1 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 1: Spencer Nstbaum joining us right now. He covers the Nationals 2 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:08,080 Speaker 1: for the Washington Post. Spencer, great to have you on 3 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: the show and perfect timing to have you on. So 4 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: tell Rangers fans first off, what they need to know 5 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: about Mackenzie Gore, who has just picked up to join 6 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:19,440 Speaker 1: a rotation that includes de grominy Baldi. 7 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 2: I was happy to be here. I'd say the biggest 8 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 2: thing for Rangers fans to know is that this is 9 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 2: a guy who has a lot of untapped upside. And 10 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 2: that sounds a little weird to say about a twenty 11 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:31,159 Speaker 2: six year olds who's been in the majors for a 12 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 2: few years now. But the biggest thing about Mackenzie is 13 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 2: he's got three plus pitches, He's got all this stuff, 14 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 2: and he's really someone who just hasn't fully been unlocked yet. 15 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:45,520 Speaker 2: Whether that's the National's fault, whether that's injuries, whether that's 16 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 2: you know something here there, the fact of the matter, 17 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:51,360 Speaker 2: he's looked like an all star pitcher at times during 18 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 2: his career, and he's looked like an incomplete project at others. 19 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 2: So I think what you're getting is a leader in 20 00:00:56,960 --> 00:01:00,080 Speaker 2: the room and someone who's probably going to be but 21 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 2: to tap into that in Texas. 22 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 3: Wait, it looks like an All Star pitcher? No? No, 23 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 3: he was in the All Star Game. He literally was 24 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 3: an All Star pitcher. What did you see in the 25 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 3: in the different the difference in the first half and 26 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 3: the second half. That won't again happen this next year 27 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 3: for the Rangers because obviously, if you if you paid 28 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 3: for the first half, the prospects that the Nats would 29 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 3: have been getting back in exchange would have been massively 30 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:31,039 Speaker 3: different than what they ended up getting. So what is 31 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 3: the difference in Where does he need to get to 32 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 3: be that first half pitcher all the time? Yeah? 33 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 2: And part of why I say it looks like an 34 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 2: All Star even though he was one, is because the 35 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 2: year before it was almost the same exact thing. It was, Hey, 36 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 2: great numbers, great strikeouts, and then in the second half 37 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 2: fallen off. I think I would attribute it to a 38 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 2: few things. The biggest thing is that his fastball, which 39 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 2: he loves to throw, is in the mid to upper nineties, 40 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 2: gets hit pretty hard, and I think teams start to 41 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 2: adjust to that as the course of the season goes 42 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 2: on and see it in the scouting report, and that's 43 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 2: that's kind of a big thing that was kind of 44 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 2: hit around in the second half. So I think it's 45 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 2: maybe trusting the secondaries, which are really, really, really good, 46 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 2: trusting them a little more. And I know Texas has 47 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 2: had a great kind of pitching operation in the past 48 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 2: handful of year, so I expect them to unlock that. 49 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:22,799 Speaker 2: In addition to that, I you know, McKenzie is someone 50 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 2: who's very in tune with his body, which has helped 51 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 2: him be athletic and be really good in these first halfs, 52 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 2: but there has been some fatigue I think in the 53 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 2: second half, whether or not he'll go out and admit it. 54 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 2: So just making sure that they have him on a 55 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 2: plan where they're not overstressing his arm, they're not overstressing 56 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 2: his body, and making sure that you can pitch through 57 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 2: a full year, because you know, the year before it 58 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,360 Speaker 2: was a drop in the arm angle. This year was 59 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 2: just the the stuff didn't work as well in the 60 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 2: second half. So I think it's a combination of making 61 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 2: sure his body is right and making sure he's storing 62 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 2: those secondaries a lot. 63 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 3: How much of his numbers or some of his subsequent 64 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 3: drop off year is a personnel around him. When I 65 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:05,520 Speaker 3: look at a guy that has leads the league two 66 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,799 Speaker 3: years in a row in wild pitches, the catching corps 67 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 3: has to take If I'm catching on that team, I 68 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 3: have to take some of the ownership in that. And 69 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 3: so when there's when that pops out to me, then 70 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:20,679 Speaker 3: how much is this defense that was playing behind him, 71 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 3: the fact that he was the number one, the fact 72 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 3: that he maybe cast more as like a number three 73 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:30,079 Speaker 3: with a hot high ceiling of a two. How much 74 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 3: of that was maybe dictated by the fact that, you know, 75 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 3: the people around him. Maybe it wasn't wasn't a very 76 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 