1
00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,400
Speaker 1: Welcome one and all to the Heroy Territory Podcast. My

2
00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:24,959
Speaker 1: name is Sean Coleman. Hope wherever you are and wherever

3
00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:27,960
Speaker 1: you are listening, you are having a great start to

4
00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:29,960
Speaker 1: your week. I can tell you one thing on my end,

5
00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,040
Speaker 1: it is good to have my boys backs. Still not

6
00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:35,040
Speaker 1: one hundred percent, but we are getting there and is

7
00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:38,639
Speaker 1: always good to be with my podcast partner Stephen Talbert.

8
00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,720
Speaker 1: It's awesome when it comes to talking Braves baseball right now.

9
00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:44,040
Speaker 1: I know that it's not the most opportune time when

10
00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:46,240
Speaker 1: it comes to how the season has gone. About nine

11
00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:49,479
Speaker 1: games now, the Braves have won in a row, eleven

12
00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:52,440
Speaker 1: to five victory over the Nationals. The offense once again

13
00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,760
Speaker 1: on fire. Ronald Acunda Junior went deep, Michael Harris had

14
00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:58,680
Speaker 1: a great game, Drake Baldwin had another good game. Just

15
00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:03,240
Speaker 1: a lot of awesome things to talk about. But yet

16
00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:07,520
Speaker 1: it's the same story rent swash repeat that we've seen

17
00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:10,360
Speaker 1: over the past year plus. Just as soon as you

18
00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:12,920
Speaker 1: really start to feel good about the unfilled product of

19
00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:17,560
Speaker 1: the Braves, some unfortunate injury occurs that takes the headlines

20
00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,080
Speaker 1: and that once again, of course, is the case. Again.

21
00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:22,600
Speaker 1: My name is Sean Coleman Ham a Territory part of

22
00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:26,240
Speaker 1: the Foul Territory family of podcasts. As always, my podcast

23
00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:29,039
Speaker 1: partner Stephen Talvert's with me and Stephen. That's where we

24
00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:32,360
Speaker 1: are once again, the unfortunate news Ozzy Alby's for the

25
00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:35,399
Speaker 1: second straight season. I'm not exactly sure if it's the

26
00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:39,520
Speaker 1: exact same injury, but after tonight, during tonight's game, when

27
00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:41,600
Speaker 1: he went to the plate took a swing, it was

28
00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:45,080
Speaker 1: revealed that he broke the handmate bone in the same

29
00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:47,520
Speaker 1: risks where he had a broken bone last year. It

30
00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:49,320
Speaker 1: may or may not have been the same injury. It's

31
00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:53,240
Speaker 1: a significant injury to the same risk and just an

32
00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:57,360
Speaker 1: absolutely unfortunate into the season for Ozzy Alby's, who here

33
00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:02,080
Speaker 1: recently just cannot buy a break when it to avoiding injuries.

34
00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:08,800
Speaker 2: Yeah, what's up, buddy. So it it is wild that

35
00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:10,840
Speaker 2: every time the Braves get on any sort of like

36
00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:15,160
Speaker 2: positive run, they just they catch an injury. They catch

37
00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:18,760
Speaker 2: like a serious injury by somebody. And I know, obviously

38
00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,239
Speaker 2: the season was winding down and Ozzie, you know, Ozzie

39
00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:26,520
Speaker 2: had been a lot better lately. I had a lot

40
00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:28,760
Speaker 2: of people we were talking about this on Twitter when

41
00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,720
Speaker 2: it happened like what's going on with Ozzy's like hand wrist,

42
00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:34,760
Speaker 2: And you know, there was a lot of conversation about it.

43
00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:37,480
Speaker 2: And one thing you gotta remember with Ozzie is one

44
00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:42,120
Speaker 2: the way he holds the knob of the bat, it's

45
00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:44,280
Speaker 2: you know, it's his kind of hand is kind of

46
00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:46,240
Speaker 2: off of it, and so that knob of the bat

47
00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:48,520
Speaker 2: kind of digs into his hand a little bit, the

48
00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:51,720
Speaker 2: way he holds the knob of the bat. And obviously

49
00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,320
Speaker 2: on it's his left hand. So on his right hand swing,

50
00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:56,680
Speaker 2: it's his bottom hand. On his left hand swing, it's

51
00:02:56,680 --> 00:03:00,360
Speaker 2: his top hand. But you know, on that right handed swing,

52
00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:02,639
Speaker 2: there's just a lot of torque, a lot of pressure

53
00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:06,600
Speaker 2: on those bones right there. And you know, he already

54
00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:09,440
Speaker 2: swings an incredibly heavy bat. We've talked about that a lot,

55
00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:11,960
Speaker 2: that Ozzie swings one of the heaviest bats in the game.

