1 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 1: Well, hey Angel fans, and welcome back to Halo Territory, 2 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 1: which is part of the Foul Territory Network. I'm Mike 3 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:17,480 Speaker 1: di Giovanna, former La Times sportswriter, joined by my co host, 4 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 1: former Angel slugger Mark Trumbo, and today we welcome to 5 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: the show Mark Topkin, longtime sports writer for the Tampa 6 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: Bay Times. Mark is the only writer who has covered 7 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 1: the Rays since their inception in nineteen ninety eight. So 8 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: welcome to the show. Mark, Thanks for joining us. As 9 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 1: you might guess, the topic today is the three teen 10 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:42,560 Speaker 1: trade the Angel swung on Friday with the Rays and 11 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:46,319 Speaker 1: the Cincinnati Reds. The Angels are getting Josh Lowe, a 12 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:50,200 Speaker 1: left handed hitting outfielder, from the Rays, and in turn, 13 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 1: the Angel said left handed reliever brought Burke to the 14 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 1: Reds and a minor league pitcher named Chris Clark to 15 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: the Rays, and the Reds sent infielder Gavin Lux to 16 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 1: the Rays. Now, Keith Law of The Athletic wrote of 17 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 1: this trade quote he called it a three team deal 18 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: that works for everyone. While technically I guess that's true, 19 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: the Angels certainly needed a left handed bat, the Reds 20 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:17,839 Speaker 1: needed a left handed reliever. The Rays needed an infielder. 21 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 1: I'm just not sure how this deal works for the Angels. 22 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 1: Lowe was a pretty good player in twenty twenty three 23 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 1: at an eight thirty five OPS, twenty homers, eighty three RBIs, 24 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: but the last two years were not very good at all. 25 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:33,319 Speaker 1: And last season he hit two twenty with a six 26 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:37,400 Speaker 1: fifty ops, eleven homers, forty RBIs and one hundred and 27 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 1: eight games. He was solid against right handed pitchers with 28 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 1: a seven to twenty seven OPS, but four point fifty 29 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 1: nine ops against lefties. Now that's not the kind of 30 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: bat that's going to replace Taylor Ward's thirty three homers 31 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 1: and one hundred and thirty one hundred and three RBIs. 32 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 1: But I don't want to just dismiss this trade before 33 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: getting a more complete picture of this guy, and for 34 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 1: that will turn to who was covering him in Tampa 35 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: Bay for the last five years, Mark. What are the 36 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 1: Angels getting in Josh low. 37 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 2: Well, they're getting a really good guy, which I know 38 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 2: from the clubhouse culture standpoint, a lot of teams have 39 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 2: put value on and that's definitely something Josh is known for. 40 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 2: He's a very athletic person, went healthy but that's been 41 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 2: kind of the issue is staying healthy. The last two 42 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:26,919 Speaker 2: seasons started with injuries. He was hurt in spring training 43 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:30,239 Speaker 2: in twenty four and started the season on the il, 44 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 2: and then there was like a stop and start of 45 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 2: he's going to be activated, he's not, and really didn't 46 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:36,799 Speaker 2: get going till you know, sometime in June. And then 47 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:40,640 Speaker 2: last year, you know, did the best shape of his life, 48 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 2: came into camp, right Mark, that's every player. 49 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 3: You got to do that best shape of your life. 50 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 2: And then he came in ready to go, had a 51 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:51,519 Speaker 2: pretty good spring, and then opening day, third at bat 52 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:54,800 Speaker 2: of the season, pulls an oblique and that knocks him 53 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 2: out for a month and a half or so, and 54 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 2: and just it seems like, you know, timing, obvious is 55 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:02,359 Speaker 2: important all hitters, but it seems like timing is a big 56 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 2: part of his game. He needs to kind of get 57 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 2: it back, and just you know, the combination of miss 58 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 2: time not playing well, it just seemed to kind of 59 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 2: build on itself and just two really disappointing, frustrating seasons 60 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 2: or trumball. 61 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 1: What did you what was your initial reaction to this 62 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,399 Speaker 1: deal and what do you feel like Daniels are getting. 63 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:26,919 Speaker 4: I think that I'm open to the idea that it 64 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 4: could really work for him. I think they're getting, as 65 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 4: Mark said, very athletic outfielder to fill a hole. It 66 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 4: appears as if he has experienced in all three outfield positions, 67 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 4: with I believe left field grading out the best, followed 68 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 4: by right and then center. Limited experience in center. But 69 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 4: you know, when I was looking at the advanced numbers 70 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 4: with the bat, I can get into that a little more. 71 00:03:56,720 --> 00:04:00,080 Speaker 4: There were a few things that stood out compared to 72 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 4: to his I guess breakout year in twenty twenty three, 73 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 4: you know, I compared it to his most previous year 74 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 4: in twenty five, and there's some questions I wonder that, 75 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 4: you know, as far as the injuries go, especially the obliques, 76 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 4: maybe he tried to implement some of the trend yar 77 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:23,280 Speaker 4: swing stuff over the winner or possibly during the season 78 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 4: to you know, maximize or keep up with the rest 79 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 4: of the league for whatever reason. And I think that 80 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 4: that can really lead to those types of injuries in specific. 