1 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 1: Welcome to another edition of Fair Territory. As I tell 2 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:11,000 Speaker 1: you guys every week, it's always difficult to figure out 3 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 1: what exactly to talk about. We've got thirty teams, we've 4 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:16,919 Speaker 1: got a zillion storylines, but I always pick out two 5 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: or three to start with. And this week, to me, 6 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: the first one is fairly obvious. It's the most expensive 7 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: team in Major League history. It's a team that is 8 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: struggling right now. It is the New York Mets. As 9 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,959 Speaker 1: we sit here taping on Monday morning, the Mets are 10 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: nine and a half games out of first place. They 11 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: are six games behind the Marlins. Think about that for 12 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: a minute, and they're only four games ahead of the 13 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: last place Nationals. And to top it all off, that 14 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: probably without Pete Alonso, their best slugger for maybe a month. 15 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:51,720 Speaker 1: He had that left wrist issue that he suffered after 16 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 1: getting hit by a pitch. So last week, last Thursday night, 17 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: late Thursday night to be precise, they had that horrific 18 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 1: series and after that third loss, remember they lost all 19 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 1: three games after leading by three or more runs, I 20 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: decided to write this is the first real test for 21 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:15,639 Speaker 1: Mets owner Steve Cohen, and unlike before, he can't spend 22 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 1: his way out of it, which seems to be his 23 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: way of solving most baseball problems. And basically I asked 24 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: the question, or raised a question of the futures of 25 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 1: manager Buck Showalter and general manager Billy Eppler. In essence, 26 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: I said, if this continues and things don't turn around, 27 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 1: it's difficult to imagine Buck finishing the season as manager, 28 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:39,119 Speaker 1: and at some point the general manager, Billy Eppler, might 29 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 1: be in trouble too. Okay. The next day, Joel Sherman 30 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: of The New York Post reaches out to Steve Cohen 31 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: and gets his take on this. The Post has a 32 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 1: great relationship with Cohen, and Cohen spoke at length to 33 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: Joel and essentially presented himself as a voice of reason, 34 00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 1: a guy who is not going to snap. He's Steinbrenner. 35 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: I want to show you one aspect or one thing 36 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 1: he said to Joel, And what he said was, when 37 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 1: things get really bad, I'm not going to blow it up. 38 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: I don't think that's the proper response. I don't think 39 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 1: it solves anything other than it gives people a one 40 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 1: day story. So basically, Cohen is saying, I can't react 41 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 1: like a fan, which, if you think about it, is 42 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 1: probably the same course, right, Buck Showalter manager of the 43 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 1: Year last year for one thing. Also, the Mets don't 44 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: have an obvious in house replacement. They don't as for 45 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,079 Speaker 1: the general manager. You generally do not change gms in 46 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: the middle of the season. It's too disruptive, it's too 47 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 1: much of a mess. And bigger picture, this is a 48 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 1: collective failure. What's going on with the Mets. It's not 49 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 1: the fault of any one individual. So Cohen wants to 50 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,359 Speaker 1: quiet the noise, right, He wants things to settle down. 51 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 1: He wants to see how his team plays over the 52 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: next month or so even beyond, and he doesn't believe 53 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: that making changes is the right way to go understood again, 54 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: probably the rational response. But let's see how this plays out, 55 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 1: because if this does continue, well, there might be a 56 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 1: change of tune. I'm not saying it would happen this season, 57 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 1: but it might happen at the end of the season. 58 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:23,080 Speaker 1: And certainly, as much as the Mets want to quiet 59 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: the noise, which is understandable, if they don't play better, 60 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 1: that noise is only going to grow louder. All right, 61 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 1: Let's stick with the same division the division leader. The 62 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:39,920 Speaker 1: Atlanta Braves. Much different scenario entirely, And let's go big 63 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,119 Speaker 1: picture on the Braves, just to start off with two, 64 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 1: here's a team that currently lacks two of its top 65 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 1: starting pitchers, Max Freed and Kyle Wright, both on the 66 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: injured list. You go back further there without Dansby Swanson 67 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: lost him as a free agent. Go back even further 68 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 1: than that without Freddie Freeman lost him as a free 69 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 1: agent the year before the offseason before, and here they 70 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 1: are leading the division. They had a seven game winning 71 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: streak snapped yesterday, and they have a guy who might 72 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: be the best player on the planet right now in 73 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: Ronald Acunya Junior. Listen to what Chipper Jones had to 74 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,280 Speaker 1: say about Acunya. This blew me away when I heard it. 75 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 2: A little bit of an adjustment last year. But man, 76 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 2: he has worked his tail off, and I've said it 77 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 2: many times. I believe that this young man is the 78 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 2: most talented player to ever done a Brave's uniform. 