3: good team, and he's super emotional. We've seen him yelled 77 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 3: his teammates, I think warrantedly, but you know his teammates, 78 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 3: it just seemed like there was something more there. Did 79 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 3: you see that on a day in and day out 80 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 3: basis within that? 81 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 2: I would kind of put that twofold to your point 82 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 2: about being a teammate. I think mackenzie grew a lot 83 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 2: as a leader the last year, you know, the year 84 00:03:57,240 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 2: before there was the incident where he and Nick Senzel 85 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 2: got into a bit of a scuffle in the in 86 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 2: the dugout. But kind of to your larger point here, 87 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 2: I think the biggest thing to know with McKenzie is, Yeah, 88 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 2: it is a lot of the stuff around him, Like 89 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 2: the defense behind him is one of the worst in baseball. 90 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 2: The catching defense has repeatedly been some of the worst 91 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 2: in baseball. That's taxing and that that goes into the numbers. 92 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 2: And I think that's why you saw the market for 93 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 2: McKenzie was so strong, is because teams thought like, not 94 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 2: only can we fix him, but we're going to give 95 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:34,920 Speaker 2: him better support when he's here. And you know, when 96 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 2: you talk about first half versus second half, it's the 97 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 2: same thing with everyone else in the Nationals. James Wood 98 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 2: had an unbelievable first half, fell off in the second. 99 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:48,040 Speaker 2: C j Abrams fantastic first half, fell off in the second. 100 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 2: You know. So it's you know, comparing pitchers and position 101 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 2: players isn't always one to one, but I think you 102 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 2: can see that maybe it was a trend with the Nationals. 103 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,359 Speaker 2: So Texas, I think should be able to fix that. 104 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 4: And here we go again with the Nationals to another rebuild. 105 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:05,479 Speaker 4: I mean, you had Rizzo as their guy and he 106 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 4: got fired for pretty much that situation. And now, if 107 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 4: I'm a fan, I mean, what are the fans thinking 108 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 4: right now? It's another go at it, so they got 109 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 4: to be a little frustrated now. 110 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 2: Absolutely, it's a very tough pill to swallow. I think, 111 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 2: you know, you started to figure it out, and maybe 112 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:25,039 Speaker 2: nationally last year, just how much the Nationals have struggled. 113 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 2: No one's lost more games than the Nationals other than 114 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 2: the Rockies since twenty twenty. It's been really brutal for 115 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 2: this fan base. I think there is a sect of 116 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 2: the fan base who is optimism just because hey, like 117 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 2: there wasn't a vision before, or there wasn't a strong 118 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 2: vision conveyed and there is one now. But it's really 119 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 2: really tough to say, hey, keep showing up to the 120 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,359 Speaker 2: ballpark when we haven't won more than seventy one games 121 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 2: since we won the World Series. Like, it's really brutal 122 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 2: on them, and I feel for them. What I would 123 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:56,160 Speaker 2: say is that I do like the hall that they 124 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 2: got back, but man, I do empathize with them because 125 00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:03,839 Speaker 2: it's not it's not a perfect picture. Right now. 126 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:08,720 Speaker 3: How much smoke did the fans actually take in from 127 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 3: from Rizzo saying we're close? He started he started selling 128 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:18,040 Speaker 3: that rhetoric towards the end of his tenure. Yeah, we're close. 129 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:21,719 Speaker 3: Fired his manager well, it's not me, it's these guys. 130 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 3: How much of that smoke do you think fans actually believe, like, oh, 131 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 3: we love Rizzo, we want us a World Series? And 132 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 3: do you think that that expectation with the rebuild now 133 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 3: was like wait a minute, there was way more smoke 134 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:39,119 Speaker 3: than there was actually any fire from what Rizzo was saying. 135 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I don't think the Nationals were ever 136 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 2: all that close to making the postseason or having those 137 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 2: sorts of aspirations last year. But the counterpoint of that, 138 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 2: and kind of what you're touching on is if you're 139 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:53,360 Speaker 2: in the fourth year over the rebuild, the fifth year 140 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 2: of the rebuild, you do have to do something or 141 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:58,039 Speaker 2: else there are going to be drastic changes. So yeah, 142 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 2: I understand from Rizzo's perspective in the front offices perspective 143 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:05,160 Speaker 2: of saying, maybe not that we're close, but hey, we've 144 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 2: got a product here to be proud of, and we're 145 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 2: going to take this big leap this year. Because I 146 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 2: think whether or not you say that, you're going to 147 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 2: draw frustration from your fans, because ultimately what matters is 148 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 2: how many wins you're putting out there. And the Nats 149 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 2: won sixty six games last year. So yeah, I think 150 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 2: that fans were right to be frustrated. Some did feel misled, 151 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 2: And I think to Bony has been very clear that 152 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 2: they have a long term vision and may not be 153 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 2: in October this year, which I think is a fair 154 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,679 Speaker 2: thing to say. But when you're a GM in charge 155 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 2: of a rebuild and it's fourth or fifth year, I 156 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 2: think I understand the impetus to kind of sell something. 