1 00:00:04,078 --> 00:00:07,358 Speaker 1: The Book of Joe Podcast is a production of iHeartRadio. 2 00:00:15,438 --> 00:00:18,838 Speaker 1: Hello again and welcome to the latest edition of the 3 00:00:18,878 --> 00:00:22,598 Speaker 1: Book of Joe Podcast with Tom Berducci and Joe Madden 4 00:00:23,278 --> 00:00:27,758 Speaker 1: and Joe April is in the books. That's one sixth 5 00:00:27,758 --> 00:00:31,078 Speaker 1: of the Major League season over and done with, and 6 00:00:31,678 --> 00:00:33,678 Speaker 1: I'm interested in your take on this. I'm going to 7 00:00:33,718 --> 00:00:37,398 Speaker 1: go back to the days of Sparky Anderson and spark 8 00:00:37,438 --> 00:00:39,678 Speaker 1: you used to tell people and I remember him saying this, 9 00:00:40,118 --> 00:00:42,078 Speaker 1: you really don't know what you have as a team 10 00:00:42,158 --> 00:00:45,958 Speaker 1: until about two months of the season, fifty or sixty games, 11 00:00:45,958 --> 00:00:48,518 Speaker 1: and he said, then you can tell the pretenders from 12 00:00:48,558 --> 00:00:49,438 Speaker 1: the contenders. 13 00:00:50,398 --> 00:00:50,598 Speaker 2: You know. 14 00:00:50,678 --> 00:00:52,998 Speaker 3: I think we almost have to update that a little bit. 15 00:00:53,158 --> 00:00:55,358 Speaker 1: Everything in the world is faster, and now we have 16 00:00:55,558 --> 00:00:59,198 Speaker 1: six playoffs spots in both leagues, so maybe the separation 17 00:00:59,358 --> 00:01:02,678 Speaker 1: is a little bit different. But give me your perspective 18 00:01:03,118 --> 00:01:05,758 Speaker 1: because as a fan and we love first impressions, we'd 19 00:01:05,838 --> 00:01:08,278 Speaker 1: love to react quickly. This is all we have so far, 20 00:01:08,398 --> 00:01:12,198 Speaker 1: small sample size, whatever it is, we're going to make determinations. 21 00:01:12,518 --> 00:01:13,198 Speaker 3: Give me your take. 22 00:01:13,238 --> 00:01:16,518 Speaker 1: As a manager, Now you've seen your team play, you know, 23 00:01:16,638 --> 00:01:19,638 Speaker 1: for a month or so, do you start making judgments 24 00:01:19,678 --> 00:01:20,278 Speaker 1: about what you have. 25 00:01:20,998 --> 00:01:23,758 Speaker 4: Well, this even goes back to my minor league days, 26 00:01:24,478 --> 00:01:27,718 Speaker 4: believe it or not. For me, the first couple of weeks, 27 00:01:27,838 --> 00:01:31,438 Speaker 4: adrenaline plays, and then after that players play. So it's 28 00:01:31,438 --> 00:01:34,358 Speaker 4: hard to really get an evaluation early on because just 29 00:01:34,398 --> 00:01:37,958 Speaker 4: for that reason, some guys that had like mediocre years 30 00:01:37,998 --> 00:01:39,798 Speaker 4: the year before, all of a sudden look great, and 31 00:01:39,918 --> 00:01:42,278 Speaker 4: guys that had great years year before look mediocre. And 32 00:01:42,358 --> 00:01:45,358 Speaker 4: you just cannot listen to that at all. Unless somebody's hurt, 33 00:01:45,398 --> 00:01:49,118 Speaker 4: unless somebody's gotten old, you can't pay attention. I can't 34 00:01:49,158 --> 00:01:52,318 Speaker 4: pay attention to that. So it really comes down to that. 35 00:01:52,398 --> 00:01:55,798 Speaker 4: For me, it's an adrenaline time. I think right now 36 00:01:55,798 --> 00:01:58,078 Speaker 4: the adrenaline is wearing off, coming into the next month. 37 00:01:58,718 --> 00:02:01,838 Speaker 4: But I always thought that players play after the first 38 00:02:01,918 --> 00:02:04,878 Speaker 4: couple of weeks. Adrenaline plays the first couple weeks, and 39 00:02:04,878 --> 00:02:06,998 Speaker 4: then the other point would be I did not really 40 00:02:07,118 --> 00:02:09,958 Speaker 4: understand my bullpen after the first month of the season. 41 00:02:10,998 --> 00:02:12,478 Speaker 2: Yeah, think you know what you got. 42 00:02:13,038 --> 00:02:15,238 Speaker 4: Somebody's gonna not play as well as you thought, pitch 43 00:02:15,278 --> 00:02:17,118 Speaker 4: as well as you thought, and others are going to surface. 44 00:02:18,038 --> 00:02:20,398 Speaker 4: For example, the year with the Rays I had jo 45 00:02:20,518 --> 00:02:24,198 Speaker 4: Quen Ben Moa and Fernando Rodney just coming. You know, 46 00:02:24,478 --> 00:02:26,678 Speaker 4: anybody could have had those two guys in the off season. 47 00:02:26,758 --> 00:02:27,558 Speaker 2: All of a sudden they. 48 00:02:27,438 --> 00:02:30,958 Speaker 4: Come to camp and actually Benny didn't make the team 49 00:02:30,998 --> 00:02:32,838 Speaker 4: out of camp and then comes up from the monies 50 00:02:32,878 --> 00:02:35,838 Speaker 4: and turns into this beast for the next couple of years. 51 00:02:35,838 --> 00:02:38,718 Speaker 4: And I think that's your Fernando set They the e 52 00:02:38,918 --> 00:02:42,718 Speaker 4: RA a record for relief pitchers. So I've always felt 53 00:02:42,758 --> 00:02:44,638 Speaker 4: that you don't know your bullpen at least for the 54 00:02:44,678 --> 00:02:49,078 Speaker 4: first month, and players play and adrenaline goes away. So 55 00:02:49,238 --> 00:02:51,238 Speaker 4: that's how I look at the first month of the season. 56 00:02:51,238 --> 00:02:54,038 Speaker 4: You're right, you can't get overwhelmed by first impressions. 57 00:02:54,038 --> 00:02:55,798 Speaker 2: You cannot. If you do, you're gonna make a lot 58 00:02:55,838 --> 00:02:56,478 Speaker 2: of mistakes. 59 00:02:56,798 --> 00:02:57,638 Speaker 3: Did I hear you right? 60 00:02:57,638 --> 00:03:03,718 Speaker 1: Did you just give us the French pronunciation of Fernando Rodney. 61 00:03:02,398 --> 00:03:04,918 Speaker 2: Rodney Fernando Roudney. 62 00:03:04,998 --> 00:03:08,198 Speaker 3: I love Frank, sound like that ben Wah and Rodney. 63 00:03:08,278 --> 00:03:09,998 Speaker 3: I thought that was a combo that you had there. 64 00:03:10,158 --> 00:03:12,038 Speaker 3: He's still pitching, by the way, I. 65 00:03:11,958 --> 00:03:14,718 Speaker 4: Think because of Jaki Benoa. I think it just worphed 66 00:03:14,718 --> 00:03:15,798 Speaker 4: into Rodney. 67 00:03:16,238 --> 00:03:20,478 Speaker 3: Sorry, yeah, I like that. That's not good. Yeah, but 68 00:03:20,518 --> 00:03:22,958 Speaker 3: you know what, Let's let's go with first impressions. 69 00:03:22,998 --> 00:03:25,358 Speaker 1: I mean, listen, we all can be level headed here 70 00:03:25,398 --> 00:03:28,238 Speaker 1: and say, let's wait to make determinations until they play 71 00:03:28,278 --> 00:03:30,118 Speaker 1: I don't know, one hundred games. We don't want to 72 00:03:30,118 --> 00:03:33,078 Speaker 1: do that. So it's been kind of an upside down year. 73 00:03:33,158 --> 00:03:35,518 Speaker 1: So we're going to talk about first impressions of teams 74 00:03:35,518 --> 00:03:38,238 Speaker 1: that we've seen this so far this season. So the 75 00:03:38,278 --> 00:03:40,678 Speaker 1: world's a little bit upside down. We've got three of 76 00:03:40,718 --> 00:03:43,478 Speaker 1: the four lowest payrolls in baseball with the best record 77 00:03:43,478 --> 00:03:47,238 Speaker 1: in baseball. The month of April raised Orioles pirates. Nobody 78 00:03:47,238 --> 00:03:50,038 Speaker 1: saw that coming. And let's talk about teams in fourth 79 00:03:50,398 --> 00:03:53,158 Speaker 1: or fifth place, some of the let's call them the 80 00:03:53,198 --> 00:03:57,558 Speaker 1: blue bloods of baseball, the Yankees, the Cardinals, the White Sox, 81 00:03:57,798 --> 00:04:01,358 Speaker 1: the Giants, the Mariners. So we're going to dive into 82 00:04:01,358 --> 00:04:01,758 Speaker 1: these teams. 83 00:04:01,798 --> 00:04:03,478 Speaker 3: I want to start with the New York Yankees. 84 00:04:03,558 --> 00:04:07,518 Speaker 1: Joe and obviously injuries have been a huge part of 85 00:04:07,598 --> 00:04:09,878 Speaker 1: their slow start. I mean, they're great when Garrett Cole 86 00:04:09,918 --> 00:04:13,478 Speaker 1: has the ball, they're ordinary every other day. Let me 87 00:04:13,518 --> 00:04:15,638 Speaker 1: start with Aaron Judge. I'm not sure if you saw 88 00:04:15,718 --> 00:04:17,518 Speaker 1: the play on which he was injured. 89 00:04:17,718 --> 00:04:19,358 Speaker 3: Aaron Judge tried. 90 00:04:19,118 --> 00:04:23,318 Speaker 1: To steal third base in Minnesota, dove head first into 91 00:04:23,318 --> 00:04:23,838 Speaker 1: third base. 92 00:04:23,958 --> 00:04:25,518 Speaker 3: He weighs two hundred and eighty pounds. 93 00:04:25,838 --> 00:04:27,718 Speaker 1: It was not a pretty slide, kind of get his 94 00:04:28,198 --> 00:04:31,718 Speaker 1: arm stuck underneath him. Hurt his wrist more so than 95 00:04:31,958 --> 00:04:34,878 Speaker 1: he came out with some pain in his hip. You 96 00:04:34,958 --> 00:04:38,278 Speaker 1: saw your guy with the Angels, Mike Trout. He essentially 97 00:04:38,278 --> 00:04:42,958 Speaker 1: a stopped stealing basis because he's so valuable in the lineup. 98 00:04:43,238 --> 00:04:45,318 Speaker 3: Would you advise a guy like Aaron. 99 00:04:45,118 --> 00:04:47,398 Speaker 1: Judge, as much as he wants to do anything to win, 100 00:04:47,878 --> 00:04:52,278 Speaker 1: to either a stop stealing bases and or b don't 101 00:04:52,278 --> 00:04:53,118 Speaker 1: slight head first. 102 00:04:54,118 --> 00:04:56,238 Speaker 2: Yeah, tough one, right. 103 00:04:56,438 --> 00:04:57,078 Speaker 3: Yeah. 104 00:04:57,158 --> 00:04:59,558 Speaker 4: You know, for years there was so many great players 105 00:04:59,598 --> 00:05:03,438 Speaker 4: that were base stealers, whether it's the Bonds's, whether it 106 00:05:03,478 --> 00:05:07,238 Speaker 4: was Will the and the family kind of Lou Brock, 107 00:05:07,318 --> 00:05:09,638 Speaker 4: I mean lou Brock, I mean, of course that was 108 00:05:09,678 --> 00:05:12,078 Speaker 4: his game. But this guy can hit, and he hit 109 00:05:12,078 --> 00:05:15,118 Speaker 4: for power. He did all kinds of stuff. So it 110 00:05:15,238 --> 00:05:18,118 Speaker 4: just gets to the point where now I think everything 111 00:05:18,198 --> 00:05:19,878 Speaker 4: is magnified to a certain degree. 112 00:05:19,878 --> 00:05:21,918 Speaker 2: And of course the Judges out of that lineup. 