79 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: Now, Hank Aaron wore a Braves uniform. That's one. Chipper Jones, 80 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:35,839 Speaker 1: number one pick in the draft, wore a Braves uniform 81 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:39,719 Speaker 1: that's two. Smoltz Glavin Maddox can go right down the line. 82 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:43,039 Speaker 1: They're pictures, I know, but they're all quite talented. So 83 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: for Chipper to say that about Acunya, who right now 84 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 1: looks like the runaway MVP in the National League, that 85 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 1: is a strong statement. But of course it's not just 86 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 1: a Kunya. It's Marcel Azuna, who a lot of people 87 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:57,840 Speaker 1: in Atlanta won and released in April, and not unreasonably, 88 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:02,239 Speaker 1: he is in the midst of a career. It's Orlando Arcia, 89 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 1: who replaced Swanson and who has been brilliant before going 90 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:09,480 Speaker 1: on the injured list and after. And it's the starting pitching. 91 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:12,599 Speaker 1: No matter what happens with the Braves, no matter which 92 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 1: starting pitchers go down, they always seem to have more. 93 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 1: Bryce Elber, he's performing at an all star caliber level. 94 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: Aj Smith Shaver, Now this dude, it seems like he 95 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 1: just started pitching yesterday. That's the story on him. He 96 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 1: basically just picked up pitching a few years ago, and 97 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:30,279 Speaker 1: now he's in the rotation, or at least he made 98 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 1: one start, great start, five and one third innings, no runs. Amazing. 99 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:38,720 Speaker 1: Jared Schuster he's been okay since coming back again. They 100 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,799 Speaker 1: keep coming and coming and coming with more and eventually 101 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 1: they'll get freed and right back. They are a team 102 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: that just seems to figure it out every season no 103 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 1: matter what happens. Remember they replaced Freeman with Matt Olson. 104 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 1: They brought in Sean Murphy this offseason. They replace Dansby 105 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:58,480 Speaker 1: with Orlando Arcia. It just is a machine that keeps 106 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:01,479 Speaker 1: on rolling. And I want to mention one other guy 107 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 1: as well. This guy is one of my favorites because 108 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:08,359 Speaker 1: he's one of the most gentlemanly players, just a class act. 109 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 1: His name is Jesse Chavez. He's thirty nine years old. 110 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: This is his sixteenth season and it might be his best. 111 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 1: Take a look at this from my colleague at the 112 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 1: Athletic Dave or Bryan the Braves, thirty nine year old 113 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 1: Jesse Chavez should make the damn All Star team. There, 114 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 1: I said it. Dude has a one point five to 115 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 1: five ear array and a one whip in thirty appearance 116 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 1: after retiring all six batters face today, including three k's, 117 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: thirty six k's, nine walks, and twenty nine innings. He'll 118 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: be forty in August. Now, I happen to agree with 119 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 1: Dave if I was picking the All Star team right now, 120 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 1: and keep in mind we're a month away from the game. 121 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 1: I put Jesse Chavez on it, and I put him 122 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:52,360 Speaker 1: on it, and fans would go crazy saying, there are 123 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 1: all the people more deserving, What are you doing? 124 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:56,359 Speaker 3: He's thirty nine, He's not a guy, be honest. 125 00:06:56,480 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 1: No, this is the precisely the kind of player that 126 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,600 Speaker 1: should be honored at the All Star Game. He's had 127 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,160 Speaker 1: a unique career, He's been all over the place, and 128 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: here he is, at thirty nine, almost forty, performing at 129 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: the highest level. I love it. I love the Jesse 130 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 1: Chavez story. And let's hope he does keep it going 131 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 1: and make the All Star team. And finally, today I 132 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: would like to talk as well about the Reds and 133 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 1: during the Fox broadcast on Saturday, John Smoltz, my colleague, 134 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: brought up an interesting idea and it did not involve 135 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:30,680 Speaker 1: the teams that were playing on the field, the Red 136 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 1: Sox and Yankees. Sometimes we talk about other things as 137 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 1: well as a national broadcast. We don't have to focus 138 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 1: for the entire time on the teams on the field, 139 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: and John raised the possibility of the Redgs trading their closer, 140 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 1: Alexis Diaz, who is fifteen for fifteen in Save Opportunities 141 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 1: with a one point seventy to one er. Earlier in 142 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:53,239 Speaker 1: the week, MLB Network had broached the same subject, talking 143 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: about trading das, and that kind of caused my colleague 144 00:07:57,160 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 1: Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic to flip out a little bit. 145 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 1: Here is what Trent said, Jesus, MLB Network is once 146 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: again talking about the Reds trading Alexis Daz. I swear 147 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: the network wants just two teams in New York and 148 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 1: every good player has to be in New York. It's 149 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 1: freaking ridiculous. Well, I'm with Trent on this because the 150 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: idea of trading ds, to me, makes no sense at all. 151 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 1: And I said as much on the broadcast when Joe 152 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: Davis came to me and said, Okay, Ken, what do 153 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: you think of this idea? I said, No, the Reds 154 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,080 Speaker 1: are just starting to get going again. This is the 155 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:34,920 Speaker 1: last thing they want to do. Rip it up. And 156 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 1: I wrote today in the Athletics Free Daily newsletter The 157 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 1: wind Up about the idea that the Reds might actually 158 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 1: steal the nl Central. I mean, it's not like anybody 159 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:49,320 Speaker 1: else is so good in this division, so why would 160 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 1: you be trading your closer at a time when you're 161 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: just kind of coming out of it. Here, you're coming 162 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:56,439 Speaker 1: out of your rebuild. You've got life in the park. 163 00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: You've got Elie Dela Cruz, You've got Andrew Abbott. All 164 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 1: these great things happening. Oh and another thing, your division stinks. 