1 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: Hello everyone, and welcome to episode one four of the 2 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:25,920 Speaker 1: Hemmor Territory podcast. I am your host, Brad rolland coming 3 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 1: to you on Thursday evening, and I'm joined once again 4 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 1: by Stephen Tolbert. Back to back podcast, Brad and Stephen. Hello, sir, 5 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:32,760 Speaker 1: how are you? 6 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:33,840 Speaker 2: Brad? 7 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:36,480 Speaker 3: We went like six months without doing a podcast. We've 8 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 3: done two and two days. 9 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: That's right. This one's a little bit. It's not necessarily 10 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: to mercy podcast, but we should have done a podcast 11 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:46,480 Speaker 1: after the news that we'll talk about today. The Braves 12 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: have a hitting coach now, which is of course what 13 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:50,240 Speaker 1: the main topic is going to be on this show. 14 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 1: We should also say at top of the episode we 15 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 1: are part of the Foul Territory network of podcasts. Go 16 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: ahead and subscribe if you're new to the podcast, and 17 00:00:57,400 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: tell your friends about the show. We're on Apple, We're 18 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: on Spotify, We're on YouTube if you want to see 19 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 1: me and Stephen in our shouting faces, and we definitely 20 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 1: appreciate you being here. But yeah, the BRA's made a 21 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: hire today, and in fact the guy they hired his 22 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: name Tim Hires, which is interesting. I've already I had 23 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 1: to do a radio thing this afternoon answer your question 24 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: about that, and I got mixed up because I was 25 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:19,319 Speaker 1: I said higher too many times a different directions. So 26 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:22,480 Speaker 1: that will be happening, I'm sure on this podcast. But okay, Steven, 27 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: we'll dive into this, but uh, for major leaguer local 28 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 1: products in some respects, what did you make of this? 29 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 1: And we'll kind of dive into the ins and outs 30 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 1: of who Tim Hires is and why this is a 31 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:33,679 Speaker 1: good idea or not. 32 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, So Sean and I talked about this a couple 33 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 3: of weeks ago that whenever the new hitting coach got announced, 34 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:43,760 Speaker 3: it would be one of these where we talk about it, 35 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:45,400 Speaker 3: we talk about who he is and what he's done, 36 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 3: and then after that, like it's like a four month 37 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 3: waiting period just to see if anything's different. Like it's 38 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 3: very hitting coaches are, you know, they don't really publicly 39 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 3: come out and talk about what they're gonna teach or full. 40 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 3: You know, it's very difficult to have any sort of 41 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 3: reasoned analysis about this guy until we see exactly how 42 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 3: the offense looks, if it looks any different at all. 43 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:13,359 Speaker 3: You know, he's obviously been with the Rangers the last 44 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 3: few years, and the Rangers have have ironically done a 45 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 3: similar thing to the Braves, where they had this incredible 46 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 3: offense in twenty twenty three, offense was down in twenty 47 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 3: twenty four, which is kind of a league wide thing. 48 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:25,519 Speaker 3: If you look at league wide numbers for twenty twenty 49 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 3: three and twenty twenty four, that's a pretty common story 50 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 3: across multiple teams. So yeah, it's very interesting, you know. 51 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 3: I think everybody was online today kind of trying to 52 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 3: google him and look up some clips, and there's some 53 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 3: interviews out there that he's done about stuff that he 54 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 3: believes in, stuff about pitch selection that I was really 55 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 3: hyped up about. I think a lot of the Braves 56 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 3: problem has been wrapped up in pitch selection and which 57 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 3: pitches they swing at and which pitches they don't, and 58 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 3: he talked quite a bit about that, so I'm excited 59 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 3: about that. But yeah, it's just one of those positions 60 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 3: that it's just tough. It's really tough to put anything 61 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:03,799 Speaker 3: solid down until we get to the twenty twenty five 62 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 3: season and we see if anything's different. You know, if so, 63 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:11,080 Speaker 3: what's different. A lot of it's player driven who's on 64 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 3: your rosters, So it's tough. It's tough to have a 65 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 3: strong opinion, but you know, they were going to hire 66 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 3: somebody who obviously believed in what they believed in, and 67 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:22,079 Speaker 3: it seems like that's what they did. 68 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you're right. I mean, this is something that's 69 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 1: actually even across sports. But you know, assistant assistant coaches, 70 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:32,080 Speaker 1: which is essuially what this is. You know, they're not 71 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 1: gonna talk very often, They're not gonna be available to 72 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 1: the media very often. You kind of have to just 73 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: glean what you can, at least publicly. You know, I 74 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 1: cover other sports and like sometimes you get to talk 75 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 1: to somebody, but as far as like public stuff that 76 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 1: everyone can see, it's very limited. And this is one 77 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 1: where you know, there was a video that you just referenced, 78 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 1: and I think I shared it. I think Scott did 79 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 1: too about you know, hires do like a like a 80 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 1: two and a half minute clip where he's talking about 81 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: his philosophy and like you said, pitch election. I think 82 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 1: the quote that you share was that you're always good 83 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: as the picture that you swing up. That was the 84 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: that was the money quote that we all kind of enjoyed. 