1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,240 Speaker 1: Restraint and discipline and all these words you hear, all 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 1: the code words for we don't want to atly spend money. 3 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:16,239 Speaker 1: Welcome everyone to the Monday edition of Fair Territory. We've 4 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: got only a few weeks left in the season. We've 5 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: got some interesting hot races. I wouldn't call them classic 6 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,919 Speaker 1: Pennant races because we have a number of teams stumbling 7 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 1: to the finish, but it is an interesting conclusion to 8 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: the season, and it seems to me it's going to 9 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 1: be a fascinating postseason because that's what we've discussed. And 10 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:37,560 Speaker 1: as you've heard and read over the last few weeks, 11 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 1: this thing looks like it's wide open. So let's go 12 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:42,320 Speaker 1: through the races, and then I'm going to take a 13 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 1: step back, look a little deeper at what is going on, 14 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,559 Speaker 1: because there are some really fascinating things that are happening, 15 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:52,600 Speaker 1: some really intriguing trends. Let's put it that way. So 16 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 1: let's start with some of the standings. We'll go through 17 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: it right here. Some of these races are decided, but 18 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 1: not all of them. Let's start with the NL Wildcard. 19 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 1: You can see it right here if you're watching on YouTube. 20 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: San Diego in the top position with a two game lead, 21 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 1: Arizona next to half game behind the Padres, and then 22 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:12,399 Speaker 1: the Mets and the Braves are now tied at a 23 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 1: game and a half behind Arizona. You see the Cubs 24 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:16,759 Speaker 1: at the bottom. They're five out. Forget about the Cubs. 25 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 1: So you have here a situation where all four of 26 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 1: these teams could end up in any order. Okay, so 27 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:26,679 Speaker 1: that's the NL Wildcard, and that's going to be probably 28 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: the best of all these races down the stretch. Now 29 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: let's move on. You'll see here AL best record. This 30 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: one's pretty intriguing too. New York, Baltimore and Cleveland that 31 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: could go any which way, and even Kansas City, coming 32 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 1: off their sweep of the Twins this weekend, has an 33 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 1: outside shot. The Houston Astros. I don't know that they're 34 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: in this particular race, but of course they've played extremely 35 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: well for several months now. And finally, the AL wild Card. 36 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: The AL Wildcard not as interesting as the NL. You 37 00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 1: see Baltimore in the commanding position. It'll be either Baltimore 38 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: or the Yankees. Whichever team wins the ALE least will 39 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 1: be that top wildcard team. Then you have Kansas City, 40 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: which is three games back of Baltimore, but now after 41 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 1: sweeping the Twins with a two and a half game 42 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 1: lead over Minnesota, and then you see Detroit, Seattle, and Boston. 43 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 1: Detroit has had a terrific late season surge, Seattle and 44 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 1: Boston not so much. So it is interesting here again 45 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 1: are some of the patterns, some of the things that 46 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 1: are going on, because what we're going to see here 47 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 1: as I show you the next set of things that 48 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: I want to look at these teams in the American League, 49 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 1: in particular, the top four teams, the teams with the 50 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:42,920 Speaker 1: four best records, are not exactly marching toward the finish line. 51 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: These teams, in fact, are struggling and have been struggling 52 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 1: for a while now. The Yankees since June eighteen, thirty 53 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 1: one and thirty seven, the Orioles since June twenty first, 54 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,959 Speaker 1: thirty three and thirty seven, both below five hundred since 55 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:03,079 Speaker 1: late June. These are the Al East Powers, the Guardians 56 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 1: who have had a great year but since June twenty fifth, 57 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 1: thirty and thirty six, and the Royals another team with 58 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: a great year, but since May twenty fifth, forty five 59 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: and forty six. So if you're saying Okay, which team 60 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: is stampeding toward the postseason here? The answer would be 61 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 1: none of the above. Now, the Yankees are interesting because 62 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 1: they just got Clark Schmidt and Luis heel Back, both 63 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,640 Speaker 1: pitched well over the weekend, and their staff now looks 64 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,919 Speaker 1: a little bit more coherent, and even with what's going 65 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: on in the late innings, seeing Luke