165 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 1: Let's go through the fabled NL Central. The Pirates rotation 166 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 1: depth is alarming right now. They are down to really 167 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 1: four and they're at the bare minimum with starting pitching. 168 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 1: The Brewers. The Brewers just got swept by the A's. 169 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:26,440 Speaker 1: The A's at home. The Cubs are the beloved covees. 170 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 1: They're already talking about trading Marcus Stroman. That's the primary 171 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 1: topic around the team. Actually they're not talking about it. 172 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:36,560 Speaker 1: Everybody else is. And the Cardinals, the almighty Cardinals, the 173 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 1: team that plays the best brand of baseball in front 174 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 1: of the best fans in baseball. They're twelve games under 175 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: five hundred. They're a hot mess. So granted, the Reds 176 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 1: have their own issues. I know that they've got only 177 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 1: a three point nine percent chance of reaching the postseason 178 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 1: according to Fangrafts as we speak. They're starting pitching is 179 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 1: next to last in era in the majors. I get 180 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 1: all this, and they would have to add obviously to 181 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 1: really mount a push here. But my goodness, Dela Cruz 182 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:09,439 Speaker 1: has put a jolt of excitement into this franchise. 183 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 3: They have a. 184 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:12,960 Speaker 1: Number of good young players, They have. 185 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 3: More to come. 186 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:17,840 Speaker 1: They should be good for several years now, and Alexis 187 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 1: Das is under control for four more years after this one. 188 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 1: You don't trade Alexis Diaz at a time like this. 189 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:29,320 Speaker 1: As I wrote this morning, this balloon is just starting 190 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:33,080 Speaker 1: to inflate it. Don't puncture it right now, all right. 191 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 3: Time Now for the inside dish. 192 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 1: This is the segment where I either go inside a 193 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 1: story I've written or talk about a story deeper developing 194 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 1: in Major League Baseball. 195 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 3: This week, I'm. 196 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 1: Gonna get a little bit inside baseball with regard to 197 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 1: the writing process. Now, I know maybe not all people 198 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 1: are interested in this, but people always ask me about 199 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:54,440 Speaker 1: how we go about our job. So I figured, in 200 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:56,840 Speaker 1: this one instance, why not we'll talk a little bit 201 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 1: about it now. I mentioned that Mets column I wrote 202 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 1: last Thursday night. I was pretty short, it was about 203 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 1: six hundred words, and some people reached out to me 204 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:08,439 Speaker 1: afterwards and said we'd like a deeper analysis. Ken six 205 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 1: hundred words. I mean, this was just superficial. Okay, that 206 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 1: day I had finished a much deeper story on Bruce Bochie. 207 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 1: That's about three three hundred words. It's running Monday morning. 208 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 1: It's out there right now, and it's a long look 209 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 1: at what makes Bochie such a good manager. So I'm 210 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 1: going to take it through the process of how I 211 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:32,439 Speaker 1: came to write that story and how I went about it. 212 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 3: And it starts with the idea that we needed at 213 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:37,560 Speaker 3: the Athletic. 214 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:40,080 Speaker 1: A good Ranger story, a deeper Ranger story. Our beat 215 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 1: writer Levi Weaver, who had been covering the Rangers, is 216 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:46,560 Speaker 1: now writing the free daily newsletter that I sometimes refer to. 217 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 1: We don't currently have a Rangers beat writer. So I'm 218 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 1: looking at the team and I'm thinking, Okay, I'm a 219 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:55,120 Speaker 1: national writer. I cover all the teams. How do I 220 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 1: go about this? What's the most interesting thing about the team? 221 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 1: I settled on Bocie. Now, I could have chosen a 222 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 1: dozen different topics. There are a lot of interesting things 223 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 1: going on with the Rangers. But Boji to me, three 224 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:09,560 Speaker 1: time World Series champion, fans know who he is. 225 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 3: It would be a really cool thing to do. 226 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 1: So about a week and a half ago, I started 227 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 1: making phone calls. 228 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:17,320 Speaker 3: Now, you always. 229 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:19,960 Speaker 1: Prefer to do interviews in person. It's just a much 230 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 1: better thing. You can read body language, it's a conversation 231 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 1: rather than on the phone or zoom or anything else. 232 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 1: But I haven't been around the Rangers lately, and I 233 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 1: don't think I will be around them anytime soon either, 234 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 1: based on my Fox schedule. So I just started making calls. 