1 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:09,159 Speaker 1: What's up everybody. Welcome back to Crush City territory. I'm 2 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:13,680 Speaker 1: chandeler Rome here with Tyler Stafford. It is arbitration Day, 3 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: A huge day for people that are perpetually online, a 4 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: huge day for people that like tweeting contests because all 5 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:25,599 Speaker 1: of the reporters that cover baseball for a living get 6 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: all the information from like the same people, and it's 7 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: just a race to see who can tweet it out 8 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: the fastest. Robert Murray a fan side and congratulations to him. 9 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:34,840 Speaker 1: He's got quick Twitter fingers. Man. 10 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:38,920 Speaker 2: I believe his name is by Robert Murray, Right. 11 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:41,520 Speaker 1: By Robert Murray if you'd like to follow him on 12 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: Twitter X or whatever we're calling that platform now works 13 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 1: for fan side. It does a great job. Was owning 14 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 1: arbitration today. It is still not over. Actually, six of 15 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 1: the Astros seven arbitration eligible players have settled, which means 16 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 1: they will not go to an arbitration hearing. The only 17 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: one as of this recording that has not settled is 18 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: from er Valdez, who was projected to make seventeen point 19 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 1: eight million dollars. So that doesn't mean they're taking them 20 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: to a hearing. It just means as of this moment 21 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 1: as we're recording this, they haven't settled yet. They can 22 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 1: still negotiate, but a lot of weird stuff goes on 23 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,679 Speaker 1: in arbitration. And Tyler, we were talking before we started 24 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: this up. It seems like you have questions about this 25 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 1: whole process. I'm not sure I can really answer them. 26 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: But what fascinates you about arbitration. 27 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 2: It's such a weird, just quirk of baseball. I'm sure 28 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:42,840 Speaker 2: maybe there's something like this in other sports, but it's 29 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 2: it's obviously pretty popular in baseball, and it's just so 30 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 2: interesting to me. First off, how close you typically are 31 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 2: on numbers, right, Like what will happen is if they 32 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 2: go to arbitration you find out after like oh, this 33 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 2: player submit did five million dollars and the Astros submitted 34 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 2: four million dollars. And then the arbiter, which is it 35 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 2: a judge? Is it like an actual judge or is 36 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 2: it just some dude? Like who who is deciding who 37 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:18,239 Speaker 2: gets which amount of money? 38 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 1: It's a it is it is an arbiter. The the 39 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 1: players side presents his case, the team side presents their case, 40 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 1: and then like I believe it's a panel of three. 41 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:32,359 Speaker 1: I could be wrong on that I should have probably 42 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 1: looked that up before this started. But it is a 43 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 1: neutral arbiter that decides who which amount of money they're 44 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 1: going to make, and it's a it's a very odd dynamic. 45 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: You mentioned the amount of money is sometimes not that much, 46 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 1: like you you said a million dollars, Like there have 47 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: been times where players have gone to hearings over like 48 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:55,080 Speaker 1: two hundred grand, and you kind of ask yourself, like, 49 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 1: why can't these billionaires that own the team just you know, 50 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: throw kick in the two hundred grand and avoid this 51 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: because if you take a player to an arbitration hearing, 52 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 1: they can say all they want after about how professional 53 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 1: it was and about you know, no bad blood, no 54 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: hard feelings, Like inherently you're going into this and hearing 55 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:21,359 Speaker 1: your employer say here's why you deserve to make less money, 56 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 1: and the way that they are presenting that is, here's 57 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: why we think you're not as good as you think 58 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: you are. Like, in no way can that leave like 59 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 1: zero ill will. So it's it's a fascinating little exercise 60 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 1: and it's one that, you know, the one weird thing 61 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: that I think a lot of people maybe don't grasp. 62 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 1: There are some players that go into the arbitration process 63 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 1: like it doesn't matter what the team offers, it doesn't 64 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 1: matter what it is. They are going to a hearing 65 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 1: no matter what, for the sole reason that they want 66 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: to make sure like they're doing it on behalf of 67 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 1: their fellow players. They want to I mean, the players 68 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 1: union is pretty strong, and they want to make sure 69 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 1: that there's no tom foolery going on, that there's nothing 70 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: untoward happening in these hearings. So there are players that 71 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 1: will go for no other reason than to make sure 72 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 1: things are And I would I would love And Zach 73 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: Greenkey did this. Zach Greenkey famously sat in on Jacob 74 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 1: to Rizzy's arbitration hearing. I would love to sit in 75 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: all of those because it is probably a fascinating exercise. 76 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean that's for real, unironically, like one of 77 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 2: my that's up there with sitting courtside at a bas William, 78 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 2: I would love to sit. And do you think that 79 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:40,479 Speaker 2: they're like, you know, did they put a lot of 80 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 2: effort into the PowerPoint side? Do you think they have 81 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 2: like cool transitions that's like he only had this many 82 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 2: RBIs and look what everybody else is. And then there's 83 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 2: like a sweet slide transition. Are they just handing out pamphlets? Like, 84 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 2: what does this look like in there? 