1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,400 Speaker 1: Welcome everyone to the gear end edition of Bear Territory. 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: I'm Ken Rosenthal here with Alana Rizzo. Alana, it's been 3 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 1: an amazing year in baseball, amazing year for the Foul 4 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 1: Territory Network, and here we are ready to wrap it up. 5 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:16,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's been so fun to be with you again 6 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 2: this season, Ken, thanks for all of that. Looking forward 7 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:21,640 Speaker 2: to this offseason getting done so we can get into 8 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 2: twenty and twenty six. But let's go back for a moment, Ken, 9 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 2: and we're going to revisit some of your. 10 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 3: Two Yes, you did a good job. You did a 11 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:32,560 Speaker 3: good job. 12 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:35,160 Speaker 2: The top twelve story lines for the twenty twenty five 13 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 2: Major League Baseball season, A potential Dodger dynasty Hmmmmjan. 14 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:41,160 Speaker 3: Soto's worth and more. 15 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,480 Speaker 2: Let's start with the World Series champs, Ken, the Los 16 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 2: Angeles Dodgers. 17 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:49,280 Speaker 3: Dynasty or not? What say you? They got another championship? Now? 18 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:52,639 Speaker 1: Well, yes, and you went back to back in this 19 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: day and age when it hadn't been done since nineteen 20 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: ninety eight to two thousand. Absolutely, however you want to 21 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: look at it, are the dominant team in the sport. 22 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: And while I did say that they were well positioned 23 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 1: to do this, I didn't necessarily imagine the path that 24 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:13,960 Speaker 1: they took, not just in the regular season when they 25 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 1: were often kind of a maddening team to watch, also 26 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: in the postseason, when, of course, they came within two 27 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: outs of losing the World Series, when it required a 28 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 1: series of crazy things happening in the final innings of 29 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 1: Game seven for them to win the World Series. But 30 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: all's well, that ends well, and at least that prediction 31 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 1: proved somewhat correct. 32 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:37,559 Speaker 2: All right, let me ask you this, then, Ken, considering 33 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 2: what you just mentioned, two outs away from losing the 34 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 2: World Series, considering how they got it done again, what 35 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 2: is it going to take to win a third consecutive title. 36 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,559 Speaker 1: That's a good question, a Lona, And obviously the offseason's 37 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: not over yet, we don't have a full understanding of 38 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:57,560 Speaker 1: what their team is going to look like. They fortified 39 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 1: the bullpen clearly with the addition of Edwin Diaz, and 40 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 1: it seems to me the one thing that has been 41 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: of great benefit to the Dodgers over the last many 42 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: years is their ability to retain a hunger. Now, it's 43 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:15,359 Speaker 1: difficult during the regular season, and we've seen them at 44 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: times not check out during the regular season. But not 45 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 1: be fully engaged. And sometimes the way they handle their 46 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,799 Speaker 1: players with regard to injuries, they kind of slow play things. 47 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 1: We've all seen that. But what it will take is 48 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 1: good health first and foremost. And it's tough when you 49 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: come off a postseason as draining as that one was, 50 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 1: especially on your pitching staff. We saw the effects of 51 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 1: twenty four on twenty five with some of their relievers 52 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 1: last year. But if they have good health and they 53 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: get an injection of offense that maybe was going to 54 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 1: come from some unexpected place, maybe one of their young outfielders, 55 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:53,079 Speaker 1: maybe from a player they pick up, that would help 56 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: as well. Because some of their position players, Mookie Bets, 57 00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:00,240 Speaker 1: Freddie Freeman, they're getting older, they're still productive. I know, 58 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,119 Speaker 1: had a bad year, but they're going to be good players. 59 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:06,079 Speaker 1: It's just that the Dodgers probably need a little bit 60 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: more of a lift offensively. 