1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,640 Speaker 1: I think the Rangers feel pretty positive about where their 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: young pictures are going. There are some things that still 3 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:11,879 Speaker 1: need to be addressed, but they've contributed to the Rangers. 4 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 1: Fourteen eleven starts. 5 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 2: We are back with our friend Evan Grant, who does 6 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,960 Speaker 2: a tremendous job covering the Texas Rangers for the Dallas 7 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 2: Morning News. Evan is there all of the time, knows 8 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 2: everything about this club. Great to be with you, my friend. 9 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:32,760 Speaker 2: Thank you for joining us on foul Territory. First of all, 10 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 2: before we get into it, you are a barbecue officionado. 11 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 2: This is what I've learned about you. Is there a 12 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 2: spot that it is like an. 13 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 3: Absolute must go? 14 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 4: To? 15 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 2: Tell me all the things? 16 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:47,199 Speaker 1: Evan, Well, in Look, it's Texas. You kind of have 17 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: to eat barbecue where they kick you out of the state. 18 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: So I've learned to love it. I don't know that 19 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: I'm an aficionado. I just like food because you don't 20 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: get this body without liking food. So in Dallas, Look, 21 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: we've got a pretty good bubbling barbecue spot scene. I 22 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: can't say enough about Tory Hunter's place Tender. He's got 23 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: several locations. We saw Tory just last week when the 24 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 1: Angels were in town and I was raving to him 25 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: about the stuff there. It's it's really really good. But 26 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 1: there is a place in Arlington that's the official barbecue 27 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: spot of the Rangers for Title Barbecue. They're actually in 28 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: Globe Life Field. I think even persnicketty aj Perzinski enjoyed 29 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 1: their food this year at the ballpark. They're doing wings, 30 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: they're doing they're Berea tacos and Casadilla's and they are 31 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 1: doing a giant stuff baked potatoes. So if you hit 32 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: those two, you're going too for the one other I'll 33 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: mention is Tim Barbecue in Dallas and in Fort Worth. 34 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: They've got this bacon burn in thing that is just 35 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: it's insane. 36 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 4: There's there's no like AJ's not on here, So nobody's 37 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 4: gonna be asking you for free food every time you 38 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 4: come on. Ajay's like, Evan, why are you gonna get 39 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 4: me this? When are you gonna buy me that? So 40 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 4: nobody's asking for anything today. 41 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: Does that make me special? 42 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:10,119 Speaker 4: Though? Eric? 43 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: I mean, because he asks everybody for free food and 44 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 1: free stuff. 45 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 4: Right everybody. He's always asking. Susan Sluster was just on 46 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 4: the other day, when are you gonna get me the garlic, nacho, 47 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:24,519 Speaker 4: truffle fries, whatever, like he's always he's always looking for 48 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 4: a handout. So he's not that boogie. He's just looking 49 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 4: for free. Free ninety nine is his price. 50 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 1: That makes me special? 51 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 4: Okay, but you are special. Tell me what's special about 52 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 4: the Rangers. They're fourteen and eleven right now, but they're 53 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:41,799 Speaker 4: tied for first place. Did they feel like or does 54 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 4: it does it look like they're playing good enough baseball 55 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 4: right now to be ahead of everybody else in this division? 56 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 4: And do they look up and say, whoa, the Mariners 57 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 4: and that pitching staff and their brutal lineup are keeping 58 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 4: up with us. We need to change something, or does 59 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:00,519 Speaker 4: it feel like, okay, oh, team for playing well? 60 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:03,920 Speaker 1: Well. I think you saw in this past week some 61 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 1: of the Rangers perspective in that their lineup hasn't been 62 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 1: hitting on all cylinders and they think this lineup is 63 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 1: going to slug and is going to score a lot 64 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 1: of runs. But for the first month a lot of 65 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 1: the same problems that existed last year have have existed. 