56
00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:14,440
Speaker 2: He's not a big dude, but power is a big

57
00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:17,000
Speaker 2: part of his game. So you know, he uses a

58
00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:19,320
Speaker 2: heavy bat to kind of make up for the fact

59
00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:21,360
Speaker 2: that he's not the biggest guy in the world. But yeah,

60
00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:25,760
Speaker 2: it's just I think he is somebody who's just very

61
00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:29,480
Speaker 2: clearly naturally susceptible to this where he's just gonna deal

62
00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:32,679
Speaker 2: with hand and wrist injuries. Just again, the size of

63
00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:34,520
Speaker 2: the bat, he swings, the way he swings it, the

64
00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:37,520
Speaker 2: way he holds it. You know, this was a non

65
00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:40,720
Speaker 2: contact injury. This was a just on a swing. I

66
00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:42,120
Speaker 2: think he was a swing and a miss if I

67
00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:43,960
Speaker 2: remember coructly, he didn't make contact with the ball. He

68
00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:47,320
Speaker 2: just swung and broke a bone in his hand. And

69
00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:51,040
Speaker 2: that's that's that's concerning because it just seems like it's

70
00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,920
Speaker 2: something that he's gonna have to constantly deal with. You know,

71
00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:56,440
Speaker 2: if you get hit by a pitch, you know it's

72
00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:58,440
Speaker 2: just bad luck, but it's not something you're worried about

73
00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,600
Speaker 2: like continuing to happen. But when it's a non contact injury,

74
00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:03,960
Speaker 2: and it's very clearly by the way you hold and

75
00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,240
Speaker 2: swing the bat, you know, it's a different level of

76
00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:10,040
Speaker 2: concern because now you're wondering, like can it keep happening?

77
00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:14,440
Speaker 2: And we've seen with Ozzie it usually has a pretty

78
00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:18,240
Speaker 2: strong lingering effect. You know, the recovery for this is

79
00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:20,279
Speaker 2: only like eight weeks, and so he'll be ready for

80
00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:23,279
Speaker 2: spring training. Like that's not the concern. The concern is

81
00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:28,520
Speaker 2: for him specifically, there always seems to be a lengthy

82
00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:32,599
Speaker 2: period of time where this this injury zaps him of

83
00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:35,440
Speaker 2: his power and it lingers for quite a while. And

84
00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:37,040
Speaker 2: so now you got it. Now you're just kind of

85
00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,240
Speaker 2: left with this question of, like, what is his even

86
00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:43,960
Speaker 2: if he's gonna be healthy come spring training, what does

87
00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:47,000
Speaker 2: his offensive production look like? Which was already sort of

88
00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,640
Speaker 2: a question because what we went through this year, specifically

89
00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:51,640
Speaker 2: in the first half as he was recovering from his

90
00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:55,320
Speaker 2: last rist injury. So it's just more questions.

91
00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:59,120
Speaker 1: It absolutely is. It will start with Ozzy because you

92
00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:00,960
Speaker 1: know we're gonna get it. You know, in this episode

93
00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:02,840
Speaker 1: we're going to discuss what it means for Ozzie and

94
00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:05,800
Speaker 1: a couple of different perspectives, but also the ripple effect

95
00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:08,760
Speaker 1: for the rest of the roster because this now does impact,

96
00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:12,359
Speaker 1: you know, how the off season priorities are, without a doubt,

97
00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:14,839
Speaker 1: But let's start with Ozzie, and we'll start with the

98
00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:18,200
Speaker 1: fact that that for Ozzie, at some point in time,

99
00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:21,920
Speaker 1: I feel that Ozzie is a wonderful human, wonderful player.

100
00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,320
Speaker 1: But I don't care how good of a person you are,

101
00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:27,719
Speaker 1: how mentally strong you are things such as that Ozzie

102
00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:31,000
Speaker 1: seems even killed no matter what, I would be very

103
00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:33,320
Speaker 1: surprised if at some point this does not take some

104
00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:36,640
Speaker 1: mental toll on Ozzie as well, because you have to remember,

105
00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:40,120
Speaker 1: this is starting to pile up injuries. Twenty twenty he

106
00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,839
Speaker 1: missed more than half of the sixty game season. Twenty

107
00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:46,039
Speaker 1: twenty two, he missed you know, you know, nearly one

108
00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:50,160
Speaker 1: hundred games. Last year, he missed it over sixty games.

