1 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:26,240 Speaker 1: Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Hammer Territory podcast. 2 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: This is episode three one and it's an emergency podcast. 3 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: My name is Brad Roland. I'm joined on the show 4 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: on a Monday evening by Scott Coleman. Scott, I went 5 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: out of town and Alex found that out, it appears, 6 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 1: and decided to make the entire all season's worth of 7 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 1: moves in six days. How are you hello, Brad? I 8 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 1: am doing well. 9 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 2: It was never in doubt that as soon as you 10 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 2: left the greater Atlanta area that of course Alex was 11 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 2: gonna do all of his heavy lifting, or at least 12 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 2: most of it this offseason. And I mean, man alive. 13 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 2: The Braves have signed how Song Kim. This has been 14 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 2: as busy of a four week stretch in terms of 15 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 2: off season moves that we have maybe had in a 16 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 2: decade for the Braves. I mean, it seems like we 17 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: can't go forty eight hours without some kind of a transaction. 18 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 2: And obviously tonight we are going to talk all about 19 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 2: has On Kim, and I mean a big impact addition 20 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 2: for the Braves. 21 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 1: To be sure, absolutely, and look just the particulars. It's 22 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: a one year deal for hass On Kim, something that 23 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 1: I know you have foreshadowed several times in recent days 24 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: on this show. One year deal, twenty million dollars, no options. 25 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 1: It's a little bit more than the player option was, 26 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: but once he didn't take the player option, you kind 27 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 1: of have to assume it was gonna be more. And 28 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:43,400 Speaker 1: it was so good agent work by Scott Boris as 29 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 1: supposed to get your client a little bit more money. 30 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: I made fun of it, but this is literally our 31 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: third emergency podcast in six days. Eu Stremski followed by 32 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: you know, it's been extremely, extremely busy. Suarez extreme Ski. Now, Kim, 33 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 1: this is interesting because this is one that was on 34 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: the radar, right. We talked about Suarez a decent amount. 35 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 1: Strepsky was kind of off the radar. 36 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 2: Kim. 37 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:09,639 Speaker 1: We've discussed a lot, so we'll probably repeat ourselves a 38 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:12,919 Speaker 1: little bit on this show. But I know you said 39 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 1: this before, so I'll say it for you and we 40 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: can talk about it. A one year deal for Hassan 41 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:21,359 Speaker 1: Kim just made a ton of sense for everybody involved, 42 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 1: especially if he didn't have like some massive deal out there, 43 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: which I'm sure he would have liked to sign. If 44 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 1: he had a five year one hundred million dollar deal 45 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:28,920 Speaker 1: out there. He would have signed it up pretty sure, 46 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: but he didn't. So that's kind of where my brain is, like, Hey, 47 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 1: this is not a grand slam for the Braves, but 48 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 1: on all sides, it's kind of on brand. Right, Alex 49 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 1: loves a one year deal. He got paid a little bit. 50 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 1: So I mean, that's that's my general reaction. It might 51 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 1: not be the most inspired reaction, but it makes a 52 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: ton of sense for everybody involved. 53 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 2: For me, this felt like it was inevitable and you 54 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 2: look at it from basically every side and it's like, yes, 55 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 2: that makes a lot of sense. And if you're hass 56 00:02:57,360 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 2: On Kim and you're Scott Boris, you put twenty million 57 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:01,799 Speaker 2: dollars in your back pocket and you get to hit 58 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 2: free agency again. Or if you have a great year, 59 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 2: maybe you work out an end season extension with the Braves, 60 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 2: which maybe isn't super common for Scott Boris clients. But 61 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 2: from the very end of the season, even when it 62 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 2: was apparent that Kim was going to opt out of 63 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,920 Speaker 2: his player option, Kim had nothing but good things to 64 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:22,519 Speaker 2: say about his time with the Braves. He knows jerks 65 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 2: and PROFI really well. He now knows. Robert Suarez, the 66 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 2: team's new eighth inning maybe closer really well, sounds like 67 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 2: he was good friends immediately with Ozzy Alby's and for 68 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 2: the Braves, they desperately needed a shortstop. We have been 69 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 2: talking about it on the show for the last month. 70 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 2: Not only do the Braves now have a battle tested shortstop, 71 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 2: but it also frees up Mauricio Dubon to be the 72 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 2: gold Gloves super utility man. Gives you insurance in second 73 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 2: base if Ozzy Alby's isn't fully ready to go after 74 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 2: breaking a bone in his hand. This really was maybe 75 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 2: not a rare deal, but a rare deal will It 76 00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 2: made sense for every single party involved, right, I mean 77 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 2: a lot of times what the Braves do on our 78 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 2: Alex is kind of surprised you and Suarez wasn't wasn't 79 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 2: really a surprise. 80 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: It wasn't one that we definitely thought was going to happen. Well, 81 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: it wasn't a huge shock. Becau Strumsky was more surprising. 82 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 1: This is one where's like everyone saw it coming. It's 83 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: kind of interesting, like it's kind of off brand for 84 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: Alex to do the thing that everyone thinks is going 85 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: to do. But that's what happened here, and because again, 86 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 1: like it's a it's a shortstop spot on a at 87 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 1: least a potentially contending team. I know the Braves were 88 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 1: not contenders last year, but the perception in baseball is 89 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: that they're going to be there again and be better 90 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 1: and bounce back. Kim knows that. I'm sure he'd like 91 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: to have a long term deal in place, but this 92 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 1: is a he's well compensated for his time for this 93 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 1: one season. I know your guy, Jeff Passon reported that 94 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 1: he turned down multi year deals elsewhere. I would suspect 95 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:48,039 Speaker 1: those were relatively cheap multi year deals would be my 96 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,119 Speaker 1: guess if it was anywhere near this AAV My guess 97 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 1: is that he would he would have signed that multi 98 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:55,359 Speaker 1: year contract somewhere else. I don't I don't know what 99 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 1: the numbers are, but if it's like three years and 100 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: thirty million versus one and one in one for twenty, 101 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:02,719 Speaker 1: you're taking one for twenty every time. So we don't know. 102 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,720 Speaker 1: We'd have to guess, but I mean we'll say a 103 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: big picture and in a second. I know we talked 104 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 1: about Kim a lot, but for listeners that are not 105 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 