1 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: Reds manager Terry Francona is here, Tito. Great to see you. 2 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: Happy spring training to you, and how is camp with 3 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: this young Reds crew that is coming off a playoff 4 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 1: appearance last year in your first year at the home. 5 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:25,959 Speaker 2: Well, I mean we're two games in and we had 6 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 2: an off day yesterday, so you know, like like everybody, 7 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 2: our glass seems half full and it's supposed to. I 8 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 2: think we have good reason to be optimistic. 9 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 3: Now. 10 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,639 Speaker 2: We're here to you know, get some work done, get 11 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 2: a lot of work done, and get ready for what 12 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 2: we want to be a really good, long, productive season. 13 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 4: And you weren't at you worn out after two games? 14 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:48,599 Speaker 4: You needed an off day that bad? 15 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 2: I just think actually it's because of the way that, 16 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 2: you know, last year we had a split squad the 17 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 2: first game. There's always an odd team because that's fifteen. 18 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 2: I didn't but you know what, good because you'll take 19 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 2: it anytime you can get it. We were not tired 20 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 2: yet though. 21 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:07,479 Speaker 3: That's good. 22 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 1: Hey, Tito, are you guys ready to practice the ABS 23 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: challenge system? Weren't you one of the guys last year 24 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:15,319 Speaker 1: in spring training you were like, Hey, why are we 25 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: practicing this when I'm trying to get ready for a 26 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:18,320 Speaker 1: season without it. 27 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 2: Early on, I told our guys we weren't going to 28 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:23,680 Speaker 2: use it just because we weren't going to use it 29 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 2: during the year. And then when Michael Hill and his 30 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:28,639 Speaker 2: guys came through, they were like, hey, there's a reason 31 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 2: we'd like you to do it. They were so good 32 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 2: about the way they asked that. We actually did use 33 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 2: it during the spring, and it grew. I think it 34 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 2: grew on everybody, you know, the way they did it. 35 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 2: The fans really enjoyed it, and it didn't slow the 36 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,039 Speaker 2: game down much. And now that it's going to be 37 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 2: you know, implemented, it's going to be a strategy. So 38 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 2: we're working into that. You know, we told our guys 39 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 2: will work towards a strategy because it's got to be 40 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 2: a team strategy. It can't be a per person it 41 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 2: can't be an emotional, you know, strategy. So we're we 42 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 2: have a month to figure that out. Is it catchers only, 43 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 2: hitters only, no pitchers, no pictures, no catchers, not seeing 44 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 2: a pitcher that throws a ball yet that thinks it's 45 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 2: not a strike. And like I said, that's the emotional one. 46 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 2: Where not that we don't love our pitchers. But our catchers, 47 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 2: as you know, take care of the pitchers and they 48 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 2: really get a good feel for it. 49 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 4: I watched so I watched the game last night. It 50 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 4: was the Brewers Padres and in the first three innings, 51 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 4: it was almost every other pitch. And we were at 52 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,079 Speaker 4: the Brewers yesterday and they were having a sim game 53 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 4: behind us live with some of their big league guys, 54 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 4: and they told they had an umpire. They brought an 55 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:39,799 Speaker 4: umpire and they had the abs going and they said, hey, 56 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 4: we want challenge every chance you think it's even close. 57 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 4: Just so our hitters and our pitchers, is that the 58 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 4: way you approached it. 59 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,079 Speaker 2: We've been in our in our inner squads, cause we 60 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 2: don't have but in our lives. Bill Hasselman has been 61 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:56,080 Speaker 2: sitting with the system and the catchers will look at 62 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 2: him after every pitch, just so we get a better 63 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:01,920 Speaker 2: feel for Okay, that ball was an inch off, that 64 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 2: ball caught the plate. Just trying to get as good 65 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 2: at it as we can. 66 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:09,960 Speaker 5: And how and how good are they? Like, what's what's 67 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 5: the feedback? I know it's not been long, but like 68 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 5: when they see that feedback, how good are the catchers? 69 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 5: How good are the hitters, And do you think this 70 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 5: is gonna like dudes are going to be completely locked 71 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:24,920 Speaker 5: in because the zone's never gonna like really rotate and 72 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 5: shift throughout games. 73 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 2: Well, I think, like anything, some guys are going to 74 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 2: be better as than others. And you know, it's it's 75 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 2: up to us to get our guys good at it, 76 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 2: because it's gonna be a strategy and if you're good 77 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 2: at it, it's gonna help, you know, trying to figure 78 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 2: out do you save one to the end? Do you 79 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 2: you know, like if you tell a player, hey, just 80 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 2: use it one, it's important. Well, I haven't seen a 81 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 2: pitch thrown yet, that's not important. So that's where the 82 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 2: strategy come into play. If I'm glad you know we 83 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 2: have it here where if you make a mistake early, 84 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 2: it's not probably you know, it's spring training and we 85 00:03:58,080 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 2: can learn from it and say, okay, this, we might 86 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 2: not want to do this when the season starts. 87 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 3: Right. 