1 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:04,840 Speaker 1: Welcome everyone to the Thursday edition of Fair Territory. Sorry 2 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: for the little bit of a late start. We had 3 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: some technical difficulties. I'm Ken Rosenthal. We are here with 4 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: Alana Rizzo and Alana, it seems like your attire is 5 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: a little bit different today. 6 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:21,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, technical difficulties. I can technical difficulties, wardrobe malfunction. The 7 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:23,959 Speaker 2: only reason Ken, I am wearing this is because I 8 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 2: lost a bet to Jeremy Meyer, our wonderful producer. I 9 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 2: am a Broncos fan. It is the Patriots that are 10 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 2: going to the Super Bowl, so I am a woman 11 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 2: of my word. I am fulfilling my bet. More on 12 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,200 Speaker 2: that coming up and Dude and Dork of the week. 13 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 2: Much more entertaining things to talk about though, with you baseball, 14 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 2: let's talk about it. You had a one on one 15 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 2: with Mark de Rosa, manager of Team USA. How do 16 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 2: you see this team, Ken, for the WBC kind of 17 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 2: shaping up under the leadership of Mark de Rosa. 18 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 1: Well was I wrote in a story today, Alana. This 19 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:05,039 Speaker 1: is the strongest WBC team the usas fielded, and this 20 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 1: is the sixth WBC, so we've had something of a 21 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 1: history now and Team USA won in twenty seventeen, but 22 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:15,040 Speaker 1: if you compare the two rosters, they're not even close. 23 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 1: And I go through that and story, and the biggest 24 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 1: thing that has changed over the years is the willingness 25 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: of superstar Major leaguers to participate in this tournament. For 26 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 1: a long time, understandably so, there was reluctance, why am 27 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 1: I disrupting my spring training. Teams were of course not 28 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 1: into it. They still aren't into it for the most part. 29 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: But the last WBC, the one in twenty twenty three, 30 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 1: was so electric, so much a tribute to the sport 31 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: and all the sport, all that the sport can be. 32 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 1: It swayed a lot of people. It swayed a lot 33 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 1: of fans, It swayed a lot of players. It may 34 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: have even swayed some teams to say, Okay, we get it. 35 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 1: For those fans out there who are critical of the WBC, 36 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: I understand. You don't want your players disrupted. You want 37 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 1: them simply devoted to their teams, your favorite teams. I 38 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 1: will only say this, watch the games, watch this sport 39 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: at its highest level. And that's what it is. When 40 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 1: you have all these great players from all these different 41 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: countries competing in one tournament. You see elite baseball, and 42 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 1: that is what we saw the last time. Just so happened. 43 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: We got a slew of dramatic games as well, So 44 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: I'm expecting that the tournament is going to be just 45 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: as much fun this year. And again Aaron Judge, cal 46 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,359 Speaker 1: Raley on one team, with Bobby Witt, with Corbyn Carroll, 47 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 1: with all these other superstars, Bryce Harper, then you have 48 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 1: Tarrek Schoogle and Paul Sken's heading the starting rotation. That's 49 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 1: pretty good. 50 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 2: Really good Ken. And you know there have been some 51 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:55,519 Speaker 2: times where we'll talk about it a little bit too. 52 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 2: Carlos Correa Jose l Twove not participating me because of 53 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:02,359 Speaker 2: an insurance issue. Clayton kershaw Ken had that same issue 54 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 2: the last time the WBC came around. But he's retired 55 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 2: now and Mark de Rosa has Clayton kershaw on his team. 56 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 2: What more can you tell us about his role his 57 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:11,839 Speaker 2: perceived role? 58 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 1: I remember kershow was disappointed in twenty three when he 59 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: wasn't cleared by insurance. We'll explain that in a second, Alana, 60 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 1: as you said, but in this particular instance with him 61 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 1: now retired and not affiliated with any major league franchise, 62 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 1: he is actually going to play potentially an important role 63 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 1: for Team USA because there could be a circumstance that 64 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 1: comes about where they need a long man, where you 65 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: need a guy to suck up four or five innings. 