1 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: Welcome back to the Hammer Territory podcast on the Foul 2 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: Territory Network of podcasts. I am your host, Stephen Tolbert. 3 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: Appreciate you guys being here. If you're new. This is 4 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: the former Battery Power podcast. We are part of the 5 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 1: Foul Territory group now Scott Brown, AJ Persinski, those guys 6 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: they have the Dodger Territory podcast. They've got a new 7 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 1: one with Chicago, and of course we are the Braves 8 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 1: podcast for their network. So we appreciate you guys being here. Listen. 9 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: It's not going great if you're a Braves fan. There's 10 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: just no two ways about it. It's not going well. 11 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: You know, we're recording this just after the Braves just 12 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,279 Speaker 1: lost a series to the Nationals, just played four games 13 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: at home against the Nationals and lost three of four. 14 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 1: I don't really know what to say, quite honestly. We 15 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 1: do have a good show for you tonight. We have 16 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 1: a guest on the show tonight, Mark Bowman, and me 17 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:19,400 Speaker 1: and Mark had about a twenty minute conversation earlier today 18 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:23,040 Speaker 1: about the Braves and all things, you know, Braves related, 19 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 1: the offense, chris Seys, you know, all that stuff. So 20 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: I'm excited that you guys are gonna be able to 21 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: hear that. We were incredibly appreciative of Mark for coming 22 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:34,279 Speaker 1: on the show, and so it'll be a fun interview 23 00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 1: to do with him. But yeah, listen, right now, it's 24 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:40,960 Speaker 1: not going well, and it's almost entirely on the offense. 25 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:44,479 Speaker 1: The Braves now dropped to oh and fourteen on the 26 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: month of May when the other team scores two runs 27 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 1: or excuse me, scores more than two runs. Oh and 28 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: fourteen when the other team scores more than two runs, 29 00:01:55,560 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 1: and that's wild. I mean, that's that's a crazy stat Like, 30 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: the offense is just not covering up anything. You know, 31 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: ray Kerr didn't pitch great tonight, but he didn't pitch terrible. 32 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:11,239 Speaker 1: I mean three year runs from you know, your sixth starter, 33 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 1: basically your seventh starter. Really, you know, the bullpen did 34 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 1: well to hold it there. Like when when you have 35 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 1: a like a guy like Raykerr pitching and you give 36 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:24,920 Speaker 1: up three runs, you should have win that game. I mean, 37 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: that should just be a game you win because your 38 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 1: offense covers that up. And the offense right now is 39 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: just not covering up anything. I don't, I don't, and 40 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 1: the bats are miserable you know, the swing take choices. 41 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:42,359 Speaker 1: They're taking every bats seem like they're off. They're taking 42 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:45,079 Speaker 1: a bunch of pitches in the zone, swinging at a 43 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:47,360 Speaker 1: bunch of pitches out of his zone. When they do 44 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 1: get fastballs in the zone, they're just swinging right through 45 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: them or fouling them off. There was a couple tonight 46 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: or like eighty eight miles an hour, just right down 47 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: the middle. I mean, Trevor Williams does not throw hard. 48 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 1: He throws like eighty eight ninety and he left a 49 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 1: lot of fastballs in the zone tonight, and the Braves 50 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: didn't do anything. I mean, they didn't do anything with them. 51 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: The home run ball is just completely dried up. The 52 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: Braves are in the bottom half of the league in 53 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: homers now for the season. They have fifty seven for 54 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:17,399 Speaker 1: the season, which is I think seventeenth or eighteenth in baseball, 55 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:20,919 Speaker 1: which is crazy. I mean, this is the team that 56 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: hit more home runs than any team in the history 57 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:25,919 Speaker 1: of baseball last year. They had three hundred and seven 58 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 1: home runs last year, and they have fifty seven right now. 59 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: We're exactly one third of the way through the season. 60 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:34,639 Speaker 1: Tonight was Game fifty four, so we are exactly one 61 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 1: third of the way through the season, and the Braves 62 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: run pace for about one hundred and fifty homers, or 63 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: about fifty percent of the homers they hit last year, 64 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 1: which is I mean, that's just crazy. It's just it's 65 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 1: hard to explain. It's hard to explain what's happened to 66 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 1: this offense. Yes, offense is down across the league. That matters. 67 00:03:55,480 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 1: They haven't had the most batted ball luck, But like it, 68 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 1: that doesn't explain at all. I mean, Ossy Alby's hit 69 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 1: two home runs at the end of March, he's hit 70 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 1: one since. He has one home run in April and 71 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 1: May combined. It's a guy that hits like thirty homers 72 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 1: a year. He has one homer in two months. Austin 73 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 1: Riley looks awful. Sean Murphy has looked really bad. I mean, 74 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: obviously those guys just came back from injury. So it 75 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 1: is what it is. 76 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 2: Uh. 77 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: Orlando Arcia is batting in the middle of the lineup 78 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 1: for reasons that only God understands. I don't know why 79 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 1: he's batting fifth and sixth. I mean, I get the 80 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: other guys aren't going well, but it's not like Orlando's 81 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 1: going well either. I mean, if you look at like 82 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 1: expected numbers, expected OBA stuff like that, Orlando's literally been 83 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 1: the worst hitter in baseball this year, and it shows 84 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:46,559 Speaker 1: like it's not anybody who's watching him, like it feels 85 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:48,720 Speaker 1: like he's been the worst hitter in baseball. So I 86 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:50,360 Speaker 1: don't know why that guy keeps getting put in the 87 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:53,919 Speaker 1: middle of the order. He came up again multiple times 88 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,279 Speaker 1: tonight with runners on base, and of course, you know, 89 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 1: did nothing because he's one of the worst hitters in baseball. 90 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:04,159 Speaker 1: So yeah, it's not going great at the moment. And 91 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:07,920 Speaker 1: you know, this was supposed to be a stretch of games. 