109
00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:52,360
Speaker 1: It was due to foot injuries. Last year was due

110
00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:54,600
Speaker 1: to the wrist injury. And I know that he's played

111
00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,760
Speaker 1: nearly every game this year. But now this rest injury

112
00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:02,080
Speaker 1: occurs again. It's significant injuries piling up on significant injuries,

113
00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:04,840
Speaker 1: and I obviously think that Ozzie will at some point

114
00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:08,159
Speaker 1: in time overcome this. But as we mentioned, there's a

115
00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:12,080
Speaker 1: difference between this injury healing to the point to where

116
00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:15,720
Speaker 1: he can play and Ozzie being to the level that

117
00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:19,240
Speaker 1: this Braves team clearly needs for him to be, which

118
00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:21,359
Speaker 1: is at least being at a you know, around one

119
00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:24,360
Speaker 1: hundred WRSC plus level type of player, and he can

120
00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:26,520
Speaker 1: certainly be that. He's been at about one hundred and

121
00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:29,080
Speaker 1: ten WRSC plus over the past five weeks and you

122
00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,440
Speaker 1: see the impact that it's had on the offense. But

123
00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:33,839
Speaker 1: that's the big thing when it comes to Ozzie Stephen,

124
00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,119
Speaker 1: is that do I feel like that he could get

125
00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:41,560
Speaker 1: back eventually at some point in time and be in

126
00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:43,840
Speaker 1: the all star level of Ozzie that we've seen over

127
00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:48,440
Speaker 1: the past five weeks. Yes, But can the Braves take

128
00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:51,279
Speaker 1: on the risk of it taking him several months to

129
00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:54,800
Speaker 1: get back to that level next year? That's where the

130
00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:59,159
Speaker 1: big question lies. And the likelihood of us seeing in

131
00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:01,279
Speaker 1: twenty six we saw from him in the first half

132
00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:05,680
Speaker 1: of twenty five. It just exponentially increased because of the

133
00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:09,400
Speaker 1: type of impact this sort of injury has on his

134
00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:12,960
Speaker 1: approach at the plate to be productive. Even if he's healed,

135
00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:15,840
Speaker 1: even if he gets mentally back to where he needs

136
00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:19,160
Speaker 1: to be fully trust in his swing every single pitch

137
00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:21,760
Speaker 1: that he sees, that's gonna take a while, because we've

138
00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:23,800
Speaker 1: already witnessed the fact that it takes a while.

139
00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:27,320
Speaker 2: Yeah, So let's just kind of lay it out here.

140
00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,200
Speaker 2: So obviously, Ozsy, for people who have been following all

141
00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:34,440
Speaker 2: year are just sir Braves fans and know this Ozzy,

142
00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:38,360
Speaker 2: the guaranteed portion of Ozzie's contract is up after this year.

143
00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,640
Speaker 2: After this year, it starts the team options that were

144
00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,400
Speaker 2: tacked on to the end of his deal. So next

145
00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:47,000
Speaker 2: year Ozzy has a team option for seven million dollars.

146
00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,160
Speaker 2: And of course, the critical part of that, what we've

147
00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:51,280
Speaker 2: talked about many times and we'll talk about again, is

148
00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:53,680
Speaker 2: that you've got a four million dollar buyout attached to it.

149
00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,600
Speaker 2: So even if you decline it, you're only saving three

150
00:07:56,640 --> 00:07:58,560
Speaker 2: million bucks because you got to pay this four million

151
00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:02,120
Speaker 2: dollar buyout. And the way Ozzie looked in the first half,

152
00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:05,840
Speaker 2: there was real conversation like can we do this again?

153
00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:09,800
Speaker 2: Because he looked awful, Like you know, some of it

154
00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:13,320
Speaker 2: is profile based because Ozzie such power is such a

155
00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:15,840
Speaker 2: big part of Ozzie's game because he's a he's never

156
00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:18,080
Speaker 2: been a high on base guy. And when you're not

157
00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:20,760
Speaker 2: a high on base guy, you have to slug otherwise

158
00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:22,440
Speaker 2: you got nothing, You got nothing to build on. This

159
00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:25,920
Speaker 2: is the Michael Harris problem. So if you're not slugging,

160
00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:28,440
Speaker 2: you got a problem. And for the first three and

161
00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:31,080
Speaker 2: a half months, Ozzie wasn't slugging, and there was all

162
00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:33,840
Speaker 2: these tough conversations about like is it risk. Is it risk?

163
00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:36,319
Speaker 2: You know, is it because it's just lingering issues from

164
00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,120
Speaker 2: the wrist. Well, in the second half, he started slugging more,

165
00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:41,440
Speaker 2: he started you know, he started looking more like himself.

