had an amazing Tuesday night in the Big 341 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 3: League's Jeff Lawrence Butler of the A's hid an inside 342 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 3: the park home run to start the game. Yep. And 343 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 3: on the same night, Patrick Bailey, the number nine hitter, 344 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:06,600 Speaker 3: and the catcher for the Giants hit a three run 345 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:11,479 Speaker 3: walk off inside the park home run. So it's the 346 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 3: first time since nineteen hundred that on the same day 347 00:17:15,840 --> 00:17:20,719 Speaker 3: somebody hit a leadoff home run inside the park and 348 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 3: on the same day somebody hit a walk off inside 349 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 3: the park home run. 350 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:28,879 Speaker 1: You said nineteen hundred since nineteen hundred, well you got 351 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 1: to remember, and I'm not saying I mean, that's unbelievable. 352 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 2: That's one hundred and twenty five years. 353 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:35,960 Speaker 1: But remember what parks used to look like, right, Parks 354 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:38,679 Speaker 1: used to be what polo grounds and all these giant 355 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 1: stadiums were. Inside the park home runs. I feel like 356 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: we're a little more common, so to speak. So we're 357 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:46,040 Speaker 1: talking one hundred and twenty five year difference. And as 358 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:48,880 Speaker 1: you know, it's no secret I root for the Phillies, 359 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:51,960 Speaker 1: being outside Philadelphia and being a Philadelphia radio show host. 360 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:53,920 Speaker 2: That was a devastating finish. 361 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 3: To that kit, Right, that was bad. But you're right, Jeff, 362 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 3: about the ballparks and the way the game was played 363 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:02,160 Speaker 3: in the early nineteen The all time leader for inside 364 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:05,159 Speaker 3: the park homers is Hall of Famer Sam Crawford, who 365 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 3: hit fifty one inside the park homers in his career. 366 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:13,080 Speaker 3: Second on the list is Tommy Leach, who was five 367 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:15,280 Speaker 3: to six and one hundred and thirty five pounds and 368 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 3: could really run. He hit sixty three career homers, forty 369 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:23,639 Speaker 3: nine of them were inside the park home runs. And 370 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:26,480 Speaker 3: get this, Jeff. In nineteen o two, he led the 371 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:30,440 Speaker 3: league in homers with six and all of them were 372 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 3: inside the park home runs. So for as far as 373 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:38,240 Speaker 3: the the A's had gone three thousand and four games 374 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:42,479 Speaker 3: without an inside the park homer. That's the second longest 375 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 3: strout in Major league history without one. The Cardinals had 376 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 3: the longest three thousand, one hundred and sixty eight games 377 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:53,119 Speaker 3: without an inside the park homer. And Bailey is the 378 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:56,280 Speaker 3: first player to hit an inside the park walk off 379 00:18:56,280 --> 00:18:59,760 Speaker 3: homer since Tyler nake Win in twenty sixteen, and he's 380 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:02,200 Speaker 3: the third catcher ever to do it. A guy did 381 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:04,879 Speaker 3: at Pat Moran in nineteen oh seven, Benny Tate in 382 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 3: nineteen twenty six. So it was an amazing night for 383 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 3: inside the park home runs. I've never seen We've never 384 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:12,679 Speaker 3: seen anything like it. 385 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 1: You know, I used to do radio in Cleveland, Ohio, 386 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:19,439 Speaker 1: And if I'm not mistaken, is Tyler Naquin reinventing his 387 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 1: career coming up as a pitcher. Yeah, I believe he 388 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:25,520 Speaker 1: is the Lake County Captains who I used to do. 389 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:27,200 Speaker 2: You know, they used to go to their games. 390 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 1: And I follow him on Facebook and they said we're welcoming. 391 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 2: Back Tyler Natequin, and I thought interesting. He said, he 392 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:34,679 Speaker 2: played outfield here and now he's coming up as a pitcher. 393 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 2: So how crazy is that? 394 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 3: It's all that this morning, Joey Gallow's doing the same thing, Jeff. 395 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 3: It goes back to our original point at the beginning 396 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 3: of the podcast. Hitting is so difficult today. The guys 397 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:48,879 Speaker 3: are giving up because they can't do it anymore, and 398 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:50,680 Speaker 3: now they're trying to become pictures. 399 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:52,560 Speaker 2: I have a quirk chin about a homer. 