1 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: Coming up on Dodger Blue Dream. As you can tell 2 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: by the music I'm playing, We've got news, huge news 3 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 1: in baseball, and as per usual, the Dodgers are right 4 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: in the middle of it. Kyle Tucker, the All Star 5 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:37,879 Speaker 1: right fielder and most prized position player available of this offseason, 6 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 1: has opted to join the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 7 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: four year contract worth two hundred and forty million dollars 8 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 1: that sets a record the highest average annual value of 9 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: any baseball contract ever. So today, on this show, we 10 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 1: will down this news for you. What you need to 11 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: know about Kyle Tucker, this contract, stats, surprises, scuttle butt, 12 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:16,400 Speaker 1: We've got it all. In conversation with my fellow Dodgers podcaster, 13 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: he watches highlights from Game seven of the twenty twenty 14 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 1: five World Series each and every night, so you know 15 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:25,920 Speaker 1: he knows and loves baseball. 16 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 2: His worst case scenario is that it gets two hundred 17 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 2: and forty million dollars over the next four years. Wouldn't 18 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 2: that be a great worst case scenario to have. 19 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, Jeff Snyder is here to help us understand the 20 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 1: Kyle Tucker news. 21 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 3: Welcome to Dodger Blue Dream. 22 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: It's Friday, January twenty third, twenty twenty six. I'm Richard 23 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 1: Parks the third. This is my baseball podcast. We'll be 24 00:01:52,720 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 1: right back after a short break. So yeah, as we 25 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:14,920 Speaker 1: said before the break, the big news in baseball is 26 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:19,080 Speaker 1: that the Dodgers, the two time current reigning back to 27 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 1: back World Series champions, have landed the most sought after 28 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 1: free agent of this entire offseason. Not only did they 29 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: get the best relief pitcher available in Edwin Diaz earlier 30 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 1: this offseason, now they've got the best position player available 31 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:38,360 Speaker 1: in Kyle Tucker. 32 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 3: So Kyle Tucker is. 33 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 1: Going to be playing right field for the Los Angeles 34 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 1: Dodgers and batting somewhere in the middle of the lineup, 35 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: which is a huge deal. And as we told you 36 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 1: before the break, at sixty dollars a year, that breaks 37 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 1: the high record for a yearly baseball salary. And Kyle 38 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:01,519 Speaker 1: Tucker is an All Star, but there's a notion out 39 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 1: there that he doesn't want to be like the guy 40 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 1: the face of a franchise. And so that works out 41 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: on the Dodgers because we've got Sho Hay and Freddie 42 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 1: and Mookie and to be honest, he might not even 43 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:17,799 Speaker 1: be in the top five of guys on our roster 44 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 1: who would be considered the guy. A lot of baseball 45 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 1: fans who are not Dodger fans are upset about this. 46 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 3: It's unfair. 47 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 1: The Dodgers, the big market team, are spending too much money. 48 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:34,640 Speaker 1: They already retained the roster that won them two World Series. 49 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: How could they be adding to it. And that's a 50 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: complicated question, and it has to do with media deals 51 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: and how much money owners are willing to spend and 52 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: the idea of a salary cap in baseball, which currently 53 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 1: does not exist. And since this news broke, there have 54 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 1: been calls for that to be reconsidered and a lot 55 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: of belly aching online. 56 00:03:59,240 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 3: And we're going to. 57 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 1: Get into this a little bit, but we're also going 58 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: to get into just who Kyle Tucker is, what he does, 59 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 1: and what he's going to do for the Dodgers that 60 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: no other player was doing, which warranted the organization to 61 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 1: go out and get him for this high dollar amount. 62 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 1: And we're going to get into why Kyle Tucker didn't 63 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:27,040 Speaker 1: sign somewhere else as he was rumored to maybe be doing. 64 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 1: And I've brought in the big guns to do this 65 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: big job with me Jeff Snyder is a Dodgers podcaster 66 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: and super fan who I've learned a lot from merely 67 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: by following him and. 68 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 3: His work over the last four or five years. 69 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 1: Currently, Jeff is co hosting All Dodgers and you should 70 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 1: definitely check out that podcast and follow Jeff at Snydog. 71 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 1: That's SNIDG and all that good stuff. So without further ado, 72 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:10,480 Speaker 1: let's please get into it. Here's me and Jeff Snyder. 73 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 2: Okays recording and know I'm taking you off speakerphone, So 74 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 2: thank you. Feedback, Okay, I am. 75 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 1: Ready, beautiful, We're all good, yep, okay, cool, So thank 76 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 1: you very much. Absolutely, when the news broke, what was 77 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 1: your response. 