1 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: Welcome to this week's edition of Fair Territory. And dare 2 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: I say it's going to be a doozy? People ask 3 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: me all the time, do you ever have problems coming 4 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: up with things to write about? No? Not. In baseball, 5 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: they play every day. There's always things going on. The 6 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 1: issue I have is selecting which things to write about 7 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: and eliminating certain things that I want to write about. 8 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: So let's get to my primary topic of the week. 9 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: We've got actually a few primary topics. We're gonna get 10 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 1: to Otani, but we're gonna start with the AL West 11 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:38,839 Speaker 1: and we're gonna start with that division because it's the 12 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:42,919 Speaker 1: best race going right now. And I was just in 13 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: Minnesota watching the Rangers play. The Rangers are falling apart, 14 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 1: and the Mariners have taken the division lead. This is 15 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: the first time since August twenty fourth, two thousand and 16 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: three they've been in first place this late in the season. 17 00:00:58,080 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: So let's start off by taking a look at the 18 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 1: American League West standings because it's a little surprising based 19 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: on the way this season has gone. They're Seattle leading 20 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:10,680 Speaker 1: the division, Texas and Houston just one game behind. The 21 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:14,119 Speaker 1: Mariners have won eleven of twelve, nineteen of twenty three, 22 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: twenty one of their past twenty six. Remember, this was 23 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:21,400 Speaker 1: a team that traded their closer at the deadline, Paul Seawald, 24 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:25,479 Speaker 1: and yet they've gotten stronger. They've gotten stronger because their 25 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: bullpen remains one of the best in the game even 26 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: without Seawald, Andres Munoz has stepped up in the closer role. 27 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 1: They've got a number of other guys as well who 28 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:37,679 Speaker 1: have performed brilliantly. I write about that today in the 29 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 1: Wind Up the Athletics Free Daily Baseball newsletter. And they 30 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:45,680 Speaker 1: remain in this position because their offense has surged. This 31 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: is a team that finally has gotten it together offensively, 32 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 1: and right now they're the hottest team in baseball. So 33 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 1: what is going on with the Rangers? And this is 34 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 1: a fascinating discussion because here's a team that was dominant 35 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 1: for the first half, even when Corey Sega went down. 36 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 1: They've had a great run. Now they're missing Josh Young 37 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 1: and that has hurt them, no question. They were missing 38 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 1: Jonah him for a time. He finally is getting back 39 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: on track, it seems offensively, but this team is not 40 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 1: the same offensive team that we have seen for much 41 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 1: of the year, they've lost nine to ten. They're in 42 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 1: second place for the first time since April. And one 43 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: reason that they're in this position is their offense. It 44 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: is not performing at the same level. And it's funny. 45 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: In mid June, I quoted a rival executive anonymously saying 46 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 1: that the Rangers' performance with runners in scoring position was quote, 47 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: laugh out loud unsustainable, unquote, and the usual fans squawked 48 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 1: on Twitter, Yeah, this guy doesn't know what he's talking about. Well, 49 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 1: at the time, the Rangers batting average with runners in 50 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: scoring position was three twenty two, three to twenty two. 51 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 1: It was thirty four points higher than the next closest team. 52 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:03,799 Speaker 1: And yes, it was laugh out loud unsustainable. And now 53 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:06,919 Speaker 1: we're seeing it in this ten game run in which 54 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 1: they've gone one to nine batting average with throwners in 55 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 1: scoring position one ten, one ten. This is baseball evening out. 56 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: This is what happens in the game. You can't sustain 57 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 1: a three to twenty two batting average with risp all 58 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 1: season long. The other issue for the Rangers, perhaps the 59 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:26,799 Speaker 1: bigger issue, because we all expect their offense to get 60 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: going again, is there bullpen, which has been a season 61 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 1: long problem. They acquired a rold As Chapman. They acquired 62 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 1: Chris Stratton in the Jordan Montgomery deal, but they still 63 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 1: are having issues. During this ten game run, bullpen has 64 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 1: allowed thirty one runs six blown saves. So those are 65 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: the Rangers. They're still gonna be okay. I believe Bruce 66 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: Bochi is their manager. There's no panic there. But they 67 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: are in a rut right now, and finally in the 68 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: alst the Houston Astros. Here's the team that is a 69 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 1: perennial pass a team we can expect to be there 70 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: at the end of the season, A team that offensively 71 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: is a great place. I do wonder about their starting pitching. 