1: always here, we will do a kind of a deeper 106 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: look at what Kim actually is in a second, but 107 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 1: you just mentioned it, so we'll talk about it. This 108 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: is a need that the Braves have had for a 109 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 1: long time. You know. We did a kind of weirdly 110 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: emergency podcast when the Braves claimed him off waivers, and 111 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 1: that was a huge surprise when it happened. It was 112 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 1: not that long ago, three and a half months ago. 113 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: At this point, it was like, whoa. They kind of 114 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: had a short stop fall in their lap in the 115 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:35,159 Speaker 1: middle of the season out of nowhere off of waiver, 116 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 1: which just never happens. And he is not a star 117 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:40,040 Speaker 1: like he had. He had one season where he was 118 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 1: a star level player. He was, he had a four 119 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,160 Speaker 1: to one season. He's not a star player, but he is. 120 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: I'm not sure if it is not what you just said, 121 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 1: but it's certainly in the realm of He is a 122 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 1: in Capitol Letters starting shortstop and that was the market 123 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,719 Speaker 1: for him. He's played second base as well. But I 124 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:59,039 Speaker 1: think everyone has been clamoring for the Braves, including us, 125 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 1: for three years now since Dansby left to have really 126 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:06,359 Speaker 1: a full fled shorter at shortstop and Marissa to Debon 127 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: is a good baseball player, a useful baseball player. He 128 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:12,480 Speaker 1: is not what people were looking for. And Hassan Kim 129 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 1: is not Corey Seeger. That has to be said. He's 130 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:17,839 Speaker 1: not Corey Seeger. I get it, but he is a 131 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 1: starting shortstop and it's like hard to complain about that, 132 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 1: especially when it doesn't come at the cost of a 133 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:24,279 Speaker 1: long term deal. The risk on this deal is not 134 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:26,560 Speaker 1: particularly hot. Yeah, he may not be great, we'll talk 135 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 1: about it in a second. But if he isn't great, 136 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:31,479 Speaker 1: you have Briosa Debon and it's a one year contract. 137 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 1: For me, it's like checks every box. And that's my 138 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: overall reaction is like, how do you I'm trying to 139 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 1: almost prethink about might be mad about this. I can't 140 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 1: get to a spot where I could even find the 141 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: devil's advocated position. Maybe it's that you wanted Corey Sieger 142 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:48,039 Speaker 1: or die, but like if it wasn't that, this is 143 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: pretty logical. 144 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 2: Or maybe bo Baschett. You know, we talked about Bishette 145 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 2: a lot, but I just didn't see the Braves committing 146 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 2: eight years and two hundred million dollars to a player 147 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:02,039 Speaker 2: like Bashette with the defensive concerns. Alex A thopp was 148 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 2: doing a nine figure deal for a terrible defensive shortstop. 149 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 2: Would have been the most shocking thing I've ever seen 150 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 2: him do by a wide margin. And maybe he maybe 151 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 2: call on him. We'll never know, but I would have 152 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 2: fallen out of my whatever chair I'm in, whatever stand 153 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 2: I'm in. 154 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 1: I bet it happened. It just wasn't gonna. 155 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 2: Happen for sure, And at this point, Kim was kind 156 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 2: of the only option who was realistic or obtainable. And 157 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 2: sure we would have loved Corey Seeger on a six 158 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 2: year deal and one hundred and ninety million dollars, but 159 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 2: we don't even know if Texas is actually gonna trade him, 160 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 2: and it would cost quite a bit as well. 161 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 1: We talked about the shed. I mean, there's a few 162 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 1: other guys. CJ. 163 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 2: Abrams was out there, maybe Ezekio Tovar was around there 164 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 2: with the Rockies. 165 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: Maybe. 166 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 2: But again, man, you don't have to give up any 167 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaker 2: prospects here. You don't have to give up the qualifying 168 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 2: offer draft pick. And it's a one year deal. And 169 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 2: maybe Kim doesn't set the world on in twenty set 170 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 2: the world on fire in twenty twenty six, but you 171 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 2: have to hope that as he distances himself from offseason 172 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 2: shoulders surgery a year ago that basically cost him his 173 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 2: entire off season. So one note we should say this 174 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 2: towards the top of the podcast. In twenty twenty four, 175 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 2: Kim was with the Padres having a really nice season 176 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 2: and he tore the labrum in his right shoulder, his 177 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 2: throwing shoulder. Kim had surgery in September of twenty twenty 178 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 2: four and basically did not have an off season to 179 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 2: work out normally to do everything he does to get 180 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 2: himself ready for the grind of one hundred and sixty 181 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 2: two games over six plus months of baseball. Kim didn't 182 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 2: even start his minor league rehab until Memorial Day and 183 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:41,439 Speaker 2: did not make his debut with the Tampa Bay Rays 184 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 2: last season until the fourth of July, So not only 185 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 2: was he rehabbing from a serious shoulder surgery, but he 186 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 2: was also three months behind all of his peers. I 187 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 2: think the Braves are banking on a healthy, normal off 188 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 2: season for Kim that he will get back to being 189 00:08:56,200 --> 00:09:01,080 Speaker 2: more of the average hitter, gold Glove level defender that 190 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 2: made him so valuable with the Padres. 191 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 1: Absolutely, and that's a good way to tee things up. 192 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 1: We will talk about Hassan Kim and his basically, what 193 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 1: is this player if you're not familiar with his game 194 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 1: beyond what the Braves had him doing the last four 195 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 1: weeks of the season. We'll talk about that and more 196 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:20,080 Speaker 1: after a word from a partners Scott, we should dig 197 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:22,439 Speaker 1: in now to Hassan Kim. You already tee it up beautifully. 198 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 1: The fact that last season you don't throw it away. 199 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 1: I'm not saying you throw it away, but I think 200 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 1: it's worth keeping in mind for context purposes. He didn't 201 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: have a off season. It was also by the time 202 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:34,079 Speaker 1: he got back, he played less than fifty games, Like 203 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: it was a tiny sample size, even tinier in Atlanta 204 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: than it was previously. And by the way, he's not 205 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 1: as old as a lot of for agents tend to be, Like, 206 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 1: he's going to be playing at age thirty all year long, 207 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: and thirty is not thirty five. I mean, it's at 208 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 1: a middle of a position. It's nice to have a 209 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 1: guy who's not going to be thirty five years old. 210 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:56,440 Speaker 1: There's a reason to believe he's still maybe in his 211 00:09:56,559 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: late prime. Perhaps he we thirty one in October. Last 212 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: four seasons combined, which I'd like to kind of give 213 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 1: a bigger picture of what a baseline is. On the 214 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,719 Speaker 1: offensive side of things, he has a one to three 215 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 1: WRC plus. If you don't love that, what it means is, 216 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 1: basically he is a three percent better than league average hitter. 