1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,800 Speaker 1: And there are certain teams, certain contenders, that, in my opinion, 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: are in a near desperate position with regard to their rotation. 3 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: Welcome everyone to the Monday edition of Fair Territory. We 4 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: have a lot to unpack on this Monday. A lot 5 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:20,960 Speaker 1: happened on this weekend, from the Hall of Fame inductions 6 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 1: to a dramatic series in La between the Dodgers and 7 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:27,159 Speaker 1: Red Sox. A lot going on in the sports, some 8 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: injuries that we're going to need to discuss, just the 9 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: usual blizzard at this time of year. Well, blizzard's probably 10 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:36,919 Speaker 1: the wrong word considering the heat all over the country, 11 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 1: but you know what I'm getting at. It's trade deadline time. 12 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: It's time to get into a lot of stuff. I 13 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 1: want to start today with the Dodgers, and not just 14 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 1: because they swept the Red Sox, just because they remain 15 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 1: one of the game's most fascinating teams coming off that 16 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: billion dollar offseason. We've seen that they're not exactly perfect, 17 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 1: but they were better against the Red Sox, swept them. 18 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: Completed the sweep yesterday with a nine to sixth victory 19 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: which they hit a bunch of home runs. They are 20 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: a team that still has a lot of questions, Now, 21 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: what do we see Yesterday? Otani with the four hundred 22 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 1: and seventy three foot homer, He's thirtieth of the season. 23 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,319 Speaker 1: That was the second longest at Dodger Stadium of the 24 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 1: statcast era wasn't even the longest of the day. Jorge 25 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,840 Speaker 1: Solaire went four to seventy eight at coors Field. But 26 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 1: Otani continues to be their biggest star by far. Now 27 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: they have an eight game lead, second biggest lead only 28 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: to the Phillies, who lead the nleast by eight and 29 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:42,680 Speaker 1: a half. Dodgers' playoff odds are ninety nine percent. And yet, 30 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 1: as I mentioned, there are still questions here, and it 31 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: starts with the rotation. It starts with the rotation that 32 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: we'll get Clayton Kershaw and Tyler Glass now back this week, 33 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: but is still missing your Shinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler, still 34 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: questions with Bobby Miller, with James Paxton and others as well. 35 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 1: Gavin Stone has been their most consistent starter. Gavin Stone. 36 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 1: It's kind of amazing if you think about it, and 37 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 1: yet that is where they are now. They played badly 38 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 1: heading into the break. They had lost two of three 39 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 1: to Detroit ten or fifteen. Overall, they did better this weekend. 40 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 1: But again, there are things here you look at you're 41 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: just not sure about. The rotation is just one of them. 42 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: The middle infield, now this is a developing story as well. 43 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 1: Monkey's out for a couple of more weeks with that 44 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 1: hand thing. Gavin lux who has been struggling the entire season, 45 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: last two days five for six, two homers, two doubles, 46 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 1: finally showing that maybe he can be an answer. He's 47 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 1: played great defense all year. He is every day one 48 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:52,359 Speaker 1: day more removed from his knee surgery that took him 49 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:56,239 Speaker 1: out of the twenty twenty three season. So maybe based 50 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 1: on the last two days, five for six, two homers, 51 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 1: two doubles, he can be an answer. Miguel Rojas, who 52 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 1: is the other option in the middle infield when Betts returns. 53 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:10,080 Speaker 1: He left yesterday's game with right form tightness, so it 54 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 1: remains to be seen if they'll add at the deadline. 55 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: They're gonna be looking for starting pitching first and foremost, 56 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: but also a middle infielder if they can get one. 57 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:21,359 Speaker 1: How do they go about this? They also want an outfielder. 