1
00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:07,160
Speaker 1: Hey, Will Salmon is back on foul territory. You can

2
00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:10,640
Speaker 1: follow him and his coverage in The Athletic, and right

3
00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:14,120
Speaker 1: now it's getting very interesting his coverage. Senior writer for

4
00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:16,799
Speaker 1: The Athletic, joining us covering the Mets all year. Well, Will,

5
00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:21,200
Speaker 1: here comes the roller coaster back down your thoughts on

6
00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:23,080
Speaker 1: what you're seeing lately from the Mets. But I want

7
00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:26,000
Speaker 1: to make sure we include the big picture here. The

8
00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:30,200
Speaker 1: Reds are two games back, which is really what like

9
00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,320
Speaker 1: one game back because if they're tied, the Reds actually

10
00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:35,440
Speaker 1: have the tiebreaker and would take them down for a

11
00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:38,000
Speaker 1: playoff spot no game one sixty three these days.

12
00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:41,560
Speaker 2: Yeah, you were very gracious, Scott with calling the coverage

13
00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:43,839
Speaker 2: interesting because it feels like it's kind of been like

14
00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:46,199
Speaker 2: the same story every day for a little while. And

15
00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:48,280
Speaker 2: it's been that way for a little while for the Mets,

16
00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:51,640
Speaker 2: even beyond this five game losing streak, because it keeps happening,

17
00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:55,720
Speaker 2: these streaks, and so it's very concerning when you're almost

18
00:00:55,760 --> 00:01:00,000
Speaker 2: at what midway point through a season, it's like seventy

19
00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:02,320
Speaker 2: seventies and the amount of games where they played fifteen

20
00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:05,520
Speaker 2: games below five hundred at this point, So that's highly

21
00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:06,880
Speaker 2: unusual for a team.

22
00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:08,840
Speaker 3: That's should be headed for the playoffs.

23
00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:11,760
Speaker 2: We think is headed for the playoffs, but that's all

24
00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:15,560
Speaker 2: but guaranteed at this point, obviously with just not only

25
00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:18,720
Speaker 2: the Reds, it's also the Giants too, and the Mets

26
00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:23,240
Speaker 2: own the tiebreaker over them, but like you said, it's

27
00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:26,640
Speaker 2: more than them. It's a three team race at this

28
00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:30,559
Speaker 2: point because of what the Mets have failed to accomplish,

29
00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:34,280
Speaker 2: and that's increased the distance between those teams. That really,

30
00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:36,360
Speaker 2: I don't know if you look at those teams and say, Okay,

31
00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,280
Speaker 2: those are playoff teams, I don't. I'm not really convinced

32
00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:41,760
Speaker 2: of that. But at this point, I'm not convinced of

33
00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:45,399
Speaker 2: the Mets either. Every day they tell us that they're

34
00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:49,840
Speaker 2: not good enough to be in the spot, especially lately,

35
00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:51,760
Speaker 2: and it's been that case for the past couple of months.

36
00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:55,080
Speaker 4: Really, who's the stopper. I'm not even just talking about

37
00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:59,040
Speaker 4: the rotation. I'm talking about like this team, Every good

38
00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:01,800
Speaker 4: team needs some But it says, okay, we've lost five

39
00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,760
Speaker 4: in a row, we're playing a division opponent that you

40
00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:09,520
Speaker 4: know what, we've annihilated him at home. I'm stepping up

41
00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,600
Speaker 4: to be the stopper. Sometimes some teams, it's like a

42
00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:15,760
Speaker 4: Terrek Scooble. It's an ax. Clearly this team doesn't have it.

43
00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:17,360
Speaker 4: And I know you're gonna point to like a Nolan

44
00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,480
Speaker 4: McClain and all that stuff, But is there somebody in

45
00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:24,600
Speaker 4: the offense, in the in the bullpen, somebody that can say,

46
00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:27,560
Speaker 4: you know what, this is the end, We're not losing today.

47
00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:29,679
Speaker 3: I'm not sure they have that guy.

48
00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:32,640
Speaker 2: I'm really not I think it should be somebody like

49
00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:35,760
Speaker 2: a Francisco Lindora or a mon Soto or somebody like that,

50
00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:39,840
Speaker 2: but I'm not convinced that that person in that specific

51
00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:43,600
Speaker 2: role exists. I think that they have players that exhibit

52
00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:47,000
Speaker 2: good leadership qualities in other ways. I think Lindor checks

53
00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:49,359
Speaker 2: a lot of boxes in that way, but I'm not

54
00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:52,519
Speaker 2: sure if he's the guy that is raw, raw, hey,

55
00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:54,640
Speaker 2: we're going to win this game today type of guy,

56
00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:58,680
Speaker 2: and he's that guy that sort of brings that edge

57
00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:01,919
Speaker 2: to the roster or to the clubhouse, I'm not sure.

58
00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:04,560
Speaker 2: And to be fair to the Mets, I'm not sure

59
00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,200
Speaker 2: if there are more than say five or six guys

60
00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:11,440
Speaker 2: in baseball who qualify for that sort of moniker'. That's

61
00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:12,880
Speaker 2: just not the way it is these days. I don't

62
00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:14,520
Speaker 2: think that there are too many guys who are very

63
00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:18,320
Speaker 2: vocal in that way. Unfortunately in a lot of cases.

64
00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:22,000
Speaker 2: And as far as the talent goes, yeah, they have

65
00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:25,280
Speaker 2: guys who will theoretically step up in those situations you

66
00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:28,359
Speaker 2: mentioned McLain. He could be that guy from a starting

67
00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:31,720
Speaker 2: pitching perspective, But the other day he threw a fairly

68
00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:34,519
Speaker 2: solid game and they lost, and they really can't afford

69
00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:38,360
Speaker 2: to be doing that anymore, and so it's not guaranteed there.

70
00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:43,240
Speaker 2: And mon Soto too has performed fairly well or exceptionally

71
00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:46,320
Speaker 2: well in some cases over the last few weeks, and

72
00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,720
Speaker 2: they've still suffered through this, and so I think it

73
00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:50,600
Speaker 2: goes beyond that.

74
00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:51,880
Speaker 3: But that's part of it.

75
00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:53,400
Speaker 2: I think that that is kind of part of it,

76
00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:55,640
Speaker 2: that in that clubhouse there may not be a guy

77
00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:58,320
Speaker 2: that rises to the occasion.

78
00:03:57,920 --> 00:03:58,720
Speaker 3: In that way.