92 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: The Braves just played three against the Pirates and four 93 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:13,840 Speaker 1: against the Nationals. They got Oakland coming into town. They's 94 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 1: supposed to be a stretch of games where you're supposed 95 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 1: to get right, right. I mean, everybody's been talking about 96 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 1: the Philly schedule playing all these sub five hundred teams. Well, 97 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 1: you know, the Braves just played the Pirates in the 98 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 1: Nationals for seven games and went two to five in 99 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:31,239 Speaker 1: the seven games. I mean, that's miserable. Lost both series, 100 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: and now Oakland's coming into town, and you like to 101 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 1: think the Braves would you know, take care of business 102 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:39,839 Speaker 1: against Oakland. But the way they're playing right now, I 103 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 1: don't have confidence that they're gonna take care of business 104 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: against anybody. I mean again, if they give up more 105 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:49,719 Speaker 1: than two runs, they're OH in their last fourteen, They're 106 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: OH for fourteen in the month of May. When they 107 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 1: give up more than two runs in a game, I 108 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: don't know what you say to that. I really don't 109 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: know what you say to that. And every couple of games, 110 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 1: either Max Freed or We're all a Lopez or Chrisale 111 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:03,480 Speaker 1: will throw a gym and the braz will win and 112 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 1: people kind of momentarily suspend their their angst about it. 113 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: But this offense has to wake up. I mean, there's 114 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 1: just this team was built to hit and hit for power. 115 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:15,839 Speaker 1: I tweeted this out tonight. The Braves are not a 116 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: lineup full of like uber athletes. You know, they don't 117 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 1: have a ton of athletic guys, especially without Ronald. You know, 118 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 1: they don't have a ton of speed. The only really 119 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: kind of athletic guys on the team are probably Michael 120 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:34,359 Speaker 1: and Kelnick, Michael Harrison, Jared Kelnick, and listen, those guys 121 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 1: aren't on base enough to really have that athleticism matter 122 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:40,719 Speaker 1: a whole lot, right, Like, other than that, it's a 123 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 1: lot of big, kind of slow Austin Riley, Maddeles and 124 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: Marcelo Zuna, you know, the d'arnault Murphy, you know Arcia like, 125 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:54,719 Speaker 1: these are not these are not like your hyperathletes. Like, 126 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 1: this team is not gonna you know, turn a walk 127 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:00,679 Speaker 1: into a you know, a double with this dole in base, 128 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 1: you know, not unless it's again it's Michael or Jared Keelnick, 129 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 1: you know, with Ronald out. They got to hit their 130 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 1: way for pretty much everything. And this team was designed 131 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 1: to hit homers. That's what this this lineup was built 132 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 1: to hit homers. They were they were built to get 133 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:16,760 Speaker 1: a guy on and then pop up two run homer 134 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 1: and then do that a couple of times a game, 135 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: maybe three times a game, and win the game. That's 136 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: what they're This is the formula for this offense. And 137 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 1: last year it worked beautifully because they hit homers all 138 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 1: year long. And you know, when you put a bunch 139 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: of kind of you know, large, unathletic guys in the lineup, 140 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 1: you exp that's what you expect. You expect the power. Well, 141 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 1: the Braves again are like eighteenth in the in the 142 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:44,680 Speaker 1: league in home runs, and they're not going to string 143 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 1: together five or six singles in a row. Like, that's 144 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 1: not what this team is. It's not what it was 145 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: designed to do. I mean, you know, and for a 146 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 1: good reason. There's logic behind it, because it's very hard 147 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 1: to do that in the playoffs. You're what wins in 148 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 1: the playoffs is you know, get a guy ony and 149 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 1: you pop a two run homer, you get a couple 150 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 1: of guys on base, you pop a three run homer. 151 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 1: It's very hard to string together six seven hits in 152 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 1: a row in the playoffs. So you know, that's why, 153 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 1: that's the logic behind it. And you know, when the 154 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: Braves won the World Series in twenty one, you go 155 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 1: back and why, like they hit a bunch of homers, 156 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 1: Like that's what they did. They they beat teams by 157 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 1: hitting you know, a couple of two run homers or 158 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 1: a three run homer. You know, it hasn't worked the 159 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 1: last two postseasons, but that's more small sample size than anything. 160 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 1: That's the that's the logic of the of how the 161 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 1: Braves have built their team is you get a guy 162 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 1: on a couple of guys on you pop a homer 163 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:39,440 Speaker 1: and that's your offense. And when you're not hitting the homer, 164 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 1: it doesn't work. And the Braves have not been hitting 165 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 1: the home run this year. Again, they're bottom half of 166 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 1: the league. The Mets have hit more homers than the 167 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 1: Braves this year, which is crazy, and the offenses is 168 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 1: paying for it right now. I mean, they're they're struggling 169 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 1: to score one or two runs a game at the moment. Again, 170 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:00,320 Speaker 1: I didn't think Ray kurpitch that poorly tonight. You know, 171 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:02,959 Speaker 1: one bad inning. I think there was an error in there, 172 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 1: and you know, that was it. That was the game. 173 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 1: And it kind of feels like that lately. If the 174 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 1: other team scores anything at all, it feels like the 175 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 1: game's over. I mean that that three run lead, which 176 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,439 Speaker 1: was a two run lead after Caltick tripled in the 177 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 1: bottom half and came in on a sack fly, but 178 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:23,599 Speaker 1: that two run lead for the last six innings of 179 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:25,959 Speaker 1: the game felt like a ten run lead. I mean, 180 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 1: at no time did it feel like the Brayers were 181 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: gonna make that up, which is crazy. I mean, last 182 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:32,320 Speaker 1: year they could get down five to six nothing and 183 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:34,559 Speaker 1: it was just inevitable that they would cover that up, 184 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 1: and now if they get down more than two runs, 185 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 1: you're like, well that's game. Game's over. And you're not wrong. 