1 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:04,640 Speaker 1: From the Burke Shears to the sound from wherever you 2 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:08,880 Speaker 1: live in MLB America. This is inside the Parker. You 3 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 1: give us twenty two minutes and we'll give you the 4 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: scoop on major League Baseball. Now here's Baseball Hall of 5 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 1: Fame voter number eighty three, Rob Parker. All right, welcome 6 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:23,439 Speaker 1: into the podcast. I'm your host, Rob Parker. One a 7 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 1: show we have on tap for you today. First, we're 8 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,319 Speaker 1: gonna talk with us c J. Nikowski, the former Major 9 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,879 Speaker 1: League Picture about all the goings on with the strange 10 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 1: stuff and substances with pictures. We're also gonna catch up 11 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 1: with Craig Calcatera, who has a daily newsletter called Cup 12 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 1: of Coffee. He'll give us some baseball insights that and 13 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 1: much more. Let's go up to lead off. It's getting 14 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 1: robbed and keep him on. Rob's hot take on the 15 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: three biggest stories in Major League Baseball. Number one, here 16 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 1: we go, and and yes, baseball has an issue with 17 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: players cheating um doing things they're not supposed to. And 18 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 1: yesterday we saw Garrick Cole front and center looking like 19 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 1: he saw a ghost when he was asked a question 20 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: of whether or not he put foreign substance on the ball, 21 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: and he said he didn't know how to answer the question. Uh, 22 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 1: it's either yes or no or no comment or you know, 23 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 1: saying he didn't know how to answer it was very 24 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:33,680 Speaker 1: very well. It felt bad for the guy, like he 25 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:37,679 Speaker 1: didn't know what was coming. And uh, you know, baseball 26 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:40,480 Speaker 1: has another issue that has to deal with and something 27 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:43,199 Speaker 1: has to be done because we're seeing these no hitters 28 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 1: across the board a record number. We're seeing uh e 29 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 1: R rays all time low. We're potentially gonna have the 30 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: lowest batting average in the history of baseball. Something is 31 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 1: off kilter and not right. And maybe it was hitters 32 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 1: before had an advantage and now pictures have a big 33 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 1: advantage and it's just not good for the game. We 34 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: need to get it right to put people on a 35 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: fair level playing field so that hitters can be hitters, 36 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: pictures can be pictures, and and neither side dominates too much. 37 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 1: But definitely baseball needs to jump in and get something 38 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: straightened out. Number two Tuesday Night show Hey oh Tani 39 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:28,919 Speaker 1: was on display in Anaheim. That's right, better known than 40 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 1: me as show Hey Me the Money oh Tani The 41 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 1: two way phenom hitter projected four hundred and seventy foot 42 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 1: home running the right center field. He jumped all over 43 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:46,079 Speaker 1: a two two and to change up and blasted it. 44 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: It was incredible. It was surpassed his previous record of 45 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 1: four hundred and fifty one feet. And uh, I don't 46 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: even know what to say. Uh, what kind of season 47 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 1: this guy's had and what an impact he's had on 48 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:06,079 Speaker 1: baseball and he is something to watch. He's must see TV. 49 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: I live in Los Angeles. Whenever they're playing, I'm always 50 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: trying to catch his at bats and put on the 51 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:15,519 Speaker 1: TV because it's worth it. I want to see his 52 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:18,399 Speaker 1: at bats. If he's gonna pitch, I want to watch 53 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: him pitch. It's incredible. Uh, this is once in a 54 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 1: lifetime kind of guy. We didn't get to see Babe Ruth, 55 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 1: but this is as close as we'll probably ever see it. 56 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 1: And I don't know, well, this is spur on other 57 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 1: guys to play two ways, But I'm watching this guy 58 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: all the time. Number three, we know the Baltimore Orioles 59 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: on having a great year. They're in last place in 60 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: the A L East, but their center fielder, Cedric Mullins 61 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: is having a great year. The center fielder coming into 62 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: Wednesday's batting three with nine home runs, r b i S, 63 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 1: nine stolen bases, and an OPS of ninety five. And 64 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: last week he was named MLB bro Homeboy Highlights winner 65 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 1: when he batted five thirty five. He's swinging a great bat, 66 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 1: playing a great center field, and it'll be interesting to 67 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: see if he makes the All Star team and whether 68 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: or not fans look at him and maybe even consider 69 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 1: him as a starter in center field for the American League. 