1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,360 Speaker 1: Mookie Bets at shortstop. Okay, he came up that way 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 1: in the minors to some extent, But let's look at 3 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:07,560 Speaker 1: how many games he played at the position last year 4 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: when he played short for the first time as a 5 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 1: major leaguer. Just fourteen games. Wasn't everyone to this week's 6 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: edition of their territory. We've got a great show this week, 7 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: and we're not just talking about the usual stuff Blake Snell, 8 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: Jordan Montgomery, ja D Martinez. No, we have actual baseball 9 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:33,279 Speaker 1: stuff to talk about. Two of the biggest names in 10 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:36,600 Speaker 1: the game. I'm talking, of course, about Mookie Bets and 11 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 1: Joey Vado. And the reason I'm talking about them, well, 12 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:43,840 Speaker 1: entirely different reasons, actually, but the one thing they share 13 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 1: in common is their love and passion for the sport 14 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 1: of baseball. And we often talk as fans and media, Hey, 15 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 1: these guys are playing a little boys game. They should 16 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 1: be happy about that. Well, guess what Mookie Bets what 17 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:00,080 Speaker 1: he's doing by moving to shortstop, He says, it makes 18 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 1: him feel like a little boy again. Joey Vado what 19 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:05,039 Speaker 1: he's doing taking a minor league deal with the Blue 20 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 1: Jays at the age of forty. He says it makes 21 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: him feel like a little kid again. Too. Well, this 22 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 1: is what it's all about. Backdrop of Dookie's story is 23 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 1: that it's not a kid's game, right. This is the 24 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 1: one billion dollar offseason for the Dodgers and they still 25 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: have not solved shortstop. It's kind of amazing when you 26 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:26,119 Speaker 1: think about it. But they thought they had solved shortstop. 27 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: They thought this was going to be the year Gavin Luckx, 28 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 1: coming off an injury, was finally going to establish himself 29 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 1: at the position he was once one of the game's 30 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,200 Speaker 1: top prospects. He's a kid who could really hit, but 31 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: he has a problem that we've seen from time to 32 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: time over the years, and it's really disconcerting when this surfaces. 33 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 1: It's the yips. And if you don't know what the 34 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 1: yips are, it's when a player, a pitcher or an infielder, 35 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 1: suddenly develops the inability to throw to the base or 36 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: first base in most cases properly. It's a weird thing, 37 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: but it happens, and it seems that Lux is in 38 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: the middle of another case of the yips. This is 39 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 1: not the first time for him. So the Dodgers, instead 40 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 1: of turning to Miguel Rojas instead of turning to maybe 41 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 1: Key k Hernandez. They've decided to install Mookie Bets at shortstop. 42 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 1: They're arguably best player. I know they have Shoho Tani, 43 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,079 Speaker 1: but Mooky, let's face it, great all round player. If 44 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:23,839 Speaker 1: he's not their best player, he's one of their three 45 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 1: best players. We can argue this until we're blue in 46 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 1: the face. Mookie Bets at shortstop, Okay, he came up 47 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: that way in the minors to some extent. But let's 48 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: look at how many games he played at the position 49 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 1: last year when he played short for the first time 50 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 1: as a major leaguer, just fourteen games, sixty five games 51 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 1: at second base, ninety eight at right field, the position 52 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 1: where he has won Gold Gloves and done great things. 53 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:49,799 Speaker 1: So here are the Dodgers, and they're taking a bit 54 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: of a risk here. The risk is that shortstop is 55 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 1: a physically demanding position and that perhaps Mooki will be 56 00:02:56,760 --> 00:03:01,360 Speaker 1: more inclined or more exposed to in playing that spot. 57 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 1: Now he was going to be their primary second baseman. 58 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,119 Speaker 1: That too, is in demanding infield position, though not quite 59 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:10,639 Speaker 1: as demanding, not demanding as much range necessarily as short 60 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 1: So this was going to happen in the infield in 61 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 1: one sense or another, but shortstop is a different beast. 