1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,040 Speaker 1: And yes, I'm biased because I work for Fox. You 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:05,640 Speaker 1: can accuse me of that all day long. It's true. 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: I want to see the best names, the biggest possible 4 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:16,799 Speaker 1: stars that we can welcome everyone to the Monday edition 5 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: of Fair Territory. It's July first, Happy Bobby Benia Day, 6 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:24,159 Speaker 1: always a grand day on the baseball calendar, and the 7 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:26,759 Speaker 1: fact that the calendar is turning to July means we've 8 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: got a very meaningful month ahead. First the All Star Game, 9 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: the Baseball Draft, the amateur Draft takes place that weekend, 10 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 1: and then the trade deadline. And today I want to 11 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:40,159 Speaker 1: get into a few teams that I've written about lately 12 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 1: and that are kind of interesting teams as we go 13 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 1: forward here. Now, I'm not going to cover all thirty. 14 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:49,239 Speaker 1: I'm going to do three teams here, just three, and 15 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: we'll get to hopefully all of them in due time. 16 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: So if I'm not talking about your favorite team, don't 17 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: start yelling at me. We'll get there. But these teams, 18 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 1: they're kind of in an interesting situation, to say the least. 19 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: And I'm gonna start with the Boston Red Sox, the 20 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:07,400 Speaker 1: team I wrote about today in The Athletic a team 21 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 1: that in my estimation should not even be questioning buy 22 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: or sell. They're the Boston Red Sox. They're a high 23 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 1: revenue team, despite where their ownership might be acting like 24 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: in any particular moment. And this is a team that 25 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: if you look at them statistically, and we're gonna look 26 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 1: at them right now, you'll see what I'm talking about here. 27 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 1: The Red Sox despite all their injuries with Garrett Whitlock out, 28 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:34,839 Speaker 1: with Trevor Story, out, with Lucas Giliedo out, team era 29 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 1: three point six four eighth in the Majors, runs per 30 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:40,839 Speaker 1: game four point five nine, twelve in the Majors. They're 31 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 1: twelve teams that make the playoffs, folks, and their playoff 32 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 1: odds thirty point eight percent. This is a young team. 33 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 1: They're going to make mistakes. They know that they have 34 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: got a good manager in Alex Corr. They've got a 35 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: group that is playing better, and Tristan Cassis is going 36 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: to join them after the All Star break. So what 37 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 1: exactly is the problem here? There should be no problem, 38 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 1: and ownership, as I mentioned before on foul Territory, went 39 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: into this season kind of not expecting this, and sometimes 40 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 1: a team will defy expectations and sometimes you have to 41 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 1: react to what is going on on the field. Steam 42 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 1: is not perfect, They're quite young, and they need help. 43 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:23,679 Speaker 1: Starting pitcher would be foremost among the things. They could 44 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 1: get a shortstop or second basement as well. But my 45 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 1: point is the Red Sox should not be sitting idly 46 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: by as the deadline approaches. Now. I get it. If 47 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: they collapse, Okay, they collaps, you don't buy Okay, but 48 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: I don't expect them to collapse. They've been kind of 49 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: semi consistent all year in the way they've gone about this. 50 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 1: Cora is very confident in this team. He said last week, Hey, 51 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 1: why are we even talking about the third wildcard? Why 52 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 1: aren't we aiming higher? Correct, you're the Boston Red Sox. 53 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 1: Aim high used to be from two thousand and four 54 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:59,800 Speaker 1: to twenty twenty, you ran top five payrolls every year. 55 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 1: Now they're around twelve. I'm not saying I gotta add 56 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: a lot of money at the deadline. What I am 57 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:08,919 Speaker 1: saying is try That was the last line in my column. 58 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: Try another team that is in an interesting situation, very 59 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 1: very different from the Red Sox, the Milwaukee Brewers. Now 60 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: the Brewers, unlike the Red Sox, are a low revenue team, 61 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 1: a team that traditionally doesn't spend money and traditionally is 62 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: not very aggressive at the deadline. We wrote about them 63 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: in our trade Deadline Watch today, myself, Will Simon and 64 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: Patrick Moody and the Brewers are gonna do the Brewers. 