66 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 1: Because so many pictures in this tournament for USA and 67 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: other countries as well, will be under restrictions imposed by 68 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 1: their teams. In many cases, most cases understandable restrictions because 69 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: of course it's the middle of spring training. You don't 70 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 1: want your starting pitchers going seven innings. You don't want 71 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 1: necessarily your relievers going back to back days. And in 72 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 1: the last tournament in twenty twenty three, De Rosa explains 73 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 1: this in the article they Got Caught. They got caught 74 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 1: in a game against Mexico because they basically ran out 75 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: of pitching. They had to kind of have Brady Singer 76 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 1: wear it a little bit. And in the next game, 77 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:23,600 Speaker 1: which was against Canada the next day, Team USA was 78 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 1: very fortunate that lance Lynn went sixty five pitches and 79 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: five innings because basically they were out of pitching. So 80 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: Kershaw will serve that role as basically someone who mops 81 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:39,159 Speaker 1: it up if necessary, whether in a route in the 82 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: USA's favor or in the other team's favor, and that 83 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: is actually an important role. He might never pitch, he 84 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: might end up pitching four innings in one game. He 85 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 1: might end up pitching one inning. But to have a 86 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 1: guy like that not affiliated with the team is valuable 87 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: because if you had a major league pitcher in that 88 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 1: role and you're telling his team, hey, we might not 89 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: pitch them, we might we might pitch them a lot, 90 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,920 Speaker 1: that major league team is not going to be satisfied 91 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:08,600 Speaker 1: with that answer. 92 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:12,160 Speaker 2: Ken, Is that why the Giants are asking Logan Webb 93 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 2: to take a pass on the WBC. 94 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: The Giants are asking him to take a pass on 95 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 1: the WBC for the same reason every team would prefer 96 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 1: their top pitchers and players not to play. It's the 97 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 1: risk of injury. It's all that. And teams just have concerns, 98 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 1: understandably because there's a lot of money invested in these 99 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:36,719 Speaker 1: players and you don't want to see them get hurt. 100 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 1: But a lot of we were talking about this off air, 101 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 1: and I want to hear your thoughts on air about 102 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 1: how the risk in the WBC, while it's there, it's 103 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 1: not necessarily a greater risk than pitching in spring training. Yes, 104 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 1: the stress level is higher, but you could get You 105 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 1: could get hurt in either environment, no. 106 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 2: No question about that. You can get hurt just as 107 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 2: easily in spring training Ken and no one's making a 108 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 2: big deal out of it because obviously you're working out. 109 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:05,040 Speaker 2: Accidents and injuries happen, But you could easily get hurt 110 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:07,599 Speaker 2: in the WBC. And people are blowing that what I 111 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 2: believe they're blowing it out of proportion. But think about it. 112 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:11,840 Speaker 2: I mean, you could walk outside and get you know, 113 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 2: stumble over a log or slip on ice, or fall 114 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 2: up the stairs or whatever it is. I mean, there's 115 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 2: ways to get hurt that have nothing to do with baseball. 116 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:23,359 Speaker 2: So allow your team to play for the WBC. I 117 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 2: understand why teams are hesitant. 118 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: I get it. 119 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:28,159 Speaker 2: You know, these are highly paid players, and you know 120 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 2: it's a commodity for the team. But it's an honor 121 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,279 Speaker 2: not to put on this jersey, this Patriots jersey, but 122 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 2: it is an honor to put on a WBC team 123 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 2: USA jersey. That being said, can it doesn't look like 124 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:45,039 Speaker 2: the Astros are going to allow Jose Altuve and Carlos 125 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 2: care At a player. Maybe it's more of an insurance 126 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 2: issue for those two players because the Astros have had 127 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 2: some injury prone years as of late. What more can 128 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:54,040 Speaker 2: you tell us? 129 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 1: Well, what the astros are saying and what the players 130 00:06:57,120 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 1: are saying is that it is an insurance issue. Now, 131 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 1: let me explain how this works. So each player in 132 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:08,039 Speaker 1: the WBC has to be insured, and MLB and the 133 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:13,679 Speaker 1: Union pick and insurer, and that insurer basically evaluates every 134 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: player and when it denies insurance because perhaps of past injuries. 