78 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:36,480 Speaker 2: I was not surprised at all. Some people were surprised, 79 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 2: and for me, the Dodger just always made sense. And 80 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 2: I said at the beginning of the off season, Kyle Tucker, 81 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 2: if he's looking for ten or twelve years, he's not 82 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 2: going to get it from. 83 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:46,720 Speaker 3: The Dodgers, right. 84 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:50,039 Speaker 2: But if that market doesn't develop, and I was always 85 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:53,480 Speaker 2: dubious that that market might develop, and he starts looking 86 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 2: at well, maybe you know, a short term, high average 87 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:00,600 Speaker 2: annual value contract might be what I'm looking for. The 88 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 2: Dodgers just make so much sense there because that's I mean, 89 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 2: that's the kind of contract they tried to get Bryce 90 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 2: Harper with, and he wanted the long term security, even 91 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 2: though he took much less per year to get his 92 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 2: thirteen year deal with the Phillies. But you know, at 93 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:21,279 Speaker 2: Kyle Tucker's age, especially now, the opt outs are such 94 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:24,840 Speaker 2: a big thing in contracts these days. Getting a deal 95 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 2: like this where you can get a ton of money 96 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 2: per year, plus the opportunity to hit free agency again 97 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 2: in two years when he's still relatively young, he can 98 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 2: kind of bet on himself. His worst case scenario is 99 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 2: that he gets two hundred and forty million dollars over 100 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 2: the next four years. Wouldn't that be a great worst 101 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 2: case scenario to have? And his best case scenario for 102 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 2: him is that he he tears it up over the 103 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 2: next two years, gets his one hundred and twenty million 104 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 2: bucks over the next two years, and then hits free 105 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 2: agency and gets a six year deal worth three hundred 106 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:02,719 Speaker 2: million more. And so so you know, in the long term, 107 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 2: you know, he said he had a ten year deal 108 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 2: on the table. We don't know what the dollar amount was, 109 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 2: it was definitely a lot less than sixty million a year, 110 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 2: and so you know, the Blue Jays probably wanted to 111 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 2: give him ten years four hundred million, something like that. 112 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 2: And so he's doing the math and it's like, Okay, well, 113 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 2: if I can get a guaranteed hundred and twenty million 114 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 2: over the next two years, and then I can get 115 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 2: another three hundred million in free agency at that point, 116 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 2: well that's four twenty in six years, you know, or 117 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 2: in eight years instead of four hundred and ten years, 118 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 2: you know. And so it's like there's a lot of 119 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 2: it's so interesting how different players value different things. Because 120 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 2: Bryce Harper wanted the long term security of knowing this 121 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 2: is where I'm going to be playing, whereas it seems 122 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:52,559 Speaker 2: like Cal Tucker he valued flexibility, you know, and now 123 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 2: he he maintains control. He's only locked in for two years. 124 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 2: The Dodgers are only locked in for at the most 125 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 2: four years. So it really is a win win if 126 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 2: you can get past the fact if your goal isn't 127 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 2: a huge overall contract, you know, like the the seven 128 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 2: hundred million dollar contract that Shohyo Tawani got, If you're 129 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 2: not looking for that big number and instead you're looking 130 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 2: for the annual value Kyle Tucker set a record. Kyle 131 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 2: Tucker probably didn't necessarily go into free agency this offseason 132 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 2: thinking I'm going to set a record for the highest 133 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:32,559 Speaker 2: average annual value in a contract. Ever, I'm going to 134 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 2: get more than Show HEYTONI and Wan Soto because the 135 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 2: fact is Kyle Tucker is probably a step below Show 136 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:41,959 Speaker 2: HEYTONI and Wan Soto in terms of quality of player. 137 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, so let's talk about the baseball piece a little bit. 138 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 1: We are two time defending world champions. There are multiple 139 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 1: superstars in household names on the roster already. Why would 140 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 1: the Dodgers need to add to that? Help us understand 141 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 1: the need that he is filling baseball wise. 142 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:08,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, so Kyle Tucker is an excellent, excellent baseball player 143 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:13,200 Speaker 2: who fits. The Dodgers had a hole in the outfield. 