65 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 1: They're gonna go about it and try to improve, but 66 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 1: they're not gonna do anything big. Most likely, they're gonna 67 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 1: try to piece it around the edges. They've already made 68 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 1: one minor move, bringing in Dallas Kichel. They've got eight 69 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 1: pitchers still on the il. Devin Williams is one of them. 70 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: He's coming back. That's probably what their big deadline edition 71 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: will be. They've also had losses of weight min Lely 72 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 1: Brandon Woodruff is not going to get going this season. 73 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: So they're in a situation where they need a lot 74 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: of help. And let's look at their particular position and 75 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: I'll show you what I mean. The Brewers in rotation 76 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: era rank eighteenth in the majors four point two one. Actually, 77 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: it's better than I thought it would be considering the 78 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: names that they're running out there, several of whom they 79 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 1: never expected to be in the big leagues. Their playoff 80 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:20,040 Speaker 1: odds because they're in first place by six and a 81 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 1: half games in the Central are eighty nine point eight percent, 82 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 1: almost ninety percent. But here's the key. As Code of 83 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 1: five Baseball tweeted recently, the Milwaukee Brewers have already used 84 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 1: fourteen different starting pitchers this season. That's more than any 85 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 1: other Brewers team in any one season in history, because 86 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 1: of course it is now. I love the Brewers. I 87 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 1: love what they do every year. I love that they overachieve. 88 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: I love that they're doing this without Council, without Corbyn Burns. 89 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 1: When we all thought, well at least Milli and some 90 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,159 Speaker 1: other people thought that they were going to fall apart, 91 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 1: they haven't fallen apart. Pat Murphy is a candidate for 92 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 1: National League Manager of the Year. Their position player group 93 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:03,920 Speaker 1: is really interesting, full of young players. Yellow just having 94 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 1: a terrific year that got Hoskins for veterans stability as well. 95 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: They're a really good team. I'd love to see them 96 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 1: do more, but I don't expect them to do more. 97 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 1: That's not how they roll. And this is a team. 98 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: Remember then, on top of everything else, losing council, losing Burns, 99 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: cut payroll, cut payroll pretty significantly from the end of 100 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 1: last season. They're thirty million dollars down from the end 101 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 1: of last season, and yet here they are again, terrorizing 102 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: the Cubs and the Cardinals and everyone else in the 103 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: NL Central. Applause to the Brewers. Just wish you'd do 104 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:38,039 Speaker 1: a little bit more, all right. My final team, my 105 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,920 Speaker 1: beloved paper Tigers, the Toronto Blue Jays. Wrote about them 106 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,159 Speaker 1: at the end of last week, and they too are 107 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: in a rather interesting position, split with the Yankees over 108 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 1: the weekend. Every time they show a little life, they 109 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 1: take a step back. That's kind of how their season 110 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 1: is going. With the Blue Jays. Let's look at their 111 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: playoff odds as well, because they're not very good and frankly, 112 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 1: this team does not appear to be going anywhere runs 113 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 1: per game, this is the first thing I want to mention. 