81 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 4: So I guess maybe Mark can expand upon that if 82 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 4: he saw that or a swing change or anything that 83 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:41,040 Speaker 4: looked like it was, you know, deviated from twenty twenty 84 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 4: three Toper. 85 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 1: Do you see anything like that. 86 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, obviously not having the technical eye you do Mark, 87 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:49,919 Speaker 2: But it's what seemed obvious to us was when he 88 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 2: came back from the injuries both times and again they 89 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 2: happened at the start of the season, he didn't have 90 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:58,160 Speaker 2: that natural swing, like he was protecting himself a little 91 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:00,800 Speaker 2: bit as he would swing, and I think that's what led, 92 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:02,919 Speaker 2: you know, to to some of the strikeouts, to some 93 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 2: of the not hard hit balls. 94 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 3: So I don't know about the change. 95 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 2: Maybe that led, if any factor, on him getting hurt, 96 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 2: but I do think once he came back, you just 97 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 2: did not see him cutting loose and kind of taking 98 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 2: that all out, super smooth swing. So he has a 99 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:20,920 Speaker 2: nice swing when he is right, you know, it's one 100 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 2: of those guys where you said he a sweet swing 101 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 2: and kind of thing, and he does have that ability, 102 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 2: but it just didn't seem like he was able to 103 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:29,719 Speaker 2: cut loose in twenty four to twenty five when he 104 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 2: came back from the oblique injuries. 105 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:35,839 Speaker 4: That injury and specific is one that you come back generally, 106 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 4: you know, depending on how severe it is, and it's 107 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 4: always going to kind of linger and you'll feel it. 108 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:43,799 Speaker 4: And I think that you got to kind of push 109 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 4: through it to some degree. I doubt, you know, I 110 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 4: don't think I had one specifically. I had maybe minor ones, 111 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 4: but never something major. And I think it's kind of, 112 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,359 Speaker 4: you know, you tolerate it, hopefully you don't reaggravate it. 113 00:05:56,400 --> 00:06:00,120 Speaker 4: But he might have been battling that for the majority. 114 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 4: And then if what you saw, you know, look like 115 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:04,919 Speaker 4: somebody that was guarding their swing and not really cutting 116 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 4: it loose, then I am almost certain that's probably what 117 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 4: was going on. DJ. If you want just briefly, I'm 118 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 4: enough to look down with some notes, but you know, 119 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:18,040 Speaker 4: some of the quick stuff this is savant. I think 120 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:21,600 Speaker 4: it's very useful at times. They put ratings and values 121 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 4: on batting. He was plus fourteen and twenty twenty three 122 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:29,239 Speaker 4: he was minus fourteen this most previous year. It's pretty 123 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:33,040 Speaker 4: big difference his base running as great as a positive 124 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 4: both years. We're just going to compare these two years 125 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 4: for sake of brevity. His fielding looks like it took 126 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:42,279 Speaker 4: a pretty big step back for some reason. It was 127 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,160 Speaker 4: rated as a minus five this most previous year and 128 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:48,720 Speaker 4: our overall negative one twenty three. So maybe we can 129 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 4: explore that a little bit. His arm strength seems to 130 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 4: have declined somewhat too, and that one in particular pretty 131 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 4: out of it. That is within the player's control. He's 132 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 4: a younger guy. I don't see any reason why his 133 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 4: arms should be declining. Sprint speed also appears to be 134 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 4: roughly twenty percent down league, you know, eighty fifth percentile 135 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 4: and twenty three sixty seventh percentile in twenty five. That's 136 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 4: a step that can be a little troubling, but maybe 137 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 4: there's an explanation there. 138 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 2: I mean, I think the defense was puzzling to the 139 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 2: Rays too, because I think it was a surprise. He 140 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 2: was a pretty good defensive player. He's tall, he's athletic, 141 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 2: he's fast. I mean, he has some instincts, so you'd 142 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 2: think that that would be I translated, well, playing the defense, 143 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 2: and I do. 144 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 3: Think that was surprising him. 145 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 2: And the lighting at Steinburger Field was an issue last 146 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 2: year for a lot of people in the know, the 147 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 2: race playing in the minor league ballpark. 