135 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 1: In Korea's case or without Tuove, he had an offseason surgery, 136 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 1: albeit a minor one, but he had one, then the 137 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: team can go ahead and have the player play if 138 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 1: they guarantee a salary. But if they don't, and most 139 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 1: teams are not going to guarantee a player's salary if 140 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 1: he's not insured. If they don't do that, then the 141 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 1: player is risking losing his salary if he gets hurt 142 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:45,280 Speaker 1: during the WBC. So when a player like Kara is 143 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 1: told you're not getting insured, he's not going to play 144 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 1: and risk his entire salary because if he gets hurt 145 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: in some freak way, he won't get paid. And that 146 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 1: is obviously a huge risk. And you see this surface 147 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 1: from time to time with different players. We talked about 148 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: Kershaw in twenty three. Now, the Dodgers were not willing 149 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: to guarantee his salary, so he didn't play. The Tigers, 150 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 1: on the other hand, did make that exception for Miguel Cabrera. 151 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: I'm not sure why. I don't remember the exact circumstances, 152 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 1: but that's rare. You don't see a team say go 153 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: to the dB, go to the WBC. If you get hurt, 154 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 1: we'll pay you. That doesn't generally happen, No. 155 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 2: It does not. 156 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 3: Now. 157 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 2: Channler Rome, who does a great job covering the Houston 158 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 2: Astros you can also see him on Crush City Territory, 159 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 2: had an article about what Carlos Korea was saying. Ken 160 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:38,200 Speaker 2: about the injuries with the Astros quote, we had way 161 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 2: too many injuries last year, and I feel like when 162 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:43,080 Speaker 2: I got here, people did not have the routine they 163 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 2: needed to have in order for them to be able 164 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 2: to withstand the whole season. That's coming from Carlos Carea. 165 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 2: You can see it here more on Chandler Rome's story 166 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:55,200 Speaker 2: in the Athletic I mean, is that kind of something 167 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:58,320 Speaker 2: that the leadership in terms of the players are feeling 168 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 2: with Houston Ken, I don't want you to for Carlos Korea, 169 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 2: but injuries were an issue for that club last year. 170 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: Injuries have been an issue for this team for several years. 171 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:11,839 Speaker 1: If you go back to twenty four, Kyle Tucker had 172 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 1: that stress fracture. I believe in his shit that was misdiagnosed, 173 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: and there have been a number of different things with 174 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:21,080 Speaker 1: the Astros over the years. I don't know what their 175 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 1: protocols are. I don't know what the problem is. But Correa, 176 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 1: who is generally one of the most honest players in 177 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 1: the game, is speaking to conditioning it sounds like and 178 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 1: routines as much as he is medical treatment. So what 179 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 1: he's saying is that the players have to get their 180 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 1: acts together, that the organization has to get its act together. 181 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:45,200 Speaker 1: And obviously, when you're a team the caliber of Houston, 182 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 1: you don't want injuries, unnecessary injuries perhaps compromising your season. 183 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 1: And Korea is while an injury prone player in many ways, 184 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 1: he's had a lot of stuff. He takes great care 185 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:00,720 Speaker 1: of himself, and he's a guy that is tune to 186 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:03,199 Speaker 1: all of the physical aspects of the game. 187 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 2: And he tell you what he is one of the 188 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 2: guys that is most intelligent and well educated on the 189 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:12,439 Speaker 2: saber metrics of the game. You talked to Carlos Korea. 