85 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: Oh? I have seen, I have it. I've seen an 86 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: agent that has prepared haired an arbitration case for his client, 87 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:05,720 Speaker 1: has showed me what they go in with, and it 88 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 1: is like a full book. Like I'm not going to 89 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 1: name the player, but I saw a cover of I 90 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 1: wouldn't call it a book. It was bigger than a pamphlet, 91 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 1: but smaller than a book. It was in a binder 92 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 1: and like the cover had a picture of this player, 93 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 1: had a bunch of their stats all around had what 94 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 1: I mean to the point where agents like will actively 95 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 1: read media coverage throughout the season to call quotes that 96 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 1: managers or gms or fellow players give about their clients 97 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 1: to include in the arbitration booklet that they're presenting to 98 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 1: you know, make their case. You know, if a GM 99 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 1: during the season says, oh, this, we have the best 100 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 1: reliever in baseball in our bullpen, or we have the 101 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:50,599 Speaker 1: best hitter in baseball in the middle of our lineup, 102 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:54,159 Speaker 1: Like you can bet that's gonna make it into an 103 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 1: arbitration booklet. As they're arguing why a player deserves to 104 00:05:58,360 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: make a ton of money. But you know, if I 105 00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:01,599 Speaker 1: was gonna go sit into one of these hearings, like 106 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: I wonder do they have like concession stands? Like can 107 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:05,479 Speaker 1: I go? Do they have a bar? Like I would 108 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: love to, you know, sip a cocktail, listen to someone 109 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 1: from the astros, Like, explain to me why Brian A. 110 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:15,840 Speaker 1: Bray you deserves to make less money while he's one 111 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:19,559 Speaker 1: of the best relievers in baseball. Just as inside Brian 112 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:22,279 Speaker 1: Bray you settled he is not going on an arbitration hearing. 113 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:24,359 Speaker 1: But I think that'd be fascinating. Yeah. 114 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 2: I mean again, it's normally over such a small amount 115 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:31,839 Speaker 2: of money, and I would assume it's the owners are 116 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 2: in their head thinking they're doing the same thing that 117 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:36,599 Speaker 2: the players are doing of like we're going to like 118 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 2: protect this process of you know whatever. But every time, 119 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 2: I'm like, just just give them the amount of money 120 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 2: that they think they're gonna make an arbitration. It can't 121 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 2: be that much more, and it can't be worth putting 122 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 2: a presentation together explaining why this guy who you're going 123 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 2: to have under contract either way, is going to play 124 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:03,040 Speaker 2: for you. Like, just give them that amount of money. 125 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:07,599 Speaker 2: I don't understand why there's ever a like who on 126 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 2: the team is going Like on the team side, obviously 127 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 2: agents are putting together the player side, but is it 128 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 2: like GM. Is it like an intern, Like who's there 129 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 2: presenting the case? 130 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 1: Usually it's not the GM, like Dana Brown's not going 131 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:26,559 Speaker 1: to go in there and do it, Jeff Luno, James Klick, 132 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 1: like they did not go in and present the cases themselves. 133 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: There's usually an AGM, an assistant general manager or someone 134 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 1: in the Baseball Operations department that their entire job this 135 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: part of yours arbitration. So they will go in and 136 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 1: they will run the case, they will present the team side, 137 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 1: and you know everything you hear after all these cases 138 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: like oh it so professional, and you know they didn't, 139 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: they didn't detegrate me. They didn't, you know, insult me 140 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 1: or anything. But like to me Tyler, like inherently it's insulting. 141 00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 1: Like if I'm going in there and saying I'm worth 142 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: this much money and my employer is like, oh, well, 143 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 1: you know you you know you struck out in that 144 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: and that bigot bad in mid September, we're in a 145 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:11,239 Speaker 1: pennant race, so you know, I think you probably should 146 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 1: get like one hundred grand less like that. That'd be 147 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: tough for me to hear. 148 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, oh for sure, I got to turn off YouTube 149 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 2: comments speaking of the arbiter shout out are our buddy 150 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 2: down there? But uh, you know, it's it is difficult 151 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 2: to deal with that, and it really is such a 152 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:36,559 Speaker 2: fascinating process. And yeah, I mean I would love at 153 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 2: some point, so if somebody out there knows someone who's 154 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:42,680 Speaker 2: been involved in the arbitration process and wants to chat 155 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:45,440 Speaker 2: with that, I have I have a million questions, like, 156 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:49,960 Speaker 2: are the are the arbiters baseball people? Are they like 157 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 2: former executives? Are they just like legal people that they're 158 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 2: pulling off the street. Are they having to explain what 159 00:08:57,160 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 2: these stats are? Like, what's happening in there? 160 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 1: It's it's it is largely like arbitration in general is 161 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:08,560 Speaker 1: largely a comparison. This is a compare, like they will compare, 162 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: and it's all about how much service time you have, 163 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 1: and it's all about like what a guy in his 164 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: first year of our got as comparing to you. So 165 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: let's just let's pull just a random player, Jeremy Panna, 166 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 1: who settled for four point one million dollars is not 167 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 1: going to a hearing the way that they probably talked 168 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: about this was all right. They compare Jeremy Pagna to 169 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:34,680 Speaker 1: other shortstops in baseball, and they compare Jeremy Pagna to 170 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 1: other shortstops in their first year of arbitration eligibility, and 171 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 1: that's how they kind of come to these numbers. And 172 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:46,200 Speaker 1: I mean it is a method to suppress salaries in 173 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 1: some ways. I mean, Jeremy Panna is worth. His market 174 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 1: value is far higher than four point one million dollars. 175 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 1: Brian abray U's market value far far, far, far far 176 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 1: higher than the three point four to five million dollars 177 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 1: he settled for. You know, it is it's one of those. 178 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 1: And I don't want this to act like we're coming 179 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 1: down on the Astros like all thirty teams do this. 180 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:13,199 Speaker 1: This is not an Astros problem. This is not something 181 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:15,960 Speaker 1: that the Astros are doing that's wrong. And it is just 182 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:19,560 Speaker 1: it's how the business works, and it's a it's a 183 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:21,959 Speaker 1: slimy side of it, and it's a side that kind 184 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 1: of reminds you that, you know, for as much as 185 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 1: we love baseball for the game, it is and it's 186 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:28,599 Speaker 1: America's past I'm like, this is a business at the 187 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 1: end of the day. 188 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, well it's it's fascinating. So okay, so you said 189 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 2: Fromber is still going, we don't know what'd you say? 190 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 2: Was projected seventeen point eight. 