166
00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:43,920
Speaker 2: But now we have another risk injury or you know,

167
00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:45,520
Speaker 2: hand risk, whatever.

168
00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:45,719
Speaker 3: So.

169
00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:50,600
Speaker 2: That's gonna be the concern going into the next year.

170
00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:53,000
Speaker 2: I still think the option gets picked up because again,

171
00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:56,360
Speaker 2: it's such small savings. It's you're saving three million bucks

172
00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:59,360
Speaker 2: for a guy who's beloved in the clubhouse. You know,

173
00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,959
Speaker 2: you're star player. Ronald Comune Junior is like best friends

174
00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:04,200
Speaker 2: with this guy. So I don't I'm still not to

175
00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:05,880
Speaker 2: the point where I think they're gonna decline the option,

176
00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:09,959
Speaker 2: but there are now real concerns of like what you're

177
00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,800
Speaker 2: gonna get from him next year? And you know, do

178
00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:18,480
Speaker 2: they bring in a utility guy that can play second base?

179
00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:22,120
Speaker 2: Do they trust Nacho Alvarez to be that guy? How

180
00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:25,520
Speaker 2: much protection do they give themselves against Ozzie not being

181
00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:28,839
Speaker 2: himself next year, assuming they pick up the option, which

182
00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:30,800
Speaker 2: again I think they will and I think you do

183
00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:34,560
Speaker 2: as well. How much you know, how much of a

184
00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:36,840
Speaker 2: safety net do they give themselves on the roster with

185
00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,520
Speaker 2: another utility player maybe like a super utility player, somebody

186
00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:43,480
Speaker 2: who's closer to a starter level player than a bench

187
00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,959
Speaker 2: level player. There are things you could do on the

188
00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:48,040
Speaker 2: roster to protect yourself a little bit. Even if you

189
00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:51,199
Speaker 2: do pick up the option, it's just one more question

190
00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:53,160
Speaker 2: And the Braves already had plenty of quipment. The Braves

191
00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:55,920
Speaker 2: already had enough questions this offseason. They did not need

192
00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:59,959
Speaker 2: is another injury to the wrist hand of Ozzie Albi

193
00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:03,760
Speaker 2: is to now throw into question, you know, his ability

194
00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:05,760
Speaker 2: to hit for power, which is such a massive part

195
00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:09,240
Speaker 2: of his profile. Like they didn't need that, and so

196
00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:12,240
Speaker 2: you know that's what that's why tonight sucked. But yeah,

197
00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:14,600
Speaker 2: what what do they do with the option? Again? We

198
00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:16,520
Speaker 2: think it's gonna get picked up, and then what do

199
00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:20,760
Speaker 2: they do with the roster to protect themselves against Ozzie

200
00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:22,680
Speaker 2: not being himself going into next year?

201
00:10:23,679 --> 00:10:25,800
Speaker 1: And I'm in full agreement with you. I think there's

202
00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:28,520
Speaker 1: no question that they pick up the option. What he

203
00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:31,200
Speaker 1: means to the club with Ozzie, I think that it

204
00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:34,520
Speaker 1: Some may not put value on this, but with Ozzie,

205
00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:36,839
Speaker 1: I do think that you put value on it more

206
00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:39,160
Speaker 1: than others. What he's been to the squad, both auto

207
00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:42,160
Speaker 1: off the field, the clubhouse. You know, impact that he has,

208
00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:44,520
Speaker 1: the fact that he's best friends with your most pivotal

209
00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:48,360
Speaker 1: player in Ronald Acuya Junior. Listen, that matters. Those intangible

210
00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:51,720
Speaker 1: aspects of Ozzie matter and they should better. That'll Loade

211
00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:53,360
Speaker 1: is the reason why I think you pick up an option.

212
00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:55,880
Speaker 1: The other thing, though, that I want to make clear

213
00:10:56,600 --> 00:11:00,240
Speaker 1: is that we're talking about the worst case scenario. What

214
00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:03,559
Speaker 1: if Ozzy has this leaguer once again and he becomes,

215
00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:06,679
Speaker 1: you know, again one of the least productive offensive second

216
00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:08,960
Speaker 1: basement in the game for much of next season like

217
00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,520
Speaker 1: we saw this season. We know the Braves really can

218
00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:15,240
Speaker 1: out handle that. But I also want to point out that,

219
00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:18,920
Speaker 1: say he does get fully healthy once again, and maybe

220
00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:21,160
Speaker 1: next year he is back to produce them like he

221
00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:24,280
Speaker 1: is right now, and Ozzie Albi's who over a five

222
00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:27,400
Speaker 1: or six week stretch next year is producing the one

223
00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:30,480
Speaker 1: ten WRC plus, especially if we're trying to win from

224
00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:34,000
Speaker 1: the second base position, that is more than worth, you know,

225
00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:36,440
Speaker 1: the three million or so in savings. It's it's the

226
00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:39,000
Speaker 1: equivalent of the seven million that they'll pay next year.