400 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 3: Oh good. 401 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:57,680 Speaker 1: Justin Turner of the Chicago Cups just hit his two 402 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:01,320 Speaker 1: hundredth home run. It happened in minnesot And here's the 403 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:04,199 Speaker 1: quart chin of it all, Dad. The home run was 404 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:07,439 Speaker 1: caught by a Cubs fan in Minnesota. That's court gin 405 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:12,879 Speaker 1: number one. The Cubs fan was named Justin shares the 406 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:15,680 Speaker 1: same name as him and is also six foot six, 407 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:19,160 Speaker 1: so he's taller than Justin Turner and When asked how 408 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 1: did you get the ball, he said, well, when you're 409 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:22,400 Speaker 1: sitting in the second row and you're six foot six, 410 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:24,200 Speaker 1: it is kind of easy to catch a. 411 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 2: Ball coming at you. 412 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 1: So, his two hundredth home run, and Justin Turner got 413 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 1: to meet up with him, shake his hand to an exchange, 414 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:33,159 Speaker 1: probably gave him a bunch of you know, memorabilia and 415 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:35,400 Speaker 1: swag and signed a bunch of stuff. But how cool 416 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:37,200 Speaker 1: is that it's two hundred home run caught. 417 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 3: By a Justin How cool is that that you know 418 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:41,480 Speaker 3: all this? I didn't even know any of this. 419 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:44,080 Speaker 1: I told you I had one qurtchin for today. I'm done, guys, 420 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. 421 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:45,800 Speaker 2: Back to dad. 422 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:48,600 Speaker 3: All right, So Riley Green of the Tigers, who's a 423 00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:51,479 Speaker 3: really good player, made the All Star team. He's going 424 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:55,159 Speaker 3: to become the first Tiger to drive in one hundred 425 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:58,879 Speaker 3: runs this year. He will become since Nick Costiano's in 426 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:02,239 Speaker 3: two thousand seventeen. That's how long it's been since the 427 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:06,480 Speaker 3: Tigers had a one hundred rbi guy. But Riley Green 428 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:11,200 Speaker 3: at this taping had struck out multiple times in six 429 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 3: consecutive games, six straight games two or more strikeouts. Again, Jeff, 430 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 3: we talk about the strikeout rate being totally out of control. Now. 431 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 3: Earlier this year, Luis Robert of the White Sox did 432 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 3: it in seven games in a row. And I remember 433 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:31,280 Speaker 3: in two thousand. In Aaron Judge's rookie year. Twenty sixteen 434 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:34,679 Speaker 3: he struck out again. This is the same Aaron Judge, 435 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:37,879 Speaker 3: just showing you how difficult the game is. He struck 436 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 3: out two or more times in nine straight games. Now 437 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 3: the record is eleven straight games, and that was done 438 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:49,560 Speaker 3: by Jerry Kousman, who is a pitcher. 439 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:50,840 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, he. 440 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:53,719 Speaker 3: Pitched in the seventies for the Mets. So eleven is 441 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 3: the record. But a bunch of guys have done nine 442 00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 3: straight games with at least two strikeouts. Dave Duncan, Dave Kingman, 443 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:06,400 Speaker 3: Tyler O'Neill, Michael A. Taylor, Noah Sindegard another pitcher, Dick 444 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 3: Ellsworth another pitcher, and of course Aaron Judge. So this 445 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:14,320 Speaker 3: is where the strikeout rate is now. A really good 446 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:17,159 Speaker 3: player for the best team in the American League just 447 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:19,879 Speaker 3: finished six games where he struck out at least twice 448 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 3: in each, totally fourteen strikeouts, which is more than Luisa 449 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 3: Rise of the Padres has all season and Riley Green, 450 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:32,879 Speaker 3: who's a really good player, did it in six games. Also, 451 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:36,639 Speaker 3: speaking of strikeouts, Brandon Young of the Orioles, in his 452 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:41,080 Speaker 3: fifth major league start, had an immaculate inning in the 453 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:45,640 Speaker 3: game against the Mets. He struck out Jesse Winker, Jeff McNeil, 454 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:49,679 Speaker 3: and Luis Terenz in the fifth inning nine pitches, not 455 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 3: three strikeouts. Is that an immaculate inning for you? 456 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:53,240 Speaker 2: Oh, no doubt. 457 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:55,879 Speaker 3: And we been over this, Jeff. There are people I 458 00:22:55,960 --> 00:22:58,200 Speaker 3: know who think it should not be an immaculate inning 459 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:01,160 Speaker 3: if somebody makes contact with the ball, like someone hits 460 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 3: a five hundred foot foul ball down the left field line, 461 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 3: therefore it is not an immaculate inning. I don't buy that. 462 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 1: That would be like saying, if someone hit a five 463 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 1: hundred foot home run down you know, the left field 464 00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:14,399 Speaker 1: line foul, it's not a perfect game because he almost 465 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:16,280 Speaker 1: hit a home run if he hit it three inches 466 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:17,240 Speaker 1: shorter right to. 467 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:21,440 Speaker 3: The right right. Totally totally agree. All right, pictures of 468 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:24,639 Speaker 3: record in one game this week, this is a stretch 469 00:23:24,680 --> 00:23:27,679 Speaker 3: of all stretch. We had Jansen junk against Brady Singer, 470 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:28,920 Speaker 3: So we had a junk Singer. 