66 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 1: So Bruce Bochi shook things up when they went to Sacramento, 67 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:24,079 Speaker 1: took Marcus Simeon out of the leadoff spot and put 68 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,799 Speaker 1: him in more of a run producing spot, put Josh 69 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:30,080 Speaker 1: Smith in the leadoff spot, and moved Wyatt Langford up 70 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 1: to the number two spot. And what the Rangers tried 71 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: to do and it lasted all of about seven innings 72 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: before Corey Seeger pulled up with a bad hamstring was 73 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: get their their their top on base guys into the 74 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 1: top spots in the order so that the guys who 75 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: were sluggers and maybe not as maybe not indiscriminate swingers 76 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: could get more pitches to hit. And it did pay 77 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 1: off against Sacramento. Whether or not that had anything to 78 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 1: do with the ballpark and how the carries there, I 79 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 1: don't know, but they scored a season high eight runs 80 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 1: the first night Corey pulled up with a hamstring injury, 81 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 1: and so now they're back to kind of scrambling for 82 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: runs again. 83 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 4: Hey, I want to stay there. 84 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 5: We talk about scrambling for runs in the midst of that. 85 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 5: I think they're still in a good place right struggling 86 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 5: for runs, but you're still at the top of your division. 87 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:23,360 Speaker 5: Have we talked about how good White Langford has been 88 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 5: going back to the end of last year in company 89 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 5: right like this has been one of my guys going 90 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 5: back to last year. I thought it'd be the Rookie 91 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 5: of the Year, and he went through his early season 92 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 5: woes but started towards and he started to figure out 93 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 5: right the wood the whole big league adjustment. Are we 94 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 5: talking about how good this guy has been and how 95 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 5: good he possibly could be? 96 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 1: Well, two things, Cam, I think to your point, I 97 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:47,919 Speaker 1: think from the Rangers' perspective, what's very encouraging is that 98 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: they are fourteen to eleven and they haven't hit right, 99 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,280 Speaker 1: they haven't scored a ton of runs, and they've still 100 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: found ways to win. And that, enlarge part is testament 101 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 1: to the starting pitching they've gotten, which has been better 102 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 1: than exp and the restructured bullpen that Chris Young made 103 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: over the offseason. It's been pretty much airtight. As far 104 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:10,360 Speaker 1: as Wyatt Langford goes, I think you hit it right 105 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: on the head there. I'm planning as soon as we 106 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: get off of this, I wanted to do a little 107 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: bit of research today, but I want to look at 108 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 1: Wyatt compared to the other guys who got Rookie of 109 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 1: the Year votes in both the American and National League 110 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:23,680 Speaker 1: among position players, and how they did from the second 111 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 1: half of last season going forward, and Wyatt is going 112 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: to rank very, very highly there. He has made the 113 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:35,960 Speaker 1: kind of typical upward assent that you would like to 114 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:39,600 Speaker 1: see in a superstar. There's been no real ups and downs. 115 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 1: He did struggle a little bit out of the gate 116 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 1: last year, and I think that was largely due to 117 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 1: kind of getting his swing a little bit too much uphill, 118 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:49,359 Speaker 1: but they made that adjustment. He came back from an 119 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:52,599 Speaker 1: il stint and since then he's been he's been a 120 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 1: really good baseball player, a really dangerous hitter. 121 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 3: Ft fam, I hope you have as much confidence as 122 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:05,159 Speaker 3: Penelope right now, who is an avid Spot Tango fan. Okay, 123 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 3: and she uses the code foul crats because this is 124 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 3: a personalized dog food subscription service that prevents you, of 125 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 3: course from going to the store to pick up the food, 126 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 3: and she just gets the highest quality unkibble that is 127 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 3: what they're known for. 128 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:20,719 Speaker 1: And I know you love the quiz part of it too. 129 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 4: It's a super quick quiz, but it lets you give 130 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 4: them the information and they tailor it to what is 131 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 4: needed based on