79
00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:01,040
Speaker 2: And again, like Lindora is a great leader in some

80
00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:03,520
Speaker 2: ways and then some facets, but that may not be

81
00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:07,040
Speaker 2: one of the boxes that he checks off definitively.

82
00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:10,000
Speaker 5: Well, it's got to be a picture, though what picture

83
00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:12,400
Speaker 5: you mentioned, McClain. It's got to be a picture that

84
00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:15,240
Speaker 5: stuffs his guys I'm throwing a shutout tonight. Score me

85
00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:17,440
Speaker 5: one run. Do the Mets have that guy? Because I

86
00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,080
Speaker 5: don't see that. Even McLain, you mentioned he pitched pretty well,

87
00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:23,239
Speaker 5: he gave up one run and lost. They lost one nothing,

88
00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:27,080
Speaker 5: So Manaiah hasn't been at that guy. Peterson's been their best,

89
00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:29,920
Speaker 5: but he struggled lately. Senga's in triple A tong?

90
00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:30,600
Speaker 3: Is it tong?

91
00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:33,880
Speaker 5: He's too young, right, I mean, is it sprout? I mean,

92
00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:35,839
Speaker 5: who can it be? Because it has to be a picture,

93
00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:37,680
Speaker 5: Like you can say, oh, the lineup has to do this,

94
00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:40,599
Speaker 5: but their lineup doesn't always come around to Lindor Soto

95
00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,880
Speaker 5: Alonso in big situations. So who's the picture that they

96
00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:45,440
Speaker 5: can count on to say, all right, guys, I'm gonna

97
00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:47,520
Speaker 5: give you six shutty, go score once so we can

98
00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:49,440
Speaker 5: get the ball to Diaz in the ninth and we

99
00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:51,039
Speaker 5: can finish this game off and get a win and

100
00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:52,040
Speaker 5: get get straightened out.

101
00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:54,440
Speaker 3: Yeah, for me, it's going to be McLain.

102
00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:57,360
Speaker 2: He's to me, he has exemplified and he has exhibited

103
00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:00,280
Speaker 2: the marks of a quality pitcher, if not even a

104
00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:02,400
Speaker 2: number one type of guy. For me, he would be

105
00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:04,200
Speaker 2: their Game one pitcher. And it's kind of a shame

106
00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:06,760
Speaker 2: because in him, I do think that they have a

107
00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:09,039
Speaker 2: game one pitcher. It's just will they have a Game

108
00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:11,760
Speaker 2: one to play? I don't know, maybe, but.

109
00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:13,360
Speaker 3: I feel like McLain is that guy.

110
00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:16,760
Speaker 2: And yes, you pointed rightfully so to that game recently

111
00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:19,240
Speaker 2: where he did throw a fairly good game and they

112
00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:21,479
Speaker 2: ended up losing, But that's not on him. I think

113
00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:23,800
Speaker 2: that he has done everything throughout his five starts to

114
00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:26,440
Speaker 2: put them in a position to win each of those games,

115
00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:28,080
Speaker 2: and then four of them they have, and then that

116
00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,520
Speaker 2: one they didn't because they're just not clicking on the

117
00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:32,600
Speaker 2: other facets of the game.

118
00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:36,480
Speaker 3: So McLain I like a lot of what he has shown.

119
00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:38,680
Speaker 3: I think everybody has. He is that guy.

120
00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,599
Speaker 2: For me, it's just a shame because they don't have

121
00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:44,919
Speaker 2: anybody who is really coming close to being that otherwise, because,

122
00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:48,280
Speaker 2: like you mentioned, Peterson had been that guy for a while.

123
00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:50,640
Speaker 2: He has lately stumbled, and I think that's going to

124
00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:52,560
Speaker 2: come with the territory a little bit. With just the

125
00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,119
Speaker 2: style of pitcher that he is, you have more balls

126
00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:58,240
Speaker 2: in play with him. He's not somebody that racks up strikeouts,

127
00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:00,000
Speaker 2: so the ball will be there and if your defense

128
00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,120
Speaker 2: is not on par, which a lot of times for

129
00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:04,960
Speaker 2: the Mets it has not been, sometimes it's not going

130
00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:07,440
Speaker 2: to look that as good as it otherwise would. So

131
00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:09,840
Speaker 2: that's been the issue there. And then, like you mentioned,

132
00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:12,360
Speaker 2: you went through the list. Aj Manaya has not been

133
00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:15,320
Speaker 2: that guy. Saga's in triple A, Clay Holmes has not

134
00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:17,720
Speaker 2: been that guy. So that and then the other two

135
00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:19,680
Speaker 2: rookies that you mentioned have a combined what two or

136
00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:22,839
Speaker 2: three starts between them, so they're not going to be

137
00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:25,960
Speaker 2: that guy quite yet. So that's the situation that they're in.

138
00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:30,280
Speaker 2: They're just not getting quality or length from their veterans

139
00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:32,040
Speaker 2: in that rotation, and it's really put them in a

140
00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:35,240
Speaker 2: bind because you're asking a lot of the bullpen, and

141
00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:37,120
Speaker 2: the bullpen has not been as good as it should be,

142
00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:39,960
Speaker 2: and then you're relying on the offense, which has been

143
00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:41,200
Speaker 2: widely inconsistent.

144
00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:46,560
Speaker 1: We are longtime fans of Omaha Steaks and I am

145
00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:50,480
Speaker 1: drooling looking at the website right now featuring USDA certified

146
00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:53,400
Speaker 1: Tender Steaks and also during their red Hot sale event

147
00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:55,800
Speaker 1: going on right now this fall, fifty percent off site

148
00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:58,760
Speaker 1: wide at Omaha steaks dot com. Plus for the ftfam

149
00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:01,920
Speaker 1: an extra thirty five dollars off with promo code epoul

150
00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,440
Speaker 1: at checkout. You've been a big fan of Omaha Steaks

151
00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:05,600
Speaker 1: since your early days as a pro.

152
00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:08,000
Speaker 5: Brings me back to my A ball low a ball

153
00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:09,960
Speaker 5: days because we used to survive on this. We get

154
00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:11,840
Speaker 5: a big order at the beginning of the year, cook

155
00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:15,240
Speaker 5: him on our little electra grill canapeas so mac and cheese.

156
00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,200
Speaker 5: That was dinner for four. We survived off Omaha Steaks

157
00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:19,880
Speaker 5: and still has a special place in my heart.