186 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: I mean, you haven't been wrong if you've been watching 187 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 1: for the last month. So I don't know what's going 188 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 1: on with the team. I don't know what's going on 189 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:51,680 Speaker 1: with the offense, but yeah, we're gonna be here to 190 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:53,440 Speaker 1: cover it. I do want to get to the interview 191 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 1: with Mark Bowman, because he was gracious enough to sit 192 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:58,560 Speaker 1: down with me for about twenty twenty two minutes something 193 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 1: like that. We covered a bunch. I do want to 194 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 1: get there. We're going to have a break first and 195 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 1: then we come back. We're going to do the interview 196 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 1: with Mark. And joining us today on the Hammer Territory 197 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:11,840 Speaker 1: podcast is someone who doesn't need much of an introduction 198 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 1: for Braves Country. He's been MLB dot COM's beat writer 199 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:17,319 Speaker 1: for the Atlanta Braves since two thousand and one. It's 200 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 1: mister Mark Bowman. Bo how you doing, sir? 201 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 3: Good to be here. Excit number of this new podcast. 202 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 3: It seems to be going great and look forward being 203 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 3: a part of it. 204 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, man, we really appreciate it. Obviously for people who 205 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:32,679 Speaker 1: don't know his Hammer Territory, former Battery Power. The guys 206 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: Scott bron Aj Persinski, the guys at Foul Territory have 207 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: brought us over. Very appreciative of that. Mark did not 208 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 1: ask me to do this, but I'm going to do 209 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 1: it anyways. Mark has got a book coming out. It's 210 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:44,440 Speaker 1: called The Franchise. I curated History of the Braves comes 211 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 1: out June fourth. I got by the name of Tripper 212 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: Jones did the Ford, so some of you are familiar 213 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: with his work. But yeah, Mark's been covering the team 214 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 1: since the turn of the century, almost twenty five years. 215 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:57,679 Speaker 1: No one's got more stories, more insight, more perspective than 216 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:00,319 Speaker 1: he does. So that's why you should definitely get the book. 217 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 1: But it's also why we wanted to get him on 218 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 1: this podcast, because his perspective is valuable and we wanted 219 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 1: our listeners to hear it. So Mark, We're just going 220 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 1: to jump straight into the questions. The first question I've 221 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 1: got for you is the Braves have lost their two 222 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 1: arguably their two best players for the year coming into 223 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 1: the year. Spencer Strider. You know, he was the Vegas 224 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: if you look at the Vegas odds, he was the 225 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 1: odds on favorite to win cy Young Ronald Junior was 226 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:24,960 Speaker 1: the odds on favorite to win the MVP, and they've 227 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:27,600 Speaker 1: lost both guys to season ending injuries. Need a guy 228 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:30,440 Speaker 1: who made it to Memorial Day. So first question, I 229 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:32,240 Speaker 1: just want to get your assessment, kind of thirty thousand 230 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 1: foot assessment of the team host these two major injuries. 231 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: You know, the Phillies are surging for the first time, 232 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 1: the Braves are not the favorite to win the division. 233 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 1: What's your assessment of the team as we stand today? 234 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 2: You know, just when you say that, I mean I 235 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 2: even did a show earlier. 236 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:50,960 Speaker 3: I'm saying the same thing about losing the MVP and 237 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:55,319 Speaker 3: losing or the MVP favorite and the cy Young a 238 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 3: word favorite. I guess one thing. Yeah, it's devastating, But 239 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 3: at the same time, this team is so talented. There 240 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 3: is still enough talent and depth that you're still thinking, 241 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 3: how can they win it? It's not a it's over yet, 242 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 3: and I think that's you know, is that a glass 243 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 3: half full look at it? 244 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:17,319 Speaker 2: Yeah, but. 245 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 3: It's devastating to lose best Spencer Strider and then Ronald 246 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 3: Cooney Junior. But at the same time, I'm still thinking 247 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:32,320 Speaker 3: this team can win it. They can win a division 248 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:34,960 Speaker 3: and they win. Is there if you get into a 249 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 3: you know, playoff series and you've got Max Freed and 250 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 3: Chris Zoe and we'll see where Ronaldo Lopez is at 251 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 3: the time, do you have enough there to win a series? 252 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 2: Maybe? And I think, as I'm talking this through, here's 253 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 2: the problem. You probably needed a starting pitcher before Ronald 254 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 2: got hurt, and now you're looking for an outfielder, and 255 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:00,320 Speaker 2: you only got so much in your system. You don't 256 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 2: really have a position player, and it's going to draw, 257 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 2: you know, much of trade value. You're you're dipping into 258 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:12,680 Speaker 2: your pitching. Do you have enough to satisfy both needs? 259 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:16,200 Speaker 3: Uh to get an extra starting pitcher in an outfielder, 260 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:18,560 Speaker 3: and then you have to decide which one you want. 261 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:23,319 Speaker 3: So yeah, tough. This is as tough an entry season 262 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 3: is I can remember. I mean, you know, just looking 263 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:28,360 Speaker 3: at those two injuries. But now all of a sudden, 264 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:30,840 Speaker 3: you wake up this morning and find out the DJ 265 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:32,960 Speaker 3: mencher dealing with an issue, and you think about how 266 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 3: many injuries there has been there. I still think this 267 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 3: team's going to the playoffs, but he's going to be a 268 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:40,439 Speaker 3: heck of a challenge for both the players and Alexandoplos 269 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 3: as he tries to figure out how to fill some voys. 270 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 1: They lost Sean Murphy for two months, they just got 271 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:49,640 Speaker 1: him back. They lost Austin Riley for about two weeks. 