88 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 5: I had the pleasure of being in sprit Big League 89 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 5: camp with you in twenty seventeen when you were the 90 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 5: manager of the Indians. You're very intentional with a lot 91 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 5: of things. Do you still do the player of the 92 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 5: game the next day here now that you're with the 93 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 5: Reds or did you leave that? Did you leave that 94 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 5: with Cleveland? No, we still do it. 95 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 2: In fact, I was thinking the other day, I was 96 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,360 Speaker 2: putting on some notes on my card, things I could 97 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:33,840 Speaker 2: say to the MVPs. And then we lost. We gave 98 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 2: up a touchdown late and but no, we have fun 99 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:38,559 Speaker 2: with it. But there's, like you say, there's a reason 100 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:42,119 Speaker 2: for it. You want to reward things like base running. 101 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 2: It's not necessarily somebody hits a home run. But we 102 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 2: want to accentuate the good things that we think can 103 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,279 Speaker 2: separate us from other teams. We're always trying to accentuate that. 104 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:56,480 Speaker 5: Okay, well that was twenty seventeen. We're almost we're at 105 00:04:56,640 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 5: nine years now. Has inflation in east with your awards? 106 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 5: Have the awards increased with inflation? Or do you still 107 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 5: give out the same dollar. 108 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:12,359 Speaker 2: Amount inflation has increased. Not in our clubhouse. Not for 109 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:16,720 Speaker 2: the manager. They just might have to order one less 110 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 2: thing at dinner. 111 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 5: It used to be it used to be one hundred dollars. 112 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 5: It used to be for people who don't know. We 113 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:26,719 Speaker 5: would give one hundred dollars to the MVP, and I 114 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 5: believed it was it was from your wallet because it 115 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 5: was holded up in your in your trifold wallet, so 116 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 5: it was like it was like a wrinkly one hundred 117 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 5: dollars bill. But if there was two MVP awards, you 118 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:41,839 Speaker 5: would split it and give fifty to each. It was 119 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 5: something that a lot of people really. 120 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 2: Enjoyed and and don't tell our players, but now I've 121 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:50,359 Speaker 2: been given out fifty. But we've been with there some 122 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 2: days where we'll have three, four, five MVPs just because, 123 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:57,040 Speaker 2: like you say, if somebody runs, somebody into an air 124 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 2: or something like, you know, we try to reward those 125 00:05:59,120 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 2: types of things. 126 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:02,279 Speaker 3: And I was getting tired of losing like four or five. 127 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:07,119 Speaker 2: So we did make it a little less I care about, 128 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:09,359 Speaker 2: but not to the point where I one be broke. 129 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 3: You got plenty of money, keto. 130 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:19,119 Speaker 1: And now let's talk about the number one rated ticketing app. 131 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 1: It's called seat Geek. And what I'm going to do 132 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 1: here each day is just run through a few reasons 133 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 1: why you should be checking out tickets for spring training guys. 134 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 1: So again, today's Tuesday for Tuesday show, but I'm looking 135 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 1: at Wednesday games. So tonight you can go and find 136 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 1: Paul Skeens pitching actually against the Braves on Wednesday. That's 137 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 1: probably the one start, and then you go on to 138 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 1: Team USA and the World Baseball Classic. Kratz is boy, 139 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 1: I know the ticket you're getting. Krats. Johann O Viedo, 140 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:48,799 Speaker 1: your favorite pitcher in baseball I think's making his spring 141 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 1: training debut for Boston against the Twins on Wednesday. Cody 142 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 1: Ponce making his debut for the Blue Jays. Signed for 143 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:58,480 Speaker 1: thirty million bucks this offseason, Casey Myz pitching against him, 144 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:01,280 Speaker 1: Hunter Brown making his spring day, Nico Lodolo, as we're 145 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 1: at Red's camp, He's going to pitch on Wednesday, and 146 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,600 Speaker 1: Roki Sazaki for the Dodgers. So a lot of good 147 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 1: pitchers to look at, and you can find them in 148 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: Arizona or in Florida in those spring training games and 149 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 1: also aj of course World Baseball Classic around the corner. 150 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: So each ticket rated on a scale of one to ten, 151 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 1: so you know you're getting a good deal or maybe 152 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 1: a not so good deal, and then you can find 153 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: yourself a better deal. 154 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 5: Thing I love about Zekik too is people that are 155 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 5: people that are scheduling their trips to Florida especially, you 156 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 5: got to kind of figure out your drive. You can 157 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 5: go through the schedule of when, where all the games are, 158 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 5: where you'll be sitting, because in Florida you're you're a Northerner. 159 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 5: You sit there and you go, ah, I don't want 160 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 5: to be out of the sun. You'll know which side 161 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 5: of the stadium during that game time has that and 162 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 5: you have a little shade if you want it or 163 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 5: if you want the sun, you get it. 164 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 1: And of course we have a code for you Territory 165 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 1: ten ten percent off your next set of tickets at 166 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 1: sziki ten percent off any tickets with promo cod Territory 167 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 1: one zero. Make sure you click the link in the 168 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 1: description to download the app, have the code automatically added 169 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: to your account at that point so you can use 170 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 1: it later. Thank you, see geek. While while we mentioned Cleveland, 171 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 1: we're gonna get to your Reds players, I actually have 172 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 1: one player I wanted to ask you about that you 173 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 1: used to manage your cashed out big