471 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:31,439 Speaker 2: I had a junk Singer I love that. That's a 472 00:23:31,440 --> 00:23:31,800 Speaker 2: good one. 473 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:33,560 Speaker 1: I saw that one too, and I thought it was 474 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:34,640 Speaker 1: too much of a stretch. 475 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 3: But it was too much of a stretch, Jef, Yeah, 476 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 3: but you actually saw it. 477 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:40,600 Speaker 2: I saw it. 478 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:43,080 Speaker 1: Too, and I mean that's more of a stretch than 479 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:44,800 Speaker 1: most first basement make Yeah. 480 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:47,920 Speaker 3: I agree. And Jake Berger, who again is in every 481 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 3: episode because we love him because he by the way, 482 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:55,159 Speaker 3: his running speed the other day was twenty nine point 483 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 3: three miles per hour. Jake Berger is a rather heavy 484 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 3: set guy, and they're a peace in the league who 485 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:02,800 Speaker 3: don't think he can run. And I'm telling you, I 486 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:06,119 Speaker 3: watched him in that three game series. He is almost 487 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:09,120 Speaker 3: a well above average runner. And I asked him about 488 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:10,880 Speaker 3: it and he goes, you know, for years, he said, 489 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:13,920 Speaker 3: in this league, people didn't know that I could run, 490 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 3: and I got some midfield hits because they thought I 491 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:17,680 Speaker 3: was some big, fat guy who couldn't run. He goes, 492 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:20,680 Speaker 3: but now the book's out on me. Nobody. Now they 493 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:22,560 Speaker 3: rushed the ball to first because they know that I 494 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 3: can run. 495 00:24:23,119 --> 00:24:25,199 Speaker 2: That's so funny. It's like the best kept secret. 496 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 1: Like everyone sees him at bat and they the shortstop 497 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 1: kind of lazies it up. 498 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:30,080 Speaker 2: And he ends up running it out right. 499 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 3: Absolutely, And I asked him, of course, I always asked 500 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:35,320 Speaker 3: him about his great matchup, said, because you know, he's 501 00:24:35,359 --> 00:24:38,560 Speaker 3: had the Burger King matchup several times with three different 502 00:24:38,560 --> 00:24:41,200 Speaker 3: guys named King in the Big League. So he told 503 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:43,840 Speaker 3: me with a great laugh, he said, I was watching 504 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:46,119 Speaker 3: the MLB network the other day and they had the 505 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:48,960 Speaker 3: best at bat the five best at bats, you know, 506 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:53,080 Speaker 3: pitcher batter at bats like of last year, and there 507 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:55,119 Speaker 3: was no Burger King in there. And he said, he 508 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:57,720 Speaker 3: called Michael King and said, what about us? How can 509 00:24:57,800 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 3: we not be on that list? 510 00:24:59,280 --> 00:25:01,080 Speaker 2: I Burger King on it. 511 00:25:01,280 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 3: Absolutely. 512 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:03,800 Speaker 2: They get to mention every other week on this show 513 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:04,600 Speaker 2: for good lord sake. 514 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 1: Does Yeah, all right, Dad, on this date in baseball history, 515 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:13,760 Speaker 1: what do you have for us? 516 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:17,520 Speaker 3: Okay? Nineteen sixty eight, Earl Weaver was named the manager 517 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:20,399 Speaker 3: of the Orioles and became for me certainly one of 518 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:23,720 Speaker 3: the five greatest managers of all time. The things I 519 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:27,920 Speaker 3: learned from Earl Weaver covering that team late seventies, early eighties, 520 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:30,800 Speaker 3: and then every day with Earl Weaver in nineteen eighty six, 521 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:33,720 Speaker 3: nobody taught me more about the game than Earl Weaver. 522 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:36,000 Speaker 3: And the only Earl Weaver story you need to know 523 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:39,040 Speaker 3: is that he was rough with some of his players. Okay, 524 00:25:39,119 --> 00:25:42,120 Speaker 3: he didn't min mince words with anybody, and they were 525 00:25:42,119 --> 00:25:44,240 Speaker 3: all kind of afraid of him, but they all played 526 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:46,919 Speaker 3: for him no matter what, partly because they were afraid 527 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:48,959 Speaker 3: of him, even though he was five to six. So 528 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:53,159 Speaker 3: Pat Kelly, one of their outfielders, decided, while playing for 529 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 3: the Orioles, while playing for Earl, that he was gonna 530 00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 3: he was going to join the ministry. So he became 531 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:02,040 Speaker 3: an ordained minister. 