70 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:31,160 Speaker 1: I know Byron Buckston is coming back from injury from 71 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 1: the Twins. He should be the starting center field but 72 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:37,359 Speaker 1: he's missed time. But let's tip off caps to Cedric 73 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 1: Mullins and the hot bat he's swinging in Baltimore. Here 74 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 1: comes the big interview listener. Good, all right, now, let's 75 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:52,840 Speaker 1: welcome into the podcast former left handed pitcher c J. Nikowski, 76 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: who is currently a color analyst for the Texas Rangers 77 00:04:57,080 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: on Bally Sports Southwest and a friend of mine who 78 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:04,479 Speaker 1: I covered in Detroit. C J. Welcome to the podcast. 79 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 1: What's happening, No doubt about it. Hey, you're the perfect 80 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 1: guy to talk about this. You know, pitching and what's 81 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 1: going on in baseball. We know we're at a record 82 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 1: rate of more strikeouts than hits. I mean, it's just 83 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 1: an incredible phenomenon. What's happening this year. We've seen all 84 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: these no hitters c J. You know, Jacob de Graham 85 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 1: has like a ridiculous rain that we haven't seen since 86 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 1: Bob Gibson and they had to lower the mount, you know, 87 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 1: after Bob Gibson. So where are you on this uh? 88 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:42,719 Speaker 1: And the whole spin uh, spinning the ball or putting 89 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:45,600 Speaker 1: foreign substance on the ball. And then we had GARYT. 90 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: Cole yesterday who basically was asked about putting foreign substance 91 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: on the ball and said he didn't know how to 92 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 1: answer the question. Help me out what kind of answer 93 00:05:56,040 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 1: was that. I watched that and my art thanks from 94 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:02,840 Speaker 1: a little bit, because there's the thing I got, there's 95 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 1: things that have been accepted within the game, even though 96 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,360 Speaker 1: there against the rules, no choices about it. That's that's 97 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: not a surprise. But did get flat out asked that 98 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 1: question the way that Ken David Duff did in that 99 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,720 Speaker 1: zoom and to see his reaction, uh, I mean, there 100 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 1: was a lot of silence, There was a lot of 101 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: pauses in between words, and you know, he said without 102 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: saying it with his words. I think we all kind 103 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 1: of knew exactly what the answer was to that question. 104 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: And I'm not a big fan of yes or no questions, 105 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 1: like I always want to give a guy an opportunity 106 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:31,840 Speaker 1: to talk through it a little bit more. But there 107 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 1: had to be a yes or no in there somewhere, 108 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:35,719 Speaker 1: and there wasn't, and so we were left to draw 109 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: our own conclusions. And I think we all probably drew 110 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 1: the same conclusion going back to what you were talking 111 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: about the nine and Bob Gibson and thinking about how 112 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:47,039 Speaker 1: ridiculous pictures were, so much so that they had to 113 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 1: lower the mound. The strike out lay back then was 114 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:52,719 Speaker 1: about fifteen percent, you know those three plate appearances that 115 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 1: ended in the strife ot work fifteen percent. That number 116 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 1: is now ten percent worse from the strike out standpoint 117 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 1: when we lowered a mound in nineteen A fancy idea 118 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: of just what a difference it really is when it 119 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 1: comes to putting the ball in play, and majorly Baseball 120 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 1: is showing us in the past they're not afraid to 121 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 1: make some changes to the rules to try to even 122 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: things out, and and how common of a practice is this, 123 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 1: I mean without giving up secrets or naming names. I mean, 124 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: how how is this going on throughout Major League Baseball? 125 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: And is this the norm rather than you know, the 126 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 1: anomaly that liston it's always had. It's very difficult to 127 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 1: put a number on it. I'm always careful to do that. 128 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 1: We tried to do with the BDA, and I was 129 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 1: even surprised, quite honestly, like I had an idea maybe 130 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: where we were, and then the thing started to kind 131 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: of falling apart. I was like, oh, wow, it's probably 132 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: more than I realized either when I was playing. So 133 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 1: I can tell you that I threw my last pitch 134 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 1: in January of twenty twelve down in the Dominican Republican 135 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: we're certainly still using it. Then, I do find a 136 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 1: different parts of my career struggling, you know, maybe with 137 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: crip or just trying to get my curveball to spend 138 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 1: a little bit more better. Was just struggling on the mounds. 