time this offseason 174 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 1: in Josh Naylor made himself. I think it's ninety two 175 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 1: and a half mil on a contract. I remember I 176 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 1: used to call a lot of games in the Midwest, 177 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 1: so a lot of Cleveland games and talking to you 178 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 1: about Josh and about all the talent potential and the 179 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 1: drive and how proud are you of what he's become 180 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 1: because when he first came to the league as a 181 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 1: pub I mean, you can explain it better than I can. 182 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: I mean, this guy was full of emotions and he 183 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 1: was like what do I do with them? And you 184 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:43,320 Speaker 1: helped him figure that out? 185 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:46,080 Speaker 2: You know what, I'm kind of glad you brought that up. 186 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 2: We played Seattle a couple days ago and before the game, 187 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:52,079 Speaker 2: Nails came over and came over to our dugout, gave 188 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 2: me a big hug and said, thank you. And you 189 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:58,840 Speaker 2: have no idea what's something like that? How it makes 190 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 2: a manager feel because with Dale's, like you said, he 191 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 2: had a ton of energy and we always were trying 192 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:07,480 Speaker 2: to get it funneled in the right direction. But and 193 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:09,079 Speaker 2: so when a player comes up to you a couple 194 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 2: years later and says that I really appreciate it. Man, 195 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 2: my day was already good and we hadn't even thrown 196 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 2: a pitch yet. 197 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 4: That's great. Now you're in Cincinnati and you have a 198 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 4: guy in Ellie de la Cruz, maybe not as emotional, 199 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 4: but with that much energy. So how do you funnel 200 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 4: his energy into the same thing. 201 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 2: His energy is really good Ellie's you know, we people 202 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:33,679 Speaker 2: forget Ellie's young. You know, he's still learning on the job. 203 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 2: I think last year was really good for him in 204 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 2: a sense that he played hurt, played every game. I 205 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:41,440 Speaker 2: don't think I did him a ton of favors. I 206 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 2: think we need to manage I mean to manage that 207 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 2: a little bit better this year, and I will. 208 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 4: He came an off day after two spring training games 209 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 4: to see. 210 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 3: That to him. 211 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 2: We're working on it, working on aggravating. He's a wonderful kid. 212 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 2: This kid will try to do anything you ask. The 213 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 2: thing we've tried to explain to him is with your tools, 214 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:01,599 Speaker 2: if you just do it in though, in the confines 215 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 2: of us winning a game, your tools are going to 216 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 2: show through. And that's what we care about. 217 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 5: Is there somebody that you I hate when guys do comparisons, 218 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 5: but you've been around the game so much. Compare somebody 219 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 5: that had the same energy. I'm not talking skill level 220 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:20,320 Speaker 5: because I think his skill level could you know, the 221 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 5: ceiling may maybe higher than we can even look, but 222 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 5: like the same energy level and what he brings in 223 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 5: a clubhouse. 224 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:30,960 Speaker 2: You know they're they're completely different players, but I would 225 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 2: say like they're motor like a Jose Ramirez. You know, 226 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:36,439 Speaker 2: somebody asked me the other day, how about managing Jose? 227 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 2: You don't manage him. You just wind him up and 228 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 2: get out of his way. And that's a good thing. 229 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 2: And because other players follow them, and at least the 230 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 2: same here where guys watch him and even at that age, 231 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,839 Speaker 2: and it's a lot of extra I don't want to 232 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:53,719 Speaker 2: say pressure, but you know it's there's some things to 233 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 2: think about because when he's playing the game the way 234 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 2: he's supposed to, a lot of our guys have their 235 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 2: chest out a little bit more. And and it's real. 236 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 2: And we've told him that would you give some of 237 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 2: your own money to sign him to an extension? Were 238 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 2: you and the Reds went to him and said, here's 239 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 2: a franchise record extension. Did you pull out that krusty 240 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 2: hunter and say I'll throw in a hundred in a minute, 241 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 2: a minute in a minute. I mean, we love the kid, 242 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:22,680 Speaker 2: and you know what, nobody begrudges. You know, players have 243 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:26,440 Speaker 2: a right to either take money early, bet on themselves late. 244 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:28,719 Speaker 2: I get it, and we have him for four more 245 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 2: years regardless, but that's a personal preference and nobody will 246 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 2: ever hold that against him. 247 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:37,199 Speaker 1: Hey, Tito, what's with the new look body for Elie 248 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:39,320 Speaker 1: de la Cruz. It looks like he's a little bit 249 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 1: more jacked coming into camp. He's growing into baby. 250 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:43,679 Speaker 3: Does to me too. 251 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 2: You know, same thing with McClain, man, they look like 252 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:50,719 Speaker 2: they really got after it. And you know the guys now, man, 253 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 2: they do so good in the offseason, and I remind 254 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 2: him of that all the time. I'm like, hey, you 255 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 2: work so hard. There's a reason you do it. It's 256 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 2: for the games. So I don't work your rear end 257 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 2: off and then jogged down to first That doesn't make 258 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:06,199 Speaker 2: sense to me, And I just try to remind them 259 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 2: that all the time because they are. They're really good workers. 