532 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:02,320 Speaker 1: Wow. 533 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:06,320 Speaker 3: Okay. So he waits, though for the proper time to 534 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 3: go tell Earl about this big change in his life, 535 00:26:10,359 --> 00:26:12,679 Speaker 3: and he goes finally find to the moment and he 536 00:26:12,720 --> 00:26:15,320 Speaker 3: says to Early. He says, Earl, I'm gonna walk with 537 00:26:15,359 --> 00:26:17,480 Speaker 3: the Lord, and Earl said, I right, you walk with 538 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:22,680 Speaker 3: the bases loaded, which typical response. 539 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:25,400 Speaker 2: From Earl, Dad, did you know that I'm ordained? 540 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:28,120 Speaker 3: Yes, you are. How many weddings have you done? 541 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:31,720 Speaker 1: Oh gosh, well, I mean I did one wedding ceremony 542 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:34,359 Speaker 1: in which I married five couples at one time, So 543 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:36,400 Speaker 1: I only count that as one wedding ceremony. 544 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:37,639 Speaker 2: In Las Vegas. 545 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:40,159 Speaker 1: We did it on the high Roller, which is the 546 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 1: big Ferris wheel, right, which I know you would. 547 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:45,200 Speaker 3: Never ride, not a chance. 548 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:48,919 Speaker 1: Scared of heights way too high, right, I'm even scared 549 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:49,640 Speaker 1: being this tall? 550 00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:52,480 Speaker 2: How many times be til that joke on this show? 551 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:52,880 Speaker 4: Right? 552 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:54,879 Speaker 3: I see I couldn't drink it as a kid. I 553 00:26:54,960 --> 00:26:57,359 Speaker 3: used to get vertigo. Yeah, that was bad, all right. 554 00:26:57,280 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 2: Ronnie danger for all right? 555 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:01,640 Speaker 3: Two thousand and sevens seaking of inside the Park homers. 556 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 3: On this date, two thousand and seven, each Row hit 557 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:06,720 Speaker 3: the only inside park inside the park home run in 558 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:07,960 Speaker 3: the history of the All Star Game. 559 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:08,280 Speaker 2: Wow. 560 00:27:08,359 --> 00:27:10,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I was there. I was in the dugout. 561 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:13,680 Speaker 3: I interviewed him afterwards with an interpreter about running around 562 00:27:13,720 --> 00:27:15,959 Speaker 3: the bases and an inside the park homer. It was 563 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:19,560 Speaker 3: absolutely priceless. And on this date, in nineteen fifty four, 564 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 3: Andre Dawson, Hall of Famer, was born. Andre Dawson is 565 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:27,040 Speaker 3: one of the toughest, strongest players. I've ever seen a 566 00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:30,879 Speaker 3: Gold Glove outfielder hit the ball out of the ballpark, 567 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:34,719 Speaker 3: and I play this is terribly self serving. I played 568 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 3: with him in the Celebrity Softball Game in Washington and 569 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:41,639 Speaker 3: one inning, one inning and again, this is one of 570 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:46,800 Speaker 3: the great defensive outfielders ever. But you know he's sixty 571 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 3: years old. When he's playing in the celebrity softball game, 572 00:27:49,840 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 3: there was a pretty high pop up and I run 573 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:54,400 Speaker 3: over to see if I can catch it, but he's 574 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:56,359 Speaker 3: got it, and the ball hit him in the head 575 00:27:57,320 --> 00:28:00,040 Speaker 3: bound straight off the top, right off his head. So 576 00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:04,160 Speaker 3: I saw his wife the next year at Cooperstown and 577 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:08,359 Speaker 3: she said that she told him that's it. You're not playing, wow, 578 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:12,520 Speaker 3: even softball anymore. After getting hit in the head with 579 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:16,000 Speaker 3: a routine pop up at first base in a celebrity 580 00:28:16,040 --> 00:28:17,080 Speaker 3: softball game, that's. 581 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:17,920 Speaker 2: Probably for the better. 582 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:21,320 Speaker 1: Yes, from Ozzie to Oral, my dad is going to 583 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:24,040 Speaker 1: give you the best player to wear each number from 584 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:26,800 Speaker 1: one to fifty five in baseball history. 585 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:29,159 Speaker 2: Dad, we are on too, number twenty seven. 586 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:32,679 Speaker 3: Yes, and for many years it was Juan Marischal, the 587 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:36,000 Speaker 3: great Dominican dandy, and then maybe there was also a 588 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:39,440 Speaker 3: Lad Guerrero in there because he wore number twenty seven. 589 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:41,960 Speaker 3: But I think we got to turn to Mike Trout. 590 00:28:42,040 --> 00:28:45,560 Speaker 3: Mike Traut's gotta be the greatest number twenty seven of 591 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:48,960 Speaker 3: all time. I know he's been hurt a lot lately, Jeff, 592 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 3: and I know, maybe he's not the player he used 593 00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:55,360 Speaker 3: to be, But for an eight year period, people were saying, 594 00:28:55,480 --> 00:28:57,880 Speaker 3: this is the best player we've ever seen. It's really 595 00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:00,720 Speaker 3: closer to ten years that he did it. He finished 596 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:05,200 Speaker 3: in the top two of the MVP voting the first 597 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:08,280 Speaker 3: five years of his career, winning the MVP twice. No 598 00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:11,560 Speaker 3: one has ever finished in the top two of the 599 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:15,200 Speaker 3: MVP voting in his first five full years, even twice. 