217 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 1: He's roughly been a league average hitter for four seasons. 218 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 1: That may not sound appetizing to you, but if you 219 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 1: have that player as a positive glove shortstop, that is 220 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:27,959 Speaker 1: a very, very valuable player. That's what I would say 221 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 1: in short term. Last year with the Braves, in about 222 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: a month he had ninety eight played appearances. It was 223 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 1: a ninety one WRC plus, which isn't good, but it's 224 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 1: totally fine if you play defense. And the projections are 225 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 1: out already for this this coming season, Zips is one. 226 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 1: Steamer is one. They all have him around a league 227 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 1: average bats and that's not gospel, But those are smart 228 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:52,320 Speaker 1: like people are doing those things. I tend to trust 229 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 1: those a little bit. So all that to say, am 230 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 1: I wrong for thinking in my brain? I am penciling 231 00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:02,439 Speaker 1: in league average bat for Hassan Kim And maybe there's 232 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:04,720 Speaker 1: a little bit upside beyond that. Maybe there's downside too, 233 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: That's that has to be said. Like we don't like 234 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 1: to give just rainbows on this podcast. There is always downside. 235 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 1: But lee average bats sounds right to me. 236 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 2: Well, and you would take that all day long because 237 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 2: we saw even though that Kim was he said, a 238 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 2: ninety one WRC plus with the Braves, that was galaxies 239 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 2: better than what we saw Nick Allen do and what 240 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 2: we were seeing Orlando Orcia do. And yeah, it's like, wow, 241 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:33,679 Speaker 2: this this Hassan Kim guy can really hit. And in 242 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 2: reality he wasn't that great, but when you compare him 243 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 2: to the other options, he was a marked improvement. And 244 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:43,080 Speaker 2: what I like about Hassan Kim is sure he's not 245 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 2: gonna go out there and hit thirty home runs for 246 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:47,679 Speaker 2: the Braves next year. He's probably not gonna hit three 247 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 2: point fifteen. He's not gonna steal thirty bases, although he 248 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 2: does have a bit of speed in his arsenal. But 249 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 2: Kim has always been somebody who gets on base and 250 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 2: draws walks, and it was not a Kotan in the 251 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:03,200 Speaker 2: back half of the season, especially in September when the 252 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 2: Braves had Kim. When Kim was batting towards the bottom 253 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 2: of the order and getting on base, and then the 254 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:11,559 Speaker 2: lineup would turn over to Akunya and Olsen, who were 255 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:14,560 Speaker 2: like the only two constants I guess Drake Baldwin the 256 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:16,960 Speaker 2: only two of the only three constants in the Braves 257 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:19,960 Speaker 2: lineup all year long. It was not some grand coincidence 258 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:21,719 Speaker 2: that all of a sudden the Braves started scoring more 259 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 2: runs when the bottom of the order was feeding into 260 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 2: the top and having runners on base for Acunya and 261 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:31,959 Speaker 2: Olsen and Baldwin. So again, don't pencil has on kim 262 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:33,840 Speaker 2: In to be a silver slugger. He is not that 263 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 2: good of a hitter, at least he's never been that 264 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 2: good through his first four or five years in the majors. 265 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 2: But he is a totally fine middle infielding hitter. And 266 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:44,240 Speaker 2: if that glove can get back to the Gold Glove 267 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 2: level or even close to it, you're talking about a 268 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:47,839 Speaker 2: really valuable player here. 269 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean, there's there's some pop. It's not zero pop. 270 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 1: He's hit doublegit home runs three times in his career, 271 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 1: so it's not Nick Allen he had, and like you said, 272 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:01,679 Speaker 1: he takes walks. He's a professional hitter, not an elite one, 273 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 1: not even like a very very good one. But at shortstop, 274 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 1: just like in center field, it's kind of the same 275 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:09,079 Speaker 1: thing as center field, those those premium defensive positions catchers 276 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:11,559 Speaker 1: the same way. In some ways, the bar is lower 277 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 1: and if you can reach that bar, and I think 278 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: he has consistently reached that bar offensively, that is a 279 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:20,000 Speaker 1: pretty good spot to be in. And honestly, we'll save 280 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 1: this for later on in the off season. The Brave's 281 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 1: not having any just clear and utter hole in the 282 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 1: lineup would be a welcome thing. You mentioned it with 283 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:32,960 Speaker 1: Nick Allen. Obviously there was times when Michael Harris has 284 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:35,840 Speaker 1: spent that in the last year or so. But on paper, 285 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 1: there isn't anybody in the lineup that you're terrified of 286 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 1: in a bad way right now, which is a nice 287 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 1: departure for those of puspect to watch every play appearance 288 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 1: for the season. It's it's nice or worth my heart. 289 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:51,560 Speaker 2: Well, and for the first time in a long time, Brad, 290 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:55,839 Speaker 2: this team has some legitimate depth. It has a real 291 00:13:56,240 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 2: bench with the additions of Mike Strem, the addition of 292 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 2: Hassan Kim, the addition of Mauricio Dubon, the fact they 293 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 2: still have Eli White who can bounce around and maybe 294 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 2: even play infield in an emergency situation. Like, there is 295 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:15,680 Speaker 2: so much more flexibility and versatility with this bench now. 296 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 1: Where the braves. 297 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 2: While we never want to see an injury because there's 298 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 2: always going to be a drop off in performance, the 299 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 2: braves are. 300 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:22,000 Speaker 1: Not completely screwed. 