190 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 2: He's completely into all of the analytics stuff. But it 191 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 2: is safe to say that the astros and injuries a 192 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 2: touchy subject, can to say the least. For more on 193 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:23,839 Speaker 2: the Astros, subscribe to Crush City Territory. Rome and Tyler 194 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 2: Stafford have more takeaways from FanFest in their latest episode. 195 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 2: Subscribe on YouTube and share with the friend the Foul 196 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 2: Territory Network Baseball the way it should be covered. We'll 197 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 2: be back with Grohan Ken right after this. All right, 198 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:45,679 Speaker 2: welcome back to Fair Territory with Ken Rosenthalis. Time now 199 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 2: to ask Ken some questions. The first one is in 200 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:51,080 Speaker 2: regards to the Braves. Ken Tyler Max Switt Smith wants 201 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 2: to know should the Braves add a right handed bat 202 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:55,680 Speaker 2: to pair with Yaz in left field as a DH, 203 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 2: especially with Kim and Murphy out to start the year. 204 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 2: Could in ozoona return makes sense. 205 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:06,199 Speaker 1: I hadn't actually thought about this, but with the injuries 206 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:08,720 Speaker 1: that they're dealing with with Kim and Murphy at the 207 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 1: start the year, it is something that perhaps they would consider. 208 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:16,320 Speaker 1: I don't know that it would be a guy like 209 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:18,320 Speaker 1: a Zuna that they'd have to pay a good amount 210 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:22,200 Speaker 1: of money too. Maybe it's a lesser player or even 211 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,600 Speaker 1: a non roster player. There's still a lot of free 212 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:26,319 Speaker 1: agents out there and some are going to have to 213 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 1: take non roster deals. Their biggest focus, of course, remains 214 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:33,080 Speaker 1: a starting pitcher. That is something they want to do, 215 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: but it's something they haven't done yet, so that will 216 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:37,840 Speaker 1: be an interesting thing to keep an eye on. 217 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:41,520 Speaker 2: Good question there, all right, what starting pitcher? Are you 218 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 2: surprised Ken is still on the free agent market? Perhaps 219 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:49,120 Speaker 2: maybe from Bervaldez and Zach Gallan This is from armand 220 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:52,320 Speaker 2: is amazing, and maybe the question is are you surprised 221 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:54,079 Speaker 2: that both of them are still available? 222 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 1: Yes, I am surprised both are still out there. We 223 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 1: do see every year players linger and not get their 224 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 1: values early in free agency and wait to see if 225 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 1: they can get it later. Now from for Valdez and 226 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 1: Galen are two entirely different types, even though they're both 227 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 1: qualifying offer free agents, both rejected qualifying offers and therefore 228 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:21,439 Speaker 1: are subject to drafted compensation. Valdez, it seems to me 229 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 1: it's his age thirty two. Perhaps what he is seeking 230 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 1: that he is not getting Perhaps that's part of it, 231 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 1: that he's aiming too high, And certainly this cross up 232 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 1: with Sesar Zalazar, the rookie catcher last year, did not 233 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 1: help his reputation within the game, and it seems to 234 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:42,200 Speaker 1: me from the outside, I don't know this for a fact, 235 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 1: that that could be could be affecting his market. Gallen, 236 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 1: I've discussed this in other places I've written about it. 237 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 1: He was perhaps the least accomplished of the players who 238 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 1: rejected qualifying offers, and it seems that that kind of 239 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 1: player every year kind of gets squeaked and Gallon, it's 240 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 1: a really good pitcher. He had a bad first four 241 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:07,000 Speaker 1: months and a pretty good last two months, a very 242 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:11,200 Speaker 1: good last two months. To me, he is worth three 243 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:13,520 Speaker 1: or four years whatever that might take to get him. 244 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 1: But it seems right now he's not getting it. And 245 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 1: what I foresee for him is following the path that 246 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:21,839 Speaker 1: other Scott Boars clients have followed in use in years 247 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 1: short term deal opt outs, try again next year without 248 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:26,320 Speaker 1: the qualifying offer. 249 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, kind of like the Cody Bellinger before he just 250 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 2: signed the one sixty five with the New York Yankees. 