62 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 1: And it's interesting because lookie last year, when I asked 63 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 1: him about playing the infield, why he preferred it, or 64 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 1: at least enjoyed it, he said, Hey, count the steps 65 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:31,079 Speaker 1: from our dugout, which was on the third base side 66 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: of Dodger Stadium, to right field. He goes, and then 67 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 1: count the steps from our dugout to second base. It's 68 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: a lot fewer steps, simple math. Well, the steps are 69 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: even fewer to shortstop from the Dodgers dugout on the 70 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 1: third base side of Dodger Stadium. And yes, that does 71 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: save some wear and tear. It's not nothing. But at 72 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: the same time, there's movement that might not exist in 73 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 1: right field either, at least more regular movement, So there 74 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: is some risk here. Permanent for now, that's the phrase 75 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: Dave Roberts used the first great phrase of the twenty 76 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 1: twenty four season. Because of course it's an oxymoron. You 77 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 1: can't have it permanent, and you can't have it just 78 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: permanent for now. Doesn't work that way, but that's the 79 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: way he said it, and I believe he said it 80 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: because he wants to keep other options open. So Mooki 81 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 1: is there unless they get a better solution. Who might 82 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 1: that better solution be. Look over to Milwaukee Willia domas 83 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 1: potential free agent, a guy who has been rumored in trade, 84 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:32,280 Speaker 1: though not lately, and a guy that Milwaukee seemingly at 85 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 1: this point is disinclined to trade. They don't want to 86 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:38,280 Speaker 1: do it, but keep in mind they didn't want to 87 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 1: trade Corbyn Burwins either, and eventually the Orioles stayed with 88 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 1: their price, and eventually the Brewer said, you know what, 89 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: We'll do that deal for dl Hall, for Joy Ortiz 90 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 1: and a draft pick. Maybe the Dodgers simply have to 91 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 1: raise the price to get Williadamas. Maybe the Brewers truly 92 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 1: do not want to change things up in that fashion 93 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 1: this late in spring training. But they have other alternatives 94 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 1: in the INFA. They could play Bryce Terig at short, 95 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 1: they could play freely at second or third. They have 96 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 1: a number of other third basement in Camp Monasterio guys 97 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: that they can use, so I'm not ruling this out. 98 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 1: I forgot Christian Arroyo. He's also part of their equation 99 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 1: Owen Miller. There are a number of infielders in their 100 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 1: mix none as good as Willia Domini's. Okay, we all 101 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:23,600 Speaker 1: get that, but they traded Burns. Maybe permanent for now 102 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: will again become impermanent, and Mookie will go back to 103 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 1: second base. All right. That is one guy we wanted 104 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 1: to talk about. And the reason I talk about players 105 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 1: playing a little boys game is because Mooki said earlier 106 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:39,039 Speaker 1: in the spring to me that when he played the 107 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 1: infield last year, he felt like a kid again. He 108 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 1: felt like he did growing up in Nashville when he 109 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: would play all kinds of positions when in his mind 110 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,479 Speaker 1: he was a baseball player, not tied to any one position. 111 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 1: The other guy who feels like a kid again, that's 112 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 1: Joey Vada, and Joey Vado this week signed a minor 113 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 1: league contract with the Toronto Blue James. Joey Vado, a 114 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:05,280 Speaker 1: likely Hall of Famer, signed a minor league deal, and 115 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 1: Joey Vado is coming off to below average seasons by 116 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:11,839 Speaker 1: his standard. You can see the numbers here and the 117 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 1: reason for this, the seven to twelve ops, the two 118 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 1: zero four batting average really goes back to his shoulder surgery. 