72 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: Verlanders looked really good for them for the most part. 73 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 1: From Bervaldez, he's had the no hit bids and the 74 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: no hitter, but he's been inconsistent since the break, Hunter 75 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: Brown and Christian Xavier since the break five y r eights. 76 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 1: So their starting pitching is a little bit in a 77 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,840 Speaker 1: funky place right now, and they're bullpen the same. Presley 78 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:33,920 Speaker 1: has struggled, Mayton has struggled. They've got Kendall Graveman acquired 79 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 1: him at the deadline. Montero has been better, Breer has 80 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: been great, but I'm not so sure that their pitching 81 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 1: overall is in the place where they wanted to be. 82 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: Bottom line, though, these three teams all could make the playoffs. 83 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 1: And I want to show you the wildcard standings right now, 84 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 1: the American League wildcard standings, because they're quite revealing. We 85 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,839 Speaker 1: all talk about the AL Least as this Behamoth's amazing division. 86 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, every time game's gonna finish over five hundred. 87 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:05,279 Speaker 1: Uh No, look at what's going on here. Tampa Bay 88 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: right behind Baltimore in the AL East, leading the wildcard 89 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: race quite comfortably. Actually. Then you've got Texas in Houston, 90 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 1: and then Toronto, a team that my colleague Andy McCullough 91 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 1: has referred to as a paper tiger. Yeah, they're looking 92 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 1: like it. They have yet to ignite this season. They've 93 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 1: played okay at times, but they're two and a half 94 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: back in the wildcard race. Matt Chapman Boba Schet left 95 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 1: yesterday's game, both with injuries. We don't know their status 96 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 1: just yet. And then the Red Sox four and a 97 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,360 Speaker 1: half back. I don't know that they're really a factor here. 98 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: Not consistent enough, too many questions all around. So it's 99 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: quite conceivable we're going to see three American League West 100 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,919 Speaker 1: teams in the playoffs and two from the AL East, 101 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: and then the Minnesota Twins winning the AL Central. All Right, 102 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: that wraps it up for the AL West. I want 103 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:57,040 Speaker 1: to go now to the AL Central. Just mention them 104 00:05:57,080 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 1: briefly and talk about the Twins. I saw them as 105 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 1: well this weekend. And this is a team that, of course, 106 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 1: has lost eighteen straight postseason games. They have not won 107 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:12,159 Speaker 1: a postseason series since the American League Division Series in 108 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 1: two thousand and two. You might remember those Twins teams. 109 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:18,919 Speaker 1: They had a j Perzinski, Duglan Cavidge, Tory Hunter, Big 110 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 1: Poppy was on that team, Christian Guzban, Johan Santana, Eric Milton, 111 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 1: Kyle Lows, Brad RACKI those Twins. That's the last Twins 112 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:30,599 Speaker 1: team to win a postseason series. And I'm here to 113 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 1: tell you I believe this year's team has a chance 114 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:38,080 Speaker 1: to end that streak. And it's interesting because offensively they 115 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:40,920 Speaker 1: have been much better. Remember the first half they were 116 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:45,599 Speaker 1: quite disappointing offensively. Kepler was a mess, Correa total mess. 117 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:49,600 Speaker 1: Buxton's been the DH then he got hurt in early August. 118 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 1: They have not been or had not been, what we 119 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:56,280 Speaker 1: thought they could be offensively, and yet look at them now, 120 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 1: look at where they have been since the All Star 121 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 1: break in runs pre game, because it's quite revealing. The 122 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:05,040 Speaker 1: Twins of all teams third in the American League and 123 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:07,280 Speaker 1: runs per game since the All Star break, the Astros 124 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 1: leading five point eight five runs per game, the Mariners 125 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: next at five point four to four, and then the 126 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 1: Twins at five point two to three. And you might ask, well, 127 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 1: how have they done this? Korea just now starting to 128 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 1: get hot last eighteen games, been on base in every 129 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: one of them. Buxton's been out. As I said, those 130 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: two guys are the keys to their offense. But they've 131 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 1: gotten contributions from two young left handed hitters Matt Waller 132 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: and Edward o Julian. They've gotten Max Kepler in a 133 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 1: resurgent way. He's having a big second half. And they 134 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: have a bunch of role players guys like Kyle Farmer, 135 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: Donovan Solano, Willie Castro. These guys have contributed in a 136 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 1: big way. Royce Lewis has come up, gotten healthy, finally 137 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 1: made a contribution. It's a complete offensive team. They've got 138 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 1: options rock obaal Deli can mix and match. It's impressive. 