251 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:34,080 Speaker 2: You mentioned the qualifying offer. Ken, how much. Do you 252 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:36,680 Speaker 2: think that being tied to a free agent player is 253 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 2: a factor. 254 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:42,559 Speaker 1: It definitely is now, it's not for the Juan Soto's 255 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 1: of the world, the Kyle Tuckers of the world. And 256 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: when Diaz teams factor it into the equation. We're losing 257 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 1: two draft picks. That is additional cost to what the 258 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,640 Speaker 1: salary's going to be. But when the player is good enough, 259 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 1: you're not going to be restricted by that. When you 260 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 1: have a player who is good but not maybe elite, 261 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: then you're like, maybe we don't want to do this. 262 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:09,120 Speaker 1: And also depends on a team's draft position. At times, 263 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:11,360 Speaker 1: you can't lose your first round or anymore, but you 264 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: lose your second and fifth picks if you're a big 265 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:16,679 Speaker 1: market team signing one of these guys, and that is 266 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 1: prohibitive or at least a deterrent for some clubs. 267 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 2: This is a good question. I've often wondered this myself. 268 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 2: This one comes from Ryan s seven to four to 269 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 2: one four. What's the biggest misconception readers have about anonymous 270 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 2: sourcing and how do you internally vet credibility before publishing? 271 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 2: How do you become the insider that you are? 272 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 1: Well? The biggest misconception readers have about sourcing is when 273 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 1: they try to figure out where stuff is coming from. 274 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 1: Now sometimes, yes, it is the obvious person you might think, 275 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 1: or an obvious group of people you might think. But 276 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 1: oftentimes stuff comes out of nowhere. Oftentimes there is not 277 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 1: an agenda. People are always trying to read agendas and 278 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 1: it just kind of works in a variety of ways. 279 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 1: And the other part of this is would you ask 280 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 1: about vetting. That's a good question because when you're in 281 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 1: this position as a reporter, you have to understand that 282 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 1: certain people in the industry, certain sources might be trying 283 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 1: to use you, and you have to read that. Have 284 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 1: I been one hundred good at that or perfect at 285 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 1: that in my career, No, there have been times where 286 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: I've missed because I misread somebody or was used frankly 287 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 1: by that person. But you do your best, and for 288 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 1: the majority of us who do this, our track records 289 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 1: are very good. We don't miss very often. But there 290 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 1: are times where, yeah, you have to be very understanding 291 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 1: of where a person is coming from. And that was 292 00:15:57,400 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: something that was taught to me early in my career. 293 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 1: And again, I'm not perfect, No one's perfect, but over 294 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 1: the years, I've tried to be as diligent about that 295 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 1: as possible. 296 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 2: How much does trust play into your sources can and 297 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 2: the relationship building and knowing who you can legitimately trust. 298 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:20,560 Speaker 1: A lot of that's everything, and that goes both ways. 299 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 1: By the way, it's not just me trusting the sources, 300 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 1: it's the sources trusting me to handle a particular story 301 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 1: or transaction, whatever the case might be, in the proper 302 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:35,720 Speaker 1: professional way. And it takes a long time to build 303 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 1: that up. I often have, in fact, I had just 304 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 1: yesterday a young person say Hey, how do I get 305 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 1: to be an insider? Doesn't happen overnight. It takes time 306 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 1: to build your own credibility. It takes time for you 307 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 1: to amass a group of sources or people in the 308 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:55,160 Speaker 1: game that will talk to you. And these things do 309 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 1: not happen overnight. 