61 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:10,839 Speaker 2: I think they still need another outfield er time. We'll 62 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 2: tell Ken if they get one. Obviously, the closer position 63 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 2: is secured with Edwin Diaz. Let's move our focus from 64 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 2: Edwin Diaz's former team, the New York Mess I'm not 65 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 2: certain Ken, as we sit here a week before the 66 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 2: new year, what the heck they're doing. But I can 67 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 2: tell you Wan Soto's going to be there for a 68 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:29,919 Speaker 2: long time. Not an overpay yet for you. He wrote 69 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:31,119 Speaker 2: about it coming into this year. 70 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: Well, fifty one million a year is a lot of money, 71 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: and it's difficult for a player to exceed that in value, 72 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: and Juan Soto nearly did in his first year. And 73 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 1: his first year there were some rocky moments. He had 74 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 1: a difficult time early on, difficult transition, He seemed a 75 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 1: little bit out of sorts, and yet what happened in 76 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 1: the end. He finishes us with forty three home runs, 77 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 1: thirty eight stolen bases, a major league high one hundred 78 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 1: and twenty seven walks, a National league leading three ninety 79 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 1: six on base percentage. Pretty good year. Now, According to 80 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: fangrafs dollars metric, which translates war into what a player 81 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 1: is worth in a dollar form, he was worth about 82 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: forty six point four million, a little bit short of 83 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:20,359 Speaker 1: fifty one. But certainly it was a great year. No 84 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 1: one would say otherwise. Even after that rocky start. The 85 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:28,159 Speaker 1: question is one, can he be even better? I don't 86 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:30,279 Speaker 1: know how much better he can be, but better in 87 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: year two and perhaps he will be without the transition 88 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:36,279 Speaker 1: to deal with, and what kind of team are the 89 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 1: Mets going to put around him because the Mets have 90 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 1: lost Juan Soto's partner and crime from a slugging perspective, 91 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:44,799 Speaker 1: Peter Alnso. 92 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, where do you go from here? If 93 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:47,840 Speaker 2: you're the New York Mets? 94 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 1: Really? 95 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 2: Moreover, where do you go Ken? If you were one Soto? 96 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:53,919 Speaker 2: He had a tremendous twenty twenty five. I think he 97 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 2: very much lived up to the contract going into it. 98 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:00,720 Speaker 2: But next year, even more pressure on him considering the 99 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 2: core group is gone. 100 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: That's a fair point, Alana, And I wouldn't say more 101 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 1: pressure just yet, because I assume they're going to put 102 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 1: some players around him besides Jorge Polanco, and maybe that'll 103 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 1: happen pretty soon. But the pressure of the transition is off. 104 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: The pressure of having that seven sixty five out there 105 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: in everyone's head, well, it's still going to be there, 106 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 1: but he seems to have adapted to it pretty well 107 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:31,039 Speaker 1: in the second half, and I expect he's going to 108 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 1: be the one soda that we see year after year 109 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: after year. Once more. 110 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 2: Everybody wants Ken Rosenthal to be a pontificator coming into 111 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:42,159 Speaker 2: the season. Get that crystal ball out Ken, what's going 112 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 2: to happen? You did a good job with the Dodgers. 113 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 2: You did a great job with Wan Soda. Let's talk 114 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 2: about the trade deadline. We thought it was gonna star 115 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 2: Sandy Alcontra of the Miami Marlins. Can you wrote all 116 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 2: Contra the Miami Marlins Ace soon will be a walking 117 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 2: trade rumor a transaction waiting to happen seven point two 118 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 2: two er before the break three thirty three, after he's 119 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 2: still in South Florida. 