301 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 2: Like if Ozzie Alby's pulls a hamstring and needs to 302 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 2: miss a couple of weeks, well, guess what you have 303 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 2: Mauricio Dubon and Hassan Kim ready to play. And frankly, 304 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 2: I don't know who would be shortstop, who would be 305 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 2: second base in that scenario would be an interesting point 306 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 2: of conversation. If one of your outfielders goes down for 307 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 2: a couple of weeks, you have Mikeyu Stremsky available, you 308 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:43,080 Speaker 2: have Eli White available, You could have Mauricio Dubon go 309 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 2: to the outfield, Like there's there are so many ways 310 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 2: to now fill holes in this lineup if and when 311 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 2: somebody is hurt or needs a couple of days off 312 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:54,560 Speaker 2: as a breather, that's a really welcome side. And sure, 313 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 2: Mikey Streemsky not an All star, Hassan Kim not really 314 00:14:57,360 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 2: an all star. They did not go out and add 315 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:02,400 Speaker 2: a crap. This guy as a star level player so 316 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 2: far this offseason, but they've added some really good depth 317 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 2: to this twenty six man roster and that's something they 318 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 2: desperately needed to do. 319 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 1: Absolutely, and we have not seen what Weiss manage yet, 320 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 1: but I think that there's almost no way that he 321 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 1: will play everybody every single day to the level that 322 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:23,840 Speaker 1: Brycenicker did, because no one really does that. That's not 323 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 1: a shut snitch, just that's just he was kind of 324 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 1: an outlier in that way, other than Matt Olsen, who 325 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:31,280 Speaker 1: just plays every single day. Knock on wood. Giving guys 326 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: a day off over once in a while is a 327 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 1: lot easier when you trust the next guy doubt and 328 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 1: having four real outfielders and having five real infielders, but 329 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 1: before you get to catcher and having two high level 330 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 1: catchers on your team, that's really nice. So yeah, I 331 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 1: mean when Eli Whitch you're like third or fourth bench player, 332 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 1: you feel a lot better than he's your best bench player, 333 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 1: which he was at times last season. So yeah, good depth. 334 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 1: Good addition, we should talk about the the defense a 335 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 1: little bit because that was point Kim's calling card and 336 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 1: it still might be We don't know that it's not, 337 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:07,720 Speaker 1: but it was not as good last season for sure. 338 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 1: The context that you brought up earlier is important. It 339 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 1: was his shoulder and his throwing shoulder. It stands to 340 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: reason that could have impacted his defense. That does matter 341 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:18,600 Speaker 1: quite a bit. But his defensive metrics were sharply down 342 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 1: from where they were previously last season. Arm strength, overall 343 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 1: range factors, all those things. He did win a gold 344 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 1: Glove recently, like two and a half years ago he 345 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: won the gold Glove. So I number one, we don't know. 346 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 1: So I'm gonna put you in a spot where I'm 347 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:36,080 Speaker 1: gonna ask you to tell me, as a suit saider, 348 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 1: what's gonna happen here? But are you feeling okay about 349 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 1: his defense? Like with what you can see all the 350 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 1: data that we have, Like, what are you expecting? Because 351 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 1: I feel like that's kind of a wider range than 352 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: the battlemost that that's kind of like what it's going 353 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 1: to be. I think the defense might be a bigger 354 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: range from like was awesome two years ago to now 355 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 1: it's like, is he not good? He's not going to be. 356 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: He's not going to be Nick Allen. Last year Nick 357 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 1: Allen was incredible defensively last year normal TV Bobachhett, I'm 358 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 1: pretty sure. But somewhere between there, what do you think 359 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:04,679 Speaker 1: about his defense? 360 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 2: So I would guess that Kim is probably not going 361 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:12,119 Speaker 2: to be the legitimate Gold Glove defender that he was 362 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:16,720 Speaker 2: from twenty twenty one through twenty twenty four. He's also 363 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:20,360 Speaker 2: getting older. Generally, defense does not age super well at 364 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 2: age thirty. That being said, I really have to think 365 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:26,800 Speaker 2: that not having any kind of off season a year 366 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:31,360 Speaker 2: ago had to impact Kim's defense, and not just his defense, 367 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:34,480 Speaker 2: but if you look at Kim's sprint speed over his 368 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:38,680 Speaker 2: entire career, pretty consistently, in his age twenty six, twenty seven, 369 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:42,960 Speaker 2: twenty eight, twenty nine season, he was like seventy fifth 370 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:46,120 Speaker 2: percentile just about every year in sprint speed. This past 371 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 2: year he was down to fifty third percentile, So a 372 00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:52,639 Speaker 2: big drop, about a thirty percent drop in sprint speed. 373 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:54,679 Speaker 2: That tells me that Kim just did not have the 374 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 2: same normal off season regimen to go and strength train 375 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:00,040 Speaker 2: and do everything that he does to get ready for 376 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:02,840 Speaker 2: a year. So my hope is that he is a 377 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:05,640 Speaker 2: better defender than what he showed statistically a year ago. 378 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:08,919 Speaker 2: And hey, if he's a legitimate gold Glover, then awesome 379 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 2: will take that all day long, quite obviously. But Mike, 380 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:14,399 Speaker 2: I think that if I had a guess today, Brad, 381 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 2: we're doing a podcast in July about Kim's defense, I'd 382 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 2: say he's good out there, maybe not great, maybe not terrible, 383 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 2: but like. 384 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 1: Passable for sure. I don't think that I try not 385 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,639 Speaker 1: to appeal to authority that much on this podcast. We 386 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:30,480 Speaker 1: don't like to do that. Also, I think that if 387 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 1: Alex and company believe his defense was what it was 388 00:18:33,119 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: last year, I'm not sure they would have give Hi 389 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 1: twenty million dollars. That might be a leap of logic 390 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 1: on my part. I like to be probably overly logical, 391 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 1: but I don't think that they would give him this 392 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:45,359 Speaker 1: contract if they thought that that was going to be 393 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:48,880 Speaker 1: his baseline. Defensively, they might be wrong, which is very possible, 394 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,680 Speaker 1: but I think that I think the club probably expects 395 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 1: a bounce back of some kind defensively, maybe not to 396 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:56,879 Speaker 1: where he was two years ago, three years ago, but 397 00:18:57,040 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 1: you're right the sprint speed stuff, and again, thirty isn't 398 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:02,600 Speaker 1: super young, but thirty is not a spot where you 399 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:06,679 Speaker 1: fall off a cliff athletically. Generally speaking, if he was 400 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: thirty five, I would get it, and he's not, so 401 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 1: that all matters to me. I think it's just generally 402 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:15,480 Speaker 1: I feel like it's kind of a boring analysis, but 403 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:18,119 Speaker 1: he's just a He's a very solid starting on a 404 00:19:18,119 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 1: short stop. I could come back to that and it 405 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:22,119 Speaker 1: may not be sexy, but that's just what I feel like. 406 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:24,200 Speaker 1: It's what he is on the whole. 