235 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 1: And I have a lot of numbers of people in 236 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:42,560 Speaker 1: the game, and with the people I didn't have some 237 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 1: players in particular, I needed help from agents, and agents 238 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:49,320 Speaker 1: connected me with the players. I can do this because 239 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 1: I've been doing this job a long time. People generally 240 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 1: know who I am, So if I ask on a 241 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 1: subject that is non controversial, people are not going to 242 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 1: give me a problem. They're gonna generally try to help. 243 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:04,200 Speaker 1: If it was a controversial topic and I'm asking agents 244 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: to get me in touch with players, it would be 245 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:10,200 Speaker 1: shutdown mode. But wasn't the case. Bruce Boci everyone wants 246 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 1: to talk about him, So I thought this would be 247 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: a good topic to explore, as I said, and I 248 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 1: started making these phone calls and ultimately I decided to 249 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 1: write it, and I came up with an outline. 250 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 3: Now, I always outline these longer stories because I'm not, 251 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:34,360 Speaker 3: in my view, the most natural of writers. In my head. 252 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 1: I have never asked Tom Verducci about this, but I 253 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,200 Speaker 1: feel that this is probably the case. It seems to 254 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 1: me like Tom could sit down and start writing and 255 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:44,400 Speaker 1: five thousand words would just flow out of his fingers. 256 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 1: Maybe that's not true. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's 257 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 1: not true. Tom would tell me that, but it seems 258 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 1: that way to me. So when I do a story 259 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 1: like this, I generally transcribe all my interviews and then 260 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 1: I outline them, and I make an outline like this. 261 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 3: I'm not gonna put it any closer to the camera. 262 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 1: You'll never be able to read what I'm saying. But 263 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:06,080 Speaker 1: I divide the stories into sections and I kind of 264 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:08,439 Speaker 1: just put it together that way. It allows me to 265 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:13,200 Speaker 1: organize my thoughts and just kind of follow not a formula, 266 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 1: because this is not formulaic what you're doing, but a process, 267 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:20,560 Speaker 1: an organized outline and process. 268 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 3: So then I wrote it. It takes me on a 269 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 3: story like that, usually more than a day. 270 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 1: It drifted into a second day and I got it 271 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 1: done last Thursday night, the Mets flew the lead in 272 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 1: Atlanta for the third straight day, and we ran it today. 273 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 3: Now why the lag Well, a couple of things. 274 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 1: We wanted to schedule it on a Monday. In this 275 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 1: particular case, we thought the story would be of interest 276 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 1: to a lot of people, and stories like this require 277 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: a little bit more editing than your average story, and 278 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 1: I have The Athletic has one of the great editors that. 279 00:14:57,640 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 3: I've worked with, actually the best word. 280 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: At I've worked with. Her name is Emma span and 281 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 1: she can. 282 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 3: See things in stories that frankly are incredible. 283 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 1: She sees the flaws. In fact, if I think I've 284 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 1: got maybe a problem area in the story, she always 285 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:15,800 Speaker 1: goes right to it. It's like she's reading my mind. 286 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:19,400 Speaker 1: And she generally has some really good suggestions. Had some 287 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 1: on this story as well. We had to clean some 288 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 1: things up, we had to maybe tighten some things, and 289 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 1: that's the process of how we got to publishing this 290 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: story today. So with a story like this, the thing 291 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 1: I like most about it. 292 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 3: Is that I learned things along the way that I 293 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 3: didn't know. 294 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 1: And obviously that's a good thing if it happens, because 295 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 1: it enables me to share things with readers that maybe 296 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 1: they didn't know. 297 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 3: Sometimes the readers are smarter than me and they know 298 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 3: more than me. 299 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:49,040 Speaker 1: I get it. Yes, that's true, that happens. But in 300 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 1: the case of bo Gie, I learned a whole lot. 301 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:55,960 Speaker 1: One was how is mind works and how quickly he 302 00:15:56,080 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 1: processes things, even at a relatively advanced age sixty eight, 303 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 1: even though he's done this forever, even though he had 304 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 1: been out for three years. Remember he had not managed 305 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 1: since twenty nineteen before taking the Rangers job last October. 306 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 1: And yet he still is right on everything. 307 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 3: And in fact, this is something. 308 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 1: I thought was really cool. He doesn't take notes during games. 309 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 1: First Boch, he just watches the game and he processes 310 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 1: everything right there as it's happening in real time. He 311 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 1: is ahead of every move. We know. 312 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 3: He runs a great bullpen. He will pick up things 313 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 3: in the other dugout, maybe a guy stirring around who 314 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:37,480 Speaker 3: might be getting ready to pinch it. In the other. 