272 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:53,559 Speaker 1: Aussie Albi's has done an il stint, Pierce Johnson now 273 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:55,960 Speaker 1: aj Menter, and the injuries have been brutal. You know, 274 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,319 Speaker 1: everybody deals with injuries, of course, so you can't make 275 00:13:58,320 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: two bunch of an excuse about it. But I doubt, 276 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:03,200 Speaker 1: I doubt any team is dealt with the injuries the 277 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:05,959 Speaker 1: Braves are dealt with. But one thing I want to 278 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:07,960 Speaker 1: get to and because this is kind of what everybody's 279 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 1: talking about it, it's the big topic in Braves country 280 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:14,439 Speaker 1: right now, is this offense. Now, obviously injuries are part 281 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 1: of that, but there's been a number of guys that 282 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 1: have underperformed kind of expectations. Obviously, last year, the Braves 283 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 1: had the best offense in baseball, one of the best 284 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: offenses of all time, quite honestly, probably a top five 285 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 1: offense of all time, hit more home or a hit 286 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 1: as many homers as anybody has ever hit. This year 287 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 1: just hasn't been the same. It's been a team led 288 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 1: by pitching that the team is doing a really weird 289 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: thing right now where they haven't won a game in 290 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 1: the month of May when the other team scores more 291 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 1: than two runs. You're around the team every day. Bo, 292 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:43,800 Speaker 1: just I want your assessment. What's going on with the offense. 293 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 3: I don't know how a team could you know you've 294 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 3: got wrong or who went from what twenty three to 295 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 3: twenty four percent strike out right to eleven or twelve 296 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 3: last year? And then you know, you saw Matt Ols 297 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 3: and how he cut down his strikeouts in the middle 298 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 3: of June last year, you know, and also increases his 299 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 3: power over those final three and a half months. I 300 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 3: guess the swing and miss how drastic the change has 301 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:16,840 Speaker 3: been there has has been the big surprise you think 302 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 3: that you know, is that a timing issues? 303 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I kind of you kind. 304 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 3: Of saw it with Ronald You're like, Okay, he's he's 305 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 3: it's going to come around. It's just a timing issue. 306 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 3: I remember seeing it the first couple days of spring training. 307 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 3: You know, you got live batting practice, and and I 308 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 3: know it's a little bit different now because hitters are 309 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 3: hitting more year round, but you know, traditionally it's basically 310 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 3: live batting practice, you're hearing the catcher's mint pop pop pop, 311 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 3: because batters are just not quite ready to face live pitch. 312 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 3: Ronald wasn't missing a pitch. I mean they went like 313 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 3: three days and then Joe Hemmenez came in and he 314 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 3: finally swung and miss the pitch. I mean he he 315 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:58,720 Speaker 3: he was as his timing was as good as it 316 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:00,240 Speaker 3: could be at that point in time. He took was 317 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 3: that week or two off, uh, and it just never 318 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 3: was the same. He just felt like it was going 319 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 3: to come. I do see Matt Olsen's starting to become 320 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 3: more of the guy that we saw the last couple 321 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 3: months last year. Look at the expected stats, you know, 322 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 3: or whatever you want to say for Austin, you feel 323 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 3: like he's coming. Yeah, But as a whole, it's it's surprising. 324 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 3: I would have thought that Michael Harris would have taken 325 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 3: off by now, you know. I maybe all these guys 326 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 3: are just slow starters, but it's it's baffling just to 327 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 3: think that this was the greatest offense. 328 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 2: I mean I said it time and time again. 329 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 3: I would never cover a team with an offense that 330 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 3: as good as the twenty twenty three Brades. 331 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:44,040 Speaker 2: I thought this one. 332 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 3: You know, I didn't think they were going to maybe 333 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 3: maybe they wouldn't slug five oh one, you know, this year. 334 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 3: But at the same time we had one. You basically 335 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 3: took Eddie Rossario out and put Jerry Kellen again. And 336 00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:59,160 Speaker 3: he certainly did not expect this, and you know, and 337 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 3: they were without Murphy here for a couple of months. 338 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 3: But just from top to bottom to see everyone so 339 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 3: many guys start slow and with basically Marcelo Lazuna basically 340 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:14,040 Speaker 3: being the only consistent producer, that has been a significant surprise. 341 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:17,960 Speaker 3: Why why is this happening? I don't know, because he's 342 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:22,120 Speaker 3: sort of the same guys and the same approaches. Maybe 343 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 3: may maybe it will, you know, heat up. You know, 344 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 3: Austin has done this before, you know, and obviously he 345 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:30,800 Speaker 3: missed some time here. But Ian Olsen, I think they're 346 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 3: gonna be just buying. 347 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 2: You know. 348 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:34,680 Speaker 3: There's a little more pressure on Aussie now to be 349 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:36,480 Speaker 3: the table set or whoever they put up there at 350 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 3: the top lineup. 351 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:41,200 Speaker 1: And Brad talked about this on the show he did 352 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:44,200 Speaker 1: last night. But it's important context because it does matter. 