148 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 3: You know, you know, we can go as deep as 149 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 3: we want him to these statistics and. 150 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 2: Kind of parse them sometimes how you want to, but 151 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 2: you know, that could have been a factor. I know 152 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 2: that was mentioned by a lot of teams. In fact, 153 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 2: I think Trout was one of the first. Angels were 154 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 2: one of the first teams in last year, and Trout 155 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 2: mentioned that that not being able to see a fly 156 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 2: ball does make it a little tougher to play the outfield, though. 157 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 3: I think that was part of it. But I do 158 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 3: think Mark, I wonder. 159 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 2: Again, you know the physiological aspect of this more, but 160 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 2: you know, having that oblique issue probably has the impact 161 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 2: on the throwing too, because I just think he was 162 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 2: not able to cut loose, like I mentioned with the swing, 163 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 2: and I think probably the same with throwing. The running 164 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:20,080 Speaker 2: is atle surprise because he is a fast guy. He 165 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 2: had a bunch of stolen bases in that twenty three season. 166 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 2: He's really good. He has probably high percentage. I think 167 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 2: at one point he had one of the highest percentages 168 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 2: ever over x amount of attempts like that, So he's 169 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 2: smart in his base running. 170 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 3: He kind of prides himself on not getting caught. 171 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 2: But I do think the overall speed did seemed limited too, 172 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 2: So I don't know, it just felt like he was 173 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 2: maybe never like one hundred percent healthy. 174 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:46,080 Speaker 3: Once he got hurt at the start of last year. 175 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 5: Nobody likes a bloated cell phone bill. It can consume you, 176 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 5: it can take over, it can be very annoying. 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It's been mentioned, but as ground ball 199 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 4: rate did go up forty six point six percent, the 200 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 4: twenty twenty five ORAS in twenty three was a thirty 201 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:07,079 Speaker 4: nine percent rate, so that can be a fairly significant jump. 202 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 4: The biggest thing that stood out when kind of trying 203 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 4: to figure out, maybe you know, offensive explanation wise, his 204 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:22,640 Speaker 4: battleball profile, especially in the air. Most people they really 205 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 4: want to hone in on the pull side, you know, 206 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 4: the pole side air contact, and for obvious reasons, it's 207 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 4: a very trendy thing. Now his is virtually unchanged very little. 208 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 4: But what did change quite a bit was his percentage 209 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 4: of contact to the middle of the field. That dip 210 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 4: in twenty twenty three was a twenty three point five 211 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 4: percent of his battleballs, with twenty five it was sixteen 212 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:50,079 Speaker 4: point two percent. So it looks like he and maybe 213 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 4: the field itself. 214 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 3: Had a big. 215 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:56,680 Speaker 4: That could be a big reason why maybe center field 216 00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 4: played very unfriendly at Steinbrenner as opposed to the trop 217 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,959 Speaker 4: although the trap but felt was pretty neutral. But though 218 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 4: there's a lot of things that can play into that, 219 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 4: but that that did kind of stand out to me, 220 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 4: that he's not using maybe the gaps as much or 221 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 4: just taking shots at dead center, where he seemed to 222 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:17,200 Speaker 4: be doing a lot of that a couple of years ago. 223 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 1: Let's we're gonna talk a little bit more about Josh Low, 224 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: but let's talk a little bit about what the Angels 225 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 1: are giving up in this trade. Brockburk was a pretty 226 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:30,840 Speaker 1: good left handed reliever for the Angels last year. Now 227 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 1: Drew Pomerantz veteran lefty, a guy who can, you know, 228 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,440 Speaker 1: probably take over that role as the lead left in 229 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: the bullpen. But I don't know. Most seem like most 230 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 1: competitive teams have at least two good lefties in the bullpen. 231 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 1: Mark Trumbo, do you see a pretty big void there. 232 00:11:49,559 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 4: I think it's one that can be filled. I think 233 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:56,320 Speaker 4: this was a calculated decision knowing that they're gonna have 234 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 4: to give up something to get something. I think Rockburk 235 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 4: had a very nice season last year. He seemed to 236 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 4: blossom playing for the Angels, which is a really nice 237 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 4: thing and probably spoke to a nice connection with the 238 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 4: staff at the time, and now that staff has changed. 239 00:12:14,559 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 4: He was with Mike Maddocks in Texas. It didn't look 240 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:20,080 Speaker 4: like the results were near as good, So I don't 241 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 4: know if that maybe had a little bit to do 242 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 4: with it. I doubt that though. I think that they 243 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 4: just wanted to get a every day or a potentially 244 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 4: every day outfielder. We can talk about how they may 245 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:33,680 Speaker 4: use him with his platoon splits, but you know, they're 246 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:36,680 Speaker 4: banking on a guy they could really have a nice 247 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:41,320 Speaker 4: bounce back season and return to form in a big way. 248 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 4: And I think that Brady Anderson and John Abray have 249 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 4: the track record and the credibility to really get this 250 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 4: guy back on track. 