315 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 1: Bullpen, believers moving around. He'll see first basement playing off 316 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 1: the line. He'll say, move him over. 317 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 3: All of these. 318 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 1: Things he's picking up, and he never takes a note, 319 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 1: never keeps score. He also has adapted to this new 320 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: era of baseball, the analytical era. And I spoke with 321 00:16:56,800 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 1: the Rangers statistical analyst who works most closely with Boat. 322 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 3: And his staff. 323 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:04,280 Speaker 1: His name is Bobby Bandlow, and he said that he 324 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:08,640 Speaker 1: thought coming in Bochie would be resistant to what he has. 325 00:17:08,720 --> 00:17:11,280 Speaker 1: He was very worried. Bobby Bandalo is a thirty year 326 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 1: old guy. He's working in this role for the first 327 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 1: time this year, with the team every day, and yet 328 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 1: Bochie from the first day of spring training was open 329 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 1: to everything. Now he doesn't always use everything, no manager. 330 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:25,399 Speaker 3: Does, but he's open. 331 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 1: He wants to know all of the information. He told me, 332 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 1: I don't want anybody having the edge on me. So 333 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: that was something else I learned. And then the last thing, 334 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 1: and actually there's a much more to this story than 335 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 1: even when I'm telling you here, but the last thing 336 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 1: that really stood out to me was his sense of humor. 337 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:45,919 Speaker 1: The players, the coaches consider Bochie to be a riot, 338 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: and I've got a number of anecdotes in there toward 339 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:51,239 Speaker 1: the end of the story, just relating some of the 340 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 1: things that he has said to players and coaches during 341 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:56,600 Speaker 1: the course of the season. He does that because that's 342 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:59,919 Speaker 1: his personality, and he does it, I think to relax 343 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:02,920 Speaker 1: people too, and to kind of make sure that everybody 344 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:06,880 Speaker 1: is on the same page. He gave a great introductory 345 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 1: talk at the start of spring training. This is in 346 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 1: the story as well, that really fired up the players. 347 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:17,200 Speaker 1: John Gray said that he felt after Boach's initial speech 348 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: that he was part of something bigger than himself. 349 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:23,439 Speaker 3: And this is what Bochie does. He puts players and 350 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 3: coaches at ease. He of course runs the. 351 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 1: Game like no one else. 352 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:31,440 Speaker 3: He is respected because of that and for all those reasons, I. 353 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:34,399 Speaker 1: Thought this would just be a really cool thing to 354 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 1: write about, and it turned out that way, at least 355 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:37,600 Speaker 1: from my perspective. 356 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:40,400 Speaker 3: The readers will have their own say of their own opinions. 357 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:44,119 Speaker 1: But I encourage you to read it if you obviously 358 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:46,919 Speaker 1: are interested in baseball and the way a manager of 359 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:50,200 Speaker 1: his caliber works. It doesn't have to be a story 360 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:54,160 Speaker 1: that is appreciated just by Rangers fans, or even Giants fans, 361 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 1: or even Padres fans, where Bochie was before going to Texas. 362 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:00,919 Speaker 1: It's just the story of a guy who's been a 363 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:04,640 Speaker 1: baseball lifer and who is back now with this team, 364 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 1: second in the majors in winning percentage. They got beat 365 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 1: two or three by the Rays this weekend. That's the 366 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 1: best team in the majors, the Rays, but the Rangers 367 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 1: are right there with them. They've had an amazing year 368 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:19,240 Speaker 1: and the manager is a big part of it. 369 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 3: They have. 370 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:25,439 Speaker 1: Essentially the same players. Granted they bought an entirely new rotation. 371 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:28,680 Speaker 1: They brought in Avaldi, Heiney and Jacob de Gram who 372 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:32,360 Speaker 1: has barely contributed. But it's a lot of the same guys. 373 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 1: Some of the younger ones have just matured and some 374 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 1: of the older ones, the veterans Sieger semi and they're 375 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:42,520 Speaker 1: settling in now. It's their second year. Remember they were 376 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:44,600 Speaker 1: without Sieger for a month, they were without Mitch Garver 377 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:47,960 Speaker 1: for a time, and here they are just kicking butt 378 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 1: in the American League West. 379 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:52,840 Speaker 3: So that's the story, Bruce Bochie, That's why I wrote it. 380 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:54,360 Speaker 3: That's how I went about writing it. 381 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 1: Hope you enjoy it all. Right. Here we go with 382 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:59,120 Speaker 1: the dude and dork of the week. Lots of honorable 383 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:02,919 Speaker 1: mentions this week. Let's start with Andrew McCutcheon two thousand 384 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 1: hits great achievement by Cutch. It's great to see him 385 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:10,440 Speaker 1: back in Pittsburgh leading the Pirates revival. Congratulations on two thousand. 