119 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 1: He was out almost a year from August twenty twenty 120 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:25,719 Speaker 1: two to June twenty twenty three. He is forty years old, 121 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: and yet he is willing to start in the minors 122 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 1: for a chance to ultimately get a spot on their 123 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 1: bench as a left handed bat. The guy he likely 124 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 1: would have to beat out over the long haul is 125 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:41,039 Speaker 1: Daniel Vogelback. Could he do it? I don't know. We'll see. 126 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 1: But the cool thing about this and why Joey Vado 127 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 1: says he feels like a boy again, feels like a kid, 128 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 1: is because he's taking a chance here. He is trying 129 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 1: going back to the grassroots of his career, hanging out 130 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:57,839 Speaker 1: with the minor leaguers, probably starting off in the minor leagues, 131 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 1: and he feels like he doesn't want to retire until 132 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:06,160 Speaker 1: he knows, until he feels more certain. Maybe he'll never 133 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:09,279 Speaker 1: feel completely certain that he no longer can be a 134 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 1: viable major league player. He believes it's still in there. 135 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,840 Speaker 1: He believes the shoulder surgery cost him the last two years, 136 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: and he wants to get back. He wants to go out. 137 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 1: If he has to go out on his own terms. Now, 138 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 1: it won't necessarily end that way. Let's say he gets 139 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 1: released and it doesn't work. He's not going out on 140 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: his own terms from a technical standpoint, but he is 141 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 1: in the sense that he took his last shot. He 142 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 1: wants to do this and more power tomb. It's one 143 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: of the cooler stories we've had in a while. And 144 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 1: Joey's quotes being just so grateful for another opportunity, we're 145 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:45,160 Speaker 1: really cool to hear. And you might have saw what 146 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 1: he said to Trent rose Pranz of The Athletic. He 147 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 1: feels like he can still bang. Mookie Betts feels like 148 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 1: a kid again. Joey Vadal feels like a kid again. 149 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: Players all over Florida and Arizona feel like kids again. 150 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 1: That's the beauty of this great game. Time out for 151 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 1: the Inside Dish, the segment where every week we go 152 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 1: inside a story I've written, or inside a trend in 153 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 1: the game. Inside maybe something else going on a fox. 154 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 1: I don't know. It could be anything, but this week 155 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 1: it is about a story that I wrote last week 156 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: with Enosaras of The Athletic, came out on Friday. It 157 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 1: is the one in which we spoke with doctor Keith Meister, 158 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 1: the Rangers team physician and perhaps the leading orthopedic surgeon 159 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 1: in the sport, about the rash of pitching injuries, which 160 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 1: we seem to deal with every season in the sport. 161 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: It's something that's incredibly troubling. It's something that, in Keith 162 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: Meister's view, in my view, needs to be addressed. You 163 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 1: can see a list of players here if you're watching 164 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 1: on YouTube, of guys who are ready are injured or 165 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 1: at least from twenty twenty three to the present, and 166 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 1: that is just a partial list. Now, it's interesting how 167 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:55,840 Speaker 1: this story came about because every once in a while 168 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:59,559 Speaker 1: it's sort of run into something by accident. And when 169 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:03,680 Speaker 1: I call doctor Keith Meister, I was actually calling about 170 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: a pitcher on the Minnesota Twins, Chris Paddock. He is 171 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 1: re entering the rotation this year. He came back with 172 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 1: the Twins last year from his second major elbow surgery 173 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 1: as a reliever. He was quite dominant in the playoffs 174 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:19,320 Speaker 1: against Houston, and now he's back. He's very excited. He's 175 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 1: going to be a big part of what Minnesota does. 176 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:25,559 Speaker 1: And his surgeon, like so many players, is doctor Keith Meister. 177 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: So I texted the doctor, asked him if I could 178 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 1: speak with him, and as we spoke, we talked a 179 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:34,960 Speaker 1: little bit about Paddock, but then we got into something 180 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 1: that we had spoken about a couple of months ago 181 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:39,600 Speaker 1: as well, but at the time I wasn't really ready 182 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: to write it. It was really kind of right in 183 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 1: the middle of the off season, and he started talking 184 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 1: again about what he believes to be a major problem, 185 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:52,680 Speaker 1: the over reliance by some pitchers on the sweeper and 186 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 1: on what he called the movement change up or the 187 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 1: power change up as we call it. And he said 188 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 1: that those two pitchs, which is in his mind, are 189 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: as big a culprit, if not a bigger culprit than 