251 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 1: Arper, you mentioned best shape his life. There's been some 252 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:56,960 Speaker 1: questions about his conditioning and for fans who don't know, 253 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 1: Josh Lowe is a big dude. He's six foot four 254 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 1: to at least that's what he's listed as. I don't know, Mark, 255 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: is that his actual rate weight? And what did you see, 256 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 1: you know, outside of the injury, you know, was this 257 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:13,839 Speaker 1: guy maybe having some trouble with just not being the 258 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 1: best of shape, maybe the season warm down. What did 259 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,080 Speaker 1: you see anything physically that might have led to some 260 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:20,120 Speaker 1: of his struggles. 261 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:22,960 Speaker 2: I'm surprised that you said two twenty I was looking 262 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:25,080 Speaker 2: down to see what the media guy had because he's 263 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 2: kind of a thin guy. I mean, he actually is 264 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:30,360 Speaker 2: a pretty thin guy. So I don't think you know 265 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 2: anything as far as like being out of shape overweight. 266 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 2: I can't imagine him. He looked at one of those 267 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:37,559 Speaker 2: guys who's never been overweight personally, I mean, okay, kind 268 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 2: of you know, sleek, lanky and slim and like I said, 269 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 2: pretty fast. So I'm gonna just throw it back to 270 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 2: the injuries. Like I said, it just he's you know, 271 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 2: the muscle issues, you get the oblique and then it 272 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:53,079 Speaker 2: just seemed like he didn't play free and easy, and 273 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 2: I think maybe that just kind of led all over 274 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 2: to different parts of his game. But I know he 275 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:02,559 Speaker 2: had like a different workout routine going into twenty four 276 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 2: and maybe that didn't work out as well as he 277 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 2: had hoped. He'd had some hit issues in the offseason 278 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 2: that year and he tried to work that out. And 279 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 2: then just prior to this trade to talk to one 280 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 2: of the coaches who said they had heard that he 281 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:16,679 Speaker 2: was in really good shape this year, that he had 282 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 2: kind of tried something differently and was in super good 283 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 2: shape and was, you know, obviously looking forward to coming 284 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 2: into camp, which he will do now on the other 285 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 2: side of the country here in Arizona and then going 286 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 2: out to Anaheim. But I think it's a you know, 287 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:34,600 Speaker 2: he's just he's a he's still relatively young, he's very athletic. 288 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 2: I think he's pretty driven and wine succeeded. His older 289 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 2: brother is obviously a major league player too, Nathaniel Nathaniel Lowe, 290 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 2: and I do think not to be confused with Brandon Lao, 291 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 2: who also got trade. 292 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 3: At the SAFT season. 293 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:51,120 Speaker 2: And every time, I right, I literally just finished the 294 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 2: story before you guys called, and we have to use 295 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 2: the both first names every time because he just can't 296 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 2: separate them because even though they're pronounced differently, they certainly 297 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 2: look the same four letters in the paper. So I 298 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 2: do think Josh is a guy that, you know, maybe 299 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 2: the fresh start helps. I don't know, you know, he's 300 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 2: from the Orlando area, so playing at home was convenient. 301 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 2: His mom's had some significant health issues, which we'll probably 302 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 2: talk about here in a minute, but I think being 303 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 2: home helped. So there'll be a little bit of a 304 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 2: transition for him. But yeah, maybe sometimes that helps Mark. 305 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 2: I mean again, you you know more than Mike or 306 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 2: I do. But you know, sometimes players say playing near 307 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 2: home is there's some distractions involved with that. 308 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 3: They like to be somewhere else when they play. 309 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 2: So this will be something new for Josh and we'll 310 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 2: see how he handles it well. 311 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 4: I have experience with that. There's a lot of requests 312 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 4: and a lot of people that are available to come 313 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:43,240 Speaker 4: to games, and a lot of them at times, and 314 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:45,760 Speaker 4: you can get a little bit expensive. I don't know 315 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 4: if everyone knows the tickets work, but they are not free. 316 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 4: They are there's a percentage, and you know that the 317 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,520 Speaker 4: players do pay, and normally you'll try and cover as 318 00:15:56,560 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 4: many as you can. But you know, let's say you're 319 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 4: playing on the other side of the kind. Maybe you're 320 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 4: only coming in for one series as opposed to playing 321 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:07,000 Speaker 4: half your game somewhere. So I don't know, especially with 322 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 4: an illness in the family, that's you know, a ton 323 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 4: to go through all the while trying to put together 324 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 4: a nice season. I too looked at it, you know, 325 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 4: at least pictures and everything else. He looks like a 326 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 4: very fit guy. I'm a little bewildered about any of 327 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:26,480 Speaker 4: these talks about being in or out of shape. It 328 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 4: seems like something that would never be discussed with a 329 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 4: physique like that, but it is being discussed. So I 330 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 4: guess we'll monitor. 