157 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 4: Well, you're talking about selling too. So we got a 158 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:49,679 Speaker 4: question from the chat here basically asking who's next, who's 159 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 4: next in line to go? And you know, is this 160 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 4: going to happen sooner and later? What do you think? 161 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 3: So? 162 00:07:57,000 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 2: Andrew Golden and I at the Washington Post reported this 163 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 2: yesterday that the Nationals have shopped both shortstops CJ Abrams 164 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 2: and center fielder Jacob Young. At the moment, the price 165 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 2: on both of those guys is pretty high. Young is 166 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 2: a Gold Glove caliber center fielder whose bat hasn't really 167 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 2: caught up to that, whereas Abrams, again is kind of 168 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 2: not the position player version of Mackenzie but great first 169 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 2: has really high ceiling, but has struggled at times. And 170 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 2: so I think that's also baked into the package. There 171 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 2: As for when that happens, I wouldn't be shocked if 172 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 2: CJ's traded closer to the deadline than this winter. But 173 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 2: I would also say if he got traded a day 174 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 2: from now, I also wouldn't be all that shocked. And 175 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 2: I know that's maybe not a fair head, but I 176 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:48,720 Speaker 2: think the Nationals have more possibility to wait on CJ 177 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 2: than maybe they did with Mackenzie, given the injury risk there. 178 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 2: As for Jacob Young, they have a full outfield right 179 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 2: now and a number of exciting young players competing for 180 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 2: those spots, and so I would be shocked if you 181 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 2: know a team that's looking to really either upgrade in 182 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:08,840 Speaker 2: center field or get a really impact fourth outfielder. I 183 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 2: think that that the Nationals could be inclined to move him, 184 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 2: but neither of those moves is as much of a 185 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 2: certainty as I always felt that Mackenzie was. 186 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 3: This offseason all right, fans look at it and they say, Okay, 187 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 3: they're not spending in free agency. Something that somebody from 188 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 3: the Nats organization told me that I'm blows my mind. 189 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 3: Do you know what the traject system is? Correct? Yes? 190 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 3: Project For anybody who's listening, traject is the system where 191 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:37,199 Speaker 3: it's a pitching machine, but it shows any pitcher and 192 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:40,679 Speaker 3: it makes that pitch that that pitch or throws, and 193 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:43,680 Speaker 3: it shows essentially you're just facing this pitcher in the 194 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 3: batting cage. The Nats did not have this. Every big 195 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 3: league team had it. And Thents now have bought four 196 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 3: from the person that I found out from, two down 197 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 3: in the spring training complex, one in Rochester and one 198 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 3: in d See. For a team, a big league team 199 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 3: that truly wants to compete to be that far behind, 200 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 3: is this the free agent that they purchased, because that's 201 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 3: a round two million dollars for four of those machines. 202 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:13,319 Speaker 3: Maybe they got a discount because they bought in bulk, 203 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 3: but is this their free agent move? And how could 204 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 3: an organization that competes in Major League Baseball truly believe 205 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 3: that they're going to compete without one of the most 206 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 3: integral pieces of equipment that every other team has. 207 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:29,320 Speaker 2: I mean, I don't know if they shopped at Costco 208 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 2: to get a better deal art, but I will yeah, no, 209 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 2: it was a good purchase. What I will say is, 210 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 2: and I did some reporting on this last year. At 211 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 2: this point last year, I think they were one of 212 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 2: three or four teams that didn't have it in baseball. 