190 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: what we commonly believe to be the major driver of injuries, 191 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:11,319 Speaker 1: which is philosophy. Pictures are throwing harder than ever. They 192 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 1: also are throwing more breaking balls than ever, and this combination, 193 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 1: along with what doctor Meister is saying, has created yet 194 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 1: another major issue for the sport. Now, the sweeper is 195 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:27,679 Speaker 1: an interesting thing, right. We know that pictures have always 196 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 1: thrown sweepers, and one of the initial complaints when the 197 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: pitch started being classified that way is that, hey, it's 198 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: a slider. Pictures have always thrown sliders, but it's a 199 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 1: slider with great horizontal break. And while it's a pitch 200 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:43,080 Speaker 1: that has always been thrown. There are differences now in 201 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:46,079 Speaker 1: the way it is being used. And the differences are 202 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 1: two things. One, pictures are throwing at certain pictures more 203 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 1: often because of the analytical theory that, hey, if you 204 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 1: have a pitch that works, keep going to it, go go, 205 00:10:57,040 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: go use it as much as possible. We've seen that, 206 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: not just with sweepers, of course, but other pitches as well, 207 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 1: and it is, in theory a good plant. If you've 208 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 1: got a knockout pitch, keep throwing it. The other difference 209 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 1: is the way pitchers approach the game today. They throw 210 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:16,680 Speaker 1: the ball as hard as possible, they grip the ball 211 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:20,080 Speaker 1: as hard as possible, and that creates great strain on 212 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 1: their arms. So while in theory, from an analytical standpoint, 213 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 1: it's a great idea to keep throwing your sweeper if 214 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:30,719 Speaker 1: you've got a good one, in reality there's an unintended consequence, 215 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:34,720 Speaker 1: and that unintended consequence, at least in doctor Meister's opinion. 216 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 1: And I believe we should listen to him since he's 217 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:40,079 Speaker 1: like the main guy here. He's the guy who pioneered 218 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 1: the internal brace procedure, kind of a hybrid procedure Tommy 219 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 1: John plus a brace he's an expert, and if he's 220 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 1: saying it, people should take it seriously, even the analysts 221 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:54,200 Speaker 1: who might be offended that one of their theories is 222 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: kind of being questioned here. So that is what we discussed. 223 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 1: And it comes down to the question, as a lot 224 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 1: of people have put to me, a performance versus availability. 225 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:09,760 Speaker 1: Do you want extreme performance at the expense of a 226 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 1: picture's availability? Too often in the game today, the answer 227 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:17,240 Speaker 1: teams give you is we want performance and we're not 228 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:20,440 Speaker 1: so worried about availability. But one of Meister's points is 229 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 1: that eventually you're going to run out of arms this way, 230 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 1: and in my broadcasts on Fox with John Smoltz, he 231 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:30,440 Speaker 1: often speaks of this same thing, and it bothers him 232 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:32,959 Speaker 1: to no end, the idea that you can just run 233 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 1: through pictures, have this guy throw a hundred, blows out, 234 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:39,200 Speaker 1: bring the next guy throwing a hundred, and it's just 235 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 1: not the way the game should be. So that is 236 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: the way the story developed, and I honestly think that 237 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 1: it's one of the more important stories we've done in 238 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:53,679 Speaker 1: a while because it quoted a key figure, an important 239 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:58,280 Speaker 1: person in the sport, doctor Keith Meister, on this issue. 240 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:02,080 Speaker 1: He was on the record. He was actualsolutely not at 241 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:05,840 Speaker 1: all hesitant to go on the record, and he dealt 242 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 1: with something that a lot of people are talking about, 243 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 1: maybe behind the scenes, but are not necessarily inclined to 244 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 1: say publicly. And I was in a camp today in Florida. 245 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 1: I'm in Palm Beach Gardens right now, kind of work 246 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 1: in the east coast of Florida. And a pitcher told 247 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:22,960 Speaker 1: me he read the article and he thought the doctor 248 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: was dead on. I talk with an agent today. He 249 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 1: read the article. He thought the doctor was dead on 250 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:32,679 Speaker 1: as well. So while we have certain theories born out 251 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:37,160 Speaker 1: of analytics that certainly work, we know that at some 252 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 1: point in this sport we have to get to a 253 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 1: point where we're worried about availability too, and maybe it's 254 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 1: a greater emphasis on location over stuff that has to happen. 