260 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 5: One of the things I noticed when I was with 261 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:15,200 Speaker 5: you in spring training was how intentional you set up 262 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 5: the lockers in your locker room. Can you tell me 263 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 5: a couple of the pods or groups that you intentionally 264 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 5: set where you get your locker and then you have 265 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 5: somebody around them, or you have somebody that you put 266 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:30,080 Speaker 5: in between certain guys. Is there any pods that you 267 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:32,959 Speaker 5: intentionally thought of this year that you feel like will 268 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 5: really help guys. 269 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:36,960 Speaker 2: No, because I actually was comfortable where they were before. 270 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 2: And you know what's amazing in this group here, there 271 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:43,600 Speaker 2: are no pods. Everybody's together, and you know, we have 272 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 2: a nine o'clock meeting every morning, and every day when 273 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 2: we go in there at nine o'clock, everybody's sitting facing us. 274 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 2: Nobody's eating breakfast. It's one of the things I noticed 275 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 2: right away. And I love it because when you talk 276 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 2: to them, they're listening, and like you say, they don't 277 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:00,679 Speaker 2: have bacon or syrup going down their shirt, and they 278 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:02,679 Speaker 2: listen to what you're saying, and they're not late. And 279 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 2: I really love that about this group. That's an outstanding 280 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 2: It's it is, and it's it's not a little thing. 281 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 2: It's a big deal because I think when you're late, 282 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,360 Speaker 2: you're announcing to everybody that what we're doing is not 283 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 2: a priority, and this has to be a priority. 284 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:17,600 Speaker 3: Agreed. Agreed. 285 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 4: You guys made the playoffs last year, and again it 286 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 4: didn't go as y'all oneed a two against Los Angeles. 287 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:25,959 Speaker 4: That's fine, but you did make the playoffs. How can 288 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:28,360 Speaker 4: you take the next step this year? Because I think 289 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:31,319 Speaker 4: people forget that you guys were in the postseason last year, 290 00:13:31,559 --> 00:13:34,080 Speaker 4: and now you bring in Suarez. You make some other 291 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 4: moves that are nice moves, and people say, oh, they 292 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 4: didn't make the big splash in Schwarber, but Gino's pretty good. 293 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 4: I'll hit you, yes, yes, How do you continue the 294 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 4: momentum you gain last year and take the next step, 295 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 4: which would be going deep. 296 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 3: In the playoffs? 297 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 2: One I thought our guys, and by that I mean 298 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:49,800 Speaker 2: ownership in front office. I thought they did a great 299 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 2: job because sometimes standing in your lane is important, you know, 300 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 2: I mean, we kind of know who we are. You 301 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:59,959 Speaker 2: don't always make splashy moves. But they really made our 302 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 2: bullpen a lot deeper, which for me, it really. 303 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:03,600 Speaker 3: Leaves your heart. 304 00:14:03,679 --> 00:14:07,440 Speaker 2: Oh, my goodness, sake, my goodness sake. But you know, 305 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 2: we won eighty three games. That was not our goal. 306 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:12,360 Speaker 2: We did, we worked, and we won. We got in 307 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 2: the playoffs. I told our guys, remember how good it 308 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:18,679 Speaker 2: felt the pop champagne that they in Milwaukee, but also 309 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 2: remember three days later how much it hurt when we 310 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 2: got sent home before we were ready. You try to 311 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 2: take anything, whether it's good, bad, or in between, and 312 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 2: use it to your advantage, and you're right. As long 313 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 2: as our trajectory is going this way, I'm okay with 314 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 2: what we did last year. 315 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 5: Who do you see is somebody that maybe had a 316 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 5: down year last year, but it needs to come into 317 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 5: spring training to show you something that Normally when you 318 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 5: look at spring training, it's like, all right, whatever, the 319 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:50,520 Speaker 5: dude hit four point fifty, but you know he's getting 320 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 5: a lot of laid at bats. Who is somebody that 321 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 5: needs to show you something for this year coming out? 322 00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 2: Well, when you started that question, I was gonna immediately 323 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:03,520 Speaker 2: answer McClean, but then you said needs to show Mattie's 324 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 2: going to be our second basement. I do think there's 325 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 2: so much more in there with him, to the point, 326 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 2: you know, the confidence I have in him. I was 327 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 2: probably stubborn moving him out of the two hole because 328 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 2: I have so much confidence in him. But he plays 329 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 2: the game. Even when he was struggling, you never saw 330 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 2: him throwing stuff. He played defense, He runs a basis 331 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 2: really well. He had that shoulder and sometimes it takes 332 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 2: guys some time. You know they can play, but they're 333 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 2: not the same player. He showed up. He's about twelve 334 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 2: pounds heavier in a good way, not like me and 335 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:37,480 Speaker 2: he looks like, I mean, this guy's a good baseball 336 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 2: player and there's a lot in there and we want 337 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:40,600 Speaker 2: to get it out of him. 338 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 1: Hey, Tito, what do you think of all of these 339 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 1: rookie managers, this whole class coming in this year? So 340 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 1: what did you think of the change? I mean, I 341 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 1: know this happens usually in sprinkles, but there were so 342 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:56,200 Speaker 1: many from different backgrounds that didn't involve being a manager 343 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 1: already in the big leagues. And do you feel like 344 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 1: someone who has a lot of dirt in your spikes 345 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 1: as a manager in the bigs, you can have an advantage. 