113 00:05:21,598 --> 00:05:26,518 Speaker 4: There completely completely different team, not even anywhere near similar 114 00:05:26,838 --> 00:05:28,318 Speaker 4: what they can be, and it's gonna be hard for 115 00:05:28,358 --> 00:05:32,198 Speaker 4: them to overcome his absence. I do agree with the 116 00:05:32,798 --> 00:05:37,558 Speaker 4: sliding component, where yeah, you know the four point slide, 117 00:05:37,598 --> 00:05:40,718 Speaker 4: slide with your feet first, really avoid any kind of 118 00:05:40,758 --> 00:05:43,598 Speaker 4: hit first stuff, And that's something you really have to 119 00:05:43,638 --> 00:05:46,318 Speaker 4: get done in camp and over a period of time 120 00:05:46,358 --> 00:05:49,158 Speaker 4: because naturally, when you're competing, you're just going to try 121 00:05:49,158 --> 00:05:51,158 Speaker 4: to be safe. So if he noticed that if I 122 00:05:51,238 --> 00:05:53,318 Speaker 4: just slide and reached out in my left hand, I 123 00:05:53,318 --> 00:05:55,078 Speaker 4: have a better chance to get to the bag away 124 00:05:55,078 --> 00:05:58,078 Speaker 4: from the throw, it's gonna happen. So you have to 125 00:05:58,158 --> 00:06:01,518 Speaker 4: nurture that mentally in time in advance. But you're right 126 00:06:01,558 --> 00:06:03,638 Speaker 4: about Mikey Trott. I mean, Michael doesn't really want to 127 00:06:03,678 --> 00:06:06,078 Speaker 4: run as much anymore. When I first got there, we 128 00:06:06,158 --> 00:06:10,158 Speaker 4: talked about it, and then pretty much I know that 129 00:06:10,198 --> 00:06:13,478 Speaker 4: he knows like you, just like you're talking about longevity, 130 00:06:13,878 --> 00:06:15,558 Speaker 4: and he's had some leg issues too. 131 00:06:15,718 --> 00:06:17,478 Speaker 2: It's really going to be better off for him. 132 00:06:18,238 --> 00:06:20,238 Speaker 4: I think there's still times he might go if it's 133 00:06:20,278 --> 00:06:23,158 Speaker 4: really absolutely in his favor, But for the most part, 134 00:06:23,158 --> 00:06:26,278 Speaker 4: you're right. But yeah, I have a hard time asking 135 00:06:26,398 --> 00:06:31,198 Speaker 4: baseball players not to play baseball. However, like you're saying 136 00:06:31,238 --> 00:06:34,678 Speaker 4: a hundred percent, really attempt to slide feed first here 137 00:06:34,758 --> 00:06:37,158 Speaker 4: and really avoid the head first stuff. There's so many 138 00:06:38,158 --> 00:06:40,558 Speaker 4: appendages things that can go wrong in that regard. But 139 00:06:40,558 --> 00:06:42,198 Speaker 4: it's hard for me to tell Aaron Juts not to 140 00:06:42,238 --> 00:06:42,958 Speaker 4: steal bases. 141 00:06:43,398 --> 00:06:45,398 Speaker 1: Yeah, I agree, and I think Aaron Boone's in that 142 00:06:45,478 --> 00:06:47,198 Speaker 1: position where he's had conversations. 143 00:06:47,238 --> 00:06:50,958 Speaker 3: But you don't want to put governors on your players, correct. 144 00:06:52,238 --> 00:06:56,278 Speaker 1: I'm okay with head first slides, Joe when they're done properly, 145 00:06:56,358 --> 00:06:57,798 Speaker 1: And that's the problem for me. A lot of guys 146 00:06:57,838 --> 00:06:59,638 Speaker 1: don't know how to slide head first. If you watched 147 00:06:59,718 --> 00:07:02,718 Speaker 1: Ricky Henderson, who slid head first more than Ricky Henderson 148 00:07:03,998 --> 00:07:07,598 Speaker 1: hell himself and almost glide across the ground. I see, 149 00:07:07,878 --> 00:07:11,238 Speaker 1: especially big guys trying to dive head first and they're 150 00:07:11,318 --> 00:07:14,118 Speaker 1: landing on their hands or they're landing on their chest. 151 00:07:14,198 --> 00:07:16,638 Speaker 1: You know that there's not that propulsion forward, and I 152 00:07:16,638 --> 00:07:19,118 Speaker 1: think that's where guys get hurt. And then you have 153 00:07:19,238 --> 00:07:21,478 Speaker 1: the issue of the guys wearing over Mitz because you 154 00:07:21,478 --> 00:07:23,478 Speaker 1: can get your fingers caught on the back. 155 00:07:23,838 --> 00:07:26,238 Speaker 4: One said I had a great base stealer with Carl Crawford, 156 00:07:26,478 --> 00:07:30,478 Speaker 4: and Carl would intimidate, yes, by sliding feet first. He 157 00:07:30,598 --> 00:07:33,038 Speaker 4: came at that infielder like a freight train. 158 00:07:33,118 --> 00:07:33,438 Speaker 2: Man. 159 00:07:33,758 --> 00:07:35,998 Speaker 4: If I'm in the middle and Carl's at first and 160 00:07:35,998 --> 00:07:39,318 Speaker 4: he's stealing second base, I promise you I'm not hanging 161 00:07:39,358 --> 00:07:43,118 Speaker 4: in there. It's a big man, ran, really really well 162 00:07:43,598 --> 00:07:46,438 Speaker 4: aggressive baseball player. And I think for the most part, 163 00:07:46,478 --> 00:07:48,238 Speaker 4: if you roll back to tape, and I hate to 164 00:07:48,318 --> 00:07:50,238 Speaker 4: keep making the same reference, but Lou Brock to me, 165 00:07:50,358 --> 00:07:52,398 Speaker 4: was primarily a feet first slider. I don't even remember 166 00:07:52,398 --> 00:07:54,998 Speaker 4: if Mary Wills was or not. I mean, back then 167 00:07:55,278 --> 00:07:58,878 Speaker 4: you were really discouraged from sliding head first unless was 168 00:07:58,878 --> 00:08:02,038 Speaker 4: absolutely necessary, and definitely not in the home plate, which 169 00:08:02,038 --> 00:08:04,918 Speaker 4: has become more prominent. So yeah, I mean these are 170 00:08:04,958 --> 00:08:07,398 Speaker 4: these are considerations. You could talk about it all. But 171 00:08:07,958 --> 00:08:12,198 Speaker 4: Carl Crawford would intimidate middle infielders. But with his feet first. 172 00:08:12,038 --> 00:08:13,958 Speaker 3: Slides, that's a great call. 173 00:08:14,038 --> 00:08:16,478 Speaker 1: You didn't see middle infielders put that knee down to 174 00:08:16,478 --> 00:08:19,358 Speaker 1: block the base when Carl's coming in spikes first. Hey, 175 00:08:19,798 --> 00:08:22,398 Speaker 1: Nike's you worried about them or you're just writing this 176 00:08:22,518 --> 00:08:24,998 Speaker 1: off as a team. That's let's face it, really banged up. 177 00:08:24,998 --> 00:08:27,358 Speaker 1: You think about their pitchers and seven Reno's out, the 178 00:08:27,358 --> 00:08:29,678 Speaker 1: bullpen's taking hits, or Donald hasn't thrown a pitch for 179 00:08:29,718 --> 00:08:33,238 Speaker 1: them yet. Any concerns about New York overall after these 180 00:08:33,278 --> 00:08:34,118 Speaker 1: first five weeks. 181 00:08:35,198 --> 00:08:39,438 Speaker 4: I mean, I like I said, if Judge stays absent, Yeah, 182 00:08:40,078 --> 00:08:42,478 Speaker 4: if Judge comes back, they'll they'll figure it out somehow 183 00:08:42,518 --> 00:08:44,638 Speaker 4: because of the rest of the lineup will be more 184 00:08:44,678 --> 00:08:48,398 Speaker 4: productive because of that. They do need red on they do. 185 00:08:48,478 --> 00:08:49,718 Speaker 4: I mean I read I was read about in the 186 00:08:49,718 --> 00:08:51,438 Speaker 4: paper this morning that he's still out and he's still 187 00:08:51,518 --> 00:08:53,518 Speaker 4: feeling things and all. 188 00:08:53,398 --> 00:08:53,998 Speaker 2: The other guys. 189 00:08:54,038 --> 00:08:56,758 Speaker 4: I mean, listen, when they're healthy and well, they're they're outstanding. 190 00:08:56,758 --> 00:08:59,038 Speaker 4: I mean, I love their pitching staff. When everybody's clicking, 191 00:08:59,718 --> 00:09:02,758 Speaker 4: and they need health like everybody else needs health. Baters back, 192 00:09:02,798 --> 00:09:05,398 Speaker 4: it looks like, I don't know how well he's ceiling 193 00:09:05,518 --> 00:09:08,238 Speaker 4: or not, but they need they need their full compliment. 194 00:09:08,278 --> 00:09:10,838 Speaker 4: They have been they have been gutted a little bit 195 00:09:11,678 --> 00:09:14,198 Speaker 4: with the injuries. There's no question about that. It's hard 196 00:09:14,198 --> 00:09:17,758 Speaker 4: for any team to really withstand the numbers that they have, 197 00:09:17,798 --> 00:09:19,478 Speaker 4: the levels. I mean, you look at their lineup. I mean, 198 00:09:19,478 --> 00:09:23,278 Speaker 4: everybody's always always yelling for a change. It's not about 199 00:09:23,758 --> 00:09:27,398 Speaker 4: front office or management or manager. It's about the team 200 00:09:27,438 --> 00:09:28,878 Speaker 4: on the field. I mean, they don't have their team 201 00:09:28,918 --> 00:09:32,398 Speaker 4: on the field. They're playing. They're almost playing the almost 202 00:09:32,438 --> 00:09:35,518 Speaker 4: half of the former Texas Rangers out there on a 203 00:09:35,598 --> 00:09:39,198 Speaker 4: daily basis. So just give them some time. They will 204 00:09:39,278 --> 00:09:41,878 Speaker 4: right themselves. They need Judge to do that stat and 205 00:09:41,918 --> 00:09:44,598 Speaker 4: of course it's a big force with that too. So 206 00:09:45,438 --> 00:09:48,238 Speaker 4: when you start making jump into conclusions again early in 207 00:09:48,238 --> 00:09:51,518 Speaker 4: the year with the team like this, with so many attributes, 208 00:09:51,918 --> 00:09:53,958 Speaker 4: just be patient. Just be patient. It's going to come 209 00:09:53,958 --> 00:09:57,038 Speaker 4: back to them. But more than anything, Aaron Judge has 210 00:09:57,078 --> 00:09:57,718 Speaker 4: to get well. 211 00:09:58,158 --> 00:10:02,198 Speaker 3: By jumping to conclusions. Is so much fun. So let 212 00:10:02,198 --> 00:10:02,758 Speaker 3: me jump for it. 213 00:10:02,838 --> 00:10:04,598 Speaker 1: Let me jump a little bit, because I'm gonna give 214 00:10:04,598 --> 00:10:07,318 Speaker 1: you three teams that I would be worried about if 215 00:10:07,358 --> 00:10:09,438 Speaker 1: I were managing These teams. 216 00:10:09,438 --> 00:10:10,518 Speaker 3: Start with the White Sox. 217 00:10:11,558 --> 00:10:13,558 Speaker 1: That team, to me, and I said it coming to 218 00:10:13,638 --> 00:10:16,478 Speaker 1: the season, they just chased too much. I've never seen 219 00:10:16,518 --> 00:10:18,038 Speaker 1: a team that goes out of the strikes on as 220 00:10:18,038 --> 00:10:21,198 Speaker 1: often as they do that is consistent, and they don't 221 00:10:21,198 --> 00:10:22,438 Speaker 1: play defense well enough. 222 00:10:22,558 --> 00:10:25,718 Speaker 3: Those two teams that those two things scare me. Slow start. 223 00:10:25,838 --> 00:10:27,678 Speaker 1: I'm not ready to write them off, don't get me wrong, 224 00:10:27,918 --> 00:10:29,638 Speaker 1: but man, it's going to be an uphill climb for 225 00:10:29,718 --> 00:10:31,678 Speaker 1: the White Sox because the style of play that they 226 00:10:32,318 --> 00:10:33,518 Speaker 1: play Giants. 227 00:10:33,998 --> 00:10:34,838 Speaker 3: I look at the Giants. 