255 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 1: The Rays kind of are leaning in that direction if 256 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 1: you see some of the moves that they've made in 257 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:59,560 Speaker 1: recent years, Savali Mayton, some others as well. Now even 258 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 1: pictures rely on location. Jeffrey Springs, for example, the rais 259 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:05,920 Speaker 1: left hander get hurt. Pitchers get hurt in all kinds 260 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 1: of ways, throwing it soft, throwing it hard. It doesn't 261 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 1: seem to matter. But if there are ways to maybe 262 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:18,200 Speaker 1: change things up to alleviate the wave of injuries, the 263 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 1: scourge on the sport, those things should be looked at, 264 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 1: and MLB is looking at it. Doctor Keith Meister, in 265 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 1: my view, deserves applause and credit for going on the 266 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 1: record and bringing this to people's attention. And I'm not 267 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 1: saying this because you know and I were the ones 268 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 1: who wrote this. He actually said it to the Dallas 269 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 1: Morning News in kind of a different framework as well 270 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: the day before. This is something that cannot be ignored. 271 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 1: It's something that needs to be addressed. And frankly, the sooner, 272 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 1: the better time out for the Dude of the Week. 273 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 1: And it was a tough choice this week because the 274 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 1: two guys we talked about in the opening segment both 275 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 1: are worthy Dudes of the Week. But I'm gonna go 276 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 1: with Mooky Bets because what Mookie Bets is doing, at 277 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: least permanently for now, is moving from right field or 278 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 1: second base to shortstop, which is one of the most 279 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 1: difficult positions in the sport to play, and he's doing 280 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 1: it at a time in his career when he is 281 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:14,520 Speaker 1: an established superstar and he's doing it in the middle 282 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 1: of spring training, and he's doing it without complaint. Usually 283 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:22,000 Speaker 1: when guys switch positions in their thirties, they're moving to 284 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 1: an easier place on the defensive spectrum. Mookie's going the 285 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:29,200 Speaker 1: other way. He's going to a more difficult place. And 286 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 1: he told me earlier in the spring, and an interview 287 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 1: I did for Fox Sports that will air later this year, 288 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 1: that he wants to be a legend in the game, 289 00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: not just the Hall of Fame. He wants to be 290 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:43,280 Speaker 1: remembered as a legend in the game. I would suggest 291 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 1: that he already will be remembered that way, but stuff 292 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:50,440 Speaker 1: like this makes him even more legendary. When he talked 293 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 1: about that, he was actually referring to kind of an 294 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 1: off the field presence, talking with kids and being that 295 00:15:56,560 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 1: kind of person. But my goodness, when you're a legend 296 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:01,800 Speaker 1: in the game, you're a leegen, and essentially because of 297 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 1: what you do on the field. What Mookie Bets does 298 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 1: on the field on a regular basis is absolutely remarkable. 299 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 1: Dork of the week, of course, I could go with 300 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:14,840 Speaker 1: Angel Hernandez for his stunt the other night throwing Lance 301 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 1: Linn out of a game, not once, but twice. But 302 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 1: I trust that Angel will be Dork of the Week 303 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 1: material at various points through the regular season. Oh, he'll 304 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 1: be honored. Don't worry about that. Dork of the Week 305 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:28,960 Speaker 1: this week is going to go to a guy who 306 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 1: just got suspended eighty games for violating the Sports Joint 307 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 1: Drug Policy. That would be Cincinnati Reds infielder Noelve Marte. 308 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:39,200 Speaker 1: All the information is available to players. They can get 309 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 1: it from their athletic trainers, they can get it from doctors. 310 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 1: The list is clear on what is banned. There is 311 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 1: no secret here. And yet players still get banged every 312 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 1: so often for using pds, and surely there are more 313 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 1: out there who are not getting caught. But noelva Marte. 