85 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: But he did say that and that even in that clip, 86 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:08,839 Speaker 1: and again this is one clip like you' talking about 87 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 1: how there's no secret sauce to hitting or quick fix, 88 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 1: like it's all about process and I like that kind 89 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: of stuff, like having a plan all those things. But 90 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:20,159 Speaker 1: and look, you mentioned the parallel between the Rangers and 91 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: the Braves. Something I wanted to say, and we'll just 92 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 1: do it now. Like none of us thought Kevin Tizer 93 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:26,719 Speaker 1: was bad at his job, you know what I'm saying, 94 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:30,279 Speaker 1: Like he's a proven commodity, like hitting coaches are not famous. 95 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 1: Like that's something else I want to say out loud, 96 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 1: Like no matter who they hired, it was going to 97 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 1: be like, all right, we kind of heard of this 98 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:38,160 Speaker 1: guy because we're sickos. But like fans don't know who 99 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 1: this guy is. They didn't know who Vin Sizer was 100 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 1: unless he was on the Brave staff. That's how you 101 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:43,479 Speaker 1: got to get to know who guys are. They're on 102 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:47,280 Speaker 1: the Braves and the parallels are there. Like he does 103 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:49,039 Speaker 1: have a great resume, which is all you can really 104 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:52,600 Speaker 1: ask for from our standpoint. You know, he, like you said, 105 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:55,280 Speaker 1: was with the Rangers, won the World Series there they 106 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: were really good offensively under his tutelage. Before that, he's 107 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:00,160 Speaker 1: with the Red Sox and the numbers were incredible the 108 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 1: Red Sox, Like some of that's personal, all this of 109 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:04,040 Speaker 1: his personnel base too, like you have to have the players. 110 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 1: But I think it was Tuscano somebody who wrote the 111 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 1: write up polds of these numbers. The Red Sox were 112 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 1: the best offensive baseball essentially for his four year tenure 113 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 1: as the hitting coach in Boston, Like how much how 114 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:17,039 Speaker 1: much of the credit does he deserve for that? I 115 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 1: we have no idea, We can't possibly say that. And 116 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 1: it's kind of the same thing on the other side 117 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:23,359 Speaker 1: of Kevin Sitzer, where Kevin tis a presided over some 118 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: really good offenses. So it's like he's a buffoon. It's 119 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: just what it is. And I think the baseline is basically, 120 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: this is a guy that is about accomplished as a 121 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 1: guy that's going to be available for the higher and 122 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: that's kind of all we know at this point. It 123 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: sounds crazy to talk about it this way, but it 124 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 1: really is like, Okay, is he qualified, Yes, does he 125 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:44,279 Speaker 1: have a resume that's impressive, yes? Does he want to 126 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: be here? Obviously he wasn't fired by Texas. He's choosing 127 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: to leave Texas to go to Atlanta, so he wants 128 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 1: the job, and here we are. 129 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 3: Yeah. I mean, you got to remember those Boston teams 130 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,479 Speaker 3: that was like the Mookie Bets Xander Bogart's teams. You know, 131 00:05:56,520 --> 00:06:00,720 Speaker 3: the Texas teams have obviously been the Corey Seeger Adultus 132 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 3: Garcia teams. Like it's so it's just it's player driven, 133 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 3: like hitting is player driven. And this is the other 134 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:08,480 Speaker 3: thing that we got some pushback on when we talked 135 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 3: about Sitser being fired, was hitting coaches are not in 136 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 3: a silo teaching exactly what they want to teach versus 137 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 3: what you're like, hitting philosophy and hitting approach and all 138 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 3: that stuff comes down from the organization in twenty twenty four. 139 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 3: So it's not just, hey, we're gonna hire a hitting 140 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:29,840 Speaker 3: coach and then whatever he teaches, that's now our new 141 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 3: organizational philosophy. That's not how it works, you know, Alex. 142 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 3: This is the first time Alex has hired a hitting coach, 143 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:40,239 Speaker 3: which is obviously notable. You know, he inherited Seitzer. Sitzer 144 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:42,679 Speaker 3: was actually there before him, you know, along with Snit 145 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:45,160 Speaker 3: and so this is the first time he's hired a 146 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 3: hitting coach with the Braves, and you know, they have 147 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 3: an organizational philosophy of how they want guys to approach hitting, 148 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 3: and they hire guys who teach that philosophy. And this 149 00:06:56,200 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 3: is I think a situation where you know, sites are 150 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 3: had his voice had just gotten a little stale, and 151 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 3: they wanted a new voice to come in and maybe, 152 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 3: you know, shake some things loose and maybe get a 153 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 3: little bit more out of guys. But you know, when 154 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 3: Sischer got fired, we did wonder if this is going 155 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 3: to be like an organizational change, if they were gonna 156 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 3: go get something completely different, or if they just wanted 157 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 3: a new messenger for the same message. And I do 158 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 3: think it's the latter. I think it's b I think 159 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 3: you know, he's he's come in. He's being brought in 160 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 3: to reinforce what they've been teaching, but just in a 161 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 3: different voice, and maybe in a slightly different way, maybe 162 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 3: with a slightly different emphasis. Maybe pitch selection becomes the 163 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 3: thing he focuses on, which I would love. But yeah, 164 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 3: it's just gonna be tough to tell until we get 165 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 3: to the season. 166 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: I wanted to get a little bit more on that 167 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 1: topic actually, about the organizational factors here in a second. 168 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 1: The first they're work from our partners at foul Territory. 169 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 4: We get it. Mornings are nuts, no time for breakfast, 170 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 4: but you need to get your day started right. 171 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 2: What if a delicious, nutritious meal could be ready in seconds. 172 00:07:57,360 --> 00:07:59,679 Speaker 2: Support for foul Territory is brought to you by Hewle, 173 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 2: the world's number one complete nutrition brand with over four 174 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 2: hundred million meals sold worldwide. Fuel is trusted by millions 175 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 2: of people looking to fuel their days with convenient, complete nutrition. 