600 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:18,640 Speaker 3: He did it his first five years. Wow, that's how 601 00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:22,080 Speaker 3: great Mike Trout was. He's still a really good power hitter. 602 00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:24,800 Speaker 3: So Jeff. At ESPN, Raoul Labanye is used to work 603 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:27,040 Speaker 3: at ESPN. One of my favorite people ever, and he 604 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:29,480 Speaker 3: was a teammate with Mike Trout. Mike Trout's the most 605 00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:32,520 Speaker 3: humble guy in the world. And Mike Trout's and VP 606 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:35,720 Speaker 3: during spring training one year and he looks at Raoul 607 00:29:35,760 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 3: Labanya's and he says, I'm going to hit a home 608 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:40,040 Speaker 3: run in that trash can out there, which is beyond 609 00:29:40,560 --> 00:29:44,480 Speaker 3: the left center field fence at the Angels' spring training facility. Jeff, 610 00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:47,120 Speaker 3: it wasn't a dumpster. It was like a big one 611 00:29:47,160 --> 00:29:50,440 Speaker 3: of those big green cans right, right, but not too 612 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:55,000 Speaker 3: terribly big right, And like eleven pitches later, Mike Trout 613 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:57,560 Speaker 3: hit a home run into the trash can. So I 614 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:00,280 Speaker 3: finally go to him and say, did you you hit 615 00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:02,480 Speaker 3: a homer into the trash can? And he's so humble 616 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:05,840 Speaker 3: he wouldn't answer the question. Finally I said, look, bon 617 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:07,680 Speaker 3: just told me you hit one in the trash can? 618 00:30:07,760 --> 00:30:09,680 Speaker 3: Did you or didn't you? He sorried, I hit one of 619 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:12,200 Speaker 3: the trash can And it wasn't the only time that 620 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:15,360 Speaker 3: spring that he did it. This is how competitive he is. 621 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:18,240 Speaker 3: He has to hit a ball into a trash can. 622 00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:21,640 Speaker 3: But I think he's the greatest number twenty seven ever. 623 00:30:21,960 --> 00:30:24,200 Speaker 3: He's going to be a first ballot Hall of Famer. 624 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:27,040 Speaker 3: And if anyone thinks these injuries has taken away his 625 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:29,160 Speaker 3: Hall of Fame career, you need to look at those 626 00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:30,080 Speaker 3: numbers again. 627 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 1: What about number twenty eight, the greatest player of all 628 00:30:32,960 --> 00:30:35,040 Speaker 1: time to wear that number, from Ozzie to Oral. 629 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:38,080 Speaker 3: What do you got? I got Burt Blylevin. He won 630 00:30:38,160 --> 00:30:42,280 Speaker 3: two hundred and eighty seven games. Okay, he struck out 631 00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:45,360 Speaker 3: three thousand, seven hundred and one batters. That's the fifth 632 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:50,040 Speaker 3: most strikeouts in major league history. He threw, Jeff, he 633 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:55,640 Speaker 3: threw sixty shutouts. That's the ninth most ever sixty shutouts. 634 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:59,920 Speaker 3: So different time, different era, different pitchers. But Greg Maddox 635 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:05,840 Speaker 3: and Tom Glavin together through sixty shutouts exactly. And Bert 636 00:31:05,880 --> 00:31:08,520 Speaker 3: bly Levin did that by himself, had one of the 637 00:31:08,560 --> 00:31:13,160 Speaker 3: great curveballs of all time and definitely deserving of the 638 00:31:13,160 --> 00:31:15,160 Speaker 3: greatest number twenty eight ever. 639 00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:17,720 Speaker 1: All right, Dad, are we moving on to the blue 640 00:31:17,800 --> 00:31:21,840 Speaker 1: Jays best of all? Tim, I've really been anticipating learning 641 00:31:21,920 --> 00:31:25,680 Speaker 1: about this player who I'm just learning played major League baseball. 642 00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:29,600 Speaker 3: Jefting, No, it's not embarrassing, Jeff. You weren't even born 643 00:31:29,680 --> 00:31:32,440 Speaker 3: when this guy was really really good. Now, look, there 644 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:35,280 Speaker 3: were great blue Jays. This was not an easy choice. 645 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:38,160 Speaker 3: Roberto Alomar for a short period is the greatest blue 646 00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:41,080 Speaker 3: Jay ever, but didn't stay there long enough. Roy Halliday 647 00:31:41,320 --> 00:31:45,000 Speaker 3: very much in the discussion. Carlos Delgado an amazing player, 648 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:49,080 Speaker 3: but I'm going with Dave Steve Pitcher for the Blue Jays. 649 00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:52,160 Speaker 3: He spent fifteen years with the Blue Jays. He made 650 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:55,280 Speaker 3: seven All Star teams while he was there. He was 651 00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:58,640 Speaker 3: drafted and developed by the Blue Jays. He was really 652 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:02,000 Speaker 3: the first star player that they ever had. He's the 653 00:32:02,040 --> 00:32:05,000 Speaker 3: only blue Jay ever to throw a no hitter. In 654 00:32:05,080 --> 00:32:08,440 Speaker 3: the decade of the eighties. The only pitcher that had 655 00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:12,080 Speaker 3: more wins than him was Hall of Famer Jack Morris, 656 00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:15,440 Speaker 3: and Dave Steve had one of the great sliders that 657 00:32:15,480 --> 00:32:19,320 Speaker 3: I've ever seen. He was a maniacal competitor, and I 658 00:32:19,440 --> 00:32:21,960 Speaker 3: think baseball kind of has left him out of the 659 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:25,800 Speaker 3: discussion for certainly among the most underrated pitchers that we've 660 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:28,760 Speaker 3: ever seen. And this has always struck me. Right handed pitcher, 661 00:32:28,880 --> 00:32:32,200 Speaker 3: great slider. He shot a basketball with his left hand, 662 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:34,880 Speaker 3: you know, really, Yeah, I've always been fascinated. 