191 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 1: So MLB trade rumors projected he would make seventeen point 192 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:48,920 Speaker 1: eight million, going with the other seven guys that have settled, 193 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 1: or the other six guys that have settled. Mauricio Dubon 194 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 1: got more than his projection, Chas McCormick got more than 195 00:10:56,679 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 1: his projection. Esakkaratis got less, Jeremy Pania got less, Brian 196 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 1: bray you got less. So the projections kind of are 197 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:08,679 Speaker 1: vary either way. But Fromervelde is gonna make a lot 198 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 1: of money either way. No matter how this ends for him, 199 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:13,559 Speaker 1: whether they take him to a hearing or not, he's 200 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 1: gonna make a lot of money. He's gonna make upwards 201 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: of seventeen million dollars somewhere in that in that ballpark. 202 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 2: But essentially what happens is the team says, you know, 203 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 2: we think Fromber is worth even if it's seventeen point eight. 204 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 2: If they say, yeah, we think he's where at seventeen 205 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 2: point eight, the player then can submit any number, right, 206 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:36,840 Speaker 2: but then the arbiter chooses one or the other. It's 207 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 2: not like they come to the middle. So you do 208 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 2: want to have like a realistic number. Is that how 209 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 2: it works? 210 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:44,680 Speaker 1: So the way it works is both. So today at 211 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:50,559 Speaker 1: noon the was the deadline for both sides to exchange figures. 212 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 1: So that's like the one like the astros say, all right, 213 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:57,440 Speaker 1: here's our figure for Fromberveldez. Fromber Valdez is representatives an 214 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 1: octagon say all right, here's our figure for it. And 215 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 1: then from that point on they can try to negotiate. 216 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 1: They can try to get down to the middle, you know, 217 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: get down to a point where they feel comfortable. If 218 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 1: they can't come to an agreement, then they will file 219 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:17,440 Speaker 1: both of those numbers officially and go to a hearing. 220 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:22,960 Speaker 1: And within the hearing it is he gets paid either number. 221 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:24,839 Speaker 1: It is not a situation where they can settle in 222 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 1: the middle. They either say the team won the hearing 223 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 1: or Fromervel does want the hearing and they get the 224 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:33,840 Speaker 1: money that they put up there. So again not saying 225 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 1: that's going to happen. For all we know, they could 226 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 1: be you know, negotiating right now and Farmervel does could 227 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 1: settle and not go to a hearing. We will know 228 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 1: that by the end of the day. We won't know it. 229 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 1: We won't know it by the time this podcast raps, 230 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:54,680 Speaker 1: probably unfortunately, speaking of high paid pitchers, speaking of pictures 231 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 1: that make a lot of money, Justin Verlander is going 232 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:01,079 Speaker 1: to make less money than he's been making, but it's 233 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 1: going to make fifteen million dollars next year to pitch 234 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:07,120 Speaker 1: for the San Francisco Giants. That news coming a couple 235 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 1: of days, I believe on Wednesday night, that news came 236 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 1: out that Justin Verlander's gonna get a one year deal 237 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 1: to go to the San Francisco Giants and for a 238 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 1: second time, end his Astro's tenure. As long as Jim 239 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:23,520 Speaker 1: Crane owns the team, and as long as Jim Crane 240 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: is involved, never rule out they're going to trade for him, 241 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 1: because Jim Crane and Justin Verlander are very close. I'm 242 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: quite frankly a little bit surprised that Justin Verlander's not 243 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 1: back with the Astros, given how close he and Crane are, 244 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 1: But it's kind of clear that it was going this 245 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 1: way toward the end of the year. Obviously, Justin Verlander 246 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 1: did not have the season that he thought he would 247 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:47,640 Speaker 1: have with the injury and everything. He's going to be 248 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:49,319 Speaker 1: forty two years old. He said he wants to pitch, 249 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 1: so he's forty five. I would never doubt him, Tyler. 250 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:57,200 Speaker 1: I can't imagine you were very surprised that Justin Verlander 251 00:13:57,640 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 1: is going to pitch elsewhere next year. 252 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:03,199 Speaker 2: You know, I mean, I mean, one, just as we've 253 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 2: talked about, the Astros don't have ten fifty million dollars 254 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 2: to spend without going over the CBT. But also they 255 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:14,920 Speaker 2: have a you know, they've got a firm kind of 256 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:18,360 Speaker 2: top of the rotation, but then they really have six 257 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 2: or seven guys that they've got to kind of figure 258 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 2: out who's going to fill out the rest of the 259 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 2: rotation and whether he's performing or not. Justin Verlander is 260 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 2: as long as he's healthy, he's pitching every fifth day, 261 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 2: which takes away the ability to kind of gauge who 262 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:37,680 Speaker 2: do you have in your your rotation. So, I mean, 263 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 2: you're right, it definitely feels like one of those deals 264 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 2: where come July, once the Astro's rotation kind of settles, 265 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 2: you may give the Giants a call and say, all right, 266 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 2: we'll take on the rest of this. Now we'll pay 267 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 2: six million, you know whatever for Verlander. But now we 268 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 2: know kind of what this rotation looks like where he 269 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 2: would fit in, because you know, last year, I think 270 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 2: everyone handled it well because of the injury that Verlander 271 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:06,160 Speaker 2: was not going to, you know, play a part in 272 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 2: the playoff rotation, or at least an important part. But 273 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 2: if he's not injured, that's a that's a different story, right, 274 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 2: Like if he if he pitches one hundred and eighty innings, 275 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 2: but it's at a four and a half era, like, 276 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 2: can you not start him? I don't think so. I 277 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 2: think you have to just let him pitch. And I 278 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 2: don't know that you want to be tied to that 279 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 2: necessarily if you're the Astros. 