310 00:16:56,800 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 2: Like anything. It's relationship building and trust and you are 311 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 2: one of the best at that. Coming up here on 312 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:05,200 Speaker 2: Fair Territory with Ken Rosenthal, we're talking about our dude 313 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 2: and Dorks of the week. We'll be right back. 314 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:09,160 Speaker 1: Hey. 315 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 3: An easy way to support the show and wear super 316 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:16,400 Speaker 3: comfy clothing is by heading to Foul territoryshop dot com. Yes, 317 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 3: foul Territory Shop dot com is loaded with foul Territory 318 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 3: gear and lots of fair territory gear. If you want 319 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 3: to give some love to Ken and Alana, go check 320 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:30,200 Speaker 3: out a hat, a T shirt, and a lot more 321 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 3: coffee mug in the morning. Foul Territoryshop dot com is 322 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 3: the spot. Hey, when you get a chance, subscribe to 323 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 3: foul Territory on YouTube. We are getting very close to 324 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 3: three hundred thousand subscribers on the channel and love all 325 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 3: of them, so we'd love you to join us on 326 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 3: that channel as we break down everything going on across 327 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 3: the sport. It is baseball the way it should be 328 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:56,160 Speaker 3: covered at Foul Territory. Give us a sub bet. I'm 329 00:17:56,200 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 3: JM account holders today. How about an any sport parlay token. 330 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 3: You can score a bigger payout if your wager with 331 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:05,359 Speaker 3: that token. Hits tokens can be used on parlays and 332 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 3: on same game parlays. Gambling problem or concerned, there's help 333 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 3: called one hundred Gambler. 334 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:17,480 Speaker 1: Dude, Dude, dude. 335 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,359 Speaker 2: All right, Ken, there's been a lot of news this week, 336 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 2: the last couple of weeks about the Washington Post. I 337 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 2: want to talk a bit about your dude of the week. 338 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:30,919 Speaker 1: My dude of the week are the Washington Post sports 339 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:34,199 Speaker 1: writers and all of the Washington Post sports writers that 340 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:37,919 Speaker 1: I've read and admired over the years. If you don't 341 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 1: know what is happening at the Washington Post, Basically there's 342 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:45,440 Speaker 1: talk of mass layoffs, the elimination potentially of the sports 343 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 1: department and the international reporting department, which is one of 344 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 1: the best in the world, and so many people at 345 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:54,480 Speaker 1: the Washington Post have been inspirations to me. I'm not 346 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 1: going to name them all right here, but it's one 347 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:59,200 Speaker 1: of the best sports sections in the country. It has 348 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 1: been one of the best sports sections in the country. 349 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 1: I tweeted my thoughts the other day about the way 350 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 1: it's been handled and all of that. But this is 351 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:11,920 Speaker 1: simply to express my admiration and also my concern for 352 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 1: what is going on there, to all my friends who 353 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:17,280 Speaker 1: work there and all my friends who have worked there 354 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:19,880 Speaker 1: in the past. So Washington Post sports writers due. 355 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:24,399 Speaker 2: To the weeks, absolutely such talented, hardworking people, certainly hoping 356 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:26,879 Speaker 2: for the best that that situation resolves itself in a 357 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:29,800 Speaker 2: positive way. My due to the week is the Colorado Rockies, 358 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 2: and the reason I say it, and I don't often 359 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:34,640 Speaker 2: give them praise. I think they're headed in the right 360 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 2: direction though, and I like that with Paul Dipavesto and 361 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 2: obviously Walker mon for taking over. But I am giving 362 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 2: them the due to the week because they're doing this. 363 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:46,440 Speaker 2: They are doing a statue unveiling of two Hall of famers, 364 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:49,320 Speaker 2: of course, Larry Walker on August twenty third, Todd Helton, 365 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:52,120 Speaker 2: who I got the privilege of covering for a lot 366 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:56,520 Speaker 2: of his career in Colorado on September nineteenth, obviously both 367 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 2: in cooper'stown. And I like that they're doing it separately 368 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:03,719 Speaker 2: so each man has his proper due. Congratulations, rockies, you 369 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:06,480 Speaker 2: are my dudes of the week. 370 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 4: All right. 