139 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 1: And if they get Buston back playing the outfield they 140 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:01,119 Speaker 1: give f I know, then it open the DH spot 141 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 1: and makes the offense even more interesting. The other reason 142 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: I like the Twins potentially to win a postseason series. Yes, 143 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 1: I said it. They're starting pitching quite good. Sonny Gray, 144 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:17,240 Speaker 1: Joe Ryan came back Saturday, looked good. Pablo Lopez. Those 145 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: three would be the head of the rotation. You can 146 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: stick Kent to my aid in the bullpen. You can 147 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 1: make Bailly over your swingman. He struggled, I know. And 148 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: you've got the possibility of a couple of guys going 149 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 1: back or coming back from injuries, Chris Paddock being one 150 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 1: of them, coming off with Tommy John he apparently looks great. 151 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 1: So the Twins. Admittedly, they're playing in a weak division 152 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 1: or division in which every other team sold the deadline, 153 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 1: so their competition within that division is not great. At 154 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:49,199 Speaker 1: the same time, they've got a chance here, and it's 155 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 1: going to be difficult for them. They probably will match 156 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 1: up with one of the AL West teams in the 157 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:56,839 Speaker 1: first round, and that's not easy. But at the same time, 158 00:08:57,280 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: this is a better Twins team than we've seen in 159 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:03,440 Speaker 1: recent postseasons, and I expect a better showing. I expect 160 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: for first of all, a win, one win, a game win, 161 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: and then maybe even a series win. Finally, in this 162 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 1: first segment, I want to talk about the National League 163 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 1: MVP race because it is downright fascinating. Now. Clearly we've 164 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:20,439 Speaker 1: got five weeks to go or so and a lot 165 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 1: will play out here, but that race right now is 166 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:27,559 Speaker 1: looking more competitive than it has looked at any point 167 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 1: this season. We all thought this would be Acunas to lose, 168 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 1: and it's not like he's losing it. Here's a player 169 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 1: with twenty eight home runs and fifty nine stolen bases, 170 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 1: could be the first player in history to go thirty sixty. 171 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 1: This is a player who is batting three point thirty 172 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 1: for a first place team, a player who has keyed 173 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 1: their dominant first innings all season long. His lowest monthly 174 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 1: OPS has still been above nine hundred, and he might 175 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 1: not win the MVP. It's incredible. The guy that is 176 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 1: chasing him, the guy that in some eyes probably has 177 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 1: surpassed him, would be Mookie Betts. And I want to 178 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:10,559 Speaker 1: show you a series of different charts here to demonstrate 179 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 1: just how close this race is, maybe not that closed, 180 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 1: maybe tilting incredibly in Betts's favor. Let's start off with ops. 181 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 1: The ops comparison, Betts one point zero, one point eight Freeman, 182 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:25,680 Speaker 1: Freddy Freeman a candidate himself, nine ninety eight, Olsen ninety 183 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 1: seventy six, Acunya actually fourth at nine to seventy five. 184 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 1: Now I'm not mentioning Freddie Freeman and Matt Olsen as 185 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:34,560 Speaker 1: prominently as Bets and Acunya, even though you'll see they're 186 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:38,199 Speaker 1: right there their first baseman. Their defensive value is not 187 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:40,839 Speaker 1: as great. All right, Now let's go to war. Here's 188 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 1: f war. Now. I know war is an estimate and 189 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 1: some people don't like it. I get it, but it 190 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 1: is one measure we have for all around play, all 191 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:54,200 Speaker 1: around contribution. And here Bets has a huge lead over 192 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 1: Freeman and Acunya. And when I look at it and 193 00:10:57,520 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 1: see Bets at seven point three, Freeman at six point 194 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 1: Acuna at six point two, that is a huge lead, folks, 195 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:06,320 Speaker 1: as far as war is concerned. In b war, this 196 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:10,440 Speaker 1: is baseball reference war, a little bit different calculation. Bets 197 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 1: again a huge lead over Acunya and Mooki has done 198 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 1: one thing that really no other player does as well, 199 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 1: and really does at all. He's played three different positions 200 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 1: and played them at an extremely high level. He's a 201 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:27,079 Speaker 1: gold Glove right fielder. He's played shortstop this season, he's 202 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:30,680 Speaker 1: played second base. That versatility is going to help him 203 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 1: in the balloting. Of course, his offensive prowess we saw 204 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 1: it this weekend again in Boston. That's going to help 205 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 1: him in the balloting. Do I believe he's the MVP 206 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 1: over Acunya at this point? I sort of see it 207 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: as a coin flip. Acunya has been absolutely brilliant, But 208 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 1: let's see how the rest of this season plays out. 209 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 1: Because both teams have pretty significant division leads, It's not 210 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:53,959 Speaker 1: like one guy is going to put the other or 211 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:56,720 Speaker 1: put his team over the top. But at the same time, 212 00:11:56,760 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 1: we could see one of them slip a little bit 213 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 1: the other one surge even more. Though I don't know 214 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:03,560 Speaker 1: how much hire either can go. So it's a great race. 215 00:12:03,679 --> 00:12:05,719 Speaker 1: I don't know that there's a bad answer when we're 216 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:08,840 Speaker 1: talking about Molky Betts versus Ronald Lacuna Junior and no 217 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 1: slight to Freddie Freeman and Matt Olson. Matt Olsen, who 218 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 1: leads the league in home runs and RBIs. By the way, 219 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 1: they've both been amazing as well. I just don't give 220 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:20,960 Speaker 1: them as much credit defensively as I do Bets and Akunya. 