280 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 1: I think you put it well that it was a 281 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 1: it was easy. It was an easier conversation for everyone 282 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: than it would appear on paper. Like justin Verlander in 283 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 1: September knew that he couldn't pitch in a playoff game, 284 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:46,120 Speaker 1: and I think everyone in there with a brain knew that. 285 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 1: And I don't think it was this big shock when 286 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:51,320 Speaker 1: Joe A. Spot had to go up to him before 287 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 1: the wild Card series and say, hey, you're not on 288 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 1: the roster, like I think everyone kind of knew that, 289 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:58,800 Speaker 1: and Justin Verlander is a pro like he fully outright 290 00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 1: acknowledged toward the end of the year that he wasn't 291 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 1: he wasn't getting people out and they had. And it 292 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 1: wasn't even so much that like they had, he had 293 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 1: teammates pitching better than him. You say Kakucci, Hunter Brown, 294 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 1: fromber Valdez, Ronel Blanco, Spencer, like they were all pitching 295 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 1: better than him, And you're not gonna put Justin Verlander 296 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 1: in the bullpen. He's made one career regular season relief 297 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: appearance and his no, He's made zero career regular season 298 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 1: relief appearances. He's made one in the playoffs. I know 299 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:28,040 Speaker 1: you probably recall that one, but I'm glad I have 300 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:32,200 Speaker 1: you for this question because you you were here when 301 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 1: they traded for Justin Verlander the first time, best day ever. 302 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: And so this what the question I'm about to ask. 303 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 1: Is no offense to Joseel Tuve, is no offense to 304 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: the many, many faces of this era of Astros baseball. 305 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: But I wonder is Justin Verlander the most impactful player 306 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: of this Aftros Golden era? I think so. 307 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 2: I don't I don't even know that you could question it. 308 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:05,160 Speaker 2: I think when when they made that trade. First off, 309 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:10,960 Speaker 2: I'm sure everyone remembers, but it came together like two 310 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:15,440 Speaker 2: seconds before the old August deadline, so you know, he'd 311 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:17,440 Speaker 2: gone through ways. So I mean, I think he made 312 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 2: what like six starts in the regular season for the 313 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 2: Astros that year before pitching in the playoffs. But man, 314 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 2: when that went through, it was one of those things 315 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 2: where you're like, not only are you getting a Hall 316 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:36,480 Speaker 2: of Famer, you know, you he'd not been great for 317 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 2: two years. He had had a really good stretch and 318 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 2: obviously he talks about that where you know, he finally 319 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 2: got healthy, he made some adjustments, he was able to 320 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 2: really put himself back together. But regardless, it was like, oh, 321 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:54,199 Speaker 2: the Astras are for real. Like, you know, you had 322 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:57,800 Speaker 2: the twenty fifteen team that overperformed, you just kind of 323 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:00,400 Speaker 2: felt like you were playing with house money there. Then 324 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 2: he had the twenty sixteen team missed the playoffs, and 325 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 2: then twenty seventeen it's like, Okay, we're you know, this 326 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:10,240 Speaker 2: this team is good, but you know, are they actually 327 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:12,480 Speaker 2: going to go all in? And then when you see 328 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:14,919 Speaker 2: that trade come through, You're like oh my gosh, like 329 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:18,640 Speaker 2: this team is a legitimate contender, and then to see 330 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 2: it come to fruition right then. I mean, I'll never 331 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 2: forget the image of him coming back out with the 332 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:31,040 Speaker 2: cutoff shirt in La in what was the game game one, 333 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:33,919 Speaker 2: game two of must have been game two of the 334 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:36,640 Speaker 2: World Series. But he comes out in his big old 335 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:40,680 Speaker 2: dad hair arms and he's covered in whatever wires they 336 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 2: you know, they had on him for. 337 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:46,280 Speaker 1: The pay don't mention wires in the twenty seventeen team please. 338 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 2: Excuse me, Well we saw those. Those are those are 339 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:53,120 Speaker 2: for real. But you know, he's doing his post game 340 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:56,280 Speaker 2: stuff and he comes out and he's just screaming at everybody, 341 00:18:56,600 --> 00:19:00,480 Speaker 2: and it really did feel like, oh, there's like an 342 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 2: adult on this team, you know, like there's a veteran, 343 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:08,120 Speaker 2: because you know, the Astros were built of so many 344 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 2: really good young stars and then some kind of like 345 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:16,840 Speaker 2: put together veterans, but not like a superstar veteran. But 346 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:19,119 Speaker 2: to have him come in and be like, no, this 347 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 2: is how it's gonna work, this is how you win 348 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 2: a World Series, or this is how you conduct yourselves 349 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:25,440 Speaker 2: in the playoffs. 350 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 1: Whatever. 351 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:30,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think I think he's the most impactful astro 352 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 2: of this golden era. And honestly, I mean, I think 353 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:39,160 Speaker 2: if he'd won a ring in twenty nineteen, I feel 354 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 2: like he goes in as an astro to the Hall 355 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:45,199 Speaker 2: of Fame. Now, you know, I'm not sure because he 356 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:49,040 Speaker 2: spent so much time with the Tigers. Obviously he had 357 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 2: a ton of success here, but I mean, he to me, 358 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:55,280 Speaker 2: when you look back at his career, I think he's 359 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:57,640 Speaker 2: gonna be remembered just as much as an astro as 360 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:02,199 Speaker 2: anyone else, which is remark considering it looked like his 361 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:05,440 Speaker 2: career was over the year before the ass was traded 362 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:09,240 Speaker 2: for him, and now he's he's still getting fifteen million 363 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 2: dollar deals, you know, seven eight years later. 364 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:14,520 Speaker 1: To me, it felt like and again I was not 365 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:16,959 Speaker 1: on the beat in twenty seventeen. I was. I was 366 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 1: outside looking in. But like now, with like hindsight and 367 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 1: looking at how it went down, to me, it felt 368 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: like it legitimized the actual when they acquired him, because 369 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 1: and I don't want to disrespect you know, Josh Reddick, 370 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:31,200 Speaker 1: co host who we're going to have on again soon. 371 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 1: He signed before that twenty seventeen season. Brian McCann signed 372 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:38,440 Speaker 1: before that twenty, like they made some additions Carlos Beltron, 373 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:41,399 Speaker 1: they got adults, like you said that, they had an 374 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 1: adult on the team, Like they got adults in the room, 375 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 1: like they had Beltron, they had Reddick, they had the 376 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:49,880 Speaker 1: can but justin Verlin, like the aura and just the 377 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:54,680 Speaker 1: reputation and just the swag. And you know, back then 378 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:58,199 Speaker 1: he was still wearing the headphones before his starts and 379 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:02,360 Speaker 1: was the death stare and he would you know, it 380 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 1: was the death stare for him before each and every start, 381 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:08,560 Speaker 1: and just felt like it legitimized the whole thing, and 382 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:12,359 Speaker 1: it felt like he was, you know, the missing piece. 