371 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 2: Time now for our dork of the week. All right, Ken, 372 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:21,679 Speaker 2: you're going off the beaten path again this week? What 373 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:22,120 Speaker 2: is it? 374 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:25,159 Speaker 1: I am, And I'm very happy to go off the 375 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:29,160 Speaker 1: beaten path for this particular group, the dork of the week. 376 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 1: The dorks of the week, in my opinion, are the 377 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 1: NFL Hall of Fame voters. Now, I understand that Bill 378 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:40,879 Speaker 1: Belichick didn't get put in on the first try because 379 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:45,639 Speaker 1: of some process questions with the voting It's been a 380 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 1: different process than in the past, and voters found it 381 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 1: difficult to kind of sort through it. I get that. 382 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:55,120 Speaker 1: All all I'm saying is this one can't be blamed 383 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:58,200 Speaker 1: on the BBWAA. We had nothing to do with it. 384 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 1: Were all complain about our own votes, and perhaps some 385 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:06,160 Speaker 1: justifiable complaints about our votes, But this one, this has 386 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 1: nothing to do with us. So I'm living large. I'm 387 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 1: sitting pretty in the NFL Hall of Fame. Writers there 388 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 1: the dorks of the week. 389 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:16,439 Speaker 2: That's all right, It's about time. I don't like the Patriots. 390 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:19,200 Speaker 2: I can't stand the Patriots despite having to wear this 391 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:23,639 Speaker 2: stupid jersey. But Bill Belichick is a first ballot Hall 392 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 2: of Famer, and anybody I think, there's been fifty nine 393 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:28,719 Speaker 2: Super Bowls and he's one eight of them, so stop it. Okay, 394 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 2: he's a first ballot Hall of Famer, all right. My 395 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 2: dude to the or dork of the week is myself 396 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:36,440 Speaker 2: because I made a bet with our wonderful producer, Jeremy Meyer, 397 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:38,919 Speaker 2: and also Andy Ottovic, who does a great job with 398 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:41,119 Speaker 2: the medical team for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who is 399 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:44,880 Speaker 2: a Patriots fan, that the Broncos were going to beat 400 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:48,439 Speaker 2: the Patriots of the AFC Championship. And also dork of 401 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:51,679 Speaker 2: the week is Sean Payton for not kicking the simple points, 402 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 2: the easy points early in the game and deciding to 403 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:56,560 Speaker 2: go forward on fourth and one so I have to 404 00:21:56,560 --> 00:22:00,480 Speaker 2: wear this stupid jersey. I am my own dork of 405 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:03,919 Speaker 2: the week. I am not going to be enjoying the 406 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 2: Super Bowl. And there you have it. Yeah, that's it. 407 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 2: I'm the dork of the week and Sean Payton, you 408 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 2: too are the dork of the week. And by the way, 409 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:16,159 Speaker 2: why did we fire our offensive coordinator when Sean Payton 410 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:18,520 Speaker 2: is the one calling all of the offensive calls? Hey, 411 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:21,960 Speaker 2: you know whatever, it's fine. We do have one more question. 412 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:25,399 Speaker 1: That was a rant worthy of your old partner the 413 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:25,960 Speaker 1: mad Dog. 414 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, seriously, but I'm doing it at a lower 415 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 2: octave than Chris Russo would do it? One more question 416 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:36,359 Speaker 2: for you, Ken before we get to break here, Jim 417 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:39,160 Speaker 2: Jim Wood that wants to know can someone please wake 418 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 2: up the Mariners? 419 00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 3: Ken? 420 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 2: What are the Ends doing. 421 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:43,080 Speaker 4: Good? 422 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 1: Question? And Josh Naylor was their big acquisition early, but 423 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:51,240 Speaker 1: we've all anticipated that in addition to getting the bullpen 424 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 1: piece that they did with Jose Ferrera, which was good 425 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:56,879 Speaker 1: from the Nationals. We all thought that we're going to 426 00:22:56,920 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 1: get one more infielder. They still might get one more. 427 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:03,159 Speaker 1: They've been linked to Brendan Donovan. Brendan Donovan has not 428 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:06,240 Speaker 1: been traded yet. There are other infielders that still might 429 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:10,200 Speaker 1: be available. So I would not judge the Mariners anymore 430 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:12,160 Speaker 1: than I would have judge the Mets two weeks ago 431 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:16,280 Speaker 1: when it seems their off season is not complete. Still 432 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:18,840 Speaker 1: a long way to go before opening day, and heck, 433 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 1: there's a week to go before spring training camps open, 434 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 1: and that's not really a deadline of any sort. So 435 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,480 Speaker 1: given