139 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 1: Let's go two phases. I wouldn't call it and every 140 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 1: day all the time thing, but and I say that's 141 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 1: probably the case for a lot of guys, and whether 142 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 1: it does play a role, I would talking about pitching 143 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 1: trying to pach in Chicago and April was stopped. It 144 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 1: was really tough, you know, to be able to get 145 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 1: a grip on the baseball was a real challenge in 146 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 1: those spots, and so it was definitely, um, you know, 147 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: I would look for something to help me, whether it 148 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: was from grip, whether it was some point, maybe it 149 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 1: was some other concontinent. Even the players are trying thing 150 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 1: to keep the dream alive and to continue to stay 151 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 1: in the game. So it's difficult to put a number, 152 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: but I will certainly say until comfortable saying more common 153 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:36,559 Speaker 1: than uncommon. Were speaking with former Major league left handed 154 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: pitcher c J. Nikowski, who broke in with the Cincinnati 155 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 1: Reds in play for the Tigers, the Astros, the Mets, 156 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 1: the Rangers. I'm running out of breath her, CJ. The 157 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: bread doesn't even know it. I mean, then you start 158 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 1: going overseasonallenge is real, no doubt. And lasting the big 159 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 1: leagues in two thousand five with the Washington Nationals. Here's 160 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 1: my other thing in the major leagues with pictures and 161 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: putting stuff on the ball and whatnot. We have a 162 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 1: couple of legendary pictures. Gaylord Perry's in the Hall of Fame, 163 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 1: and that was his whole m oh, you know, whether 164 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: he was doing it or faking batters out. Phil Niko 165 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 1: is another guy, if you remember. I think it was 166 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: Phil who had an emery board he flipped out of 167 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: his pocket right on the mount in front of everybody. 168 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 1: I mean, this has been attached to baseball for a while. Um, 169 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:33,360 Speaker 1: can baseball honestly clean this up? Can this be cleaned up? 170 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:35,839 Speaker 1: I think they can. And you know, we all laugh 171 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:38,080 Speaker 1: about in those old days because you know when then 172 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 1: it's a little bit of a difference, right, scuffing your 173 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 1: baseball compared to using uh maybe a foreign substance. And 174 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 1: I say different just in the in the practice, you're 175 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 1: still gonna get a similar result, but you mayn't get 176 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:48,719 Speaker 1: a guy that's were trying to scoffed one once in 177 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: a while. He wouldn't do it all the time to 178 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 1: be worried about getting caught. But I do think we're 179 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 1: a sticky stuff that you're pretty much want to have 180 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 1: it on your hand. You have it on your hands, 181 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: And not that one is better than the other, but 182 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:00,360 Speaker 1: they are a little bit different, and uh, perhaps we 183 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 1: should have been a little bit more harsh about it. 184 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 1: Over the years because the rule has always been um 185 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:06,959 Speaker 1: in place that you could do it. But you know, 186 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: the idea of reversing this thing, it's going to be 187 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 1: a challenge for baseball. They're they're now pulling out all 188 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: the stops. And I think part of it, going back 189 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 1: to what we're just talking about, is because the pictures 190 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: are so good in the offensive struggling, we are at 191 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 1: a historical low in batting average, and it just keeps up. 192 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:22,199 Speaker 1: We will have the lowest batting average ever in the 193 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:24,720 Speaker 1: history of our game. And Trevor Ballot kind of brought 194 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:26,200 Speaker 1: this thing the light a couple of years ago, right 195 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:27,959 Speaker 1: when he sort of kind of called out the hoaston 196 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 1: Asos about naming the civic names and saying, well, these 197 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 1: guys have made you jumped and spin rate. You shouldn't 198 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: be able to do that unless you're cheating, right, And 199 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 1: so all of a sudden, now there was a spotlight 200 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: on this thing because of that, and now we're seeing 201 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 1: a really bad offense and the domination of pictures. And 202 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 1: so he is a guy that's been kind of behind this, 203 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,439 Speaker 1: whether he wanted to be or not, he probably pushed 204 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:49,120 Speaker 1: the attention on this a little bit more than maybe 205 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 1: he intended, and I'll making that this hooks gotta be 206 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 1: something about. It's gonna be a couple of real challenge. 207 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 1: I think it will be interesting to watch these next 208 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:57,360 Speaker 1: couple of weeks, especially after what we saw a Derrick Cole. 209 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:00,079 Speaker 1: Nobody else wants to stand up there in front of 210 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:02,559 Speaker 1: reporters and I have to answer that question now. It 211 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:05,440 Speaker 1: could be are using something now or how do use 212 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:07,439 Speaker 1: something in the past? Those are two different questions. But 213 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 1: I think a lot of guys will probably be extra 214 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: careful because all eyes around them, but now it's even 215 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:14,360 Speaker 1: more eyes and it's more cameras and people trying to 216 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 1: figure out exactly what the heck is going on here. Um, 217 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 1: So they will troll the clock downs like anything else 218 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 1: as we're trying to do what they can and try 219 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:23,599 Speaker 1: to still be speaky. Um. But it does happen in 220 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 1: our game, that has been happening in Major League Baseball 221 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 1: cuple of handful trying to try to stop this thing. 