221 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 1: This is a race that will go down to the wire. Time. 222 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: Now for the inside dish. This is the segment in 223 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 1: which I go inside a story I've recently written, or 224 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: take a deep dive into one of the bigger stories 225 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:35,960 Speaker 1: in the game. And right now the biggest story in 226 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 1: the game, of course, is show hey Otani. Otani we 227 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: know has a torn UCL. We also know he has 228 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 1: undergone one Timmy John surgery, and now he might require 229 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: a second. Now, after the news came out, I wrote 230 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:54,079 Speaker 1: a column basically saying actually not basically. I came out 231 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 1: and said it that he is still a five hundred 232 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: million dollar player in free agency. And I got the 233 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: use you'll blowback from fans saying what an idiot I am. Well, 234 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 1: I've covered the game now. This is my thirty seventh 235 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 1: year I've been a National Baseball writer. It's my twenty 236 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: third year, and it's a music to me. How often 237 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:14,560 Speaker 1: I'm the dumbest guy in the room. But actually I 238 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:16,960 Speaker 1: had a reason for writing what I did, and the 239 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 1: reason I wrote it is simply a comparison with Aaron Judge. 240 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:24,800 Speaker 1: Aaron Judge, if you recall, was thirty one years old 241 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 1: or entering his age thirty one season when he signed 242 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:29,439 Speaker 1: a nine year, three hundred and sixty million dollar free 243 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:32,559 Speaker 1: agent contract with the Yankees. He had offers for more 244 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 1: than four hundred million from the San Diego Padres, maybe 245 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 1: even from the Giants. So it stands the reason that 246 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 1: Otani is the best player in the game right now, 247 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 1: two years younger than Aaron Judge could get that, and 248 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: from an offensive standpoint, yeah, that alone could do it, 249 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:51,720 Speaker 1: knowing that you perhaps will get him as a pitcher 250 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 1: as well. I don't know that anyone believes that he's 251 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,200 Speaker 1: going to need to give up pitching, though recovering from 252 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 1: a second ucail injury is much more complicated than the first. Okay, 253 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 1: that was the reason I wrote what I did. But 254 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,679 Speaker 1: the problem with anything that is written right now is 255 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 1: that there is still so much we don't know. So 256 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 1: I want to go through some questions right now and 257 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:16,440 Speaker 1: some questions that have come up in the wake of 258 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 1: the Otani injury, and hopefully provide if not answers at 259 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 1: least some insight into what is going on. The first question, 260 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 1: this one came up over the weekend. Why didn't Otani 261 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 1: get imaging sooner? And the Angels GM Perrimanazien had a 262 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 1: news conference basically explaining that Otani and his agent Nesbileelo 263 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 1: of CIA did not want to get imaging. They did 264 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 1: not believe that there was an issue that warranted imaging. 265 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 1: And if you go back and you look at the 266 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: timeline what happened. He had a finger issue that caused 267 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: him to leave three consecutive starts in late June and 268 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 1: early July. Then he had cramping that forced him out 269 00:14:56,240 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 1: of consecutive games as a hitter in late July, and 270 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 1: at that point he cited fatigue took some time off. 271 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 1: It was understandable that he might be tired, considering that 272 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 1: he's been pitching and hitting at an extremely high level 273 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 1: the entire season. So, according to Manaszian, imaging was offered 274 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 1: to Atani and the agent, and Otani said, no, it's 275 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 1: not warranted, we don't need it. And keep in mind, 276 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 1: a player in his free agent year doesn't want an 277 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 1: MRI in his file. In most cases, they want to 278 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: show a clean bill of health. So Otani comes out 279 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 1: and pitches last Wednesday, and of course leaves the game, 280 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:35,239 Speaker 1: and then it is revealed he has a torn UCL. 281 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 1: People might ask, okay, how did this happen? Well, people 282 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 1: could blame the WBC. He certainly had a big performance 283 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: in that. You can blame the pitch clock. You can 284 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: also blame the fact that he throws really hard and 285 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:51,360 Speaker 1: that pitchers get hurt. This is what happens. The suspicion 286 00:15:51,560 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 1: or the belief is that he injured himself in that 287 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 1: game because he came out in the first inning throwing 288 00:15:57,360 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 1: ninety five. It's hard to throw ninety five with the 289 