Weaver get to 66 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 1: save the other day, I'm kind of intrigued by the 67 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: Yankees pitching here as we get closer, But who knows 68 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 1: if they're indeed going to hold up. The Oriols, to 69 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 1: me have problems. They need Grays and Rodriguez back. No 70 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 1: one knows when that is going to happen, if at all, 71 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 1: and they offensively have not been the electric team that 72 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 1: they were earlier in the season. The Guardians, as I 73 00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: wrote Friday, their starting pitching seems to be stabilized. Alex 74 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: Cobb now is a blister, but we'll see how that goes. 75 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 1: And then the Royals, they've been kind of hot and 76 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 1: cold of late. They lost seven straight, then they've won 77 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 1: four straight, but they too have decent starting pitching and 78 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 1: could be an interesting team in the postseason. All right, 79 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: so let's move forward now to some teams that are 80 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 1: hot and some teams that are decidedly not. Let's start 81 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: with the hot teams. These are teams that have played 82 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: either well for a long period or recently. The Houston Astros, 83 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:32,719 Speaker 1: we mentioned them. They started twelve and twenty four, and 84 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: at that time I remember writing a column that was 85 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 1: kind of saying, is this the end for the Astros? 86 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:41,279 Speaker 1: Dumb column Ken. It wasn't the end. You cannot put 87 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 1: these guys away. Since that twelve and twenty four start, 88 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 1: they are sixty five and forty two, have taken commanding 89 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 1: lead in the AL West. The Mets the hottest team 90 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 1: in baseball, even though they lost yesterday, ending their nine 91 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 1: game winning streak, they're fifty six and thirty two. Since 92 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:00,479 Speaker 1: they're twenty two and thirty three start of the New 93 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 1: York Post, my friend wrote an interesting column about them 94 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: over the weekend, just pointing out how under David Stearns 95 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:10,600 Speaker 1: they made some really terrific adjustments on the fly. Vientos 96 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,840 Speaker 1: was one, Jose Iglesias was another. They did some things 97 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 1: in the bullpen. They've really done a good job. And 98 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 1: then the other two teams on that list were teams 99 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: that have been really good all year, but even better 100 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 1: of late. The Dodgers and the Phillies. The Dodgers, for 101 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:29,280 Speaker 1: all their pitching craziness, and it is craziness, they still 102 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:32,039 Speaker 1: are the team with a commanding lead in the NL West, 103 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: the team with the best record in the National League. 104 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 1: And the Phillies, after a little bit of a lull there, 105 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 1: seemed to have righted the ship. In my estimation, those 106 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:41,719 Speaker 1: are the two best teams in the league, though I 107 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:45,159 Speaker 1: don't rule out San Diego if San Diego gets hot again. 108 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: But let's look at this list, because this is the 109 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 1: list of teams that are not particularly hot right now, 110 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: and it's a list that is kind of long. The Twins, 111 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: my gosh, they've lost fourteen of twenty. See it right there. 112 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 1: They're six and fourteen in the last They've only had Korea, 113 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: Buxton and Royce Lewis together for seventeen games this season. 114 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:10,280 Speaker 1: Korea and Buxton's still out the Red Sox third straight year. 115 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: They've struggled in the second half. They've lost nineteen of thirty. 116 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 1: And then there were the d Backs and Padres. Both 117 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 1: those teams, if you remember about a week ago, that 118 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 1: two weeks ago were really hot and since then. Diamondbacks 119 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:25,279 Speaker 1: five and eight, Padres nine and nine, okay, but not 120 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: as hot as they were before. The Brewers I include 121 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:30,600 Speaker 1: them even though they're well ahead in the Anel Central. 122 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,719 Speaker 1: They're also a five hundred team in the last eighteen games. 