120 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 3: What do you make of it? 121 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:09,279 Speaker 1: Well, I'm gonna give myself a little bit of a 122 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:12,719 Speaker 1: break here, because when I write something like that, I 123 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 1: need a little bit of cooperation from the player. And 124 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,479 Speaker 1: the first half he was still coming back from Tommy John. 125 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 1: He wasn't good, or at least wasn't as good as 126 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:24,839 Speaker 1: he was in the second half. And he's still a 127 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 1: guy that ultimately could be traded. But they now intend 128 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 1: to compete this season, at least for the start of 129 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:33,280 Speaker 1: the season. They are a team that won seventy nine games, 130 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:36,280 Speaker 1: surprisingly with him coming on in the second half and 131 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 1: a lot of other good things happening in their first 132 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 1: year under Clayton McCullough. So I'll take the hit for 133 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 1: being wrong about al Contra. I just thought he would 134 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 1: be better in the first half. 135 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:47,159 Speaker 2: I did too, but I also thought he was going 136 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 2: to get traded. I thought he was certainly going to 137 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 2: be on a different team heading into twenty twenty six. Really, 138 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 2: at the end of twenty twenty five, you also listed 139 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:57,280 Speaker 2: Ken and many people did as well. Luise Robert uh 140 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:00,120 Speaker 2: still in Chicago and Mike Trout he's still in a 141 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:01,600 Speaker 2: so sorry about that. 142 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: Well, Luis Robert should have been traded in my opinion, 143 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:07,880 Speaker 1: I wrote that I was critical of the White Sox 144 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 1: for not doing it because then they had to pick 145 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 1: up his twenty million dollar option, which they did. They 146 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: are still trying to trade him and maybe they'll come 147 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 1: out better for it, and if they do, more power 148 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 1: to them. And I would have been wrong about that, 149 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 1: but I thought he should have been dealt. He didn't 150 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: have a great first half, and of course he did 151 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 1: spend some time on the IL, but was healthy at 152 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: the time of the deadline. Trout, it's just the contract, 153 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 1: it's just his unwillingness to go and the fact that 154 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 1: he is not the player he was early twenty tens, 155 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 1: mid twenty tens. We haven't seen that guy in a while. 156 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 1: If we ever see him again or something close to that, 157 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 1: then the question will surface ornew about maybe Mike Trout 158 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 1: approving a trade. But he has really shown no willingness 159 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: to do that. And you can look at that positively, 160 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 1: you can look at it negatively, but that's his feeling. 161 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: He wants to win in Anaheim, as crazy as a 162 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 1: proposition as that might seem. 163 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:04,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, he seems very loyal to the Angels. Perhaps you 164 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 2: know it matters to him to stay there, considering they're 165 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 2: the ones that gave him two big deals. Are their 166 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 2: trade names ken that we should already be thinking about 167 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 2: for the twenty twenty sixth season. 168 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 3: Who comes to mind? 169 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: Oh, well, for the deadline. It's a little bit early 170 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: to look ahead, because we have so many guys right 171 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: now that we're thinking might get traded Ka tel Marte, 172 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 1: Freddie Peralta, Brendan Donovan. The list goes on, certainly the 173 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 1: Twins if they fall out of it. Now they've kept 174 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 1: Joe Ryan, they've kept Pablo Lopez, and they've kept Byron 175 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 1: Buckston at least to this point. But if they fall 176 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 1: out of it again, Yes, I would expect that those 177 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:45,080 Speaker 1: guys would go and certainly any team that stumbles, those 178 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 1: are the teams you look to to perhaps make trades. 179 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:50,720 Speaker 1: A lot of teams are trying to compete this year, 180 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,440 Speaker 1: so it's kind of hard to predict which ones will stumble. 181 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:56,559 Speaker 1: But I do expect that the Twins are going to 182 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:58,840 Speaker 1: be one to watch as they've been all along, and 183 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 1: then any other team that might fall off. As I said, 184 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:05,559 Speaker 1: let's say it's the Brewers and they keep per Alta 185 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 1: and they're not the team that they thought they would 186 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: be somehow in the first half, then he would become available. 187 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 1: That's just an example. I don't expect it to happen, 188 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:15,840 Speaker 1: but that's the kind of thing I'm talking about. 