353 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 1: But like offenses down across baseball, like it's not this 354 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 1: is not a Brave singular issue. If you look at OPS, 355 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:55,440 Speaker 1: OPS is like thirty or forty points down this year 356 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:57,480 Speaker 1: in April and May than it was in April and 357 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:00,119 Speaker 1: May last year. So like offenses down for all lot 358 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 1: of people. It's not just the Braves, but the Braves 359 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:03,800 Speaker 1: have dealt with it at a at a level that 360 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:06,679 Speaker 1: I don't think anybody expected. I mean, obviously the injuries 361 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:09,120 Speaker 1: are going to matter, but the Braves have been, by 362 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:13,639 Speaker 1: the numbers bottom five offense for about thirty games, about 363 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:16,600 Speaker 1: about thirty straight games now, so it has been stunning 364 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: to watch. But this happens May for some reason. Matt 365 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:22,920 Speaker 1: Olson Austin Riley. For some reason, May is not their 366 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:25,960 Speaker 1: favorite month, and I don't know, there's really no explanation 367 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 1: for it. We've only got one more two more days 368 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 1: in May, two more games in May. June's coming. Hopefully 369 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:31,960 Speaker 1: that's going to be the answer. 370 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 3: It's amazing when you think about, you know, let's just 371 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 3: go back twenty twenty two. This team, the team played 372 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 3: one of the worst games. I'm not going to remember 373 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:44,200 Speaker 3: exact date, but it was a Wednesday in Arizona there 374 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:46,800 Speaker 3: towards the end of the month, and the next day 375 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 3: you know, they had a team meeting or whatever, and 376 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:51,920 Speaker 3: then they went on that role. And then last year 377 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:54,199 Speaker 3: they happened to be in Arizona again, where they just 378 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:57,639 Speaker 3: took off at the beginning at June. It's it's fine 379 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 3: if that's what it takes. Look, you can't, you can't. 380 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 3: You know, overlook what the significant so the injuries has been, 381 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 3: you know, especially with Striver and Kuna. But at the 382 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 3: same time, you can overcome every There's plenty of time 383 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:16,239 Speaker 3: for them overcome everything else that has occurred here in 384 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:19,480 Speaker 3: these first two months. And hey, if they are as 385 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 3: hot as they you know, if September is in their 386 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:24,480 Speaker 3: hottest month or October is their hottest month, and that's 387 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:25,680 Speaker 3: exactly what you want. 388 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:30,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly, And listen. Another important part of context here 389 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:33,200 Speaker 1: is the Phillies are like the hottest team I've ever 390 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 1: seen over the first fifty games of the season. So 391 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:40,080 Speaker 1: you know, there's probably an undue amount of panic relative 392 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:42,239 Speaker 1: to what they're doing versus the Brave. You know, if 393 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 1: the Phillies were a five hundred team right now and 394 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:47,320 Speaker 1: the Braves run first place, even if all the stats 395 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:50,639 Speaker 1: were the same, you know, the panic would be substantially 396 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 1: less so you know, the context of what the Phillies 397 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:54,639 Speaker 1: are doing definitely plays a role in this. 398 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, and you know, you just you kind of look 399 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:02,640 Speaker 3: at it. Is that, Yes, it is winning the division important. 400 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:06,040 Speaker 2: Yes. Is you having those off days, Yes, it's important. 401 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:08,800 Speaker 3: You know, contrary to what it looked like the last 402 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 3: two years, I think the preference is always to get 403 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:15,600 Speaker 3: those off days win a division. But at the same time, 404 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 3: you know, it's not the end of the world if 405 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:22,199 Speaker 3: you don't win it. And you know, I just like 406 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:25,439 Speaker 3: I said, this team, it just feels like it is 407 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:29,520 Speaker 3: a team that just has even you know, well, we 408 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:30,520 Speaker 3: know what twenty one was. 409 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:32,120 Speaker 2: I mean that was not even They didn't even get 410 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:32,840 Speaker 2: hot into August. 411 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:35,520 Speaker 3: You look at twenty two, you know, we look at 412 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:38,160 Speaker 3: this deficit, and yes, the Phillies are playing great, and 413 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:40,639 Speaker 3: you know, they have done exactly what they are supposed 414 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:42,440 Speaker 3: to do. They've beat the teams they're supposed to beat. 415 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 3: But the brains we've talked about them being to ten 416 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:49,239 Speaker 3: and a half games out in June and twenty twenty two, 417 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:51,400 Speaker 3: they were like seven and a half or eight out 418 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:54,879 Speaker 3: on like August tenth or eleventh, and you know, and 419 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 3: the Mets played well that whole year. It's it's possible. 420 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:01,200 Speaker 3: It's not not a luck. It's not fun thinking about 421 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:03,240 Speaker 3: trying to do it without Ronald and Spencer. But at 422 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:06,080 Speaker 3: the same time, I don't think he should get too 423 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:08,119 Speaker 3: worried about division deficit right now. 424 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:11,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, we've seen this team overcome much bigger in the 425 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:16,680 Speaker 1: recent recent past. I think we have to talk about 426 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:22,199 Speaker 1: Marcelo Zuna because listen, listen, you know we've all been 427 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:25,159 Speaker 1: around since he signed twenty twenty. He was one of 428 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 1: the best players in baseball twenty twenty one. He has 429 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 1: the domestic violence, he has the drinking and driving. He 430 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:33,800 Speaker 1: has two awful seasons in twenty one and twenty two. 431 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 1: One of the worst players in baseball comes back in 432 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:41,119 Speaker 1: twenty three April is miserable. The critics are getting louder 433 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:43,000 Speaker 1: and louder and louder. Alex will tell you they were 434 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 1: never close to cutting him. I'll let people decide on 435 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:48,359 Speaker 1: their own how true that is. But then they went 436 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:50,480 Speaker 1: to Miami, and they went to Miami for a series 437 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:53,199 Speaker 1: in early May last year, and he got hot and 438 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:56,680 Speaker 1: bo He's been hot ever since, Like, he hasn't cooled 439 00:21:56,680 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 1: off a day since that series. In Miami over a 440 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:02,399 Speaker 1: year ago, he's been a top ten hitter in baseball. 441 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 1: Have you ever seen anything like the turnaround we've seen 442 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 1: from Marcelo's. 443 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:08,680 Speaker 2: In No, especially not turnaround. 