222 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 1: C J. Last thing, and I mentioned Jacob deGrom earlier. 223 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:34,800 Speaker 1: Uh you know his e R ray is what is 224 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: it zero sixty or something like that? Ye, like like 225 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 1: a crazy number. Uh, should we look at him? And go, man, 226 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:46,839 Speaker 1: he is just lights out? Or now do we have 227 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 1: to look and go um uh, you know, I don't 228 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:53,440 Speaker 1: know is he that good? Or is it what's going 229 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 1: on in the game? Do you know what I mean? 230 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:58,320 Speaker 1: It kind of takes a little bit away from from 231 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 1: from We always knew he was a great picture right 232 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:03,319 Speaker 1: even before to come out, but but to have a 233 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 1: zero uh sixty two e r A which we haven't seen, 234 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:12,480 Speaker 1: I think I'm gonna have to question it. Am I wrong? Well? No, listen, 235 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 1: I think it's fair. And that's the that's the reality. 236 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: That's the nature of what we do now in the 237 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:18,839 Speaker 1: media is when something sticks out so drastically and then 238 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 1: you get about what some other guys are doing, you 239 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: can't help but wonder a little bit, and as much 240 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:25,840 Speaker 1: as it may seem unfair to the player, it's probably 241 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:28,559 Speaker 1: a fair question. Now it again goes back to the 242 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 1: third there, right there's like to me, it's one of 243 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 1: the biggest tragedies of our sports history is that it 244 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:35,439 Speaker 1: was so fun right when we were kids to sit 245 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 1: there and watch the guys today with fifty home runs 246 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 1: going into September and wondering could he be the one? 247 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:42,480 Speaker 1: Could he do it could he beat Roger Marris's record, 248 00:12:42,679 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 1: and it never ever happened, and it's the sixth I 249 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 1: don't believe it's six times. Now better happened since everything 250 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:50,960 Speaker 1: was guy tied to and we don't talk about Marris anymore. 251 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:53,400 Speaker 1: Sixty one home months and that is a tragedy in 252 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 1: our game, and I feel like we've been robbed of 253 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:58,280 Speaker 1: something because these guys just went nuts with the sixty 254 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 1: plus and then seventy three home runs. So now when 255 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 1: you're seeing guys see some unbelievable things which strict our 256 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 1: race in the r as, and now you start hearing 257 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 1: about other things that were going on, you can't help 258 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:09,560 Speaker 1: me a little bit suspicious. I have no suspicions personally 259 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:12,600 Speaker 1: about Jacob Deglam, but at the same time I get 260 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:15,559 Speaker 1: why people may ask that question and anybody altimimisity. You 261 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:17,719 Speaker 1: saw the look on Derrick Cole's face. What if you're 262 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 1: the New York Yankees right now? And he gave him 263 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 1: that news three hundred million dollar contract. You saw how 264 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 1: much better he got going from Pittsburgh to Houston, and 265 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 1: you start to wonder about it was using some substances 266 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 1: that helped him be that good and if you're going 267 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:32,439 Speaker 1: to stop now, and what does that mean for the 268 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: rest of the time under this contract with the Yankees. 269 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:36,720 Speaker 1: I don't doubt that they're at least a little bit concerned, 270 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:39,200 Speaker 1: and I don't doubt that their fans are really concerned. Um. 271 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 1: Hopefully it's not going to be as drastic as as 272 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 1: a drop off and he's not back to the guy 273 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:44,959 Speaker 1: who he was in Pittsburgh, and I don't think that 274 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:46,599 Speaker 1: will be the case. But when you have guys that 275 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 1: have dominated over these last few years and have been 276 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 1: better than they were a couple of years ago at 277 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:54,199 Speaker 1: this level, and now we're hearing about the sticky stuff 278 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:55,959 Speaker 1: and what effects they could have on their pictures, I 279 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:57,599 Speaker 1: think it's I think we all need to be a 280 00:13:57,640 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 1: little bit curious in the people that they're asking the 281 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:03,000 Speaker 1: question of new Apple, No doubt about it, man, c J. 282 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: Thanks for your knowledge. Man. We really appreciated uh c J. 283 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:12,679 Speaker 1: Nikowski with the Texas Rangers broadcast team on television doing 284 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 1: the games down there. C J. We'll catch up, which 285 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 1: assume a man, stay well, alright, that's good Robot. Fox 286 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 1: Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. 