228 00:10:34,838 --> 00:10:37,718 Speaker 1: They went eleven and sixteen in April in the wildcard era. 229 00:10:37,758 --> 00:10:40,878 Speaker 1: There's only three other Giants teams that started that poorly. 230 00:10:41,278 --> 00:10:44,998 Speaker 1: None won more than seventy seven games. I look at 231 00:10:45,038 --> 00:10:47,238 Speaker 1: the Giants, a lot of injuries right now. You strem 232 00:10:47,318 --> 00:10:49,838 Speaker 1: Ski out, Crawford out. I look at that team and 233 00:10:49,878 --> 00:10:52,438 Speaker 1: I say, where are all the impact players in the 234 00:10:52,478 --> 00:10:55,158 Speaker 1: sweet spot of their careers. I'm talking about twenty five 235 00:10:55,198 --> 00:10:57,478 Speaker 1: to thirty. That's the backbone of any winning team. 236 00:10:57,838 --> 00:10:58,638 Speaker 3: Don't see it. 237 00:10:58,638 --> 00:11:01,838 Speaker 1: It's an older team, sixth oldest team position wise, fifth 238 00:11:01,878 --> 00:11:05,758 Speaker 1: oldest team on the mound. Concerns me and the Mariners. 239 00:11:05,998 --> 00:11:08,878 Speaker 1: They're not a good offensive team now. They weren't last year. 240 00:11:08,878 --> 00:11:11,238 Speaker 1: They had really good pitching. They found ways to win 241 00:11:11,318 --> 00:11:14,598 Speaker 1: close games. This is a team the bottom three in 242 00:11:14,638 --> 00:11:16,918 Speaker 1: the order. They're hitting one eighty four with. 243 00:11:16,998 --> 00:11:17,838 Speaker 3: One home run. 244 00:11:18,278 --> 00:11:20,278 Speaker 1: You know, I'm not a big fan of teams where 245 00:11:20,278 --> 00:11:24,678 Speaker 1: that lineup must turn over in order to hurt the opponent, 246 00:11:24,798 --> 00:11:26,238 Speaker 1: and that's kind of where Seattle is. 247 00:11:26,558 --> 00:11:26,758 Speaker 2: Yea. 248 00:11:27,238 --> 00:11:30,078 Speaker 1: So those three teams stand out to me if I'm 249 00:11:30,118 --> 00:11:32,998 Speaker 1: going to jump to conclusions, I think those teams I 250 00:11:32,998 --> 00:11:34,758 Speaker 1: would be worried about their starts. 251 00:11:35,598 --> 00:11:37,278 Speaker 4: Well, I agree with you with the White Sox. I 252 00:11:37,278 --> 00:11:40,958 Speaker 4: mean it's not just right now. I've not been a 253 00:11:40,958 --> 00:11:43,758 Speaker 4: fan of their fundamental process, but the way they played. Again, 254 00:11:43,758 --> 00:11:46,278 Speaker 4: they've had some really good players, they've had some really 255 00:11:46,318 --> 00:11:49,118 Speaker 4: good pitching, even up to the time I had left, 256 00:11:49,558 --> 00:11:51,438 Speaker 4: like all of that, but it was something about the 257 00:11:51,438 --> 00:11:53,158 Speaker 4: way they played that it wasn't a big fan of. 258 00:11:53,438 --> 00:11:55,198 Speaker 4: They're going to make a mistake, they're going to screw 259 00:11:55,278 --> 00:11:58,158 Speaker 4: something up. They were kind of cavalier, I thought in 260 00:11:58,198 --> 00:12:01,278 Speaker 4: their approach. And that's you know, I'm not bemoaning Tony. 261 00:12:01,318 --> 00:12:03,598 Speaker 4: What's because I thought Tony really attempted to change all 262 00:12:03,638 --> 00:12:06,678 Speaker 4: that and he did. I mean, they have ninety three 263 00:12:06,678 --> 00:12:08,438 Speaker 4: wins this first year there and then last year not 264 00:12:08,478 --> 00:12:11,718 Speaker 4: so good. But to me, there's got to be more 265 00:12:11,718 --> 00:12:15,278 Speaker 4: of a consistent method with which they played, and part 266 00:12:15,278 --> 00:12:17,598 Speaker 4: of it would be a more structured offense because when 267 00:12:17,598 --> 00:12:19,878 Speaker 4: they you know, when they're hitting, they're swinging at everything, 268 00:12:19,918 --> 00:12:21,918 Speaker 4: and when they're hitting, they're gonna they're gonna put up 269 00:12:21,918 --> 00:12:24,678 Speaker 4: some numbers, especially in that ballpark. But in this day 270 00:12:24,678 --> 00:12:30,158 Speaker 4: and age where analytics are so prominent, the pre series meeting, 271 00:12:30,198 --> 00:12:33,278 Speaker 4: why throw people's strikes? It's like last year, two years ago, 272 00:12:33,278 --> 00:12:36,278 Speaker 4: when I figured out with Seger with Texas, why throw 273 00:12:36,318 --> 00:12:38,238 Speaker 4: the guy's strike? You know, I walked him with the 274 00:12:38,238 --> 00:12:40,638 Speaker 4: basis loaded, but I was just really getting to learn 275 00:12:40,718 --> 00:12:43,558 Speaker 4: him on a more consistent basis. Because with the Dodgers, 276 00:12:43,558 --> 00:12:46,598 Speaker 4: saw sporadically and finally figured out, don't throw them strike, 277 00:12:46,918 --> 00:12:48,718 Speaker 4: so I don't have to walk them. Just don't let 278 00:12:48,758 --> 00:12:51,558 Speaker 4: them walk himself if he wants to, but don't throw 279 00:12:51,598 --> 00:12:54,558 Speaker 4: them a strike. So the White Sox are really going 280 00:12:54,638 --> 00:12:59,438 Speaker 4: to be sub subjected to the scrutiny of analytics and 281 00:12:59,558 --> 00:13:02,078 Speaker 4: advanced scouting. And that's where I agree with you one 282 00:13:02,118 --> 00:13:05,798 Speaker 4: hundred percent, and a more fundamental approach the Giants. Yeah, 283 00:13:05,878 --> 00:13:07,438 Speaker 4: I mean you were talking about the teams that are 284 00:13:07,438 --> 00:13:09,158 Speaker 4: doing so well. You talked about a bunch of young 285 00:13:09,198 --> 00:13:13,438 Speaker 4: teams with low perro the Orioles, the Rays and the Pirates, 286 00:13:13,998 --> 00:13:16,758 Speaker 4: and when you're relying on veteran which is nice to have, 287 00:13:16,798 --> 00:13:19,318 Speaker 4: and I like the idea of salt and pepper, a 288 00:13:19,358 --> 00:13:21,798 Speaker 4: little bit of each. But when it's all veteran and 289 00:13:21,838 --> 00:13:24,118 Speaker 4: things start breaking down, man, and you have nothing to 290 00:13:25,118 --> 00:13:27,998 Speaker 4: provide that energy, it gets difficult. It gets really difficult 291 00:13:28,038 --> 00:13:31,878 Speaker 4: to turn that ship around. And I could I agree 292 00:13:31,998 --> 00:13:34,398 Speaker 4: with what you're seeing and saying. Right, there was the 293 00:13:34,398 --> 00:13:35,278 Speaker 4: third team again, you. 294 00:13:35,238 --> 00:13:39,278 Speaker 1: Said, Seattle, And again I love their pitching. I just 295 00:13:39,518 --> 00:13:41,798 Speaker 1: had tough division. Do they have enough offense? 296 00:13:42,038 --> 00:13:45,878 Speaker 4: Yeah, Seattle. You know, I was always surprised. Again even 297 00:13:46,358 --> 00:13:49,358 Speaker 4: they I thought they didn't have enough offense. But my 298 00:13:49,478 --> 00:13:51,918 Speaker 4: last second last year with the Angels, we played in 299 00:13:51,958 --> 00:13:54,118 Speaker 4: the last series of the year in Seattle. 300 00:13:54,478 --> 00:13:55,838 Speaker 2: They were going through all these. 301 00:13:57,318 --> 00:14:00,438 Speaker 4: Awards, ceremonies and stuff, and damn, they haven't done anything, 302 00:14:00,478 --> 00:14:03,198 Speaker 4: and they're they're out in home plate talking about how 303 00:14:03,238 --> 00:14:04,958 Speaker 4: great they are. And the next year they did. Last 304 00:14:05,038 --> 00:14:07,678 Speaker 4: year they did make the playoffs, which I thought was great. 305 00:14:08,318 --> 00:14:11,998 Speaker 4: But even then I thought they had a challenge. They 306 00:14:11,998 --> 00:14:14,598 Speaker 4: were challenged offensively. I thought they were pitchable, but I 307 00:14:14,598 --> 00:14:17,558 Speaker 4: did like their pitching. I did, and they had kind 308 00:14:17,598 --> 00:14:19,518 Speaker 4: of everything going right for them. The thing I did like, 309 00:14:19,518 --> 00:14:22,118 Speaker 4: I thought they played it hard and they didn't quit. 310 00:14:22,158 --> 00:14:24,478 Speaker 4: They didn't give up, and they were always involved, and 311 00:14:24,558 --> 00:14:27,078 Speaker 4: maybe the division itself permitted that Oakland and the Angels 312 00:14:27,118 --> 00:14:29,478 Speaker 4: were not playing that well able to suck up and 313 00:14:29,478 --> 00:14:31,998 Speaker 4: get their vibe going Texas. So I mean part of 314 00:14:32,038 --> 00:14:34,318 Speaker 4: them doing well is the fact that the rest of 315 00:14:34,358 --> 00:14:36,678 Speaker 4: the division was not. And I think now, if this 316 00:14:36,718 --> 00:14:39,078 Speaker 4: division keeps getting better, it's going to be more difficult 317 00:14:39,518 --> 00:14:42,718 Speaker 4: or problematic for them to really do what they think 318 00:14:42,718 --> 00:14:44,598 Speaker 4: they're capable of doing. So I think you're right on 319 00:14:44,718 --> 00:14:49,318 Speaker 4: with all this. Giants. Maybe get younger, White Sox, developed 320 00:14:49,318 --> 00:14:54,078 Speaker 4: more of a structure or an identity, and move it 321 00:14:54,118 --> 00:14:57,118 Speaker 4: on from there. In Seattle, they have to play pitching 322 00:14:57,118 --> 00:15:00,078 Speaker 4: and defensive in that ballpark, Man, and maybe just run 323 00:15:00,118 --> 00:15:02,478 Speaker 4: into a little more contact, because that's although it's gotten 324 00:15:02,518 --> 00:15:05,078 Speaker 4: better for home runs, it's still a close moment in ballpark. 325 00:15:05,558 --> 00:15:07,358 Speaker 1: Hey, Joe, let's take a break and then when we 326 00:15:07,398 --> 00:15:09,598 Speaker 1: come back, we're going to flip the coin and talk 327 00:15:09,638 --> 00:15:11,998 Speaker 1: about teams that are off to fast starts. 328 00:15:12,238 --> 00:15:14,078 Speaker 3: Sure you buying or selling? 329 00:15:26,518 --> 00:15:28,718 Speaker 1: Hey, welcome back to the Book of Joe podcast with 330 00:15:28,798 --> 00:15:32,598 Speaker 1: Tom Berducci and Joe Madden. Joe, there was a series 331 00:15:32,678 --> 00:15:35,558 Speaker 1: this week in Tampa Bay with the teams that had 332 00:15:35,598 --> 00:15:38,838 Speaker 1: the best records in baseball for the month of April. 333 00:15:39,558 --> 00:15:41,758 Speaker 1: And if you predicted that would be the Rays and 334 00:15:41,798 --> 00:15:43,918 Speaker 1: the Pirates, go buy yourself a lottery ticket. 335 00:15:44,038 --> 00:15:45,358 Speaker 3: Who saw that one coming. 