663 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:36,840 Speaker 2: You know how much I love it. So he's amphibious. 664 00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:40,240 Speaker 3: Yes, he can throw a ball underwater. He's amphibious. Yes. 665 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:43,240 Speaker 3: So Dave Steve for me, is the greatest blue Jay 666 00:32:43,240 --> 00:32:45,760 Speaker 3: of all time. And we're doing this as a tribute 667 00:32:45,800 --> 00:32:47,640 Speaker 3: to the Blue Jays, who are the hottest team in 668 00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:49,520 Speaker 3: baseball as of right now. 669 00:32:49,840 --> 00:32:52,640 Speaker 2: All right, Dad, do you have a Team Tim for us? 670 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:55,520 Speaker 1: These have been and honestly, Dad, the biggest response from 671 00:32:55,560 --> 00:32:59,320 Speaker 1: our family is the Team Tims. They absolutely love these. 672 00:32:59,320 --> 00:33:01,760 Speaker 1: They always respect with theirs. And I'm going to come 673 00:33:01,840 --> 00:33:05,000 Speaker 1: up with my all Music team next night week. But 674 00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:07,600 Speaker 1: next week, just really fast. Next week is the All 675 00:33:07,600 --> 00:33:09,200 Speaker 1: Star Game, right, so we're going to do a couple 676 00:33:09,960 --> 00:33:12,600 Speaker 1: All Star specials. Tuesday night is the All Star Game, 677 00:33:12,640 --> 00:33:16,120 Speaker 1: and then on Wednesday on the Feed, we'll have Hall 678 00:33:16,160 --> 00:33:18,720 Speaker 1: of Famer Chipper Jones. I mean, when you talk about 679 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:21,440 Speaker 1: the Hall of Fame, when you talk about the Atlanta Brads, 680 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:23,440 Speaker 1: when you talk about them hosting the All Star Game, 681 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:24,360 Speaker 1: that's the guy you've got to get. 682 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:26,720 Speaker 3: And I thought I knew Chipper Jones really well because 683 00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:29,280 Speaker 3: I've interviewed him a thousand times. He told at least 684 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:32,080 Speaker 3: three stories that I have never heard before. 685 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:34,360 Speaker 2: Excited for Chipper, But what do we have for Team 686 00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:35,200 Speaker 2: Tim today? 687 00:33:35,280 --> 00:33:39,000 Speaker 3: Okay, So, as a tribute to Miguel Cairo, the new 688 00:33:39,080 --> 00:33:42,400 Speaker 3: manager of the Washington Nets right by the way, is 689 00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:45,560 Speaker 3: a great baseball guy. I wouldn't be surprised if he 690 00:33:45,720 --> 00:33:49,360 Speaker 3: kept that job in Washington for a long time. Been 691 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:52,240 Speaker 3: around a lot of great managers in his time, a 692 00:33:52,280 --> 00:33:54,840 Speaker 3: lot of great players in his time. I think he's 693 00:33:54,920 --> 00:33:58,040 Speaker 3: perfectly suited for that team and what they're trying to do. 694 00:33:58,120 --> 00:34:01,160 Speaker 3: So he is our second baseman that our catcher is 695 00:34:01,160 --> 00:34:05,880 Speaker 3: Benito Santiago. I was trying to go with all non 696 00:34:06,080 --> 00:34:08,759 Speaker 3: US cities, but I couldn't find them all, so I 697 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:12,000 Speaker 3: did the best I could. Mike Napoli is the first baseman. 698 00:34:12,760 --> 00:34:15,760 Speaker 3: I don't know if you pronounced the city in Italy 699 00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:18,880 Speaker 3: as Napoli or Nepoli, what do you think it is? 700 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:20,360 Speaker 1: Well, if they don't have a baseball team, you and 701 00:34:20,360 --> 00:34:22,080 Speaker 1: I are pretty much helpless on fingering. 702 00:34:21,800 --> 00:34:26,560 Speaker 3: It out right. Yes, absolutely, Kelly Paris is the third baseman. 703 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:31,680 Speaker 3: Houston Jimenez is our shortstop. That's a double one right there. Yes, 704 00:34:32,280 --> 00:34:37,800 Speaker 3: Dallas Williams is one outfielder. Luis Medina or Medina whatever 705 00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:42,560 Speaker 3: we're gonna call it about is from Saudi Arabia. Leon Wagner, 706 00:34:42,760 --> 00:34:46,279 Speaker 3: Leon or Leone is a city in Mexico. Nice, and 707 00:34:46,360 --> 00:34:53,040 Speaker 3: our pitching staff is Alex Madrid, Paul, Moscow spelled Moskau, 708 00:34:53,239 --> 00:35:00,279 Speaker 3: love that, Jose Lima, Peru, Rome Chambers, and Sydney not 709 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:05,880 Speaker 3: spelled syd nyy but Si d Anywhy Sydney Ponson. So 710 00:35:05,960 --> 00:35:09,000 Speaker 3: that's our all cities team, And every one of these 711 00:35:09,040 --> 00:35:12,120 Speaker 3: cities is huge, So I didn't just pick tiny cities. 712 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:15,480 Speaker 3: These are all like among the biggest cities in the world. 713 00:35:15,640 --> 00:35:18,960 Speaker 3: And we started with Miguel Cairo because he's the new 714 00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:22,399 Speaker 3: manager of the Nationals. And now we welcome in our 715 00:35:22,400 --> 00:35:25,600 Speaker 3: dear friend Bruce Adams, who is the founder and president 716 00:35:25,719 --> 00:35:29,960 Speaker 3: of Bethesda Community Baseball Club. Bruce, this is Jeff Kirchin. 717 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:32,680 Speaker 3: You've seen him since he was ten years old. Thanks 718 00:35:32,680 --> 00:35:33,760 Speaker 3: for joining us today. 719 00:35:34,080 --> 00:35:36,840 Speaker 4: Well, this is like a reunion from the birthday parties 720 00:35:36,880 --> 00:35:37,360 Speaker 4: he used to have. 721 00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:39,680 Speaker 2: Oh my god, we already talked about those. 722 00:35:39,719 --> 00:35:41,719 Speaker 1: I mean just right behind us is where we used 723 00:35:41,719 --> 00:35:44,560 Speaker 1: to have pizza and we would play catch. 724 00:35:44,640 --> 00:35:46,520 Speaker 2: This is this is part that's part of. 725 00:35:47,080 --> 00:35:48,160 Speaker 3: That's so what it's all about. 726 00:35:48,239 --> 00:35:50,799 Speaker 4: Mike Vick taught me fun is good and that's what 727 00:35:50,840 --> 00:35:53,040 Speaker 4: we try to do here at Shirley Poe's Field. 