444 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:10,480 Speaker 3: I mean it's you know, I don't know if I've 445 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:13,680 Speaker 3: ever seen anybody as hot as he has for a 446 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:17,960 Speaker 3: full thirteen calendar months now. I mean, you go through 447 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:20,640 Speaker 3: his Baseball Reference or whatever, just go any game log 448 00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:22,080 Speaker 3: and try to find. 449 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 2: That bad week. 450 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:24,920 Speaker 3: I mean, it's it's hard to find the bad week 451 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:27,600 Speaker 3: where every player has the bad week. I mean it's 452 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 3: he you know, there has been one or two, but 453 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:33,880 Speaker 3: it's it's it's not there has there has no never 454 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 3: been any prolonged slump. And it's a credit, you know, 455 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:41,800 Speaker 3: I gotta give Marcel a lot of credit. There's a 456 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 3: lot of people who are always going to say, look, 457 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 3: I don't care about you know, they're they're they're going 458 00:22:46,359 --> 00:22:49,879 Speaker 3: to say, look, he was domestic violence, arrest, the d 459 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 3: UI whatever. You know, I don't care what he does. 460 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:56,200 Speaker 3: I don't like him. He I see him as a 461 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 3: changed man. You know, I don't think he's going out 462 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 3: and you know, partying as much as he did and 463 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:04,920 Speaker 3: this kind of stuff. I'm not going to say he's 464 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:07,040 Speaker 3: white completely out, because I don't know. I'm not I 465 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:08,719 Speaker 3: don't see him away from the stagum. I'm not going 466 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:10,880 Speaker 3: to say that, but I will say this. I think 467 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 3: he committed himself to baseball. He committed himself to his family, 468 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 3: is what he said. And we have seen a big turnaround. 469 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:21,800 Speaker 3: I did not see this coming. I was among those critics. 470 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:23,920 Speaker 3: I was the one saying that he's hitting like the 471 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:26,639 Speaker 3: guy who was blind the year before, Eddie Rosario, you know, 472 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:30,160 Speaker 3: comparing those stats he was. I mean, Marcel was living 473 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 3: at me and you know, was never going to talk 474 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:35,400 Speaker 3: to me. And we went to Toronto last year and he, 475 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:38,399 Speaker 3: you know, I had to ask him a question, you know, 476 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:40,280 Speaker 3: like how how good is it feel to be going 477 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:42,320 Speaker 3: well right now? And he just turned his head and 478 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:45,040 Speaker 3: just said hard work, and you know, he was refusing, 479 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 3: and I get it. I mean I was ripping the guy, 480 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 3: you know, because. 481 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:53,040 Speaker 1: Oh well, we all were up in the guy. 482 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:53,920 Speaker 2: There was no way. 483 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 3: And then all of a sudden, some of her friends, 484 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 3: she goes, he's looking dangerous again. You know, I think, 485 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 3: I mean he started to get that feel when he 486 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:05,199 Speaker 3: was coming to play. You're like, this guy was lost 487 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 3: two weeks ago, and now all of a sudden, he's 488 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 3: been back to being that that feared that that maybe 489 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:14,800 Speaker 3: you saw in some years with the Marlins and Cardinals 490 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 3: and like you said, twenty twenty. But it's a credit 491 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:22,120 Speaker 3: to him that you know, he is loved in that clubhouse, 492 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:25,560 Speaker 3: that that that I can tell you that he makes 493 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:28,960 Speaker 3: the guys laugh. He it to me it felt like 494 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 3: he helped Olson a lot to cut down strike guys 495 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 3: last year. I don't know, I've never been able to 496 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:36,320 Speaker 3: say like exactly I've asked Olson, I've asked I think 497 00:24:36,359 --> 00:24:38,879 Speaker 3: just talking hitting, they just kind of I don't know 498 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:42,040 Speaker 3: if it was one specific thing, but I think he 499 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:45,680 Speaker 3: helped Olsen. You know, maybe maybe he swing a little 500 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:47,160 Speaker 3: earlier in the count I think that was the big 501 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:51,159 Speaker 3: key to Olson last year. But he started, you know, 502 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:53,320 Speaker 3: not not getting behind the counter or you know, jumping 503 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 3: out and taking advantage of pitches in his own early. 504 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 3: But but he's been big for Michael Harris and Olson 505 00:25:01,119 --> 00:25:04,600 Speaker 3: and you see him sitting around laughing. You know, like 506 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 3: I said, people are gonna be mad at him forever 507 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:09,680 Speaker 3: and say he's is he's that, he's changed. He's a 508 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:13,800 Speaker 3: different guy. And you know, in all honesty, you know, 509 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 3: I enjoy being around him right now because you know, 510 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:20,480 Speaker 3: that's that's all, you know, that's all we can ever 511 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:24,040 Speaker 3: ask is for you know, second or third whatever you 512 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:26,480 Speaker 3: want to say, second chance, you take advantage of it. 513 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:27,640 Speaker 2: We all need that in life. 514 00:25:28,680 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, and snit. He'll tell you that guy is beloved, 515 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:36,080 Speaker 1: like not just liked in the clubhouse, but beloved in 516 00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:40,280 Speaker 1: the clubhouse. Like to a man, every single guy loves 517 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:43,000 Speaker 1: Marcela Zuna. And like you said, people could think what 518 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 1: they want to think, but what it ultimately comes down 519 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:47,120 Speaker 1: to is the twenty six guys in that clubhouse and 520 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:51,800 Speaker 1: they love him, and he has earned their respect obviously. 521 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:54,800 Speaker 1: And you know, in a lot of ways, this is 522 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:57,320 Speaker 1: a put up or shut up game. And and when 523 00:25:57,359 --> 00:25:59,239 Speaker 1: you're hitting the way he's hitting and producing the way 524 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 1: he's producing, I mean, you can't really say anything back. 525 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:04,040 Speaker 1: I mean, even if you're somebody who's, you know, hell 526 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:07,280 Speaker 1: bent on on on being negative about him, you can't 527 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 1: do anything but respect what he's done for over a year. 528 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:11,200 Speaker 1: I mean, it's been incredible. 529 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:13,800 Speaker 2: He's been productive. 530 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 3: I don't ever want to see him where a glove 531 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:17,800 Speaker 3: again and play the field but at the same time, 532 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:18,600 Speaker 3: as long. 533 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 2: As he's he's he's just fine. 534 00:26:21,359 --> 00:26:25,240 Speaker 3: And and it's uh, I'll tell you what, Arcia, and 535 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:27,520 Speaker 3: and now he's they just go back and forth with 536 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 3: Azuna and it's laughing and they it's they're ripping on 537 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:32,960 Speaker 3: him and he's trying to rip on them. I always 538 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:35,959 Speaker 3: try to say, who who's the best smack talker in 539 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:36,719 Speaker 3: the clubhouse? 