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 1: two on UCL. He injures himself and then of course 290 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 1: continues playing. This is the next question, why is he 291 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 1: still playing well? As we know and we've seen from 292 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:14,640 Speaker 1: Otani before, you cannot do any further damage to a 293 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 1: UCL when you're hitting, So that's why he's still out 294 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: there at this point. But my question is, well, why 295 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 1: is he still out there when he should be figuring 296 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:26,520 Speaker 1: this out and making a decision on what he wants 297 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: to do. He does have a chance to hit fifty 298 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 1: home runs. We know that he has a chance to 299 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:36,240 Speaker 1: sew up the MVP. We know that as well, and 300 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:38,560 Speaker 1: he can do some historic things still, And let's look 301 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 1: at one of them, fifty homers and twenty stolen bases. 302 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 1: Only four players in history have done that. Some pretty 303 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:49,520 Speaker 1: big names on this list. Ken Griffey Junior nineteen ninety 304 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 1: eight fifty six homers, twenty steals, Alex Rodriguez two thousand 305 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 1: and seven, fifty four homers, twenty four steals, Willie Mays 306 00:16:57,080 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 1: nineteen fifty five fifty one homers, twenty four st and 307 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 1: Brady Anderson I covered this season for the Baltimore Sign 308 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 1: fifty homers and twenty one steals in nineteen ninety six. 309 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:11,159 Speaker 1: Otani right now forty four homers, nineteen steals with thirty 310 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:13,879 Speaker 1: one games left, so he can get there. He's got 311 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 1: enough played appearances to qualify for the batting title. He's 312 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:19,879 Speaker 1: a factor in every Triple Crown category as well. So 313 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 1: maybe he simply wants to push this out as long 314 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 1: as he can and keep playing and postpone's decision. That's 315 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 1: the part I really don't understand here. Why doesn't he 316 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:34,720 Speaker 1: simply make this call right now begin the rehabilitation process 317 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:37,439 Speaker 1: if he needs surgery, begin it. Even if he doesn't 318 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:39,920 Speaker 1: need surgery, do whatever he's going to do. We don't 319 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:43,720 Speaker 1: know exactly what the diagnosis is. We don't know where 320 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 1: the tear is. We don't know necessarily how it compares 321 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: to the first one, though it has been said and 322 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:54,960 Speaker 1: reported that it is in a different spot. So what's 323 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:59,440 Speaker 1: going on here? Presumably he's gathering more information, Maybe he's 324 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:03,480 Speaker 1: looking for all alternatives. If you remember his first Tommy 325 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:07,240 Speaker 1: John surgery, it was a rather long recovery. He had 326 00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:12,680 Speaker 1: it October first, twenty eighteen, didn't pitch again until July 327 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:16,719 Speaker 1: twenty twenty. That's a good chunk of time, some eighteen 328 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:20,360 Speaker 1: months or so. And when he came back, and admittedly 329 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 1: that was the shortened season, so he couldn't come back 330 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:26,240 Speaker 1: before July twenty twenty. When he came back, he pitched 331 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 1: only one in two thirds innings in two starts before 332 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 1: they shut him down again with a forearm string. So effectively, 333 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:36,879 Speaker 1: after his surgery in twenty eighteen, he did not pitch 334 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:39,960 Speaker 1: for two years. And we all know when you have 335 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 1: a Tommy John revision a second Tommy John surgery, the 336 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:47,679 Speaker 1: recovery process is more complicated. It can take longer. And 337 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 1: if you read evandrelic story in The Athletic last week, 338 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:54,600 Speaker 1: it was quite interesting to learn that doctors feel, if 339 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:57,000 Speaker 1: you're going to come back as a pitcher, what you 340 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 1: should do is not hit at all. Remember he came 341 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:02,840 Speaker 1: back in twenty nineteen, is a hitter in May surgery 342 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:06,120 Speaker 1: October twenty eighteen, comes back as a hitter in May. Well, 343 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 1: what the doctors were saying, and these are not guys 344 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: who are Otani's personal doctors, but just people who are 345 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:15,120 Speaker 1: experts in the field, what they're saying is that if 346 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 1: you really want to make this recovery go smoothly, the 347 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:20,480 Speaker 1: best way to do it is to not hit at all. 348 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 1: Just focus entirely on your rehabilitation. So we are waiting 349 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 1: to see what the diagnosis is. We are waiting to 350 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 1: see what the prognosis is. Otani has yet to speak publicly, 351 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: his agent has yet to speak publicly. Menaziin has twice 352 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 1: spoken publicly. But he's the GM of a guy who 353 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:42,919 Speaker 1: is going to become a free agent. And it's interesting, 354 00:19:43,119 --> 00:19:44,959 Speaker 1: And this was pointing out to me last night, and 355 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 1: it's worth mentioning. Anthony Rendon, much different player, much different situation, 356 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:53,280 Speaker 1: gets criticized and has been criticized lately for not talking, 357 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:56,640 Speaker 1: not giving any updates, doesn't want to talk. Otani never 358 00:19:56,720 --> 00:19:59,640 Speaker 1: talks except after starts, and he might not make another 359 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:02,200 Speaker 1: start off season, or will not make another start all season. 