728 00:35:53,040 --> 00:35:55,879 Speaker 3: Bruce, when did the idea come to you that we 729 00:35:56,000 --> 00:36:00,600 Speaker 3: need to honor Walter Johnson, Shirley Povich and get a 730 00:36:01,239 --> 00:36:04,759 Speaker 3: collegiate baseball league to play here. When did that come 731 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:05,040 Speaker 3: to you? 732 00:36:04,920 --> 00:36:07,839 Speaker 4: You didn't come to me in that order. I was 733 00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:10,359 Speaker 4: trying to figure out how to raise money to fix 734 00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:14,560 Speaker 4: fields for kids, and I wasn't getting anywhere. And then 735 00:36:15,080 --> 00:36:17,239 Speaker 4: our family was on a trip for we were doing 736 00:36:17,280 --> 00:36:21,239 Speaker 4: a book for photoors on family baseball vacations, and my 737 00:36:21,400 --> 00:36:23,200 Speaker 4: son was five years old. So he went to the 738 00:36:23,239 --> 00:36:26,240 Speaker 4: visiting team Bullpen because they always gave him balls. And 739 00:36:26,480 --> 00:36:28,839 Speaker 4: he's talking to them about this trip we'd taken all 740 00:36:28,840 --> 00:36:32,040 Speaker 4: over America and the guy says to me, summer college baseball. 741 00:36:32,440 --> 00:36:34,680 Speaker 4: And all I could say was Cape cod That's all 742 00:36:34,719 --> 00:36:36,680 Speaker 4: I knew. And the guy says, no, I played in 743 00:36:36,719 --> 00:36:39,319 Speaker 4: the Shenandoah Valley last year. I said, you're pulling my leg. 744 00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:42,960 Speaker 4: I'm a baseball fanatic. I lived ninety minutes from the valley. 745 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:46,440 Speaker 4: Couldn't be true. Turned out, we spent the next summer, 746 00:36:46,520 --> 00:36:48,000 Speaker 4: my wife and I. We wrote a piece for the 747 00:36:48,040 --> 00:36:51,120 Speaker 4: Western Posts Honey magazine about the Shenandoah Valley League and 748 00:36:51,160 --> 00:36:52,799 Speaker 4: I just fell in love with it. It was two 749 00:36:52,880 --> 00:36:56,080 Speaker 4: of my passions. It was community and baseball. And that's 750 00:36:56,080 --> 00:36:58,839 Speaker 4: what summer college baseball is all about, is to give 751 00:36:58,880 --> 00:37:01,319 Speaker 4: these guys a chance. You know, in college they play 752 00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:05,320 Speaker 4: with their stupid metal bats, and so summer college baseball 753 00:37:05,360 --> 00:37:07,839 Speaker 4: gives them a chance to play with a wood. That's 754 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:10,360 Speaker 4: what Major League Baseball wants to see. So it's a 755 00:37:10,400 --> 00:37:14,280 Speaker 4: great opportunity for these guys to develop their talents. Twenty 756 00:37:14,320 --> 00:37:17,000 Speaker 4: five of our guys who played here at Poviche Field 757 00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:19,320 Speaker 4: for the Big Train have made it to the major leagues. 758 00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:22,759 Speaker 4: But the other part of the equation is community. 759 00:37:23,080 --> 00:37:23,239 Speaker 3: You know. 760 00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:26,200 Speaker 4: The historian Jacques Barzon said that if you want to 761 00:37:26,280 --> 00:37:29,359 Speaker 4: understand America, you got to learn about baseball, and then 762 00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:31,680 Speaker 4: he went on to say, but if you really want 763 00:37:31,680 --> 00:37:33,839 Speaker 4: to learn about baseball, you got to see it at 764 00:37:33,840 --> 00:37:39,160 Speaker 4: a small town kind of format. And so here at Povichfield, 765 00:37:39,200 --> 00:37:42,440 Speaker 4: we've got a small ballpark hold seven hundred people. We 766 00:37:42,560 --> 00:37:45,080 Speaker 4: call it small town charm and big league talent. 767 00:37:45,239 --> 00:37:47,920 Speaker 1: Bruce, I want to ask you about something my dad 768 00:37:48,080 --> 00:37:50,160 Speaker 1: will not bring up because he's the most humble man 769 00:37:50,239 --> 00:37:53,960 Speaker 1: in the world. Talk about what Tim Kirkshin has. He 770 00:37:54,000 --> 00:37:56,320 Speaker 1: has a plaque over there. But it also it comes 771 00:37:56,320 --> 00:37:58,200 Speaker 1: with a program. And we're going to ignore my dad for. 772 00:37:58,160 --> 00:38:00,399 Speaker 2: A minute because I think this is really special and. 773 00:38:00,360 --> 00:38:04,080 Speaker 1: Really cool, and remembering my dad's amazing Hall of Fame 774 00:38:04,200 --> 00:38:07,200 Speaker 1: baseball writing career, how. 775 00:38:07,120 --> 00:38:09,759 Speaker 4: Lucky are we at the Big Train to have a 776 00:38:09,760 --> 00:38:14,239 Speaker 4: friend like Tim Kirchin. I mean, your dad has been 777 00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:17,840 Speaker 4: here every year I go listen to the talk. He 778 00:38:17,920 --> 00:38:20,160 Speaker 4: gives to the Big Train players before the game. When 779 00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:23,400 Speaker 4: he comes each year, it is so inspiring. He tells him, 780 00:38:23,440 --> 00:38:25,600 Speaker 4: you're doing one of the hardest things you can do 781 00:38:25,680 --> 00:38:29,000 Speaker 4: in sports. You've reached an incredible level and you have 782 00:38:29,080 --> 00:38:33,360 Speaker 4: a chance to go even further. So we adore Tim Kirchen, 783 00:38:34,280 --> 00:38:38,560 Speaker 4: your dad. He does our fundraiser each winter. He comes 784 00:38:38,600 --> 00:38:40,959 Speaker 4: out and sees the players and the fans each year. 785 00:38:41,239 --> 00:38:46,279 Speaker 4: And so when we created a summer internship program. You know, 786 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:49,600 Speaker 4: it's cool on your resume to say Big Train intern, right, right, 787 00:38:49,760 --> 00:38:53,600 Speaker 4: But how cool is it to say Tim Kirchin sports 788 00:38:53,680 --> 00:38:55,080 Speaker 4: journalism fellow. 789 00:38:55,520 --> 00:38:56,759 Speaker 3: I mean, how cool is that? 790 00:38:57,160 --> 00:39:00,440 Speaker 4: So we got a beautiful plaque up on the wall 791 00:39:01,000 --> 00:39:03,359 Speaker 4: right next to Mike Beck and Bill Beck because our 792 00:39:03,360 --> 00:39:08,680 Speaker 4: game operations interns are Veck fellows and our journalism interns 793 00:39:08,719 --> 00:39:09,840 Speaker 4: are Kirchen Fellows. 794 00:39:09,960 --> 00:39:11,759 Speaker 2: Well, it's really neat too, Dad, And I'm going to 795 00:39:11,800 --> 00:39:12,279 Speaker 2: stop here. 796 00:39:12,440 --> 00:39:15,600 Speaker 1: Is the field is named after Shirley Povitch, for goodness sake, 797 00:39:15,640 --> 00:39:18,279 Speaker 1: who was a writer, right, and then we have the 798 00:39:18,320 --> 00:39:20,560 Speaker 1: Tim Kirkchen fellows, which is so neat. 799 00:39:20,600 --> 00:39:21,640 Speaker 2: And this is kind of funny. 800 00:39:21,880 --> 00:39:25,520 Speaker 1: At Alabama, his dad, who I was named after, Jeff Kirkshen, 801 00:39:25,560 --> 00:39:29,400 Speaker 1: there's a Jeff Kirkshin Teaching award. So I remember googling 802 00:39:29,440 --> 00:39:31,920 Speaker 1: my name when Google became a thing when I was ten, 803 00:39:32,480 --> 00:39:35,319 Speaker 1: and I saw who are these people winning a Jeff 804 00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:36,120 Speaker 1: Kirkshen award? 