114 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 1: Twenty third in the majors. They're averaging just over four 115 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 1: runs per game with this dynamic group of hitters. How 116 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:14,479 Speaker 1: it's possible, I'm not sure, but it's happening. They're playoff 117 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:18,599 Speaker 1: odds right now four point six percent, less than five 118 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 1: percent chance of making the playoffs. Now, the playoff odds 119 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 1: can be a little bit deceiving. They can change in 120 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 1: the course of a week pretty dramatically. I get it, 121 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 1: and I don't want to overuse them. But people watching 122 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 1: the Blue Jays, they're fans, media, people around the game. 123 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:37,599 Speaker 1: They're not seeing a playoff team here. They're seeing a 124 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:41,839 Speaker 1: team that faces a very interesting crossroads. Now you've got Boba, 125 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: Schett and Vlagerrero junior under club control through next season, 126 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 1: through twenty twenty five. What do you do with them? 127 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 1: Do you trade them now but you haven't signed them 128 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:55,240 Speaker 1: to extensions, or do you try to go forward and 129 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:58,840 Speaker 1: push for twenty twenty five and just try again, just 130 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 1: kind of dismiss this year is a bad year. Do 131 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 1: you trade some of your expiring assets? Kakuchi would be 132 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:07,719 Speaker 1: one Yimi Garcia would be another, Danny Jansen a third. 133 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: You can do that. That's just working around the edge. 134 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 1: Is not a big deal. You're not gonna get much 135 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: back and you can still continue with your season. Or 136 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: do you do something deeper? Do you maybe move a 137 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 1: Bichette end or Guerrero and do you go beyond that 138 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 1: and maybe talk about your starting pitching In a market 139 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: where teams are begging to acquire starters, It's a really 140 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: complicated situation. Because the team president, Mark Schapiro, is under 141 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: contract for only one more year and the general manager 142 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: at Ross Atkins for only two more. So they may 143 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 1: look at this and say, we don't want to give up, 144 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 1: We don't want to acknowledge how badly we've failed. We 145 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 1: want to take one more shot with this team. Bring 146 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: back Bishett, bring back Guerrero. See what happens in twenty 147 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: five and then if they walk, they walk and go 148 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 1: like that. That to me is not the way to go. 149 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 1: This team needs to be retooled, in my estimation, and 150 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 1: you can maybe do it quickly if you trade the 151 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 1: right piece. Guerrero right now would be the best hitter available. 152 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: Pete Alonso we don't even know if he's going to 153 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:13,120 Speaker 1: be traded. My guess is know the way the Mets 154 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: have played much better of late, so Guerrero would be 155 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: the guy. Bashet different story. You're selling low on him 156 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: a little bit. I wrote about this today. We wrote 157 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 1: about this in the Trade Deadline Watch. But at the 158 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 1: same time, you could sell the Dodgers on him, probably 159 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 1: get something pretty decent in return. Do you trade those 160 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:32,680 Speaker 1: guys now and then maybe open it up to the 161 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 1: starting pitchers as well. And get all these young kids 162 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: back to supplement what you have. Your system isn't very good. 163 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 1: So if you stay the course, if you bring back 164 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:45,679 Speaker 1: Flat and bring back bobas Schett next year, you probably 165 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 1: lose them After twenty five your system is no better 166 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 1: and you're kind of in the same spinning your wheels mode. 167 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: If I'm the Blue Jays, I'm taking a hard look 168 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 1: at where we are and I'm saying, you know what, 169 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: it's time for us to do some things. And with 170 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:03,559 Speaker 1: regard to job security, if that's what management is worried about, okay, 171 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 1: I get it understandable. But at the same time, what 172 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 1: a general manager, what a team president, what everyone involved 173 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 1: in an organization is supposed to do, even when their 174 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:17,440 Speaker 1: jobs are on the line, is think of the organization first. 175 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:22,239 Speaker 1: Do what is best for the organization. It's not that complicated. 