383 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:17,399 Speaker 1: And you know, the debate can rage on what cap 384 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:21,560 Speaker 1: he will wear in Cooper's town. It'd be tough for me, 385 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 1: Like the Astros have. There is a legitimate argument he 386 00:21:24,520 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 1: should wear an Astros cap in Cooper's town and there 387 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 1: will be a lot of words written about that when 388 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 1: that time comes, there will be a lot of debate. 389 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 1: Something tells me he may choose to go in neutral 390 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:39,920 Speaker 1: just to not you know, offend is probably a strong word, 391 00:21:39,960 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 1: but to not you know, you know, to not show 392 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 1: favoritism to one of the other, because look, I think 393 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:48,879 Speaker 1: he really does Relish his time in Detroit. Really, you know, 394 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 1: that's one MVP there. He became Justin Verlander in Detroit. 395 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 1: He just elevated himself to another level in Houston. But 396 00:21:56,600 --> 00:21:59,919 Speaker 1: you know, I looked up a couple things about just 397 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:04,640 Speaker 1: his longevity in Houston. You know, remember he only pitched 398 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 1: I believe it was four full seasons in Houston twenty eighteen, 399 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen, twenty twenty two and twenty twenty four this 400 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:21,400 Speaker 1: past year. There are only five pitchers in franchise history 401 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 1: worth more wins above replacement than Justin Verlanders roy Oswalt, 402 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:33,280 Speaker 1: Larry Derker, Don Wilson, Mike Scott, and Nolan Ryan. All 403 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:35,880 Speaker 1: the Nolan Ryan is one of the best pitchers ever. 404 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:40,639 Speaker 1: Justin Verlanders Idol roy Oswalt obviously was a bulldog for 405 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:43,640 Speaker 1: the Astros when maybe the team wasn't having as much 406 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 1: success as this current era. But was you know, a 407 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 1: fan favorite certainly, and maybe one of the more underrated 408 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:55,200 Speaker 1: pitchers in modern history. To me, when you start talking 409 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:58,760 Speaker 1: about those five guys, those guys like, I'm I may 410 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:01,720 Speaker 1: be ready to say that Justin Verland or maybe one 411 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:04,360 Speaker 1: of the best, maybe the best picture in Astros has 412 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 1: the best picture that's ever worn in Astro's uniform. 413 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, and there's starting pitchers in particular can raise their 414 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 2: value in the playoffs, right the way that the playoff 415 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:18,640 Speaker 2: system works, where serieses can swing based on one game. 416 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:22,639 Speaker 2: I mean, you saw last year the Tigers can knock 417 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:26,720 Speaker 2: out the Astros just by knowing like, oh, we're probably 418 00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:30,879 Speaker 2: gonna win one game because we've got you know, yeah Google, 419 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:34,480 Speaker 2: just a superstar like you can just assume that you're 420 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:37,760 Speaker 2: gonna win those games. And that's what Erlander felt like 421 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 2: for the Astros, even even though that didn't happen in 422 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:44,520 Speaker 2: the World Series for a long time, it just felt like, oh, 423 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:47,520 Speaker 2: in a seven game series, there's two games where the 424 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:53,919 Speaker 2: other team has to get lucky to win essentially, and 425 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:56,640 Speaker 2: so I think I think that elevates it. Obviously Oswald 426 00:23:56,640 --> 00:24:01,080 Speaker 2: didn't get a ton of chances. Uh you know, Nolan 427 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:07,080 Speaker 2: Ryan didn't really either, But you know, verlanders playoff success 428 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:11,640 Speaker 2: is what really elevates his time with the Astros, because, 429 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:13,879 Speaker 2: like you said, he only pitched four full seasons, but 430 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:17,199 Speaker 2: it feels like way more than that, just because he 431 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:22,600 Speaker 2: was in every important playoff series and really Astro's history. 432 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:26,440 Speaker 1: And I mean just the the epitome of an ace. 433 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:29,480 Speaker 1: And you know at a time where look, the Astros 434 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:31,560 Speaker 1: had co aces with him, like, I mean, he and 435 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:36,119 Speaker 1: Garrett Cole in twenty nineteen were were unbelievable. Dallas kikeele 436 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:39,080 Speaker 1: one was still a very very good pitcher, even when 437 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:42,639 Speaker 1: Justin Verlander came over and Alnce McCullers was nasty. You know, 438 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:46,080 Speaker 1: they've had good pitchers a lot, even from er Valdez lately, 439 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:49,000 Speaker 1: like has shown potential to be an ace, but just 440 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 1: a different, different feeling when Justin Verlander rolls out there, 441 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 1: when at Dyke and Park, when when Eminem's blaring until 442 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:59,280 Speaker 1: I Collapse is going like he kind of stand at 443 00:24:59,280 --> 00:25:01,480 Speaker 1: attention in your like, oh man, like this is about 444 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:03,919 Speaker 1: to be something special and just a different kind of 445 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:07,399 Speaker 1: feel and who knows, you could have it again again 446 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:09,679 Speaker 1: as long as Jim Crane's involved. Never rule out that 447 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:12,399 Speaker 1: Justin Verlander will wear an astro's uniform again. But to me, 448 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:15,359 Speaker 1: it feels like it feels like we've seen the last 449 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:18,760 Speaker 1: of him in an astro's uniform. And if that was it, 450 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:22,919 Speaker 1: I mean, one of certainly most impactful astro of this 451 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:26,119 Speaker 1: golden era, but one of the more impactful players in 452 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:27,320 Speaker 1: the history of this franchise. 453 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 2: What was he like in interviews in the clubhouse? You know, like, 454 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:36,080 Speaker 2: what's he like? You know, obviously we've all kind of 455 00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:38,320 Speaker 2: seen him on the mound and stuff, but like when 456 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:40,280 Speaker 2: he's just in the clubhout is he is he chatting 457 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:43,040 Speaker 2: up the other pictures? Is he going over scattering reports 458 00:25:43,080 --> 00:25:43,359 Speaker 2: with him? 459 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:46,280 Speaker 1: What was he like? It was? It's interesting you asked 460 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:49,720 Speaker 1: that he really changed in his arc of when I 461 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 1: covered him, So again, I covered him from twenty eighteen 462 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 1: to this past year. First two years I covered him 463 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:58,760 Speaker 1: in twenty eighteen and twenty nineteen, it was headphones were 464 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:01,160 Speaker 1: on on a start day. You did not look him 465 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:03,639 Speaker 1: in the eye, and if you did, you were going 466 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:06,479 Speaker 1: to get a death stare like you've never gotten before. 