213 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 2: But it really was egregious and I talked to players 214 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 2: at the time and said, hey, do you know what 215 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 2: this is? Are you interested in it? And almost every 216 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 2: single one of them said, yeah, we would love to 217 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:57,199 Speaker 2: have this. It's frustrating that we don't. We can make 218 00:10:57,280 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 2: do without it, but you know, when you think it's 219 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:02,439 Speaker 2: a it's a five hundred thousand dollars investment to get 220 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:04,560 Speaker 2: in the big leagues, and it could maybe help a 221 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:06,760 Speaker 2: guy pick up a couple extra hits a year or 222 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:10,959 Speaker 2: strike out a few less times. It was really really 223 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,440 Speaker 2: not good that the Nationals didn't have it. It has 224 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 2: become kind of the standard, and kind of the larger 225 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 2: point I would make here, even outside of traject is 226 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 2: that the Nationals are investing a lot this offseason, not 227 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 2: just in technology, but in you know, having more personnel 228 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:30,960 Speaker 2: in the player development side, and you know, adding to 229 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 2: those sorts of things as opposed to, hey, let's go 230 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 2: get you know, a big ticket free agent that we'd 231 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:39,559 Speaker 2: either have to overpay for who'd never want to come here. 232 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 2: So they're kind of looking at the roots and the 233 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 2: kind of the blueprint of the issue rather than maybe 234 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 2: plug and play, let's pay ped Alonzo two hundred million 235 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:53,320 Speaker 2: dollars and see what happens. So I think that there's 236 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 2: a way to kind of hedge with both approaches. But 237 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 2: the Nationals are definitely kind of investing more on that 238 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 2: side of things, and the traject is a great example 239 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 2: of something that they've done to add in that facet. 240 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 3: Anything, because we're talking money, anything new to report on 241 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 3: the sale of the team. Is this going to be 242 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 3: the standard wait and see what happens in the next 243 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 3: CBA and then hopefully we get this and that and 244 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 3: then that'll increase the franchise value. 245 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:23,560 Speaker 2: Nothing new on that front. I think, like most teams 246 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:25,679 Speaker 2: that it's just kind of in wait and see mode, 247 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:28,719 Speaker 2: see what happens with twenty twenty seven, and then move 248 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:31,160 Speaker 2: from there, which is all stuff we've covered in the past. 249 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 2: So nothing new to report. But you know, most fans 250 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:38,840 Speaker 2: that you talk to in DC are very frustrated with 251 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 2: this ownership group and have have asked, you know, obviously 252 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 2: for change. We will see what happens in twenty twenty 253 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 2: seven beyond. But I think they've taken some steps in 254 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 2: the right direction in terms of again putting the right 255 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 2: front office in place, putting the right coaching staff in place, 256 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 2: and getting some of those traject and other things paid for. 257 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:02,280 Speaker 2: But the Nats are still a ways away all. 258 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:04,320 Speaker 3: This to be said. They just got rid of Mackenzie Gore, 259 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 3: maybe cg Abrams, maybe Jacob Young. What's a good season 260 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 3: for the Nets? What is considered a good season for 261 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 3: a brand new general manager, a brand new entire coaching staff, 262 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:20,559 Speaker 3: and new manager on the field, and you lost your 263 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:23,560 Speaker 3: number one pitcher? What is a good season this year? 264 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 2: That's something that I've been trying to wrap my head 265 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 2: around too, because no fan wants to hear seventy one 266 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 2: wins as a good season. And I don't blame him. 267 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:36,680 Speaker 2: I think again, like and it sucks to sell this, 268 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 2: and I understand that it really is about the individual progress. 269 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:44,560 Speaker 2: It's like all of these guys, Dylan Lyle, who I'm 270 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:47,839 Speaker 2: really high on, James Woods, you know, whoever else has left, 271 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 2: Kid Cavali is it? Can they put together a full season? 272 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:55,120 Speaker 2: And I understand that that's frustrating, and you know, you'd want, 273 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 2: you know, at least like seventy five, seventy eight wins. 274 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 2: I think that'd be a great season. Frankly would be 275 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 2: to still be in it in August and kind of 276 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 2: early September. But yeah, for the most part, it's can 277 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:11,720 Speaker 2: the All stars look like stars? Can the role players 278 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 2: look like regulars? And can we get some sort of 279 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:18,040 Speaker 2: some sort of process here where it looks like, you know, 280 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 2: both the farm system and the big league club are 281 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:22,840 Speaker 2: having a better future. Which is way too vague of 282 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 2: an answer, but it's the best one I got at 283 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 2: the moment. 284 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 1: Top ten market, it's a top ten market. It's frustrating, 285 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 1: is it? 286 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:35,680 Speaker 3: Top ten? Mar Yeah, six seasons ago a World Series, Spencer, 287 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 3: it should not get to this point. 288 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 1: Spencer doesn't work for the team, but he covers them, 289 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 1: and it is frustrating. 290 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 3: Yeah. 291 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 2: Maybe maybe that Gus Marlin Weaver claim is going to 292 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 2: put them over the top. I don't know. 293 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 1: Discussed the next Louis, But hey, Spencer, this was fun. 294 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us, Thanks for the real talk, insight, 295 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 1: and we'll have you back. You'd appreciate it.