158
00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:23,880
Speaker 1: You thrived well, you guys ate like kings. Yeah, that's special.

159
00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:26,440
Speaker 1: Get fired up for Paul grilling with Omaha Steaks. Visit

160
00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:28,880
Speaker 1: Omaha Steaks dot com for fifty percent off site wide

161
00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:31,000
Speaker 1: during the red Hot Sale event and for an extra

162
00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:34,760
Speaker 1: thirty five bucks off promo code foul a checkout fifty

163
00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:37,400
Speaker 1: percent off at Omaha Steaks dot Com and an extra

164
00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:40,720
Speaker 1: thirty five dollars off with promo code epoul at checkout

165
00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:44,480
Speaker 1: see site for details. Dig in, what.

166
00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:49,080
Speaker 4: Is the reason that a thirty to thirty season from

167
00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:52,440
Speaker 4: Juan Soto just kind of got glossed over? Was it

168
00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,480
Speaker 4: the fact that he stole third down by five and

169
00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:57,760
Speaker 4: it was kind of a look at me, I'm gonna

170
00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,360
Speaker 4: get my stats with two outs and get that. Or

171
00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,280
Speaker 4: is it the fact that when you sign a seven

172
00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:08,840
Speaker 4: hundred million dollar contract that fans and even some media

173
00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:12,400
Speaker 4: kind of expect great things like thirty thirty and we

174
00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:13,560
Speaker 4: just gloss over it.

175
00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:21,280
Speaker 2: He's the highest paid player ever we and he's paid

176
00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:23,520
Speaker 2: that much because of what he does as a hitter,

177
00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:26,640
Speaker 2: right Like that's he is in the top one percent

178
00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:29,200
Speaker 2: of hitters. That's why he is paid. He is not

179
00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:32,800
Speaker 2: in the top one percent of base running or defense

180
00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:36,040
Speaker 2: things like that. He is a hitter and he is very,

181
00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:39,439
Speaker 2: very very good generational talent at that, and so that's

182
00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,440
Speaker 2: why he's getting paid that amount of money. And I

183
00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:44,680
Speaker 2: think when that happens, we look at his numbers and

184
00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:46,720
Speaker 2: we say, Okay, he should also be doing this, that

185
00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:49,120
Speaker 2: and the other thing, and that's just never been the

186
00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:52,480
Speaker 2: case for him. So and with the stole mass, yes,

187
00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:55,520
Speaker 2: it's some of that has happened where he has been

188
00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:58,679
Speaker 2: a little bit too aggressive with it and it almost

189
00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:01,960
Speaker 2: feels like he's just kind of doing it in weird spots.

190
00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:04,920
Speaker 2: And you pointed, rightfully so to the last slow base

191
00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:07,480
Speaker 2: where it was they were down five late in the game,

192
00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:10,199
Speaker 2: and it was it was irrelevant and it just was

193
00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:13,080
Speaker 2: not a team kind of first played because it didn't

194
00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:14,040
Speaker 2: really change anything.

195
00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:15,560
Speaker 3: It wasn't going to change anything.

196
00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:17,960
Speaker 2: They were still going to have a lot of work

197
00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:19,840
Speaker 2: ahead of them to win that game, whether he steals

198
00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:23,040
Speaker 2: third base or not in that situation. So when that

199
00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:26,240
Speaker 2: starts to happen, it loses its luster a little bit.

200
00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:30,079
Speaker 2: And a lot of his stolen bases, frankly, have happened

201
00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:32,719
Speaker 2: since August, and so I think the number kind of

202
00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:35,120
Speaker 2: crept up on a lot of people where yes, he

203
00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:38,280
Speaker 2: was showing signs of like being a threat on the

204
00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:41,320
Speaker 2: basis for a little while, even though he is not fast,

205
00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:44,240
Speaker 2: he has been doing it in other ways, getting big jumps,

206
00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:46,679
Speaker 2: that kind of thing. But it all kind of picked

207
00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:49,520
Speaker 2: up the pace in August, and I think he set

208
00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:52,000
Speaker 2: his sights on thirty stolen bases, and now he may

209
00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:54,760
Speaker 2: set his sights on forty. I think that that's it's

210
00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:56,720
Speaker 2: in the realm of possibility. Even though we're down to

211
00:09:57,240 --> 00:09:59,760
Speaker 2: sixteen games left in the season for the Mets. The

212
00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:02,280
Speaker 2: way that he is running, I think it's all on

213
00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:06,120
Speaker 2: the list of possibilities for Soda.

214
00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:08,840
Speaker 5: Well, the main question is are the Mets fans happy

215
00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:11,200
Speaker 5: with Wan Soda his first year. I mean, look at

216
00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:13,319
Speaker 5: the numbers. The numbers are nine to twenty one ops,

217
00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:17,120
Speaker 5: nine to twenty ops around there are the Mets fans happy?

218
00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:19,520
Speaker 5: And is this maybe the better way to put it?

219
00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:21,880
Speaker 5: Is this a hollow thirty thirty especially if the Mets

220
00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:24,840
Speaker 5: don't make the postseason? Because you mentioned the stolen bases?

221
00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:27,440
Speaker 5: He had a home run down eleven to two last night.

222
00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:30,960
Speaker 5: But is this what the Mets fans expected or do

223
00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:32,680
Speaker 5: they want more? Has this been a good year for

224
00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,800
Speaker 5: Wan Soda? Not numbers wise, but according to Mets fans,

225
00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:37,480
Speaker 5: which is as we know in New York, it's all

226
00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:38,400
Speaker 5: that really matters.

227
00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:41,520
Speaker 2: Yeah, and the context is everything right Again, he's the

228
00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:44,560
Speaker 2: highest paid player in baseball history, and we have these

229
00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:45,720
Speaker 2: huge expectations.

230
00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:48,439
Speaker 3: So yeah, I think he's having a great season, even

231
00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:49,640
Speaker 3: by Mets fans measures.

232
00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:53,439
Speaker 2: And that may not have been my cake maybe a

233
00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:56,920
Speaker 2: month ago, but since say August, he has really really

234
00:10:56,960 --> 00:10:59,960
Speaker 2: turned it on. And yeah, the last couple of games

235
00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:02,600
Speaker 2: it's been like the equivalent of racking up some style

236
00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:05,640
Speaker 2: points in garbage time. But I would not pin that

237
00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:08,440
Speaker 2: on mon Soto. I mean, that's the Mets problem as

238
00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:10,120
Speaker 2: a team, and I think a lot of fans now

239
00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:13,960
Speaker 2: have seen that Juan Soto has sort of he has

240
00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:16,719
Speaker 2: risen to the occasion here late in the season, and

241
00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:17,280
Speaker 2: I don't think you.