227
00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:41,160
Speaker 1: So it's not like it's going to take much for

228
00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:44,200
Speaker 1: him to earn his contract. That's another reason why I

229
00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:47,080
Speaker 1: think it's worth picking up the option. As much as

230
00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:50,360
Speaker 1: we want to talk about potential worst case scenarios and

231
00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:52,920
Speaker 1: you know how this potentially has a negative effect on

232
00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:56,360
Speaker 1: Ossie in the offseason, there still is a realistic outcome

233
00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:58,840
Speaker 1: where he could come back sooner than he did this year,

234
00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:01,839
Speaker 1: come back sooner next year, and be productive. So that's

235
00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:03,800
Speaker 1: why I think they're gonna pick up the option, and

236
00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:06,120
Speaker 1: that's why not. I don't think they're gonna do anything

237
00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:09,360
Speaker 1: other to continue with him as the primary second baseman

238
00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:13,200
Speaker 1: for much of next season. It's just what you do

239
00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:17,240
Speaker 1: with that insurance policy. It's what you do with the

240
00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:20,199
Speaker 1: second base step. Because you've already been through the worst

241
00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,840
Speaker 1: case scenario of if he's not productive. You saw how

242
00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:24,560
Speaker 1: big of an impact you had that in twenty five,

243
00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:27,319
Speaker 1: you really can't go through it again in twenty six.

244
00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:31,720
Speaker 2: Yeah, and listen, they have Nacho, and Nacho has certainly

245
00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,840
Speaker 2: I think I think Nacho has certainly increased his value

246
00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:40,920
Speaker 2: this year versus where it was when when the year started.

247
00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:44,480
Speaker 2: I think he is now seen by probably the team

248
00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:48,319
Speaker 2: and certainly a lot of fans as a perfectly suitable

249
00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:52,760
Speaker 2: utility infield player who can play second, who can play third,

250
00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:55,000
Speaker 2: probably can play shortstop in a pinch. You don't want

251
00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:58,120
Speaker 2: to do it for a long term. But again, he's

252
00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:00,960
Speaker 2: more of a probably more of a bench level player.

253
00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:04,199
Speaker 2: Do you need to go get more of a closer

254
00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:07,600
Speaker 2: to a starting level player. Now that you have these

255
00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:10,079
Speaker 2: concerns and we're gonna talk about Kim and shortstop in

256
00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:12,960
Speaker 2: a minute, Now that you have these concerns with Ozzie,

257
00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:15,760
Speaker 2: do you upgrade maybe your utility position. Do you go

258
00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:20,920
Speaker 2: get a Willie Castro type player who could reasonably start

259
00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,440
Speaker 2: on a lot of teams, but at the very least

260
00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:26,360
Speaker 2: can be insurance. Listen, it's a fair question. And the

261
00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:28,400
Speaker 2: other thing you have to consider if you're Alex again,

262
00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:32,880
Speaker 2: is this something that you're worried about continuing to happen

263
00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:35,640
Speaker 2: with Ozzie and the hand and the wrist again, the

264
00:13:35,679 --> 00:13:37,680
Speaker 2: way he holds the bat, the way he swings the bat,

265
00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:40,880
Speaker 2: that the size of bat that he uses, like, that's

266
00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:43,520
Speaker 2: all stuff you have to consider, like this might not

267
00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:47,600
Speaker 2: be the last time this happens to him, because again

268
00:13:47,679 --> 00:13:50,920
Speaker 2: it was a non contact swing. It's an injury that

269
00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:53,079
Speaker 2: is now you know, again, I don't know if it's

270
00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:55,280
Speaker 2: the exact same injury as the last year, but it

271
00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:57,280
Speaker 2: is close enough to the same injury last year where

272
00:13:57,320 --> 00:14:00,400
Speaker 2: you are concerned that this is something that's gonna continue

273
00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:05,040
Speaker 2: to happen to him. So you know, that's just those

274
00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:07,520
Speaker 2: are just things Alex Is gonna have to consider. And

275
00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:10,360
Speaker 2: so yeah, it's just another question that they didn't quite