336 00:15:47,158 --> 00:15:49,758 Speaker 1: I listen, we're here talking about how much we can 337 00:15:49,798 --> 00:15:51,638 Speaker 1: make out of the first month of a season. But 338 00:15:52,078 --> 00:15:54,638 Speaker 1: what are you taking from these two teams Tampa Bay 339 00:15:54,838 --> 00:15:56,318 Speaker 1: and Pittsburgh love it? 340 00:15:56,718 --> 00:15:59,518 Speaker 4: I mean, you take Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh and you know, 341 00:15:59,558 --> 00:16:01,478 Speaker 4: I could really identify with the whether they're playing, whether 342 00:16:01,478 --> 00:16:03,518 Speaker 4: it goes back to the two thousand and two Angels 343 00:16:03,638 --> 00:16:06,598 Speaker 4: or even in the uh two thousand and eight Rays, 344 00:16:07,398 --> 00:16:09,598 Speaker 4: that they're they're they're looking in the mirror right now 345 00:16:09,638 --> 00:16:12,998 Speaker 4: and you're seeing two teams with great pitching and speed. 346 00:16:14,238 --> 00:16:16,958 Speaker 4: They're they're very athletic and younger. They're like you're saying, 347 00:16:16,958 --> 00:16:20,398 Speaker 4: they're not high priced, and they're hungry. It's very interesting 348 00:16:20,798 --> 00:16:23,638 Speaker 4: how this is all working out. It's probably, it's not probably. 349 00:16:23,678 --> 00:16:25,798 Speaker 4: It's a big part of the race success over time. 350 00:16:25,838 --> 00:16:27,358 Speaker 2: They have not just. 351 00:16:28,118 --> 00:16:30,318 Speaker 4: Parked all their money in one or two players. They've 352 00:16:30,318 --> 00:16:33,158 Speaker 4: been able to spread it out intelligently and constantly. They're 353 00:16:33,198 --> 00:16:35,838 Speaker 4: tilling the soil and coming up with people that nobody 354 00:16:35,878 --> 00:16:39,358 Speaker 4: else are into and other pirates. I don't know this 355 00:16:39,398 --> 00:16:41,478 Speaker 4: for a fact, but I know Shelty, I know the 356 00:16:41,478 --> 00:16:43,598 Speaker 4: manager Derek Shelton, I know some of the dudes that 357 00:16:43,598 --> 00:16:46,038 Speaker 4: are in their office now. It looks like they're playing 358 00:16:46,038 --> 00:16:48,078 Speaker 4: some baseball up there they. I mean, when you when 359 00:16:48,118 --> 00:16:50,558 Speaker 4: you can't spend a ton of dough, you have to 360 00:16:50,558 --> 00:16:53,798 Speaker 4: be prepared to play baseball. Although how about the raise 361 00:16:53,798 --> 00:16:55,438 Speaker 4: with their power, I mean, their power has really been 362 00:16:55,438 --> 00:16:57,878 Speaker 4: shown up, but I think that eventually that dial will 363 00:16:57,918 --> 00:17:00,678 Speaker 4: turned down a little bit. But when you can't spend 364 00:17:00,678 --> 00:17:03,758 Speaker 4: a bunch of dough, play baseball. You have to beat 365 00:17:03,758 --> 00:17:05,678 Speaker 4: the other team on a nightly basis, the one that 366 00:17:05,758 --> 00:17:07,278 Speaker 4: is able to spend a lot of money or has 367 00:17:07,278 --> 00:17:09,038 Speaker 4: a lot of money. And of course they're going to 368 00:17:09,078 --> 00:17:12,438 Speaker 4: buy these nice bells and whistles that you're not capable 369 00:17:12,478 --> 00:17:14,438 Speaker 4: of buying. So how do you beat them? And that 370 00:17:14,558 --> 00:17:16,518 Speaker 4: was always my selling point with the race back in 371 00:17:16,558 --> 00:17:20,078 Speaker 4: the day. It doesn't matter how much money the yanchors 372 00:17:20,078 --> 00:17:22,358 Speaker 4: of the Red Sox have. We have to play a 373 00:17:22,358 --> 00:17:24,598 Speaker 4: better brand of baseball on a nightly basis, whether that's 374 00:17:24,638 --> 00:17:28,078 Speaker 4: catching the ball, pitching the ball, moving the ball, creating 375 00:17:28,118 --> 00:17:30,398 Speaker 4: havoc on the basis, and that's what you're seeing. You're 376 00:17:30,398 --> 00:17:33,278 Speaker 4: seeing baseball being played. And I haven't watched balltimark enough, 377 00:17:33,278 --> 00:17:35,598 Speaker 4: but I know Hider Brandon Hide their manager. He's one 378 00:17:35,598 --> 00:17:38,318 Speaker 4: of my former bench coaches too, and hiders and all 379 00:17:38,358 --> 00:17:40,678 Speaker 4: this stuff also, and I know I was just talking 380 00:17:40,678 --> 00:17:40,918 Speaker 4: to him. 381 00:17:40,958 --> 00:17:41,798 Speaker 2: Over the last couple of years. 382 00:17:41,838 --> 00:17:44,758 Speaker 4: They've given him a wide berth in regards to what 383 00:17:44,838 --> 00:17:47,198 Speaker 4: do you wanted to introduce and how especially when the 384 00:17:47,198 --> 00:17:50,398 Speaker 4: team's losing, front officers have a tendency to get less 385 00:17:50,438 --> 00:17:52,478 Speaker 4: involved and then when they start whinning, they want to 386 00:17:52,478 --> 00:17:53,318 Speaker 4: become more involved. 387 00:17:53,318 --> 00:17:55,798 Speaker 2: So during that time, I think Hider has been able. 388 00:17:55,598 --> 00:17:59,678 Speaker 4: To really establish a conversation and methods with those players 389 00:17:59,758 --> 00:18:02,518 Speaker 4: up there, and that's great. So you're seeing young guy 390 00:18:02,678 --> 00:18:06,038 Speaker 4: young teams without big that are pitching the ball, catching 391 00:18:06,038 --> 00:18:08,558 Speaker 4: the ball, and they're creating havoc on the basis. So 392 00:18:08,638 --> 00:18:12,278 Speaker 4: when you go to play more established veteran teams that 393 00:18:12,398 --> 00:18:15,718 Speaker 4: are more committed to station and station and waiting for 394 00:18:15,798 --> 00:18:17,678 Speaker 4: some three or four guys to get hot at the 395 00:18:17,678 --> 00:18:20,758 Speaker 4: same time in the lineup, these guys on any particular 396 00:18:20,838 --> 00:18:22,958 Speaker 4: night could do something to help the win that game 397 00:18:22,998 --> 00:18:25,838 Speaker 4: and that's I love it. I think that's great and 398 00:18:26,078 --> 00:18:27,838 Speaker 4: you're right right on the money. Those are the three 399 00:18:27,838 --> 00:18:31,278 Speaker 4: teams I had picked, and I really enjoy watching playing baseball. 400 00:18:30,958 --> 00:18:31,958 Speaker 3: Right now, Joe. 401 00:18:31,998 --> 00:18:33,478 Speaker 1: I want to go back to your two thousand and 402 00:18:33,518 --> 00:18:36,518 Speaker 1: eight Raised team because I always believe there's a point 403 00:18:36,838 --> 00:18:40,958 Speaker 1: for good teams, breakout teams when they go from believing 404 00:18:41,398 --> 00:18:44,118 Speaker 1: that they're a good team to knowing that they're a 405 00:18:44,118 --> 00:18:46,918 Speaker 1: good team. I'm not sure the Pirates are there yet. 406 00:18:46,998 --> 00:18:49,318 Speaker 1: I want to go that far. The Rays have a pedigree. 407 00:18:49,358 --> 00:18:52,518 Speaker 1: They've been the postseason the last four years. Yeah, they're 408 00:18:52,518 --> 00:18:53,758 Speaker 1: going to be in the postseason. They're going to win 409 00:18:53,838 --> 00:18:56,038 Speaker 1: ninety five plus games. What you're watching from the Rays 410 00:18:56,358 --> 00:18:59,198 Speaker 1: is real. Maybe not at this you know, seven hundred 411 00:18:59,278 --> 00:19:03,318 Speaker 1: win percentage. They're legit Pittsburgh. And it reminds me again 412 00:19:03,358 --> 00:19:06,718 Speaker 1: if your always look at the dudes that brought in 413 00:19:06,998 --> 00:19:09,398 Speaker 1: to establish and as you said, have a little salt 414 00:19:09,398 --> 00:19:12,198 Speaker 1: and pepper in the mix. Perfect Andrew McCutcheon, Rich Hill, 415 00:19:12,318 --> 00:19:13,238 Speaker 1: Carlos Santana. 416 00:19:13,838 --> 00:19:15,638 Speaker 3: I love those additions. 417 00:19:15,678 --> 00:19:18,478 Speaker 1: Those guys can still play, but more than that, they're 418 00:19:18,638 --> 00:19:21,998 Speaker 1: showing the younger guys how to win, how to be 419 00:19:22,078 --> 00:19:24,598 Speaker 1: a professional, how to go about your job every day. 420 00:19:24,998 --> 00:19:29,358 Speaker 1: I love that mix. So when in eight Joe, did 421 00:19:29,358 --> 00:19:31,958 Speaker 1: you realize that this team and I know how much 422 00:19:31,998 --> 00:19:35,038 Speaker 1: you emphasized winning in spring training that year, when did 423 00:19:35,078 --> 00:19:38,198 Speaker 1: you realize into a season we love, this is what 424 00:19:38,238 --> 00:19:38,758 Speaker 1: we want to be. 425 00:19:38,918 --> 00:19:40,958 Speaker 3: We're good, we believe it, we know it. I'm not 426 00:19:40,998 --> 00:19:42,558 Speaker 3: worried about my team. I know what I have. 427 00:19:43,158 --> 00:19:47,398 Speaker 4: Yeah, de Troy Percival with Floyd and Eric Kinski among 428 00:19:47,438 --> 00:19:50,478 Speaker 4: the guys like you're talking about, You're right, it's really 429 00:19:50,518 --> 00:19:53,758 Speaker 4: great recollection there. The thing I did emphasize is that 430 00:19:53,998 --> 00:19:56,038 Speaker 4: we have to play every game the same, whether it's 431 00:19:56,078 --> 00:20:00,638 Speaker 4: March fifteenth, June fifteenth, August fifteenth, October fifteenth. I did 432 00:20:00,638 --> 00:20:03,398 Speaker 4: not want us to learn to deal with or how 433 00:20:03,398 --> 00:20:06,118 Speaker 4: to play with the a switch on an off switch. 434 00:20:06,158 --> 00:20:07,838 Speaker 2: I wanted us to play the same game every day. 435 00:20:08,278 --> 00:20:09,678 Speaker 4: Got to the point we had a big fight with 436 00:20:09,678 --> 00:20:12,038 Speaker 4: the Yankees in spring training that year because Elliot Johnson 437 00:20:12,598 --> 00:20:16,318 Speaker 4: pancake Francisco Cervellia at stein Brenner Field during spring training. 438 00:20:17,038 --> 00:20:19,358 Speaker 2: But you have to create, you have to create an identity. 439 00:20:19,358 --> 00:20:21,918 Speaker 4: We were creating an identity and during that season also 440 00:20:21,998 --> 00:20:26,958 Speaker 4: big fight in Boston when Shieldsy hit Coco Crisp after 441 00:20:27,078 --> 00:20:30,078 Speaker 4: I the night before walked out to the mound, I 442 00:20:30,118 --> 00:20:33,558 Speaker 4: mean only in their dugout because Crisp I was upset 443 00:20:33,638 --> 00:20:36,758 Speaker 4: that j Jason Bartlett put a knee down on him 444 00:20:37,118 --> 00:20:39,438 Speaker 4: on a steal and that led to him attempting to 445 00:20:39,558 --> 00:20:44,198 Speaker 4: spike Aki Wamora. So all this stuff matters, man. So 446 00:20:44,478 --> 00:20:46,878 Speaker 4: when you're building a culture like this in an identity, 447 00:20:47,438 --> 00:20:49,598 Speaker 4: never run away, don't run away from a conflict. 448 00:20:49,638 --> 00:20:51,478 Speaker 2: Then nothing's going to be given. You got to take it. 449 00:20:51,518 --> 00:20:52,838 Speaker 2: You got to take it from these people. 