their age, size, activity level, all things 132 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:34,160 Speaker 4: that are customed for each and every one of your dogs. 133 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, human great ingredients in that Unkibble USDA meat, fruits 134 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 3: and veggies that are approved there. Upgrade your pets bowl 135 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 3: with Spot and Tango Unkibble. Go for it for a 136 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 3: limited time. Go to spotantango dot com slash foul use 137 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:49,720 Speaker 3: code foul to get fifty five oh percent off your 138 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 3: first order. That is spotantango dot com slash foul code 139 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:56,160 Speaker 3: foul to get fifty percent off your first order at 140 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 3: spotantango dot com slash foul code foul. 141 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 2: I want to ask you, Evan about Jock Peterson and 142 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:05,719 Speaker 2: it gives me, it just hurts my heart to see 143 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:09,239 Speaker 2: the struggles that Jock has gone through. Obviously, he finally 144 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:11,559 Speaker 2: busted out of that oh for forty one or whatever 145 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 2: the heck it was. But then we were just all 146 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 2: waiting and anticipating if the call was going to be overturned. 147 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 2: What are you noticing from his swings? How does he 148 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 2: I mean, you know that helps obviously, but how does 149 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 2: he get out of this and get back to the 150 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 2: guy that they signed to be in with. 151 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: Look, I think the one thing that really works well 152 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: for Jock here is his personality. You know, he's not 153 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: going to let himself get too down. He comes to 154 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:36,920 Speaker 1: the ballpark with a great attitude every day. He is 155 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 1: an upbeat guy. I do think he's probably feeling a 156 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 1: little bit of pressure because you come here, you sign 157 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 1: a big contract, You're supposed to slug against right handed pitching, 158 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 1: and to this point you haven't. And it's frustrating, there's 159 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: no way around it. It's frustrating when you look up 160 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: at the screen and you see your batting average is, 161 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 1: you know, fifty eight or sixty. On the subject of 162 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 1: what he needs to do better, the only thing that 163 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 1: I can kind of assess is it certainly looks to 164 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 1: me like he's a little bit more crouched over at 165 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 1: the plate. And he did say something early this season 166 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 1: that he felt restricted in his swing, and he just 167 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 1: hasn't seemed to been able to get out of that 168 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 1: area where he just is restricted in his swing. And 169 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: I think that's one thing the Rangers have been working on, 170 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:25,640 Speaker 1: is to try and get him a little bit more 171 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 1: upright and let him just kind of let loose a 172 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 1: little bit. But it's it's looked on occasion like he's 173 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 1: uncomfortable at the plate swinging. 174 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 5: You talk about okay struggles, not struggling. Jacob deGrom past 175 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 5: injury history, we've seen it. But he looked good last night. 176 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:50,079 Speaker 5: Nathany Valdi gets his first complete game. But Kumar Rocker 177 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 5: going to the il. Where are they in the midst 178 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 5: of all of this going on as far as trying 179 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 5: to find a guy who can get them some innings? 180 00:08:58,000 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 5: What is that looking like moving forward? 181 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 1: As in that well, look, Cam, I think that at 182 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 1: the end of spring when they signed Patrick Corbin, I 183 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 1: think that was a really good depth move. They're not 184 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 1: looking for Patrick Corbyn to go out and win win 185 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 1: fifteen games. They're not looking for him to pitch two 186 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: hundred innings. They're looking for him to go out there 187 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 1: and give them five innings per start. As far as 188 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 1: the Rocker situation goes, you know, you look at this 189 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 1: team going into the year and when they had the 190 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 1: injuries that they had to John Gray and Cody Bradford, 191 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: and now you've got to push two rookies into the rotation, 192 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 1: two guys who don't have a ton of major league experience. 193 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 1: For them to get through the stretch in the position 194 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:38,200 Speaker 1: that they're in, I think has been overall a positive. 