144 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 2: I mean they had a hole in the outfield last year, 145 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 2: even when Michael Conforta was playing. And now you know, 146 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 2: if you look at this as the Dodger just replays 147 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:26,599 Speaker 2: Michael Conforto with Kyle Tucker, I mean that literally, that 148 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:30,560 Speaker 2: move alone pushes them from ninety three wins to one hundred, 149 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 2: like just that change. It's such a huge hole that 150 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 2: they had first with Confordo and then with nobody and 151 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:41,840 Speaker 2: now going to Kyle Tucker. So their need going into 152 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:45,439 Speaker 2: this offseason was probably needs some bullpen help and we 153 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 2: definitely need some outfield help. And first they got Edwin 154 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 2: Diaz and now they get Kyle Tucker, the best players 155 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 2: available at those two positions. And that's why for the 156 00:09:56,760 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 2: Dodgers specifically, who money I wouldn't say it doesn't mean 157 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 2: anything to them, but they have figured out this system 158 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:10,839 Speaker 2: of making money in baseball, and so the fact that 159 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:13,560 Speaker 2: they are pumping it back into the team and saying, 160 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:16,599 Speaker 2: you know what, yeah, Kyle Tucker. He shouldn't be the 161 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 2: highest paid player in baseball based on talent, But that's 162 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 2: not how people get paid. I mean, you look at 163 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 2: what even you got. Mike Trout didn't even make over 164 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 2: a million dollars in a year un till he had 165 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:30,080 Speaker 2: already been the best player in baseball for a couple 166 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 2: of years, you know. And you don't always get paid 167 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 2: based on how good you are. Sometimes it's when do 168 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,839 Speaker 2: you hit free agency and who else is available and 169 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:44,800 Speaker 2: all that, and sometimes it's does the richest team in 170 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 2: baseball have a specific hole that you fill and that's 171 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 2: the case here with Tucker. It was, you know, the 172 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 2: Dodgers said, look, we want you, and here's the terms 173 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:55,120 Speaker 2: we want you on. We don't want to give you 174 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:57,320 Speaker 2: ten or twelve years, but if you want to come 175 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:00,680 Speaker 2: for short term, name a number and let's make it happen. 176 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:04,080 Speaker 2: And that's probably about how these negotiations went. Obviously they 177 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:07,679 Speaker 2: played a little more hardball than that, but their mindset was, 178 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 2: if he's willing to take a four year deal with 179 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 2: opt outs, we will give him whatever he asks for. 180 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:18,119 Speaker 2: And so any hardball they played was was for appearances 181 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 2: more than anything else, I would guess. 182 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:24,600 Speaker 1: So last year we had Michael Confordo in left ostensibly 183 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: and Tao was definitely the everyday right fielder, and he 184 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 1: did not look great out there, right or. 185 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 2: We are we having understatement day here, Richard. 186 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:42,440 Speaker 1: So some of those some of those plays were really 187 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:47,079 Speaker 1: hard to watch. Yeah, And so Tao's natural position is 188 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: left correct. 189 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 2: Well, I don't know if he has a natural position. 190 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:56,080 Speaker 2: His natural position is the right handed batter's box. Yeah, 191 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 2: Because the fact is, in twenty twenty four, Tao was 192 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 2: just as bad as and left field as he was 193 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:03,880 Speaker 2: in the right field. Last year, really we didn't notice 194 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:06,559 Speaker 2: as Yeah, he was, he was terrible, We didn't care 195 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 2: as much because he hit better. Honestly, the answer for 196 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:11,959 Speaker 2: Tao is to hit better. Last year, his defense was 197 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 2: more of an issue because he didn't hit the way 198 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 2: he did the year before. And right field and left 199 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 2: field are different, well somewhat in how hard they are 200 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 2: to play, but the impact of misplays. You miss the 201 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:26,079 Speaker 2: ball in left field, it's a double. You miss the 202 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 2: ball in right field, it could be a triple. You know, 203 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:32,320 Speaker 2: things like that, and the fact that you know there 204 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 2: are more right handed batters, and so it could be 205 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:38,559 Speaker 2: even though there's more balls hit to left field, and 206 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:41,439 Speaker 2: so it's almost counterintuitive to say, let's move to Oscar 207 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 2: to left field, put our worst field er where the 208 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 2: most balls get hit. But if they're pulled, a pulled 209 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 2: ball acts differently than an opposite field hit. And so 210 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 2: it could be and this is just a guess on 211 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:57,319 Speaker 2: my part, but it could be that balls hit to 212 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 2: right field he has a harder time judging them. You know, 213 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:04,840 Speaker 2: the spin is different because it is often an opposite 214 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 2: field hit, and so he just does judge him. Because 215 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:11,240 Speaker 2: Tayo is pretty good. Going back on the ball, even 216 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 2: going left to right. He's not terrible. It's mostly coming 217 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 2: in that he is really really bad at And I think, 218 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:21,719 Speaker 2: and I don't know how to do the data on this. 219 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:24,840 Speaker 2: I'm sure somebody has this data. I would guess there 220 