176 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:25,559 Speaker 1: Playoff odds of less than five percent, the Blue Jays 177 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:28,720 Speaker 1: course should be clear. Time now for the inside dish, 178 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:30,320 Speaker 1: the part of the show where I talk about a 179 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 1: story I've written, a trend in the game. I don't 180 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:35,439 Speaker 1: know anything that might come to mind this week. I've 181 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: got a good hot topic. My All Star selections. I 182 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 1: published them Friday in the Athletic and as usual, got 183 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 1: a very I won't call it violent response. I wouldn't 184 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: even call it a VMN, but a passionate response. Let's 185 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: call it passionate. And what's interesting about this year's game 186 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 1: is that we're missing a number of stars right off 187 00:09:55,800 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 1: the bat Ronald Lacune, Junior, Mookie Betts, Mike Trout, even Yamamoto. 188 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 1: A lot of these guys won't be playing. Some other 189 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 1: players I think of Paul Goldschmidt, Noan Arnado, Garrett Cole. 190 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 1: They either haven't been available enough or playing well enough 191 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 1: to be in the game. So we're going to see 192 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 1: a lot of new faces. And given that there will 193 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:21,240 Speaker 1: be so many absences, you would think that choosing the 194 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: sixty four All Stars would not be much of a problem. Ah, 195 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:28,440 Speaker 1: just find these guys, find the replacements. Actually it's a 196 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 1: very big problem. There are so many good players in 197 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 1: this sport, so many players who deserve to be All Stars. 198 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: It is indeed difficult to sort through and try to 199 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:41,040 Speaker 1: figure out who actually should be on the team if 200 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 1: you're following the rules that every team should be represented, etc. Etc. 201 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:48,560 Speaker 1: So the way I go about this, it's kind of 202 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 1: a hybrid of deserving players based on their first halves 203 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: and players who are big stars and who I just 204 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 1: believe should be in the game. Now, keep in mind, 205 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:02,440 Speaker 1: this game is an entertain vehicle. It's a promotional thing 206 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 1: for the sport. It's on Fox where I work, and 207 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 1: the people involved at Fox, the people involved in MLB, 208 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:13,960 Speaker 1: they want the sexiest showcase. So a guy who is 209 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 1: having a hot first half but might not be very 210 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 1: well known or it is kind of coming out of nowhere, 211 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:22,600 Speaker 1: maybe a journeyman who's doing that. I don't know that 212 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 1: I would prioritize him over a player who is a 213 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:29,560 Speaker 1: bigger name, might not be having the best first half, 214 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,559 Speaker 1: but is a guy that fans would want to see, 215 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 1: and not just fans of your particular favorite team, fans 216 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: across the country. It's a national event, a showcase event, 217 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:42,960 Speaker 1: a jewel event for Major League Baseball. So that's my 218 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 1: theory going in, and I try to adhere to it. 219 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:49,360 Speaker 1: But obviously, when you go about it that way, or 220 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: actually any method you might choose, you're going to leave 221 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:56,320 Speaker 1: some worthy players out. Now, as an example of how 222 00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 1: I think this game should work, I've got Paul Skins 223 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:02,839 Speaker 1: on my team, my National League pitching staff. A lot 224 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,680 Speaker 1: of fans might say, whoa, whoa, He's not deserving. He 225 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 1: barely has pitched in the majors. He just got here. 226 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:11,160 Speaker 1: But to me, Paul Skeenes is one of the biggest 227 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:14,320 Speaker 1: names in the sport right now. I love watching him pitch. 228 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 1: Fans who have not seen him pitch, I believe will 229 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 1: love watching him pitch too. That's one example. Another example 230 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: Manny Machado. Now, of course Mandy is a controversial figure. 231 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:27,720 Speaker 1: A lot of people don't like him. I get it, 232 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:29,599 Speaker 1: But Manny Machatdo is one of the biggest stars in 233 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 1: the game, okay. And Manny Machado is a guy that 234 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:35,960 Speaker 1: didn't have a great start to his season. He was 235 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 1: coming off surgery and just wasn't really right. But in 236 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:42,440 Speaker 1: the month of June got hot, played like Manny Machado 237 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 1: and the Padres have been a pretty decent surprise in 238 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 1: my estimation, and he's a big part of it. He 239 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:51,320 Speaker 1: plays all the time. Guy really takes a day off, 240 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:54,719 Speaker 1: if