189 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 2: Ken, you mentioned the Twins, you mentioned the Brewers. Neither 190 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:20,680 Speaker 2: one of those teams were in your top five of 191 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 2: teams that had the most pressure going into twenty twenty five. 192 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:25,679 Speaker 2: I think your list was great, and you were spot 193 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 2: on with a lot of them. If you look at 194 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 2: the list Ken was talking about coming into twenty twenty five, 195 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 2: the Cubs, the Blue Jays, Ken, the Mariners, the Orioles 196 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:35,079 Speaker 2: and the Phillies. 197 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 3: How do you think those clubs did well? 198 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 1: The Blue Jays and Mariners did great, and the Blue 199 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: Jays surpassed all of my expectations. They entered the season 200 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: with their front office in trouble, maybe their manager in trouble, 201 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 1: all these questions about Vladimir Guerrero Junior. Was he going 202 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 1: to sign? He did early in the season, and then 203 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:56,000 Speaker 1: they had really a year for the Ages. The Mariners 204 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 1: too came a long way, played in the Alcs, went 205 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 1: to seven games. The Ools had a lot of pressure 206 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: on them and were a huge disappointment. The Phillies had 207 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:08,679 Speaker 1: a lot of pressure on them and had a good year, 208 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 1: but of course in the end we're disappointed by their 209 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: playoff exit. And the Cubs well, the Cubs just did 210 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:18,199 Speaker 1: not ultimately get to where they wanted to be, though 211 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: they did too make the playoffs. When Tucker got hurt 212 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 1: in the second half, they really weren't the same after that, 213 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 1: and ultimately they fall out of the October picture earlier 214 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: than they wanted to. 215 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 2: Well, ken some of those teams, there's a carryover in 216 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 2: euro opinion going into twenty twenty six. Who has the 217 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 2: most pressure coming into the new season. 218 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 1: The two New York teams for sure. Now we sit 219 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:42,559 Speaker 1: here and their off seasons are not complete. But the Mets, 220 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 1: because they've deconstructed, they are under a great deal of pressure. 221 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 1: President Baseball Operations David Stearns under a great deal of 222 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:53,679 Speaker 1: pressure to show that he is capable of winning with 223 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:56,320 Speaker 1: this kind of payroll. He did it in Milwaukee, but 224 00:10:57,360 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: he hasn't done it to the way that the Mets 225 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 1: have wanted so far. In New York. They did reach 226 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 1: the NLCS in twenty four. It can't take that away 227 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 1: from them, but there's a lot of pressure there. There's 228 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 1: always a lot of pressure on the Yankees. They have 229 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:11,320 Speaker 1: not won a World Series since two thousand and nine. 230 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,439 Speaker 1: We are all aware of that. Their owner house Dieinbrenner. 231 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 1: Will he spend enough to surround Aaron Judge with the 232 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:21,199 Speaker 1: talent necessary while Aaron Judge is still in his prime. 233 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 1: That's a huge question in this game right now. The 234 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:27,720 Speaker 1: Cubs pressure on them still because they are a team 235 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 1: that is in a division where they are the big spenders, 236 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:34,319 Speaker 1: and yet they haven't really had that breakthrough success. I 237 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 1: would say the Oriols because of all they've done, they've 238 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 1: put together a better team than they did at this 239 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 1: time last year, but there's pressure on them to win. Michaelias, 240 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:46,319 Speaker 1: their general manager, clearly feeling it and responding to it. 241 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 1: And the Phillies again, how many times are they going 242 00:11:49,559 --> 00:11:52,600 Speaker 1: to run it back with this group before either they 243 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 1: win a championship, which they certainly looked capable of doing 244 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: last season, or they start to take pieces apart. 245 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, Kyle Schwerberg going back to Citizens Bank certainly helps. 246 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 2: Of course, Pete A. Lonzo going to Baltimore helps a lot. 247 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 2: Baltimore certainly needs some pitching. However, all right, your last 248 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:11,320 Speaker 2: chance of the twenty twenty five season to ask Ken 249 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 2: some questions. We'll be back right after this with Grill 250 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 2: and Ken. All right, time now for Grill and Ken 251 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:25,320 Speaker 2: the last time this year? Who were two breakout candidates? 