176 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 2: Try it for yourself with this exclusive FT offer fifteen 177 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 2: percent off with the code foul at huel dot com. 178 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 5: You know we're all about saving time, but we get 179 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 5: angry like a lot. I recently fell in love with 180 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 5: the Huele Ultimate Supergreens Powder, which is a perfect blend 181 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 5: of ninety one vitamins, minerals and whole food sourced ingredients. 182 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 5: I also love their complete nutrition bars and those hot 183 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:34,680 Speaker 5: and savory pouches are fire too. 184 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 4: Ftfam give it a shot. Get fifteen percent off with 185 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 4: the code foul at hu e l dot com. Unlock 186 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:44,640 Speaker 4: a healthier, easier way to eat with Fuel nutritionally complete 187 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 4: meals in minutes so you can focus on what really matters. 188 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 1: All right, Steven, I think It's a good point you're 189 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:55,840 Speaker 1: bringing up about how like it's all correlated and connected 190 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 1: and we can we will never know how much even 191 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 1: with sites sensors example, like how much of it was 192 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: like they didn't like he disagree with something in the organization. 193 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:06,679 Speaker 1: It's the same thing as managing. You know, Snitt is 194 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 1: the public face. So any tactical decision gets put on 195 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 1: Snitt when you and I know, and I think like 196 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 1: Michael realized this now, pitching decisions in particular, lineup destruction 197 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 1: is oftentimes at the very least a process that is 198 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 1: a corroboration or what you know, collaboration I has to 199 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 1: say with with the front office. So yes, you know, 200 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:29,720 Speaker 1: Alex is very quick to always say, you know, Snitt's 201 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 1: the guy once the game starts, stints the guy, he's 202 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:34,559 Speaker 1: in charge. But we all know it's everything is organizational 203 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 1: at this point in baseball. It's the old way of 204 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 1: doing things where the buck stopped at the manager and 205 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 1: the coach staff is who's you know, that's not really 206 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 1: the case anymore, and like we can't know what's going 207 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 1: to happen here, but I thought it was interesting actually 208 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 1: to this point. Mark Boden reported today that Hires was 209 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 1: actually interested in joining the Brads organization as a minor 210 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:56,000 Speaker 1: league hitting guy in twenty seventeen before he went to Houston. 211 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 1: I started before What's Boston and then that just didn't 212 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: happen because of the cop be fallout and all that 213 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: craziness that was pre Alex. And also he actually worked 214 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:09,679 Speaker 1: tangentially under Alex. He was with the Dodgers when Alex 215 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:11,719 Speaker 1: was there. So I don't know how close they are. 216 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: There's no way of knowing that until Alex says they are. 217 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,319 Speaker 1: You know, Like, I'm sure someone in Atlanta will get 218 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:18,319 Speaker 1: an interview with Hires, and I wish we could read 219 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 1: that now before we do this podcast. That will probably happen. 220 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 1: But there's a lot of you know things here where Alex. 221 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:26,080 Speaker 1: I have no idea that that's why he got hired. 222 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:28,960 Speaker 1: He's also again he's from here. He's in Atlanta area Navies. 223 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:30,600 Speaker 1: I think he's he grew up in Newton County, so 224 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: his family's here from what I could find out today. 225 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 1: So like, there's a lot of connection with him and 226 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:38,559 Speaker 1: the organization. And again he is proactively choosing. And then 227 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:40,960 Speaker 1: I'll ask you this, is it encouraging to you like 228 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 1: it is to me that the Braves were able and 229 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 1: we said this when it happened, but like they were 230 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 1: able to get a guy who is who was not fired, 231 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:53,440 Speaker 1: who was probably in demand, like clearly hires probably just 232 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 1: like all right, this is the best job I can 233 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: possibly get. Look at this lineup, and maybe he wanted 234 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 1: to move home too, But like that encourages me that 235 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: they didn't have to go out and find somebody that 236 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:02,200 Speaker 1: was like, you know, just sitting around. 237 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 3: The couch, yeah, like a triple A guy, or even 238 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 3: like out of college or something. Like they were able 239 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 3: to go get a guy that's got tons of success 240 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:12,079 Speaker 3: as being a major league, kidding coach. And we centered 241 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 3: at the time that Sitzer was like, oh, that there 242 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 3: would be highly qualified, highly talented people that were interested 243 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 3: in this job because of a you know, people love 244 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 3: working for the Atlanta Braves just across baseball. It's a 245 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 3: model organization in a lot of ways for players, for coaches, 246 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:31,200 Speaker 3: for front office people. You know, they love it. Obviously, 247 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 3: this guy's from Georgia, so I'm sure that mattered a lot. 248 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:35,839 Speaker 3: But maybe more than any of that, the Bridges have 249 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:38,559 Speaker 3: a ton of offensive talent that had a lot of 250 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 3: underperformance last year, and this guy could come in and 251 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 3: look like a genius, well having to do much. I 252 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 3: mean think he could just sit back and watch the 253 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 3: regression happen to the positive and he looks, you know, 254 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:52,320 Speaker 3: he looks like a genius. So I'm not surprised they 255 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:56,320 Speaker 3: were able to hire somebody of this caliber with this 256 00:11:56,440 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 3: much success. It is encouraging. It does mean kind of 257 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 3: what we thought it meant that this this is a 258 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:05,679 Speaker 3: highly coveted job. I do think the fact that the 259 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:08,679 Speaker 3: Rangers didn't have a great year in twenty four, I'm 260 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 3: sure you know the Rangers might be in a similar 261 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 3: situation where they maybe want a different voice. I don't know. 262 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:17,560 Speaker 3: You know, he wasn't fired, but you know, so that 263 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 3: is important. He had a job, he left a job 264 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 3: to come here. He wasn't on the free agent market, 265 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:26,640 Speaker 3: so to speak. But so you know, that does matter, 266 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:33,720 Speaker 3: and it is encouraging. But I think I think, I 267 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 3: don't think the messaging is going to be that different. 