331 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 1: Mark Tok and what was going on with Josh's mom 332 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 1: and did that impact him or did he acknowledge maybe 333 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 1: that that impacted him in any way during the season. 334 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean she was diagnosed in the summer of 335 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 2: twenty three with a pretty aggressive former brain cancer, and 336 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 2: he left the team for a few days at one point, 337 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 2: and you know, kind of was just said to be 338 00:16:56,760 --> 00:17:00,120 Speaker 2: a personal situation, and he came back and he talked about, 339 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 2: you know, he's at you know, his stand up kind 340 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:04,760 Speaker 2: of guy after gaining and stuff like that. But even 341 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 2: in a personal situation, was willing to talk about it, 342 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 2: and it was a pretty sweet moment. Actually, this season, 343 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 2: the Rays had her come out to a game at 344 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:16,119 Speaker 2: steinber in her field and she threw out a first. 345 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:18,439 Speaker 3: Pitch, So that was kind of a big moment. 346 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:22,440 Speaker 2: But when she was first diagnosed, that was when Josh 347 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:25,400 Speaker 2: and Nathaniel were playing together for the first time. They 348 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:28,440 Speaker 2: actually had a bunch of like one hundred people coming 349 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:30,920 Speaker 2: into Tropic Cana Field to see that and then she 350 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:32,920 Speaker 2: she was kind of some you know, one of the 351 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 2: symptoms hit are really bad during that weekend and they 352 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 2: had to get her hospitalized and she ended up getting diagnosed. So, look, 353 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:42,439 Speaker 2: everyone has things going on, and you know pro athletes 354 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:44,400 Speaker 2: people like say they get paid a lot of money, 355 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:46,120 Speaker 2: that's their job, but you have to you know, there's 356 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:49,919 Speaker 2: a compassion factor there too. And you know, small family, 357 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 2: two boys, parents who are a big part of their upbringing. 358 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 2: So you could see why, you know, anybody that would 359 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 2: be on their mind, and certainly a pro player who's 360 00:17:58,200 --> 00:17:59,840 Speaker 2: out there, you know, kind of having to do things 361 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:00,960 Speaker 2: public and when you. 362 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:02,400 Speaker 3: Screw up, you have to talk about it. 363 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, something effectory, And I think Josh would say it's 364 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:07,200 Speaker 2: not an excuse. He said that many times when we've 365 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 2: talked to him, but it is something that's going to 366 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:12,200 Speaker 2: be on, you know, his mind. She's had some different 367 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:14,320 Speaker 2: treatments last time toward the other season. He said she 368 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:17,080 Speaker 2: was doing well, and that that's kind of usually his 369 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 2: typical answer. But just something to know about him and 370 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:22,720 Speaker 2: the amount of care that he has for her is 371 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 2: part of that. I think indicative of what I said 372 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:27,159 Speaker 2: at the top about him just being known as a 373 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 2: really good guy around the team and in the clubhouse. 374 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:33,639 Speaker 1: Now, Mark Trumble, you've bounced back from a couple of 375 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:38,159 Speaker 1: tough years yourself, and you mentioned Brady and John Mabery. 376 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 1: When you look at this guy's swing, are you seeing 377 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:47,720 Speaker 1: anything mechanically, anything approach wise that Brady Anderson and his 378 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:51,680 Speaker 1: hitting crew might want to hone in on with this guy. 379 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:55,639 Speaker 4: I did see as much as I could, and I 380 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:57,919 Speaker 4: looked at some of the advanced stuff. He is a 381 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:01,359 Speaker 4: tall guy, first of all, so I think one of 382 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 4: the things that was Tim Salmon actually was the one 383 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:06,680 Speaker 4: that sat me down and said, you know, the bigger guys, 384 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,639 Speaker 4: and he was kind of him and I were. He 385 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,600 Speaker 4: was parallel in us, and he said, it's always going 386 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:14,440 Speaker 4: to take a little bit more to maintain the swing. 