252 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:25,640 Speaker 3: Ken? 253 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:28,520 Speaker 2: In your opinion, we'll start with pitching first, and then 254 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:34,320 Speaker 2: we'll go with the position player for twenty twenty six pitching, I'll. 255 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: Go with Chase Burns and the Cincinnati Reds. Made his 256 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 1: debut last year and for me, was really impressive. Sixty 257 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 1: seven strikeouts in forty three and a third innings. He 258 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 1: had a HIGHRA four point five to seven. But his FIP, 259 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:50,440 Speaker 1: which is a better measure perhaps of what should have 260 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 1: happened under his control was only two point five four. 261 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: So he's a guy with great promise. I sort of 262 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:59,719 Speaker 1: love the Reds rotation. It's young and there are more 263 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:02,200 Speaker 1: and that's going to be something to watch in the 264 00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:05,560 Speaker 1: early part of the season. From a hitting perspective, I'll 265 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 1: go with Owen Casey of the Cubs. It does not 266 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 1: appear the Cubs are going to resign Kyle Schwarber. I'm 267 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 1: sorry Kyle Tucker, and Owen Casey should get his chance. 268 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 1: He's a guy who has been a top prospect, he 269 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 1: has a great deal of promise, and he looks like 270 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: he could be the next great Cubs hitter. 271 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 2: All Right, so pay attention to the NL Central, the 272 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 2: Cincinnati Reds, and of course the Chicago Cubs. Okay, a 273 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 2: team on the rise in twenty twenty six, Ken, who 274 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:33,079 Speaker 2: is it for you? 275 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 1: I've got to go with Baltimore. And the reason for that, 276 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 1: Alana is they finished last last season in the ALE East. 277 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 1: It was a horrible year for them, incredibly disappointing. But 278 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 1: they've made one move after another this offseason. Andrew Kittridge 279 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:51,080 Speaker 1: and Ryan Helsley for the bullpen Taylor Ward and Pete Alonzo. 280 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 1: For the offense, they still need to add starting pitching 281 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 1: beyond Shane Baz. That was a great trade that they 282 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:59,559 Speaker 1: made in my opinion. So they have one more big 283 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:02,360 Speaker 1: move in my opinion, and that's to get that extra 284 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 1: starter or perhaps even at top of the rotation starter. 285 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:07,560 Speaker 1: But they are a team that should be better, and 286 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 1: I do look for them to be on the rise. 287 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:10,439 Speaker 3: I do too. 288 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:13,199 Speaker 2: I think, like you said earlier, Michael Layas kind of 289 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:16,000 Speaker 2: felt the heat, the pressure, and he's making some moves 290 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:18,480 Speaker 2: and responding to that hot seat. A team on the 291 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 2: downswing in twenty twenty six, and this may surprise some people. 292 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 1: Well a lot, And this one's actually you're right. It's 293 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 1: surprising because of the name of the team, but it's 294 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 1: obvious based on the way they're conducting their off season. 295 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 1: It's the Saint Louis Cardinals. We've seen them trade Sonny Gray, 296 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 1: We've seen them trade Wilson Contreras. More to come. They 297 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 1: are clearly in or rebuilding mode, and that's fine. It's 298 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 1: probably overdue in Saint Louis, and actually their fans are 299 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 1: more likely to embrace this than be disgusted. By it 300 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 1: because this was coming and it was necessary. So that said, 301 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:54,840 Speaker 1: their performance on the field in twenty twenty six cannot 302 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 1: be expected to be anywhere near what we've expected from 303 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 1: the Cardinals in the past, so I see them going down. 304 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 2: They have one of the most understanding fan bases of 305 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:07,800 Speaker 2: a team that has such a history. To your point, Ken, 306 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:10,480 Speaker 2: all right, your favorite part of the World Baseball Classic? 307 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 2: Of course it is coming up in twenty twenty six. 308 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 2: Team USA is stacked. I love the World Baseball Classic. 