268 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 3: Like I know there are people that think he's gonna 269 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 3: come in and maybe, you know, completely redo the offense. 270 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:45,000 Speaker 3: I don't think that's gonna happen. I don't think they're 271 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:47,439 Speaker 3: massively changing their philosophy. Alex has had has the same 272 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 3: hitting philosophy when he was with Toronto, when he was 273 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 3: with LA. Like you said, this guy was with him 274 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 3: in LA since he's been in Atlanta, Like, they're not 275 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:58,080 Speaker 3: changing it after one bad year with a ton of 276 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 3: injuries and a ton of underperformance, Like they're just not 277 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 3: going to do that. And so it's just a new 278 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:05,840 Speaker 3: voice for the same message. I you know, when we 279 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:07,439 Speaker 3: get to the season, well, we will be able to 280 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:10,080 Speaker 3: see if there's any special emphasis, if maybe they do 281 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 3: take a few more walks because they're better at pitch selection. 282 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 3: You know, we'll see again, you don't really know how 283 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 3: much a hitting coach. I mean once these guys get 284 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 3: to the majors. 285 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 1: Well, yeah, actually it's the same thing. It's like, even 286 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: if they don't perfectly align. And look, I'm sure allow 287 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:28,199 Speaker 1: the opportunity to put a stamp on things as much 288 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:30,079 Speaker 1: as we totally agree that this is not going to 289 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:32,839 Speaker 1: just change the entire offense. Maybe with certain players the 290 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:34,840 Speaker 1: messaging will get through. Like that kind of stuff can 291 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 1: really help. And you know, there's a lot of talk 292 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 1: today about you know, can you get through j R. Kellnet, 293 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 1: Can he get through to Sean. Can he fix Sean 294 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:45,119 Speaker 1: Murphy like the guys who struggled will You know, inevitably 295 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 1: the new kading coach will get credited to some degree 296 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 1: if those guys figure it out this year. And we'll 297 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:51,679 Speaker 1: never know if that was the reason or not. We 298 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,680 Speaker 1: just can't know that. But you're right, maybe it's maybe 299 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:56,680 Speaker 1: it's a few more walks last year. Of course, they 300 00:13:57,080 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: in addition to everything else that changed offensively, they walk 301 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,400 Speaker 1: less and struck out more. And that's a very obvious 302 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 1: thing to look at, and maybe they can fix that. 303 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: But again, personnel based, I don't think that suddenly Ozzy 304 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 1: Albi's and Michael Harris are going to be this incredibly 305 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 1: patient hitters. That's not that's not who that's not who 306 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 1: those guys are. Can can they get better at that? Absolutely? 307 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:15,840 Speaker 1: But they're not going to turn into one Soto because 308 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:18,080 Speaker 1: they have a new hitting coach. So there's that part 309 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 1: of there's that part of this and uh, but yeah, 310 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 1: I think if if you wanted an organizational change a 311 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 1: hitting approach, you have to change a lot of things 312 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: in the organization. You can't just change the hitting coach. 313 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: You have to change the the way you developed guys 314 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 1: the miners. It begins lower in the system, like you 315 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 1: have to have it entirely almost. I don't don't. I 316 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: don't want to say that you had you have to 317 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: get rid of Alex, but like almost an entire silo 318 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 1: of offerings under Alex would have to change if you 319 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 1: wanted a full scale organizenttional change, and that's just not 320 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 1: gonna happen. So they're changing this one, this one guy, 321 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 1: and we'll see. 322 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 3: And honestly, you might have to, like if you wanted that, 323 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 3: you really might have to get rid of that, Like 324 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 3: it might be. 325 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: That acreased, which isn't gonna happen. 326 00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:56,640 Speaker 3: That's not just never, which is of course never gonna happen. 327 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 3: So but that's how that's how ingrained the front office 328 00:14:59,880 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 3: is into this stuff now, is that you don't just 329 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:05,600 Speaker 3: change the hitting coach and then change everything about your 330 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 3: offer like that. It just doesn't happen. 331 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 1: Starts in the miners. I'm telling you, Like, you know, 332 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: obviously this seems obvious to some. They're simple, But you're 333 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 1: preaching the same thing in single A that you are 334 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 1: in the major league level. To some degree. You know, 335 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 1: you want to develop guys the way you want them 336 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 1: to see it. Like maybe pitching is a little bit 337 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:24,920 Speaker 1: more obvious than this way because teams have I would 338 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 1: probably a bigger swath, like a bigger swath of approach 339 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 1: on the pitching side. But everything is organizational all the 340 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 1: way down to the miners and so on and. 341 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 3: Way even before it gets to the mind, like it 342 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 3: it's that stuff is based on who you draft, who 343 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:41,120 Speaker 3: you scout, like it is literally top to bottom. You 344 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 3: would have to change everything about the organization because Alex 345 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 3: has been here for seven years now, Like his fingerprints 346 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 3: are all over this organization, top to bottom, especially after 347 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 3: the after they lost Dana Brown to Houston and he 348 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 3: had to kind of redo the scouting department. Like, yeah, 349 00:15:57,440 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 3: you're exactly right. You can't just you can't just change 350 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:01,520 Speaker 3: the hitting coach and expect that to be the change, 351 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 3: Like you would have to be an entire organizational turnover, 352 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:06,000 Speaker 3: which they were never going to do after one year 353 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 3: with a lot of fluky stuff that happened, if we're 354 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 3: being honest. 