450 00:20:53,198 --> 00:20:55,278 Speaker 4: Same thing with the Cubs in Saint Louis. You talk 451 00:20:55,358 --> 00:20:59,398 Speaker 4: about the Rays, with the Yankees and the Red Sox 452 00:20:59,438 --> 00:21:01,438 Speaker 4: back then. So right now, the pirates have. 453 00:21:01,398 --> 00:21:03,158 Speaker 2: To take it. They got to take it. They got 454 00:21:03,158 --> 00:21:03,478 Speaker 2: to take it. 455 00:21:03,478 --> 00:21:06,318 Speaker 4: They got to make it every day and uh, they 456 00:21:06,398 --> 00:21:09,118 Speaker 4: got to play their game independent of what anybody else 457 00:21:09,118 --> 00:21:11,638 Speaker 4: thinks or says. And hopefully they're going to say they're 458 00:21:11,638 --> 00:21:14,678 Speaker 4: too aggressive, they're playing too hard, or you know whatever 459 00:21:14,758 --> 00:21:17,718 Speaker 4: they're they're I don't want to say dirty, ever, it's 460 00:21:17,718 --> 00:21:22,038 Speaker 4: not dirty, it's aggressive and and hopefully people start complaining 461 00:21:22,078 --> 00:21:24,798 Speaker 4: about that. And when you when you prepare against them. 462 00:21:24,798 --> 00:21:26,638 Speaker 4: It's a it's a paint and a butt. Teams that 463 00:21:26,758 --> 00:21:29,318 Speaker 4: have to pare prepare against the pirates right now painted 464 00:21:29,318 --> 00:21:31,438 Speaker 4: a butt man. Too many things going on, a lot 465 00:21:31,438 --> 00:21:33,918 Speaker 4: of things to think about. So it's an identity that 466 00:21:33,958 --> 00:21:38,398 Speaker 4: you create. You bring it every day, brother, every day. 467 00:21:38,478 --> 00:21:40,678 Speaker 4: And that's where you're these veterans you're talking about the 468 00:21:40,798 --> 00:21:46,638 Speaker 4: Cutch and Hill and Sentana, they got to bring that 469 00:21:46,718 --> 00:21:49,758 Speaker 4: every day. Those three guys, those three guys when they like, 470 00:21:49,838 --> 00:21:52,078 Speaker 4: just like the manager has to show up in the 471 00:21:52,078 --> 00:21:54,158 Speaker 4: coaching staff, you have to show up the same cat 472 00:21:54,238 --> 00:21:57,798 Speaker 4: every day, especially after a bad day or after maybe 473 00:21:57,878 --> 00:21:59,838 Speaker 4: two or three losses, you got to show up the 474 00:21:59,878 --> 00:22:01,958 Speaker 4: same way. Last point, you know, at that Race team 475 00:22:01,958 --> 00:22:03,558 Speaker 4: in two thousand and eight, we had two seven game 476 00:22:03,638 --> 00:22:06,318 Speaker 4: losing streaks that year, and one was right before the 477 00:22:06,358 --> 00:22:08,958 Speaker 4: All Star break. So you lose seven before the All 478 00:22:08,958 --> 00:22:10,918 Speaker 4: Star break and then have like a four day All 479 00:22:10,958 --> 00:22:13,718 Speaker 4: Star break. That's like eleven game losing streak before you 480 00:22:13,718 --> 00:22:15,278 Speaker 4: get to play again. And then we went a close 481 00:22:15,318 --> 00:22:21,758 Speaker 4: one against Toronto in Tampa Bay. So I can't emphasise 482 00:22:21,878 --> 00:22:24,078 Speaker 4: that enough. Man, you got to bring it every day 483 00:22:24,678 --> 00:22:27,158 Speaker 4: and there has to be a consistency among the veteran 484 00:22:27,238 --> 00:22:29,878 Speaker 4: leadership and of course the manager and. 485 00:22:29,798 --> 00:22:30,518 Speaker 2: His coaching staff. 486 00:22:31,198 --> 00:22:33,558 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's pretty impressive that that team which had not 487 00:22:33,678 --> 00:22:36,198 Speaker 1: established a pedigree yet, and let's face it, probably a 488 00:22:36,238 --> 00:22:38,238 Speaker 1: lot of people waiting to see the wheels when are 489 00:22:38,278 --> 00:22:42,678 Speaker 1: they coming off? That you not only survived those losing streaks, 490 00:22:42,718 --> 00:22:44,638 Speaker 1: you came back from that even better. 491 00:22:44,798 --> 00:22:45,638 Speaker 3: Pretty impressive. 492 00:22:46,198 --> 00:22:50,278 Speaker 2: Just one thing quit quickly that whole year. Aley went nuts. 493 00:22:50,318 --> 00:22:52,798 Speaker 4: One time I went off the rails into Kansas City, 494 00:22:52,798 --> 00:22:53,678 Speaker 4: and that was after a win. 495 00:22:53,798 --> 00:22:54,558 Speaker 2: We'd send a book of. 496 00:22:54,598 --> 00:22:57,798 Speaker 4: Joe because we started all of a sudden to get 497 00:22:57,798 --> 00:22:59,478 Speaker 4: a little bit complacent with ourselves, and that would be 498 00:22:59,558 --> 00:23:02,718 Speaker 4: the one thing that Chelsea would have to be aware of. 499 00:23:02,758 --> 00:23:04,878 Speaker 4: And so and the same with Higher, although Hyder came 500 00:23:04,878 --> 00:23:07,398 Speaker 4: close last year. It's like when guys start getting full 501 00:23:07,438 --> 00:23:08,878 Speaker 4: of themselves and all of a sudden, they think they 502 00:23:08,918 --> 00:23:10,478 Speaker 4: got a licked or wrapped, even though you haven't done 503 00:23:10,518 --> 00:23:11,918 Speaker 4: a thing like you talked about. 504 00:23:11,878 --> 00:23:13,918 Speaker 2: They've not won anything, they have not done a thing. 505 00:23:14,478 --> 00:23:17,438 Speaker 4: So that was always I was always guarded for watching 506 00:23:17,518 --> 00:23:20,198 Speaker 4: that I did if that were to happen, and I 507 00:23:20,238 --> 00:23:22,438 Speaker 4: saw it happen in Kansas City one night we won 508 00:23:22,478 --> 00:23:24,878 Speaker 4: the game, which to me was the perfect time to 509 00:23:24,998 --> 00:23:28,198 Speaker 4: go off. You go off in a visitor's clubhouse after 510 00:23:28,398 --> 00:23:30,718 Speaker 4: a win on the road, of course, if you're in 511 00:23:30,758 --> 00:23:34,358 Speaker 4: a visitor's clubhouse. Because I never wanted to soil the 512 00:23:34,678 --> 00:23:37,838 Speaker 4: home clubhouse where guys walked in on a daily basis 513 00:23:37,878 --> 00:23:40,398 Speaker 4: and you heard all kinds of crap going on or 514 00:23:40,718 --> 00:23:43,318 Speaker 4: your manager getting upset. I never wanted to soil the 515 00:23:43,358 --> 00:23:47,678 Speaker 4: home clubhouse. So you soil the visitors clubhouse. And that 516 00:23:47,838 --> 00:23:50,038 Speaker 4: was a big moment in that year, in two thousand 517 00:23:50,078 --> 00:23:52,718 Speaker 4: and eight. So I'm betting at some point Sheldy's gonna 518 00:23:52,758 --> 00:23:54,158 Speaker 4: have to like, come and glute a little bit. 519 00:23:54,238 --> 00:23:55,558 Speaker 2: Hider might have to come and glute a. 520 00:23:55,558 --> 00:23:59,078 Speaker 4: Little bit, because it's some it's just a human quality 521 00:23:59,118 --> 00:24:01,318 Speaker 4: that these players are going to start thinking more of themselves, 522 00:24:01,318 --> 00:24:03,598 Speaker 4: which is good, but not to the point where you 523 00:24:03,638 --> 00:24:07,318 Speaker 4: become slightly complacent or expected just to happen without maintaining 524 00:24:07,358 --> 00:24:09,238 Speaker 4: that same method that you've developed. 525 00:24:09,718 --> 00:24:13,718 Speaker 1: Well, Joe, your team's almost consistently played better as the 526 00:24:13,798 --> 00:24:18,158 Speaker 1: year went on, finish strong for these teams that let's 527 00:24:18,158 --> 00:24:21,398 Speaker 1: say underachieving, at least we expected more out of them. 528 00:24:22,118 --> 00:24:24,438 Speaker 1: As you get through one month into a season, you're 529 00:24:24,518 --> 00:24:28,158 Speaker 1: not where you want to be as a manager. What's 530 00:24:28,238 --> 00:24:31,998 Speaker 1: the key to writing out these periods where the rest of. 531 00:24:31,958 --> 00:24:33,678 Speaker 3: The world wants to be reactionary? 532 00:24:33,998 --> 00:24:37,398 Speaker 1: How do you get your guys focused on I don't 533 00:24:37,438 --> 00:24:39,558 Speaker 1: even want to say the longer term plan, but knowing 534 00:24:39,718 --> 00:24:40,798 Speaker 1: that you're okay. 535 00:24:41,438 --> 00:24:42,078 Speaker 2: Well it is. 536 00:24:42,118 --> 00:24:46,318 Speaker 4: I mean, it's still saying the mental skills and can 537 00:24:46,398 --> 00:24:47,198 Speaker 4: revisit one day. 538 00:24:47,078 --> 00:24:47,478 Speaker 2: At a time. 539 00:24:47,478 --> 00:24:49,798 Speaker 4: You got to really get them back to the present 540 00:24:49,838 --> 00:24:53,838 Speaker 4: tense and then in a short term goal kind of thing, 541 00:24:53,838 --> 00:24:55,918 Speaker 4: it was like win the week. I wanted to win 542 00:24:55,958 --> 00:24:58,918 Speaker 4: the week. So there was one year with the Rays 543 00:24:58,958 --> 00:25:03,238 Speaker 4: we were eighteen games under five hundred and I think 544 00:25:03,278 --> 00:25:05,758 Speaker 4: it was like forty or something like that, and by 545 00:25:05,758 --> 00:25:08,158 Speaker 4: the time we got to sixty one or two, we 546 00:25:08,158 --> 00:25:10,318 Speaker 4: were at five hundred, and that's all I was. 547 00:25:10,358 --> 00:25:11,478 Speaker 2: I was focusing on. That. 548 00:25:11,518 --> 00:25:13,878 Speaker 4: To me is like one of the greatest achievements as 549 00:25:13,878 --> 00:25:16,678 Speaker 4: a manager that I've been part of is being eighteen 550 00:25:16,758 --> 00:25:19,438 Speaker 4: games under five hundred, getting back that we didn't sustain 551 00:25:19,478 --> 00:25:22,358 Speaker 4: that we didn't I remember talking Alex Cobb after we 552 00:25:22,358 --> 00:25:25,158 Speaker 4: were like giddy about it because it was such an accomplishment. 553 00:25:25,518 --> 00:25:28,198 Speaker 4: It's hard to keep your foot down that hard that 554 00:25:28,358 --> 00:25:31,038 Speaker 4: long and expect something even better after that. 555 00:25:31,158 --> 00:25:34,558 Speaker 2: But it's it's about the day, and then win the week. 556 00:25:34,878 --> 00:25:36,838 Speaker 4: And this is something the used to do in instructional 557 00:25:36,878 --> 00:25:39,238 Speaker 4: league that would put up the week the week's record, 558 00:25:39,638 --> 00:25:40,278 Speaker 4: at least. 559 00:25:40,238 --> 00:25:42,518 Speaker 2: I wanted to. At that time we were playing. 