309 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 2: What's your favorite part? 310 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 1: My favorite part, Alana, is the sheer intensity and the 311 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 1: passion that the games are played with, not just by 312 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 1: the US team, which shows a lot of passion, but 313 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 1: the other teams from other countries. The last experience we 314 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: have with this in twenty twenty three was one of 315 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: my all time favorite things that I've covered, and that's 316 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 1: saying something. I've covered a lot of stuff, and it 317 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:43,800 Speaker 1: just was so electric night after night. The games are incredible. 318 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 1: So I would just say the intensity, the passion, and 319 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:50,400 Speaker 1: just everything that the WBC is, I'm all about it. 320 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 3: I agree with you. It is one of the most 321 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 3: fun things we can cover. 322 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 1: Ken. 323 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:56,200 Speaker 2: I had the opportunity to do it live. In twenty 324 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 2: thirteen when I was with MLB Network the first time, 325 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 2: and I was in Puerto Rico for the Puerto Rican Pool, 326 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 2: and just the teams in that pool. It was the Dominican, 327 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 2: it was Venezuela, it was Puerto Rico. It was just 328 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:08,640 Speaker 2: so much fun. There's one team that I'm missing, but 329 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:12,320 Speaker 2: just the intensity, to your point, is unbelievable. And as 330 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 2: the years have gone on, Ken, I think it's been 331 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 2: more of a goal and a prize for the USA 332 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 2: players to want to participate. I think it's always been 333 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 2: a big deal for the Latin players. It's always mattered 334 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 2: to them, and not that it hasn't mattered to the 335 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 2: US players, but I think now Mark de Rosa, your 336 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 2: Dude of the Week last week, has done such a 337 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 2: great job of wanting players to participate and making it 338 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 2: something that is more of a career a career goal too. Recently, 339 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 2: Bryce Harper said he's going to go back to play 340 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 2: for the USA, So I love it. All right, We're 341 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 2: going to come back and talk about our dudes and 342 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 2: dorks of the Year as twenty twenty five comes to 343 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 2: a close. Right after this, a few words from our 344 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 2: friends at foul. 345 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 4: Hey, when you get a chance, subscribe to foul Territory 346 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 4: on YouTube. We are getting very close to three hundred 347 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:06,200 Speaker 4: thousand subscribers on the channel and love all of them, 348 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 4: so we'd love you to join us on that channel 349 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:12,359 Speaker 4: as we break down everything going on across the sport. 350 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:15,240 Speaker 4: It is baseball the way it should be covered at 351 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 4: foul Territory. Give us a sub bet. I'MGM account holders today. 352 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,800 Speaker 4: How about in any sport parlay boost token. You can 353 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:24,960 Speaker 4: score a bigger payout if your wager with that token. 354 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:27,880 Speaker 4: Hits tokens can be used on parlays and on same 355 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:30,920 Speaker 4: game parlays. Gambling problem were concerned, there's help called one 356 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 4: eight hundred gambler. 357 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 1: Dude, Dude, dude. 358 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 2: All right, we've had fifty one of these so far. Ken, 359 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 2: it is the Dude and dork of the year. This 360 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:49,080 Speaker 2: time we've had fifty two weeks in the year. 361 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:51,640 Speaker 3: Here it is. Let's start with your dude of the year. 362 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:52,159 Speaker 3: Who is it? 363 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 1: My dude of the year. This is something of a 364 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:59,679 Speaker 1: consolation prize for him, an American League MVP, and a 365 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 1: lot of people thought he should have I was in 366 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: the Aaron Judge camp. But my goodness. Cal Raley had 367 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: a season that we will never forget. Sixty home runs 368 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 1: in the regular season, most ever by a catcher, most 369 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: ever by a switch hitter, five more in the postseason, 370 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 1: four in the ALCS. All this after playing one hundred 371 00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:21,160 Speaker 1: and fifty nine games in the regular season and every 372 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:24,119 Speaker 1: game the Mariners played in the postseason. He had the 373 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:28,040 Speaker 1: third most starts at catcher. He had an amazing season 374 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 1: that really transcended the game in certain ways. It was 375 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 1: historic in many ways. So cal Raley, I know you 376 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:38,680 Speaker 1: weren't American League MVP, but you're my due to the Year. 377 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, American League MVP Ken Rosenthal's due to the Year. 378 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:45,879 Speaker 2: It is quite the Constellation Prize. 