355 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, even as we've said, and you know, I was 356 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 1: less stronger than I know Scott was, but we were 357 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 1: none of us like were like you have to fire 358 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 1: Kevin Sitzer, which is kind of I thought it might happen, 359 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 1: and it was understandable if they did that. But even 360 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 1: then we all said, like, in addition to the underperformance 361 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 1: and stuff, they also got unlucky this year, both with 362 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 1: injuries and bad at ball stuff. Like there's everything was 363 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 1: thrown into the same formula. One more thing before we 364 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: move on on this, Uh, the Braves have well, when 365 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 1: they moved on from Seitzer and multiple coaches, they did 366 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:40,160 Speaker 1: say to multiple of the beat guys they were they 367 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 1: were they were not going to hire a catching coordator. 368 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 1: That job was going to be put away because it 369 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 1: was just created for the for sal But they were 370 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 1: planning on hiring a hitting coach and a number two 371 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 1: assistant basically, and they did not announce that they did 372 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 1: that today. Maybe they have and we just don't know 373 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 1: it yet. Maybe they wanted to kind of, you know, 374 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 1: talk to hires about who he might want to work 375 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 1: under him. I just want to at least note that 376 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:04,879 Speaker 1: there could be a number two higher coming. And I 377 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 1: also wanted to ask you because we talked about it offline. 378 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 1: It was a little bit odd the way they announced this, 379 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:11,679 Speaker 1: Like they didn't do the rollout that they normally do, 380 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 1: which you and I both found. I'm not sure what 381 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:15,800 Speaker 1: it means, but it was just kind of interesting. 382 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:18,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was very weird. It was a very terse, 383 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:21,679 Speaker 3: very short tweet. It was like a three line tweet. 384 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:24,359 Speaker 3: You know, typically when the Braves add somebody significant to 385 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 3: either the roster to the coaching staff. I mean, Braves 386 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:31,200 Speaker 3: fans know, the Blue Square is kind of famous now 387 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:33,199 Speaker 3: for all the extensions they signed, but they you know, 388 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:36,360 Speaker 3: they send out this blue Square that's got a thousand 389 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 3: words of biographical bio and you know, qualifications and former 390 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:44,439 Speaker 3: stops and success and all that stuff. And you know, 391 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:46,439 Speaker 3: I look back last year when they added three coaches 392 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:48,960 Speaker 3: to the roster and just because I just wanted to seek, 393 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 3: you know, make sure I wasn't going crazy, and yeah, 394 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 3: they did the same thing. They had the big blue Square. 395 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:56,200 Speaker 3: They had tons of you know, biographical information about each guy. 396 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:58,879 Speaker 3: And then today when they announced this, there was nothing 397 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 3: there was. It was just a three line tweet that 398 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 3: we hired. We hired Tim Hires to be the next 399 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:07,120 Speaker 3: batting coach and that was it. And it was very weird. 400 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 3: It was very strange. I don't know, if you know 401 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 3: you and I were speculating. I don't know if they 402 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:12,119 Speaker 3: were about to get it. They were afraid it was 403 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:13,640 Speaker 3: about to leak out, and so they wanted to get 404 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:15,399 Speaker 3: something out quick. I don't know if they're going to 405 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:17,600 Speaker 3: save all the biographical stuff for when they hired the 406 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:20,239 Speaker 3: second guy and maybe announce them all. But it was 407 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 3: that was a very strange rollout and a big departure 408 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:26,879 Speaker 3: from what they do usually when somebody's significant gets added 409 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:27,959 Speaker 3: to the team. 410 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, it doesn't really matter. It's just one of those 411 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:33,840 Speaker 1: things that the sickos like us noticed probably and. 412 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:36,440 Speaker 3: It was it bothers, it bothers our brains like we can't. 413 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's just didn't just didn't sit right. But they 414 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 1: do have an open job under him again, like obviously 415 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:44,640 Speaker 1: he'll get even even now, like if you pulled even 416 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:46,439 Speaker 1: the nyhard bradsbans, do they even know the name of 417 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:48,639 Speaker 1: the number two hitting coach that that they've just fired. 418 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:50,719 Speaker 1: I don't think people even know who that is. So 419 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:52,359 Speaker 1: it's the number one guys to get the attention. It 420 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:54,480 Speaker 1: is what it is that that's going to be hires. 421 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 1: But yeah, we can leave it there for now. Anything 422 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:00,400 Speaker 1: else you want to add on on our new guy, 423 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:02,919 Speaker 1: Tim Hyers, our best friend. 424 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:04,679 Speaker 3: It's funny when I when I read that, When I 425 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 3: when I read that line about you know, you're only 426 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:10,640 Speaker 3: as good as the pitches you swing at, the first 427 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:13,000 Speaker 3: thing I thought of was like Orlando Arcia like listening 428 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 3: to that tweet and like slowly like lowering his head, 429 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:20,800 Speaker 3: or Ozzie Alby's reading that tree and like he's right, Because. 430 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:22,879 Speaker 1: That is our streak of our picking on Orlando on 431 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 1: every podcast continues. 