276
00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:13,840
Speaker 2: that they didn't need. But I do think again to

277
00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:15,800
Speaker 2: kind of wrap up Ozzie, I think they're going to

278
00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:17,480
Speaker 2: pick up the option. I think he'll be the starting

279
00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:21,120
Speaker 2: second basement next year. I do wonder if they increase

280
00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,000
Speaker 2: the level of insurance they have on the roster at

281
00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:27,840
Speaker 2: that position to maybe a starting close to a starting

282
00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:31,000
Speaker 2: level player on the bench to be insurance for Ozzy

283
00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:33,960
Speaker 2: in case it we get another twenty twenty five where

284
00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:36,400
Speaker 2: he's just he just doesn't look like he can hit

285
00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:38,800
Speaker 2: for a large chunk of the season like it happened

286
00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:39,720
Speaker 2: like happened this year.

287
00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:43,760
Speaker 1: Absolutely, And you know, we talk about these questions, We've

288
00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:47,480
Speaker 1: talked about, you know, questions, you know, the same type

289
00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:49,640
Speaker 1: of question being there, even if it's asked in a

290
00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:52,720
Speaker 1: different way for over a year plus or more questions

291
00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:57,080
Speaker 1: rising than answers. His time goes on. I definitely think

292
00:14:57,080 --> 00:15:00,560
Speaker 1: that this raises more questions. But one question question that

293
00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:04,320
Speaker 1: we do know the answer to. The Braves cannot afford

294
00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:07,480
Speaker 1: to go into next season. Would there being a big

295
00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:11,040
Speaker 1: chance that they once again have league worst production up

296
00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:13,800
Speaker 1: the middle when you come to center field, shortstop in

297
00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:17,960
Speaker 1: second base. More on how this Ozzie injury impacts the

298
00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:21,000
Speaker 1: roster as a whole, especially up the middle when it

299
00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:23,440
Speaker 1: comes to the Braves position players. More on mad in

300
00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:26,000
Speaker 1: just a moment after a word from our partners.

301
00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:28,640
Speaker 4: Football is back and so is your shot at big wins.

302
00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,000
Speaker 4: With Draft Kings Pick six, the official data fantasy partner

303
00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:32,840
Speaker 4: of the NFL, your game day instincts can score your

304
00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:35,480
Speaker 4: real money fast. Here's the play. Just pick more or

305
00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:37,840
Speaker 4: less on two or more player stats, a breakout rookies

306
00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:39,880
Speaker 4: to elite qbs, and I'm not the upside that every

307
00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:42,520
Speaker 4: snap brings. The Betterer calls the bigger your payoff and

308
00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:45,120
Speaker 4: here's the kickoff bonus. New Jocking customers give fifty dollars

309
00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:46,640
Speaker 4: a bonus picks, which is a five dollars entry on

310
00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:49,680
Speaker 4: your first pick set this season. Player player instincts Downland

311
00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:52,320
Speaker 4: Draft Kings. Pick six app right now and use code foul.

312
00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:55,240
Speaker 4: That's code foul. Play just five dollars, give fifty dollars

313
00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:57,680
Speaker 4: and pick six bonus picks. Make the call, ride the

314
00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:00,640
Speaker 4: upside and partnership with Draft Kings. Pick six crown is.

315
00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:03,920
Speaker 5: Yours gambling problem called one eight hundred. Gambler Help is

316
00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:06,640
Speaker 5: available for problem gambling called eight eight eight seventy nine

317
00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:09,960
Speaker 5: seven seven seven seven or visit CCPG dot orgon Connecticut.

318
00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:12,680
Speaker 5: Must be eighteen and over age and eligibility restrictions vary

319
00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:15,480
Speaker 5: by jurisdiction. Pick six not available everywhere, including New York

320
00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:18,240
Speaker 5: and Ontario. Void were prohibited one per new customer. Bonus

321
00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:20,920
Speaker 5: awarded as non withdrawal. Pick six bonus picks that expire

322
00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:23,320
Speaker 5: in fourteen days limited time offer see terms at Pick

323
00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:25,520
Speaker 5: six dot DraftKings dot com slash promos.

324
00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:30,720
Speaker 1: So Stephen, I think that it's best to kind of

325
00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:34,720
Speaker 1: sum up how when you take this Aussie injury, you

326
00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:37,440
Speaker 1: look at it, how it impacts the off season, and

327
00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:40,920
Speaker 1: basically how the ripple effect makes the impact of this

328
00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:43,840
Speaker 1: injury go beyond second base. I think a couple of

329
00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:47,280
Speaker 1: numbers really put it into perspective in the first half

330
00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:51,280
Speaker 1: of the season, the Braves were eleven games under five hundred.