287 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 1: Catch all of our shows at Fox Sports Radio dot 288 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 1: com and within the I Heart Radio app search f 289 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 1: s R to listen live. It's time for the Pocket 290 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:38,480 Speaker 1: Protector Central. The analytic numbers you need to know? Well, 291 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 1: maybe Anthony Masterson is his name, b S Analytics is 292 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 1: his game. What do you got for me? Anthony? Offense 293 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:50,960 Speaker 1: in baseball this season, like resistance is futile, The league 294 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: wide average is the Lois in night the o b 295 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 1: P the Lois vent two, and of course strikeout totals 296 00:14:57,120 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 1: are an all time high, continuing a decades long tra end. 297 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 1: But what hit the news this past week was the 298 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:04,520 Speaker 1: outing of a dirty little secret. The men on the 299 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 1: mound possess the use of foreign substances on the baseball 300 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 1: in order to increase spin in movement and take a picture. 301 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 1: He gets a league average spin rate on his four 302 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 1: seam fastball this year about pms. Basically what Indian starter 303 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:20,680 Speaker 1: Aaron Savaldi records his four seamer getting hit around a 304 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 1: two fifty four clip this year, again about average. Then 305 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 1: take the Dodgers spin rate Mayven Trevor Bauer, whose four 306 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 1: seamer goes up there at a clip of over twenty 307 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:33,760 Speaker 1: eight hundred RPMs over a hundred thirty RPMs higher than 308 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: the next closest pitcher in the league. His four seamer 309 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 1: is hit at a one forty three mark this year. 310 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 1: That's a big difference now. Garrett Cole, Clayton, Kershaw, and Bower, 311 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 1: among others, saw significant decreases in spin rates in their 312 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 1: first start since MLB's announcement on the crackdown. Bowers first 313 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 1: start in Atlanta on June five, for example, saw his 314 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,720 Speaker 1: spin rate on his fastball dip over two hundred RPMs 315 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 1: lower than his yearly average to date. Could be coincidence, sure, 316 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 1: but you can bet stat heads and the Commissioner's office alike. 317 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 1: We'll be hitting up the Baseball Savanton game feed on 318 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 1: vour starts going forward that it was a big week 319 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 1: in the big leagues. Who's Who's Is it foul? Or 320 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:23,240 Speaker 1: is it fair? And Now from MLB bro dot com, 321 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 1: here's j R. Gambles. The scrappy San Francisco Giants have 322 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 1: surged past the glitz and glam Dodgers and the new 323 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:37,480 Speaker 1: breed Padres in the NL West standings. Given a divisions 324 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 1: three teams that could legitimately win a World Series. J R. 325 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 1: Is it foul? Or fair to say that the n 326 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 1: L West is the best division in baseball. Foul that 327 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 1: is a foul ball. It's still the American League East. 328 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 1: It's adult fight in that division. I get it. The 329 00:16:57,200 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 1: padres of a fancy new toy with Tattoos Junior a company, 330 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:04,280 Speaker 1: and they're exciting, and media can't stop talking about how 331 00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 1: Tattoos Junior compares with the all time greats like Hank 332 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:10,560 Speaker 1: Aaron and Babe Ruth at this juncture of his young career. 333 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 1: But we get it. When the new girl comes into 334 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:18,120 Speaker 1: the school, the head cheerleader isn't the most sought after anymore, 335 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:22,200 Speaker 1: but she's still a one. Let's not forget. She's just 336 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 1: not getting the same attention. The American League East remains 337 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 1: the only division in baseball where four of the five 338 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:33,920 Speaker 1: teams have records over five hundred. Nobody's a slouching that division, 339 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:37,119 Speaker 1: and even the last place Orioles, the only team in 340 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: the division with the losing record, they're tough out. After 341 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:44,960 Speaker 1: the three California teams in the National League West, there's 342 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 1: a significant drop off to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies, who, 343 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:54,680 Speaker 1: let's be honest, folks, they're just both caught awful right now, 344 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 1: and once they start unloading veterans later in the season, 345 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 1: they'll basically beat automatic w's for anybody that plays them, 346 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:06,880 Speaker 1: especially the three Pourhouse teams within their division. So I'll 347 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 1: say the best divisional racing baseball. Yes, it's in the 348 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:15,560 Speaker 1: top heavy NL West, but the best division in baseball 349 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:18,879 Speaker 1: remains the American League East, with the Yankees are in 350 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:24,119 Speaker 1: fourth place. The Red Sox, Blue Jays and Lashes a 351 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: L champion raised obviously were underrated entering the season. The 352 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:32,879 Speaker 1: Beast Division remains the