314 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: Here's a guy with great promise, a guy who now 315 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 1: will have a cloud over him, at least for a 316 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:05,120 Speaker 1: good bit. Eighty games is half a season, and when 317 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 1: you're a young player, you can't lose time. So Noel 318 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 1: de Marte figured to be a big part of what 319 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: the Reds were going to do this year. It's a 320 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 1: team that seemingly had an infield surplus, now not so 321 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:18,399 Speaker 1: much of a surplus. But regardless, he's Dork of the 322 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 1: Week time Now for Grill and Ken, let's get to 323 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 1: your questions. Some good ones. This week first question comes 324 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:28,920 Speaker 1: from Mad King. 325 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:32,399 Speaker 2: Tylor, I guess a Tyler McGill fan. He asked, should 326 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 2: the Red Sox pursue a low cost starter option like 327 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 2: Michael Lorenzen instead of the high dollar options of Montgomery 328 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:41,440 Speaker 2: and Snell. This, Mad King Tylor, is a better question 329 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 2: for Red. 330 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 1: Sox ownership because they don't seem to be pursuing any options. 331 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 1: They've been in contact with Montgomery, but if they were 332 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:50,240 Speaker 1: going to sign him, I imagine maybe it would have 333 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:52,879 Speaker 1: happened by now. How much more are they going to 334 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:56,960 Speaker 1: wait or how much longer? As for Lorenzen, it makes 335 00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:59,120 Speaker 1: sense to me, maybe a little bit more sense, because 336 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:01,639 Speaker 1: you're already playing from behind here, Jilie, there was a 337 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:04,439 Speaker 1: guy you counted on for innings. You're short on innings 338 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 1: in your rotation. Everything has to go right for you 339 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:09,920 Speaker 1: even to cover what you should be covering, and I'm 340 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:11,679 Speaker 1: not even sure they can pull that off with this 341 00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 1: current group. So Lorenzen is a guy who you would 342 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 1: think could give you one point fifty. Certainly that should 343 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:21,120 Speaker 1: be a reasonable range for him, and it's not going 344 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 1: to cost what Jordan Montgomery is going to cost. If 345 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:27,399 Speaker 1: I'm a Red Sox fan, though, I'm thinking no, let's 346 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 1: sign Jordan Montgomery. And even if this year is lost 347 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,240 Speaker 1: to a certain extent, playoff odds aren't going to be 348 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 1: great in the Al East, You've got it for next 349 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:39,320 Speaker 1: year and at that point you can hopefully go forward 350 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:42,400 Speaker 1: in a better way. It's not something the Red Sox 351 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: ownership seems inclined to do. It's something that in the 352 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:48,440 Speaker 1: past they might have done, but this one, I'm not 353 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 1: quite clear on where they're going with this. I don't 354 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 1: know why they've conducted themselves in this fashion. I understand 355 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: better what the Mets are doing. They've got this huge 356 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: payroll and they want to bring down maybe get under 357 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 1: the luxury tax next year and build with their kids 358 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:06,879 Speaker 1: who should be starting to filter to the major leagues 359 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:10,199 Speaker 1: this year and then beyond. But the Red Sox, I 360 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:12,359 Speaker 1: don't see the same kind of plan here. They have 361 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: young kids too, and they're excited about them, but where 362 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 1: is the pitching? That's my question. The next one comes 363 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 1: from the Mike Lunardi, who asks what's the current timeline 364 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 1: for expansion to thirty two teams? Is Montreal a likely city. 365 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:30,960 Speaker 1: The Commissioner, Rob Manford addressed this question recently, and he said, basically, 366 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 1: with the RSN situations, with so many teams being uncertain, 367 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:37,439 Speaker 1: with the league trying to get a handle on the 368 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 1: streaming and what it's going to look like in the future, 369 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 1: it's kind of a one problem on a time scenario 370 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:44,439 Speaker 1: for the league and he doesn't want to get to 371 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:48,399 Speaker 1: expansion until he gets this straightened out. But it seems 372 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:50,840 Speaker 1: that from what he said, he wants the teams or 373 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 