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 2: are more balls you have to come in on in 221 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 2: right field than in left field. And so Tayo is 222 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 2: never going to be a good field or no matter 223 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:38,079 Speaker 2: where he's playing. But if he hits and he's in 224 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 2: left field, where maybe the balls are a little easier 225 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:44,080 Speaker 2: to judge, we won't notice or care yep. 226 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:50,080 Speaker 1: Okay, so Tayo's moving to left and Kyle Tucker will 227 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:52,839 Speaker 1: be in right. Just for a Kyle Tucker one to 228 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:56,679 Speaker 1: oh one to describe him as a baseball player, if 229 00:13:56,720 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 1: you had five bullet points, you say. 230 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:04,079 Speaker 2: So, he hits like a Hall of Famer. That's the 231 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 2: number one thing like Kyle Tucker. His career so far 232 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 2: is hall of Fame trajectory. Offensively, if you look at 233 00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 2: Kyle Tucker's offensive numbers, his career ops plus is one forty. 234 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 1: Hey Richard cutting in here for those who don't know. 235 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 1: OPS plus is an overall offensive stat in baseball which 236 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 1: puts the average baseball player statistically at one hundred. If 237 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:36,360 Speaker 1: your ops plus is one hundred and forty, you are 238 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 1: forty percent above average compared to the rest of the league. 239 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 2: His career ops plus is one forty. That is better 240 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 2: than sixty or seventy percent of guys who are in 241 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 2: the Hall of Fame for their offense. Now, the thing 242 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 2: that sets most Hall of Famers apart is that they 243 00:14:56,360 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 2: do it for twelve, fourteen, eighteen years. It's their career numbers. 244 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:04,120 Speaker 2: And so Kyle Tucker is twenty eight years old, twenty 245 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 2: nine years old. If he can maintain this and keeping 246 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 2: an ops plus around one forty first career, like no 247 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:14,520 Speaker 2: doubt hall of Famer. But probably what happens with guys 248 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 2: as they get older, they have worse years. And so 249 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 2: you know, they're somebody who ended their career with an 250 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 2: ops plus of one forty. Their ops plus after their 251 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,520 Speaker 2: age twenty eight season where Tucker is was probably closer 252 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 2: to one fifty, you know, because people naturally drop off. 253 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 2: But you know, but all of that said, Tucker is 254 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 2: a legitimately great hitter. People look at, well, he's only 255 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 2: hit his max homers is thirty. He's done that twice. 256 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 2: Like he's not a power hitter. In his career average 257 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 2: is only two seventy three, and it's like, well, stop 258 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 2: pretending it's nineteen eighty four and you're looking at the 259 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 2: back of a baseball card. Yeah, you know, because Kyle 260 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 2: Tucker gets on base over the last three seasons. If 261 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 2: we look at his last three seasons, he's got two 262 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 2: seventy eight batting average, not that you know, it's not bad, 263 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 2: but not that impressive. Three to eighty on base percentage 264 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 2: is legitimately elite, five eleven slugging percentage legitimately elite one 265 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty ops plus over the last three seasons. 266 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:14,000 Speaker 2: That is a great, great hitter. If you can get 267 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 2: past the old school baseball card numbers and look at 268 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 2: the underlying numbers, the duke contributes to winning. Another thing 269 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 2: that I would say my next bullet point was he 270 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 2: doesn't strike out. His career strikeout rates only fifteen point 271 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:30,080 Speaker 2: eight percent. The league average is about twenty two and 272 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 2: a half, and so he is significantly better if you 273 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:36,640 Speaker 2: look at the let me pull this up real quick, 274 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 2: twenty twenty five Dodgers. I'm going to tell you where 275 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 2: Kyle Tucker would slot in in strikeout rate. On last 276 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 2: year's Dodgers team. So he's at Kyle Tucker's strike out 277 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 2: as fifteen point eight percent. The only Dodgers last year 278 00:16:56,880 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 2: with a better strikeout rate than that were Miguel Rojas 279 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:05,160 Speaker 2: and Mookie Betts. Wow, yeah, everybody else? Do you think 280 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,200 Speaker 2: of all the good hitter like Will Smith, good hitter 281 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 2: twenty point four percent better than league average, but significantly 282 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,880 Speaker 2: higher percent. Tommy Edmond doesn't strike out much, sixteen point 283 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 2: two percent higher than Kyle Tucker. And then you get to, 284 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:20,200 Speaker 2: you know, the other guys. The guy he's replacing, Michael Conforto. 285 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:22,720 Speaker 2: I'm breaking a rule of our podcast where we don't 286 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 2: say that guy's name, but you know, on your show, 287 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 2: I guess we can say the words. Is Michael Knfordo 288 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 2: Kfordo twenty four point nine percent, you know, so we're 289 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:34,680 Speaker 2: cutting nine percent percentage points off strikeout rate with this change. 