A least as it's been for 353 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:37,720 Speaker 1: some decades. Now give a tap a few seasons, take 354 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 1: out the papers in the trash. It's time for trash 355 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:47,200 Speaker 1: talk Twitter, Twitter with your chance to trash anyone or 356 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:51,359 Speaker 1: anything in Major League Baseball. All right, this week's trash 357 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:55,879 Speaker 1: comes from at the Smack and he tweeted me this 358 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:01,359 Speaker 1: enough already with Aaron Boone and the Yankee ease, I 359 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:06,120 Speaker 1: can't watch my team. The Yankees need to make a move. 360 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:12,440 Speaker 1: Boon or the GM Cashman need to go. The Bronx 361 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:20,520 Speaker 1: deserves better. I'm tired of watching this. And quote that 362 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: came from j D at the Smack on Twitter and 363 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 1: if you want your tweet red on trash talk and 364 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:33,440 Speaker 1: hit me up on Twitter at Rob Parker FS one. 365 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 1: When Rob was a newspaper columnist, he lived by this motto, 366 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:41,320 Speaker 1: if I'm writing, I'm ripping. Let's bring in a writer 367 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: and broadcaster, older new All right, now, let's welcome in 368 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 1: Craig Calcatera, formerly of NBC Sports, but doing his own 369 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 1: thing these days. He has a daily newsletter called Cup 370 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:56,720 Speaker 1: of Coffee, and we're gonna talk baseball with Craig. Hey, Craig, thanks, 371 00:19:56,760 --> 00:20:00,439 Speaker 1: welcome to the podcast. Thanks for having me in. Uh, 372 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:04,000 Speaker 1: no doubt, so many different things to talk about. A 373 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 1: couple of teams I wanna I'll pepper you about and 374 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:09,879 Speaker 1: find out. Let's start in the A L least and 375 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:14,000 Speaker 1: the Tampa Bay Rays, who just I mean, they've traded 376 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:16,679 Speaker 1: Blake Snell. Everybody thought they threw the towel and they 377 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 1: went to the World Series a year ago, and here 378 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:22,240 Speaker 1: we are in June and they're in first place, game 379 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:25,400 Speaker 1: and a half ahead of the Red Sox going into Wednesday. 380 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:28,520 Speaker 1: Uh can they sustain this? Are they really this good? 381 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 1: They are really this good? And that's the thing about 382 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:34,159 Speaker 1: the Rays you mentioned them getting rid of Blake Snell. 383 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:36,960 Speaker 1: You mentioned them, they got rid of Charlie Morton. It 384 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 1: doesn't matter. With the Rays. They are the epitome of 385 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:42,119 Speaker 1: the next man up kind of team in baseball. You 386 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:44,159 Speaker 1: don't see that in baseball very often. Hear about that 387 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:48,119 Speaker 1: in football basketball, but the Raids are definitely that way. Uh. 388 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 1: The depth of that team is absolutely incredible. Uh. Tyler 389 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:54,440 Speaker 1: glasnow as a future Cy Young Winner as a starter, 390 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: so they're not gonna miss Blake Snell, rich Hill forty 391 00:20:57,640 --> 00:20:59,560 Speaker 1: one years old. They're getting a new level out of 392 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:02,880 Speaker 1: him the here Uh. And then the real, the real 393 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,560 Speaker 1: power of this team is the bullpen. They are always 394 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 1: five or six guys deep, and five or six guys 395 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:10,639 Speaker 1: who are better than the top two on half the 396 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:13,120 Speaker 1: teams in baseball. And this year, for the first time 397 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:14,919 Speaker 1: in a long time, they're getting a lot of offense 398 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:17,640 Speaker 1: to they're getting a lot of power, they're they're they're 399 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:20,680 Speaker 1: getting on base at probably the best clip in the league, 400 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:23,760 Speaker 1: if not the best, they're definitely up near the top. Uh. 401 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 1: Solid team, probably the strongest team top to bottom in 402 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,719 Speaker 1: the American League. Let's move to the a L Central. 403 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 1: We all know the White Sox. They survived that little 404 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:37,399 Speaker 1: storm with Tony LaRussa and Mercedes and the clubhouse not 405 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:40,840 Speaker 1: feeling that great about LaRussa calling out the young player. 406 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 1: But I want to talk about the Minnesota Twins and 407 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 1: what has happened to them. Byron Buckson is coming back 408 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:51,639 Speaker 1: for them, but when he went out, they went straight 409 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 1: down to the bottom there in last place in the 410 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:57,680 Speaker 1: Al Central, even below the Detroit Tigers who are rebuilding. 411 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:02,919 Speaker 1: What happened there, Craig just a complete across the board failure. Uh, 412 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:05,200 Speaker 1: you know, the starting pitching did not come through. J 413 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:09,159 Speaker 1: Half has been a disaster. Matt Shoemaker has been an 414 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:11,320 Speaker 1: even bigger disaster. Those were a couple of guys that 415 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:15,639 Speaker 1: really needed to step up. Uh they're a Jose Barrios. 