242
00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:17,960
Speaker 3: Could take that away.

243
00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:20,679
Speaker 2: There was a game against Detroit where they don't win

244
00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:24,000
Speaker 2: that game unless Wansda performs the way that Wansta performs,

245
00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:27,400
Speaker 2: where he had the Grand Slam and the triple. You know,

246
00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:30,320
Speaker 2: he just he won them that game, and that's been happening.

247
00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:32,840
Speaker 2: So my answer would have been different a month ago,

248
00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:36,760
Speaker 2: because that was not happening. He was failing in critical spots.

249
00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:39,160
Speaker 2: His numbers with runners and scoring position were not good.

250
00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:43,440
Speaker 2: But that has changed lately. And so I know some

251
00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:46,760
Speaker 2: of the instances and examples that you cited are not

252
00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:49,400
Speaker 2: great for this conversation, But that's also a little bit

253
00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:52,200
Speaker 2: of like recency there with just the past couple of games.

254
00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:54,520
Speaker 2: But when you look at just since August, I think

255
00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:56,960
Speaker 2: he's redeemed himself in a lot of Mets fans' eyes,

256
00:11:57,080 --> 00:12:00,160
Speaker 2: and they look at this, I think, at least as

257
00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:03,719
Speaker 2: the team is sort of is crumbling, whereas he's been

258
00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:06,280
Speaker 2: like one of the only guys who have steadily performed

259
00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:09,679
Speaker 2: since August and into September, and I think that he

260
00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:10,880
Speaker 2: deserves some credit for that.

261
00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:14,880
Speaker 4: Actually, Okay, were you at the You're at the home

262
00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:18,200
Speaker 4: series for the Mets against the Phillies, and you've been

263
00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:22,280
Speaker 4: at this series in Philly. What on earth is the

264
00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:27,160
Speaker 4: difference in the Phillies. We've kind of hit on the

265
00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:29,079
Speaker 4: Mets a lot, but what do you see different from

266
00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:31,160
Speaker 4: the Phillies. I get it, you know who lined up

267
00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:34,760
Speaker 4: in the starting rotation did matter, and who's thrown for them,

268
00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:37,920
Speaker 4: But what do you see different? Because when we get

269
00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:39,760
Speaker 4: to the playoffs, and I think the Mets will most

270
00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:41,960
Speaker 4: likely make the playoffs, there's a good chance and the

271
00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:44,640
Speaker 4: Mets play the Phillies at City Field at some time

272
00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:47,040
Speaker 4: and then also at Citizen Bank.

273
00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:51,320
Speaker 3: Yeah, at this point, yes, the only difference is the venue.

274
00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:54,319
Speaker 2: It's the setting, right, Like, for whatever reason, the Phillies

275
00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:55,720
Speaker 2: just cannot win at City Field.

276
00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:56,280
Speaker 3: It's crazy.

277
00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:59,839
Speaker 2: And I think that everybody wanted to say, like when

278
00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:04,040
Speaker 2: that started to happen and the Mets played exceptionally well

279
00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:07,760
Speaker 2: against the Phillies at City Field, people want to say, like, oh,

280
00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:10,240
Speaker 2: the Mets have their number. That's not the case, and

281
00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:12,600
Speaker 2: that wasn't really the case, even dating back to last

282
00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:15,120
Speaker 2: year where the Mets had a hard time in Philadelphia,

283
00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:16,960
Speaker 2: and then they had a hard time in Philadelphia in

284
00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:20,200
Speaker 2: Philadelphia earlier in the season too, and that was the

285
00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:23,800
Speaker 2: site of another bad stretch of games for the Mets earlier.

286
00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,800
Speaker 3: So it's for I can't really explain it.

287
00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:28,559
Speaker 2: I think it's a little bit baffling, to be honest

288
00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:31,920
Speaker 2: with you, I will say that the difference that I've

289
00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:36,360
Speaker 2: noticed in this particular series has been really the trade

290
00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:39,080
Speaker 2: deadline acquisitions on both sides. I think for the Phillies

291
00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:42,040
Speaker 2: they've hit on those guys, whereas the Mets, and I

292
00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:45,040
Speaker 2: like their moves, to be completely honest, I like their offseason,

293
00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:47,800
Speaker 2: I like their trade deadline, but the results haven't worked out,

294
00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:50,559
Speaker 2: and I think that's been the biggest difference lately when

295
00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:52,800
Speaker 2: you look at both those teams, in addition to just

296
00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:55,840
Speaker 2: also you know, you're getting fifty home runs from Shorebur

297
00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:59,320
Speaker 2: the difference of the lineup. But when you subtract the

298
00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:02,520
Speaker 2: entire let side of the infield from the Phillies at

299
00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:04,560
Speaker 2: the start of the series and they still take the

300
00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:08,600
Speaker 2: first three games and they do so rather easily, that's

301
00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:11,720
Speaker 2: problematic and it just speaks to a lot more issues

302
00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:14,199
Speaker 2: other than the venue and other than just one or

303
00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:16,960
Speaker 2: two things. It's just two teams in totally different directions

304
00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:17,400
Speaker 2: right now.

305
00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:21,040
Speaker 5: Well, two things, how worded are you about Ryan Helsley?

306
00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,880
Speaker 5: Is he tipping? We keep hearing this, but everyone I

307
00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:26,680
Speaker 5: know that Sluke hasn't seen anything. And then two have

308
00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:28,280
Speaker 5: to answer that. I have a quick follow up and

309
00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:29,440
Speaker 5: a yes or no question for you.

310
00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:34,240
Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm worried about Hellsley because he hasn't had even

311
00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:36,800
Speaker 2: consecutive outings with the Mets yet where he hasn't given

312
00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:40,080
Speaker 2: up a run. He's had some outings that he's been okay.

313
00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:42,560
Speaker 2: The other day he had a clean inning and a

314
00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,840
Speaker 2: lot of people within the Mets were pretty confident and

315
00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:48,680
Speaker 2: happy about that, and they were optimistic that maybe he

316
00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:51,480
Speaker 2: had turned the corner. But then yesterday last night, he

317
00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:53,520
Speaker 2: again had a bad inning and it just didn't look good.