540 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:41,119 Speaker 2: And Olsen seems to get the nod I kind of. 541 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:45,159 Speaker 3: I like Darno's the sneaky he's under the radar, but 542 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:48,240 Speaker 3: he throws the jabs in just walks away real silently. 543 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:49,040 Speaker 2: Uh. 544 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:51,360 Speaker 3: But but but when you get here, the banter there 545 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:55,280 Speaker 3: between Azuna and you known't even know Zuna with with Olsen, 546 00:26:55,359 --> 00:26:59,959 Speaker 3: it's funny, you know, it's uh, he brings in her 547 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:02,240 Speaker 3: g to that clockhouse, There's no doubt about it. Marcel 548 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:03,639 Speaker 3: brings energy to that clockhouse. 549 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:06,480 Speaker 1: Olsen and Aussie are always my favorite because it's like 550 00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:10,960 Speaker 1: the two extremes of like the human body, and the 551 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:14,720 Speaker 1: way they yap at each other from first and second 552 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:18,080 Speaker 1: base is always funny to me. All Right, So I 553 00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 1: know we only got a few more minutes here with both, 554 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:22,680 Speaker 1: so I do gotta ask I have to ask about 555 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:27,000 Speaker 1: Chris Sale because this might go down as one of 556 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 1: I mean, Alex has made a ton of great moves 557 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:31,439 Speaker 1: since he's been the GM. But you know, I like 558 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:33,920 Speaker 1: Von Grissom. But you know, a guy without a clear 559 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:36,600 Speaker 1: defensive position, who maybe not going to have the most 560 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:40,520 Speaker 1: power getting a guy like Chris Sale and then getting 561 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:43,440 Speaker 1: a three year contract, you know, a two plus one 562 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:47,119 Speaker 1: contract Ravon Grissom. You know, at the level Chris Sale 563 00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 1: is pitching, this might go down as one of Alex's 564 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:51,119 Speaker 1: best moves. 565 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:54,280 Speaker 3: No doubt what Chris Sale has done this year, he 566 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:56,199 Speaker 3: proven that he can get back to where he was 567 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:59,720 Speaker 3: there in twenty seventeen, twenty eighteen, which is at that 568 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:02,040 Speaker 3: point in time, he was on a Hall of Fame. 569 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:03,840 Speaker 3: You know, his career was on a Hall of Fame 570 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:07,760 Speaker 3: mark and uh, you know it was he was as 571 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:09,680 Speaker 3: good as a guy in the game. Here's a guy 572 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:13,000 Speaker 3: who was a seven straight years top six Cy Young 573 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:13,879 Speaker 3: Award finishes. 574 00:28:16,119 --> 00:28:17,680 Speaker 2: He's close to being back to that guy. 575 00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:21,240 Speaker 3: Maybe maybe it's not like just absolutely overpowering, but that 576 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:25,440 Speaker 3: slider is devastating. The fastball is pretty you know, it's 577 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:27,439 Speaker 3: still electric at times when he wants to get it 578 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:31,040 Speaker 3: up there, and like you said, I mean to give 579 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:31,840 Speaker 3: up von Grissm. 580 00:28:31,840 --> 00:28:35,359 Speaker 2: Here's a guy didn't have a position. That's you know, all. 581 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:37,520 Speaker 3: Of a sudden he got to down there and in 582 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:40,479 Speaker 3: Fort Myers and and they they shut him down. What 583 00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:43,480 Speaker 3: they called the hamstring growing it was he had the yips, 584 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:47,320 Speaker 3: is what I've been told. And he just you know, 585 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 3: it's it's tough break. I mean, Vaughn's a great kid. 586 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 3: And here's another guy who didn't really like me all 587 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:53,760 Speaker 3: that much because I said he couldn't play short stuff. 588 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:56,200 Speaker 3: But I do like him as a kid. I think 589 00:28:56,280 --> 00:28:59,520 Speaker 3: he's a hard worker. I think he's smart. I think 590 00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:02,200 Speaker 3: he can I think he can hit better than he 591 00:29:02,280 --> 00:29:04,600 Speaker 3: is during he is right now. But it's like you said, 592 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 3: where's the power going to be? You know, it was 593 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 3: he was going to be a limit that he's a 594 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:13,360 Speaker 3: good utility player, and they if the Braves got a 595 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:16,719 Speaker 3: you know, he's certainly right now. Chris Dale is an 596 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:19,560 Speaker 3: all starts caliber pitcher if he gets right, if he continues, 597 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:22,960 Speaker 3: can do this for you know, thirty starts and still 598 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:27,160 Speaker 3: be that guy in the postseason. It's it's yeah, you're right. 599 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:29,720 Speaker 3: Alex has had a lot of great traits, but but 600 00:29:29,840 --> 00:29:32,480 Speaker 3: this one may be the best. You know. 601 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 1: I didn't love the I didn't love the extension at 602 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:37,240 Speaker 1: first because I kind of like not having guaranteed money 603 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:39,320 Speaker 1: for him next year in case he got hurt again. 604 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:41,520 Speaker 1: But you know, they got a two plus one. They 605 00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:44,720 Speaker 1: got three years of team control. If he's anywhere close 606 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:47,280 Speaker 1: to this, dude obviously got a knock on wood with sale. 607 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:50,200 Speaker 1: You know he's got an injury. You know, history like 608 00:29:50,240 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 1: a CVS receipt, so you know, you always got to 609 00:29:52,880 --> 00:29:56,600 Speaker 1: knock on wood. But the way he's looked has been incredible. 610 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:01,760 Speaker 3: That slider just you know, I'm seems about two or 611 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:04,760 Speaker 3: three starts ago, and you know, I asked Matt Olkson again, 612 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:06,920 Speaker 3: as that slider looked as good as it did when 613 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:11,360 Speaker 3: you faced it wherever that was eighteen or nineteen, and 614 00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:12,960 Speaker 3: he said it might be better. And then I went 615 00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:16,680 Speaker 3: upstairs and started looking at run value and that kind 616 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:19,880 Speaker 3: of stuff for the slider, and I think we did, 617 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:22,480 Speaker 3: you know, run value for nine innings and it was 618 00:30:22,560 --> 00:30:26,200 Speaker 3: actually higher, you know, and you know, there was some 619 00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:30,360 Speaker 3: tangible evidence that the slider might be even better than 620 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:33,440 Speaker 3: it was before. And one thing that you know that 621 00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:36,680 Speaker 3: we have been reminded of with with Sale is the 622 00:30:36,760 --> 00:30:39,600 Speaker 3: importance of a healthy offseason. I mean, he just to 623 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:42,480 Speaker 3: be able to come to spring training ready to go. 624 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:46,320 Speaker 3: It's just so so vital. I mean we how many 625 