416 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:18,399 Speaker 1: He's good, but he's not where they need him to 417 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 1: be right now. The bullpen has been terrible. They've also 418 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 1: been extraordinarily unlucky their recorded extra inning games. I don't 419 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:27,159 Speaker 1: have it off the top of my head, but it's like, 420 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:29,480 Speaker 1: really really bad. I think they've won one extra inning 421 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 1: game out of something like eight or nine. They've lost 422 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:35,120 Speaker 1: a lot of one run games. If anything has gone 423 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 1: wrong for this team, it has and like you mentioned Buxton, 424 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:39,200 Speaker 1: he is the straw that s there is to drink 425 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:42,560 Speaker 1: there and he's losing him for so long makes this 426 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:45,400 Speaker 1: line up so much easier to pitch to been a huge, 427 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:48,439 Speaker 1: huge problem for them. Uh, they're gonna be a seller 428 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:50,080 Speaker 1: at the deadline at this point. I don't think they're 429 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:51,640 Speaker 1: gonna be able to dig out of this hole. You're 430 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:53,960 Speaker 1: gonna see someone like a Nelson Cruise on the market 431 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 1: and Uh, just it's gonna be a retrench year a 432 00:22:57,040 --> 00:22:59,320 Speaker 1: lot of talents. They're gonna be fine again next year, probably, 433 00:22:59,359 --> 00:23:01,400 Speaker 1: but I think they dug themselves too deep a hole. 434 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 1: Our guests is Craig Calcutta from the Cup of Coffee 435 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 1: Daily news Letter. Let's go to the National League in 436 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 1: the NL East. I don't know how to mets her 437 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:15,919 Speaker 1: in first place, but they are. I guess it's all pitching. Uh, 438 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:21,280 Speaker 1: coming into Wednesday. Uh do they have enough offense? Will 439 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:23,440 Speaker 1: they be able to survive this? I know the pigeon 440 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:26,639 Speaker 1: has been outstanding. You know the worst thing that happened 441 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 1: to them was in that first month beginning of May 442 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:31,840 Speaker 1: when they lost all those guys, the injuries. They lost Conforto, 443 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 1: he's still gone obviously, but they have lost Uh Peter 444 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 1: Linzo for a while. They're still out Jeff McNeil um 445 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 1: and Francisco lindoor hasn't played well at all, and there's 446 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 1: still in first place. I think that's the thing that's 447 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:45,919 Speaker 1: gonna tell me that they have some staying power. They 448 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:48,520 Speaker 1: took a big hit, and they did it at the 449 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:51,680 Speaker 1: right time. They did it when the Braves weren't doing anything. Uh. 450 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:54,359 Speaker 1: The Nationals are clearly not the team we thought they'd be. 451 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 1: The Phillies have been a mess in a lot of ways. 452 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 1: A good time for the Mets to get hurt. I think, 453 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: if anything, they're going to be stronger. Lindoora is not 454 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:05,320 Speaker 1: going to be a below average hitter all year. He's 455 00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 1: not a two twelve hit or whatever he's doing right now. 456 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:10,000 Speaker 1: That is not going to be sustainable. He's gonna do better. 457 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:12,640 Speaker 1: He's gonna go on a tear. Uh. Conforto is gonna 458 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:15,440 Speaker 1: come back and he's gonna be all right. Uh Peter Alonzo, 459 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:17,639 Speaker 1: what can you say about him? He's been fantastic, but 460 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:20,680 Speaker 1: he has another gear over what he's doing now. I 461 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:23,560 Speaker 1: think the Mets are are pretty formidable and and look 462 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:26,320 Speaker 1: let's let's not undersell. I don't believe in, you know, 463 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:29,080 Speaker 1: in all the good juju, bad juju, and and all 464 00:24:29,119 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 1: that stuff that surrounds the team. But getting a new owner, 465 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:34,160 Speaker 1: getting a new mindset, getting a new front office, that's 466 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:37,160 Speaker 1: a big deal for this team. I think the defeat 467 00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:39,199 Speaker 1: ism that you often see with the Mets, that oh, 468 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 1: when is the other shoe gonna drop? That's not there anymore, 469 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:44,560 Speaker 1: and that's a big, big thing for them. Last thing 470 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:46,560 Speaker 1: I want to ask you about the n L West. 471 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:50,119 Speaker 1: Before the season started, I picked the San Diego Padres 472 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 1: over the Dodgers. They've won the division eight years in 473 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:54,440 Speaker 1: a row, and they won the World Series last year. 474 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:56,679 Speaker 1: I just thought, at some point, you know what I mean, 475 00:24:56,760 --> 00:24:58,600 Speaker 1: you're not gonna win. Not that they're not a good 476 00:24:58,680 --> 00:25:02,919 Speaker 1: team and form pitable, but the Giants have stay in power. 477 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 1: Coming into Wednesday Day, it was seven and three in 478 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:08,679 Speaker 1: the last ten the Padres with three and seven. They 479 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 1: lead the Padres by two games. Uh Can the Giants 480 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:15,680 Speaker 1: UH stand up to the Padres and the Dodgers and 481 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:19,760 Speaker 1: win the division? They're the team that surprises me more 482 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 1: than anything else. I thought they'd beat better than they have. 483 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:24,199 Speaker 1: The last couple of years, but I still thought they 484 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:26,960 Speaker 1: were on the downslope on the way towards the rebuild 485 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:30,320 Speaker 1: as opposed to having that rebound year that they've got 486 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:33,080 Speaker 1: right now. But you know who would have guess Buster Posey, 487 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 1: after all of his injuries and all the miles on 488 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:37,160 Speaker 1: his dordometer, would have a comeback here like this. He's 489 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 1: an MVP candidate for crying out loud and he's been 490 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:42,920 Speaker 1: doing it. Uh. Longoria, he just got hurt, obviously, But 491 00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:45,800 Speaker 1: Longoria has been like his old stuff with the raises 492 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:48,800 Speaker 1: like ten years ago for him. Um like a Strimsky again. 