318
00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:55,600
Speaker 2: And whether he's tipping or not, he said that he

319
00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:58,480
Speaker 2: has corrected the issue he thinks that he was. And

320
00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:02,479
Speaker 2: sometimes even if like maybe that's a little bit overblown,

321
00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,040
Speaker 2: you guys know, as former players, like that can get

322
00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:07,480
Speaker 2: in guys heads a little bit or a lot, depending

323
00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:10,720
Speaker 2: on the guy, and once that happens, it's problematic because

324
00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:12,000
Speaker 2: then you're trying to figure things out.

325
00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:14,080
Speaker 3: Maybe it messes with your mechanics, It could be a

326
00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:16,280
Speaker 3: lot of things. He has said that he had.

327
00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:19,640
Speaker 2: Figured it out, But if he's figured it out and

328
00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:22,400
Speaker 2: he's still having innings like he had yesterday, that's also

329
00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:25,960
Speaker 2: concerning because it's problematic either way. So it's a concern,

330
00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:28,920
Speaker 2: and it's troubling because the Mets obviously didn't think this

331
00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:31,760
Speaker 2: would happen. They gave up real value in that trade

332
00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:34,480
Speaker 2: with the Cardinals. They expected a lot from this guy,

333
00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:38,520
Speaker 2: and he's somebody now that if the Mets were to

334
00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:41,120
Speaker 2: make a playoff roster right now, would he even be

335
00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:41,480
Speaker 2: on it.

336
00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:42,160
Speaker 3: I'm not sure.

337
00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:45,440
Speaker 2: It's because you can't really feel good about pitching him

338
00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:46,800
Speaker 2: in key situations right now?

339
00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:50,240
Speaker 5: All right? That's making Do the Mets make it? Yes

340
00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:52,480
Speaker 5: or no? Do the Mets make it with the way

341
00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:55,480
Speaker 5: they're playing with the Giants reds ere going on their heels,

342
00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:56,400
Speaker 5: Do they make it yes or no?

343
00:15:57,360 --> 00:15:59,440
Speaker 2: I go yes. I still go yes. I just think

344
00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:02,080
Speaker 2: that the two games plus the tiebreaker in one of

345
00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:04,880
Speaker 2: those situations, it matters a lot. Still, it's still just

346
00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:07,840
Speaker 2: enough and A lot of My answer is because I

347
00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:09,840
Speaker 2: just don't think the Reds and the Giants are good

348
00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:12,240
Speaker 2: enough to do it either. And that may be irrelevant

349
00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:14,160
Speaker 2: because if the Mets continue to lose, it does matter.

350
00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:17,960
Speaker 2: But I think that the Mets do enough, barely enough

351
00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:18,960
Speaker 2: to hold on here.

352
00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:24,880
Speaker 1: Okay, yeah, one more against the Phillies then tex here

353
00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:27,120
Speaker 1: we go. That's Dodgers.

354
00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:28,120
Speaker 5: Yeah, that's what it would be.

355
00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:30,920
Speaker 1: They got to get through Yeah, Philly, then Texas, San Diego,

356
00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:34,440
Speaker 1: Washington Cubs, and they finish with the Milins who love

357
00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:37,480
Speaker 1: playing spoiler against the Mets. All right, so you got

358
00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:40,480
Speaker 1: some basically playoff games that you're covering the next couple weeks. Well,

359
00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:41,760
Speaker 1: thanks for joining us.

360
00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:42,800
Speaker 3: Appreciate it. Everyone.

361
00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:44,440
Speaker 1: Check out what Will is bringing to the table on

362
00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:46,120
Speaker 1: the Athletic every Day cover in the Mets.

363
00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:47,160
Speaker 6: Appreciate you will.

364
00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:48,880
Speaker 3: Of course, thanks for having me on.

365
00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:52,760
Speaker 1: Guys, we spend a lot of time on the road.

366
00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:56,640
Speaker 1: We are often concerned about our online security when you're

367
00:16:56,760 --> 00:17:00,280
Speaker 1: logging in from all over the globe. Really, so you

368
00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:01,960
Speaker 1: should maybe look into a VPN.

369
00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:02,800
Speaker 6: What does that stand for?

370
00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:05,560
Speaker 3: Crafts Virtual Private network?

371
00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:09,240
Speaker 1: Boom nailed it and that virtual private network that you

372
00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:12,360
Speaker 1: should look into is called surf Shark. It is time

373
00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:15,119
Speaker 1: to take control of your online security and try surf

374
00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:17,880
Speaker 1: Shark today. You can enjoy their thirty day money back

375
00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:21,240
Speaker 1: guarantee and secure your digital world right now by visiting

376
00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:23,240
Speaker 1: the link that we'll post there for you and start

377
00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:27,520
Speaker 1: surfing securely surfshark dot com slash foule or the code

378
00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:30,439
Speaker 1: fall at checkout, we'll get you four extra months of

379
00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:35,440
Speaker 1: surf Shark VPN aka Virtual Private Network. It's a risk free,

380
00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:39,640
Speaker 1: thirty day money back guarantee. Surf sharks unique VPN benefits

381
00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:43,080
Speaker 1: include use on unlimited devices in one hundred countries and

382
00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:47,400
Speaker 1: twenty four to seven support at surfshark dot com slash

383
00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:51,120
Speaker 1: foul This has been your tech update. Keep your data safe.

384
00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,000
Speaker 1: We have Andy Sabo joining us right now on FT.

385
00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:58,040
Speaker 1: She covers the Reds on TV Reporter host and now

386
00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:00,440
Speaker 1: with us. Hey Annie, great to have you on here.

387
00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:03,840
Speaker 1: We appreciate the time. Are you surprised that the Reds

388
00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:05,160
Speaker 1: are where they are right now?

389
00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:08,879
Speaker 6: Yes, I'm completely surprised, guys.

390
00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:12,040
Speaker 7: I feel like there have been several times this season

391
00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:15,600
Speaker 7: where I feel like not only US local reporters, but

392
00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:18,400
Speaker 7: the national media has completely counted the Reds out right

393
00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:22,600
Speaker 7: and myself included, But every single time that I feel

394
00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:26,760
Speaker 7: that way, they have scratched and clawed and fought their

395
00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:30,360
Speaker 7: way back into the playoff picture, which is where they

396
00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:35,520
Speaker 7: stand right now. So surprised I was earlier in the season,

397
00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:38,560
Speaker 7: but I think now we're just kind of accustomed to

398
00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:42,640
Speaker 7: the Reds being you know, everyone thinks they're completely out

399
00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:44,920
Speaker 7: of it, and then they go on to win four

400
00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:47,880
Speaker 7: of their last five and right now they're back in

401
00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:48,600
Speaker 7: it again.