195 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 1: I do think with Kamara Rocker, the biggest issue for 196 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 1: him right now is as works back from this shoulder 197 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 1: impingement and hopefully it's just a minor issue. He's really 198 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:52,840 Speaker 1: got to get to a point where he is comfortable 199 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 1: and confident in a third pitch. I think it's been 200 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 1: a little bit too predictable for hitters. I think too 201 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 1: off in fastball counts. He's had to throw fastballs and 202 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:05,560 Speaker 1: hasn't been able to get it by hitters, and so 203 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: I think that's going to be the big project for him. 204 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 1: All of this gets said, I don't think we've said enough. 205 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 1: Jack Lder should be back this weekend, but he's been 206 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 1: really impressive in his two starts before he had the 207 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 1: blister issue. It's been a real step in the right direction. 208 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 1: So I think the Rangers feel pretty positive about where 209 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 1: their young pitchers are going. There are some things that 210 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:33,839 Speaker 1: still need to be addressed, but they've contributed to the 211 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:37,320 Speaker 1: Rangers fourteen to eleven starts. Rockers had five starts right. 212 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 1: Three have been not great, two have been really good. 213 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 1: So even when he hasn't been consistent, there have been 214 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: a couple of good starts in there that have allowed 215 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 1: the Rangers to stay keep their head above water. 216 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 4: All right. Now, the person on the roster that I 217 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 4: don't think you said his name. You're going through everything 218 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 4: when you talked about Corey Seeger, I might have missed it. 219 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 4: He has the blandest name, and yet the last two 220 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 4: years he's been the guy that has just stepped up 221 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 4: and done whatever's done. And he's hitting three thirty three 222 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 4: and I think he has like fifty summer beats. Josh 223 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 4: Smith super bland name and he's becoming a superstar. But 224 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 4: will the Rangers allow him to become a superstar and 225 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 4: play enough because there's other names that have been higher 226 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:24,320 Speaker 4: and bigger players and he just keeps producing. 227 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 1: Well, Kratzy, I will correct you. I did say that 228 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 1: he is hitting leadoff right now. That was the one 229 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: thing I did say about it. 230 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:30,960 Speaker 4: I thought you could say it. 231 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 1: But yeah, you know, Josh's name gets overlooked a lot 232 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 1: of times. What I will say about this is, look, 233 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: he's already started at six different positions on the field 234 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 1: this year. He is a and I think this almost 235 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:45,959 Speaker 1: diminishes him a little bit when you call him a 236 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:48,880 Speaker 1: super utility player. But he's got the ability to play 237 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 1: anywhere on the field and do better than adequately there, 238 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 1: and that's incredibly valuable. It's also valuable to getting him 239 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:59,120 Speaker 1: enough playing time because, as you said, the Ringers have 240 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 1: a lot of guys who are kind of entrenched in 241 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:04,560 Speaker 1: their positions. But to this point there's been plenty of 242 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 1: opportunity for him to play. Josh Young went out for 243 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:10,679 Speaker 1: ten days with a neck issue. He was the everyday 244 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 1: third baseman. Wyatt Langford went out with an oblique issue, 245 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:17,240 Speaker 1: he was the everyday left fielder. Corey Seeger is now out. 246 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 1: He's going to be the everyday shortstop, and I think 247 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:22,680 Speaker 1: before it's all over with, he could get more of 248 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 1: a look in center field because I think the Rangers 249 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:26,840 Speaker 1: are going to have to consider what they do with 250 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:29,839 Speaker 1: Leodi taveris there. It's just not been a good start 251 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:32,360 Speaker 1: to the year for him, and Leodi has now had 252 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 1: five years out there and it's just not making a 253 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 1: big step forward. So I think that there are challenges 254 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 1: to getting him every day playing time, but so far 255 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:47,679 Speaker 1: the Rangers have found that and they will continue to 256 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 1: make efforts to get him in the lineup. Bruce Bochie 257 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 1: does