386 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:14,520 Speaker 1: Ellie Dela Cruz. We talked about him earlier. He came up. 387 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:18,159 Speaker 1: He saw he conquered in baseball when a player is 388 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:21,639 Speaker 1: really good, they actually used the term dude, as in 389 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 1: he's a dude. Ellie Delacruz is a dude. Finally, then 390 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:30,440 Speaker 1: these are just the honorable mentions. John Sterling. John Sterling 391 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 1: is the feigned legendary Yankees broadcaster. He is eighty five 392 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:37,480 Speaker 1: years old. For that alone, he could be due to 393 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:39,920 Speaker 1: the week because he's still working at eighty five. It's 394 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:42,439 Speaker 1: amazing to me that he can do that. But also, 395 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 1: he took a foul ball off his eye during Saturday's 396 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 1: Red Sox Yankees broadcast. This was the ninth inning and 397 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:54,679 Speaker 1: he finished the game, went on as if nothing happened. 398 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 3: It's a three to two count. 399 00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 1: It was amazing. 400 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 3: So those are the honorable mentions. And you guys might 401 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 3: quibble with who I'm going to pick as Dudes of 402 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:04,120 Speaker 3: the week. 403 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 1: It is multiple dudes of the week. But the Oakland 404 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:11,800 Speaker 1: A's ladies and gentlemen have won five straight games, five 405 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:14,200 Speaker 1: straight from a team that was headed for I don't know, 406 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 1: one hundred and forty losses still might be for all 407 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 1: we know. 408 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 3: But the A's have done it. 409 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:21,399 Speaker 1: They've won the five straight and they've done it against 410 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:23,640 Speaker 1: two of these supposed NL Central. 411 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 3: Powers, the Pirates and Brewers. 412 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:27,879 Speaker 1: And the reason they're dudes of the week is because 413 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:32,120 Speaker 1: the players, the coaching staff, and Markcotsee they've gone through 414 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 1: a lot this year. This is the team with a 415 00:21:36,359 --> 00:21:39,680 Speaker 1: lack of talent, a lack of resources, a lack of payroll, 416 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:42,760 Speaker 1: a lack of a quality home park, a lack of 417 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 1: a committed ownership, a team that has been playing through 418 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:51,440 Speaker 1: this whole relocation saga that is going on with Las Vegas. 419 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:54,840 Speaker 1: It's not easy for these guys. And I remember talking 420 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:56,679 Speaker 1: to some of them at the start of the season. 421 00:21:56,800 --> 00:21:59,639 Speaker 1: They were already down and dejected. I spoke to some 422 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 1: people with their staff in recent weeks and it's been 423 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:06,040 Speaker 1: really tough on them. So the A's players, coaches, and 424 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:10,399 Speaker 1: manager marcottse they're the dudes of the week. Not ownership, No, 425 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:13,760 Speaker 1: not them, the players, coaches, and the manager. Now one 426 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:17,640 Speaker 1: more thing on the A's. Oh, let's not forget tomorrow. 427 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:23,240 Speaker 1: Tomorrow night in Oakland, it's reverse Boycott tailgate night. They're 428 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 1: gonna try to sell out the park and show their 429 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 1: support of the fans, and they're gonna give out these 430 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:28,200 Speaker 1: T shirts. 431 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:30,040 Speaker 3: The fans actually did. 432 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:33,320 Speaker 1: Their own promotion. They're gonna give out these T shirts. Obviously, 433 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 1: the message is pretty clear. They want the owner, John 434 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 1: Fisher to sell I don't know that that's going to happen, 435 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 1: but I am looking forward to seeing the antics at 436 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 1: that park tomorrow night. All right, now, those are the 437 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:48,359 Speaker 1: dudes of the week, the A's players, coaches, manager. Dork 438 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:50,359 Speaker 1: of the week is kind of the flip side of 439 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:53,240 Speaker 1: the equation. We're gonna give it to the Kansas City 440 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:59,159 Speaker 1: Royals franchise because if you've noticed, the Royals who ostensibly 441 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:01,440 Speaker 1: are trying this year, unlike the A's who have kind 442 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:03,679 Speaker 1: of mailed it in, at least from a payroll perspective. 443 00:23:04,560 --> 00:23:08,760 Speaker 1: The Royals are leading the A's by only two games 444 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:10,479 Speaker 1: in the standings. Let's take a look at this. 445 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:13,359 Speaker 3: Let's take a look at the current cellar dweller standings. 446 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:18,160 Speaker 1: Kansas City eighteen and forty seven, the A's seventeen and fifty. 447 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:20,480 Speaker 1: And of course the A's are on this roll. They've 448 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:21,280 Speaker 1: won five straight. 449 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:24,960 Speaker 3: So the Royals have spent ninety two million on payroll 450 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:27,880 Speaker 3: this year, twenty million of it's going to sal Perez. 451 00:23:28,359 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 3: The A's have spent less than sixty million. 452 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:32,680 Speaker 1: That's where these teams are. They're thirty million. 453 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:35,639 Speaker 3: Apart, and the Royals are still this bad. 454 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:38,880 Speaker 1: And for me, there are a lot of things wrong here. 455 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:42,800 Speaker 1: Remember they let Dayton mor go, they let their manager go, 456 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 1: and they replaced them with back Quaturo. Thethen he's gone, 457 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:49,080 Speaker 1: Katarro's in, and yet they're still in this state. And 458 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 1: it's not anybody who has taken the jobs recently. It's 459 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:56,200 Speaker 1: not their fault. It's the fault somewhat of a draft 460 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:59,000 Speaker 1: that was supposed to be so promising for them, the 461 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:01,919 Speaker 1: two and eight teen draft in which they had four 462 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:06,160 Speaker 1: of the top forty picks and selected four pitchers. I'm 463 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 1: going to show you who they were. Brady's singer, he's 464 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 1: got like a six era Jackson Coward, he's in the bullpen. 465 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:15,119 Speaker 3: Lynch he's been hurt, and Bubick had Tommy John surgery. 