123 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 1: And the Mariners I include them as who's not even 124 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:40,839 Speaker 1: though they're nine and seven, because they're not materially that 125 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: different in terms of their record from where they were 126 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:47,679 Speaker 1: under Scott's service sixty four and sixty four under Service, 127 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:52,039 Speaker 1: nine and seven under Dan Wilson. So there you have it. Obviously, 128 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 1: as we set up here, these last three weeks are 129 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 1: going to be really interesting just to see how this 130 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 1: all plays out, to see if any of the top 131 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 1: teams that have not been as hot in the American 132 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 1: League suddenly get hot again. And to me, it would 133 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:07,880 Speaker 1: seem that the Yankees have the best chance of that, 134 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 1: and it will also be interesting, of course, to see 135 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: how these other races play out. The NL wild Card 136 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 1: flip a coin. I have no idea how that's going 137 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 1: to go. There are some critical series that will take place, 138 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 1: including one between the Mets and Atlanta second to last 139 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 1: series of the season. Padres and Diamondbacks last series this season. 140 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 1: The Mets also have seven games left with the Phillies, 141 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 1: so it's going to be a very difficult and trying 142 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 1: schedule in many respects for them. But when teams are 143 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 1: playing well or teams are playing not well, I'm not 144 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 1: such a believer in, oh my gosh, strength of schedule matters, 145 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:44,680 Speaker 1: except when you're playing the White Sox. You should win 146 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: every game against the White Sox, and the Red Sox 147 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: didn't do that this weekend. But anyway, that's where it stands. 148 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: And again, we've got a wild finish. We're going to 149 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: have a wild, wide open postseason. I cannot tell you 150 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 1: right now who I like as a World Series fail favor. 151 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: You might say, well, what about the Dodgers. Tell me 152 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: who's going to pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and 153 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 1: then we can point to flaws with every one of 154 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 1: these teams. That, though, is what makes this so fascinating. 155 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 1: That is what is going to make for a crazy 156 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: postseason and I'm really looking forward to it. Time now 157 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 1: for the inside dish, the part of the show where 158 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 1: I go inside a story I've written, inside a trend 159 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: in the game, or maybe expand upon something I said 160 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 1: on a recent broadcast, and that's what I want to 161 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 1: do today. On Saturday, I was in Kansas City for 162 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:36,439 Speaker 1: the Twins Royals game, and we had an interesting conversation 163 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 1: about the Royals off season and really the Royals entire 164 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 1: mo since the offseason, how aggressively they've gone about it, 165 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 1: how they've gone after players repeatedly, going back to last winner. 166 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 1: And it's an interesting juxtaposition with some of the teams 167 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 1: that I wrote about last week, the teams that you 168 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:58,679 Speaker 1: could make a case aren't trying as hard as they should. 169 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:02,160 Speaker 1: Because the Royals are a low revenue team. They're a 170 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 1: team that you wouldn't expect to be aggressive. They really 171 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 1: haven't been that aggressive in the past, except in certain instances, 172 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: and yet they have run circles around some of their 173 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: competition and that is why they're in such a commanding 174 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: position right now. So let's go through it a little 175 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 1: bit and then I'll talk about a little bit of 176 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 1: their thinking beyond that. So let's start with the off season. 177 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 1: The offseason is when this began. In the off season, 178 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 1: they signed seven free agents, spent almost one hundred and 179 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:36,079 Speaker 1: ten million on their free agents. Lugo and Waka obviously 180 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 1: were great signs. Hunter Renfro has contributed in the outfields, 181 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:42,840 Speaker 1: been hurt a little bit. Will Smith and Chris Stratton 182 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:45,680 Speaker 1: those didn't really work out so well. And then Garrett 183 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 1: Hampson and Adam Fraser, two guys who are more utility types. Now, again, 184 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 1: those deals, not all of them worked, and of course 185 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 1: you see as well the extension for Bobby Wood Junior 186 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 1: that counts in their off season spending almost two hundred 187 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 1: and ninety million and guaranteed money committed. Now, as I 188 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: was saying, not every one of those deals worked. Not 189 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:08,920 Speaker 1: every one of those deals or these deals is going 190 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:11,680 Speaker 1: to work. That's the way it goes in free agency. 191 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 1: But when things did not go exactly smoothly, what did 192 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:19,200 Speaker 1: the Royals do? They kept going, they kept trying. So 193 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:22,000 Speaker 1: let's go to their deadline. The bullpen was a problem. 