493 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:51,080 Speaker 1: He's hurt too. Everybody in baseball's hurt right now. Have 494 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:54,040 Speaker 1: no idea what's going on. But yes, Strimsky has been 495 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 1: been solid. They've got way more offense than I ever 496 00:25:56,560 --> 00:25:59,000 Speaker 1: would have thought it would. And then another one, Brandon Crawford, 497 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:02,359 Speaker 1: another of the old timer's guy from the World Series team, 498 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 1: just playing like as two thousand twelve again. I don't 499 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 1: know if that's sustainable. And like the other teams we 500 00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:10,879 Speaker 1: talked about, I really couldn't tell you. I don't think 501 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 1: you know. Kevin Gosman, for example, has been their best 502 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:15,359 Speaker 1: starting pitcher he's not as good as he's shown, not 503 00:26:15,760 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 1: a one point to e r A kind of guy. 504 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:20,199 Speaker 1: So I think over the course of the long season, 505 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:22,679 Speaker 1: the Giants, even though they're in first right now, are 506 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:26,040 Speaker 1: maybe the most vulnerable because l A. San Diego just 507 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 1: way deeper, way younger, way healthier. Uh. And I you know, 508 00:26:30,119 --> 00:26:31,560 Speaker 1: if you asked me now, I'm gonna say the Dodgers 509 00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 1: are gonna win the division again just because they've got 510 00:26:33,560 --> 00:26:36,680 Speaker 1: so much talent. But the Giants team absolutely wonderful surprise. 511 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:38,680 Speaker 1: I think we're gonna get three playoff teams out of 512 00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:41,960 Speaker 1: the n L West. All right, Craig, how can people 513 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:45,640 Speaker 1: get your daily news letter cup of coffee? You could 514 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:48,760 Speaker 1: just go to Cup of Coffee all one word dot 515 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:52,520 Speaker 1: sub stack dot com. It's a subscription, but every Thursday 516 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:54,280 Speaker 1: is free, so you can check it out and get 517 00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:56,160 Speaker 1: a tasty if you like it. I think you're gonna 518 00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:58,680 Speaker 1: like it every morning in your inbox before seven am 519 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:01,119 Speaker 1: Eastern time, A full I just everything you need to 520 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:04,360 Speaker 1: know in Major League Baseball. There it is, Craig Calcatera. 521 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:07,760 Speaker 1: We appreciate you, Craig, thanks for the knowledge, Thanks for 522 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:15,240 Speaker 1: having me. Now bringing the closer here's why MLB is 523 00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:19,320 Speaker 1: better than the NFL or NBA, and it isn't even close. 524 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:25,440 Speaker 1: Reason number one thousand and fifty why baseball is better 525 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:28,880 Speaker 1: than the NBA in the NFL, it ain't even close. 526 00:27:29,520 --> 00:27:35,480 Speaker 1: That comes into paraphernalia, gear that fans can wear unlike 527 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:39,240 Speaker 1: the other sports. Everybody donna look good in the basketball 528 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:44,880 Speaker 1: tank top right, and a baseball jersey with your name 529 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:47,159 Speaker 1: on the back and a number of your favorite player 530 00:27:47,240 --> 00:27:50,920 Speaker 1: and baseball caps. We know all that stuff is great. 531 00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:54,320 Speaker 1: And anybody can wear a baseball jersey without looking dumpy 532 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 1: or crazy looking. And nobody wears NBA hats or NFL hats, 533 00:27:59,359 --> 00:28:02,679 Speaker 1: not really, but major League Baseball with your city repping 534 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:05,560 Speaker 1: your city on the front. And then here comes Nike 535 00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:10,000 Speaker 1: with the MLB City Connects series, and uh, they've been 536 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:14,440 Speaker 1: doing these funky nice jersey's different colors, and the next 537 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:20,600 Speaker 1: one that's coming out will be Uh, the Chicago Cubs 538 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:24,560 Speaker 1: are gonna have one, and they're going to be worn 539 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:28,520 Speaker 1: on field for the first time on June twelve. And 540 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 1: I gotta look at the jersey. It is beautiful. It 541 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:35,200 Speaker 1: has a like a blue, a navy blue and a 542 00:28:35,359 --> 00:28:40,040 Speaker 1: light blue, and uh, like a token of Chicago token 543 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:42,560 Speaker 1: for the subway on it. So these are all these 544 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:47,640 Speaker 1: very special jerseys that represent the cities from the places 545 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:50,840 Speaker 1: where these teams are. And we saw the Red Sox 546 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:53,680 Speaker 1: had one that went had a yellow jersey, and the 547 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:56,200 Speaker 1: next one is the Cubs, so look out for it 548 00:28:56,400 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 1: is the Nike MLB City Connects series is next up 549 00:29:01,280 --> 00:29:11,000 Speaker 1: the Chicago Cubs. Something to add to your closet. In 550 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:14,240 Speaker 1: the words of New York TV legend the late Bill Jorgensen, 551 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:17,360 Speaker 1: thanking you for your time this time until next time. 552 00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:21,040 Speaker 1: Rob Parker out, he can't get it. This could be 553 00:29:21,120 --> 00:29:23,600 Speaker 1: an inside the Parker to see you next weekend, same 554 00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:25,560 Speaker 1: bad time, same mass station.