805 00:39:36,160 --> 00:39:36,839 Speaker 2: And what is that? 806 00:39:36,960 --> 00:39:39,399 Speaker 1: Now they can say the Jeff Kirkshin Teaching Award named 807 00:39:39,440 --> 00:39:42,359 Speaker 1: after your dad, and a Tim Kirkshen fellow named after 808 00:39:42,400 --> 00:39:42,920 Speaker 1: you dad. 809 00:39:43,280 --> 00:39:46,279 Speaker 3: And my father neglected to tell us that there was 810 00:39:46,320 --> 00:39:48,480 Speaker 3: an award? Is that right? That's crazy the way you 811 00:39:48,560 --> 00:39:48,839 Speaker 3: have been. 812 00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:53,440 Speaker 4: Hey, well, how many full life bronze sculptures of journalists 813 00:39:53,440 --> 00:39:57,080 Speaker 4: have you seen. We've got Shirley right over our shoulder 814 00:39:57,120 --> 00:40:00,759 Speaker 4: here interviewing with his pad and his pencil, interviewing the 815 00:40:00,760 --> 00:40:02,320 Speaker 4: great Walter Johnson. 816 00:40:01,880 --> 00:40:05,680 Speaker 3: And they look, it's an absolutely. 817 00:40:05,120 --> 00:40:07,920 Speaker 4: Tremendous Toby Mendez, who did the sculptures of all the 818 00:40:07,960 --> 00:40:11,200 Speaker 4: Oil Hall of Famers at Camden Yards, who did teammates 819 00:40:11,239 --> 00:40:15,719 Speaker 4: at Fenway, who did through Good Marshall in Annapolis, did 820 00:40:15,760 --> 00:40:22,000 Speaker 4: these fantastic sculptures here. My partner in building Povich Field 821 00:40:22,080 --> 00:40:24,759 Speaker 4: was John Horsman, and John said he wanted this to 822 00:40:24,840 --> 00:40:28,680 Speaker 4: be a living baseball history museum. So we have murals 823 00:40:28,880 --> 00:40:31,960 Speaker 4: with the history of Walder Johnson and Shirley Povich. Now 824 00:40:31,960 --> 00:40:35,280 Speaker 4: we have these sculptures behind us. Over our other shoulder, 825 00:40:35,320 --> 00:40:38,440 Speaker 4: we have kind of a street sign that shows you 826 00:40:38,960 --> 00:40:41,839 Speaker 4: where the twenty five guys who played for Big Train 827 00:40:42,360 --> 00:40:44,160 Speaker 4: made their major league debuts. 828 00:40:44,360 --> 00:40:47,719 Speaker 3: This is so cool, Bruce. I'm telling you, when I 829 00:40:47,760 --> 00:40:50,680 Speaker 3: go out and meet major league players, I talked to 830 00:40:50,760 --> 00:40:52,919 Speaker 3: every one of them that has played here, and they 831 00:40:53,000 --> 00:40:55,640 Speaker 3: have nothing but great things to say. They always say, 832 00:40:55,640 --> 00:40:58,120 Speaker 3: make sure you said hi to Bruce for me. How 833 00:40:58,160 --> 00:41:01,440 Speaker 3: does that make you feel? That that Hunter Brown is 834 00:41:01,520 --> 00:41:04,600 Speaker 3: pitching in the All Star Game and he asks about 835 00:41:04,640 --> 00:41:06,919 Speaker 3: you every time I see him. 836 00:41:07,960 --> 00:41:11,399 Speaker 4: Thank you. He's these guys are unbelievable. So I'm trying 837 00:41:11,440 --> 00:41:13,600 Speaker 4: to collect a couple of balls and get all their 838 00:41:13,600 --> 00:41:17,840 Speaker 4: signatures on it. I've got the thirteen now, but just 839 00:41:17,920 --> 00:41:21,880 Speaker 4: to a Hunter Brown, what a beautiful human being he is, 840 00:41:21,920 --> 00:41:25,080 Speaker 4: and what an incredible career he's had. And he says 841 00:41:25,400 --> 00:41:29,680 Speaker 4: that some of the change happened here with a little 842 00:41:29,719 --> 00:41:33,560 Speaker 4: bit of tweaking and some growth and development, And that's 843 00:41:33,640 --> 00:41:36,560 Speaker 4: just mind blowing to me. You know, I'm looking at 844 00:41:36,800 --> 00:41:41,239 Speaker 4: Baseball America's top one hundred players in the MLB that 845 00:41:41,360 --> 00:41:43,719 Speaker 4: came out in whatever it was January and February. There's 846 00:41:43,800 --> 00:41:46,400 Speaker 4: Logan Gilbert right near the top, and I'm like, wow, 847 00:41:46,560 --> 00:41:50,520 Speaker 4: a big trained player. And then there's Hunter And we're 848 00:41:50,560 --> 00:41:55,759 Speaker 4: putting Hunter Brown and Jordan Westberg in our hall, in 849 00:41:55,800 --> 00:42:00,560 Speaker 4: our Ripken Hall of Fame this year. They're both in 850 00:41:59,840 --> 00:42:06,280 Speaker 4: that in that top hundred. And it's just a thrill 851 00:42:06,480 --> 00:42:12,880 Speaker 4: to be able to know these guys and know that 852 00:42:12,920 --> 00:42:14,680 Speaker 4: they played here and that we had a little bit 853 00:42:14,680 --> 00:42:15,800 Speaker 4: to do with their development. 854 00:42:15,960 --> 00:42:17,719 Speaker 3: Bruce, we got to let you go because you got 855 00:42:17,719 --> 00:42:20,160 Speaker 3: things to do. But just tell us quickly, where did 856 00:42:20,200 --> 00:42:23,719 Speaker 3: your love of baseball come from? When did it grab you? 857 00:42:24,440 --> 00:42:29,200 Speaker 4: So this is crazy. My dad grew up in Bethesda, 858 00:42:29,920 --> 00:42:34,799 Speaker 4: and there he had a friend whose dad was a 859 00:42:34,840 --> 00:42:39,160 Speaker 4: baseball guy. And so when they were like twelve and 860 00:42:39,239 --> 00:42:42,920 Speaker 4: thirteen and fourteen, the dad picked my dad up and 861 00:42:43,040 --> 00:42:45,560 Speaker 4: drove him down to Griffith Stadium to hang out with 862 00:42:45,600 --> 00:42:48,560 Speaker 4: his son. And the dad was Walter Johnson. 863 00:42:48,800 --> 00:42:52,960 Speaker 1: No, Wow, you don't know this story, dad, Oh my gosh, 864 00:42:53,320 --> 00:42:55,160 Speaker 1: is that Did you know that my dad went to 865 00:42:55,160 --> 00:42:56,400 Speaker 1: Walter Johnson High School? 866 00:42:57,160 --> 00:42:57,399 Speaker 3: Wrong? 867 00:42:57,600 --> 00:43:00,800 Speaker 4: I only knew that like a thousand times it's. 868 00:43:00,760 --> 00:43:02,919 Speaker 3: Running joke on the podcast. All right. 869 00:43:03,040 --> 00:43:05,000 Speaker 4: Well, the last thing I want to say though, is, 870 00:43:05,040 --> 00:43:08,880 Speaker 4: you know, these are difficult times and summer baseball ads. 871 00:43:09,000 --> 00:43:11,400 Speaker 4: It's more than baseball. You know. Baseball is our platform, 872 00:43:11,680 --> 00:43:15,759 Speaker 4: but building a stronger community is our purpose. And this 873 00:43:15,840 --> 00:43:18,640 Speaker 4: is a place that we need, these special places where 874 00:43:18,680 --> 00:43:22,000 Speaker 4: people can come together, talk, enjoy themselves, have a good 875 00:43:22,040 --> 00:43:26,120 Speaker 4: time across lines of difference. And surely Povidchfield is one 876 00:43:26,160 --> 00:43:26,880 Speaker 4: of those places. 877 00:43:27,160 --> 00:43:28,239 Speaker 2: Absolutely it is. 878 00:43:28,320 --> 00:43:30,000 Speaker 3: And it's such a thrill for me. Once a year 879 00:43:30,120 --> 00:43:32,120 Speaker 3: I get to throw out the first ball at the 880 00:43:32,120 --> 00:43:34,960 Speaker 3: Big Train. We're gonna do that on Thursday night. I 881 00:43:35,000 --> 00:43:35,479 Speaker 3: can't wait. 882 00:43:35,719 --> 00:43:37,120 Speaker 4: Great. Thank you, Thank you. 883 00:43:37,120 --> 00:43:40,840 Speaker 1: Guys, Bruce, and we end every show by saying to 884 00:43:40,960 --> 00:43:42,880 Speaker 1: all of our listeners, we call them our family, and 885 00:43:42,920 --> 00:43:44,759 Speaker 1: you're part of our family too. Thank you so much 886 00:43:44,760 --> 00:43:46,680 Speaker 1: for being a part of our family. And come visit 887 00:43:46,760 --> 00:43:48,439 Speaker 1: Povichfield for a game soon. 888 00:43:48,520 --> 00:43:49,800 Speaker 2: Thanks first, Thanks guys,