58 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:24,359 Speaker 1: Their bullpen's getting healthier, we said, Joe Kelly come back 59 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: this weekend. Grattarol is on his way back, Michael Grove 60 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 1: is on his way back, and then they'll be followed 61 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 1: by Brazier. Evan Phillips is struggling. That's a concern for sure, 62 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: but the Bullpens seems to be settling in. So this 63 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: is going to be as it has been all season long, 64 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: and going back to the offseason, a team to watch, 65 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 1: a team that has a ton of pressure on it 66 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 1: because of the money that has been committed to this roster, 67 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 1: a roster that, for all that has been spent, remains incomplete. 68 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,120 Speaker 1: Now I mentioned injuries at the top of the show. 69 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 1: We had some big ones yesterday, fortunately for the teams involved, 70 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: for the players involved. You just hate to see this, 71 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 1: and it seems like it's every day in baseball, right 72 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: Julio Rodriguez slams into the wall, hurts. His ankle X 73 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 1: rays were negative and that's good. It seems like he 74 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,359 Speaker 1: might be okay, but he's going for an MRI. You 75 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: just never know. There's the play right there. You can 76 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: see his left foot got caught in the wall. Julio 77 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: is obviously a huge part of what they do offensively, 78 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:29,479 Speaker 1: and what they do offensively is not much. This is 79 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: a team that incredibly ranks twenty eighth in the Majors 80 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:37,599 Speaker 1: in runs score, twenty eighth, ahead of only the Marlins 81 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: and White Sox, two of the worst teams we've seen 82 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 1: in I would say sometime the White Sox in particular. 83 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: So that's where the Mariners are offensively. We know if 84 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: Julio is healthy, they need to make a big move. 85 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:53,239 Speaker 1: The Astros have caught them after a seven and nineteen start. 86 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 1: That's incredible. One of the more incredible developments of this season. 87 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:00,599 Speaker 1: The other series of injuries, and it was a series 88 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:04,359 Speaker 1: of injuries took place with the Atlanta Braves. Max Freed 89 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 1: sidelined with left forearm neuritis, then Ozzie Albi's and this 90 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 1: was really rough. You see this play. He suffered a 91 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 1: fractured left wrist. He'll be out eight weeks and that 92 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:16,679 Speaker 1: will take him to the end of the season pretty 93 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: much before he can return. And with hand injuries, wrist injuries, 94 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 1: we know those can be awfully tricky for hitters and 95 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 1: even when they come back, they're not always right. So 96 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 1: we've seen this with so many hitters over the years, 97 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 1: most recently Tommy Edmond has yet to play this season 98 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:37,239 Speaker 1: with his hand risk issue, and now Albi's. The Braves 99 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 1: on Monday did sign wit Meryfield to a major league deal. 100 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: This was a move that it could have seen coming 101 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: once Albi's went on the injured list, but at the 102 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 1: same time, wit Merrifield with the Phillies was not a 103 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: productive offensive player. Now maybe he'll find it with the Braves. 104 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:56,840 Speaker 1: He's going to play much more regularly, I would assume, 105 00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 1: and that is good news for him. But let's take 106 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 1: a look at the Braves, the primary Braves who are 107 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 1: on the injured list right now, because this is a 108 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 1: staggering list of talent and actually financial investments as well. 109 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: Accunya Junior we haven't seen him for much of the year. 110 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:15,239 Speaker 1: Albi's now in the IL, Freed now in the IL, 111 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 1: Michael Harris the second he's supposedly coming back and he 112 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: should be back fairly soon, and of course Spencer Streider 113 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 1: as well. Eleven players total on the injured list. That's 114 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 1: not an unusual number for teams in this particular season, 115 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:31,919 Speaker 1: an injury March season for so many, but it is 116 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 1: a big number, and for the Braves, the quality of 117 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:39,039 Speaker 1: player that they have lost is absolutely staggering. Now let's 118 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: look at the big picture though. The Braves are still 119 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 1: the team holding the top National League wildcard spot. They've 120 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:49,599 Speaker 1: got a four game lead over the wildcard outsiders. They're 121 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: in pretty good shape. Their playoff odds are something like 122 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:57,160 Speaker 1: ninety percent. So if you're Alexanthopolis, they're