467 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:10,920 Speaker 1: Would not say he was unaccessible. He would certainly give 468 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:13,480 Speaker 1: you time, but you had to work it out with him. 469 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:15,880 Speaker 1: You didn't see him in the clubhouse A ton would 470 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:20,400 Speaker 1: kind of be in and out. Had some diva qualities, 471 00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 1: I would say, and I don't use diva pejoratively, but 472 00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 1: just he knew he was good and he knew that. 473 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:27,760 Speaker 1: You know, this was a guy that had been around 474 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:31,679 Speaker 1: a while and acted as such. After he had his 475 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:35,240 Speaker 1: Tommy John surgery and he I wrote about this a 476 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:38,000 Speaker 1: good bit and he you know, he was open about it, 477 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:40,600 Speaker 1: like it really changed his perspective. Well, he altered his 478 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:43,359 Speaker 1: perspective a lot, you know, within his rehab after he 479 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:45,520 Speaker 1: had the surgery, and within his rehab that's when his 480 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:48,359 Speaker 1: daughter was born, so he became a father, and I 481 00:26:48,359 --> 00:26:51,280 Speaker 1: think that alters perspective a little bit. I think, you know, 482 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 1: having the real possibility that the game could have been 483 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 1: taken away from him. You know, most thirty nine year 484 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:01,200 Speaker 1: olds don't recover from Tommy On surgery the way Justin 485 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:04,280 Speaker 1: Verlander did, so a real possibility that that could have 486 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:06,879 Speaker 1: been it for him. The last couple of seasons he 487 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:09,119 Speaker 1: was in Houston there there was a pretty distinct change. 488 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:11,879 Speaker 1: You saw him in the clubhouse a lot more, was 489 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:16,880 Speaker 1: a lot more talkative with reporters, with players, found him 490 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:20,280 Speaker 1: just just being a lot more around when reporters are 491 00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:24,760 Speaker 1: and look, he may have been like that before the 492 00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:27,080 Speaker 1: reminder that reporters are only in the clubhouse an hour 493 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 1: a day. We can only see so much, so I 494 00:27:29,359 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 1: don't know what he was like behind the scenes. Maybe 495 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:33,680 Speaker 1: he was like that before, but just from my vantage point, 496 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:37,120 Speaker 1: from our vantage point, really did look like really changes perspective. 497 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:39,600 Speaker 1: He was a lot more introspective when you talk to him, 498 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:42,720 Speaker 1: a lot more kind of you could tell, like the 499 00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:45,399 Speaker 1: bad starts didn't bother him as much. And it's not 500 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:48,160 Speaker 1: to say he didn't care, but even you know, toward 501 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 1: the end last year when the results weren't there, a 502 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:56,320 Speaker 1: lot there was less like gruff and mad and just 503 00:27:56,520 --> 00:27:59,880 Speaker 1: dismissive Verlander and a lot more just kind of thoughtful 504 00:27:59,880 --> 00:28:03,080 Speaker 1: and cerebral and introspective and can really could really had 505 00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:06,800 Speaker 1: a different perspective on things. So I loved covering him 506 00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:10,880 Speaker 1: from even from the beginning. You know, interviews were excellent, 507 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:14,639 Speaker 1: like great quote, the ability to articulate what he was 508 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 1: trying to do out there. If you had a good question, 509 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:20,159 Speaker 1: he gave you a good answer. And I'll I'll always 510 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:23,359 Speaker 1: appreciate him for that, something that you know was a 511 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:27,280 Speaker 1: little bit inside baseball, but really treated the traveling beat 512 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:30,720 Speaker 1: writers very well. And that's something and he knew kind 513 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:33,399 Speaker 1: of who was on the road with the team, who 514 00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:35,840 Speaker 1: kind of was covering them day in and day out, 515 00:28:36,240 --> 00:28:38,320 Speaker 1: found a way to treat us very well. And I 516 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:41,400 Speaker 1: very much appreciated that from him. That's not something that 517 00:28:41,440 --> 00:28:42,840 Speaker 1: a lot of that's not something a lot of other 518 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:46,160 Speaker 1: players share. So I really really appreciated that from Justin 519 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 1: Berlin Or I feel like I'm talking like he's deceased 520 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:51,880 Speaker 1: or retired. He's neither nor I would not doubt the dude. 521 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:53,800 Speaker 1: He says it official. He's forty five. I would not 522 00:28:53,840 --> 00:28:54,480 Speaker 1: doubt him at all. 523 00:28:54,560 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 2: A great it's a great park for him too, with 524 00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:04,520 Speaker 2: you know, so much of very very difficult, difficult, difficult division. 525 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:06,760 Speaker 2: But he's gonna get to pitch against the Dodgers all 526 00:29:06,800 --> 00:29:08,800 Speaker 2: the time. That's gonna be so much fun. I can't 527 00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:12,400 Speaker 2: wait to watch that. Oh he's gonna get booed like 528 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:16,440 Speaker 2: crazy when he goes into Dodger State. I mean, he's 529 00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:19,720 Speaker 2: going to be in a Giant's uniform and he's Justin Verlander. 530 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:24,600 Speaker 2: That's gonna be awesome. But you know, if there is 531 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:28,000 Speaker 2: a weakness of Verlander, it's the home runs, right, I mean, 532 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:33,000 Speaker 2: he's a flyball pitcher. And whatever they're calling Candlestick Park 533 00:29:33,080 --> 00:29:38,360 Speaker 2: now Oracle maybe I believe it's Oracle Park. 534 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:40,320 Speaker 1: If you know. 535 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:44,600 Speaker 2: That is a notoriously difficult place to hit home runs 536 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:47,720 Speaker 2: with the wind swirling and the fences are really far out, 537 00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 2: so I could see him, you know, even if it's 538 00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:53,680 Speaker 2: over the course of his even even if it's six 539 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:57,239 Speaker 2: or seven balls that would normally leave that die at 540 00:29:57,240 --> 00:30:01,000 Speaker 2: the warning track. Like that's a significant change in your 541 00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:03,520 Speaker 2: your season, and so I think it's a good fit 542 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:07,240 Speaker 2: for him. I'm I'm excited and uh yeah, looking looking 543 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 2: forward to watching West Coast games because I'm I'm up 544 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:15,120 Speaker 2: all night anyway, because you can sleep. 545 00:30:15,320 --> 00:30:17,080 Speaker 1: You can have it side by side. The Astros will 546 00:30:17,120 --> 00:30:20,000 Speaker 1: be in Seattle, like the first two weeks of the season. 547 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:23,240 Speaker 1: You can have Astro's Mariners on one TV, Giants and 548 00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:24,600 Speaker 1: whoever they're playing on the other TV. 549 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:29,440 Speaker 2: You can And it's the first weekend he's back, right, yes, yeah. 550 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:32,840 Speaker 1: First homestand is what a first Homestand by the way, 551 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:36,479 Speaker 1: Astros open their season against the Mets and Juan Soto 552 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:40,320 Speaker 1: and possibly Alex Bregmant and then the Giants come down 553 00:30:40,520 --> 00:30:43,960 Speaker 1: with Justin Verlander. So what we see one or two 554 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:47,760 Speaker 1: tributes on the first homestand who can say? I don't know, 555 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:52,120 Speaker 1: but the day after Justin Verlanders signed with the Giants, 556 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:57,320 Speaker 1: there was a far, far less far less notable move. 557 00:30:57,720 --> 00:31:01,760 Speaker 1: Great Kessinger, You twenty six guy on the bench got 558 00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:06,440 Speaker 1: dfaid when Christian Walker took when to take Christian Walker 559 00:31:06,480 --> 00:31:09,160 Speaker 1: spot on the Christian Walker took Great Kessinger spot on 560 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:12,040 Speaker 1: the roster. So the Ashers traded Greatkessinger to the d 561 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:14,280 Speaker 1: Backs after the dfat him, just to get a prospect 562 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:19,560 Speaker 1: back and it continued. One of the most mind boggling 563 00:31:19,760 --> 00:31:27,920 Speaker 1: stats of current this current iteration of the Astros Greykessinger. 