432 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:27,199 Speaker 3: Because that is the thing I'm going to be interested 433 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:29,639 Speaker 3: to see is that if that improves at all with 434 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:31,640 Speaker 3: any of these I mean, again, so much of it as 435 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:34,280 Speaker 3: player base, but like that, if there's one thing I'm 436 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 3: looking forward to for next year in this new hire 437 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 3: is to see if they are better at pitch selection, 438 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 3: and you know, the approach they take to the plate, 439 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:44,600 Speaker 3: especially some of the guys that struggle with it unbelievably bad. 440 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 3: And you know, some of these guys, Orlando might not 441 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:48,720 Speaker 3: even be the starting short stop next year, so it 442 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:51,160 Speaker 3: might not matter at all. But but that's the thing 443 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 3: I am probably most interested about this higher. 444 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 1: I agree, and you know, between it's that and it's 445 00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 1: also I joked about earlier, but it's not going to 446 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 1: be a joke. The thing that will get the most 447 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 1: attention for is guys like Kellen Nick, guys like Murphy 448 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:07,040 Speaker 1: who had really bad years. Like you know, Matt Olsen 449 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:08,639 Speaker 1: didn't have a great year, but like he kind of 450 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:10,360 Speaker 1: fixed it along the way and was still pretty good. 451 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:12,320 Speaker 1: Even though it's been like frame as if he was terrible. 452 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 1: He wasn't. He just wasn't as good as the year before. 453 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:16,159 Speaker 1: All those things. But the guys who were like the 454 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: projects and the guys who were reclamations from the previous 455 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:21,840 Speaker 1: year will be the spotlight for the new hitting coach. 456 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 1: Speaking of Matt Olsen before we get out here, on 457 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 1: a shorter episode of the podcast, we would go pretty 458 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:28,960 Speaker 1: long and it's just kind of a pseudo mercy podcast. 459 00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 1: But Matt Alsen won the Philly Bible Award today at 460 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 1: first base. And this is not it's not as famous 461 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:36,480 Speaker 1: as goal Gloves, but filled the Bible Awards I think 462 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:38,760 Speaker 1: are probably even probably a little bit better as far 463 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:42,119 Speaker 1: as like their voting process and all that stuff at 464 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:44,840 Speaker 1: this point in time. And also it's a full MLB award, 465 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:47,600 Speaker 1: it's not just National League, so essentially they annoyed it. 466 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:49,520 Speaker 1: Matt also is the best defensive first baseman in the 467 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 1: majors this year, and I was a little surprised, but 468 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 1: at the same time he's one of the things. This 469 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:56,120 Speaker 1: is his fourth time that he's won it. And also 470 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:58,119 Speaker 1: he which I didn't even realize, he'd led all of 471 00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:00,840 Speaker 1: baseball in defensive roun safe this year at first base, 472 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,679 Speaker 1: he was good. He was good above average two And 473 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:07,360 Speaker 1: I will raise my hand even though as the Matt 474 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:09,200 Speaker 1: Olsen guy we share a high school with all that, 475 00:21:09,520 --> 00:21:11,880 Speaker 1: we didn't talk about his defense much this year at all, 476 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 1: and I think it became last year twenty twenty three. 477 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:18,399 Speaker 1: It was a topic because he struggled defensively and he 478 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:20,360 Speaker 1: admitted that he opened him. It was it was like, whoa, 479 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:21,800 Speaker 1: this guy supposed to be awesome defense, because he was. 480 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:24,160 Speaker 1: He was really good in Oakland, and then he wasn't 481 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:25,480 Speaker 1: very good at twenty twenty three, and I was like, 482 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:27,399 Speaker 1: what's going on with Matt Olsen? And this year I 483 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:28,959 Speaker 1: don't know about you, but like I didn't give him 484 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:30,960 Speaker 1: the credit that I probably should have for his improvement. 485 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:34,520 Speaker 1: And obviously getting a philly about award win is not 486 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:36,640 Speaker 1: a small thing. It isn't like gold gloves in terms 487 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 1: of like prestige. But when you're called the best defener 488 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 1: of position in the league for a full season, that's 489 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:43,679 Speaker 1: not that's pretty interesting, I'd say. 490 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, So two thoughts. First of all, first base defense 491 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:52,240 Speaker 3: is a bit like being the referee or hit. You know, 492 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:54,199 Speaker 3: we didn't talk about as defensive like because there was 493 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 3: not a lot of errors to talk You know, when 494 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:58,360 Speaker 3: you're a short stopper centerfield er, you have these spectacular 495 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:00,680 Speaker 3: plays that you make and you make highlight real first 496 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:03,240 Speaker 3: base defense very rarely makes any sort of highlight reel. 497 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:06,200 Speaker 3: You're just supposed to make all the plays over there. 498 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:09,919 Speaker 3: And so you know, the fact that his defense was 499 00:22:09,960 --> 00:22:12,159 Speaker 3: not a topic of conversation I think was probably a 500 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:14,240 Speaker 3: positive and led to a lot of this. But you're right, 501 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:16,280 Speaker 3: we definitely did not give him the credit he deserved 502 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 3: some of us because he was having a down offensive 503 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 3: year a lot of time, and it didn't feel it 504 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:22,359 Speaker 3: didn't feel right talking about how great his defense was 505 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:24,120 Speaker 3: when he wasn't hitting the way he wanted to hit. 506 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:26,600 Speaker 1: At first base. To your point, because it like, it's 507 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:29,159 Speaker 1: not its position, it's that you're if you're Lando r C. 508 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:32,840 Speaker 1: Or Michael Harris, that's your carrying tool, like your at 509 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 1: first base. It's like, just just catch the ball man exactly. 