560 00:25:42,438 --> 00:25:44,238 Speaker 4: Six games week at least the three and three, but 561 00:25:44,278 --> 00:25:46,198 Speaker 4: of course you wanted four to two or better. When 562 00:25:46,238 --> 00:25:48,598 Speaker 4: you got that five and one or six zer a week. Man, 563 00:25:48,758 --> 00:25:51,358 Speaker 4: now we're really making some hay. So I wanted it 564 00:25:51,358 --> 00:25:53,998 Speaker 4: always to present it in blocks that was understandable and 565 00:25:54,038 --> 00:25:57,038 Speaker 4: not unattainable. So of course you could win the day, 566 00:25:57,078 --> 00:26:01,078 Speaker 4: win the day, win the pitch, win that moment, and 567 00:26:01,118 --> 00:26:03,278 Speaker 4: then if we do that, we're going to win the week. 568 00:26:03,318 --> 00:26:05,998 Speaker 4: And because it's a long year, you're not going to 569 00:26:06,038 --> 00:26:07,558 Speaker 4: get it back all at once, and you've got to 570 00:26:07,558 --> 00:26:10,518 Speaker 4: be patient. But I wanted to give them an idea 571 00:26:10,638 --> 00:26:13,798 Speaker 4: of thought method in regards to how to do this 572 00:26:14,278 --> 00:26:16,158 Speaker 4: that seemed doable. 573 00:26:16,918 --> 00:26:17,718 Speaker 3: I like that idea. 574 00:26:17,758 --> 00:26:19,638 Speaker 1: It reminds me I was talking to Dusty Baker the 575 00:26:19,718 --> 00:26:22,998 Speaker 1: other day, and you know, Dusty's going through what you 576 00:26:23,078 --> 00:26:25,798 Speaker 1: went through with your Cubs team in seventeen that year after, 577 00:26:26,318 --> 00:26:27,078 Speaker 1: you know, coming. 578 00:26:26,878 --> 00:26:29,158 Speaker 3: Out of the blocks. It's human nature. 579 00:26:29,158 --> 00:26:31,438 Speaker 1: Man, there's just a little bit of an edge that's 580 00:26:31,478 --> 00:26:33,998 Speaker 1: not quite there. He's also missing jose Al Tuvey, who's 581 00:26:34,078 --> 00:26:36,318 Speaker 1: kind of a spirit and backbone of that team. But 582 00:26:36,998 --> 00:26:39,078 Speaker 1: he said, whatever's going on, he said, I want my 583 00:26:39,118 --> 00:26:41,678 Speaker 1: team to try to get to fifteen wins each month, 584 00:26:41,958 --> 00:26:45,758 Speaker 1: and the Astros somehow scraped and clawed and got to fifteen. 585 00:26:45,838 --> 00:26:48,558 Speaker 1: I mean, just do the math fifteen times six months, 586 00:26:48,558 --> 00:26:50,518 Speaker 1: and you're looking at ninety wins and you're in the 587 00:26:50,558 --> 00:26:53,758 Speaker 1: postseason if you win fifteen games per month. So it's 588 00:26:54,158 --> 00:26:56,318 Speaker 1: an interesting way. I like the idea of breaking it up, 589 00:26:56,438 --> 00:26:58,878 Speaker 1: as you said, even on a weekly basis. 590 00:26:58,678 --> 00:27:00,518 Speaker 2: No, I mean the monthly thing. No, the monthly thing. 591 00:27:00,598 --> 00:27:03,078 Speaker 4: Yeah, the same thing I always at the end of 592 00:27:03,118 --> 00:27:04,998 Speaker 4: the month, man, I wanted to win the month. 593 00:27:05,038 --> 00:27:07,998 Speaker 2: I wanted to win the month. And with Dusty's saying 594 00:27:08,118 --> 00:27:09,558 Speaker 2: on board. 595 00:27:09,318 --> 00:27:13,398 Speaker 1: With that, well, Joe, we've actually heard from some listeners 596 00:27:13,438 --> 00:27:17,078 Speaker 1: who are wondering what happened to our talk about rock 597 00:27:17,118 --> 00:27:21,998 Speaker 1: and roll and cars. So and they were not your 598 00:27:22,078 --> 00:27:25,558 Speaker 1: family members either. These are actual listeners. So we're gonna 599 00:27:26,238 --> 00:27:28,398 Speaker 1: we're gonna give you an old taste of that. Okay, 600 00:27:28,478 --> 00:27:30,878 Speaker 1: little old school Book of Joe coming up right after 601 00:27:30,958 --> 00:27:46,518 Speaker 1: this break, Welcome back to the Book of Joe podcast. 602 00:27:46,558 --> 00:27:48,558 Speaker 1: I don't even know if I can call it old school. 603 00:27:48,598 --> 00:27:50,318 Speaker 1: I don't think we've been around long enough to call 604 00:27:50,358 --> 00:27:54,718 Speaker 1: it old school. But either way, you got me thinking, 605 00:27:54,838 --> 00:27:57,438 Speaker 1: Joe when you mentioned Linda Ronstadt, do you remember that 606 00:27:58,438 --> 00:28:01,038 Speaker 1: the voice of Linda Ronstadt my favorite? 607 00:28:01,238 --> 00:28:03,038 Speaker 3: I mean, for what moments? 608 00:28:03,118 --> 00:28:07,398 Speaker 1: Does Linda basically get the ball to start the game 609 00:28:07,438 --> 00:28:10,038 Speaker 1: for you a moment? I mean, I mean, down moment, up, 610 00:28:10,078 --> 00:28:13,918 Speaker 1: moment you need to be picked up, you're driving, you're chilling. 611 00:28:14,398 --> 00:28:17,318 Speaker 3: What's the ron steat moment? Or is it any moment? 612 00:28:18,958 --> 00:28:21,598 Speaker 2: It's like introspective. 613 00:28:21,758 --> 00:28:24,158 Speaker 4: I mean, I mean my little studio here, and I 614 00:28:24,198 --> 00:28:26,958 Speaker 4: got these big Sirwin Vegas speakers right here, next thing 615 00:28:26,998 --> 00:28:30,758 Speaker 4: to my right circle nineteen eighty with a great receiver, 616 00:28:31,518 --> 00:28:34,958 Speaker 4: and I pump my Bluetooth music through there, and sitting 617 00:28:34,998 --> 00:28:38,198 Speaker 4: on these two orange chairs facing the speakers. If I 618 00:28:38,358 --> 00:28:41,678 Speaker 4: just want to reflect, I just want to reflect, I 619 00:28:41,758 --> 00:28:46,598 Speaker 4: put Linda ronstt on because the speakers are magnificent, and 620 00:28:47,318 --> 00:28:50,278 Speaker 4: I get to listen to her magnificent voice, whether it's 621 00:28:50,718 --> 00:28:52,598 Speaker 4: it con is to me pop up, like when she 622 00:28:52,638 --> 00:28:55,078 Speaker 4: does her Spanish music. I don't understand all the words, 623 00:28:55,078 --> 00:28:58,438 Speaker 4: but her voice is incredible. Sometimes she goes operatic. She's 624 00:28:58,438 --> 00:29:01,198 Speaker 4: done that in the past or the Stone Ponies or 625 00:29:01,398 --> 00:29:05,558 Speaker 4: just by herself a long long time. I mean, I 626 00:29:05,598 --> 00:29:10,438 Speaker 4: could sit and listen to this woman. She gets she 627 00:29:10,518 --> 00:29:12,838 Speaker 4: just gets to meet the device to your soul, in 628 00:29:12,838 --> 00:29:15,838 Speaker 4: your spirit. It's either you know, Blue Bayou rock and 629 00:29:15,918 --> 00:29:18,518 Speaker 4: roll kind of stuff or whatever. But she's got the 630 00:29:18,598 --> 00:29:22,638 Speaker 4: voice of a genera generations. I know people argue that 631 00:29:22,718 --> 00:29:25,038 Speaker 4: a little bit, but she's my girl. I've been wanting 632 00:29:25,038 --> 00:29:27,998 Speaker 4: to meet her. I know she's She's had like a 633 00:29:27,998 --> 00:29:30,118 Speaker 4: little bit of a Parkinson's issue, I think. And when 634 00:29:30,118 --> 00:29:33,518 Speaker 4: I got to The Angels Starry Moreno, because you're from Tucson, 635 00:29:33,638 --> 00:29:36,078 Speaker 4: I said, you know the Ronstat family. I wanted to 636 00:29:36,118 --> 00:29:37,798 Speaker 4: know if he had an end with Linda Ronstadt. I 637 00:29:37,798 --> 00:29:41,438 Speaker 4: didn't really realize how she was not well at that time. 638 00:29:41,518 --> 00:29:43,878 Speaker 4: But there's a couple of great specials out there that 639 00:29:43,918 --> 00:29:48,678 Speaker 4: I've watched specifically only about her. Telling you folks to 640 00:29:48,758 --> 00:29:55,478 Speaker 4: yourself a favor interesting woman, tremendous woman, and for me 641 00:29:55,558 --> 00:29:56,278 Speaker 4: the best voice. 642 00:29:56,838 --> 00:29:57,398 Speaker 2: I mean, Leatea. 643 00:29:57,438 --> 00:30:01,838 Speaker 4: Gaga is like right there, right now. She's my contemporary version. 644 00:30:01,918 --> 00:30:03,998 Speaker 4: But god bless, I love. 645 00:30:04,078 --> 00:30:04,678 Speaker 2: The rod step. 646 00:30:05,278 --> 00:30:09,158 Speaker 3: Can I give you my Ron stat Yeah? And they 647 00:30:09,238 --> 00:30:11,358 Speaker 3: and they actually recorded an album together. 648 00:30:11,638 --> 00:30:16,918 Speaker 5: Emmy Lou Harris, Oh yeah, yeah, yes, I mean, same 649 00:30:17,038 --> 00:30:19,598 Speaker 5: kind of deal that she's got that voice, that it 650 00:30:19,798 --> 00:30:23,278 Speaker 5: just gets into your substrata down to your soul. 651 00:30:23,358 --> 00:30:25,758 Speaker 3: There's something about this plaintiveness to it. 652 00:30:25,878 --> 00:30:29,558 Speaker 1: It's like whatever steal guitar strings you got way down 653 00:30:29,558 --> 00:30:32,958 Speaker 1: in your soul, she's gonna pluck them, she's gonna tweak them. 654 00:30:33,478 --> 00:30:37,638 Speaker 1: And for me, I'll pop on her live album Spyboy. 655 00:30:38,478 --> 00:30:42,878 Speaker 1: Just I mean, it's like being in church. And there's 656 00:30:42,998 --> 00:30:44,518 Speaker 1: something about those voices. 657 00:30:44,798 --> 00:30:47,118 Speaker 2: I like a dark room. I like a dark room. 658 00:30:47,198 --> 00:30:47,758 Speaker 2: I like a night. 659 00:30:47,798 --> 00:30:49,358 Speaker 4: I like a dark just like I've told you in 660 00:30:49,358 --> 00:30:51,758 Speaker 4: the past, driving my car, car with a good stereo 661 00:30:51,798 --> 00:30:56,678 Speaker 4: system at night Springsteen, he gets me right. That would 662 00:30:56,718 --> 00:30:59,958 Speaker 4: get me right any Springsteen. Like I've talked about all 663 00:30:59,958 --> 00:31:03,198 Speaker 4: those different ones. But I love loud music at night 664 00:31:03,238 --> 00:31:07,518 Speaker 4: in the dark set, whether it's in my car, excuse me, 665 00:31:07,678 --> 00:31:10,078 Speaker 4: or sitting right here with the show in Vegas in 666 00:31:10,078 --> 00:31:13,998 Speaker 4: my face there's so many, but yeah that it gets 667 00:31:14,038 --> 00:31:14,398 Speaker 4: me right. 668 00:31:14,958 --> 00:31:18,998 Speaker 1: How about a Detroit version of Springsteen Bob Seger, you 669 00:31:19,118 --> 00:31:20,838 Speaker 1: talk about turning it up? 670 00:31:21,038 --> 00:31:23,118 Speaker 3: Yeah, driving the car at night. 671 00:31:23,438 --> 00:31:26,478 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean it's sort of like the old kind 672 00:31:26,518 --> 00:31:28,998 Speaker 1: of a Chris Stapleton. It's a combination of whiskey and 673 00:31:29,038 --> 00:31:33,518 Speaker 1: black leather in that voice, rolled me away. I could 674 00:31:33,518 --> 00:31:37,038 Speaker 1: play that over and over. There's certain classics that you know, 675 00:31:37,078 --> 00:31:40,078 Speaker 1: you get tired of. There's some songs I don't want 676 00:31:40,078 --> 00:31:42,078 Speaker 1: to hear a lot of times because kind of the 677 00:31:42,118 --> 00:31:43,038 Speaker 1: magic goes away. 678 00:31:43,358 --> 00:31:46,478 Speaker 3: And then there's others never gets old. 679 00:31:46,878 --> 00:31:47,278 Speaker 2: Agree. 