not, in any way, shape or form diminish the 258 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:56,560 Speaker 1: value that Josh Smith has brought to this club. Is 259 00:12:56,559 --> 00:13:00,959 Speaker 1: that bats have been probably the best and most consistent 260 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 1: from the start of the year for this team. 261 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 4: Evan. 262 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 2: The reason Aj Pierzinski is not on the show today 263 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:10,839 Speaker 2: is because he's going to San Francisco to bother you 264 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 2: and do the Giants Rangers game. So be on the 265 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 2: lookout for Aj asking for free stuff from you. But 266 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:21,880 Speaker 2: speaking of the upcoming Giant series, this is a good team, 267 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 2: probably a better team than a lot of us gave 268 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 2: credit to. How can the Giants, in your opinion, or 269 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:29,439 Speaker 2: how can the Rangers in your opinion, be effective against 270 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 2: San Francisco. 271 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 1: Look, I think the biggest thing Alana is right now 272 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:36,720 Speaker 1: the process offensively has got to continue to improve. I 273 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 1: think when the first night I can't stop myself from 274 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 1: saint open. The first night in Sacramento, we saw a 275 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 1: team that stopped swinging indiscriminately, took some more pitches. To 276 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: Eric's point, Josh Smith in the first spot in the lead, 277 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:52,880 Speaker 1: first game, in the leadoff spot, takes a leadoff walk, 278 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: their second leadoff walk of the year to start off 279 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 1: a game, ends up with a two run inning because 280 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 1: they've got guys on base. They're getting better pitches to hit. 281 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 1: When I looked at the stats, earlier this week. This 282 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 1: team led the major leagues in swing percentage and was 283 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 1: last in walk percentage. And when you do that, you 284 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 1: better be putting balls in play and hitting the ball hard. 285 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 1: And the Rangers just haven't done that yet. So I 286 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 1: think they've got to be a little bit more patient 287 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 1: at the plate and work through that. That would be, 288 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 1: for me, their number one project going into this Giant Series. 289 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 4: All right, Evan, we have to rid off stats for 290 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 4: players all the time. We're going to read off an 291 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 4: awesome stat for you. You are now a league leader 292 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 4: in foul territory. We've had five hundred and nine reporter 293 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 4: guests that besides Ken Rosenthal, five hundred and nine reporter 294 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 4: guest spots. You have twelve of them. You have twelve 295 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 4: of them. You are two ahead of Britt Geroli and 296 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 4: one ahead of C. Trent Rosecrants. So just we want 297 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 4: to keep you hungry. We got to make sure we 298 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 4: know you know who is in second and third place. 299 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 4: So you ready, But we appreciate you here at the 300 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:03,520 Speaker 4: FT Network. 301 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 1: Well, look, I don't want to say anything, but if 302 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 1: anything bad happens to Britt or C. Trent, don't look. 303 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 1: Don't looking for me it's great to be especially great 304 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:20,160 Speaker 1: with no Aj here, so it's it's like actually talking 305 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 1: ball and not my gluttony. 306 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 4: Not me for this weekend. When he when he, when 307 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 4: he sees you this weekend, that'll be. It'll ruin your 308 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 4: weekend in San Francisco. Normally it's cold in San Francisco. 309 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 4: It's just gonna be cold all weekend for you. So sorry. 310 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:38,880 Speaker 1: At least here will be hot air to go around, 311 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 1: so that'll be there. 312 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 4: You go, there, you go, Evan. 313 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 2: We appreciate you very much, even though Cam and Eric 314 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 2: disagree with your barbecue choices. Cam says it's all about 315 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 2: North Carolina. Eric says, it doesn't matter. You got to 316 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 2: do it at home. 317 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: I don't care. 318 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 4: I just like to eat. 319 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 2: We love you, my friend. 320 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 1: Thanks for being on piece. Another time. Cam and I'll 321 00:15:56,960 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 1: get into the whole North Carolina versus Texas. Yeah we will, Yeah, 322 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:02,320 Speaker 1: we will take care of y'all. 323 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 4: Mm hmm