Mariners a little bit more time before condemning them, 436 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:28,640 Speaker 1: that's what I would say. 437 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:31,000 Speaker 2: Okay, a little bit more time. I'm still surprised that 438 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:33,240 Speaker 2: a U Hennio Suarez is still out there on the 439 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:36,440 Speaker 2: free agent market. I think a lot of people are 440 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:39,840 Speaker 2: surprised about that as well. We didn't necessarily want this 441 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 2: to be a WBC preview, but there have been some 442 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:49,919 Speaker 2: additional announcements regarding the World Baseball Classic, particularly with Team Venezuela, Jackson, Curio, 443 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:54,159 Speaker 2: Ronald Acunia Junior, will You Abray You? And MIKEL. Garcia 444 00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:57,480 Speaker 2: all going to be part of the WBC. I love 445 00:23:57,520 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 2: this for Team Venezuela, they have always been a force. 446 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:03,679 Speaker 2: Again you said it earlier, but in case you're just 447 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:06,119 Speaker 2: joining us, this is good for the game. Ken, this 448 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:10,160 Speaker 2: is fun. You want these star players representing their countries. 449 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:12,919 Speaker 1: And plus what we've seen over the years of the 450 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 1: WBC and now we're seeing from our team as well 451 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 1: the US team is this sense of national pride and 452 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:25,920 Speaker 1: Akunya and Churio, these guys, the players from the Dominican Republic, 453 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:26,760 Speaker 1: the players. 454 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 4: From all the different countries, Japan especially, perhaps they love 455 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 4: playing for their countries. They see it as an obligation 456 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:36,879 Speaker 4: to play for their countries. And Paul Skeens when he 457 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:39,159 Speaker 4: talked to Mark de Ros about playing for Team USA, 458 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:41,560 Speaker 4: he said, you don't have to twist my arm, you 459 00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:44,679 Speaker 4: don't have to pitch me at all. I want to 460 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:47,760 Speaker 4: play for all the servicemen and service women out there. 461 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:50,359 Speaker 4: Paul Skeins, of course, went to the US Air Force 462 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:55,080 Speaker 4: Academy before LSU. So there is that growing sense of 463 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 4: pride in playing for your country, and that is a 464 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:01,160 Speaker 4: really cool thing to see and it adds a layer 465 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:05,119 Speaker 4: of emotion to this tournament that you just don't see 466 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 4: in Major League Baseball on a regular basis. 467 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:09,879 Speaker 1: You'll maybe see that kind of emotion in the playoffs, 468 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:12,440 Speaker 1: of course, but in this tournament you see it. 469 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:16,200 Speaker 2: Every night now or Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado 470 00:25:16,359 --> 00:25:21,120 Speaker 2: birthplace to yours, truly, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Let me ask 471 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:24,080 Speaker 2: you this, Ken, when do you think it was the 472 00:25:24,119 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 2: shift of players not really caring about the WBC and 473 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 2: all of a sudden clamoring to be called to play. 474 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:35,120 Speaker 1: That shift took place really with US players. There wasn't 475 00:25:35,119 --> 00:25:38,440 Speaker 1: a shift necessary with players from other countries before that. 476 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:42,920 Speaker 1: But that twenty twenty three WBC. If you remember Trey 477 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:47,080 Speaker 1: Turner's Grand Slam against Venezuela in the quarterfinals, it was 478 00:25:47,119 --> 00:25:50,280 Speaker 1: a go ahead Grand Slam, amazing moment, and of course 479 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:53,080 Speaker 1: the final against Japan when Otani came in from the 480 00:25:53,119 --> 00:25:56,320 Speaker 1: bullpen to face his then Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike 481 00:25:56,400 --> 00:26:01,120 Speaker 1: Trout and strike him out to give Japan that victory 482 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:04,840 Speaker 1: in an amazing game, three to two Japan one. All 483 00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:07,280 Speaker 1: of that and all of the games that preceded it 484 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:11,679 Speaker 1: that were so dramatic and so emotional and so just electric. 485 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 1: That is what caused the shift among the US players? 486 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 1: The one two maybe were reluctant before suddenly they all 487 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:19,880 Speaker 1: want it in. 488 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:22,679 Speaker 2: Yeah, I love it. I'll never forget when Mike Trout 489 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:25,400 Speaker 2: walked out holding the US flag and show hey Tani 490 00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:28,840 Speaker 2: walked out wearing team holding Team Japan. That was awesome. 491 00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:31,720 Speaker 2: All right, thanks guys for watching and listening. Foul Territory 492 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:35,080 Speaker 2: is next. Fair with Ken is back on Monday. We'll 493 00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:35,720 Speaker 2: talk to you then