ever so. On my National League team, he came 241 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:58,280 Speaker 1: down to Manny Machado versus Joey Ortiz for the final 242 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 1: third base Spotjoy Ortiz unquestionably has been one of the Brewers' 243 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 1: best players, one of the biggest surprises in the game, 244 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 1: a guy who was part of the Corbyn Burns trade 245 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:14,200 Speaker 1: and is a really interesting and deserving candidate. But again, 246 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 1: some players you can't include them all. And that's where 247 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 1: Joey Ortiz did not make it for me. The way 248 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 1: I looked at it, regarding third base in the National League, 249 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 1: I had Alec Bohm, who was playing great for the 250 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:27,840 Speaker 1: Phillies and likely will be the leading vote getter, and 251 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 1: I had Machado. Now, part of the problem with the 252 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 1: infield in the National League was that I had to 253 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 1: account for teams that weren't represented. C. J. Abrams of 254 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:40,319 Speaker 1: the Nationals on Francisco Lindor of the Mets was my 255 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 1: only Mets All Star. Is Guiltovar from the Rockies was 256 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:46,720 Speaker 1: my only Rockies All Star. And these guys were all shortstops. 257 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 1: I had Elie Delacruz on there, my only Reds representative. 258 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 1: That's four short stops. So I only took two third basemen. 259 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:55,120 Speaker 1: And this is how it works. It's a numbers game 260 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 1: in a very real sense, and you're trying to pick 261 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:02,839 Speaker 1: between guys, and it's not easy. The most difficult selections 262 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 1: this year, in my opinion, will be and we're gonna 263 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 1: see this play out National League pitching staff. I want 264 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 1: to show you who I picked, and I'll tell you 265 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:15,320 Speaker 1: about who I left off, and you'll be appalled to 266 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 1: see who isn't on this list. All right, here's my list. 267 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 1: Ranger Suarez from the Phillies. He didn't have a great 268 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 1: start yesterday, I know, but he's been amazing. Tyler Glass 269 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 1: now from the Dodgers, also had a bad start this weekend, 270 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 1: but equally amazing. Sonny Gray Ryan Helsley, one of my 271 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 1: three relievers, showed it in Managa. I don't know that 272 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: anyone else would argue with that. Max Freed recovered from 273 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 1: a bad start, still one of the best pitchers in 274 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 1: the game. Rinaldo Lopez has been arguably the best starter 275 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 1: in the game. Chris Sale also from the Braves, Tanner Scott, 276 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,760 Speaker 1: he's my Marlins representative. Paul Skeins I mentioned him earlier. 277 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: Robert Suarez brilliant closer for the Padres. And Zach Wheeler 278 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 1: from the Phillies. Now that's a pretty good group. I 279 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:56,760 Speaker 1: don't know that anyone would argue that that's a decent group. 280 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 1: But here's who I left off. Christopher said, z second 281 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 1: in the league in ERA, just signed the contract extension 282 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 1: with the Phillies. I wasn't gonna have their whole rotation 283 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 1: on there. But is he deserving. He's absolutely deserving. Gavin Stone, 284 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 1: the Dodgers, third in the league in the ERA, might 285 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 1: be the Dodgers' best pitcher or most consistent pitcher in 286 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 1: the first half. Dave Roberts said over the weekend. He's 287 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 1: been one of their three most valuable players in the 288 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: first half. Also Logan Webb. Now he is tenth in 289 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:28,080 Speaker 1: the league in the ERA, but he's been a consistent, 290 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: really good pitcher for quite some time now. I don't 291 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 1: know that he's ever been an All Star, And of 292 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:36,680 Speaker 1: course he is deserving. Now, here's the good news for 293 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 1: all the people who get upset, all the people Twins 294 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:44,520 Speaker 1: fans yelling for Willie Castro, Brewers fans yelling for Joey Ortiz, giants, 295 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 1: fans who thought I should have picked Elliott Ramos over 296 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 1: Patrick Belly. Okay, here's the good news. The good news 297 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 1: is players are gonna drop out, players are gonna get injured. 