331
00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:53,920
Speaker 1: After tonight's win. In the second half of the season,

332
00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:57,240
Speaker 1: the Braves are now two games above five hundred. So

333
00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:00,600
Speaker 1: there's been a thirteen game swing between the end of

334
00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:04,280
Speaker 1: the first half and where they are in the second half. Like,

335
00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:06,399
Speaker 1: that's how big of a swing they've had, that's how

336
00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:08,479
Speaker 1: much of an improvement. And I know that this recent

337
00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:11,680
Speaker 1: winning streak is a big rigus and why. You can

338
00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:13,679
Speaker 1: point to a lot of different factors, but for me,

339
00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:16,800
Speaker 1: here's a big factor. In the first half of the

340
00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:21,840
Speaker 1: season when you combine production from the Braves center field, shortstop,

341
00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:25,320
Speaker 1: and second base position. When you combine that together, the

342
00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:27,840
Speaker 1: Braves had a fifty eight WRC plus in the first

343
00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:30,520
Speaker 1: half of the season, twenty ninth in the Majors. The

344
00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:32,280
Speaker 1: only team that was worse was the Rockies at a

345
00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:35,160
Speaker 1: fifty four WRC plus. The team with in the twenty

346
00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:38,080
Speaker 1: eighth position had a seventy four WRC plus, So the

347
00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:41,800
Speaker 1: Braves were very bad fifty eight WRC plus from those

348
00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:45,520
Speaker 1: three positions combined in the first half. In the second half,

349
00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,200
Speaker 1: the Braves has simply been league average, a ninety seven

350
00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:53,520
Speaker 1: WRC plus from centerfield, shortstop, and second base combined. But

351
00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:55,520
Speaker 1: you see that that leads to more of a ten

352
00:17:55,840 --> 00:18:00,720
Speaker 1: game positive swing in the record. That's how much production.

353
00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:04,480
Speaker 1: That's how valuable just having league average production from those

354
00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:09,320
Speaker 1: three positions is. And the thing is is that as

355
00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:11,800
Speaker 1: of twenty four hours ago, you had to feel pretty

356
00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:15,280
Speaker 1: confident that with an Ossie being close back to hisself,

357
00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:18,639
Speaker 1: maybe Hassan Kim being our long term answer at shortstop,

358
00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:21,480
Speaker 1: and though Michael Harris has fallen off once again showing

359
00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:24,119
Speaker 1: what he showed, you know, back in August, you had

360
00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:26,720
Speaker 1: to feel pretty good that Lee average production could be

361
00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:30,359
Speaker 1: a decent expectation from those three positions in twenty twenty six.

362
00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:36,040
Speaker 1: But now we're back to having that concern where that's

363
00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:40,359
Speaker 1: now potentially back to being a question. But that's the

364
00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:44,920
Speaker 1: whole thing. The difference between league worst production in those

365
00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:48,560
Speaker 1: three positions and league average production in those three positions,

366
00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:51,200
Speaker 1: that's the difference between the Braves being a playoff team

367
00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:54,399
Speaker 1: and a lottery team. You've got to have league average

368
00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,919
Speaker 1: production combined from those positions, and that now is a

369
00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:00,480
Speaker 1: much bigger question than many of us will becomemfortable with

370
00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:02,000
Speaker 1: going into the off season.

371
00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:07,560
Speaker 2: Yeah, so it starts with Kim in terms of the questions,

372
00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:11,600
Speaker 2: because there's just this player option hanging out there that

373
00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:13,720
Speaker 2: we've talked about. We talked about a bunch obviously the

374
00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:18,679
Speaker 2: night that he got claimed, and you know a lot

375
00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:20,360
Speaker 2: of us were hoping that the Braves might be able

376
00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:23,720
Speaker 2: to work out an extension right after the deal to

377
00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:26,600
Speaker 2: kind of get rid of this. Obviously, Scott Boris is

378
00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,000
Speaker 2: the agent, so that was gonna you know, obviously he's

379
00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:31,000
Speaker 2: not gonna love that when he's got a chance to

380
00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:35,040
Speaker 2: get back on the open market. And since then, Hassan

381
00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:38,920
Speaker 2: Kim has been awesome, And you know, this is I

382
00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:41,360
Speaker 2: remember we did the show and I kind of talked

383
00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:44,560
Speaker 2: about this about the problem with player options is that

384
00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:47,520
Speaker 2: you are tied entirely to the downside of the contract,

385
00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:49,960
Speaker 2: but you only have access to a limited amount of

386
00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:52,040
Speaker 2: the upside of the contract. Because if the guy gets

387
00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:56,640
Speaker 2: really hot, goes nuclear, he's gonna decline the option, he's

388
00:19:56,640 --> 00:19:58,400
Speaker 2: gonna hit the free agent mark and you might lose him.