402
00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:51,840
Speaker 4: Are they back in it because of the Reds or

403
00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:55,000
Speaker 4: are they back in it because of the Mets?

404
00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:01,240
Speaker 7: I think after Friday's loss to the Mets, right to

405
00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:04,159
Speaker 7: go and win four of your last five, maybe a

406
00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:07,080
Speaker 7: combination of both. I can't say I saw the Mets

407
00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:10,920
Speaker 7: playing as poorly as they are right now a couple

408
00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,480
Speaker 7: of months ago. I didn't necessarily see that coming. How well,

409
00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:19,080
Speaker 7: for Cincinnati fans everywhere, we're everywhere will take it. But no,

410
00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:21,159
Speaker 7: I think the Reds. I mean, in the clubhouse all

411
00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:26,080
Speaker 7: season long, despite some skids, especially offensively throughout this season,

412
00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:29,919
Speaker 7: there's a belief in the clubhouse that they can and

413
00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:32,680
Speaker 7: will make the postseason. And I mean, here we are

414
00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:34,520
Speaker 7: with sixteen games left to play.

415
00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:39,080
Speaker 5: Any good question for you? How good has this rotation

416
00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:43,119
Speaker 5: been this team? Lodolo, Abbott, Singer, all these guys the

417
00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:46,040
Speaker 5: last few times too, has been really good. How good

418
00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:48,480
Speaker 5: have they been? And can they finish this month off

419
00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:50,720
Speaker 5: as strong as they have been for the last couple

420
00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:51,520
Speaker 5: of times through.

421
00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:53,760
Speaker 6: Yeah, I think so. I think.

422
00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:57,160
Speaker 7: As I mentioned just a moment ago, the offense has

423
00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:02,800
Speaker 7: been two inconsider for my liking at times. However, the

424
00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:05,520
Speaker 7: starting rotation has been the strength of this team all

425
00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:06,200
Speaker 7: season long.

426
00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:07,399
Speaker 6: I mean, it was a.

427
00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:09,840
Speaker 7: Huge blow when Hunter Green went on the il, but

428
00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:12,920
Speaker 7: he's back in the bullpen. We're getting some arms back.

429
00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:17,080
Speaker 7: Chase Burns and Graham Ashcraft were just recently activated. They're

430
00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:19,960
Speaker 7: gonna be with the team in Oakland ready to go.

431
00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:22,479
Speaker 7: But I mean the starting rotation, I mean, even you know,

432
00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:24,959
Speaker 7: Brady Singer, who kind of started off the year a

433
00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:27,080
Speaker 7: little bit slower. I mean, he's had a great month

434
00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:31,080
Speaker 7: of August to you know, add to the overall excellence

435
00:20:31,119 --> 00:20:33,680
Speaker 7: that we've seen day in day out from this Red

436
00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:37,439
Speaker 7: starting rotation, and yeah, I mean, if everyone stays healthy,

437
00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:41,399
Speaker 7: which is always year to year, if he for the

438
00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:44,760
Speaker 7: Red starting rotation, if they can stay healthy and finish

439
00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:47,359
Speaker 7: this year out strong. I mean we have Brady Singer,

440
00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:50,520
Speaker 7: Hunter Green, and Nicolodolo going you know, Oakland coming up.

441
00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:53,600
Speaker 7: Then Yeah, I mean I think they've been excellent and

442
00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:57,160
Speaker 7: that's a unit that I count on when the offense

443
00:20:57,240 --> 00:20:59,760
Speaker 7: isn't necessarily there. And yeah, I mean the Red starting rotation,

444
00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:01,960
Speaker 7: not only this season but for years to come, has

445
00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:04,480
Speaker 7: been a highlight and just so consistent.

446
00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:08,320
Speaker 4: What about the bullpen. Let's say, let's say this happens.

447
00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:12,359
Speaker 4: Let's say the Mets continue to drop like they're dropping,

448
00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:14,719
Speaker 4: and the Reds win enough to get in because they

449
00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:17,960
Speaker 4: have the easiest path, not schedule wise, but with the

450
00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:22,360
Speaker 4: tiebreaker and everything. Is this bullpen built with Emelio Pegan

451
00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:26,040
Speaker 4: and the boys to succeed in the playoffs?

452
00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,119
Speaker 7: I do. I think that something that's been talked about

453
00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:33,360
Speaker 7: this season in the clubhouse is that this clubhouse has

454
00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:36,840
Speaker 7: a bunch of dogs in there. And I think, you know,

455
00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:41,479
Speaker 7: despite some recent struggles from Amelio Pegan, I mean, he is,

456
00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:46,080
Speaker 7: in my personal opinion, the best clubhouse leader there is

457
00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:48,400
Speaker 7: in this locker room. Granted he's one of the oldest

458
00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:51,560
Speaker 7: in there right now, but yes, I believe getting you know,

459
00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:53,720
Speaker 7: I mean Chase Burns as a starter, I mean, he

460
00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:54,399
Speaker 7: is a rookie.

461
00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:56,600
Speaker 6: I mean, I do think he'll help bolster the bullpen.

462
00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:59,639
Speaker 7: But having Graham Ashpath coming back to start the series

463
00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:02,680
Speaker 7: in oak will be huge. Yes, I do think they

464
00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:07,280
Speaker 7: have the strength to withstand these last sixteen games or so.

465
00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:10,080
Speaker 7: And you know, I think it's nice that today the

466
00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:12,119
Speaker 7: Reds have.

467
00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:13,640
Speaker 6: Have an off day before the series, you.

468
00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:17,720
Speaker 7: Know, Oakland begins, or with the A's begins, to maybe

469
00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:18,960
Speaker 7: have a team meeting.

470
00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:21,240
Speaker 6: If needed at all. But yeah, I mean I.

471
00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:24,359
Speaker 7: Think the bullpen, I mean, I think the Reds have

472
00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:29,199
Speaker 7: had their leads given up leads far too easily this season.

473
00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:31,720
Speaker 7: But I think right now it's kind of do or

474
00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:34,200
Speaker 7: die for the Reds and for you know, the starting

475
00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:37,720
Speaker 7: rotation to the bullpen. And I think the bullpen, led

476
00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:41,919
Speaker 7: by closer Emilie Opegan, will be able to get the

477
00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:45,240
Speaker 7: job done and hopefully the Mets continue to crumble.