290 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:37,680 Speaker 2: Tucker puts the ball in play, and he hits the 291 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 2: ball hard, you know, and so hard to ask for 292 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:42,159 Speaker 2: much more than a hitter than Hey, you know what, 293 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 2: just hit the ball hard all the time. Okay, I 294 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:46,920 Speaker 2: can do that. You know that, That's why you sign 295 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 2: that guy. 296 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 1: So bullet point one is the bat, Yeah, Hall of 297 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 1: Fame level offense and from a left handed bat, yeah, 298 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:55,440 Speaker 1: as well. 299 00:17:56,119 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 3: Thing two he doesn't strike out. Yeah, what's things three? 300 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 2: So he's also And that's where the defense becomes an 301 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:09,639 Speaker 2: interesting thing to think about, because Tucker has won a 302 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 2: Gold Glove. In twenty twenty two with the Astros, he 303 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:15,119 Speaker 2: won the Gold Glove in right field. He was an 304 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 2: excellent defensive right fielder. And then twenty twenty three was 305 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:20,840 Speaker 2: a little bit of a down year defensively, but not bad. 306 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 2: Twenty twenty four he was back up to being really good. 307 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:26,440 Speaker 2: Last year he was bad, right, And that's the thing 308 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:29,639 Speaker 2: that as some people concerned, is it a sign that 309 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 2: his defense is getting worse? You know, sometimes defense getting 310 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 2: worse is a sign of aging, and a guy is 311 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:39,440 Speaker 2: you know, other things are going to start falling off, 312 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 2: my guess. And I've kind of convinced myself pretty strongly 313 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 2: of this that Kyle Tucker's defense was bad last year 314 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 2: because he was on the Cubs. Because the Cubs play 315 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:54,120 Speaker 2: a lot of day games right where it's sunny. Yeah, 316 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:56,879 Speaker 2: Wrigleyfield is notoriously. 317 00:18:56,280 --> 00:18:59,119 Speaker 3: Windy, difficult in the outfield, and it's a. 318 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:03,679 Speaker 2: What's the nice way of saying, the stadium is configured 319 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 2: like a drunk monkey made it. It's a dumb stadium. 320 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 2: It's historic. I know it's a landmark. I love it. 321 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 2: Blah blah blah. It's a dumb stadium to play baseball in, 322 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:17,920 Speaker 2: and especially to try to play right field in. You 323 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 2: got the wall that juts out, you got the net 324 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:23,119 Speaker 2: hanging over, you got weeds growing on the wall. You know, 325 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 2: you've got the wall under the weeds. It's made of brick, 326 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 2: and so you're not gonna you're not gonna be as 327 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:31,320 Speaker 2: aggressive going for the ball. Like it's hard to play 328 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:35,200 Speaker 2: the outfield at Wrigley, especially right field. And so I 329 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:38,560 Speaker 2: am ninety eight percent convinced that Kyle Tucker's down year 330 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:42,399 Speaker 2: defensively last year was simply that he was playing at 331 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 2: Wrigley and going to Dodger Stadium, which is the world's 332 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 2: perfect stadium, perfectly symmetrical, padded walls, everything, you know, great weather, 333 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:55,880 Speaker 2: playing at night under good lights. I think Kyle Tucker, 334 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:57,880 Speaker 2: I think we're going to see a very good defensive 335 00:19:57,960 --> 00:19:58,439 Speaker 2: right fielder. 336 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:01,399 Speaker 1: That was the first thing that Dave Roberts said at 337 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:06,359 Speaker 1: the presser when asked about how the Dodgers could level 338 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 1: up his game. He said, I think that there's another 339 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:10,880 Speaker 1: gold Glove in there. 340 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:14,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, I think so. I think, you know, he's 341 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:17,040 Speaker 2: shown it in the past. He's legitimately literally won a 342 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:20,240 Speaker 2: Gold Glove award in the past, and so I think 343 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 2: we're going to see I don't know if it went 344 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 2: another gold Glove, but I think we're going to see 345 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:26,520 Speaker 2: much better version of Kyle Tucker the outfielder. 346 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:27,360 Speaker 3: Yeah. 347 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 1: We'll get back to my interview with Jeff Snyder about 348 00:20:32,359 --> 00:20:34,920 Speaker 1: Kyle Tucker after a short break. 349 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 3: Welcome back to the show. 350 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 1: Before the break, I asked Jeff to give me five 351 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:02,160 Speaker 1: bullet points about Kyle Tucker as a baseball player. So far, 352 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:06,000 Speaker 1: he's given me three. Do you have two more bullet 353 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 1: points that you want to share? It's okay if no. 354 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:11,640 Speaker 1: Three is good. 355 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:14,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know if I've got five. You know, 356 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 2: one of the things that people talked about during his 357 00:21:17,119 --> 00:21:21,399 Speaker 2: free agency was concerns about you know, it became a 358 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:24,120 Speaker 2: storyline of well, he doesn't want to be the guy, 359 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:28,440 Speaker 2: Well does he have the mindset to to be a star? 360 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:32,680 Speaker 2: All those things, and for me, the Dodgers are a 361 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 2: perfect fit for him. Whether that's accurate or not. If 362 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:37,800 Speaker 2: he wants to be the star, go be the star. 363 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 2: And if he wants to just blend in and just 364 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 2: just be a great player and not you know, stand 365 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:47,520 Speaker 2: out personality wise, Dodgers have plenty of room for that too. Yeah. 366 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 3: What do you know about what he's like in the clubhouse? 