387 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 4: I very really do believe that, you know, six foot four, 388 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 4: six foot five or more players as you know, longer 389 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 4: limbs and everything to maintain. And he does look like 390 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:27,120 Speaker 4: a lankier guy to me, So I think that there's 391 00:19:27,119 --> 00:19:30,280 Speaker 4: some of that, you know, his if you really want 392 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 4: to get into the geeky stuff he you know, to me, 393 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 4: he has a very flat swing. You know, his his 394 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 4: attack angle is about seven degrees like Julio Rodriguez is 395 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 4: also my guy, so that that's on the flatter side 396 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:49,120 Speaker 4: of things. But he's got a swing path tilt that's 397 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 4: the same as trouts, So essentially the vertical angle of 398 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:57,320 Speaker 4: the bat coming into the ball, and if you have 399 00:19:57,359 --> 00:20:00,920 Speaker 4: a flat swing and a bat that's angled significantly, I 400 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 4: don't know, I think that matchup could be improved a 401 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 4: little bit. I don't know if all of our audience 402 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:07,719 Speaker 4: is all that interested in that stuff, but we can 403 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 4: kind of keep going as we go. He also one 404 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 4: other note. I know his stance was four point two 405 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 4: inches wider in twenty twenty five as opposed to twenty 406 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:25,359 Speaker 4: twenty three, So that's not nothing. Yeah, maybe there's an 407 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:27,960 Speaker 4: explanation there. But when I looked at him, I thought, 408 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 4: maybe he actually is a guy that would be better 409 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:32,920 Speaker 4: suited to stand a little bit taller, a little more 410 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,959 Speaker 4: narrow and uses leverage topper. 411 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 1: Can this guy get back to that twenty twenty three 412 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 1: form in your estimation? 413 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 3: I mean, I think he can. It's a big ass. 414 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:44,960 Speaker 4: You know. 415 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:47,200 Speaker 2: You can go through those numbers as twenty twenty three 416 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 2: numbers and you know, depend how you put them together. 417 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:53,760 Speaker 2: The only player better in baseball that year was Ronald 418 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:56,439 Speaker 2: Acuna Junior and he won the Nationalague MVP Award. 419 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:59,200 Speaker 3: So that was a spectacular season. 420 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:02,440 Speaker 2: And I think, you know, at least among fans here 421 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:04,639 Speaker 2: will put it that way, that there was some you know, 422 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:07,560 Speaker 2: people started to get frustrated with Josh having the injuries. 423 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 2: Of course adds to that the lack of performance, the inconsistency. 424 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:14,760 Speaker 2: So you know, maybe the twenty three season is the outlier, right, 425 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 2: it wasn't the beginning of something. Maybe that was the 426 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:21,120 Speaker 2: best season. But I definitely think he is a better player, 427 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:24,480 Speaker 2: you know, the last two years together, the comprehensive stats 428 00:21:24,520 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 2: to thirty batting average, six to seventy ops for the 429 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:29,919 Speaker 2: two years total, you know, well short of what he 430 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:32,159 Speaker 2: did in twenty three. I do think there's certainly a 431 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:35,639 Speaker 2: better player in there than those numbers show. Maybe not 432 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:38,119 Speaker 2: as good as the twenty three numbers, but you know, 433 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:41,479 Speaker 2: he is a guy. He's a twenty twenty you know, 434 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:43,880 Speaker 2: maybe even in you know, it would take a lot, 435 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 2: but a thirty thirty guy he could do the thirty 436 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:47,520 Speaker 2: stolen bases. I don't know if he has the thirty 437 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:49,879 Speaker 2: homes in him. But he's a twenty twenty kind of player. 438 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 2: He was a star at Triple A. Obviously, we know 439 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 2: that's a big gap and probably even a bigger gap 440 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:59,280 Speaker 2: maybe now if you some people say than ever has 441 00:21:59,359 --> 00:22:01,400 Speaker 2: been before. But you know, he's been in the big 442 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:04,960 Speaker 2: leagues enough. He knows what it takes. He's a you know, 443 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:07,720 Speaker 2: a big you know, he's kind of a big team guy. 444 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:10,479 Speaker 2: You know, he's frustrated when they lose. You know, always 445 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 2: will talk after the games, but you can tell after 446 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:14,639 Speaker 2: they lose, you know how frustrated he is. 447 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:16,200 Speaker 3: He wants to see the team succeed. 448 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:17,120 Speaker 6: Uh. 449 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 2: You know, it was kind of developing into a little 450 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:22,400 Speaker 2: bit of a clubhouse leader with the Rays and obviously 451 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:24,680 Speaker 2: now you know, we'll certainly probably take a backseat to 452 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 2: the other outfielder guy there, Trout, but. 453 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:29,800 Speaker 1: If they can get him in the field. 454 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:31,679 Speaker 3: He's got that in him. 455 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 2: You know, he's not he's not a raw, raw guy, 456 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:35,480 Speaker 2: but he's a guy that you know, will point out 457 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 2: to players, you know, maybe what they're not doing right 458 00:22:37,880 --> 00:22:41,080 Speaker 2: to younger players, talk to them, help them. So really 459 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:42,880 Speaker 2: a lot of good things to say about him has 460 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 2: just been you know, an unfortunate couple of years for 461 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:47,680 Speaker 2: him and trying to figure out how to get back, 462 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:50,919 Speaker 2: stay healthy first of all, and then get back to 463 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 2: somewhere close to that level because he is a much 464 00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:55,000 Speaker 2: better player than he showed the last two years. 