president of baseball operations, 123 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:01,040 Speaker 1: what do you do? Well? Signed wit Merrifield to ostensibly 124 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 1: and Albi's replacement. Okay, that's a start. They were looking 125 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 1: and have been looking for an outfielder going back to 126 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 1: really early July. They know they need to add there, 127 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: and I still believe they might need and probably will 128 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 1: need a starting pitcher. That need increases with the loss 129 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 1: of Freed, they claim, or they say it's not serious 130 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: or it doesn't appear serious. When you hear of any 131 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 1: forearm issue, it's a red flag that is often four 132 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: armed problems a precursor to a major elbow issue. So 133 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 1: the Braves are sitting there. They're in good shape, but 134 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 1: they're only in good shape from the standings. They're not 135 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 1: in good shape physically, which brings us to our final 136 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: item in the lead of this particular program today, and 137 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 1: that is the National League wildcard standings. Let's take a 138 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: look and let's see where the Braves are relative to 139 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 1: other teams. And we'll get into this a little bit, 140 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 1: because this is again the most fascinating race we have 141 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 1: going on in baseball. Okay, you see it. The Braves 142 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: lead by four games. The Cardinals are next two and 143 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 1: a half games behind the Braves with the second wildcard spot. 144 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 1: Then a three team tie for the third wildcard spot. 145 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 1: Right now, it's between the Mets, the Diamondbacks, and the Padres. 146 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 1: Those three teams tied for the third spot. Now trailing 147 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 1: these teams are some other clubs that are kind of 148 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 1: sitting on the buy sell fence. Here are the Pirates. 149 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 1: They are half game out playoff odds of about twenty 150 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 1: one percent. I believe they should buy, but they're not 151 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:35,239 Speaker 1: going to go crazy obviously with that kind of situation 152 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:37,839 Speaker 1: that they're facing. But they should be looking to add 153 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 1: pieces that can help them obviously in twenty twenty four, 154 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 1: but mostly in twenty twenty five. And beyond the Giants, 155 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,320 Speaker 1: this is an interesting team. They've spent all that money, 156 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:53,559 Speaker 1: they sacrifice draft picks for Snell, for Chapman, and yet 157 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: they're sitting there three games back in the wildcard race. 158 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 1: The Cubs, we wrote about them today in the Athletics 159 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 1: Trade Deadline Watch. They are tilting towards selling. There's no 160 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:06,200 Speaker 1: question about that. They are not going to be aggressive buyers. 161 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 1: The Cincinnati Reds, they've invested a lot in this season 162 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,679 Speaker 1: too relative to their market size, and they are fading 163 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 1: fast three point six percent playoff odds. And the Nationals. 164 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:18,960 Speaker 1: We've already seen them start to sell with the Hunter 165 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 1: Harvey trade, and they will continue that if they're smart. 166 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 1: They trade not just their expiring contract players Tilhen Floro 167 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: is one of them, but they also trade some of 168 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:33,840 Speaker 1: the guys under an extra year of control, Lane Thomas 169 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: and their closer, they're all Star closer, last minute all Star, 170 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:42,120 Speaker 1: Kyle Finnegan. So you see the NL wildcard race, it is, 171 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 1: as I've called it, a mass of mediocrity, and yet 172 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 1: it's interesting. And these teams eight days until the deadline, well, 173 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 1: we're going to see some interesting decisions made, We're going 174 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 1: to see some deals, and we're going to see some action. 