478
00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:49,639
Speaker 4: We'll take that, all right, Well, nothing happens for the

479
00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:51,880
Speaker 4: Reds if they don't get one guy going. And he's

480
00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:55,880
Speaker 4: got four names, Ellie da La Cruz. His power has

481
00:22:55,960 --> 00:22:59,640
Speaker 4: been absent. His star power is always there and he's

482
00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:02,960
Speaker 4: always looming to me when I watch games now though,

483
00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:05,160
Speaker 4: and I don't watch every Reds game, but when I do,

484
00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:07,119
Speaker 4: I turn to Ellie's at bats because I'm like, this

485
00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:09,720
Speaker 4: is way he's gonna turn it around. Some of us

486
00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:12,160
Speaker 4: at bats, even from the left side where he's stronger,

487
00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:16,720
Speaker 4: look like they're non competitive. Like it's like he's waiting

488
00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:19,760
Speaker 4: for this certain pitch and he's not hitting it, and

489
00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:23,280
Speaker 4: he's still striking out the same rate, and now the

490
00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:25,320
Speaker 4: power's gone. Is there something we're missing?

491
00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:28,720
Speaker 7: No, I don't think so, just kind of, I feel

492
00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:30,639
Speaker 7: like the ebbs and flows for Ellie. I mean, I

493
00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:34,720
Speaker 7: feel like we're yes, he has superstar ability at the

494
00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:37,320
Speaker 7: plate and defensively, but at the same time, I think

495
00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:40,639
Speaker 7: we forget that, you know, he's still a young kid

496
00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:45,320
Speaker 7: and still learning. I feel like, especially this season, yes,

497
00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:48,640
Speaker 7: he's had some slumps that have lasted a little bit

498
00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:52,520
Speaker 7: longer in comparison to seasons past. However, it seems like

499
00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:56,280
Speaker 7: whenever there is a moment for Ellie to show up,

500
00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:59,520
Speaker 7: when situations get dire, I mean, looking ahead to the

501
00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:03,159
Speaker 7: next six team games, it seems like, for whatever reason,

502
00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:09,119
Speaker 7: he is able to turn things around. So I fully

503
00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:12,800
Speaker 7: anticipate Ellie turning things around sooner rather than later.

504
00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:15,960
Speaker 6: However, I do understand what you're saying.

505
00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:19,320
Speaker 7: Some of his at bats this season, for longer periods

506
00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:21,400
Speaker 7: of time, have been have looked to.

507
00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:24,040
Speaker 6: Be more non competitive.

508
00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:27,760
Speaker 7: However, I just that's a guy that you don't necessarily

509
00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:32,040
Speaker 7: lose faith in ever throughout the season, despite him going

510
00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:34,160
Speaker 7: through a longer slump like he is right now.

511
00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:40,000
Speaker 1: Annie, Terry Francona has a highly decorated career. What's it

512
00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:43,800
Speaker 1: been like for him taking over this team, especially right

513
00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:46,800
Speaker 1: now where the team has kind of thrust themselves back

514
00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:49,920
Speaker 1: into the postseason conversation? What's he like running the team

515
00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:51,320
Speaker 1: over the last couple of weeks.

516
00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:54,119
Speaker 7: Yeah, well, I think at first and foremost before I

517
00:24:54,119 --> 00:24:56,840
Speaker 7: even get to that, I mean, having covered the Rents

518
00:24:56,840 --> 00:24:58,960
Speaker 7: for several seasons, I mean, you hear all these stories

519
00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:02,440
Speaker 7: about Terry Francona, and he comes as advertised. I mean,

520
00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:04,600
Speaker 7: he's a breath of fresh air. He's hilarious and pre

521
00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:09,400
Speaker 7: and postgame press conferences, and the players truly respect him

522
00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:12,440
Speaker 7: and appreciate all of the experience that he brings into

523
00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:17,600
Speaker 7: this clubhouse. He's really big on holding the players accountable,

524
00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:21,679
Speaker 7: and you know, being accountable and not necessarily you know,

525
00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:23,760
Speaker 7: yelling at players things like that.

526
00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:25,200
Speaker 6: But I think that this year.

527
00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:30,080
Speaker 7: There's just a new level of what's expected from the

528
00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:34,080
Speaker 7: players because Terry Francona is here, and I think that's

529
00:25:34,119 --> 00:25:35,480
Speaker 7: helped the team a whole lot.

530
00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:37,960
Speaker 6: And I think that, I mean.

531
00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:41,880
Speaker 7: Terry hasn't changed from game one to now. I mean

532
00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:45,280
Speaker 7: even in pre impressed game post conferences, he doesn't look

533
00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:49,960
Speaker 7: beyond one single game ahead or even you.

534
00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:52,000
Speaker 6: Know, behind in the schedule.

535
00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:56,800
Speaker 7: So I think that maybe his experience level and being

536
00:25:56,800 --> 00:26:00,359
Speaker 7: able to deal with teams that are on on the

537
00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:04,480
Speaker 7: brink of making you know, the postseason, could help this team,

538
00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:06,919
Speaker 7: maybe the intangible side of things.

539
00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:08,960
Speaker 6: But no, I mean he hasn't changed. I mean over

540
00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:09,920
Speaker 6: the last couple of weeks.

541
00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:12,400
Speaker 7: I mean, he's the same old guy looking at one

542
00:26:12,480 --> 00:26:14,560
Speaker 7: game at a time. Task at hand is to win

543
00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:17,320
Speaker 7: the game, and that's pretty much who he is. But

544
00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:21,520
Speaker 7: I definitely do think, you know, this last stretch of games,

545
00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:26,120
Speaker 7: just having his experience level and what he expects out

546
00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:29,840
Speaker 7: of this team with sixteen games left, will be a

547
00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:30,560
Speaker 7: huge help.

548
00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:36,680
Speaker 5: Anny, I have your game next Thursday against the Cubby Bears.

549
00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:41,600
Speaker 5: I'll be there, actually, thank god. I mean, if you

550
00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:44,000
Speaker 5: weren't there, you guys, you can tell the rest of

551
00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:45,800
Speaker 5: their one that they can take the night off. Okay, So,

552
00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:49,040
Speaker 5: but what I want to know is, well, this is

553
00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:51,320
Speaker 5: the fans. Are the fans behind this Reds team? Are

554
00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:53,760
Speaker 5: they showing up and showing out? So when I when

555
00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:58,000
Speaker 5: I walk into the small Park next weekend or next Thursday,

556
00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:00,360
Speaker 5: a week from tonight, will there be a pack Red

557
00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:02,440
Speaker 5: pro Red's crowded? Well, I have to listen to the

558
00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:05,440
Speaker 5: Cubby Bear fans come down to sits now each year.