194 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:26,320 Speaker 1: They acquired Hunter Harvey, Michael Lorenzen, and Lucas Erseg. Lucas 195 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: Ersek has been a horrific closer for them. Also acquired 196 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: Paul DeYoung, who has played fairly well at third base 197 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 1: and has really been, like some of these other guys, 198 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 1: kind of a stabilizing, veteran contributing force so their bullpen 199 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:42,640 Speaker 1: is better now than it was even with Hunter Harvey 200 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 1: on the injured list, Lorenzen on the IL as well 201 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:49,120 Speaker 1: by coming back. He contributed as a starter in his 202 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 1: initial stint with the club, but I expect him to 203 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:55,720 Speaker 1: come back as a reliever now. Again, they had some 204 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: things go wrong, as all teams do. The big one 205 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:03,080 Speaker 1: the injury to any Pasquentino. That was late August. There 206 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:04,720 Speaker 1: wasn't a lot they could do at that point, the 207 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:07,400 Speaker 1: deadline had passed. But what did they do. Let's look 208 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 1: at their August editions because they're telling and revealing as well. 209 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 1: They go out and claim Robbie Grossman and Tommy fam 210 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 1: on waivers. They land both of them. Remember, waiver claims 211 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: are awarded in reverse order of winning percentage, so they 212 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 1: had DIBs over teams with better records than them, but 213 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 1: not teams with worse records than them. And then they 214 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 1: traded for Yuli Guriel, who can play first base, and 215 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 1: they were allowed to make that trade because Yuli was 216 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:35,319 Speaker 1: not on a forty man roster. So the Royals, from 217 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:38,440 Speaker 1: the offseason to the deadline to the waiver period, they 218 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 1: have kept pushing and it's a key thing because you 219 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:44,559 Speaker 1: look at the team that they swept this weekend, the 220 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 1: Minnesota Twins. They were not aggressive in the offseason. They 221 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 1: were a team that cited the uncertainty over their future 222 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 1: local television revenue as a Bally's team as one of 223 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 1: the reasons they didn't spend, didn't do much of the deadline, 224 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: didn't make any of those claims that the Royal even 225 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 1: though they were behind the Royals and the standings and 226 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 1: could have used a Tommy fam or Robbie Grossman. Considering 227 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:09,720 Speaker 1: the kids that they're playing right now, that's a great 228 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 1: example of a team that frankly should have done a 229 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 1: little bit more, a lot more maybe. Now, then you 230 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 1: have a situation where this team is looking to build 231 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 1: a new ballpark. This team, the Royals, yes, they are 232 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 1: looking for a new ballpark. Their owner, John Sherman, has 233 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:29,079 Speaker 1: been trying for that. It got voted down. They're still 234 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 1: trying and still trying to make some things happen there. 235 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 1: The Royals, too, are a Bally's team. They could have 236 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 1: cited their future uncertainty with local television revenue, but they 237 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: did not. Now you can argue that because of the 238 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 1: stadium push, that's why they signed with that's why they 239 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 1: took this seemingly newfound approach. Well, okay, perhaps that's true, 240 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 1: but it kind of reminds me of when someone makes 241 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 1: a huge charitable donation and people will say, well, that 242 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 1: person is only doing that to look good. Well, great, 243 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 1: he or she might be doing it to look good, 244 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:07,560 Speaker 1: but the charitable donation is still the charitable donation. And 245 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: the Royals, for whatever their motives might be, They're spending 246 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 1: is their spending. They put a better product on their field, 247 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 1: their fans are energized, and it's an exciting team, a 248 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 1: team that in the playoffs with Waka and Lugo maybe 249 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: has a chance to do some things. I'm omitting Brady's 250 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 1: singer from that aspect as well, and of course Cole 251 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 1: Reagan's They've got a decent rotation. So when you look 252 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:37,079 Speaker 1: at Kansas City and then you look at Minnesota, and 253 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 1: then you look at some of these other clubs, and 254 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 1: Cleveland should be accepted here because they have not been 255 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 1: aggressive and yet they've had a great year, they kind 256 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 1: of foil my argument, I guess. But for the most part, 257 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 1: the Royals have spent, and they've spent well. The Reds 258 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 1: spent last off season didn't spend well. So it's not 259 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 1: that complicated, folks. If you're a team in the royals position, 260 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 1: it might be difficult to sustain success, There's no question 261 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 1: about that. For the low revenue clubs, it's a harder equation. 