466 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:16,960 Speaker 3: Lynch is back now, but he was hurt earlier. 467 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:21,720 Speaker 1: None of these guys has really burst onto the scene 468 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:22,520 Speaker 1: in a big way. 469 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:24,320 Speaker 3: And when you have a draft like that, when you've 470 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:25,400 Speaker 3: got four of the top. 471 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:28,400 Speaker 1: Forty and you're a low revenue team, you've got to hit. 472 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 1: You've got to hit on them at least one or 473 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:33,760 Speaker 1: two and the Royals have not done that. They also 474 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 1: have not done well from an offensive perspective. They've got 475 00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:39,760 Speaker 1: a lot of promising young hitters, but it's not happening 476 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:40,639 Speaker 1: for them right now. 477 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:42,640 Speaker 3: So the pitching is the big thing. 478 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:46,159 Speaker 1: And yeah, they've got Jordan Lyles and Zach Grenk, but 479 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:49,199 Speaker 1: the young pitching has not come to the four. A 480 00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:52,359 Speaker 1: year ago or so, the Athletics Andy McCullough and Rustin 481 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:57,480 Speaker 1: Dodd wrote a long story about the Royals pitching development process. 482 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:00,560 Speaker 1: It was not flattering, and we're kind of seeing it 483 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 1: all come to pass here. 484 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:04,760 Speaker 3: So the Royals franchise as a whole. 485 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:07,560 Speaker 1: They're the dorks of the week because if you're kind 486 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 1: of brushing up against the A's, it means you're not 487 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:13,640 Speaker 1: doing too well. This week, for the second straight week, 488 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:16,119 Speaker 1: on Fox, we're gonna have Yankees Red Sox, and I 489 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:18,480 Speaker 1: know that ticks off a lot of people around the country, 490 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:21,440 Speaker 1: but the fact of the matter is people watch these games. 491 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:25,560 Speaker 1: That's why Fox chooses to broadcast them. And even though 492 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:27,960 Speaker 1: there was a lot of chatter going into last week's 493 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:31,159 Speaker 1: games that this rivalry is not what it used to be, 494 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:34,680 Speaker 1: the bottom line is when these teams play, the games 495 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:38,400 Speaker 1: are invariably interesting. And it happened again over the weekend. Now, 496 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:41,000 Speaker 1: maybe it happened because the Yankees are without Aaron Judge 497 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:44,200 Speaker 1: and without him their offense is not the same, and 498 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:46,080 Speaker 1: maybe the Red Sox are more on their level. 499 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:48,159 Speaker 3: But the games were terrific. 500 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:52,639 Speaker 1: And each day was something else. So Yankees Red Sox 501 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:55,080 Speaker 1: again on Fox, and it would be from Fenway Park 502 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:58,480 Speaker 1: this week. I'm looking forward to it. Now onto the 503 00:25:58,560 --> 00:26:03,560 Speaker 1: reader and listener question. First one coming from Cubs account. 504 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:06,800 Speaker 3: What does David Ross have to do to get fired? 505 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:08,200 Speaker 3: And why is Jed. 506 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:11,119 Speaker 1: Hoyer refusing to engage with Marcus Stroman the best player 507 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:16,919 Speaker 1: in the NL by b war on an extension. Okay, first, Ross, 508 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:20,120 Speaker 1: so fans like to fire managers. They like to think 509 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,720 Speaker 1: that that's going to make a huge difference in their club. 510 00:26:23,119 --> 00:26:25,840 Speaker 1: But a couple of things have to take place. One 511 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:29,280 Speaker 1: managerial incompetence. I don't know that we're seeing that from 512 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:32,400 Speaker 1: David Ross. Yes, you can question certain decisions, you can 513 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:34,800 Speaker 1: do that with every manager by and large, I don't 514 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:37,880 Speaker 1: know that what is taking place on the field is 515 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:39,720 Speaker 1: the responsibility of Ross. 516 00:26:39,760 --> 00:26:41,680 Speaker 3: In fact, the. 517 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:45,240 Speaker 1: President Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer said recently the bullpen, which 518 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:47,920 Speaker 1: has been a huge problem for them, that's on me, 519 00:26:48,280 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 1: Jed Hoyer, not Ross, because they didn't supplement well enough. 520 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:54,639 Speaker 1: And you also, when you fire a manager, you need 521 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:56,840 Speaker 1: to have a replacement ready, and I don't know that 522 00:26:56,880 --> 00:26:59,520 Speaker 1: the Cubs do. Andy Green is their bench coach. He 523 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:02,800 Speaker 1: was the Podcas manager for a while. Wasn't a successful manager. 524 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:07,119 Speaker 1: Could be reasons that weren't necessarily related entirely to Andy Green, 525 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:08,360 Speaker 1: but he wasn't. 526 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:10,000 Speaker 3: You could put him in there. 527 00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:11,840 Speaker 1: But where are you going with this? Which was kind 528 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:15,040 Speaker 1: of the point Steve Cullen made. So that's not happening 529 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:17,600 Speaker 1: at least I don't believe it's happening anytime soon. 530 00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:19,040 Speaker 3: The Stroman thing. 531 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:22,080 Speaker 1: I wrote about this a few weeks ago. He does 532 00:27:22,119 --> 00:27:25,199 Speaker 1: want an extension, He does want to stay with the Cubs. 533 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:29,360 Speaker 1: I imagine that at some point before the deadline, which 534 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:32,320 Speaker 1: is still seven weeks away, the Cubs are going to 535 00:27:32,359 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 1: engage him. But they want to make sure he's healthy 536 00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 1: and want to make sure he keeps going at this 537 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 1: rate or something close to it before committing any more money. 