175 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 1: Time out for the Inside Dish, the part of the 176 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 1: show where I talk about us story, I've written maybe 177 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 1: a trend in the game, maybe something else that has 178 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 1: popped into my feeble mind. But this week I will 179 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 1: talk about a story I've written, the one that was 180 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 1: published today, about the relationship between shoey Otani, his former 181 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 1: interpreter Ipei Mizuhara, and his agent Nez Billelo. Now, when 182 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 1: I write for The Athletic, generally ninety five percent of 183 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 1: the ideas are mine. I kind of just go along 184 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:27,960 Speaker 1: and do what I've done. I've done this a long 185 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: time by now I should kind of know what to do. 186 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:33,080 Speaker 1: That said, you're always open to ideas, and you're always 187 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:37,080 Speaker 1: taking ideas and discussing things with writers with editors, And 188 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 1: this idea actually came from inside the Athletic, from our 189 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:45,079 Speaker 1: main baseball editor, Mark Kurrig. Now Andy McCullough, one of 190 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:47,080 Speaker 1: our writers, might also take credit. I don't know the 191 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 1: exact particulars, but Kriig came to me about three months ago, 192 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 1: right after this situation broke with Ipai Mizuhara. This was 193 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 1: mid April, and he said, listen, what no one knows 194 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: he is this relationship between these three guys. How it 195 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 1: could have led to what has happened. How the only 196 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:11,240 Speaker 1: plausible way what happens could have happened was because of 197 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:15,719 Speaker 1: this relationship being so insular. So I began working on 198 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 1: that story and talking to different people, and the goal 199 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 1: was to show how this relationship worked and just kind 200 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 1: of the unusual dynamic between these three guys. Now, it 201 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 1: was a tough nut to crack, in part because none 202 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 1: of the Principles would talk. Secrecy is a big part 203 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:38,439 Speaker 1: of the Otani world, as we've come to learn, and 204 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 1: this is a situation where you had to talk to others. 205 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:43,560 Speaker 1: So I went to others more than twenty five people. 206 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:45,760 Speaker 1: It might have been even more than thirty. We've used 207 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 1: twenty five for the story, but I lost count after 208 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:52,200 Speaker 1: a while. People with the Dodgers, players, coaches, others, people 209 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 1: who knew Otani from the Angels, Japanese media, an expert 210 00:11:56,720 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 1: on Japanese culture, all of these people we kind of 211 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:03,319 Speaker 1: just kept going to and asking questions about and trying 212 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 1: to gain a better understanding of what was going on. Now. 213 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 1: As I said, this was a three month process, and 214 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:12,960 Speaker 1: it came to the point where you stop gathering and 215 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:16,679 Speaker 1: you have to write. And after Jason Stark was inducted 216 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:19,680 Speaker 1: into the National Sports Media Hall of fame in Charlotte. 217 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 1: This was in late June. I had to go to 218 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 1: Atlanta and that was my next game for Fox and 219 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 1: I went to a hotel room in Atlanta, a hotel 220 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:30,240 Speaker 1: in Atlanta and sat in a room for two days 221 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:34,320 Speaker 1: just writing over the July fourth holiday actually, and from 222 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 1: there we went through the editing process, which at the Athletic, 223 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 1: especially since being owned by the New York Times, is 224 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 1: kind of exhaustive. Actually, it was exhaustive even before we 225 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: were owned by the New York Times. There were a 226 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 1: lot of eyes on this story. And our main editor 227 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:52,319 Speaker 1: on these kinds of things, these longer pieces, is someone 228 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:55,200 Speaker 1: named Emma span And Emma who I've worked with since 229 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:57,920 Speaker 1: I started at the Athletic. She's one of the best 230 00:12:58,040 --> 00:13:02,679 Speaker 1: editors I've ever had. Okay, so about the story. One 231 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 1: of the frustrating things about this whole situation is we 232 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:10,440 Speaker 1: don't know exactly what went on. We know what the 233 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 1: government told us, and we've all wondered if there is 234 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:16,960 Speaker 1: more to it. Now. The government story, the government complaint 235 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:21,200 Speaker 1: was pretty direct and pretty clear, but again I set 236 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 1: out to find out a little bit more. Now, there's 237 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: nothing in this story that I would qualify or label 238 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 1: as a bombshell detail. There's some interesting stuff, but it's 239 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 1: nothing that is going to cause aggregators across the country 240 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:35,599 Speaker 1: to write stories off of this one. At least I 241 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 1: don't think that's the case. So you ask, Okay, what 242 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 1: does this story