346 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 1: I mean, a rookie manager think back to when you 347 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 1: were a rookie manager is going to make mistakes. There's 348 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 1: no chance they're going to be as good in year 349 00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:11,040 Speaker 1: one as they would be in year five. 350 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:13,200 Speaker 3: I hope you're right. 351 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:16,400 Speaker 2: I do think you know, some of these young guys, 352 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:20,560 Speaker 2: they're really smart and and gms and owners are betting 353 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:24,120 Speaker 2: on people, and I get it. Personally, I don't think 354 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:25,680 Speaker 2: I could have done it. I went to the minor 355 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:28,520 Speaker 2: leagues and that took that route, and I got to 356 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 2: make my mistakes that weren't on Sports Center, and it 357 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 2: worked for me. But there's something like Kevin Cash never 358 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 2: managed in the minor. He didn't need to. He's really good. 359 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 2: Like I said, I don't think I could have done it. 360 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 2: But they're betting on people, and I know the guys 361 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 2: I've talked to, they're pretty impressive. So it keeps us 362 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 2: going because I know if I just stay like, well, 363 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 2: this is what I've always done, that's not gonna work. 364 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 2: We got to keep working at it. They're going to 365 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 2: pass us right by. 366 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 5: All right, what's the one thing from your year off 367 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 5: that you miss the most? Because when everybody's off, everyone 368 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:04,120 Speaker 5: asked what do you miss the most from baseball? What 369 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:06,400 Speaker 5: do you miss most from your year off? 370 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:12,640 Speaker 2: You know? Okay, so originally I didn't and that probably 371 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:14,880 Speaker 2: spoke volumes that I needed the time off. 372 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:17,359 Speaker 3: But the ninth inning, man is like a drug. 373 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:19,640 Speaker 2: Like I mean, I'm telling you, man, it's like your 374 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:22,679 Speaker 2: heart's in your throat and you think you're gonna win. 375 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 2: You're not sure how, and it's like you know, but 376 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 2: but when you get tired and you it gets a 377 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 2: little it overwhelms you a little bit. But that part 378 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:33,639 Speaker 2: of the game, man is oh my god, like like 379 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 2: my hands are sweating now, Like, I love that part 380 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:38,879 Speaker 2: of the game. And when you go through with people, 381 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:42,359 Speaker 2: like I love our kids. They're good kids. They try 382 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 2: to do the right thing, and I like going through 383 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:47,400 Speaker 2: it with them. And so when we lose, it's not them, 384 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 2: and when we win, it's stop us. It's always us. 385 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:53,120 Speaker 2: And I like trying to figure things out with people 386 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:54,920 Speaker 2: that I respect. That's what we have here. 387 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:55,640 Speaker 3: Awesome. 388 00:17:56,800 --> 00:18:01,360 Speaker 4: We had Will Benson on the other night at the charity. 389 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 3: Event speaking of guys you respect. 390 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:06,119 Speaker 4: Oh and just guys you want to do well, I 391 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 4: mean you want to adopt him route for Will Benson, 392 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:13,119 Speaker 4: I mentioned to him that you managed Michael Jordan and 393 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:16,360 Speaker 4: he had no idea. How many players do you think 394 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 4: out there? If I went nasked, knew that you managed 395 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 4: Michael Jordan in the minor leagues. And then because I'm 396 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:24,639 Speaker 4: to think the number is pretty low. And then my 397 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:26,920 Speaker 4: other question is what did you learn from mj about 398 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:29,639 Speaker 4: leadership and winning? Because he's one. I mean I was 399 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 4: winning NASCAR, he won, and then he won to get 400 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 4: So what did he teach you about leaders. 401 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 2: So I think the number when I first came here 402 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 2: last year was really low. Now that I've been here 403 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:43,399 Speaker 2: year they've kind of heard it at times, but I 404 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 2: think the number is probably still pretty low as to 405 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 2: what I learned. I didn't even realize the time a J. 406 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 2: I was trying to survive. I mean, you're in double A. 407 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 2: You're just happy the games on radio, and now all 408 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:57,159 Speaker 2: of a sudden, you got national media. You got to 409 00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:02,200 Speaker 2: arguably the most high profile athlete. But he was so good, 410 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 2: he was so respectful of our game. It made it 411 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:08,159 Speaker 2: easy to be patient with baseball because you had to 412 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 2: because he hadn't played. 413 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:10,440 Speaker 3: But you're right. 414 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:13,920 Speaker 2: I mean, I saw this guy break ping pong, paddles, tennis, rackets, 415 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 2: golf clubs. I mean, winning is what he's all about. 416 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 2: And I respected that in him and I still do 417 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:20,840 Speaker 2: to this day. 418 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:22,200 Speaker 3: That's awesome it. 419 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 4: I mean lessons in life you learn from. 420 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean you learn everywhere you can. And I 421 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:28,760 Speaker 2: got lucky, and I know it. I was fortunate. I 422 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:31,040 Speaker 2: got put in a position by the luck of the draw, 423 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:33,160 Speaker 2: and I was really fortunate. 424 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: That's really cool. Well, Tito, we really appreciate the time. 425 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:38,960 Speaker 1: Awesome to catch up with you. Good luck this season. 