564 00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:33,080 Speaker 1: Oh see, we're all high tech. 565 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:35,720 Speaker 2: Noow're on YouTube. If you're listening, He's pulled up a 566 00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:42,040 Speaker 2: sweet side screen here of his twitterfications. What are you doing? 567 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:45,000 Speaker 1: Too many notes? It's our day baby, Too many notifications? 568 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:49,800 Speaker 1: Grey Kessinger departed the Astros with a negative B war. 569 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:53,719 Speaker 1: Great Kessinger was the Astra's second round pick when he 570 00:31:53,760 --> 00:31:58,080 Speaker 1: was drafted. The Astros have not had a second round 571 00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:01,920 Speaker 1: draft pick produced a positive Major League B war since 572 00:32:01,960 --> 00:32:06,120 Speaker 1: Adrian Hauser in twenty eleven, and Howser got all of 573 00:32:06,120 --> 00:32:07,600 Speaker 1: that with the Brewers. 574 00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:09,800 Speaker 2: That is. 575 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:17,720 Speaker 1: That is mind boggling for a team that has drafted well, 576 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:21,880 Speaker 1: that drafted Alex Bregman, drafted Carlos Korea, drafted Kyle Tucker, 577 00:32:21,960 --> 00:32:27,400 Speaker 1: drafted Hunter Brown, Jeremy Paniolans, mccullors. That's tough. That's a 578 00:32:27,440 --> 00:32:30,200 Speaker 1: tough site, and it's something that they have to rectify 579 00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:34,800 Speaker 1: because you're kind of reaping what you sew now because 580 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:39,280 Speaker 1: as we've talked about very very frequently, they don't have 581 00:32:39,280 --> 00:32:41,600 Speaker 1: anything coming up from the minor leagues. It's why they 582 00:32:41,600 --> 00:32:44,320 Speaker 1: had to trade Kyle Tucker, It's why they've had to 583 00:32:44,360 --> 00:32:48,600 Speaker 1: spend in free agency unwisely sometimes because they don't have 584 00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:52,360 Speaker 1: anything coming And if you're not hitting on these first 585 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:55,920 Speaker 1: couple picks in each draft, that's where the top end 586 00:32:56,040 --> 00:32:59,040 Speaker 1: high talent is. And the fact that this team has 587 00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:02,400 Speaker 1: not had a second round draft pick since twenty and 588 00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:06,800 Speaker 1: eleven to produce a major league positive B war, it's 589 00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:07,440 Speaker 1: mind boggling. 590 00:33:09,040 --> 00:33:12,160 Speaker 2: Yeah. I mean, granted they had a few years where 591 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:16,360 Speaker 2: they just didn't have a second round pick right from 592 00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:20,880 Speaker 2: the science stealing stuff, but yeah, I mean they just 593 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:25,160 Speaker 2: and then I feel like it also is confusing because 594 00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:28,760 Speaker 2: they had a lot of like those competitive balance picks. 595 00:33:28,800 --> 00:33:32,800 Speaker 2: Like I was thinking, like, didn't Derek Fisher, you know what, 596 00:33:33,080 --> 00:33:36,000 Speaker 2: I surely he produced some war, but I think he 597 00:33:36,080 --> 00:33:39,920 Speaker 2: was a competitive balance pick. You know those types of things. 598 00:33:39,960 --> 00:33:42,880 Speaker 2: But I mean it's crazy. Yeah, all right, you ready 599 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:45,720 Speaker 2: to remember some guys, Let's do it. It's my favorite thing. 600 00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:49,160 Speaker 1: Let's talk about some second round picks from the astros. 601 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:54,640 Speaker 2: Okay, aj Reid mm hmm. I mean, dude, I covered 602 00:33:54,760 --> 00:33:57,520 Speaker 2: A and M when he was at Kentucky and there 603 00:33:57,600 --> 00:34:00,600 Speaker 2: was a weekend he was a pitcher and for basement 604 00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:04,880 Speaker 2: in college, and there was there was a series where 605 00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:07,640 Speaker 2: he threw like eight shutout innings and then the next 606 00:34:07,720 --> 00:34:10,759 Speaker 2: day hit If you've been to Bluebell Park, he hit 607 00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:14,759 Speaker 2: one to the train tracks in righte. It had to 608 00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:17,920 Speaker 2: have been four hundred and fifty foot plus. It was crazy. 609 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:22,000 Speaker 2: I've never seen anybody do that. I can't believe it 610 00:34:22,040 --> 00:34:26,920 Speaker 2: didn't work out, but yes, that that was rough. Ronnie Dawson, 611 00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:30,719 Speaker 2: oh yeah, man, he had all the tools football player, right. 612 00:34:30,840 --> 00:34:32,920 Speaker 2: Didn't he have a career into like Georgia or something. 613 00:34:33,400 --> 00:34:34,520 Speaker 1: Well? He went to Ohio State. 614 00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:41,279 Speaker 2: Ohio State, okay, Thomas Eshlman mm hmm. Control, Yeah, the 615 00:34:41,360 --> 00:34:46,160 Speaker 2: control for what we got to look up. He went 616 00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:50,640 Speaker 2: to what cal State? Fuller? Yes, okay, but I remember, 617 00:34:50,719 --> 00:34:54,399 Speaker 2: first off, sweet mustache, like the orange facial. I get 618 00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:57,920 Speaker 2: a very red beard and his was like bright orange 619 00:34:58,040 --> 00:35:00,359 Speaker 2: when it came in. But I think he walked like 620 00:35:00,680 --> 00:35:03,200 Speaker 2: six dudes his last year of got like he just 621 00:35:03,239 --> 00:35:07,840 Speaker 2: didn't walk anybody. Uh, but yes, that that one. He 622 00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:10,280 Speaker 2: was in the what Ken Giles trade? 623 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:15,280 Speaker 1: Was Giles trade? Corbyn Martin speaking of Aggie's. 624 00:35:15,120 --> 00:35:19,000 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, uh, he's trade diamondbacks. 625 00:35:19,080 --> 00:35:21,840 Speaker 1: Right. He was part, he was the centerpiece of the 626 00:35:21,920 --> 00:35:24,719 Speaker 1: Zach Grenky trade. And that's and. 627 00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:27,400 Speaker 2: That's kind of about my brain, man, why like why 628 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:32,279 Speaker 2: do I. 629 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:33,080 Speaker 1: Well, I remember that and that that kind of leads 630 00:35:33,120 --> 00:35:35,920 Speaker 1: into like how it's interesting how you talk about these 631 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:38,799 Speaker 1: draft picks, Like there is value in that he was 632 00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:41,680 Speaker 1: in the Zach green He was part of the trade 633 00:35:41,680 --> 00:35:45,319 Speaker 1: that got you Zach Grinky. Like he didn't pan out, 634 00:35:45,640 --> 00:35:49,200 Speaker 1: and like, but he there's value in that they put 635 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:51,920 Speaker 1: him in that trade. There's value in Thomas Eshlman that 636 00:35:51,960 --> 00:35:55,000 Speaker 1: they put him in the trade to get Ken Giles. 637 00:35:55,680 --> 00:35:59,200 Speaker 1: You know, it's such a hodgepodge. And remember Joe Perez. 638 00:36:00,760 --> 00:36:03,040 Speaker 2: I don't remember Joe Prez, two. 639 00:36:02,840 --> 00:36:06,560 Speaker 1: Way high school player from Florida that had every tool 640 00:36:06,560 --> 00:36:08,480 Speaker 1: in the world, got a one point seven million dollar 641 00:36:08,560 --> 00:36:12,280 Speaker 1: signing bonus and won it bat in the big leagues. 642 00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:18,120 Speaker 1: Do you know who Jason Schroeder is. No, he was 643 00:36:18,160 --> 00:36:22,080 Speaker 1: a high school pitcher from Olympia, Washington that they took 644 00:36:22,160 --> 00:36:25,000 Speaker 1: in the second round of the twenty eighteen draft. You 645 00:36:25,040 --> 00:36:26,200 Speaker 1: know who they took in the third round of the 646 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:33,400 Speaker 1: twenty eighteen draft. No, Jeremy Jeremy Panya. So this guy 647 00:36:33,480 --> 00:36:39,400 Speaker 1: got drafted before Jeremy Pania. He retired two years ago. Okay, Yeah, 648 00:36:39,480 --> 00:36:42,680 Speaker 1: it's just been a it's been a tough go for 649 00:36:42,760 --> 00:36:44,960 Speaker 1: them at the top of the draft, and I mean, hell, 650 00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:47,880 Speaker 1: this can extend to the first round. They have not 651 00:36:48,040 --> 00:36:50,640 Speaker 1: drafted well in the first round recently. You know, forst 652 00:36:50,680 --> 00:36:53,319 Speaker 1: Whitley could make a contribution this year and he's never 653 00:36:53,400 --> 00:36:57,920 Speaker 1: had a clearer path to do so. Corey Lee, you know, 654 00:36:58,719 --> 00:37:01,479 Speaker 1: not really panned out a ton. You kind of start 655 00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:05,320 Speaker 1: looking at some of these guys, Seth Beer. They've got 656 00:37:05,320 --> 00:37:07,879 Speaker 1: a hit at the top of the draft. And that's 657 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:11,240 Speaker 1: why Dana Brown's here. Part large part of the reason 658 00:37:11,280 --> 00:37:14,600 Speaker 1: that that Jim Crane hired Dana Brown was his drafting 659 00:37:14,640 --> 00:37:19,200 Speaker 1: acumen and he's run two drafts already. Walker Onick was 660 00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:21,719 Speaker 1: his first round pick last year. Bryce Matthews his first 661 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:24,759 Speaker 1: round pick two years ago. I guess more importantly, we 662 00:37:24,760 --> 00:37:26,600 Speaker 1: should maybe be looking at the second round picks to 663 00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:29,280 Speaker 1: see if the second round picks can produce a positive 664 00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:32,440 Speaker 1: major league be war. But Tyler, that's the key, I 665 00:37:32,480 --> 00:37:36,120 Speaker 1: mean for them to get this back to where they 666 00:37:36,160 --> 00:37:39,360 Speaker 1: want it to be. If you want to mimic the Dodgers, 667 00:37:40,560 --> 00:37:43,240 Speaker 1: maybe not certainly not spending as much money or deferring 668 00:37:43,280 --> 00:37:45,440 Speaker 1: as much money. But if you want to mimic the 669 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:49,120 Speaker 1: Dodgers and how they do things, which is they they 670 00:37:49,239 --> 00:37:52,440 Speaker 1: keep not only can they spend a ton of money, 671 00:37:53,480 --> 00:37:56,920 Speaker 1: they also can produce them. They have one of the 672 00:37:56,920 --> 00:37:59,160 Speaker 1: best farm systems in baseball. They are really good at 673 00:37:59,200 --> 00:38:01,239 Speaker 1: drafting and develop If you want to get there, if 674 00:38:01,239 --> 00:38:02,960 Speaker 1: you want to get to where those teams are, you've 675 00:38:02,960 --> 00:38:04,240 Speaker 1: got to hit at the top of the draft. 