accomplish. Well, of course that's for the 243 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: reader to decide, and I'm not quite sure, but I 244 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:49,680 Speaker 1: do believe that we give a fuller portrait of that 245 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: relationship that took place between these three. Now, of course, 246 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 1: Mizuhara was fired. Then he was sentenced to bank and 247 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:59,080 Speaker 1: tax frauds, so he is out of the picture, and 248 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 1: the Dodgers have hired someone else from in their organization, 249 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 1: will Ireton to replace him as Otani's main interpreter. Now, 250 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 1: again I spoke to that frustration of wanting to know more. 251 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: We all want to know more here. It's such a 252 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 1: mysterious kind of thing, and I don't know that we'll 253 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:20,560 Speaker 1: ever know the full story, and people investigative reporters have 254 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:24,000 Speaker 1: tried to attack this and get more than the government 255 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 1: told us about what happened, even though the government's account 256 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 1: was incredibly and richly detailed. There have been reporters working 257 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: on this and trying to find out more, trying to 258 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 1: find out if there are significant details that maybe we're 259 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 1: missing in what the government said. But to this point, 260 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 1: no one has come up with anything of any significance 261 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,800 Speaker 1: on that. We've seen some minor stories come out, but 262 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 1: nothing has really broken to explain if indeed there was 263 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: something more here. So we can only go on what 264 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 1: we have, and this story was based obviously on what 265 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 1: we have. Again, what did I accomplish? That's for you 266 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 1: guys to the side. You might think the story's dumb. 267 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 1: You might think it's kind of interesting. You might think, wow, 268 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 1: I didn't know a lot of this kind of thing, Okay, 269 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: whatever the case might be. Whenever I write, even when 270 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 1: it's just a trade story, even when it's a notes calmn, 271 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 1: whatever the case might be, or a longer feature like 272 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 1: this one, my goal is always the same. It's to 273 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 1: tell the reader at least one thing that he or 274 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 1: she didn't know, and it's to make people think. I 275 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 1: do believe this story will make people think. It will 276 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 1: make people wonder about this relationship between these three guys 277 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 1: even more. And maybe, and this is my great hope, 278 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 1: people can understand after reading this that what happened was 279 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 1: the product of these relationships that it only could have 280 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 1: happened because of this incredible trust between these three and 281 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 1: a distrust of anyone who is not part of their group. 282 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 1: So that's the story behind the story. Hope you enjoy it, 283 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 1: and we'll see what the next one brings. We'll be 284 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 1: back after a quick word from Scott Drawn and Eric Kratz. 285 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:07,000 Speaker 2: Crats here from FT, I wasn't feeling as focused as 286 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 2: I wanted to be and heard some buzz about ag One. 287 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 2: Since drinking ag one daily, I've felt energized, locked in, 288 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 2: and ready to hit the day. 289 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 3: Braun here. That's because ag one is a foundational nutrition 290 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 3: supplement that supports your body's universal needs like gut optimization, 291 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:26,480 Speaker 3: stress management, and immune support. 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That's drinkag one 311 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:24,640 Speaker 3: dot com slash foul go check it out. 312 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:27,440 Speaker 1: Time now for grilling Ken. Let's get to your questions. 313 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 1: The first question comes from Josh, who asks, does Luis 314 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:33,440 Speaker 1: Robert get traded and do the socks get somewhere close 315 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:37,360 Speaker 1: to the Soto level asking price they're asking if he does, no, 316 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:41,160 Speaker 1: they're not getting Sodo level price for Luis Robert one 317 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 1: because he is not one Sodo. That's the main reason 318 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 1: right there, and I don't know, honestly, that he gets 319 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:50,399 Speaker 1: traded at all, Josh. And here's the problem with Robert. 