1: the cities to be identified by the time his term 374 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 1: ends five years from now. He doesn't necessarily expect those 375 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:59,520 Speaker 1: teams to begin play by then, but it would seem 376 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 1: to me that in the next two to three years 377 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:05,679 Speaker 1: they're going to figure out which cities. Montreal is a 378 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: sentimental choice for many of us who were around one 379 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:12,119 Speaker 1: of the Expos were playing and we were covering them 380 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 1: and going to Montreal. That was a fun place and 381 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:18,399 Speaker 1: a great baseball town until the strike which reckon. But 382 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 1: I don't see Montreal as a favorite. Nashville to me 383 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:23,640 Speaker 1: is a favorite, and that would be the Eastern team, 384 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:25,320 Speaker 1: and then there'd be one in the West as well. 385 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 1: Whether it's Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, perhaps maybe even Oakland, 386 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:33,000 Speaker 1: but that would seem to be the way the league 387 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 1: is going to go. One in the East, one in 388 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:38,600 Speaker 1: the West. Nashville much more likely in my view than Montreal. 389 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 1: And our final question comes from Joe Siroski, who asked, 390 00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 1: do you think the free agent market this year causes 391 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 1: some players to consider signing extensions they would not have 392 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:51,439 Speaker 1: considered prior? Excellent question, Joe. I was asked this on 393 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: foul Territory last week. We were talking about Scott Wors 394 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:58,280 Speaker 1: and aj Persinski asked, did I think Boris would be 395 00:20:58,359 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 1: more inclined to sign extensions? And I said, no, that's 396 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 1: not his style. He prefers players to go to the 397 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:06,399 Speaker 1: open market. That's just the way he doesn't. He wants 398 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 1: their values established not by one team, but by all 399 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:14,440 Speaker 1: thirty other agents. However, in reaction to this market might 400 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:17,639 Speaker 1: take a different view. There are always agents who are 401 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:21,640 Speaker 1: inclined or willing to sign extensions, but the way things 402 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 1: are going, I would expect that certain players and certain 403 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 1: agents might look at it and say, I'm not so sure. 404 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 1: I want to wait, Maybe we should go now. Now. 405 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:32,640 Speaker 1: The caveat here is that this is a weird market. 406 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 1: This market has been influenced by the RSN situation that 407 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:39,720 Speaker 1: has affected a number of teams. It's been influenced by 408 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 1: the Mets, the Red Sox, the Padres not spending the 409 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:45,200 Speaker 1: way they normally have in the past. So you've got 410 00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:49,240 Speaker 1: maybe half the teams kind of in a withdrawing state. 411 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 1: It's not going to be that way every year. So 412 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:53,520 Speaker 1: free agency is going to be good again. And I've 413 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:55,800 Speaker 1: talked about this as well. Boris has a bazillion great 414 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:58,440 Speaker 1: players next year, not a zillion, about a half dozen, 415 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:00,919 Speaker 1: and he's going to hit the jackpie with them, I believe. 416 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:04,200 Speaker 1: So it remains to be seeing how this affects things. 417 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:06,280 Speaker 1: But I don't know that I would overreact if I 418 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:08,720 Speaker 1: were an agent or a player to this year's market 419 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 1: because it seems to be such an operation. Want to 420 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 1: thank everyone for their questions, Thank everyone for watching, for listening. 421 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:18,919 Speaker 1: You know where to find us YouTube, Apple, Spotify, subscribe 422 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:22,439 Speaker 1: to us, like us, find us however you can, but 423 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 1: just do it in an urgent fashion. You have to 424 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:27,399 Speaker 1: find us. Hey, we'll be back next week with another show. 425 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:29,960 Speaker 1: I want to thank everyone again. Have a great week. 426 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:32,640 Speaker 3: Place your first bet MGM sportsbook wager through the app 427 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 3: of at least five bucks, you will receive one hundred 428 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:37,639 Speaker 3: and fifty dollars instantly in additional winnings regardless of your 429 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:41,240 Speaker 3: wagers outcome. 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Fair Territory Airs each week and we'd love 439 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:06,720 Speaker 1: for you to become a part of our community. Here's 440 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:09,920 Speaker 1: another video you might enjoy. See you next time.