367 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:55,440 Speaker 2: Not much. And for me, that's a good thing, because 368 00:21:56,560 --> 00:22:00,240 Speaker 2: you know, when all these things started going around owned 369 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:02,880 Speaker 2: about you know, well, it seems like a red flag 370 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 2: that the Cubs aren't interested in keeping him. Like, no, 371 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:10,720 Speaker 2: it's just they probably know they're not gonna have the 372 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:12,399 Speaker 2: payroll to pay him what he's gonna be wanting, So 373 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:16,480 Speaker 2: why waste time pretending to court him to stay. You know, 374 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:18,680 Speaker 2: they got a year out of him, and he played 375 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:20,200 Speaker 2: well for him, and now he's moving on. 376 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:23,239 Speaker 1: Now they're pursuing a different strategy. It wasn't that they 377 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:25,119 Speaker 1: were weeding out a bad apple. 378 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:29,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly. And from what I've seen, nobody who's ever 379 00:22:30,080 --> 00:22:33,679 Speaker 2: met the guy has actually said anything negative about him 380 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 2: in the clubhouse or And the fact is, people think 381 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:41,880 Speaker 2: that chemistry leads to winning, and it's exactly the opposite. 382 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:47,880 Speaker 2: Winning leads to chemistry, and so it does not matter. Yeah, 383 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:50,040 Speaker 2: you don't want guys who hate each other. But I 384 00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 2: tell you what, if you come up to bat and 385 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 2: there's a guy you hate on second base, you're not 386 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:56,680 Speaker 2: gonna say I'm going to ground out because I don't 387 00:22:56,680 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 2: want to drive that jerk in. You're gonna try to 388 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:01,800 Speaker 2: hit a base and drive him in, you know. And 389 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:05,280 Speaker 2: that's the thing. Like, there's definitely the ways it can 390 00:23:05,359 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 2: impact it. If you hate everybody on your team, you're 391 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:10,280 Speaker 2: not going to be excited about coming to work. Maybe 392 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:13,560 Speaker 2: that impacts your play, But we're talking about like how 393 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:17,920 Speaker 2: a single guy can impact that. Even if Kyle Tucker 394 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:21,359 Speaker 2: was a terrible person, and he's not, but even if 395 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:25,120 Speaker 2: he was, it wouldn't change anything. The Dodgers would help 396 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,399 Speaker 2: him get better. And you know, as long as he 397 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,159 Speaker 2: plays well, guess what, they're going to love him. If 398 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:31,600 Speaker 2: you play well, we're going to love you. 399 00:23:32,359 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 1: There is a context here, though that I'm kind of 400 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:39,040 Speaker 1: curious about. Since the news of the signing, with the 401 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 1: contract and the atmosphere of the Dodgers with so many superstars, 402 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 1: there are all these questions of status that seem to 403 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 1: come up because he's making sixty million dollars a year 404 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:54,520 Speaker 1: and that's unprecedented. And it doesn't seem like he knows 405 00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:58,440 Speaker 1: many of the guys. If somebody came into my workplace 406 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:00,959 Speaker 1: and it's like, here's the new guy, nobody knows him 407 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 1: and he's making five times as much as you, I 408 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:08,400 Speaker 1: just can't imagine that that doesn't register even with these 409 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:10,600 Speaker 1: multimillionaire baseball stars. 410 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:15,840 Speaker 2: Yeah. Maybe, I genuinely think that most analogies like that 411 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 2: don't work because baseball players who make it to the 412 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 2: big leagues are by definition different than we are. They 413 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:27,440 Speaker 2: are different mindsets than we do. And so it's not 414 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:30,680 Speaker 2: a workplace. This isn't an office, and Kyle Tucker's not 415 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:35,480 Speaker 2: moving into his cubicle this. You know, at your workplace, 416 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:39,520 Speaker 2: you don't travel the country and hang out with people 417 00:24:39,520 --> 00:24:41,680 Speaker 2: who do your same job for other companies, you know, 418 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:45,720 Speaker 2: and and compete against them. And so these guys, yeah, 419 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:48,480 Speaker 2: there may be there's not many guys who are best 420 00:24:48,560 --> 00:24:51,720 Speaker 2: he's with Kyle Tucker. Maybe nobody already had his cell 421 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:55,640 Speaker 2: phone number before now, but they know him. They've played 422 00:24:55,640 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 2: against him. You know, he made a good catch for 423 00:24:58,080 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 2: Clayton Kersha on the All Star Game last year. 424 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:00,359 Speaker 3: Hmm. 425 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:04,680 Speaker 2: They've had interactions with Kyle Tucker. And you know when 426 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:07,639 Speaker 2: they walked in. You know, you see the videos of 427 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:09,720 Speaker 2: him giving Max Montsey hug. It's not him sticking out 428 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:11,399 Speaker 2: of sand and say Hi, my name's Kyle. It's good 429 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:14,479 Speaker 2: to meet you. It's hey man, Hey, glad you're here. 430 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:17,720 Speaker 2: You know, because they know him, they've played against him. Yeah, 431 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:21,440 Speaker 2: the most important thing on this Dodgers team, the most 432 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 2: important thing to every single one of those guys, is winning. 