465 00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:58,679 Speaker 1: Yeah, you mentioned thirty thirty. I just want to remind you, 466 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:02,520 Speaker 1: as this guy was a first round pick in twenty sixteen, 467 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 1: I believe thirteenth overall, so you got to think he's 468 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 1: got a pretty higher suing than what certainly maybe even 469 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 1: twenty twenty three, but obviously more in the last two years. 470 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 2: And just going back to the athleticism for a minute, 471 00:23:14,840 --> 00:23:17,240 Speaker 2: he was drafted as a third basement, so he played. 472 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 3: Infield in high school. 473 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:20,480 Speaker 2: So yeah, you know, Hill once in a while, like 474 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 2: guys do, will take round balls with the infield. There's 475 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:24,640 Speaker 2: just you know, for a pre game, just to kind 476 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:26,960 Speaker 2: of mess around a little bit. But he has the 477 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:30,080 Speaker 2: athleticism to play the infield as well, So he's definitely 478 00:23:30,119 --> 00:23:31,639 Speaker 2: got the abilities physically. 479 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 4: I was wondering about his and I don't think we've 480 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:37,120 Speaker 4: covered this yet. His splits are pretty significant. Is he 481 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 4: able to put a bat together against left handed pitching 482 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 4: that is at least competitive or is that kind of 483 00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:47,520 Speaker 4: an area that is kind of a weak spot for him. 484 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:51,400 Speaker 2: No, I think he had some more success earlier, and 485 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:53,040 Speaker 2: I think we can go back into the twenty three 486 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 2: numbers and a little bit better success there. And also 487 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:57,720 Speaker 2: is a guy who wants to play against lefties. I 488 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:00,720 Speaker 2: know there's some player and you hear the game who 489 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:03,280 Speaker 2: you know in that situation get bent and they're like, 490 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 2: that's cool, I'm good. I don't I don't need to 491 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:08,359 Speaker 2: play against lefty's skip and whatever you think, buddy, but 492 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:11,359 Speaker 2: you know, knowing that protects them. Josh would be a 493 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:14,119 Speaker 2: guy that when he sat against the lefty was usually 494 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:16,679 Speaker 2: ticked off about it because he wanted that challenge and 495 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:18,160 Speaker 2: wanted to get out there. 496 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:18,879 Speaker 3: So I don't know. 497 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:21,080 Speaker 2: Again, we keep going back to the physical I don't 498 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 2: know if it's more of an issue left on left 499 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:25,719 Speaker 2: than it would be from the oblique thing or not. 500 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:27,520 Speaker 3: I don't know the physicality of that. 501 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:30,840 Speaker 2: But he wanted to play against lefties, and I obviously 502 00:24:30,840 --> 00:24:34,000 Speaker 2: felt like he could do better than he showed, which 503 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:35,040 Speaker 2: was not very good. 504 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:37,440 Speaker 4: No, I'm just wondering, because he is athletic and speed, 505 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:39,440 Speaker 4: does he does he bunt of all or is that 506 00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:40,359 Speaker 4: is that part of his. 507 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:44,880 Speaker 6: Game that's really not something that the Rays do too 508 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:50,640 Speaker 6: much up until they actually started doing it, maybe toward 509 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:53,040 Speaker 6: the end of last year, earlier this year, earlier in 510 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:56,479 Speaker 6: twenty five and I went to Cash and I was like, 511 00:24:56,560 --> 00:24:57,720 Speaker 6: what's the deal here? 512 00:24:57,800 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 2: And he was like, we got to figure something out. 513 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:02,800 Speaker 2: But yeah, the B word wasn't used much around here 514 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 2: up until last year. 515 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:08,119 Speaker 1: So fair enough, fair enough. Let's talk a little bit 516 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:14,359 Speaker 1: about Josh defensively in the Angels. GM on Friday said 517 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:18,800 Speaker 1: he can play all three outfield positions he's played. I 518 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:21,399 Speaker 1: think he's only started twenty or twenty one games in center. 519 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:23,440 Speaker 1: He's more of a corner guy most of his games 520 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:26,919 Speaker 1: in the right. As much as it would benefit the 521 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:29,560 Speaker 1: Angels for this guy to take over in center, can 522 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:30,679 Speaker 1: he play center field? 523 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:34,640 Speaker 3: Mark Tupkin, I mean maybe outdoors he can. 524 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:36,639 Speaker 2: I think the Troup was a little it seemed like 525 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:39,439 Speaker 2: he wasn't particularly comfortable when he was out there, and 526 00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 2: I don't think he was in center this most recent 527 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:47,159 Speaker 2: season's time Brenner, but he has been more comfortable in 528 00:25:47,240 --> 00:25:49,840 Speaker 2: right field. That's obviously where they've been playing him. The 529 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:53,240 Speaker 2: arm can be pretty good, but I think he should 530 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:56,080 Speaker 2: athletically be able to play center field. And like I said, 531 00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:59,600 Speaker 2: maybe in that environment, in that ballpark without the roof, 532 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:01,679 Speaker 2: as a fit actor, that that helps him settle in 533 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:03,640 Speaker 2: out there and do it. But I mean, I could 534 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:05,600 Speaker 2: see why the Angels would think that, and and I 535 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:07,439 Speaker 2: think he has the physical tools to do it. 536 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 3: But it's going to take some reps. 537 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 2: It's going to take some work with the outfield coach 538 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:14,199 Speaker 2: and getting used to that and you know, taking charge. 