680 00:31:47,398 --> 00:31:51,598 Speaker 4: I mean, there's there's the group that really come back 681 00:31:51,638 --> 00:31:54,398 Speaker 4: at you and you're going Detroit. But could I just 682 00:31:54,518 --> 00:31:57,958 Speaker 4: flip over the over the Pond? I mean, Nelton John 683 00:31:58,798 --> 00:32:01,398 Speaker 4: does that for me. Because of Lafayette College, because of 684 00:32:01,518 --> 00:32:05,918 Speaker 4: nineteen seventy one, seventy two, seventy three, when the Year 685 00:32:06,038 --> 00:32:09,678 Speaker 4: Song came out, and then eventually Leaveon and Tiny Dancer, 686 00:32:11,038 --> 00:32:15,838 Speaker 4: mad Man, Across the Water, Tumblewheat Connection. Those songs are 687 00:32:15,958 --> 00:32:20,758 Speaker 4: really not only wonderful and lyrical and but visceral for 688 00:32:20,838 --> 00:32:23,598 Speaker 4: me because it's a time period that I was growing 689 00:32:23,678 --> 00:32:29,598 Speaker 4: up and I was going from Hazelton to East Antallafayette College, 690 00:32:29,638 --> 00:32:32,758 Speaker 4: to Scratt and Red Sox of the Boulder Collegians, to 691 00:32:32,838 --> 00:32:36,598 Speaker 4: the Quad City Angels, and this these this music, when 692 00:32:36,598 --> 00:32:39,238 Speaker 4: this comes on, whenever I'll stop. I mean, like you 693 00:32:39,278 --> 00:32:42,918 Speaker 4: were suggesting, these never get tiring to me. This I 694 00:32:42,918 --> 00:32:45,398 Speaker 4: could hear every day and it still stops me and 695 00:32:45,758 --> 00:32:50,478 Speaker 4: regenerates or generates moments in time that are really valuable 696 00:32:50,518 --> 00:32:55,118 Speaker 4: to me. That kind of shaped informed me. So yeah, 697 00:32:55,198 --> 00:32:57,398 Speaker 4: you talk about secret, but I'll tell you Elton John 698 00:32:57,478 --> 00:33:01,798 Speaker 4: for me in that early seventies period more than anything 699 00:33:01,878 --> 00:33:04,558 Speaker 4: that time. And then Funeral for a Friend was a 700 00:33:04,558 --> 00:33:08,918 Speaker 4: song we played. They played every night at closing time 701 00:33:09,158 --> 00:33:12,518 Speaker 4: at the Dark Horse in Boulder, Colorado in nineteen seventy five, 702 00:33:12,958 --> 00:33:15,998 Speaker 4: and I could see Manny Cresco sitting up on a 703 00:33:16,038 --> 00:33:19,238 Speaker 4: partner's chair up on this makeshift stage and the well 704 00:33:19,278 --> 00:33:22,598 Speaker 4: drinks for sixty nine cents, and that included Chevis Regal, 705 00:33:22,678 --> 00:33:24,718 Speaker 4: and I would sit there and I would stay there 706 00:33:24,798 --> 00:33:28,238 Speaker 4: all to that very last note from Funeral for a Friend, 707 00:33:28,598 --> 00:33:32,118 Speaker 4: which still till today. I will listen to that song 708 00:33:32,198 --> 00:33:35,118 Speaker 4: form beginning to end. So you can talk about singer, 709 00:33:35,198 --> 00:33:40,518 Speaker 4: but Elton John is the one that really captures my imagination, 710 00:33:40,718 --> 00:33:44,118 Speaker 4: my visceral component of my being. I mean, because that 711 00:33:44,158 --> 00:33:45,798 Speaker 4: brings me back to where all this began. 712 00:33:46,678 --> 00:33:52,958 Speaker 1: Well, those songs, man, those were compositions, musical and literal compositions, 713 00:33:53,358 --> 00:33:56,998 Speaker 1: Elton and Bernie Toppen, the lyrics just I mean, they 714 00:33:56,998 --> 00:33:58,118 Speaker 1: were like great novels. 715 00:33:58,518 --> 00:34:00,518 Speaker 3: Very few of those songs get made these days. 716 00:34:00,558 --> 00:34:03,278 Speaker 1: Of course, everything has to be shorter, but it's probably 717 00:34:03,278 --> 00:34:05,078 Speaker 1: the reason why you ever get tired of it as well. 718 00:34:05,118 --> 00:34:08,278 Speaker 1: They're so rich and by the way, unfortunately we had 719 00:34:08,358 --> 00:34:11,678 Speaker 1: to say goodbye to Gordon Lightfoot this week. How about 720 00:34:11,718 --> 00:34:16,838 Speaker 1: that Canadian Troupidour. What a voice, what a musical storyteller. 721 00:34:17,718 --> 00:34:21,278 Speaker 1: I mean, the guy wrote a song about a metal 722 00:34:21,438 --> 00:34:23,838 Speaker 1: or cargo ship that's sunk on the Great Lakes and 723 00:34:23,878 --> 00:34:26,918 Speaker 1: it became like a number one hit on pop radio. 724 00:34:27,358 --> 00:34:32,478 Speaker 1: That tells you how good Gordon Light's voice and writing was. 725 00:34:32,878 --> 00:34:33,238 Speaker 2: Yeah. 726 00:34:33,278 --> 00:34:36,518 Speaker 1: So Gordon Lightfoot, did he get on your radar at 727 00:34:36,558 --> 00:34:37,678 Speaker 1: all over those years? 728 00:34:37,878 --> 00:34:38,918 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, oh yeah. 729 00:34:38,958 --> 00:34:41,718 Speaker 4: And I would imagine as you're talking about that, and 730 00:34:41,838 --> 00:34:44,238 Speaker 4: it's just trying to tie things or just tying things. 731 00:34:44,038 --> 00:34:45,198 Speaker 2: Together because it happens. 732 00:34:46,038 --> 00:34:47,878 Speaker 4: I would almost bet when he sat down and write that. 733 00:34:47,918 --> 00:34:49,758 Speaker 4: It was one true sentence, like he was sitting down, 734 00:34:49,758 --> 00:34:51,918 Speaker 4: I'm gonna write a song. Watch this cargo ship on 735 00:34:51,958 --> 00:34:52,718 Speaker 4: the lake right. 736 00:34:53,278 --> 00:34:54,318 Speaker 2: And how do you do that? 737 00:34:54,518 --> 00:34:56,798 Speaker 4: And it just had to like start with one sentence 738 00:34:56,798 --> 00:35:00,158 Speaker 4: and then everything begat or got the next sentence. 739 00:35:00,518 --> 00:35:02,438 Speaker 1: Well, I'll tell you one thing he did do, Joe, 740 00:35:02,438 --> 00:35:06,238 Speaker 1: and this speaks to his personality. Before he recorded that song, 741 00:35:06,678 --> 00:35:11,798 Speaker 1: he actually spoke with surviving members of the families just 742 00:35:11,838 --> 00:35:14,238 Speaker 1: to make sure it was cool that he was writing 743 00:35:14,278 --> 00:35:14,798 Speaker 1: this song. 744 00:35:14,918 --> 00:35:17,638 Speaker 3: That I mean, I think he expected it. 745 00:35:17,598 --> 00:35:20,198 Speaker 1: To be as big as it was, but wanted to 746 00:35:20,238 --> 00:35:22,398 Speaker 1: honor the privacy and the grieving of the families. He 747 00:35:22,438 --> 00:35:24,118 Speaker 1: tracked them down and said, hey, this is what I 748 00:35:24,158 --> 00:35:27,558 Speaker 1: want to do. That to me speaks volumes. 749 00:35:28,238 --> 00:35:30,198 Speaker 2: I love it. I didn't know that, of course I 750 00:35:30,198 --> 00:35:30,918 Speaker 2: didn't know that, but I. 751 00:35:30,878 --> 00:35:32,078 Speaker 3: Love that well. 752 00:35:32,358 --> 00:35:35,118 Speaker 1: Gordon Lightfoot, if you haven't heard of him, check him out. 753 00:35:35,198 --> 00:35:37,638 Speaker 1: I was talking to Nick Pavetta the other day, Boston 754 00:35:37,638 --> 00:35:41,078 Speaker 1: Red Sox Pitcher. He's Canadian, had not heard of Gordon Lightfoot. 755 00:35:41,198 --> 00:35:44,998 Speaker 1: Courts a completely different era. I get it, but he's 756 00:35:45,038 --> 00:35:47,198 Speaker 1: sort of like a Bob Dylan of Canada. If you 757 00:35:47,238 --> 00:35:51,718 Speaker 1: ask me, it's the nation holds his work very dearly 758 00:35:51,758 --> 00:35:53,558 Speaker 1: and very proudly as well they should. 759 00:35:54,958 --> 00:35:57,198 Speaker 3: Joe, Well, this has been fascinating. 760 00:35:57,278 --> 00:36:01,798 Speaker 1: We talked a lot about fast starts, impressions, slow starts 761 00:36:01,798 --> 00:36:02,358 Speaker 1: of teams. 762 00:36:03,918 --> 00:36:05,398 Speaker 3: Give me one team as we. 763 00:36:05,278 --> 00:36:08,518 Speaker 1: Get out of here, you've got your eye on that 764 00:36:08,598 --> 00:36:11,398 Speaker 1: you think is going to hold up and be real 765 00:36:11,478 --> 00:36:13,958 Speaker 1: like a dark horse team this year that's not going 766 00:36:13,998 --> 00:36:16,478 Speaker 1: to fade. I'm not saying they're in the postseason, but 767 00:36:16,598 --> 00:36:19,278 Speaker 1: you think at least in it for the long haul. 768 00:36:19,798 --> 00:36:22,518 Speaker 4: Baltimore, And because they did it last year, you know 769 00:36:22,558 --> 00:36:25,678 Speaker 4: they got close last year. They smelled it. They smelled 770 00:36:25,678 --> 00:36:30,318 Speaker 4: it last year. They've they're slowly and they steadily have 771 00:36:30,358 --> 00:36:33,958 Speaker 4: been developing their culture and their method of operation. And 772 00:36:33,998 --> 00:36:35,838 Speaker 4: I know the people that are running it, and I 773 00:36:35,918 --> 00:36:37,638 Speaker 4: kind of like that a lot. I know Brandon Hyde 774 00:36:37,638 --> 00:36:41,638 Speaker 4: well hiders a man's man. He's not he knows what 775 00:36:41,678 --> 00:36:46,438 Speaker 4: he believes in. He'll have tough conversations. They got some 776 00:36:46,478 --> 00:36:49,398 Speaker 4: of the better young players in the American League. I 777 00:36:49,398 --> 00:36:52,398 Speaker 4: think they're going to pitch enough, so I don't think 778 00:36:52,398 --> 00:36:54,318 Speaker 4: they're going to fade. And again, I think a lot 779 00:36:54,358 --> 00:36:56,118 Speaker 4: has to do with what they had done last year 780 00:36:56,438 --> 00:36:59,878 Speaker 4: that matters. It's no different than he went to Raise 781 00:36:59,918 --> 00:37:01,958 Speaker 4: in two thousand and seven. I know the record wasn't good, 782 00:37:01,958 --> 00:37:04,438 Speaker 4: but after we got Danny Wheeler at the end of 783 00:37:04,478 --> 00:37:07,478 Speaker 4: that year and they go into the next season with 784 00:37:07,518 --> 00:37:10,638 Speaker 4: the new name. When from the devil race of the Rays, 785 00:37:10,678 --> 00:37:14,678 Speaker 4: A lot had been built in that two thousand and 786 00:37:14,718 --> 00:37:16,598 Speaker 4: seven season that permitted two thousand and eight, and then 787 00:37:16,638 --> 00:37:19,638 Speaker 4: with the fifteen Wow, the fifteen Cubs. I mean, that 788 00:37:19,718 --> 00:37:21,998 Speaker 4: was a big surprise. Nobody even talks about that. But 789 00:37:23,198 --> 00:37:24,998 Speaker 4: if you look at that roster and how that team 790 00:37:25,038 --> 00:37:26,838 Speaker 4: was built, in the names of that group, and the 791 00:37:26,878 --> 00:37:29,958 Speaker 4: fact that we went to the NLCS, that's pretty impressive. 