510 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:37,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, you can't. You can't spend a lot of time 511 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 3: talking about how great a guy's playing, you know, first 512 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 3: base defense when he's not hitting the way he wants to. 513 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:44,320 Speaker 3: So that's definitely part of it. But the other my 514 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:47,960 Speaker 3: other point is that the Fielding Bible Award probably should 515 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:51,199 Speaker 3: have the prestige that the Gold Glove has because the 516 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:55,280 Speaker 3: Fielding Bible Award is actually much more accurately voted on. 517 00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:58,320 Speaker 3: It's it's got a bunch of really smart people behind it, 518 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 3: and you know, like fran Cisco Lindor didn't get nominated 519 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:05,200 Speaker 3: for a Gold Glove at shortstop this year, and there's 520 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:07,480 Speaker 3: all there every year, Like the gold Glove Awards are 521 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,000 Speaker 3: just these like ridiculous Wan Soda is always a finalist 522 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:12,639 Speaker 3: somehow for a gold Glove, Like it's a rather ridiculous 523 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:15,120 Speaker 3: process for that award, But it has all the cachet 524 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 3: and all the prestige because I guess it sounds like 525 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:20,640 Speaker 3: it's just cool, Like gold glove is just a cool 526 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:22,280 Speaker 3: sounding name and it's been around. 527 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:26,720 Speaker 1: It's let's say it's it's the oldest one. And wasn't 528 00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:28,280 Speaker 1: there a year that Paul Merrill won one in the 529 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:31,480 Speaker 1: nineties where he was like basically DH all year long. Like, 530 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:34,119 Speaker 1: it's become granted a lot of times it's right. A 531 00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:36,439 Speaker 1: lot of times they get they get it right. You know, 532 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:38,440 Speaker 1: whoever wins it gets to get right. But like, there's 533 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:40,840 Speaker 1: so many outlier bad ones with gold gloves that it 534 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:42,919 Speaker 1: becomes like kind of a head scratcher to me. And 535 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:45,160 Speaker 1: Matt is Matt is a finalist for an all Gold 536 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:46,880 Speaker 1: glove that they're not houstos yet. It'd be a couple 537 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:49,800 Speaker 1: of weeks before they do. But yeah, I mean, obviously 538 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 1: I can already hear people like you guys are nerds. 539 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:54,160 Speaker 1: I'm like, I understand we are nerds. That's fine, I'll 540 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 1: own that. But if I had a choice between winning 541 00:23:57,040 --> 00:23:59,119 Speaker 1: a Philly Model Award as far as like what I 542 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:02,160 Speaker 1: trust more versus an like, I would think this one 543 00:24:02,160 --> 00:24:04,919 Speaker 1: that I trust for Also, while we're here, the only 544 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:06,639 Speaker 1: other guy who was recognized by by the Braves was 545 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 1: Schwellenbach finished second at Pitcher. He didn't win it, but 546 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:12,560 Speaker 1: he finished second in the voting. I wonder about Michael Harris, 547 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:15,119 Speaker 1: he didn't. He just missed a bunch of time. So 548 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 1: I would guess that that's probably the reason why he 549 00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:19,439 Speaker 1: didn't get in the top five voting in center field. 550 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:22,760 Speaker 1: But Schell is gonna win a lot. He's by all 551 00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:24,600 Speaker 1: account said. Look, I'm not an expert of Pittcher defense, 552 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 1: but apparently he's really really good at by all accounts, 553 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:28,800 Speaker 1: and he always has been. So that's also your former 554 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:29,800 Speaker 1: shortstop all those things. 555 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 3: And that's one of those things that like once you 556 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 3: get a reputation for it early in your career, like 557 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:36,439 Speaker 3: Greg Maddicks lived off this for a decade like he 558 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 3: was awesome and he was actually really good. But like 559 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:41,439 Speaker 3: once you get that reputation, because pitcher defense is like 560 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:43,160 Speaker 3: impossible to actually track. 561 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:45,159 Speaker 1: I mean, like the number, I have a question for 562 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 1: you on that. On that front, I'm gonna all tribute Steven. 563 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:49,919 Speaker 1: How many gold Gloves did Greg Madx win? Because I know, 564 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:50,879 Speaker 1: I just I just looked it up. 565 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:54,400 Speaker 3: How many did he win? He won a I swear 566 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:56,439 Speaker 3: to god he won every single one for like a decade. 567 00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 1: Well that's my that's my mask. 568 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:02,840 Speaker 3: It was all I'll take like eight, like more eight. Oh, 569 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 3: it was more than that. 570 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:07,920 Speaker 1: Okay, how about this, it's crazy he won eighteen that's 571 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 1: gold gloves. Now, great, the man pitched for twenty three seasons. 572 00:25:12,359 --> 00:25:15,400 Speaker 1: But I mean, I look, I love Greg Maddox. He's 573 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:17,200 Speaker 1: one of the best fishers of all time. I kind 574 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:19,000 Speaker 1: of died, he's the best fielding pitcher. Eighteen. 575 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:23,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's that's reputation. That's reputation early. And just don't 576 00:25:23,280 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 3: make any you know, don't make any stupid mistakes and 577 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:27,920 Speaker 3: you'll win it. And I'll that's again, that's another reason. 578 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:30,240 Speaker 3: Like I remember one year David Wright led the league 579 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 3: in errors at third base, but he was a monster 580 00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:33,960 Speaker 3: and he won a gold Glove. 581 00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:36,640 Speaker 1: And yeah, well that's always been the rep Actually, before 582 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:38,959 Speaker 1: we move on, like there's always been a rep of 583 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:42,640 Speaker 1: like the big stars get gold gloves for even because 584 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:44,840 Speaker 1: they're hitting, Like it just doesn't make sense. But it's 585 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:46,560 Speaker 1: just like another way to give those guys another award, 586 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:49,640 Speaker 1: some of the big bacheers of the Nights of two thousands. 587 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:51,679 Speaker 1: That's a good one for right. So anyway, I'm not 588 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:53,520 Speaker 1: this is not a pile on the gold gloves thing, 589 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:55,880 Speaker 1: but I wanted to. I wanted to raise my head 590 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 1: and do a Mia Coppa about Matt's defense being really 591 00:25:58,280 --> 00:25:59,919 Speaker 1: good this year and us not talking about it, so 592 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 1: he was honored for it. 593 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:03,600 Speaker 3: And I'll say this, if you want to know how 594 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:08,199 Speaker 3: good a defensive player somebody is, the worst thing to 595 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:11,359 Speaker 3: do is go look up, like what defensive awards stable onon? Like, 596 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:13,320 Speaker 3: go look at the like. We have real numbers now 597 00:26:13,359 --> 00:26:15,480 Speaker 3: that you can go look up, so you know you 598 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:17,520 Speaker 3: don't have to depend on how many goal gloves did 599 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:19,359 Speaker 3: a guy and I get. For some of the older players, 600 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:21,760 Speaker 3: it's not easy to do, but for modern players, there's 601 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 3: way better ways to track defense than awards. 