426 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:39,560 Speaker 1: We'll talk son. 427 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:42,040 Speaker 3: Oh you got it, guys, thank you so much. 428 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:45,959 Speaker 1: We're going to get into all of the nitty gritty 429 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:49,159 Speaker 1: details about why you should switch to mint Mobile. But 430 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 1: I brought a special guest in for this one to 431 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:54,400 Speaker 1: alert you that you might be paying way too much 432 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: for your wireless bill. Eric Kratz, Can you give me 433 00:19:57,359 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 1: the bullpen dugout phone? 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That's mintmobile dot com slash territory. 443 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 1: Upfront payment of forty five dollars for three months, ninety 444 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 1: for six months, or one eighty for twelve months. Plan 445 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: required fifteen dollars a month equivalent taxes and fees extra 446 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:38,600 Speaker 1: initial plan term only over fifty gigabytes. May slow when 447 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 1: network is busy. Capable device required, availability, speed and coverage varies. 448 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:52,200 Speaker 1: See mintmobile dot com. We're season previewing and we'll talk 449 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:55,120 Speaker 1: to Ameliopegan later. Still many more interviews to go here 450 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:58,399 Speaker 1: on FT from Red's camp, But let's talk about a 451 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 1: Cincinnati team that made the postseason last year. Successful run 452 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:04,439 Speaker 1: for the National League Central. Sometimes it doesn't get the 453 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:07,879 Speaker 1: best rap, and that includes from Us Kratz, But if 454 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:10,679 Speaker 1: you look at last year, Cubs made the playoffs, Reds 455 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:13,920 Speaker 1: made the playoffs, Brewers had the best record in baseball. 456 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:17,080 Speaker 1: Pirates should be better this year. Cardinals should be worse 457 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: this year. So first off, let's start with what happened 458 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:24,679 Speaker 1: in the offseason for Cincinnati. Amliopegan staying put with the 459 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:26,920 Speaker 1: team for at least one, if not two more seasons. 460 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:29,439 Speaker 1: He has the player option after this year. They do 461 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:32,119 Speaker 1: lose Nick Martinez, who's kind of a do it all 462 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:35,159 Speaker 1: guy for them. Zach Lettel also put some nice innings 463 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:39,120 Speaker 1: together for them down the stretch. Gavin Lux is gone, 464 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 1: but they did add some some talent here. Let's start 465 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 1: with the lineup, so some guys have actually been here 466 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:53,399 Speaker 1: for a minute now. TJ. Friedel, Ellie is Ellie and 467 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:55,920 Speaker 1: hopefully a healthy season for Ellie. I know he played 468 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:58,879 Speaker 1: every game last year, but he was, as you know, 469 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 1: some were saying, dealing with an injury. Here it is 470 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 1: Noel vi Marte in there, Sal Stewart a full season 471 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:10,880 Speaker 1: from him, the big Geno Suarez acquisition, Tyler Stevenson still 472 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 1: above average at the catcher spot. Matt McLean hopefully bouncing 473 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:18,520 Speaker 1: back after you know, the shoulder surgery from two years 474 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:21,000 Speaker 1: ago looked like it was still holding him back last year. 475 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:23,920 Speaker 1: Key Brian Hayes over at third base is still one 476 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 1: of the best in the visit at picking the ball, 477 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:30,360 Speaker 1: has his offensive issues. JJ Bledet added to the outfield 478 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:32,439 Speaker 1: among a few others to try and fill in the 479 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 1: mix there. Dane Myers in the outfield. So let's start 480 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:38,680 Speaker 1: with the lineup. What do we think? Man? 481 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:42,639 Speaker 5: I have always been so high on this lineup. I 482 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 5: love I love the young guys that they had in here. 483 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 5: I'm a you know, I've been a Spencer Steer fan 484 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:53,600 Speaker 5: where he ends up where that ends up going for them, 485 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 5: like TJ Friedel, Matty McLean, like guys that are maybe 486 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:04,439 Speaker 5: like the afterthoughts sometime. For this lineup, I feel like 487 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 5: can be that above average hitter. I mean, one hundred 488 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 5: ops plus is average, so anything above that, I just 489 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 5: feel like everybody in this lineup can be an above 490 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:19,800 Speaker 5: average hitter because like I just I feel like they 491 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 5: haven't lived up to it. How many years do you 492 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:25,119 Speaker 5: not live up to that hype and all of a 493 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:27,800 Speaker 5: sudden you lose it, like then all of a sudden, well, 494 00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 5: you know, just never. Maybe he's just not good enough. 495 00:23:30,040 --> 00:23:32,640 Speaker 5: But to me, I think the middle of this lineup, 496 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:35,920 Speaker 5: where it is the projected lineup, is the key here. 497 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:39,040 Speaker 5: It's not key Brian Hayes being who the Pirates thought 498 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:42,200 Speaker 5: he was gonna be. He's gonna be your goal glove 499 00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:45,080 Speaker 5: defensive third baseman. To me, it's in that. It's in 500 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:48,160 Speaker 5: that five to six hole right now, that's South Stewart. 501 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:51,880 Speaker 5: Does Spencer Steer figure out a position to play, even 502 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 5: though he kind of got pushed out a little bit? 503 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 5: Does Noel vi Marte kind of slide into that five 504 00:23:57,359 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 5: to six hole they have him in in the two 505 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:05,280 Speaker 5: spot right now. But to me, South Stewart and Tyler Stevenson, 506 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:10,040 Speaker 5: which he'll kind of concede a little bit to Jose 507 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:14,879 Speaker 5: Travino too, because it's one of those things that like 508 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:18,200 Speaker 5: they're trying to put their best twenty six guys out there, 509 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 5: and when you do that, you don't have a consistent 510 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 5: lineup and I think the middle of that order is 511 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 5: what's going to drive this team to have success because 512 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 5: then the lower guys in the order can start picking 513 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:33,240 Speaker 5: up the slack like I think they need to. And 514 00:24:33,359 --> 00:24:36,679 Speaker 5: all of this is happening because they have a superstar 515 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 5: in Ellie or a budding superstar in Elie. I don't 516 00:24:39,040 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 5: think he's reached superstar status yet. And they brought in 517 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:47,720 Speaker 5: an aircraft carrier with low loan base percentage in a Hineosuarez, 518 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:51,520 Speaker 5: who could hit thirty five easily in this in this stadium. 