407 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 2: So let me ask you this question, Brad, because they 408 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:30,479 Speaker 2: saw some people talking about this tonight right after the signing, 409 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:35,639 Speaker 2: This Braves lineup is pretty much set now seems like 410 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:38,879 Speaker 2: it seems like it. The only way is if they 411 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:43,679 Speaker 2: would trade one of the established, you know, under control 412 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:46,679 Speaker 2: players on this team, Like like, sure, could they trade 413 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:49,399 Speaker 2: Michael Harris technically, but I don't think they're going to. 414 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:52,119 Speaker 2: But for all intents and purposes, it seems like this 415 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 2: lineup is pretty set. Maybe they had a right handed 416 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 2: bench bat who could balance out Mike Yastremsky at DH 417 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 2: or something, but who knows. But for the most part, 418 00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:04,960 Speaker 2: this in this lineup is set. Is this lineup good 419 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 2: enough with Hassan Kim in the mix as shortstop? 420 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 1: Yes, I think is the answer. To that question. I mean, 421 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:17,119 Speaker 1: I'm not what you said earlier is right, They're not. 422 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:20,760 Speaker 1: They didn't add a star back. I do think that 423 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:24,560 Speaker 1: the combination of what they added. I think even if 424 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 1: Hassan Kim is what he was last year, going from 425 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:29,440 Speaker 1: Nick Allen to Hassan Kim is a meaningful upgrade offensively 426 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:33,440 Speaker 1: like a meaningful one I think really helps them. I 427 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 1: was on the show when you guys did that reaction. 428 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:40,880 Speaker 1: I am pretty high on Ustremski based on what I've seen, 429 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 1: especially the role he can be in, not a star, 430 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:45,719 Speaker 1: but a righty masher like and that makes a ton 431 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:48,000 Speaker 1: of sets for what they needed, like for instance, Sean 432 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:50,680 Speaker 1: Murphy hits left, he's really well and on days when 433 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:53,680 Speaker 1: Sean Murphy needs to play, yeahs won't play. You know 434 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 1: what I mean? Anyway, that's a different problem. 435 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:57,200 Speaker 2: Is as long as as long as your Stremski is 436 00:20:57,280 --> 00:20:58,960 Speaker 2: used in the right way, I think he's going to 437 00:20:58,960 --> 00:20:59,919 Speaker 2: be a really successful hit. 438 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:03,240 Speaker 1: But this is not gospel either. But I was looking 439 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:05,720 Speaker 1: at the Fangrafts depth charts projections and they're they're not 440 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:07,679 Speaker 1: in real time. They don't. I don't believe they think 441 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 1: actually this even includes Kim, right now, but before today 442 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:18,479 Speaker 1: the Braves were fifth in position player projected war and 443 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:22,800 Speaker 1: you add Kim that it certainly wouldn't drop them, like 444 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:26,080 Speaker 1: you think that it's fourth or fifth still and it's 445 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:28,119 Speaker 1: the It's seems you expect it would be. It's the Yankees, 446 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 1: the Mets, the Dodgers, and the Orioles ahead of them. 447 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 1: And the Orioles have a lot of position. They're pitching 448 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 1: is a big question. But the other no, the other 449 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:40,199 Speaker 1: teams are obvioust really good. So say all that, like, 450 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 1: I feel good about the lineup. I understand cupticism. I 451 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 1: do because we just saw the lineup underachieved two years 452 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:47,960 Speaker 1: in a row, even two years ago. It did not 453 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: what it was, not what it's supposed to be, So 454 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:56,160 Speaker 1: I get it. My brain points me to the player. 455 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:58,360 Speaker 1: If you go player by a player by player, there's 456 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 1: a lot to like about the lineup. Rond Acute is 457 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:04,200 Speaker 1: a star, Matt Olsen is a star. You hope it. 458 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:06,200 Speaker 1: Roster Rowley bounces back. We'll talk about this a lot 459 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 1: more later on. They got to I know people that 460 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:11,280 Speaker 1: people hate Sean Murphy. The Braves have an uber elite 461 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:14,440 Speaker 1: catch catching duo like no matter what, even if Sean 462 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 1: Murphy's is the backup catcher, like he's the best one 463 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:17,880 Speaker 1: in baseball. If he's an MP catcher, he's the best 464 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:22,080 Speaker 1: one in baseball. So yeah, it's not perfect. They didn't 465 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:25,440 Speaker 1: they didn't add Corey Seeger. But I do feel good. 466 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,600 Speaker 1: I don't feel incredible, but I feel good about the 467 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:32,159 Speaker 1: position player cores in part because of the depth and 468 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 1: because they added guys that just a lot. They make 469 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:36,760 Speaker 1: a lot of sense of Marisa Debon isn't a great hitter, 470 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:40,879 Speaker 1: Maurisio Debon is fantastic as a utility guy. Like that's 471 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:43,760 Speaker 1: he's awesome there. And Michael Michael Schremsky and Marisio Lebon 472 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:46,120 Speaker 1: as bench players, which is what they are. And Sean 473 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:47,679 Speaker 1: Murphy if you want to thrown in in that category 474 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:50,359 Speaker 1: as well, that's really good man. How many teams have 475 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:52,200 Speaker 1: three guys as good as those three guys as there 476 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:55,920 Speaker 1: as you're you know, nine, ten and eleven. That's pretty good. Yeah. 477 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 2: It feels like the floor for the Braves has been 478 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 2: increased significantly over the last month. The ceiling maybe isn't 479 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:08,919 Speaker 2: that much higher, I think right like they if they 480 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:11,919 Speaker 2: went out and signed Kyle Tucker and Boba Schet this 481 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:15,639 Speaker 2: offseason for eight hundred million dollars then then sure, of course, 482 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:19,520 Speaker 2: but I don't think realistically the Braves are ever even 483 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:23,359 Speaker 2: going to discuss that possibility. The floor is absolutely higher 484 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:26,159 Speaker 2: and as I think, no matter what they did this offseason, 485 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:29,400 Speaker 2: this team is ultimately going to go as far as 486 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 2: the internal stars are going to take them and also 487 00:23:32,359 --> 00:23:35,159 Speaker 2: be healthy enough to take them. It just feels like 488 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:40,160 Speaker 2: now Akunya and Olson and Riley and Baldwin and profar Harris, 489 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:42,400 Speaker 2: all these they just have so much more around them 490 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:45,640 Speaker 2: now and that gives me real reasons for optimism compared 491 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:47,600 Speaker 2: to where we were at the end of September, where 492 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:49,960 Speaker 2: I mean to be blunt, this this roster was just 493 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:50,800 Speaker 2: not good enough. 