602 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:27,439 Speaker 1: We agree on that, all right, Stephen were we can 603 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:29,520 Speaker 1: sign off early. I mean, this is a we got 604 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:31,000 Speaker 1: to twenty five thirty minutes. It wasn't like it was 605 00:26:31,080 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 1: terribly short. The World Series begins tomorrow, as you and 606 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 1: I record this on Thursday. We did a little bit 607 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 1: of a mini preview you and I on our most 608 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:40,439 Speaker 1: recent show on Tuesday, so we could just already said that, 609 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:43,479 Speaker 1: but just flagging that. And also because as soon as 610 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 1: it ends, it becomes the true offseason, like stuff can 611 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: start happening. Five days after the World Series is when 612 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:52,200 Speaker 1: really things gonna happen. Because guys can sign with other teams, 613 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:55,080 Speaker 1: so we're all prepping for that. It's gonna be full 614 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:58,160 Speaker 1: blown hot stove for a while. Obviously Max Freed's number 615 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:00,960 Speaker 1: one topic around the Braves. But there was a little 616 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:04,560 Speaker 1: rumbling and Bomus newsletter today where he thinks that Morton 617 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:06,800 Speaker 1: might not retire. So that's something to keep an eye on. 618 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:09,080 Speaker 1: We'll talk about at some point, but uh yeah, just 619 00:27:09,119 --> 00:27:11,399 Speaker 1: flagging that because once it starts and then once it ends, 620 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:12,680 Speaker 1: it's kind of like all right here we are. 621 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:14,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, and just as a reminder, you know you have 622 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:16,639 Speaker 3: to wait till five days after the World Series for 623 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:18,760 Speaker 3: free agency to begin. But you remember last year they 624 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:24,440 Speaker 3: resigned Joejomenez and Peter Johnson, Pierce Johnson, Thank you Pierce 625 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:26,679 Speaker 3: Johnson in that in that five day window when you 626 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:30,160 Speaker 3: can talk to your own players. So we don't think 627 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:32,520 Speaker 3: a Ja Minter is gonna come back. But like if 628 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:34,920 Speaker 3: that was gonna happen, and it happened in those five days, 629 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:36,640 Speaker 3: it wouldn't be like a stunning development. 630 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:39,680 Speaker 1: I think mintor Minser and or Morton like those guys. 631 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 1: I mean, Max is not going to sign that period. 632 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 1: Just for everybody that's not happening, but if Minser or 633 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:47,119 Speaker 1: Morton were to sign, I would not be surprised. 634 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:48,680 Speaker 3: So it might we might not have to wait five 635 00:27:48,760 --> 00:27:51,480 Speaker 3: days after the World Series. Now technically it could happen. 636 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:53,840 Speaker 3: I mean, you can still negotiate with your own players 637 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:55,879 Speaker 3: right now, like right now. Yeah, they don't have they 638 00:27:55,880 --> 00:27:57,679 Speaker 3: don't have to wait. But for some reason, a lot 639 00:27:57,720 --> 00:27:59,719 Speaker 3: of teams do. I think AMLB doesn't like deals being 640 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:03,040 Speaker 3: now during the World Series anyways. So but yeah, it's coming, 641 00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:06,680 Speaker 3: It's coming rapidly. World Series starts tomorrow the most. It's 642 00:28:06,680 --> 00:28:08,760 Speaker 3: gonna go with seven games obviously, and then after that, 643 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:10,840 Speaker 3: you know, the off season starts with haste. 644 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's about ten possible days of baseball between right 645 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:15,600 Speaker 1: now and when the when Game seven would be of 646 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 1: the World Series, and then after that we're off and running. 647 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:19,880 Speaker 1: So Steven, thank you for being here, my friend. If 648 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:22,040 Speaker 1: if anybody's new listener work, can they find all of 649 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:23,919 Speaker 1: your brilliant musings on the braves. 650 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:27,639 Speaker 3: Yeah, Twitter be Underscore Outliers or x whatever the hell 651 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:33,000 Speaker 3: it's called. And then you know Battery Powers where Scott 652 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:34,760 Speaker 3: and Sean and I are still right. Brad used to 653 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:37,639 Speaker 3: be over there, Brad Scott a million jobs, Brad. If 654 00:28:37,680 --> 00:28:39,600 Speaker 3: people don't know, by the way, we're gonna shout out 655 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:42,280 Speaker 3: the Atlanta Hawks who are one and zero. My man 656 00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:45,760 Speaker 3: Roland covers the Hawks, so you know, obviously he's a 657 00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:47,840 Speaker 3: very busy guy this time of year. But yeah, Battery 658 00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:49,760 Speaker 3: Powers where we do a lower writing and then be 659 00:28:49,840 --> 00:28:53,040 Speaker 3: outliers for the for X or Twitter, and then we'll 660 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:56,040 Speaker 3: be here for you know, everything that happens in the 661 00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:59,480 Speaker 3: next ever. Really, I mean we're twelve months, you know, twelve. 662 00:28:59,240 --> 00:29:02,400 Speaker 1: We're never going away. So yeah, this is a Brad 663 00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:04,760 Speaker 1: and Steven heavy week on the podcast. But I can 664 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:06,880 Speaker 1: promise you Scott and Shan me back soon enough, so 665 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 1: please go ahead and subscribe. You can follow me on 666 00:29:08,520 --> 00:29:10,200 Speaker 1: Twitter by the way, if you want to at bt Rowland. 667 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:14,040 Speaker 1: We're also as a show on a lot of different 668 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:16,160 Speaker 1: social platforms. We're on Twitter at Hammer Territory. We're on 669 00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:18,760 Speaker 1: Facebook and Hammer Territory. We're on Instagram and Hammer Territory. 670 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:20,520 Speaker 1: You can find us all those places. The biggest thing 671 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:25,560 Speaker 1: that away to subscribe, download, rate, review, click, all those 672 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:27,120 Speaker 1: whatever you want to do to support in the podcast. 673 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:30,120 Speaker 1: We definitely appreciate it. But uh yeah, boring news probably 674 00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:31,840 Speaker 1: a few days before we come back with a podcast. 675 00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:34,000 Speaker 1: But hey, news came today, so you never know what's 676 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 1: going to happen. We'll react as soon as we possibly can, 677 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:38,080 Speaker 1: so stay tuned. We'll see everybody next time.