298 00:15:55,560 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 1: All Hell's gonna break loose as it always does once 299 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 1: the selections are announced, and we'll see in the end 300 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:05,680 Speaker 1: seventy five to eighty All Stars, accounting for ten percent 301 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:09,119 Speaker 1: of all major league players. Ten percent will be All Stars, 302 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 1: so most everyone who should get in will get in. 303 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 1: Don't be too upset. You can be upset with me, 304 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: but don't be too upset in general, because it's all 305 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 1: going to work out. Time now for brilliant Ken the 306 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 1: part of the show right answer your questions. Let's get 307 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 1: right to it. First question today comes from Tommy Wright, 308 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 1: who asks has any GM done a better job than 309 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: Aj Preller? Forced to cut eighty million in payroll, he 310 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 1: gave roles to Matt Waldron Jerks and Profar Jackson, Merrill, 311 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 1: Jeremiah Streida, Rule five pick Stephen Kohlich, and added Dylan 312 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 1: Cees and Luis Arias. Tommy, this is an excellent question, 313 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:49,920 Speaker 1: and you put it all together really well. AJ Preller. 314 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 1: I know I've been hard on him in the past 315 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:55,240 Speaker 1: at times because I haven't liked the ways constructed as rosters, 316 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: but this is maybe his best performance, and all of 317 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:02,640 Speaker 1: those names you mentioned, it's really impressive. I'll go through 318 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:06,320 Speaker 1: them Estrada, that reliever who had that great run earlier 319 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 1: this season. He was a waiver claim from the Cubs. 320 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:12,200 Speaker 1: Kolek you mentioned him rule five pick from the Mariners, 321 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 1: Matt Waldron, and I didn't even realize this until I 322 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:17,880 Speaker 1: looked it up. He was the player to be named 323 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,400 Speaker 1: in the Mike Clevenger trade. If you remember that trade, 324 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 1: the Padres got Clevenger and Greg Allen and a player 325 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 1: to be named. It turned out to be Matt Waldron. 326 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:27,200 Speaker 1: They gave up a ton. It wasn't a great trade 327 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:29,879 Speaker 1: for them. Josh Naylor was one of six players that 328 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:33,440 Speaker 1: went back to Cleveland. Gabriel Riis is also in that group. 329 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:36,440 Speaker 1: Cal Quantrill. It was a trade in which they probably 330 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: ultimately will come out on the negative side. But maybe 331 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 1: Waldron evens it all out. I don't know. So all 332 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:45,440 Speaker 1: of that in Jackson Merrill, a draft pick that they've 333 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:49,120 Speaker 1: kept twenty seventh overall in twenty twenty one, a kid 334 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:51,880 Speaker 1: that was an infielder. They converted him to center field 335 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: and has been brilliant, a leading candidate for NL Rookie 336 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:58,240 Speaker 1: of the Year. So yes, Preller, amazing job so far, 337 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:01,240 Speaker 1: and of course he is not done yet. He is 338 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:05,119 Speaker 1: active right now, perhaps the most active GM in seeking 339 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 1: help for his team, which currently holds the second wild 340 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:10,680 Speaker 1: card with a two and a half game cushion over 341 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:13,920 Speaker 1: the Mets. So the Padres are in really good shape 342 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 1: right now, even with all the problems that they've had, 343 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 1: the injuries to Darvish and Musgrove and now Tatis. It's 344 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:23,399 Speaker 1: a really impressive showing by Preller by his manager Mike Schild. 345 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:25,440 Speaker 1: Let's go to our next question. This one comes from 346 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: Travis Weimos, who asks do you see the Astros overtaking 347 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 1: the Mariners and winning the division this year? Travis, you 348 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 1: ask a question that is on a lot of fans' 349 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:38,639 Speaker 1: minds right now. And let's look at what the Astros 350 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:41,440 Speaker 1: have done two months ago. What I have expected them 351 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:44,359 Speaker 1: to be in this position. Absolutely not. They started the 352 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 1: season seven and nineteen, but in June with alt Kyle Tucker, 353 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:52,719 Speaker 1: with Kyle Tucker playing only two games, they win seventeen 354 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:55,800 Speaker 1: and eight. They've won nine of their last ten. They're 355 00:18:55,840 --> 00:19:00,240 Speaker 1: over five hundred finally, and the Mariners are sputtering. They've 356 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:02,200 Speaker 1: lost eight of eleven. This is kind of their first 357 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 1: tough stretch of the season. They are a little challenged offensively. 