494 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:56,960 Speaker 1: So looking ahead a little bit, the questions the question 495 00:23:57,000 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 1: you just point poses a good one number one, like, 496 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:00,960 Speaker 1: is a lat upset? It seems like it probably is 497 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:04,159 Speaker 1: not definitely, But if you just are logical, but whether 498 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:07,679 Speaker 1: Brad the brains operate Alex's stated stance to not prefer 499 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:10,399 Speaker 1: to trade guys in our contract long term contractors, I 500 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 1: should say, like, there isn't that much they can do 501 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:16,280 Speaker 1: with the lineup. We have talked about it endlessly. I 502 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 1: still believe they did in a starting pitcher. We'll see 503 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:20,440 Speaker 1: if they add one. That's the spot they had my 504 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 1: attitude so far. That's for another podcast. You know, they 505 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:28,679 Speaker 1: still have the long term shortstop question. This is a 506 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,560 Speaker 1: one year deal, which does appeal to Alex, does honestly 507 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:35,359 Speaker 1: appeals to me. I would prefer this structure to a 508 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:38,280 Speaker 1: three year deal for Hassan Kim given the uncertainty, unless 509 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:39,720 Speaker 1: it was three years in super cheap, which I part 510 00:24:39,760 --> 00:24:43,240 Speaker 1: wasn't gonna ever be. But it does lead you vulnerable 511 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:46,679 Speaker 1: next winter. If Kim has a great year, you have 512 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:48,720 Speaker 1: to pay a lot or he leaves, which is okay. 513 00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:52,400 Speaker 1: You have to understand the pros and cons of that. 514 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:54,680 Speaker 1: And the last thing is something you and Sean talked 515 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 1: about last night. By the way, listen to that show still. 516 00:24:56,680 --> 00:24:59,040 Speaker 1: It was a Millbay podcast that Sewn and Scott did 517 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 1: on some of the evening. But the payroll is higher 518 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:05,680 Speaker 1: now you had twenty million dollars to it. I'll throw 519 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:08,720 Speaker 1: it to you for the specifics, but it does feel 520 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:12,919 Speaker 1: like the Braves could spend some more money. Whether they 521 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 1: will or not, it's going to be maybe the topic 522 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:19,560 Speaker 1: du jour over the next however long. But what are 523 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 1: you thinking about that now? Because one thing that Alex 524 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 1: has kind of done is push money to the future 525 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:26,159 Speaker 1: on some of some of these multi year deals have 526 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:29,199 Speaker 1: been cheaper in year one and push money later. This 527 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:31,800 Speaker 1: is a twenty million dollars for this season commitment, so 528 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:34,359 Speaker 1: none of that's happening on this deal. So they have 529 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:37,119 Speaker 1: spent a chunk of whatever flexibility they had for the 530 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:38,200 Speaker 1: near term. 531 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:42,480 Speaker 2: So payroll is now CBT payroll is now about two 532 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:46,080 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty two million dollars. So the Braves, you're 533 00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:49,040 Speaker 2: in the luxury tax. Now, Brad, we can hang the 534 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:50,160 Speaker 2: banner at Truest Park. 535 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:53,680 Speaker 1: I mean, it won't stop anybody from saying they don't 536 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:56,720 Speaker 1: spend money, because that's just what the Internet always says. 537 00:25:57,280 --> 00:25:59,600 Speaker 1: And look, I've castigated the Braves before, if for not 538 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:01,639 Speaker 1: spending mon so I'm not saying that nobody should say that, 539 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:04,639 Speaker 1: but they are. They are spending money. They're in the 540 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 1: luxury tax. This is not the pirates, it's monstiffs. 541 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:11,480 Speaker 2: So currently the CBT payroll is now about two hundred 542 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:13,399 Speaker 2: and fifty two million dollars. 543 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:14,880 Speaker 1: So that's interesting. 544 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:19,920 Speaker 2: That number is really interesting to me because the next 545 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:23,000 Speaker 2: tier of the luxury tax is two hundred and sixty 546 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:27,399 Speaker 2: four million dollars, So you can say a pessimistic view 547 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:31,399 Speaker 2: is the Braves are done for the most part with 548 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:35,080 Speaker 2: their spending. They're gonna save ten million dollars give or 549 00:26:35,119 --> 00:26:38,120 Speaker 2: take for the trade deadline, and they're gonna stay under 550 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:41,359 Speaker 2: the second tier of the luxury tax payroll, which is 551 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:42,280 Speaker 2: two hundred. 552 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:42,960 Speaker 1: And sixty four million. 553 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:48,080 Speaker 2: You can also be optimistic and say the Braves are 554 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:52,040 Speaker 2: about two hundred and fifty two million in CBT payroll 555 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:54,640 Speaker 2: if they don't want to go and exceed the two 556 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:56,120 Speaker 2: hundred and eighty four. 557 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:57,440 Speaker 1: Million dollar threshold. 558 00:26:57,640 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 2: That means the Braves still have about thirty million dollars 559 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 2: to spend, which also means that then they could presumably 560 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:07,360 Speaker 2: have twenty million dollars left to spend this offseason and 561 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 2: save ten million dollars for the trade deadline. That is 562 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:13,720 Speaker 2: the story I'm gonna hope for and go with here, 563 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:16,679 Speaker 2: because that means the Braves could add a starting pitcher 564 00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:20,160 Speaker 2: and maybe a bullpen arm depending on who they ultimately sign. 565 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 2: But we should there is a world where the Braves 566 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:26,199 Speaker 2: are now mostly done for the offseason. I think it 567 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:28,280 Speaker 2: would be a little bit of a disappointment, even though 568 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 2: it sounds like being greedy. I think it'd be a 569 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 2: little bit of a disappointment to not add one more. 570 00:27:34,560 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 1: But there is money. 571 00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:37,960 Speaker 2: There is a world where they still have legit money 572 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:38,600 Speaker 2: to spend here. 573 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:43,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, we don't know. Number one. We won't know because 574 00:27:43,119 --> 00:27:46,120 Speaker 1: Alex is not gonna tell us, which I understand honestly. 575 00:27:46,359 --> 00:27:47,560 Speaker 1: And one thing that he has said. I know you 576 00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:49,560 Speaker 1: guys talked about this on a recent podcast as well, 577 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:51,479 Speaker 1: but just for new listeners or people that missed it, 578 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:56,119 Speaker 1: Alex has always said he gets a big picture number 579 00:27:56,640 --> 00:28:01,239 Speaker 1: from ownership that includes whatever tax payments or whatever, like, 580 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:03,040 Speaker 1: it's a big round number and he won't tell us 581 00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:07,119 Speaker 1: what it is. But he's factoring in the penalties for 582 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:10,800 Speaker 1: the CBT, So whether you go over a threshold or not, 583 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:13,399 Speaker 1: he's going to understand what the machinations are. You just 584 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:15,479 Speaker 1: laid it out. But he always has One thing he's 585 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:17,680 Speaker 1: actually been upfront about, a rare thing that he's actually 586 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:20,080 Speaker 1: went upfront about, is that he does want flexibility at 587 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:22,919 Speaker 1: the deadline. Alex is usually going to try to buy. Obviously, 588 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:25,320 Speaker 1: last last summer was weird because they were so bad 589 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:28,480 Speaker 1: and it was unexpected and they did very little. But 590 00:28:28,960 --> 00:28:31,080 Speaker 1: every time they've been in a race, they have gone 591 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:33,840 Speaker 1: and done something in July to try to make the 592 00:28:33,840 --> 00:28:37,560 Speaker 1: team better. And he wants that flexibility. So I'm with you. 593 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:39,400 Speaker 1: The hope would be, if you're a Braves fan, that 594 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:42,080 Speaker 1: they're willing to spend some more money. I still believe 595 00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:45,160 Speaker 1: that they need another starting pitcher. I know that Alex 596 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 1: has kind of gestured otherwise recently, which I have said 597 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:52,120 Speaker 1: and will say it again now. I think he's every 598 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:53,959 Speaker 1: reason to do that, whether he believes it or not, 599 00:28:55,440 --> 00:28:58,080 Speaker 1: which is hard because you're trying to interpret what he means. 