360 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:06,119 Speaker 1: And yet we accept that because you show Heyo Tani. 361 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:09,719 Speaker 1: Until he starts giving answers, we are not going to 362 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:13,880 Speaker 1: know anything more about where this is going. This guy 363 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:16,920 Speaker 1: is essentially the Sphinx of baseball. We never know what 364 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:20,119 Speaker 1: he's thinking, and it's right entirely not to talk to 365 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:22,680 Speaker 1: the media and to keep his thoughts private. We don't 366 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 1: know what his thoughts are regarding free agency. We don't 367 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 1: know what his thoughts are regarding his injury. We don't 368 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:31,080 Speaker 1: know really what makes him tip. What is going to 369 00:20:31,119 --> 00:20:33,359 Speaker 1: be his goal in free agency? What is going to 370 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:36,520 Speaker 1: be his goal going forward as a player? Does he 371 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,440 Speaker 1: perhaps consider now just hitting entirely? Does he still want 372 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:45,960 Speaker 1: to pitch? None of this is even remotely in our 373 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:48,800 Speaker 1: knowledge right now, so we're just gonna have to wait 374 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:51,680 Speaker 1: and see. Obviously, we all want him back as soon 375 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 1: as possible. We all want him back as the player 376 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 1: he was. If he can't be that player, okay, he'll 377 00:20:57,280 --> 00:20:59,919 Speaker 1: still be something special time now for Dude and Door 378 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 1: of the Week. The dude is a player we discussed 379 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,440 Speaker 1: earlier in the show, but yeah, he's going to be 380 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:07,639 Speaker 1: the Dude of the Week too, and the player is 381 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:10,800 Speaker 1: Mookie Betts. He's due to the week. Not simply because 382 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:14,440 Speaker 1: his return to Boston was an absolute triumph. He went 383 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 1: seven for fifteen, two doubles and a homer, played brilliantly, 384 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 1: but it's because also of the way he carries himself, 385 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:25,879 Speaker 1: the class that he shows in virtually every scenario. And 386 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:28,280 Speaker 1: going back to Boston, he could have talked about other 387 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:30,840 Speaker 1: Red Sox didn't make him this offer or that offer. No, 388 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 1: he rose above the fray. He said that's a question 389 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:36,640 Speaker 1: for the Red Sox and what they wanted to do, 390 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 1: how they handle this, and basically removed himself from that conversation. 391 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:45,160 Speaker 1: And there was a question at the time when he 392 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:47,160 Speaker 1: was still with the Red Sox did he really want 393 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 1: to stay in Boston, And he has said if the 394 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:51,920 Speaker 1: Red Sox had made him the offer the Dodgers later did, 395 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 1: then yes, he would have. We don't know if the 396 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:56,879 Speaker 1: Red Sox had thrown enough money at him, Yes, of 397 00:21:56,920 --> 00:21:59,240 Speaker 1: course I believe he would have stayed in Boston. Why 398 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:02,480 Speaker 1: wouldn't he. The bottom line is the debate is over. 399 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 1: Mooky certainly doesn't have to be in the middle of it. 400 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:08,040 Speaker 1: He can rise above it. And he did handle himself 401 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:11,919 Speaker 1: always with such dignity and grace. Mooky Betts Dude of 402 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:15,919 Speaker 1: the Week, Talk of the Week. I believe this is 403 00:22:16,119 --> 00:22:19,920 Speaker 1: round two for this cat. Maybe not, but I wrote 404 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:22,280 Speaker 1: about him last week, and I wrote about him because 405 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:24,840 Speaker 1: he spoke to Tyler, Captain of the New York Times. 406 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 1: Tyler now with The Athletic, by the way, but Tyler's 407 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 1: last story for The New York Times was an interview 408 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:36,280 Speaker 1: with the Orioles main guy, John Angelos, and John Angelos 409 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 1: said a number of things that I found objectionable in 410 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:43,680 Speaker 1: that story, one of which was that the Oils are 411 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:45,800 Speaker 1: not going to be able to afford guys like Gadley 412 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:50,080 Speaker 1: Rushman and Gunner Henderson long term unless they massively raised 413 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 1: ticket prices, because otherwise they might financially go underwater. And 414 00:22:54,359 --> 00:22:57,680 Speaker 1: my column last week was essentially keyed on those comments. 415 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:00,640 Speaker 1: And the reason that he is dork of the Week 416 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:03,879 Speaker 1: is because they are simply comments that are not true. 417 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 1: The Orioles, yes, even the Orioles can afford players long term. 418 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:10,720 Speaker 1: I made the point in the article that the Oriols 419 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:12,800 Speaker 1: signed Chris Davis to a seven year, one hundred and 420 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:16,640 Speaker 1: sixty one million dollar free agent contract in October twenty sixteen. 421 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 1: They did not go financially underwater. They did not massively 422 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 1: raise ticket prices, They did not go bankrupt. I made 423 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:26,679 Speaker 1: the point also that the Tampa Bay Rays signed Wander 424 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: Franco for one hundred and eighty two million same offseason, 425 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:32,080 Speaker 1: offered Freddie Freeman one hundred and forty or one hundred 426 00:23:32,119 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 1: and fifty. It was his choice. They're doing okay too. 427 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 1: They're surviving now. Granted, I'm not dismissing that teams with 428 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:44,640 Speaker 1: lower revenues have significant challenges in this sport, greater challenges 429 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:48,160 Speaker 1: to an extent than their high revenue brethren. But don't 430 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:52,200 Speaker 1: tell me that you can't afford players. You can afford players. 