00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:49,920 Speaker 3: times have we seen it? Just you know, we saw 626 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:54,360 Speaker 3: it with Minor Mike Minor, Remember he had that little 627 00:30:54,360 --> 00:30:57,200 Speaker 3: setback that one year, and and then what it did 628 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:00,320 Speaker 3: to Kyle Wright and just and then these are just 629 00:31:00,680 --> 00:31:04,000 Speaker 3: two of many examples. But when you there's any kind 630 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:06,920 Speaker 3: of interruption or you know, you're any kind of limitations 631 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:10,840 Speaker 3: heading into that, that's in spring training. It's it's tough 632 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:13,800 Speaker 3: to to get on track. And and for Sale more, 633 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:16,280 Speaker 3: you know, not only get on track, but just to 634 00:31:16,280 --> 00:31:19,720 Speaker 3: stay healthy. But he said he did everything that strengthened 635 00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:22,400 Speaker 3: that shoulder and everything. And I'll tell you what, it's 636 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:24,680 Speaker 3: a lot of fun to watch him pitch every five, six, 637 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:26,000 Speaker 3: seven days whatever we're doing that. 638 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:27,960 Speaker 2: That's the other thing. It's been cool with what the 639 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:28,680 Speaker 2: Brasy duns. 640 00:31:29,120 --> 00:31:32,800 Speaker 3: You know, with Lopez with Sale, you know the scheduling, 641 00:31:32,920 --> 00:31:35,160 Speaker 3: you know, I don't two or three times they've probably 642 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:40,200 Speaker 3: started on regular rest, and uh, that's gonna be that's 643 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:41,440 Speaker 3: gonna be huge down the stretch. 644 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:44,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, and doing again today. That's why Ray curR is 645 00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:49,200 Speaker 1: starting today for Ronaldo to give everybody another day. All right, 646 00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:50,719 Speaker 1: last question for Bow and then we're gonna let both 647 00:31:50,720 --> 00:31:53,600 Speaker 1: get out of here. You know, this is a big 648 00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:56,520 Speaker 1: question in the off season. Everybody's wondering, is this the 649 00:31:56,560 --> 00:31:59,280 Speaker 1: swan song for Max Freed? Do you think this is it? 650 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:03,880 Speaker 1: Or is there still some remote hope that Max Reed 651 00:32:03,920 --> 00:32:05,120 Speaker 1: will be signed after this year. 652 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:08,880 Speaker 3: I guess you'd say there could be some hope, but 653 00:32:10,200 --> 00:32:12,520 Speaker 3: I'm not expecting it. I mean, I think even as 654 00:32:12,600 --> 00:32:16,200 Speaker 3: little last year. I remember before the season, before twenty 655 00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:19,520 Speaker 3: twenty three started, you know, I was kind of comparing 656 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:25,200 Speaker 3: the rundown numbers covers from done and then I can't 657 00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:26,760 Speaker 3: remember who else may have been there, but I was 658 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:29,640 Speaker 3: asking another agent, what do you think it'll take to 659 00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:32,440 Speaker 3: get Max? And he was he replied, doesn't matter, He's 660 00:32:32,480 --> 00:32:34,360 Speaker 3: not staying in Atlanta. 661 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:36,600 Speaker 2: So I mean, and that was an agent who's pretty 662 00:32:37,080 --> 00:32:37,640 Speaker 2: dialed in. 663 00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:40,080 Speaker 3: I mean, he doesn't know Max, and it's not Max's agent, 664 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:42,840 Speaker 3: but at the same time, it's somebody I respected, you know. 665 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:46,360 Speaker 3: I just I think Max is if he could keep 666 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:48,840 Speaker 3: doing what he's doing right here. Now, You're you're looking 667 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:51,120 Speaker 3: at close to thirty million dollars a year. I think, 668 00:32:51,520 --> 00:32:54,360 Speaker 3: you know, some of the injuries recently have are going 669 00:32:54,400 --> 00:32:56,840 Speaker 3: to change the market. But is it going to change 670 00:32:56,880 --> 00:32:58,800 Speaker 3: the dollars or is it just going to change the 671 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:02,760 Speaker 3: years for starting pitch free agent, starting the pictures. I 672 00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:08,280 Speaker 3: think he's going to get you know that that close 673 00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:10,520 Speaker 3: to thirty million dollars a year and he's over he's 674 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:12,440 Speaker 3: over thirty years old. If he's going to get something 675 00:33:12,640 --> 00:33:15,840 Speaker 3: like five six years, No, I don't. That's not Alex's 676 00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:19,040 Speaker 3: em up, you know for somebody that age, I see, 677 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:23,640 Speaker 3: that's I see those dollars going elsewhere. So at the 678 00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:26,160 Speaker 3: same time, you know, Max may want to pitch out 679 00:33:26,160 --> 00:33:29,760 Speaker 3: there and on the West Coast, I don't know. But 680 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:34,360 Speaker 3: at the same time, you know, I I think you 681 00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:37,440 Speaker 3: got to enjoy what Max does this year. My expectation 682 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:40,560 Speaker 3: is that he'll be gone, just like my expectation was 683 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:41,560 Speaker 3: that Freddy would be back. 684 00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:44,280 Speaker 2: So who knows. 685 00:33:44,840 --> 00:33:47,360 Speaker 1: I mean, it's so tough. It's so tough, Like I 686 00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:49,320 Speaker 1: never in a million years thought Freddy Freeman when they 687 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:52,720 Speaker 1: wear another uniform. Uh, every every single time somebody asked 688 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:55,480 Speaker 1: us about it. I would just always say it's going 689 00:33:55,560 --> 00:33:57,360 Speaker 1: to get done, like, don't don't even worry about it. 690 00:33:57,360 --> 00:33:59,640 Speaker 1: It's going to get done. And then obviously it never 691 00:33:59,680 --> 00:34:03,240 Speaker 1: got done. So and when these guys, when these elite 692 00:34:03,240 --> 00:34:06,360 Speaker 1: guys hit free agency, well, you know, like Freddy did. 693 00:34:06,680 --> 00:34:08,759 Speaker 1: Danzby's not really an elite guy, but he was. You know, 694 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:09,880 Speaker 1: he had a really good year of the year he 695 00:34:09,920 --> 00:34:11,960 Speaker 1: went to free agency. And then Max. Of course, I 696 00:34:11,960 --> 00:34:13,680 Speaker 1: don't think you can ever expect the Braves to be 697 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:17,760 Speaker 1: the top dollar guy. I mean, they're just not that team. 698 00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:19,600 Speaker 1: And Alex is not that GM. He used to be 699 00:34:19,640 --> 00:34:22,120 Speaker 1: that GM in Toronto, but he does not like giving big, 700 00:34:22,160 --> 00:34:25,399 Speaker 1: big money, big contracts to pitchers for good reason. So yeah, 701 00:34:25,480 --> 00:34:27,520 Speaker 1: I know it's sad for people, but in agreement with Bo, 702 00:34:27,680 --> 00:34:29,600 Speaker 1: I think this is probably a swan song for for 703 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:33,280 Speaker 1: Max in Atlanta. All Right, Bo, well, I appreciate you, buddy, 704 00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:34,279 Speaker 1: I appreciate you coming on. 705 00:34:34,840 --> 00:34:37,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, anytime, let's do it, let's do it regularly. 706 00:34:37,520 --> 00:34:41,000 Speaker 1: Just let me know whatever we're gonna do, we're gonna 707 00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:43,080 Speaker 1: get a schedule and we're gonna keep bow on because, 708 00:34:43,120 --> 00:34:45,080 Speaker 1: like I said, he's been covering the team. I mean 709 00:34:45,080 --> 00:34:47,480 Speaker 1: We got people listening that haven't been alive for twenty 710 00:34:47,480 --> 00:34:49,160 Speaker 1: five years and Bo has been covering the team since 711 00:34:49,200 --> 00:34:50,200 Speaker 1: two thousand and one, so. 712 00:34:52,280 --> 00:34:52,520 Speaker 2: Time. 713 00:34:54,080 --> 00:34:55,560 Speaker 1: And like I said, Bo's got a book coming out, 714 00:34:55,600 --> 00:34:59,000 Speaker 1: comes out June fourth, the franchise Curiated History of the Braves. 715 00:34:59,080 --> 00:35:01,120 Speaker 1: Chipper did the ford to make sure to check that out. 716 00:35:01,120 --> 00:35:02,840 Speaker 1: But we appreciate you as always, Buddy. We'll talk to 717 00:35:02,840 --> 00:35:03,279 Speaker 1: you next time. 718 00:35:03,280 --> 00:35:04,440 Speaker 2: Oka. Thank you, thank you.