600 00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 1: But like he even if even even if Alex definitely 601 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:03,280 Speaker 1: wanted a starting pitcher, he wouldn't say, guys, we have 602 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:05,160 Speaker 1: to get a starting pitcher. He's not gonna do that. 603 00:29:05,520 --> 00:29:08,600 Speaker 1: So whether it's a bigger name guy. I know, Mary 604 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:11,520 Speaker 1: Kelly was a guy that I liked that's no longer available. 605 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:15,040 Speaker 1: I keep circling Brad Kellder in my mind because Brad 606 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:17,200 Speaker 1: Keller could be a reliever or a starter, and they 607 00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:21,720 Speaker 1: tend to like that kind of appeal. I know Alex 608 00:29:21,760 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 1: has been mentioning we're on a Lopez is like a 609 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:26,960 Speaker 1: written in pen starter, which is interesting to me. But 610 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:30,600 Speaker 1: all that said for a later podcast, they got more 611 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:34,160 Speaker 1: flexibility if they want to buy the money, and I yeah, 612 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:35,800 Speaker 1: spend it all. I mean, spend as much money as 613 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:37,880 Speaker 1: you're allowed to spend. We'll see how that. We'll see 614 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:40,280 Speaker 1: how that goes. But it does seem like if they're 615 00:29:40,280 --> 00:29:44,160 Speaker 1: gonna do anything else major by far, the most likely 616 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:46,520 Speaker 1: is that they add a starter, Like they could add 617 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:48,280 Speaker 1: a reliever, but it's not gonna be an expensive one. 618 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:50,080 Speaker 1: I don't think they've already spent a lot on the 619 00:29:50,080 --> 00:29:53,040 Speaker 1: two relievers that they added, and even even Alex might 620 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:55,040 Speaker 1: probably has a limit of some kind. I almost going 621 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:57,000 Speaker 1: to spend in the bullpen. But starting pitcher is the 622 00:29:57,000 --> 00:29:59,000 Speaker 1: one thing that as a podcast we've been calling for 623 00:29:59,080 --> 00:30:01,719 Speaker 1: and I'm still calling for. I just it might feel greedy, 624 00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:04,200 Speaker 1: but they need one still in my opinion. 625 00:30:04,280 --> 00:30:07,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, and there is the trade route as well. Yeah, 626 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:10,200 Speaker 2: so it maybe the Braves are able to add a 627 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:12,960 Speaker 2: starting pitcher, but then they go out and trade for 628 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:15,880 Speaker 2: a you know, a power righty arm, and they trade 629 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:20,520 Speaker 2: one of their you know, a dozen semi promising right 630 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:23,520 Speaker 2: handed pitching prospects in the farm system to get it done. 631 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:25,840 Speaker 2: Or they could trade for a pitcher, maybe someone who's 632 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 2: a little bit cheaper and has some team control, just 633 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:31,440 Speaker 2: to give yourself some more financial flexibility, which is of 634 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:35,920 Speaker 2: course Alex's favorite term. Yeah, I mean, let's let's hope. 635 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:39,240 Speaker 2: I mean, let's say this. If the Braves are done. 636 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:41,440 Speaker 2: I don't think they're going to be done, but if 637 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:44,560 Speaker 2: the Braves are done, I feel really good about this offseason. 638 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:48,040 Speaker 2: As for what it is, They've added some depth, They've 639 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:51,320 Speaker 2: raised the floor. Maybe not again, maybe not an impact 640 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:55,480 Speaker 2: Kyle Schwarber Delancee's type, but no denying the Atlanta Braves 641 00:30:55,480 --> 00:30:58,040 Speaker 2: are in much better shape today than they were on 642 00:30:58,560 --> 00:31:02,840 Speaker 2: October first. But that being said, one starting pitcher would 643 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:06,560 Speaker 2: just it just makes everything look better. It would make 644 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:09,400 Speaker 2: me sleep better at night. It just it feels like 645 00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:10,760 Speaker 2: Alex has one more in him. 646 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:12,360 Speaker 1: Doesn't. Maybe I'm off, but it. 647 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:16,000 Speaker 2: Feels like Alex has one more move based on the 648 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:19,240 Speaker 2: kind of trajectory of these signings that he's done piece. 649 00:31:19,040 --> 00:31:22,560 Speaker 1: By piece over the last few weeks. I have several 650 00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:27,280 Speaker 1: reactions to that. Number One, Scott losing sleep about starting 651 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:31,880 Speaker 1: pitching in December is very on brand. Number One, This is. 652 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:34,000 Speaker 2: Why I have a podcast, Brad, because my wife would 653 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:36,080 Speaker 2: leave me if I told her all the crazy ass 654 00:31:36,120 --> 00:31:38,320 Speaker 2: baseball things that go through my mind in December. 655 00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:43,400 Speaker 1: That tracks Number two. I agree that they have something 656 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:47,920 Speaker 1: else in them, and number three, I also agree that 657 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:50,200 Speaker 1: they've done a lot to make this team better in 658 00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:53,000 Speaker 1: the last six days. Even before that, they did DuPont 659 00:31:53,040 --> 00:31:55,160 Speaker 1: help them, but that was not a huge impact thing. 660 00:31:55,520 --> 00:31:59,160 Speaker 1: Iglesias is getting forgotten. That was an investment. It was 661 00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:00,920 Speaker 1: a one year deal, but like that's a big money 662 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:03,320 Speaker 1: deal that they spend. That's been like memory hold now 663 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:05,120 Speaker 1: because it was like a few weeks ago instead of 664 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:09,040 Speaker 1: last six days. But they've now added if if you 665 00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:11,920 Speaker 1: want to sort of ignore Maricio Debond, he's a utility guy, 666 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:18,080 Speaker 1: get it. They've added four guys making eight figures in 667 00:32:18,160 --> 00:32:21,760 Speaker 1: the last three weeks. Like that, you can't say they 668 00:32:21,800 --> 00:32:24,800 Speaker 1: didn't do anything. They're doing things. 669 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:27,800 Speaker 2: Sixty six million dollars. They just added it up in 670 00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:32,000 Speaker 2: cash for this upcoming year. Sixty six million dollars between 671 00:32:32,360 --> 00:32:33,960 Speaker 2: everybody they've added so far. 672 00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:37,400 Speaker 1: And they lost very little. I mean, that's the reality 673 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:39,480 Speaker 1: is they didn't They're not losing a lot from last 674 00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:43,480 Speaker 1: year's team. Injury I mean, obviously there's some injury questions, 675 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:46,800 Speaker 1: et cetera. But like they didn't have somebody, big name 676 00:32:46,880 --> 00:32:49,000 Speaker 1: guy walk out the door the way they've had in 677 00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:52,120 Speaker 1: the past, Like yeah, when Dadsby leaves and doesn't get replaced, 678 00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:55,160 Speaker 1: I understand the reaction, it's your cheapness all But this 679 00:32:55,240 --> 00:32:58,080 Speaker 1: year that they didn't lose anybody and they're spending they again. 680 00:32:58,080 --> 00:33:00,120 Speaker 1: They just added four real guys plus do ball On, 681 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:03,720 Speaker 1: so four and a half real guys. So yeah, I 682 00:33:03,760 --> 00:33:06,400 Speaker 1: feel I feel good about the off season. I will 683 00:33:06,440 --> 00:33:10,200 Speaker 1: not relent on my desire for starting pitching. It's a 684 00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:12,200 Speaker 1: drum my bang last winter and they and it was 685 00:33:12,240 --> 00:33:15,040 Speaker 1: not fulfilled then, and I think it was a mistake 686 00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:17,600 Speaker 1: and it played out that way. Obviously, I'm not saying 687 00:33:17,640 --> 00:33:20,800 Speaker 1: that they're gonna everyone's gonna get hurt again, but I 688 00:33:20,880 --> 00:33:24,600 Speaker 1: understand lining up your your depth chart and getting excited 689 00:33:24,640 --> 00:33:26,680 Speaker 1: about what they have. I'm not I'm not even dismissing 690 00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:29,520 Speaker 1: that they have a lot of interesting pitching on the team. 691 00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:32,040 Speaker 1: The fault is assuming that every single one of those 692 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:34,880 Speaker 1: guys is going to be healthy and effective, because I 693 00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:37,280 Speaker 1: just don't assume that, and I've just seen it for 694 00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:40,360 Speaker 1: far too long across not just the Braves, across baseball, 695 00:33:40,640 --> 00:33:44,080 Speaker 1: Like you just need more, more, more, more pitching, and 696 00:33:44,440 --> 00:33:47,760 Speaker 1: I believe that's the case. But I agree with you, 697 00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:50,200 Speaker 1: like this has been a good off season already, it 698 00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:52,360 Speaker 1: would become a very good one if they were to 699 00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:53,960 Speaker 1: add a starting pitcher that I. 700 00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:57,600 Speaker 2: Like, and you would sure think they could do it 701 00:33:57,680 --> 00:34:00,880 Speaker 2: if the Braves have roughly twenty million dollars to spend. 