559
00:27:06,840 --> 00:27:09,080
Speaker 7: Mixed bag because last time there were a lot of

560
00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:12,680
Speaker 7: Cubs fans there. However, I do think I think it's

561
00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:16,200
Speaker 7: dependent on you know, this series against the A's. However,

562
00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:19,480
Speaker 7: I would hope that fans show up. The last four

563
00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:25,439
Speaker 7: series or so are against division opponents mixed back based

564
00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:28,360
Speaker 7: on the last series against the Cubs they played at

565
00:27:28,359 --> 00:27:33,439
Speaker 7: Great American Ballpark, however, yes, I would expect this last

566
00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:37,280
Speaker 7: sixteen games or so Great American Ballpark to be to

567
00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:39,359
Speaker 7: be pretty packed. I mean, that's what it was like

568
00:27:39,480 --> 00:27:42,119
Speaker 7: in twenty twenty three when the Reds were in the

569
00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:45,800
Speaker 7: wild card hunt until the very final week of the season.

570
00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:47,720
Speaker 6: I mean it was in twenty twenty three.

571
00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:50,479
Speaker 7: That was one of my favorite moments of my entire career,

572
00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:55,080
Speaker 7: just seeing Great American Ballpark so packed during the month

573
00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:57,199
Speaker 7: of September until you know, the last week where they

574
00:27:57,200 --> 00:28:00,639
Speaker 7: were finally, finally not in contention anyone. So yes, I

575
00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:04,000
Speaker 7: would assume that that Reds fans should would be there.

576
00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:06,840
Speaker 7: If not, if any Reds fans are listening to this podcast,

577
00:28:06,920 --> 00:28:09,600
Speaker 7: I suggest that you show up for the entirety of

578
00:28:09,640 --> 00:28:10,920
Speaker 7: this Red season right now.

579
00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:14,639
Speaker 5: Agreed? Agreed? All right, Well then I'll lead you to

580
00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:17,160
Speaker 5: our next question. Since you have all of the putters

581
00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:18,760
Speaker 5: behind you, are you going to take me golfing on

582
00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:20,520
Speaker 5: Thursday morning? That's a better question.

583
00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,480
Speaker 6: Well, I am not the golfer. My husband is. He

584
00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:26,080
Speaker 6: plays on the Page Tours.

585
00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:29,320
Speaker 7: He's in Napa Valley right now playing in the Pro

586
00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:33,399
Speaker 7: Corps Championship, so he this is his project behind me.

587
00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:36,399
Speaker 6: I am, I am. I can play golf.

588
00:28:36,760 --> 00:28:41,240
Speaker 7: I still have some athleticism left, but no, he is

589
00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:43,320
Speaker 7: the golfer in the family, and we have way too

590
00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:45,960
Speaker 7: many golf clubs. However, I can tell you places to

591
00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:50,000
Speaker 7: golf in Cincinnati, and I have people there who could

592
00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:51,040
Speaker 7: get you at tea time.

593
00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:52,040
Speaker 3: Just let me know.

594
00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:55,400
Speaker 5: Okay, thank you, because you have way too many putters,

595
00:28:55,440 --> 00:28:57,320
Speaker 5: you have way too much money invested in your putters.

596
00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:00,760
Speaker 6: Oh, don't don't even get me started about it. We

597
00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:02,240
Speaker 6: have more in the garage. Don't worry.

598
00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:04,880
Speaker 5: If your husband needs some lefties, though, let me know.

599
00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:05,920
Speaker 5: I'm happy to sell them some.

600
00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:12,000
Speaker 1: That's good, well, a j it's his job, so I mean,

601
00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:15,000
Speaker 1: not spending too much money on it. That's that's his career.

602
00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:18,160
Speaker 5: No, I agree. But still, usually you don't see putter

603
00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:20,560
Speaker 5: covers hanging on the walls and put usual let me,

604
00:29:20,680 --> 00:29:22,240
Speaker 5: let me change it. This is gonna sound really bad.

605
00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:24,880
Speaker 5: You usually don't see women sitting in front of putters

606
00:29:24,880 --> 00:29:27,480
Speaker 5: and putter covers on their wall. Usually guys. Yes, I

607
00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:29,720
Speaker 5: know friends that have like hundreds of putters, which makes

608
00:29:29,720 --> 00:29:31,920
Speaker 5: no sense to me. But you usually don't see women

609
00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:32,320
Speaker 5: doing that.

610
00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:33,480
Speaker 4: Yeah.

611
00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:34,440
Speaker 6: No, none of this is mine.

612
00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:36,719
Speaker 7: I usually pick out the colors or like the different

613
00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:39,880
Speaker 7: head covers prior to each tournament, which which I do

614
00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:42,680
Speaker 7: do because I like certain colors and he usually takes

615
00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:43,800
Speaker 7: those with him.

616
00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:46,120
Speaker 6: But no, I mean I'll go out and to the

617
00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:48,920
Speaker 6: driving range and hit balls and.

618
00:29:48,960 --> 00:29:51,040
Speaker 7: If my two year old daughter eventually wants to get

619
00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:54,520
Speaker 7: into it, then sure, I'll take lessons and start to

620
00:29:54,520 --> 00:29:55,160
Speaker 7: really practice.

621
00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:58,600
Speaker 6: But that's all him and he that was his project.

622
00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:01,000
Speaker 5: The only the only golf course they're played in Cincinnati's

623
00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:03,120
Speaker 5: Cold Stream, So that's the only one that I know

624
00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:03,920
Speaker 5: in Cincinnati.

625
00:30:04,360 --> 00:30:06,800
Speaker 6: That's a really good one. But I have others.

626
00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:10,080
Speaker 1: If you're in Okay, you're gonna get the top secret list.

627
00:30:10,120 --> 00:30:12,480
Speaker 1: AJ it's coming here right right.

628
00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:13,320
Speaker 3: Yeah.

629
00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:15,680
Speaker 1: Well, Annie, thank you so much for stopping by and

630
00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:18,920
Speaker 1: lightening us on the Reds, and we appreciate the time

631
00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:19,960
Speaker 1: of course.

632
00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:20,480
Speaker 6: Thanks guys,