431 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 1: John Angelo's dork of the week. And by the way, 432 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 1: if John Angelos continues to stretch out the Oriols leased 433 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:02,800 Speaker 1: negotiations with the Maryland Stadium Authority, their lease expires December thirty. First, 434 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:05,240 Speaker 1: he's going to beat dork of the Week again. The 435 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 1: state is offering him six hundred million dollars if he 436 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 1: signs the lease six hundred million for ballpark upgrades. That 437 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:15,200 Speaker 1: should be enough. It's been hot and sunny everywhere lately, 438 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:18,080 Speaker 1: which is why it's so important to protect your eyes, 439 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:19,800 Speaker 1: and that's why I want to tell you as well 440 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:23,440 Speaker 1: about our new sponsor, Shady Rays. 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Now, Shady Rays are 457 00:25:18,080 --> 00:25:20,199 Speaker 1: giving out their best deal of the season, So go 458 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:24,040 Speaker 1: to Shady rays dot com and use code foul for 459 00:25:24,119 --> 00:25:27,960 Speaker 1: fifty percent off two plus pairs of polarized sunglasses. Try 460 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:31,360 Speaker 1: for yourself. The Shades rated five stars by over two 461 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty thousand people. Looking ahead this week on Fox, 462 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:38,120 Speaker 1: I've got phillies at Brewers really looking forward to this one. 463 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:41,639 Speaker 1: To potential playoff teams, likely playoff teams, I would say, 464 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:45,200 Speaker 1: and the Milwaukee Brewers right now playing at an exceedingly 465 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:48,560 Speaker 1: high level. They've won eighth straight, They've stretched their lead 466 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:51,280 Speaker 1: in the NL Central to four games. And the thing 467 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:53,439 Speaker 1: I love about the Brewers, and honestly they are one 468 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:56,439 Speaker 1: of my favorite teams to follow because they always play 469 00:25:56,840 --> 00:26:01,400 Speaker 1: to their expectations, if not beyond us, beyond quite frankly, 470 00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 1: their manager, Craig Council. He's in the last year of 471 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:07,159 Speaker 1: his deal. We know this. He's a special manager. He 472 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 1: gets things out of that team that I don't know 473 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:12,560 Speaker 1: that other managers could. So the Brewers again look like 474 00:26:12,720 --> 00:26:15,240 Speaker 1: a team that could make some noise in the postseason. 475 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:18,120 Speaker 1: And I say that because Brandon Woodruff is healthy. They've 476 00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:21,199 Speaker 1: got Corbyn Burns, they got Freddy Peralta. They have the 477 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 1: kind of rotation that can do some damage in a 478 00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:28,639 Speaker 1: postseason series, Resurgeon Christian Yelich. Offensively, they're not great, but 479 00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:32,240 Speaker 1: they're good enough. Defensively, they're pretty darned good. So Philly's 480 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:35,320 Speaker 1: at Brewers looking forward to that one this week. Now, 481 00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:38,200 Speaker 1: let's go to grilling Ken, in which you guys ask 482 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 1: me plenty of questions about what's going on in this sport. 483 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 1: Let's start with Greg Wells. Greg asked, the Nats have 484 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:47,200 Speaker 1: gone twenty four and fifteen since the All Star break. 485 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:50,520 Speaker 1: That's a six hundred pace over six and a half weeks, 486 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:53,520 Speaker 1: six eish weeks. Are they improving faster than expected? Is 487 00:26:53,560 --> 00:26:57,280 Speaker 1: they rebuild ahead of schedule? Interesting question, Greg, and I 488 00:26:57,280 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 1: wrote about the Nationals today in my notes Calm and 489 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:03,320 Speaker 1: I kind of dug deep into what they are doing 490 00:27:03,359 --> 00:27:06,480 Speaker 1: and how they are doing this, and it's refreshing. Actually, 491 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 1: the Davy Martinez and his staff, they are trying to 492 00:27:10,359 --> 00:27:15,399 Speaker 1: instill in this young team fundamental skills, the way to 493 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:17,840 Speaker 1: play the game properly. This is the kind of thing 494 00:27:17,840 --> 00:27:20,000 Speaker 1: they're emphasizing right now. You might say, well, Ken, don't 495 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 1: all teams do that. I don't know so much if 496 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:25,680 Speaker 1: all teams do that. Right now, we see an emphasis 497 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:29,040 Speaker 1: on metrics, sometimes over fundamentals. And yet what you're seeing 498 00:27:29,040 --> 00:27:32,240 Speaker 1: from the Nationals is an improved base running team, an 499 00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:35,880 Speaker 1: improved defensive team. This bears out statistically, and a team 500 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:38,439 Speaker 1: that in August at least is striking out batters at 501 00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:40,720 Speaker 1: a greater rate than it has in almost two years. 502 00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:44,359 Speaker 1: So the Nationals look pretty good right now. And yes, 503 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:46,240 Speaker 1: the rebuild might be a little bit of a head 504 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:49,320 Speaker 1: of schedule, Not sure I trust it entirely. Their form 505 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:53,200 Speaker 1: system is pretty top heavy. They've got some elite prospects 506 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:55,840 Speaker 1: who are not quite there, but the depth of their 507 00:27:55,840 --> 00:27:59,360 Speaker 1: system may not be as strong as some teams. Same time, 508 00:27:59,359 --> 00:28:01,560 Speaker 1: you've got some young players performing well at the big 509 00:28:01,640 --> 00:28:06,440 Speaker 1: league level. You've got a rotation that probably you're gonna 510 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:09,040 Speaker 1: wonder about if it can be as good next year. 511 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:13,560 Speaker 1: But still, the Nationals are playing extremely well. They're ahead 512 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:15,399 Speaker 1: of the Mets in the