702 00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:02,680 Speaker 1: Which and if they don't, I'm just one more time 703 00:34:02,720 --> 00:34:05,000 Speaker 1: because you said it already. If they don't, they could 704 00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:06,800 Speaker 1: still trade for someone. And some of the guys that 705 00:34:06,840 --> 00:34:10,360 Speaker 1: they are potentially could trade for are cheap now and 706 00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:11,880 Speaker 1: they won't be in the future, but they could be 707 00:34:11,920 --> 00:34:15,719 Speaker 1: relatively cheap money wise now. So if there's if ought 708 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:17,720 Speaker 1: doesn't have a kind of barrier they don't want to cross, 709 00:34:18,360 --> 00:34:20,560 Speaker 1: there's still pathways to add pitching, and I think he 710 00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:23,560 Speaker 1: would want to the cagout that he keeps giving, and 711 00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:25,880 Speaker 1: you guys have said this too on the show. He 712 00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:28,360 Speaker 1: keeps giving the like guy that could start a playoff 713 00:34:28,360 --> 00:34:31,200 Speaker 1: game caveat and that's a little bit of wiggle room. 714 00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:34,879 Speaker 1: I don't know what that player. What does Alex believe 715 00:34:34,880 --> 00:34:36,640 Speaker 1: that player is you know what I mean? Does does 716 00:34:36,719 --> 00:34:40,239 Speaker 1: Brad Keller meet that threshold? I don't know. In Alex's mind, 717 00:34:40,920 --> 00:34:44,560 Speaker 1: I think Meryl Kelly would have. Does chrispassit? I have 718 00:34:44,640 --> 00:34:47,760 Speaker 1: no idea, like just to say the names, so we'll see. 719 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:50,399 Speaker 1: But I still think even if it is Brad Keller, 720 00:34:50,480 --> 00:34:53,200 Speaker 1: it's more of a hybrid. Guy, sign me up for 721 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:55,480 Speaker 1: that if you want to add. Because that way, if 722 00:34:55,520 --> 00:34:58,320 Speaker 1: you have Brad Keller, which is one more quick example 723 00:34:58,360 --> 00:35:00,759 Speaker 1: of this, you could at least tell me, hey, if 724 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:04,040 Speaker 1: Lopez can't start, Keller can, or if Holmes can't start 725 00:35:04,160 --> 00:35:07,200 Speaker 1: Keller can or whatever else, there's more flexibility and helps 726 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:10,840 Speaker 1: your bulpin too. So we'll say that for later. Because, 727 00:35:11,120 --> 00:35:12,759 Speaker 1: by the way, now that we're deep into the show, 728 00:35:12,760 --> 00:35:14,759 Speaker 1: we're about to sign off. I have one gripe with 729 00:35:14,800 --> 00:35:20,120 Speaker 1: Auxen Popolos as a contentsman. Scott, uh huh, we're in 730 00:35:20,200 --> 00:35:22,359 Speaker 1: We're in deep trouble here. The race has done all 731 00:35:22,360 --> 00:35:24,839 Speaker 1: their business in a week. It's December fifteenth. What are 732 00:35:24,840 --> 00:35:27,440 Speaker 1: we gonna talk about for three months? What's going on? 733 00:35:28,080 --> 00:35:32,919 Speaker 2: Brad's favorite recipes and favorite Christmas movies and god knows 734 00:35:33,040 --> 00:35:35,680 Speaker 2: what else. Maybe it's just gonna be Stephen and Sean 735 00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:38,279 Speaker 2: yelling at each other about Bama and Tennessee and. 736 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:43,520 Speaker 1: College that happens anyway. Oh yeah, I'm actually deeply upset 737 00:35:43,520 --> 00:35:45,600 Speaker 1: that I haven't gotten to listen to Scott and Steven 738 00:35:45,640 --> 00:35:47,800 Speaker 1: talk about college basketball after what happened in Birmingham the 739 00:35:47,840 --> 00:35:52,359 Speaker 1: other night. So there down. Look, now that we're done 740 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:57,239 Speaker 1: with this show, basically my college basketball team and your 741 00:35:57,280 --> 00:35:59,960 Speaker 1: college basketball team are number one and two in the 742 00:36:01,360 --> 00:36:03,800 Speaker 1: and I don't want to have to have that showdown 743 00:36:04,160 --> 00:36:06,200 Speaker 1: later on, but it might happen, That's all I'm saying. 744 00:36:06,239 --> 00:36:08,800 Speaker 2: I'm fine, we can have that showdown on like April third. 745 00:36:09,120 --> 00:36:11,480 Speaker 2: We'll talk about the Braves and then we'll do a 746 00:36:11,640 --> 00:36:13,880 Speaker 2: NCAA National Championship preview. 747 00:36:13,920 --> 00:36:17,840 Speaker 1: Has that sound I would be good on that anyway, 748 00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:20,439 Speaker 1: that's a show. I think we'll have more to come. 749 00:36:21,640 --> 00:36:23,600 Speaker 1: One more plug. If you are just finding us now, 750 00:36:23,680 --> 00:36:26,440 Speaker 1: welcome board. We appreciate it. I said, very busy on 751 00:36:26,440 --> 00:36:29,200 Speaker 1: the show. The last week, emergency shows on your streem, 752 00:36:29,239 --> 00:36:33,319 Speaker 1: Ski on Suarez and build Bag show on Sunday from 753 00:36:33,400 --> 00:36:36,840 Speaker 1: Sean and Scott. Please subscribe to YOURMMA territory anywhere you 754 00:36:36,840 --> 00:36:39,759 Speaker 1: get your podcasts Apple Spotify. Also on YouTube. If you're 755 00:36:39,760 --> 00:36:43,000 Speaker 1: an audio listener, take two seconds and subscribe on YouTube. 756 00:36:43,080 --> 00:36:45,080 Speaker 1: If you're a YouTube watcher, do the same thing and 757 00:36:45,120 --> 00:36:47,720 Speaker 1: auto download on audio as well. We very much appreciate 758 00:36:47,760 --> 00:36:51,680 Speaker 1: that follow us as well across social media at Hammer Territory. 759 00:36:52,080 --> 00:36:55,680 Speaker 1: You can find Scott at Scott Colemin fifty five. I believe, 760 00:36:55,760 --> 00:36:56,320 Speaker 1: is that correct? 761 00:36:57,120 --> 00:36:59,719 Speaker 2: That is the one And before we sign off, Bright 762 00:36:59,840 --> 00:37:02,920 Speaker 2: just want to say this has been really fun the 763 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:07,720 Speaker 2: last month. It's and damn it, we deserve this after 764 00:37:08,200 --> 00:37:11,360 Speaker 2: last off season where I genuinely ran out of ways 765 00:37:11,400 --> 00:37:15,200 Speaker 2: to say on Sunday nights when we usually record Brad, 766 00:37:15,560 --> 00:37:18,120 Speaker 2: I don't know what the Braves are doing, and it 767 00:37:18,239 --> 00:37:21,479 Speaker 2: was so frustrating and it was just the never ending 768 00:37:21,480 --> 00:37:23,480 Speaker 2: weight game. This has been as good of an off 769 00:37:23,520 --> 00:37:26,200 Speaker 2: season for the Braves in terms of just quantity of 770 00:37:26,280 --> 00:37:30,520 Speaker 2: moves as we've had in a long long time. And 771 00:37:30,560 --> 00:37:32,560 Speaker 2: it's fun and it's great to see the Braves are 772 00:37:32,560 --> 00:37:35,120 Speaker 2: spending again. God knows, we did not want to have 773 00:37:35,200 --> 00:37:39,319 Speaker 2: to do the episode screaming at Braves Holding LLC and 774 00:37:39,400 --> 00:37:42,840 Speaker 2: Terry McGirk and all the other financial decision makers about 775 00:37:42,840 --> 00:37:45,600 Speaker 2: being cheap and not investing in the club and not 776 00:37:45,719 --> 00:37:49,040 Speaker 2: rewarding fans for just the millions of dollars that fans 777 00:37:49,080 --> 00:37:52,120 Speaker 2: pour into Truest Park for eighty one home games every 778 00:37:52,120 --> 00:37:55,319 Speaker 2: single year. This is what it should be like. Maybe 779 00:37:55,320 --> 00:37:57,160 Speaker 2: they wanted to get away from the luxury tax a 780 00:37:57,239 --> 00:37:59,800 Speaker 2: year ago, maybe they wanted to just get their books 781 00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:02,719 Speaker 2: or but this is really fun and it feels like 782 00:38:02,719 --> 00:38:04,799 Speaker 2: the Braves are going to have a top five or 783 00:38:04,840 --> 00:38:06,640 Speaker 2: so payroll when it's all said and done. 784 00:38:06,719 --> 00:38:07,200 Speaker 1: That's where the. 785 00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:09,320 Speaker 2: Atlanta Brave should be. And now they just need to 786 00:38:09,360 --> 00:38:11,279 Speaker 2: go out there and win some baseball games. They can 787 00:38:11,320 --> 00:38:13,719 Speaker 2: get back to the top of the NL East. Let's 788 00:38:13,760 --> 00:38:16,160 Speaker 2: win in the playoffs. Let's make a deep run. This 789 00:38:16,239 --> 00:38:19,080 Speaker 2: is why you make additions in December to give yourself 790 00:38:19,080 --> 00:38:22,839 Speaker 2: a chance to do it in September and October. Very 791 00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:25,319 Speaker 2: well said, and that line of that this is where 792 00:38:25,320 --> 00:38:27,759 Speaker 2: the Atlanta Brave should be is one hundred percent the 793 00:38:27,800 --> 00:38:30,520 Speaker 2: way I feel like we know what we have, the 794 00:38:30,600 --> 00:38:34,239 Speaker 2: rare opportunity that the Braves have open relatively open financials 795 00:38:34,239 --> 00:38:36,880 Speaker 2: because they have to and we know what they can spend, 796 00:38:37,080 --> 00:38:38,520 Speaker 2: and it's a lot if they want to spend it, 797 00:38:38,520 --> 00:38:42,680 Speaker 2: and they should spend it, and also the entire appeal 798 00:38:42,760 --> 00:38:44,279 Speaker 2: or a lot of the appeal of having this cost 799 00:38:44,320 --> 00:38:46,640 Speaker 2: controlled core and having all these guys signed forever or 800 00:38:46,680 --> 00:38:48,960 Speaker 2: whatelse is because you can spend on the margins and 801 00:38:49,400 --> 00:38:51,680 Speaker 2: make the team better. And they're doing that this winter, 802 00:38:51,760 --> 00:38:52,920 Speaker 2: which I appreciative of. 803 00:38:53,320 --> 00:38:56,600 Speaker 1: It is fun. We'll cover it even if they are done. 804 00:38:56,600 --> 00:38:58,480 Speaker 1: We'll find stuff to talk about, So please stick around. 805 00:38:58,480 --> 00:39:00,719 Speaker 1: Please subscribe to the show will more time. I'm thanks 806 00:39:00,719 --> 00:39:02,520 Speaker 1: for being here, Scott, thank you for letting me talk 807 00:39:02,520 --> 00:39:04,520 Speaker 1: because I haven't talked about the Braves in like two weeks. 808 00:39:04,560 --> 00:39:07,200 Speaker 1: I missed all the fun last week, but hey, they 809 00:39:07,200 --> 00:39:09,520 Speaker 1: have one more for us on a Monday evening in 810 00:39:09,719 --> 00:39:12,600 Speaker 1: mid December. Hi, everybody, that's all we have today. Please subscribe, 811 00:39:12,640 --> 00:39:14,560 Speaker 1: tell your friends, and we'll see you all next time.