262 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 1: And who knows, next year, Lugo might not be as good, 263 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:12,319 Speaker 1: Waka could opt out. All kinds of things can happen. 264 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 1: I get it, But here was a team that, even 265 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 1: after their offseason moves fangrafts laughed at Pakota, laughed at Pakoda, 266 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: had them at seventy wins, and yet they've had a 267 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 1: pretty good vibe about them all year. They've also got 268 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 1: the best player, arguably in the sport, the best young player. 269 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 1: I'm not insulting Aaron Judge here, I'm not insulting Otani, 270 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 1: but Bobby Wood Junior is one of the top five 271 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 1: players in the game. It all starts with him. I 272 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 1: get it. But again, this team has gone for it 273 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 1: and they're being rewarded. That is what should be happening 274 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 1: all around this sport. Hefty, fam I know you guys 275 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:51,480 Speaker 1: might be getting sick of us all talking about Viori 276 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: all the time, but the thing is, we all love 277 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 1: wearing Viori, and I love it in particular. 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Can 296 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 1: the part of the show where I answer your questions. 297 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: We had a number of good ones this week, but 298 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 1: I'm going to focus on just a few. Let's start 299 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: with the first. This one comes from Terry W who 300 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 1: asked best baseball book. Now, I'm going to give an 301 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 1: answer that might surprise some people. I'm going to talk 302 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 1: about a book that maybe a lot of people don't 303 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 1: even know about. It came out in nineteen ninety four. 304 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 1: The book is called Lords of the Realm. It's by 305 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 1: John Hellier, and it's subtitled The Real History of Baseball. 306 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: And what it really is is the labor history of baseball, 307 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 1: How the Union came to form, how the first set 308 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: of workstop, it just happened, and of course it discusses 309 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 1: collusion as well from the late eighties, all of these 310 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 1: things that kind of laid the foundation or form the 311 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:53,120 Speaker 1: backdrop of what happened later and what is still happening today. 312 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 1: It is explained in great detail, and it is not 313 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: a dry book by any stretch of the imagination. It 314 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 1: is highly entertained. I highly recommend it. Lloyds the Realm 315 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 1: by John Hellier. All right, next question, this comes from 316 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 1: Thomas Garvain, who asks, will players like Michael Waka and 317 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 1: Sean Mania accept their player options. Seems like they could 318 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:16,440 Speaker 1: get more money over more years, given how well they've 319 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: pitched this year. Thomas, you are a smart man, and 320 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:22,399 Speaker 1: the player options opt outs, whatever the language might be 321 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:26,480 Speaker 1: in a particular contract. Generally speaking, the rule to follow 322 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 1: is this, if a player thinks he can get more 323 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:33,840 Speaker 1: guaranteed money by going back into the open market, that 324 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 1: generally is what the player will do. And in the 325 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 1: cases of both Waka and Manaia, they've had really good 326 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: years eras in the three to three point five range, 327 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 1: that just below three point five both of them right now, 328 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 1: and the salaries that they woul due next year for 329 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 1: Mania it's thirteen and a half million and for Waka 330 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:56,600 Speaker 1: it's sixteen million. Now, yes, there would be guaranteed money, 331 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:58,639 Speaker 1: they wouldn't have to worry about going into the open market. 