519 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:54,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, and he's comfy there, he's hit there before. He 520 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:57,760 Speaker 1: brings something on the veteran mix too. That's important. I 521 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:01,440 Speaker 1: think Gino it's got the special sauce as a clubhouse leader. 522 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 1: So we had this up with the lineup and the potential. 523 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:08,280 Speaker 1: I think the pitching really took a step last year. 524 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 1: The pitching is getting so good stuff wise that it's 525 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:14,040 Speaker 1: starting to make the park appear as if it's more 526 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:18,040 Speaker 1: of a pitching park, and that I do not believe yet. 527 00:25:18,080 --> 00:25:21,199 Speaker 1: Sure is it tilting a little bit, perhaps, but it 528 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:23,640 Speaker 1: helps when you have Hunter Green, Andrew Rabbit, Brady Singer, 529 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 1: Nicolodolo Chase Burns written down for now as you're starting 530 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 1: rotation for the opening week of the season. Now there's 531 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:34,439 Speaker 1: your bullpen as we're looking at it too, led by 532 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:39,119 Speaker 1: Pagan at the back end, Santine, Ashcraft, Brockberg, Connor, Phillips, 533 00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:42,719 Speaker 1: really good stuff, etc. Okay, so let's look at what 534 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:46,119 Speaker 1: Fangrafts projects and what bet MGM has. So bet MGM 535 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 1: has them at eighty one and a half. I'll take 536 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:50,520 Speaker 1: the over. I think we all did there. Fangrafts projection, 537 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:53,920 Speaker 1: say seventy eight point seven on the wins number. Let's 538 00:25:53,920 --> 00:25:58,159 Speaker 1: look at where they're at in the division. We've got 539 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:00,919 Speaker 1: the Pirates ahead of them, the Pirates ahead of the Brewers. 540 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 1: I know we went over this the other day when 541 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:04,679 Speaker 1: we were at Brewers camp. So they've got Cubs at 542 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:07,119 Speaker 1: eighty six point one, Pirates eighty three point zero, Brewers 543 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:10,639 Speaker 1: eighty two point zero, Red seventy eight point seven, Cardinals 544 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:14,080 Speaker 1: seventy five point one. What do you think the Reds 545 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:17,320 Speaker 1: are only a few games ahead of the Cardinals this year? 546 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:21,720 Speaker 5: No, that gap is to me, that's a ten game gap, 547 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:24,479 Speaker 5: and I think I would I would go against you 548 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:28,400 Speaker 5: said you felt like the starting rotation took a jump 549 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:31,280 Speaker 5: last year. I think twenty twenty four they took that jump, 550 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:33,840 Speaker 5: and I think in twenty twenty five they showed it 551 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:37,360 Speaker 5: wasn't a fluke. Hunter Green wasn't healthy the entire year 552 00:26:37,359 --> 00:26:40,480 Speaker 5: and he still had a really good year. So to me, 553 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:45,920 Speaker 5: it's so hard to guess the win totals. I think 554 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 5: the win totals could be pretty close because one of 555 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:52,480 Speaker 5: the reasons that the teams in the three teams in 556 00:26:52,520 --> 00:26:56,159 Speaker 5: the Central made it was because the Central sucked. The 557 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:58,880 Speaker 5: Central was not very good, so you were beating up 558 00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:03,000 Speaker 5: on some of those lower level teams, and the Reds 559 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:06,080 Speaker 5: were essentially they were a weekend away from being a 560 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:08,119 Speaker 5: five hundred team. If you only win eighty three games, 561 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:12,080 Speaker 5: you're essentially just hanging around five hundred, and then bang, 562 00:27:12,119 --> 00:27:14,320 Speaker 5: they won two extra games and won eighty three. So 563 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:19,000 Speaker 5: is this team better? Yes, I think this entire division 564 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:21,920 Speaker 5: is better. Is that going to help or hurt their 565 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:24,720 Speaker 5: win totals? They're gonna have to grind to get to 566 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 5: five hundred this year just because everybody else is that 567 00:27:28,680 --> 00:27:31,480 Speaker 5: much better. Like I am, I was high on the 568 00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:33,479 Speaker 5: Reds last year. I thought they were gonna win the division. 569 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:35,440 Speaker 5: I thought it was their year to win the division, 570 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:40,040 Speaker 5: and their offense did not do what I think their 571 00:27:40,040 --> 00:27:44,040 Speaker 5: offense is capable of doing. But this rotation and the 572 00:27:44,080 --> 00:27:47,359 Speaker 5: things they added to this bullpen, I love it. I 573 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:50,359 Speaker 5: really do love this team. I think they're better than 574 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:52,880 Speaker 5: the Pirates. 575 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:55,960 Speaker 1: I'm with you, I think they're better than the Pirates. 576 00:27:56,680 --> 00:27:59,879 Speaker 5: But Paul Skiings is sometimes when you have an a 577 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:03,880 Speaker 5: and you can run them out there, and you're like, dude, 578 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:06,640 Speaker 5: we have a chance to win today. They have a chance. 579 00:28:06,720 --> 00:28:09,960 Speaker 5: They score three runs, they might win. He might win 580 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:13,359 Speaker 5: twenty of his games. You have a turnaround of where 581 00:28:13,400 --> 00:28:15,639 Speaker 5: one of your pitchers is winning twenty games, and this 582 00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:19,200 Speaker 5: day and age, twenty games is a ridiculous number. When 583 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:22,679 Speaker 5: you get to sixteen to eighteen games, it's you have 584 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:25,520 Speaker 5: a chance of leading the league. To me, I just 585 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:30,199 Speaker 5: I think that's the part where I think Fangrafts and 586 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:33,800 Speaker 5: everybody's valuing and has that eighty three eighty three wins 587 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:38,440 Speaker 5: for the Pirates is Paul Skiing is a generational type 588 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 5: of pitcher to the start of his career. You just 589 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:44,640 Speaker 5: don't know where that's going to lead. This team that 590 00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:51,320 Speaker 5: added a ton of home runs with O'Hearn and and 591 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:56,280 Speaker 5: Loo and they added Marcelo Zuna, like they've added home 592 00:28:56,360 --> 00:28:58,320 Speaker 5: runs to a team that didn't hit any home runs. 593 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 5: So is that enough to push them over. I can't 594 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:03,920 Speaker 5: say it's not. I just I think the Reds team's better. 