433 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:28,920 Speaker 2: I somebody a month or so ago on our podcast 434 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:31,200 Speaker 2: in the comments, was saying, it'll be a slap in 435 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 2: the face if Kyle to show heyo TWI. If Kyle 436 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 2: Tucker makes more than him, it's like show heyo. Tani said, 437 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:40,240 Speaker 2: pay me less so you can pay other people to 438 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 2: help me win. Shoey Atani just wants to win. Nobody cares, 439 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 2: if you especially, I'm sure you Atoni still has, you know, 440 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:52,880 Speaker 2: a record breaking deal that he signed. Then everything about 441 00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:55,119 Speaker 2: him is so unique. He doesn't care that Kyle Tucker. 442 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:59,080 Speaker 2: When you adjust for for the deferrals, that Kyle Tucker 443 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:01,679 Speaker 2: is con tract is worth more on an annual basis 444 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:04,040 Speaker 2: than his He doesn't care. What he cares about is hey, 445 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:07,879 Speaker 2: We just went from Michael com forward to Kyle Tucker. 446 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:10,600 Speaker 2: We just went from an ninety three win to a 447 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:14,399 Speaker 2: one hundred win team, and we just drastically improved our 448 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:17,159 Speaker 2: chances of winning a third straight World Series. That's all 449 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 2: any of these guys care about. And Kyle Tucker helps 450 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:23,600 Speaker 2: in that regard, and so they already love him. Yeah, 451 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:26,679 Speaker 2: and you could think back to before we knew. 452 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:29,600 Speaker 3: What Manny Machado is, what Manny Mitchado is. 453 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:32,960 Speaker 2: Everybody's always known that Manny Machado is kind of a loser. 454 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:36,280 Speaker 2: You know, he had issues with so many guys when 455 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:40,800 Speaker 2: he was on the Orioles. But in twenty eighteen when 456 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:43,120 Speaker 2: the Dodgers traded formed. You remember that video of Justin 457 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:48,480 Speaker 2: Turner and I can't remember who he was with, but 458 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:51,920 Speaker 2: they're on a boat during the All Star break and 459 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:54,639 Speaker 2: they're just out there chilling and Justin Turner gets the 460 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:57,480 Speaker 2: text and he turn says, we got Manny, and they're 461 00:26:57,560 --> 00:27:01,160 Speaker 2: like celebrating on the boat because what they knew was, Hey, 462 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:05,240 Speaker 2: we just Corey seekers out with injury. We just got 463 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:07,760 Speaker 2: one of the best guys in baseball to replace him. 464 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 2: We are chances of winning just went up by a lot, 465 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:13,280 Speaker 2: and they celebrated, and yeah, you know, Manny turned out 466 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:15,880 Speaker 2: to be you know, that was even with the guy 467 00:27:15,920 --> 00:27:21,920 Speaker 2: who did have known documented attitude problems at that point, 468 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:24,639 Speaker 2: and they were still thrilled because it gave them a 469 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:27,040 Speaker 2: better chance to win. Yeah, that's what these guys care about, 470 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:30,080 Speaker 2: is winning, and so Kyle Tucker gives them a better 471 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:30,639 Speaker 2: chance to win. 472 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I guess I don't know if you watched it, 473 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:36,680 Speaker 1: but at the presser, I think it was Dylan Hernandez 474 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:42,119 Speaker 1: asked a question referring to, you know, maybe a perceived 475 00:27:42,600 --> 00:27:44,000 Speaker 1: lack of enthusiasm. 476 00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:49,879 Speaker 2: Yeah. I I genuinely don't care about a guy's enthusiasm. 477 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:54,440 Speaker 2: You know, if he looks bored hitting forty doubles and 478 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:57,960 Speaker 2: thirty homers, give it to me all day long. I 479 00:27:58,119 --> 00:28:01,080 Speaker 2: do not care how excited he is. And the Dodgers 480 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:05,119 Speaker 2: have a lot of different personalities. Will Smith. He is 481 00:28:05,240 --> 00:28:08,240 Speaker 2: not a bubbly personality. He's just the best catcher in baseball. 482 00:28:08,520 --> 00:28:12,320 Speaker 2: You know. All he did was literally hit game winning 483 00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:14,560 Speaker 2: home runs in two different World Series games. Yeah, three 484 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:18,080 Speaker 2: months ago, and then he you know, he showed a 485 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:20,280 Speaker 2: little emotion and it was like a big wow. Will 486 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:23,920 Speaker 2: Smith showed emotion. Not everybody is Kei y Hernandez. If 487 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:26,359 Speaker 2: everybody was like Kei ky Hernandez, that would be the 488 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:30,359 Speaker 2: most insufferable twenty six man roster in baseball, you know. 489 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:32,960 Speaker 2: And so the Dodgers have a really good mix. Mookie's 490 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:36,440 Speaker 2: got a different personality, very good personality. Freddie's got this 491 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:40,360 Speaker 2: nerdy dad personality that works perfectly for him. And then 492 00:28:40,400 --> 00:28:43,440 Speaker 2: you've got Miggy row who's the veteran leader. And you 493 00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:46,440 Speaker 2: know Max Munsey who has kind of pulled himself up 494 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:48,800 Speaker 2: by his bootstraps and turned himself into a key part 495 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:52,320 Speaker 2: of a great team. And you need all these different 496 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:55,160 Speaker 2: types of personalities, and there is plenty of room for 497 00:28:55,280 --> 00:28:58,160 Speaker 2: a guy who doesn't say much, looks a little bored, 498 00:28:58,240 --> 00:28:59,520 Speaker 2: and just hits the crap out of the ball. 499 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:03,040 Speaker 1: Amen, what else are you looking at for the rest 500 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:05,959 Speaker 1: of the off season? Any hopes and fears? I mean 501 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:08,880 Speaker 1: mentioning Kik. That is still an open question. 