379 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:51,440 Speaker 3: And I tell you what, Okay, do you. 380 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:54,879 Speaker 2: Have any honorable mentions perhaps of maybe some other dudes 381 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 2: that didn't quite make the cut for Due to the 382 00:18:56,640 --> 00:18:57,720 Speaker 2: Year but were pretty close. 383 00:18:58,040 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 1: Well, I'm going to lead right into your due to 384 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:03,359 Speaker 1: the Year, Alana, because my first thought here was Yoshinobu 385 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 1: Yamamoto for what he did in the playoffs in Game 386 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 1: six and seven, in particular in the World Series. That 387 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 1: was the one guy I thought of. Aaron Judge, of course, 388 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:14,879 Speaker 1: would have been a logical candidate as well shoo Tani 389 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:19,040 Speaker 1: every year. But I still say, Raleigh and I think 390 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:21,440 Speaker 1: you need to talk about your dudes of the year 391 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:24,960 Speaker 1: because that encompasses some of the people we were just mentioning. 392 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 2: Can I just think it's so hard to do what 393 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 2: the Dodgers did. And I understand they have a ridiculous payroll. 394 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 2: I understand that the Los Angeles Dodgers are paying a 395 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:34,880 Speaker 2: luxury tax that is more than several teams entire payroll. 396 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 3: But the way that the Dodgers go. 397 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:39,200 Speaker 2: About their business and the way that they've been able 398 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:42,120 Speaker 2: to understand that they are built for October and nobody 399 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:45,520 Speaker 2: panics outside of the organization and to be able to repeat. 400 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:47,400 Speaker 2: I mean, there is a lot of parody in baseball, 401 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 2: even if the payrolls aren't necessarily the same. And I've 402 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:52,840 Speaker 2: said it time and time again, I will say this 403 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:57,520 Speaker 2: as my last breath. Money guarantees good players, and money 404 00:19:57,600 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 2: guarantees for the most part that you get into the postseason, 405 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 2: but money does not guarantee championships. And the way that 406 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:05,439 Speaker 2: Dave Roberts had to have a revolving door of a 407 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:08,119 Speaker 2: bullpen that was absolutely decimated this year with injury and 408 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:12,399 Speaker 2: obviously what happened to Alex se Messia granted super good 409 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:15,200 Speaker 2: starting staff and to your point where yoshinob Yamamoto was 410 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:18,080 Speaker 2: able to do an iron horse if you will, to 411 00:20:18,119 --> 00:20:20,639 Speaker 2: take a you know, cal Ripken junior. 412 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,600 Speaker 3: But the Dodgers do it the right way. 413 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 2: The Dodgers' ownership spends money, the Dodgers treat their players well, 414 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:30,119 Speaker 2: and to be able to repeat, I think it is 415 00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 2: pretty impressive. And they're trying to do it again for 416 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 2: the third time in a row, and I think that's 417 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 2: pretty cool. So they are my dudes of the Week. Okay, Ken, 418 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 2: time now for our dork. 419 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:50,360 Speaker 3: Of the Year. I love this so much for you, 420 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 3: I think I've waited all year for this one. 421 00:20:52,359 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 2: Who's your dork of the Year. That's a pretty big 422 00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:56,120 Speaker 2: that's a pretty big category. A lot of people qualify. 423 00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:59,560 Speaker 1: It's a big category. Alanna, and I don't take this lightly, 424 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:02,040 Speaker 1: but we had a guy who was Dork of the 425 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 1: Year several times during the season, and we had a 426 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 1: guy who did something in early May that was so 427 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:12,720 Speaker 1: ridiculous that he has earned Dork of the Year. He 428 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 1: is part of the Foul Territory Network. He is a 429 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:19,399 Speaker 1: big part of the foul network Territory network. And his 430 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:22,359 Speaker 1: name is Aj Prazinski. And why is he the dork 431 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:24,199 Speaker 1: of the year, you may ask. Let's go back to 432 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 1: May eighth. AJ was doing a game somewhere I was 433 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:30,240 Speaker 1: doing a game somewhere else. And what happened was he 434 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 1: tweeted or not tweeted. He texted us in a group text, 435 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:36,919 Speaker 1: watch and learn kids, enjoy your rain delay. At that 436 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:39,520 Speaker 1: point his game was on. My game was not. We 437 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:42,560 Speaker 