595 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:10,320 Speaker 1: I'm with you, better team. The Red's lost a little 596 00:29:10,320 --> 00:29:12,440 Speaker 1: bit on the pitching side, but I think they've got 597 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:16,680 Speaker 1: the reinforcements there. They have really focused organization wise on pitching, 598 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:20,760 Speaker 1: on drafting pitching. The pitching development has been excellent for them. 599 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:23,440 Speaker 1: But you've consistently seen a theme from them. Right when 600 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:25,760 Speaker 1: they have a high pick in the draft lately, they're 601 00:29:25,840 --> 00:29:30,080 Speaker 1: often targeting an arm. I mean, the prime example was 602 00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:34,120 Speaker 1: when they chose Chase Burns instead of Charlie Condon in 603 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:37,080 Speaker 1: the draft a couple of years ago. And we'll see 604 00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:39,200 Speaker 1: how that plays out over the next several years. But 605 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:42,000 Speaker 1: right now they were saying, hey, it's hard for us 606 00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:45,240 Speaker 1: to recruit pitching sometimes, so let's get the best arms 607 00:29:45,280 --> 00:29:49,080 Speaker 1: from the draft, often in college, and let's get them 608 00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:50,640 Speaker 1: up to the show quickly to help us out. 609 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:54,480 Speaker 5: We talk about building the infrastructure too. Years ago, in 610 00:29:54,640 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 5: nineteen they took Derek Johnson, who was on our show 611 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:01,520 Speaker 5: just a few weeks ago they took them away from 612 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:05,040 Speaker 5: the Brewers. The Brewers have since continued to make the playoffs, 613 00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:08,080 Speaker 5: but they took them away from the Brewers with a 614 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:12,280 Speaker 5: long term extent, a long term contract which pitching coaches, 615 00:30:12,360 --> 00:30:15,120 Speaker 5: hitting coaches, bench coaches, all those guys don't get They're 616 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:17,640 Speaker 5: usually year to year guys. So when you can say, 617 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:20,200 Speaker 5: you know what, we're committing to one type of pitching 618 00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:24,360 Speaker 5: coach that has now seemed to show dividends, they realize 619 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:26,680 Speaker 5: it's tough to get pictures in and they wanted to 620 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:29,440 Speaker 5: develop them, and so they started at to me what's 621 00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:33,080 Speaker 5: called the ground level, and then they're drafting these guys 622 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:36,320 Speaker 5: and then they come up with a organizational philosophy, and 623 00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:39,920 Speaker 5: I think it's so it's a total organization creating and 624 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:43,080 Speaker 5: developing these really really good pitchers. 625 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:46,520 Speaker 1: Good call. If you're watching this after the fact, let 626 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:48,760 Speaker 1: us know your thoughts on the Reds. Drop of comment. 627 00:30:49,080 --> 00:31:02,480 Speaker 1: Let's get to Leo bet imjam futures one hundred plus wins, 628 00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:07,000 Speaker 1: we did ninety plus yesterday, Kratz one hundred plus. There's 629 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:11,800 Speaker 1: one team, the Dodgers at minus one forty, and then 630 00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:14,480 Speaker 1: the rest of baseball is some nice plus money. Do 631 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:17,280 Speaker 1: you think there are any other teams that have a 632 00:31:17,320 --> 00:31:19,640 Speaker 1: legit chance at one hundred plus? Where do you find 633 00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:22,080 Speaker 1: value here? Obviously you're not finding value with the Dodgers 634 00:31:22,080 --> 00:31:25,920 Speaker 1: at one forty. I would actually recommend skipping that. Mets, 635 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:29,600 Speaker 1: Yankees plus six hundred, Phillies plus seven hundred Jay's Braves, 636 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:33,200 Speaker 1: and Mariners are at plus eight hundred. Thoughts. 637 00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:38,600 Speaker 5: Again, I said it the other day. To me, the 638 00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:42,880 Speaker 5: value on here is the Mariners. Why because the Mets 639 00:31:42,960 --> 00:31:45,760 Speaker 5: have to play the Phillies and Dodgers. The Yankees have 640 00:31:45,840 --> 00:31:50,360 Speaker 5: to play the Blue Jays, the Red Sox and the Orioles. 641 00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:53,880 Speaker 5: Like there's just to get to one hundred wins, they 642 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:56,960 Speaker 5: are gonna have to absolutely beat the other teams up, 643 00:31:57,080 --> 00:32:00,160 Speaker 5: and they're going to beat themselves up. The Dodgers. I 644 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:03,200 Speaker 5: don't want to take them. We've talked about this endlessly. 645 00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:06,200 Speaker 5: They don't want to win one hundred games. They don't 646 00:32:06,240 --> 00:32:08,720 Speaker 5: care about winning one hundred games. They care about winning 647 00:32:08,760 --> 00:32:11,640 Speaker 5: the World Series. So I don't think it's an important 648 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:14,640 Speaker 5: number for them. Could they do it? Absolutely, That's why 649 00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 5: the number is where it is. But if you're going 650 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:18,280 Speaker 5: to take a number here, give me plus eight hundred 651 00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:20,400 Speaker 5: for the Mariners. If you think anybody's going to win 652 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:24,480 Speaker 5: one hundred games. To me, the easiest route, which still 653 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:28,800 Speaker 5: is a really difficult route, would be the Mariners. 654 00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:32,280 Speaker 1: We'll have to see if there's a special and if not, 655 00:32:32,680 --> 00:32:34,800 Speaker 1: sometimes we can actually request this and see if they 656 00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:38,320 Speaker 1: can cook something up within the bet MGM app I'd 657 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:43,240 Speaker 1: like to take the field the field work no last year, Yeah, nobody, 658 00:32:43,280 --> 00:32:46,520 Speaker 1: nobody get to a hundo. Yeah, we might get some 659 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:49,720 Speaker 1: middy high nineties, but it's tough. There are a lot 660 00:32:49,720 --> 00:32:50,200 Speaker 1: of good teams. 661 00:32:50,240 --> 00:32:50,360 Speaker 3: You know. 662 00:32:50,360 --> 00:32:52,520 Speaker 1: It's funny when you have the parody conversation, you look 663 00:32:52,560 --> 00:32:54,040 Speaker 1: around and you're like, there are actually a lot of 664 00:32:54,080 --> 00:32:56,959 Speaker 1: teams that are capable of winning ninety some odd games. 665 00:32:58,080 --> 00:32:59,880 Speaker 5: I mean, they'd be going against themselves because I think 666 00:32:59,880 --> 00:33:02,040 Speaker 5: the Dodgers' number I just looked at the other days 667 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:04,320 Speaker 5: up to one hundred and three, one oh three and 668 00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:11,320 Speaker 5: a half on BETMGM. You know, I think you would essentially, 669 00:33:11,560 --> 00:33:13,520 Speaker 5: do you think the Dodgers, because that's where I think 670 00:33:13,520 --> 00:33:16,200 Speaker 5: the money is. You're talking about win totals. Do you 671 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:18,680 Speaker 5: think the Dodgers are going to go under that or 672 00:33:18,720 --> 00:33:20,000 Speaker 5: do you think they're going to go over that and 673 00:33:20,040 --> 00:33:22,640 Speaker 5: I think that's where you would get you know the 674 00:33:22,680 --> 00:33:23,400 Speaker 5: field or not. 675 00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:27,000 Speaker 1: Yep, I'm with you. Hey, there's no better place to 676 00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:30,560 Speaker 1: be during March matchups than Vegas. 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