792 00:37:30,318 --> 00:37:31,838 Speaker 4: But then you go to the World Series next year 793 00:37:31,878 --> 00:37:33,558 Speaker 4: based on what you built in fifteen. 794 00:37:34,718 --> 00:37:35,798 Speaker 2: So yeah, I'm. 795 00:37:35,598 --> 00:37:38,398 Speaker 4: Excited about the Orioles. I listen, I like what the 796 00:37:38,438 --> 00:37:42,078 Speaker 4: Pirates are doing. Anytime you see speed in youth and pitching, 797 00:37:42,158 --> 00:37:45,598 Speaker 4: I'm in. I mean, it's hard to go wrong with that. 798 00:37:45,798 --> 00:37:46,998 Speaker 4: Of course, you got to catch the ball, and I 799 00:37:46,998 --> 00:37:51,198 Speaker 4: think you're athletic and you're quick, you're going to get 800 00:37:51,198 --> 00:37:53,878 Speaker 4: guys in position to catch the ball. But pitching and 801 00:37:53,918 --> 00:37:55,918 Speaker 4: speed is very exciting. To me because in the end, 802 00:37:55,958 --> 00:37:57,958 Speaker 4: if your speed and athletic you probably got some pop. 803 00:37:58,278 --> 00:38:01,638 Speaker 4: You're annoying on a daily basis. So I like the 804 00:38:01,678 --> 00:38:04,038 Speaker 4: Pirates too, But I still think that what had what 805 00:38:04,078 --> 00:38:06,118 Speaker 4: Baltimore had done last year bleeds. 806 00:38:05,878 --> 00:38:06,438 Speaker 2: Into this year. 807 00:38:07,158 --> 00:38:10,678 Speaker 1: I'm with you on Baltimore, and I love your reasons there, 808 00:38:10,718 --> 00:38:14,678 Speaker 1: and especially after watching the way I call it ready baseball, 809 00:38:14,998 --> 00:38:17,478 Speaker 1: the new way of playing baseball has played out so 810 00:38:17,558 --> 00:38:18,878 Speaker 1: far in the first month of the season. 811 00:38:18,918 --> 00:38:19,998 Speaker 3: I'm talking about the new rules. 812 00:38:20,038 --> 00:38:23,838 Speaker 1: Obviously, you need speed, you need athletic system, you need 813 00:38:23,958 --> 00:38:27,038 Speaker 1: range on defense. Younger guys tend to be healthier than 814 00:38:27,038 --> 00:38:30,718 Speaker 1: older guys. I think the rules the game literally has 815 00:38:30,718 --> 00:38:33,678 Speaker 1: played faster, and we've seen older pitchers have a harder 816 00:38:33,718 --> 00:38:37,318 Speaker 1: time at the pace of the game. You know, even 817 00:38:37,358 --> 00:38:40,358 Speaker 1: your aerobic level is being tested. As a pitcher now, 818 00:38:40,438 --> 00:38:44,118 Speaker 1: you cannot slow the game down. Stolen bases now are 819 00:38:44,398 --> 00:38:46,918 Speaker 1: people are saying it's too easy. It's not too easy, folks. 820 00:38:46,958 --> 00:38:49,278 Speaker 1: That number of stolen bases it's the same as what 821 00:38:49,318 --> 00:38:51,798 Speaker 1: we saw in nineteen ninety seven. It's not like it's 822 00:38:51,838 --> 00:38:56,278 Speaker 1: a joke. But the percentage success rate is higher than 823 00:38:56,278 --> 00:38:58,798 Speaker 1: it's ever been it's over eighty percent, and I think 824 00:38:58,878 --> 00:39:02,398 Speaker 1: teams will start running more, and teams like Baltimore, teams 825 00:39:02,558 --> 00:39:08,238 Speaker 1: like Arizona, teams like Pittsburgh can leverage these rules better 826 00:39:08,998 --> 00:39:11,838 Speaker 1: then the guys with the big bodies, the older players. 827 00:39:13,078 --> 00:39:14,998 Speaker 1: I'm going with the Orioles as well, Joe. I think 828 00:39:14,998 --> 00:39:17,158 Speaker 1: it's a great pick. I like what I see. You've 829 00:39:17,158 --> 00:39:21,198 Speaker 1: got Rushman, You've got Henderson, two franchise players up the middle. 830 00:39:21,198 --> 00:39:23,678 Speaker 1: They should get John Means back sometime during the middle 831 00:39:23,678 --> 00:39:25,518 Speaker 1: of the season from the Tommy John surgery. 832 00:39:26,158 --> 00:39:28,318 Speaker 3: A lot of good things happening for the Baltimore Orioles. 833 00:39:28,318 --> 00:39:28,758 Speaker 3: A great call. 834 00:39:29,318 --> 00:39:31,358 Speaker 4: Let me ask you this too about the running game. 835 00:39:32,078 --> 00:39:33,518 Speaker 4: Has there been an uptick and pitch out? 836 00:39:33,518 --> 00:39:35,878 Speaker 2: So? I haven't noticed that. Is anybody pitching out? Is 837 00:39:35,878 --> 00:39:39,798 Speaker 2: it still non existent? Yeah? 838 00:39:40,158 --> 00:39:43,558 Speaker 3: I saw Bob Melvin call a pitch out. It's rare. 839 00:39:43,678 --> 00:39:46,798 Speaker 1: I mean, we went from none, as you know, to 840 00:39:47,438 --> 00:39:51,438 Speaker 1: a rare pitch out. We're not seeing that the way 841 00:39:51,478 --> 00:39:52,718 Speaker 1: we did back in the eighties. 842 00:39:53,398 --> 00:39:55,998 Speaker 4: Truth be told, I've had it even the last couple years, 843 00:39:56,038 --> 00:39:58,198 Speaker 4: but I've had a disguised pitch out right because they 844 00:39:58,198 --> 00:39:59,918 Speaker 4: didn't want anybody to know what we're doing, and it 845 00:39:59,998 --> 00:40:02,158 Speaker 4: wasn't an elevated pitch. I want Tom catch her off 846 00:40:02,158 --> 00:40:04,798 Speaker 4: the plate so that he did not have to come 847 00:40:04,838 --> 00:40:06,478 Speaker 4: out of his stance. So we would call a pitch 848 00:40:06,518 --> 00:40:10,118 Speaker 4: out and the catcher would say, I'm noticeably outside. Now, 849 00:40:10,118 --> 00:40:13,038 Speaker 4: if somebody's watching on TV, they might come back to 850 00:40:13,078 --> 00:40:15,598 Speaker 4: the dugout and tell whomever that was a pitch out. 851 00:40:15,678 --> 00:40:20,958 Speaker 4: And that's possible, but I still, for me, under the 852 00:40:21,038 --> 00:40:25,158 Speaker 4: circumstances today, I think I believe that I would want 853 00:40:25,198 --> 00:40:28,158 Speaker 4: more noticeable pitch outs to give teams something to think 854 00:40:28,198 --> 00:40:33,238 Speaker 4: about so that they would not be as readily just 855 00:40:33,278 --> 00:40:36,318 Speaker 4: wanting to run. And what's the deal. I mean, if 856 00:40:36,358 --> 00:40:39,198 Speaker 4: teams are going to easily steal the bag, why would 857 00:40:39,198 --> 00:40:42,158 Speaker 4: you not pitch out even after your two throwovers, knowing 858 00:40:42,158 --> 00:40:43,638 Speaker 4: that they're going to run? And really like, if you 859 00:40:43,678 --> 00:40:47,918 Speaker 4: do advanced scouting, putting that in player, even if you're 860 00:40:48,038 --> 00:40:51,638 Speaker 4: wrong again, that prevents them. So there's a seat of 861 00:40:51,638 --> 00:40:53,798 Speaker 4: doubt that needs to be planet here somewhere, and I'm 862 00:40:53,838 --> 00:40:57,478 Speaker 4: just curious that just moves further along if you're going 863 00:40:57,558 --> 00:41:01,558 Speaker 4: to see some natural pitchouts again, And then, like we 864 00:41:01,598 --> 00:41:03,118 Speaker 4: have talked about, I don't even know this, but the 865 00:41:03,158 --> 00:41:06,038 Speaker 4: backpicks from the catcher to first base, like this is 866 00:41:06,038 --> 00:41:08,278 Speaker 4: where Wilson Contrares could really help a group. I know 867 00:41:08,358 --> 00:41:11,758 Speaker 4: that from and then Dave David Ross back in the day. 868 00:41:11,798 --> 00:41:14,598 Speaker 4: So pitch outs, back picks, whatever, there's got to be 869 00:41:14,598 --> 00:41:17,998 Speaker 4: a little bit more creative methods or are more aggressive methods, 870 00:41:18,038 --> 00:41:21,638 Speaker 4: taking some chances to make the other team think about 871 00:41:21,638 --> 00:41:24,198 Speaker 4: it a little bit and not be so cavalier in 872 00:41:24,238 --> 00:41:25,718 Speaker 4: regards to running without worrying. 873 00:41:26,758 --> 00:41:28,878 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's just cool to see that the stolen base 874 00:41:28,918 --> 00:41:31,798 Speaker 1: itself is back in as even the threat, you know, 875 00:41:32,438 --> 00:41:35,198 Speaker 1: you know, after the first disengagement, I start thinking, you know, 876 00:41:35,198 --> 00:41:37,678 Speaker 1: the guys should run next pitch after two straight or 877 00:41:37,798 --> 00:41:40,318 Speaker 1: two In a plate appearance, I would run all the 878 00:41:40,358 --> 00:41:43,238 Speaker 1: time on first move. Ye, I'm surprised that hasn't happened 879 00:41:43,238 --> 00:41:45,478 Speaker 1: more often. But even the idea that hey, this guy 880 00:41:45,558 --> 00:41:48,438 Speaker 1: might be running. Yeah, oh man, it's nineteen eighties all 881 00:41:48,478 --> 00:41:48,878 Speaker 1: over again. 882 00:41:48,958 --> 00:41:49,278 Speaker 3: It's great. 883 00:41:49,318 --> 00:41:50,558 Speaker 2: It's good stuff. It is good stuff. 884 00:41:50,638 --> 00:41:53,558 Speaker 1: Yes, all right, speaking of good stuff, Joe, you got 885 00:41:53,558 --> 00:41:56,278 Speaker 1: something to take us home on this latest edition of 886 00:41:56,278 --> 00:41:57,318 Speaker 1: the Book of Joe. 887 00:41:58,118 --> 00:42:01,758 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think he was speaking to me. Albert Einstein 888 00:42:02,838 --> 00:42:05,598 Speaker 4: pretty good mind. It just happened upon this yesterday. I 889 00:42:05,598 --> 00:42:08,758 Speaker 4: thought it was great. No one is remembered for being normal. 890 00:42:10,518 --> 00:42:14,518 Speaker 4: Albert Einstein had said that, and I have all My 891 00:42:14,918 --> 00:42:16,638 Speaker 4: line was, you have to be a little bit crazy 892 00:42:16,638 --> 00:42:18,838 Speaker 4: to be great. I guess it's kind of the same thing. 893 00:42:19,518 --> 00:42:22,558 Speaker 4: But no one is remembered for being normal. Albert el 894 00:42:22,598 --> 00:42:24,278 Speaker 4: Einstein said that, I think it's wonderful. 895 00:42:24,598 --> 00:42:25,238 Speaker 3: I love that. 896 00:42:26,118 --> 00:42:28,358 Speaker 2: It's very encouraging. It's very you and Albert. 897 00:42:28,798 --> 00:42:31,198 Speaker 3: You guys. I can see you guys hanging out together 898 00:42:31,318 --> 00:42:31,998 Speaker 3: back in the day. 899 00:42:32,158 --> 00:42:34,038 Speaker 2: Yeah, very encouraging to me. 900 00:42:36,358 --> 00:42:37,358 Speaker 3: See you next time. Joe. 901 00:42:37,478 --> 00:42:38,438 Speaker 2: All right, buddy, thank you. 902 00:42:47,798 --> 00:42:50,998 Speaker 1: The Book of Joe podcast is a production of iHeart Radio. 903 00:42:51,238 --> 00:42:55,078 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from iHeart Radio, visit the iHeartRadio app, 904 00:42:55,118 --> 00:42:58,118 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.