539 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 2: You always you see that, you know that guy who's 540 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:18,520 Speaker 2: in center field, you have to know he It seems 541 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 2: like they're under end rolls. The center fielder has to 542 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:22,199 Speaker 2: be able to catch every ball he can get to 543 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:23,520 Speaker 2: right and you wanted to try to get to many 544 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 2: balls he can. 545 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:28,280 Speaker 1: So and you mentioned his uh, you know, stand up 546 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:32,720 Speaker 1: guy in the clubhouse. Any other intangibles that you see 547 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:34,120 Speaker 1: that he'd bring Danna him. 548 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:36,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I just I just think you know, 549 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:40,320 Speaker 2: his kind of his care for his teammates. You hear 550 00:26:40,359 --> 00:26:43,199 Speaker 2: people talk about that, and you know, just he'd be 551 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:45,119 Speaker 2: the guy that would stick around if somebody had a 552 00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:45,640 Speaker 2: tough game. 553 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:47,240 Speaker 3: You know, some guys just bust out of there. 554 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:49,439 Speaker 2: He would stick around and talk to that guy if 555 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:52,680 Speaker 2: that guy wanted to and he was. 556 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 3: Going to go to Florida State. 557 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:55,399 Speaker 2: You know a lot of these guys have you have 558 00:26:55,480 --> 00:27:00,360 Speaker 2: some kind of either true or preferred college football elite says, 559 00:27:00,440 --> 00:27:03,000 Speaker 2: so like he and Taylor Walls who did go and 560 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:05,200 Speaker 2: play at Florida State with talk and things like that. 561 00:27:06,359 --> 00:27:08,240 Speaker 2: But yeah, I don't think, you know, there was there 562 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:11,200 Speaker 2: was no no real like bad habits and a lot 563 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:13,320 Speaker 2: of just being a good guy in the clubhouse, being 564 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:14,080 Speaker 2: a stand up guy. 565 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 3: And you know, like. 566 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:17,600 Speaker 2: I said, if you have a team that you know, 567 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:20,400 Speaker 2: turns over a lot obviously, and they had a couple 568 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:22,439 Speaker 2: of guys that were here for a while and Brandon 569 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:24,600 Speaker 2: Lau was one of them, and then he just got 570 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:27,320 Speaker 2: traded as well. But I think Josh was the kind 571 00:27:27,320 --> 00:27:29,720 Speaker 2: of guy that if somebody didn't understand how something worked, 572 00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:31,240 Speaker 2: you know, he'd explain it to him, whether it was 573 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:34,960 Speaker 2: on an arbitration thing or a waiver or you know, DFA. 574 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:35,679 Speaker 3: Or just whatever it was. 575 00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 2: I think he was smart enough to kind of understand 576 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:40,280 Speaker 2: most of the rules and the tricks and the tips 577 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:41,919 Speaker 2: and even sometimes you know, how do you treat a 578 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:43,560 Speaker 2: clubhouse guy, what do you know, where are you going 579 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:45,399 Speaker 2: on the road and stuff like that. So I do 580 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:49,399 Speaker 2: think he you know, just overall pretty good reputation, uh 581 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:51,959 Speaker 2: and you know, just needs to be a little bit 582 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:52,879 Speaker 2: better on the field. 583 00:27:52,960 --> 00:27:53,120 Speaker 1: Right. 584 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:55,800 Speaker 2: That's really what's why we're talking about him and probably 585 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:56,639 Speaker 2: why he got traded. 586 00:27:57,359 --> 00:27:59,160 Speaker 1: Mark Trumbo, any final thoughts. 587 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 4: I'm optimistic about it. I think Mark, you mentioned the 588 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:10,960 Speaker 4: clubhouse presence, and I don't think you can ever have 589 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:14,520 Speaker 4: too many of those guys. And I think especially with 590 00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:16,639 Speaker 4: the Angels, I know, you know, you referenced one player, 591 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:19,720 Speaker 4: but and it's not a not a critique on Mike, 592 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:22,040 Speaker 4: but he's not the most vocal leader. I don't think 593 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:25,480 Speaker 4: he's ever felt all that comfortable in that role. I 594 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:28,320 Speaker 4: know Joe Adell gave an interview the other day where 595 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:31,840 Speaker 4: he was talking about him and Ohapi and that kind 596 00:28:31,840 --> 00:28:34,680 Speaker 4: of taking on more of a leadership role. And I'm 597 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:38,120 Speaker 4: not saying Trout doesn't. He does a lot, but you 598 00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:40,760 Speaker 4: need a fair amount of guys that will contribute in 599 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:42,880 Speaker 4: that area. And I think that's probably why, you know, 600 00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:46,160 Speaker 4: Perry wants some of these high character, makeup guys and 601 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:47,360 Speaker 4: he seems to fit that mold. 602 00:28:48,560 --> 00:28:50,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I think you guys will like him, and 603 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:53,960 Speaker 2: he gives thoughtful answers. I mean, from a selfish standpoint, 604 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 2: I'm gonna miss him because he he was always available, pregame, 605 00:28:57,320 --> 00:28:59,800 Speaker 2: post game, whatever you needed him and always gave you 606 00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:02,280 Speaker 2: thought full answer, So that that's a big plus. From 607 00:29:02,280 --> 00:29:04,760 Speaker 2: the media standpoint, is Michael tell you too. I'm sure 608 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:06,240 Speaker 2: he probably has. The time. 609 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:13,640 Speaker 1: Doesn't hurt. We've had them all. Thanks for joining us. 610 00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:18,040 Speaker 1: Thank you again. Mark Tuck and outstanding baseball writer for 611 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 1: the Tampa Bay Times covers the Rays appreciate you joining us. 612 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:25,480 Speaker 1: That'll do it for this edition of Halo Territory.