332 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 1: But I expect both of those players to get multi 333 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 1: year deals for much more money than that. And good 334 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:07,119 Speaker 1: for them because when you have that player option and 335 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:09,919 Speaker 1: you perform at this high level, you can then go 336 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:13,080 Speaker 1: back into free agency and say, okay, let's go. I 337 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 1: proved my point. I did what essentially Matt Chapman has done. 338 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 1: Bet on myself and I'm betting and winning. So yes, 339 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:22,200 Speaker 1: I expect both of those guys to be free agents 340 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:25,399 Speaker 1: this offseason and both to do really well on multi 341 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:29,119 Speaker 1: year deals. And finally, the third question comes from Richard 342 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 1: Proctor who asked for those teams already out of playoff contention, 343 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 1: which team do you think is set up to go 344 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 1: on a spending frenzy. Frenzy is a relative term in 345 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:41,879 Speaker 1: this sport. There are only a couple of teams that 346 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:46,359 Speaker 1: ever engage in spending frenzies. Actually there might really be 347 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 1: only one, the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason. Everyone else 348 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:54,159 Speaker 1: is talking about restraint and discipline and all these words 349 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 1: you hear, all the code words for we don't want 350 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:00,400 Speaker 1: to really spend money. But I'll give you two teams 351 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:03,359 Speaker 1: that should want to spend money. I'll start with the 352 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:06,159 Speaker 1: Nationals now. They're a team with a lot of young talent. 353 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 1: They are pushing forward here and they've got some really 354 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:12,959 Speaker 1: exciting things happening. Their commitments for next season with Patrick 355 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 1: Corbyn going off, the payroll only forty million as of 356 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:19,679 Speaker 1: right now, so they have room to definitely do some 357 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 1: things with the payroll that doesn't include their arbitration salaries, 358 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 1: but they're not going to be prohibitive for them, So yes, 359 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 1: they can spend. Now will their ownership spend and will 360 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:33,520 Speaker 1: the learners wake up again? They've woken up in the past. 361 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:35,560 Speaker 1: You remember Scherzer and some of the other things that 362 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:39,119 Speaker 1: they've done. Strasburg was another one. I'm not sure. I 363 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 1: don't know where their heads are at in terms of 364 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:44,720 Speaker 1: National's ownership. They're selling the team, they're not selling the team. 365 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 1: They don't want to spend seemingly either way. So that's 366 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:49,680 Speaker 1: going to be a team to watch for sure. Should 367 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:52,880 Speaker 1: they be spending, Absolutely, they should be spending. You cannot 368 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:56,479 Speaker 1: win with just kids. The other team to watch, and 369 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:59,119 Speaker 1: this is a team that I believe actually will spend, 370 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:02,920 Speaker 1: go on a frenzy, but will spend that is the 371 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 1: Detroit Tigers. They are a much improved club. They've had 372 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 1: a nice push in the second half here. They're actually 373 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 1: on the fringes of wildcard contention, and they have some 374 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:16,440 Speaker 1: room to grow, especially on the offensive end. They need 375 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:18,760 Speaker 1: some bats, and even if you want to add a 376 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:20,920 Speaker 1: number one starter to go with scoobl or a top 377 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:23,360 Speaker 1: of the rotation type, that wouldn't be such a bad 378 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:26,440 Speaker 1: idea either. Bullpens seems to be coming together, though I 379 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:28,119 Speaker 1: don't know how much you can trust all these no 380 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:31,680 Speaker 1: name guys going forward. Their commitments for next season right 381 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:34,280 Speaker 1: now only thirty eight million. Most of that's tied up 382 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:37,919 Speaker 1: in hobby bias. They have a number of ways that 383 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:41,199 Speaker 1: they can go third base with Alex Bregman reuniting with 384 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:43,360 Speaker 1: aj Hinch that would be one way, and I can 385 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:46,680 Speaker 1: give you any number of possibilities. I don't know that 386 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 1: Mike Ilich's son is going to be as aggressive as 387 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:52,879 Speaker 1: Mike Illige was in spending. But this is a team 388 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 1: that is ready to go now in a division that 389 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 1: is good and much better than in the past, but 390 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:02,119 Speaker 1: the same time taking advantage of the White Sox as 391 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:05,159 Speaker 1: in emptitude as well. So the Detroit Tigers are a 392 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:08,080 Speaker 1: team with the chance next year. But yes they need 393 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:11,359 Speaker 1: to make like the Royals did this year and try 394 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:13,680 Speaker 1: to push this thing along. Want to thank everyone for 395 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 1: their questions, Thanks for watching, for listening. You know where 396 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:20,200 Speaker 1: to find us YouTube, Apple, Spotify, like us, subscribe to 397 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 1: us and join us for our second show of the 398 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 1: week Thursday at twelve thirty Eastern. It will be myself 399 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 1: and Alana Rizzo. Have a great week everyone. Let's get 400 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:32,160 Speaker 1: that first bet offer going. 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