NL East. They've got the 513 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:19,680 Speaker 1: same record as the Padres. Kudos to the Nats. Next 514 00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:23,119 Speaker 1: question comes from Brian. Brian asked for all the hype 515 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:27,240 Speaker 1: is the Tampa model overrated Friedman at all have one 516 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:30,400 Speaker 1: title between them and as a huge asterisk because it 517 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:34,399 Speaker 1: was the COVID season. Now, Brian, I appreciate the question, 518 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:38,160 Speaker 1: but I'm gonna challenge you here. To me, the measure 519 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:42,040 Speaker 1: of a franchise and an organization. The success of an 520 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:45,640 Speaker 1: organization is not World Series titles. Of course, every team 521 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:48,400 Speaker 1: wants to win a World Series title. It's really hard 522 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 1: to do, especially now with an expanded postseason. To me, 523 00:28:52,120 --> 00:28:55,160 Speaker 1: the measure of an organization is success in the regular 524 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:58,760 Speaker 1: season and can a team sustain that success. The Dodgers 525 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 1: certainly have the certainly have the Red Sox with Hein 526 00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:06,000 Speaker 1: Bloom as their head of baseball operations. They've been kind 527 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:08,160 Speaker 1: of up and down, so you can say they haven't 528 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:12,120 Speaker 1: been consistent. That's fair. But I would say the Tampa model, 529 00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:13,920 Speaker 1: if you want to call it, that has been pretty 530 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:17,760 Speaker 1: darn successful, and the fact that it's produced only one 531 00:29:17,760 --> 00:29:21,360 Speaker 1: World Series championship in a COVID season that does not 532 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:24,760 Speaker 1: diminish at all from me what those teams have accomplished. 533 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:26,800 Speaker 1: The Rays are a low revenue team. The fact they 534 00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:29,200 Speaker 1: compete the way they do every year is something of 535 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 1: a miracle. In this sport. And again, I just believe 536 00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:35,680 Speaker 1: that all of those teams that you might want to 537 00:29:35,760 --> 00:29:39,480 Speaker 1: include in the Tampa model. Matt Arnold, he is from 538 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:41,719 Speaker 1: Tampa Bay as well as with the Milwaukee Brewers now 539 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:44,600 Speaker 1: James Klick. They won a World Series last year in Houston. 540 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:47,000 Speaker 1: He came from Tampa Bay. So it's really two World 541 00:29:47,040 --> 00:29:51,720 Speaker 1: Series titles and they've done. Okay, all right, final question 542 00:29:51,840 --> 00:29:55,760 Speaker 1: now comes from let's see where we're at here, Aaron Perez. 543 00:29:55,840 --> 00:29:59,680 Speaker 1: Aaron says, do you think the pr parade by John 544 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:03,000 Speaker 1: Fish or helped or heard his cause? Well, it depends 545 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:05,160 Speaker 1: on who you're talking to. If you're talking to John 546 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:09,560 Speaker 1: Fisher or Dave Cavell, everything's going great, we're going to Vegas. 547 00:30:10,160 --> 00:30:13,040 Speaker 1: But if you're talking to fans in Oakland, fans of 548 00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:16,360 Speaker 1: baseball who have been paying attention here, no, all of 549 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:19,240 Speaker 1: their talk is just talk. Now. I wrote in my 550 00:30:19,280 --> 00:30:21,360 Speaker 1: notes column as well today that there are some things 551 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:24,120 Speaker 1: happening on the field for the A's that, even though 552 00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:26,800 Speaker 1: they're on a one hundred and fifteen lost pace, are 553 00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:30,960 Speaker 1: somewhat promising. But when Fisher says we're gonna have a 554 00:30:31,040 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 1: much more expensive team in Las Vegas, I don't know 555 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:36,719 Speaker 1: why anyone should believe him when he says all the 556 00:30:36,760 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 1: things about how great things are going to be. No, 557 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:42,960 Speaker 1: you've got to prove it, pal, and we've seen you 558 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:46,240 Speaker 1: tear down this team, a very successful franchise. We've seen 559 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:49,840 Speaker 1: it become almost a self fulfilling prophecy of failure in Oakland. 560 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:54,080 Speaker 1: That's on ownership. So John Fisher can talk to the 561 00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:57,240 Speaker 1: Las Vegas paper all he wants, can paint the rosiest 562 00:30:57,280 --> 00:31:00,800 Speaker 1: future imaginable. But we'll see how this team performs once 563 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:03,000 Speaker 1: it gets to Vegas in twenty eight. And by the way, 564 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:06,800 Speaker 1: there are a few seasons that will take place before that, 565 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:09,600 Speaker 1: John Fisher, you're gonna play baseball then, and you're just 566 00:31:09,600 --> 00:31:12,840 Speaker 1: gonna wait. We'll see. I want to thank everyone for 567 00:31:12,880 --> 00:31:15,640 Speaker 1: their questions. I want to thank everyone for listening, for watching. 568 00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:19,560 Speaker 1: You know where to find us YouTube, Spotify, Apple, wherever 569 00:31:19,680 --> 00:31:23,000 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts like us. Subscribe to us. One 570 00:31:23,120 --> 00:31:26,040 Speaker 1: programming note. Next week, we're gonna do the show on 571 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:29,520 Speaker 1: Tuesday instead of Monday. Monday is Labor Day, and I 572 00:31:29,560 --> 00:31:31,440 Speaker 1: don't know that anybody's gonna be paying attention to what 573 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:33,560 Speaker 1: we're saying on Labor Day. So we're gonna push it 574 00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:37,000 Speaker 1: to Tuesday. Have a great week, everyone, have a great holiday, 575 00:31:37,160 --> 00:31:39,840 Speaker 1: and we'll talk to you then. Hey, FD Live fam. 576 00:31:39,920 --> 00:31:40,920 Speaker 1: If you're new to the party. 577 00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:44,360 Speaker 2: On the betmgm Sports app, enter the promo code bounds 578 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:48,120 Speaker 2: FOL for up to one thousand dollars back if your 579 00:31:48,160 --> 00:31:49,120 Speaker 2: first BET's losing. 580 00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:50,120 Speaker 1: It's simple ready. 581 00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:53,400 Speaker 2: Download the betmgm's Sports app on iOS or Android, or 582 00:31:53,480 --> 00:31:56,520 Speaker 2: visit betemgam dot com. 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