538 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:44,359 Speaker 1: And my guess is they're not going to get this 539 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:46,880 Speaker 1: done anyway, because Stroman is going to take a look 540 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:49,440 Speaker 1: and see the free agent market and think, you know what, 541 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:50,480 Speaker 1: I'm two months away. 542 00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:52,440 Speaker 3: I know I love it here. 543 00:27:52,280 --> 00:27:54,600 Speaker 1: But maybe I could do even better. So I still 544 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:58,040 Speaker 1: believe a trade is the most likely outcome for Marcus Stroman. 545 00:27:58,359 --> 00:28:03,399 Speaker 1: Next question from Scott at Gonsolin RBW rich relievers are 546 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:06,359 Speaker 1: drawing interest that fans might not know a lot about. 547 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:10,879 Speaker 1: This is a good question, and believers are always popular 548 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:13,720 Speaker 1: items at the deadline. Teams always need bullpen help, they 549 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:17,199 Speaker 1: always need rotation help too, But relievers, it seems like 550 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:18,920 Speaker 1: in many cases they're interchangeable. 551 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:22,879 Speaker 3: Their performances, of course, are violatal. Teams take chances, sometimes 552 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:25,960 Speaker 3: they hit, sometimes they don't. I'll give you a few 553 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:28,720 Speaker 3: names outside of a role as Chapman, who is the 554 00:28:28,720 --> 00:28:32,399 Speaker 3: most obvious. The Nationals have three guys that teams like 555 00:28:33,359 --> 00:28:37,920 Speaker 3: Kyle Finnegan, Carl Edwards, Junior Hunter Harvey the Tigers. They 556 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:41,600 Speaker 3: also have three the teams like actually more even Alex Lang, 557 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:45,280 Speaker 3: Jason Foley and Will vest Now Some of those pitchers 558 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:49,120 Speaker 3: will not get traded for whatever reason, some because they've 559 00:28:49,120 --> 00:28:51,320 Speaker 3: got a good amount of control left the Tigers guys, 560 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:53,120 Speaker 3: for instance, I don't know that the Tigers are going 561 00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:57,120 Speaker 3: to necessarily entertain things unless it's a high price in return. 562 00:28:57,640 --> 00:29:00,920 Speaker 1: But we'll see plenty of relievers moved, see more names 563 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:03,760 Speaker 1: emerge as teams fall out of contention if they do 564 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:08,160 Speaker 1: in this expanded playoff format. But I expect, again as 565 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:12,080 Speaker 1: I do every deadline, that a bunch of relievers will 566 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:15,120 Speaker 1: get traded. This one comes from Abe, and Abe asks 567 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:18,880 Speaker 1: the average European sports fan tends to be primarily invested 568 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:22,360 Speaker 1: in football for your listeners, better known as soccer, what 569 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:25,280 Speaker 1: should the person focus on when stumbling upon. 570 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:28,680 Speaker 3: A baseball game to get hooked on this sport? Abe, 571 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 3: I could answer this question in. 572 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:32,360 Speaker 1: A hundred different ways, and one of the things I 573 00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:35,840 Speaker 1: like best about baseball is that people can enjoy it 574 00:29:35,880 --> 00:29:39,040 Speaker 1: from a variety of perspectives. Maybe you're rooting for a 575 00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:42,000 Speaker 1: certain team, Maybe you have a certain player that you 576 00:29:42,640 --> 00:29:45,440 Speaker 1: deem as your favorite. Maybe you're a fantasy sports player. 577 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:48,320 Speaker 1: Maybe you're a native of a certain country and you 578 00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:51,720 Speaker 1: root for players from your country. All of these things 579 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:56,800 Speaker 1: are perfectly valid ways to enjoy baseball. What I think 580 00:29:57,880 --> 00:30:00,120 Speaker 1: is the coolest thing. The thing I would mention to 581 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:05,160 Speaker 1: that fan from Europe is that players come from all 582 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:07,040 Speaker 1: over the world, all. 583 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:11,920 Speaker 3: Different kinds of backgrounds, all different shapes and sizes. Aaron 584 00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:15,760 Speaker 3: Judge is here, jose L Tuvey is here, and these 585 00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:20,320 Speaker 3: guys are both extremely gifted at their sport and they 586 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:24,120 Speaker 3: work extremely hard at it. So that's the thing I would. 587 00:30:23,960 --> 00:30:27,080 Speaker 1: Maybe point to the diversity of the players and how 588 00:30:27,160 --> 00:30:29,920 Speaker 1: these guys are all so different. They have different skills 589 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:34,120 Speaker 1: and they display them as such. We could talk all 590 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:36,960 Speaker 1: day about this, but I'll start their age. And finally, 591 00:30:37,720 --> 00:30:41,280 Speaker 1: idd question coming from Socks South, This idd question. 592 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:43,240 Speaker 3: Is can you tell me where you got the shells? 593 00:30:43,280 --> 00:30:43,760 Speaker 3: Behind you? 594 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:47,040 Speaker 1: The store, the brand? I love the look. I think 595 00:30:47,120 --> 00:30:49,959 Speaker 1: I need to get it from my office now. To 596 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:53,280 Speaker 1: answer this question, I had to consult the true expert 597 00:30:53,320 --> 00:30:56,240 Speaker 1: in the family, the one who put the shelves together, 598 00:30:56,320 --> 00:30:59,920 Speaker 1: or at least designed this idea, and that's my wife. 599 00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:01,720 Speaker 1: She is the one who came up with the idea. 600 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 1: And if you notice over this shoulder, there's a little 601 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 1: gap that is a standing desk, and this was actually 602 00:31:08,320 --> 00:31:11,560 Speaker 1: a whole thing that came from the Container Store. It's 603 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:12,560 Speaker 1: the Fless system. 604 00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:15,680 Speaker 3: So that's the answer, the Container Store of the Fless system. 605 00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:17,000 Speaker 3: They get a free. 606 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:20,000 Speaker 1: Add this week on Fair Territory because look, they did 607 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:21,360 Speaker 1: a great job on my shelves. 608 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:22,160 Speaker 3: All right. 609 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:24,360 Speaker 1: I want to thank all the viewers, all the listeners, 610 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:25,000 Speaker 1: some great. 611 00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:25,720 Speaker 3: Questions this week. 612 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:28,840 Speaker 1: Remember you can subscribe to us on YouTube and wherever 613 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:30,000 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts. 614 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:30,920 Speaker 3: Tune in. 615 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:34,320 Speaker 1: Next week will be back, of course, and thanks again everyone. 616 00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:38,560 Speaker 4: Spicy Ball is back for BETMGM sports players. 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