358 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 1: And when you ask, can I see the Astros overtaking them, Well, 359 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 1: We've seen the Astros year after year after year do this. 360 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:15,880 Speaker 1: They are playing at a high level right now. They've 361 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 1: got some injured starting pitchers that will come back, not 362 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:21,640 Speaker 1: all of them, but some, so I do expect them 363 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 1: to be the team to beat in the AL West. 364 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 1: And one more thing on that division, what is really 365 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,480 Speaker 1: surprising is where the Rangers are. They just have not 366 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: clicked this season, and there's a big game last night 367 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 1: on Sunday Night Baseball. I get it, but overall, that's 368 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 1: a team that's been a huge disappointment. I still expect 369 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 1: them to kind of make a push here, but it's 370 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:44,200 Speaker 1: going to be really interesting to see how the West 371 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 1: plays out. All right. Our final question, this one comes 372 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 1: from Jason B. Shore, who asks Seth Lugo leading the 373 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:54,240 Speaker 1: league and wins in era, should he be the starting 374 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 1: pitcher for the All Star Game at the moment? All right, Jason, 375 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go back to what I said in my 376 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:04,399 Speaker 1: Inside Dish segment about All Star selections and how I 377 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 1: view them, how I think they should go down. Seth Lugo, 378 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:10,880 Speaker 1: you can strongly make a case that he has been 379 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:12,880 Speaker 1: the best pitcher in the American League in the first 380 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:16,960 Speaker 1: half statistically. You can definitely make that case. But I 381 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:19,840 Speaker 1: have a problem with starting a guy who's basically a 382 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:22,720 Speaker 1: converted reliever in his second year of starting, who is 383 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:25,760 Speaker 1: not a big name. I have a problem with that 384 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 1: kind of picture starting the All Star Game. You want 385 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:32,200 Speaker 1: the bigger names. Now, the American League actually doesn't have 386 00:20:32,359 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 1: a group of great names excelling as starting pitchers this season. 387 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 1: But the guy I would go with is Corbyn Burns. 388 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:41,359 Speaker 1: He's been nearly as good as Lugo. He is a 389 00:20:41,359 --> 00:20:43,199 Speaker 1: potential free agent at the end of the season. He 390 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 1: was part of a big trade, want to Cy Young. 391 00:20:46,119 --> 00:20:49,679 Speaker 1: He's a guy that is sexier and a guy that 392 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:52,920 Speaker 1: if fans were tuning into the game would say, whoa 393 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 1: Corbyn Burns. Okay, let's go. I'm not discounting what Seth 394 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 1: Lugo has accomplished, and I love Seth Lugo and what 395 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:02,199 Speaker 1: he's done. Its cool story. He always wanted to be 396 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:05,480 Speaker 1: a starter, became a starter and proved that he had 397 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 1: the goods to do that job. But the way I 398 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 1: see the All Star Game, it just believe bigger names 399 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:12,959 Speaker 1: should be involved at the start of the game. And 400 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 1: yes I'm biased because I work for Fox. You can 401 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:18,919 Speaker 1: accuse me of that all day long. It's true. I 402 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 1: want to see the best names, the biggest possible stars 403 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 1: that we can. Thanks to everyone for your questions, Thanks 404 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:27,119 Speaker 1: to everyone for watching, for listening. You know where to 405 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:31,480 Speaker 1: find us YouTube, Apple, Spotify. One programming note, this week, 406 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:33,800 Speaker 1: we will be doing our second show of the week, 407 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 1: the one I Do Live with Alana Rizzo, on Wednesday 408 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:40,040 Speaker 1: at twelve thirty Eastern. Usually that show is on Thursday, 409 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:42,840 Speaker 1: but Thursday is July fourth. We're going to observe the holiday, 410 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:46,160 Speaker 1: so tune in Wednesday, twelve thirty Eastern. I'll be here 411 00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:48,400 Speaker 1: with Alana and we'll be breaking it all down. 412 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 2: Once Today you can play the free BETHAMGM Swing for 413 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:54,200 Speaker 2: the Fences game chance to win daily prizes. You play 414 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:55,800 Speaker 2: us the Battery, You pick an area of the strike 415 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 2: zone and then you see what happens. 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