320 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:53,919 Speaker 1: It's not that he's too expensive. His contract actually is 321 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 1: quite fair if he is on the field. It's twelve 322 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 1: and a half million this year, which you'd pay the 323 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:00,679 Speaker 1: rest of fifteen million the next year, and then a 324 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 1: pair of club options at twenty million each. Those are 325 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:08,200 Speaker 1: affordable prices for a player of this ability level. Problem, 326 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 1: as we've discussed, is he doesn't stay on the field, 327 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:15,639 Speaker 1: and since coming back he's been okay. He hasn't been great. 328 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 1: Came back June fourth from his latest injury. He's batting 329 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 1: since then two twenty nine with a three to fifteen 330 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:23,880 Speaker 1: on base percentage, not very good. He has a seven 331 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 1: eighty OPS, which is above league average, but really only 332 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 1: because he has hit nine home runs. I'm not discounting 333 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:31,640 Speaker 1: the nine on runs. But this is not a player 334 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:34,639 Speaker 1: who is suddenly turning into an on base machine after 335 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:38,280 Speaker 1: his injury. So here are the White Sox. They've got 336 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 1: all of these different pieces to trade, Crochet and Fetti 337 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:45,640 Speaker 1: and fam and yet with Luis Robert Jr. They might 338 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 1: find the teams aren't as motivated as perhaps they will 339 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 1: be if Robert plays the rest of the season and 340 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:56,440 Speaker 1: at that point puts up better numbers. Teams probably want 341 00:18:56,480 --> 00:19:00,080 Speaker 1: to see more before they make a big commitment, and 342 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:02,320 Speaker 1: they're never going to get to the SODO level commitment. 343 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:05,160 Speaker 1: He was a healthy player, a younger player at the time, 344 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:08,399 Speaker 1: and a better player. So if I had to guess 345 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 1: right now, my odds of Luis Robert Junior getting traded 346 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:15,120 Speaker 1: would be about forty percent. I'm not saying it won't happen, 347 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:18,200 Speaker 1: and that's just an estimate, but it's going to take 348 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 1: a lot for it to happen, and I'm just not 349 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:23,520 Speaker 1: sure any team will be motivated enough by what they're 350 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 1: seeing to make the offer that the White Sox want, 351 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 1: which ultimately would not get to SODO level, but would 352 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:32,240 Speaker 1: be a significant return. That's the only reason to trade him. 353 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 1: Next question comes from Will, who asks, Hey, Ken, you 354 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:38,199 Speaker 1: mentioned that Chris Bassett could be among the starters traded 355 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 1: at the deadline. Are there any teams that you could 356 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:44,119 Speaker 1: see being interested in him? Well, Will, this is an 357 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:47,119 Speaker 1: interesting question because there are a ton of teams that 358 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 1: need starting pitching, and there are certain teams, certain contenders 359 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: that in my opinion, are in a near desperate position 360 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 1: with regard to their rotation. Teams that almost desperately need 361 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:02,400 Speaker 1: a starter. I'm talking about Baltimore, I'm talking about Boston, 362 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 1: Cleveland for sure, Houston and the National League, Milwaukee, the 363 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:11,119 Speaker 1: Los Angeles Dodgers, and the San Diego Padres. That is 364 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 1: a list of seven teams that I believe urgently need 365 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 1: a starter. There are other teams as well that could 366 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:19,879 Speaker 1: use a starter. So if you're the Blue Jays, I 367 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:22,480 Speaker 1: know you're thinking about twenty twenty five and how great 368 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 1: you're going to be then, But you know what, the 369 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:28,520 Speaker 1: Blue Jays should be open to everything possible that they 370 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 1: can consider at this deadline, and trading Bassett would be 371 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:34,919 Speaker 1: something that might be advantageous to them. I know their 372 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:38,199 Speaker 1: rotation is the strength of the team, and obviously, if 373 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:40,120 Speaker 1: you're going to compete next year, you want to keep 374 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:43,919 Speaker 1: that group intact. But Bassett is earning the rest of 375 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:46,600 Speaker 1: his twenty two million dollar salary this season, so he's 376 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 1: owed about a third of that right now, and then 377 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:52,080 Speaker 1: he's going to be owed twenty two million next season. 