1: were in a rain delay. I believe this was in Atlanta. Well, 438 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 1: what happens minutes later? AJ's game goes into a rain 439 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:49,480 Speaker 1: delay and you can see my response. You beg for it, Aj, 440 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:52,720 Speaker 1: and the baseball gods got you. That's the kind of 441 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 1: conduct we've come to expect from Aj Prizinski over the years, 442 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 1: and he got nailed. AJ. Congratulations. I'm sure it's a 443 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:01,240 Speaker 1: big Yeah. 444 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:03,720 Speaker 2: It should be the Pretty Hall of Pretty Good too. 445 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 2: I think he's in that as well. So it's a 446 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,159 Speaker 2: Dork of the Year for Ken Rosenthal and Hall of 447 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:09,119 Speaker 2: Pretty Good Agent. 448 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:10,640 Speaker 3: You know, I sent him a text the other day. 449 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 2: I said, Hey, any of your UF people have an 450 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:16,080 Speaker 2: Airbnb that I can I can rent out next year? 451 00:22:16,119 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 2: And all he said was like for Morgan Wall And 452 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:19,399 Speaker 2: I said, yes, you think he ever. 453 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:19,879 Speaker 3: Got back to me? 454 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:23,119 Speaker 2: No he did not, he did not. All right, my, 455 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 2: my dork of the year. It is the Angels franchise 456 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 2: for a variety of reasons. Ken, I mean, they have 457 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:32,240 Speaker 2: misstepped on so many different things, but I think most 458 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 2: recently in October a couple of different things. When you 459 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 2: you decide to not in October, when you decide to 460 00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 2: sign a manager Kurt Suzuki to a one year deal, 461 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:44,720 Speaker 2: I mean, what kind of what kind of confidence do 462 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:47,639 Speaker 2: you think that says as far as your commitment to 463 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:50,040 Speaker 2: him and how you think he's going to do. And 464 00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:52,840 Speaker 2: of course the GM also has one year left Manasi, 465 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:55,720 Speaker 2: and so maybe they're tied together. You say, Kakuchi saying 466 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 2: the air conditioning didn't work all year in the weight room, 467 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:01,600 Speaker 2: I don't care. You're majorly friend. You have a gazillion dollars, 468 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:04,200 Speaker 2: but your AC doesn't work. And then the GM plays 469 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:06,800 Speaker 2: the dumbest man ever as the Angels post a job 470 00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:09,679 Speaker 2: for HVAC help. I mean that's just one, you know, three, 471 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:11,960 Speaker 2: just three quick examples that we can think of for 472 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:17,800 Speaker 2: the Angels. And obviously wasting all that money on Anthony Rendon. 473 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:19,679 Speaker 2: There's a lot of there's a lot of things that 474 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:23,000 Speaker 2: I can think of, but the Angels, you guys are 475 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:26,119 Speaker 2: my dorks of the year. Let's get it together, Anaheim, 476 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:28,080 Speaker 2: let's get it too together. 477 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:32,200 Speaker 1: Well, actually it might happen. I don't know when it's 478 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 1: going to happen, and maybe it won't happen until there's 479 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:36,879 Speaker 1: a new owner, because Arty Moreno is the root of 480 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:39,720 Speaker 1: a lot of these problems and a on a heck, 481 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:42,760 Speaker 1: we should mention too, the whole Tyler Skaggs trial and 482 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:45,200 Speaker 1: everything that happened there in the settlement at the end, 483 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:49,200 Speaker 1: and everything that we learned about the Angels through that process. 484 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:51,959 Speaker 1: It's a whole different thing. It's a tragedy. It's well 485 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:56,159 Speaker 1: different than baseball, but it is too, something that was 486 00:23:56,280 --> 00:24:00,400 Speaker 1: marking the Angels twenty twenty five. So the Angel yep, 487 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: their dorks of the year. Aj Prazinski, You're my dork 488 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:05,840 Speaker 1: of the year. I love you, brother, but you're still 489 00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:06,680 Speaker 1: the dork of the year. 490 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:11,000 Speaker 2: We are thankful to you guys for being here. You 491 00:24:11,040 --> 00:24:13,640 Speaker 2: are all our dudes and dudets of the year. Thank 492 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:16,560 Speaker 2: you for watching and listening all your long Fair territory 493 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:20,439 Speaker 2: returns on Monday, January fifth, at ten am Eastern. Enjoy 494 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:23,400 Speaker 2: the rest of the holidays, have a very happy new year. 495 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:26,680 Speaker 2: We are on to two thousand and twenty six. Can 496 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:27,440 Speaker 2: have a good one 497 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:29,240 Speaker 1: You too, Elana, thank you.