502 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:12,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't think Kik is an off season move. 503 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:16,120 Speaker 2: I think Kik is a spring training at the earliest move, 504 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:20,080 Speaker 2: because right now, it wouldn't make sense for the Dodgers 505 00:29:20,160 --> 00:29:23,440 Speaker 2: to make room on the forty nine roster to sign Kik, 506 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:26,320 Speaker 2: who's not going to be available available at the beginning 507 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:29,240 Speaker 2: of the year because of his surgery. Come spring training, 508 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:31,960 Speaker 2: the Dodgers don't for the first time in a few years, 509 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:36,720 Speaker 2: the Dodgers don't have anybody right now who is actively 510 00:29:36,840 --> 00:29:39,120 Speaker 2: ready to go on the sixty day IL. I don't 511 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:41,680 Speaker 2: think there might be a picture I'm not remembering, but 512 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:43,600 Speaker 2: you know, last year it was like, well, they've got 513 00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:46,040 Speaker 2: these six guys, so we were we going to put 514 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:48,640 Speaker 2: on so that we can make the Clayton Kershall signing 515 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:49,480 Speaker 2: official or whatever. 516 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:52,400 Speaker 3: Well, Tommy Edmund might start the year on, let's going 517 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:52,880 Speaker 3: to start the. 518 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:55,080 Speaker 2: Year on the IL, but not the sixty day AL 519 00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:58,040 Speaker 2: because sixty day would mean that he's not available till 520 00:29:58,120 --> 00:29:58,880 Speaker 2: near the end of May. 521 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:02,000 Speaker 3: So how do you think we are to being set? 522 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:05,920 Speaker 2: I think the Dodgers are pretty set right now, honestly, 523 00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:12,520 Speaker 2: unless unless Trek Skouble becomes available, the Dodgers are on 524 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:16,400 Speaker 2: the phone immediately with the Tigers. Other than that, the 525 00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:19,520 Speaker 2: Dodgers have kind of closed up their holes. They're still 526 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,600 Speaker 2: questions at second base, but there's not a hole there. 527 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:26,160 Speaker 2: It's like, which of these four guys or which multiple 528 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:28,320 Speaker 2: of these four guys are going to fill that hole. 529 00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:31,360 Speaker 3: And what, in like a sentence or two is the 530 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:32,640 Speaker 3: situation at second base? 531 00:30:33,880 --> 00:30:37,240 Speaker 2: Well, right now, it's some combination of Hassan Kim and 532 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:42,480 Speaker 2: Tommy Edmund and Miguel Rojas and Alex Freeland and Andy Ebonyez. 533 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:43,800 Speaker 3: Oh right, that's the new guy. 534 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:47,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, And so you know some is going to 535 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:50,000 Speaker 2: come down to in spring training. Does Hassan Kim look 536 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:52,920 Speaker 2: like he has remembered how to hit? Can Alex Freeland hit? 537 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:56,440 Speaker 2: You know, those are big questions. Tommy Edmund's best value 538 00:30:56,480 --> 00:30:58,640 Speaker 2: to the team is playing all over the field, So 539 00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:00,680 Speaker 2: I think they probably don't want him to be the 540 00:31:00,760 --> 00:31:01,880 Speaker 2: everyday second baseman. 541 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:04,120 Speaker 3: I'm probably playing in center a little bit right. 542 00:31:04,080 --> 00:31:06,520 Speaker 2: Playing some center playing. You know, he can play a 543 00:31:06,560 --> 00:31:08,800 Speaker 2: lot of positions. He can fill into different spots. And 544 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:11,880 Speaker 2: I assume they're going to want to give Mooky a 545 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:15,240 Speaker 2: few more days off than he got last year, and 546 00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:17,360 Speaker 2: so things like that. I think Edmund's value is there, 547 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:19,960 Speaker 2: but he's kind of that fallback option. Yeah, he can 548 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:21,560 Speaker 2: be our everyday second basement if we need him to. 549 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:23,520 Speaker 2: He's won a Gold Glove at second base. You know, 550 00:31:23,720 --> 00:31:26,920 Speaker 2: there's worse fallback options to have. Yeah, there's a lot 551 00:31:26,960 --> 00:31:29,640 Speaker 2: of different options there. And you know what, there's still 552 00:31:29,680 --> 00:31:33,320 Speaker 2: a chance that they could do a trade for Brendan Donovan, 553 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:35,880 Speaker 2: who can play some second base, you know, like a 554 00:31:36,040 --> 00:31:39,480 Speaker 2: trade like that. But I feel like with what they've done, 555 00:31:39,560 --> 00:31:41,960 Speaker 2: they signed the two best players at the two holes 556 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:45,120 Speaker 2: that they had. I feel like they're sitting pretty right now. 557 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:47,600 Speaker 3: I feel good. 558 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:50,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, it should be fun. 559 00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:53,240 Speaker 1: It's such a fun time to be a fan and 560 00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:56,920 Speaker 1: always a joy to talk Dodgers with you and I 561 00:31:56,960 --> 00:31:58,800 Speaker 1: always learned something, so thank you so much. 562 00:31:58,920 --> 00:31:59,160 Speaker 3: Chef. 563 00:31:59,320 --> 00:32:00,680 Speaker 2: Absolutely happy to do it. 564 00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:14,040 Speaker 1: Dodger Blue Dream is written and produced by me Richard Parks, 565 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:18,040 Speaker 1: the third My co host is Chef wes Avula. My 566 00:32:18,160 --> 00:32:22,480 Speaker 1: interview guest today was Jeff Snyder from the All Dodgers podcast. 567 00:32:23,120 --> 00:32:27,000 Speaker 1: Original music in this episode by Jonathan Snipes and William 568 00:32:27,120 --> 00:32:30,800 Speaker 1: Ryan Fritch. Dodger Blue Dream is produced in partnership with 569 00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:35,440 Speaker 1: Iheart's Mike Wiltura podcast Network. For more podcasts from iHeart, 570 00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:38,360 Speaker 1: visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts 571 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:40,960 Speaker 3: Or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.