378 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:55,200 Speaker 1: Teams will be interested in him. Teams will want that 379 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:58,160 Speaker 1: kind of veteran starter, and if you're the Blue Jays. 380 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:01,880 Speaker 1: In my view, again, you have to look at anything 381 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:06,199 Speaker 1: and everything, all right. Final question, This one comes from 382 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:09,560 Speaker 1: Dave Lefkin, who says, or asks, is this the year 383 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 1: to completely empty the Yankees' farm system? Peak? Judge and Cole? 384 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 1: Only one guaranteed year of Sodo. I feel like if 385 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 1: they don't attack this year's window, it should be a 386 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:22,439 Speaker 1: total rebuild around Judge and Cole. Everyone else should be 387 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 1: on the table. Okay, Dave, you're asking for some dramatic action, 388 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:30,159 Speaker 1: and I get it. The idea that they should be 389 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:34,520 Speaker 1: intense buyers is the correct one, and you're absolutely right. 390 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:37,919 Speaker 1: It revolves around what you said. Not as much the 391 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:41,199 Speaker 1: Judge Cole question, though, yes, they are in their primes 392 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:44,080 Speaker 1: right now and won't be forever. But the Sodo question, 393 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:47,200 Speaker 1: you have only one guaranteed year of Wan Soto. It's 394 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 1: this year now. Yes, the Yankees probably are one of 395 00:21:50,119 --> 00:21:52,920 Speaker 1: the favorites to sign him, but they have no idea 396 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:55,320 Speaker 1: whether they're going to be the team. Scott Boris is 397 00:21:55,359 --> 00:21:57,679 Speaker 1: taking one soda to the market and he's going to 398 00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:00,520 Speaker 1: try to get the best deal possible, and he doesn't 399 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:02,560 Speaker 1: care where it comes from, doesn't have to be the 400 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 1: New York Yankees. And Sodo doesn't care either. Remember he 401 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 1: turned down four to forty from the Nationals over fifteen years. 402 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:13,480 Speaker 1: He wants maximum dollars. So you're sitting there, you're in 403 00:22:13,520 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: that position. You've got to go. Aaron Judge is going 404 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:20,360 Speaker 1: to be good for several more years. I would expect 405 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 1: he's not going to be great forever with Cole. Yes, 406 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 1: you can keep him beyond this year with that funky 407 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 1: option that he has, and that'll work out fine, I'm sure. 408 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:33,320 Speaker 1: But he's getting older. He had an injury this year, 409 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: so yes, this is a time not to empty the 410 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 1: farm system necessarily, but certainly to be aggressive in addressing holes. 411 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:43,160 Speaker 1: And there's another team in a similar position, the team 412 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:45,720 Speaker 1: in their division that they're competing with for the AL 413 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:48,920 Speaker 1: East title, the Orioles. Now, they're going to be good 414 00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 1: for many years. They've got young players coming out of everywhere, 415 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:55,199 Speaker 1: but this is their one guaranteed year with Corbyn Burns. 416 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:57,600 Speaker 1: And I would suggest that the Oriols stand less of 417 00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:00,200 Speaker 1: a chance of signing Burns than the Yankees do of 418 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:03,159 Speaker 1: signing Sodo. Now. I know some oriel fans are saying, well, 419 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:04,600 Speaker 1: we've got a new owner. Yeah, I know, you've got 420 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 1: a new owner and he's going to spend. But Baltimore 421 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:09,640 Speaker 1: is not the same size market as New York and 422 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 1: Burns is represented by guess who. Scott bores who again 423 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:17,680 Speaker 1: is going to seek maximum dollars for Corbin Burns. 424 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:19,480 Speaker 2: So both these. 425 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:23,680 Speaker 1: Teams are in positions where they need to go. They 426 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:26,240 Speaker 1: need to be aggressive and the Yankees have multiple holes. 427 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:29,640 Speaker 1: The Oriols basically need a frontline starter and bullpen help. 428 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 1: They've been on every reliever under the sun. Those two 429 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:36,320 Speaker 1: teams have to be aggressive and I expect that they 430 00:23:36,359 --> 00:23:39,440 Speaker 1: will be aggressive. I want to thank everyone for their questions, 431 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:42,120 Speaker 1: everyone for watching, for listening by now you know where 432 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:46,440 Speaker 1: to find us, YouTube, Apple, Spotify, subscribed to us like us. 433 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:49,040 Speaker 1: We'll be back on Thursday with our second show of 434 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:51,440 Speaker 1: the week, The One I co host with Alana Rizzo. 435 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:52,920 Speaker 1: Have a great week everyone. 436 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 3: I want to let everyone know about the accessibility for 437 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:01,360 Speaker 3: online betting around the DC area. 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