676 00:38:04,680 --> 00:38:09,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, because it's not just about the superstars, right. I mean, 677 00:38:09,120 --> 00:38:12,239 Speaker 2: you can you can hit or miss on a on 678 00:38:12,280 --> 00:38:14,799 Speaker 2: a first round pick that that happens to everybody, But 679 00:38:14,880 --> 00:38:21,920 Speaker 2: you have to consistently produce major league talent players in 680 00:38:21,960 --> 00:38:25,799 Speaker 2: the latter parts of the draft, because one, those are 681 00:38:25,880 --> 00:38:28,920 Speaker 2: just the guys that fill roster spots. Right like you 682 00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:31,480 Speaker 2: you've got. You know, over the course of the season, 683 00:38:31,560 --> 00:38:36,120 Speaker 2: you're going to have sixty different people play for you 684 00:38:36,160 --> 00:38:39,640 Speaker 2: if you're including all the bullpen arms that you're shuttling 685 00:38:40,080 --> 00:38:43,759 Speaker 2: back and forth between Triple A. But that's also where 686 00:38:43,760 --> 00:38:46,320 Speaker 2: you get the depth for trades. And I think that's 687 00:38:46,360 --> 00:38:50,600 Speaker 2: what the Luno administration did so well, was you know, 688 00:38:51,760 --> 00:38:55,919 Speaker 2: Tyler White was a what twenty sixth round draft pick? 689 00:38:55,960 --> 00:38:58,920 Speaker 2: He made it to the big leagues. Like that's crazy, 690 00:38:59,080 --> 00:39:02,319 Speaker 2: And even though you don't have a you know, an 691 00:39:02,360 --> 00:39:04,600 Speaker 2: all star career from that, it doesn't matter. Like that's 692 00:39:04,600 --> 00:39:09,080 Speaker 2: a guy that contributed to your team that you got 693 00:39:09,360 --> 00:39:11,920 Speaker 2: way later in the draft. And that's just not something 694 00:39:11,960 --> 00:39:15,239 Speaker 2: that I mean, really where the ASTRA is made up 695 00:39:15,280 --> 00:39:18,480 Speaker 2: for it is international signings, right, Like that's that's where 696 00:39:18,520 --> 00:39:21,640 Speaker 2: they have been able to continue to be successful because 697 00:39:21,640 --> 00:39:24,319 Speaker 2: if you look at just their draft, like the team 698 00:39:24,360 --> 00:39:27,640 Speaker 2: should just be a disaster, but they've been saved by 699 00:39:28,320 --> 00:39:33,400 Speaker 2: from er By, you know, Blanco and and you know 700 00:39:33,480 --> 00:39:36,000 Speaker 2: all of these guys, you know Erkidi, the guys like 701 00:39:36,040 --> 00:39:37,960 Speaker 2: that where you're just you're kind of pulling them off 702 00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:42,640 Speaker 2: a scrap heap essentially. But you got to be able 703 00:39:42,680 --> 00:39:45,359 Speaker 2: to do that with position players, and really, I think 704 00:39:45,400 --> 00:39:52,560 Speaker 2: that's where the Astros have struggled, is producing serviceable big 705 00:39:52,640 --> 00:39:57,880 Speaker 2: leaguers outside. Now, granted I say that Jake Myers and 706 00:39:57,920 --> 00:40:01,640 Speaker 2: Chas McCormick were late round draft picks, they're big league starters, 707 00:40:01,680 --> 00:40:05,120 Speaker 2: Like that's that's not nothing, you know, Like, that's that's 708 00:40:05,120 --> 00:40:07,239 Speaker 2: what you have to be able to do. But you 709 00:40:07,320 --> 00:40:09,279 Speaker 2: got to have ten more of those guys that are 710 00:40:09,520 --> 00:40:11,400 Speaker 2: ready to come up, and the Ashers just haven't been 711 00:40:11,440 --> 00:40:13,279 Speaker 2: able to do that consistently. 712 00:40:13,640 --> 00:40:17,200 Speaker 1: But you also have to have guys like Kyle Tucker 713 00:40:17,320 --> 00:40:21,520 Speaker 1: and Alex Bregman that not necessarily corn like you can't 714 00:40:22,080 --> 00:40:26,160 Speaker 1: like envision people being like franchise altering cornerstones like Alex Bregman, 715 00:40:26,239 --> 00:40:29,520 Speaker 1: but like you've got to have top end talent to 716 00:40:29,600 --> 00:40:32,840 Speaker 1: where you don't every time you have a player vacate 717 00:40:32,880 --> 00:40:35,400 Speaker 1: a position, you have to go in free agency like 718 00:40:35,440 --> 00:40:37,080 Speaker 1: you have like you have to be able to have 719 00:40:37,120 --> 00:40:39,439 Speaker 1: a Jeremy Paanea waiting in the wings for carl after 720 00:40:39,480 --> 00:40:42,799 Speaker 1: Carlos Carella leaves, like that's why they like the Ashers 721 00:40:42,800 --> 00:40:45,880 Speaker 1: didn't have that when Alex Bregman, Like when as Alex 722 00:40:45,920 --> 00:40:48,839 Speaker 1: Bregman's leaving like they don't have that now with Kyle 723 00:40:48,880 --> 00:40:52,439 Speaker 1: Tucker's Kyle Tucker's leaving. They didn't have that at first 724 00:40:52,520 --> 00:40:55,279 Speaker 1: base when Julie Guriel left, and that's why you got 725 00:40:55,360 --> 00:40:57,720 Speaker 1: Joseia Brey you and that's not why you have Christian Walker. 726 00:40:58,640 --> 00:41:02,960 Speaker 1: So it's it's a multi pronged approach. I actually think 727 00:41:03,000 --> 00:41:05,840 Speaker 1: they've done an okay job of finding the mid to 728 00:41:05,880 --> 00:41:08,439 Speaker 1: late round guys from the small schools that have turned 729 00:41:08,440 --> 00:41:12,640 Speaker 1: into big leaguers. Like you look at that twenty seventeen draft. 730 00:41:12,960 --> 00:41:16,359 Speaker 1: They've had thirteen big leaguers from that twenty seventeen draft, 731 00:41:16,400 --> 00:41:19,759 Speaker 1: which is it is a huge number, but you look 732 00:41:19,800 --> 00:41:21,560 Speaker 1: at it and I think the highest war out of 733 00:41:21,560 --> 00:41:24,399 Speaker 1: that draft is Josh Rojas, who has like six war 734 00:41:24,960 --> 00:41:29,040 Speaker 1: went in like the twenty eighth round. And you need 735 00:41:29,440 --> 00:41:31,680 Speaker 1: more hot like you need the guy at the top 736 00:41:31,680 --> 00:41:33,759 Speaker 1: of the draft to hit. You need that you're not 737 00:41:33,800 --> 00:41:36,440 Speaker 1: gonna hit every time like the Grand Slam you hit 738 00:41:36,440 --> 00:41:40,600 Speaker 1: with Bregnant or Tucker or Korea. But and honestly, the 739 00:41:40,680 --> 00:41:44,280 Speaker 1: fact that you did those have masked what the draft 740 00:41:44,280 --> 00:41:47,680 Speaker 1: efficiencies have been lately. But you've got to have guys 741 00:41:47,760 --> 00:41:50,640 Speaker 1: ready to go to where you're not reliant on free 742 00:41:50,719 --> 00:41:56,239 Speaker 1: agency and trades to fill your roster. And it's one 743 00:41:56,239 --> 00:41:59,160 Speaker 1: thing that they're going to navigate this spring. Maybe Jacob 744 00:41:59,239 --> 00:42:02,239 Speaker 1: Melton comes to camp this spring, turns a bunch of 745 00:42:02,280 --> 00:42:04,520 Speaker 1: heads and you're like, and they're like, you know what, 746 00:42:05,080 --> 00:42:07,080 Speaker 1: We'll give you some run. Let's see if you can 747 00:42:07,120 --> 00:42:10,760 Speaker 1: take over one of these outfield positions, whether it's left, right, center, whatever, 748 00:42:11,400 --> 00:42:13,880 Speaker 1: Let's see if you can take it over. And we 749 00:42:14,040 --> 00:42:16,480 Speaker 1: don't have to go find a Ben Gamble on the 750 00:42:16,480 --> 00:42:20,160 Speaker 1: scrap heep Jason Hayward, Taylor Tremmel or whatever his Harry 751 00:42:20,160 --> 00:42:22,879 Speaker 1: Potter name is, Like, we don't have you don't have 752 00:42:22,960 --> 00:42:25,000 Speaker 1: to go to those guys. You can get a guy 753 00:42:25,080 --> 00:42:29,040 Speaker 1: like Jacob Melton, who coincidentally was drafted in the second round. 754 00:42:29,640 --> 00:42:34,920 Speaker 1: Oh so maybe Jacob Melton breaks through. Maybe that'll be 755 00:42:35,080 --> 00:42:38,080 Speaker 1: one spring training storyline to follow, and we will follow 756 00:42:38,120 --> 00:42:41,919 Speaker 1: it on Crush City Territory, where again twice a week 757 00:42:41,920 --> 00:42:44,319 Speaker 1: in the offseason, three times a week in the regular season. 758 00:42:44,400 --> 00:42:47,960 Speaker 1: Josh Reddick will be back soon. He went to Disney 759 00:42:47,960 --> 00:42:49,919 Speaker 1: World with his kids, so we were not gonna bother 760 00:42:50,000 --> 00:42:52,360 Speaker 1: Josh while he was in Disney World. He will be 761 00:42:52,440 --> 00:42:55,520 Speaker 1: back this week. This coming week, we will get Josh 762 00:42:55,560 --> 00:42:57,800 Speaker 1: Reddick back. I want to get his thoughts on Justin Verlander, 763 00:42:57,840 --> 00:43:00,279 Speaker 1: what it was like to be his teammate. I think 764 00:43:00,320 --> 00:43:02,440 Speaker 1: he more than anyone would know kind of what he 765 00:43:02,600 --> 00:43:05,080 Speaker 1: was like behind the scenes. We can only tell you 766 00:43:05,120 --> 00:43:07,759 Speaker 1: so much. So we will have Josh Reddick back on soon, 767 00:43:07,800 --> 00:43:11,360 Speaker 1: and we're working on some other guests. So get excited. 768 00:43:12,360 --> 00:43:15,000 Speaker 1: Get ready because we're gonna keep coming, even even though 769 00:43:15,040 --> 00:43:17,759 Speaker 1: the Astros may have you know, tapered off a little 770 00:43:17,760 --> 00:43:20,600 Speaker 1: bit with their acquisitions, their heavy liftings done this winter, 771 00:43:20,680 --> 00:43:23,200 Speaker 1: but we're gonna keep going. So rate and review us 772 00:43:23,239 --> 00:43:27,400 Speaker 1: on Apple, subscribe on YouTube please, and we'll talk to 773 00:43:27,400 --> 00:43:28,480 Speaker 1: you guys soon. See you later. 774 00:43:28,880 --> 00:43:54,160 Speaker 2: Bye,