389
00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:02,640
Speaker 2: And I'm not sure Kim has gone nuclear, but he's

390
00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:05,159
Speaker 2: been really, really good. I mean, he's got like a

391
00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:08,480
Speaker 2: one thirty WRC plus as a Shortstop, which is incredible

392
00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:11,880
Speaker 2: production from that spot. Again, his agent is Scott Morris.

393
00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:15,920
Speaker 2: The odds that he's going to decline this player option

394
00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:19,520
Speaker 2: and hit the open market have increased a bunch. Quite frankly,

395
00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:21,440
Speaker 2: they just have I know, Braves fans don't want to

396
00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:23,760
Speaker 2: hear that. And there's a chance he could still pick

397
00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:26,400
Speaker 2: up the option. There's a chance the Braves could work

398
00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:29,200
Speaker 2: out an entirely different contract and extension of some sort

399
00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:31,600
Speaker 2: where he gets a lot of guaranteed money, gets a

400
00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:35,560
Speaker 2: higher AAV or something. And but you know, this close

401
00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:37,760
Speaker 2: to free agency again, with Scott Boris as your agent,

402
00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:41,560
Speaker 2: I wouldn't count on that. And so I am very

403
00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:44,680
Speaker 2: worried they're gonna lose Kim. I know he loves Atlanta,

404
00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:47,960
Speaker 2: but if he gets to the open market, the odds

405
00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:51,040
Speaker 2: that the Braves are the highest bidder are not usually great.

406
00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:54,480
Speaker 2: So I am officially worried they're gonna lose Kim. And

407
00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:56,440
Speaker 2: then you have this whole question at Shortstop, which we

408
00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:59,720
Speaker 2: had all year until Kim got here. Now you add

409
00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:03,159
Speaker 2: in the injury to Ozzie Alby's at second Michael Harris

410
00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:06,440
Speaker 2: has fallen back off the wagon after that incredible month

411
00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:08,600
Speaker 2: stretch where he was the best player in baseball. He's

412
00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:11,240
Speaker 2: been honestly just as bad as he was in the

413
00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:15,120
Speaker 2: first half since then over about a month. So yeah,

414
00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:17,200
Speaker 2: you're right now you're back to these questions at those

415
00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:20,800
Speaker 2: three positions. It would make things so much easier if

416
00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:23,600
Speaker 2: Kim could be retained, and I know that's not entirely

417
00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:26,240
Speaker 2: up to Alex. This is why player options are such

418
00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:28,240
Speaker 2: a headache to deal with, because he just doesn't have

419
00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:32,720
Speaker 2: any leverage or control here. Bringing Kim back would would

420
00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:38,360
Speaker 2: make things so much easier. If that doesn't happen, it's

421
00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:41,800
Speaker 2: going to get fascinating because, like you said, you already

422
00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:44,200
Speaker 2: got questions with Michael next year, You already got questions

423
00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:46,560
Speaker 2: with Ozzie next year. If you don't bring Kim back

424
00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:50,040
Speaker 2: and you have questions that shortstop next year, I mean,

425
00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:52,200
Speaker 2: I just don't know if you can go into next

426
00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:55,520
Speaker 2: year having those three spots being such offensive questions like

427
00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:57,880
Speaker 2: they were this year. Because we saw what it cost

428
00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:00,720
Speaker 2: the Braves and you brought the numbers up. Its quite

429
00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:02,679
Speaker 2: a bet some of that was guys at the top

430
00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:05,080
Speaker 2: of the lineup two. Of course it wasn't just those guys,

431
00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:08,080
Speaker 2: but having at least league average production for those guys

432
00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:11,680
Speaker 2: is a big deal, and it would just make things

433
00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:13,320
Speaker 2: so much easier if they could work out a deal

434
00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:15,960
Speaker 2: and get Kim locked back in for next year in

435
00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:18,760
Speaker 2: the next couple of years, I would just make everything

436
00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:19,520
Speaker 2: so much easier.

437
00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:21,960
Speaker 1: And the thing, the reason why it's so important to

438
00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:25,600
Speaker 1: retain him is because of his consistency, right because we're

439
00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:28,919
Speaker 1: talking about league average position or league average production, like

440
00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:31,679
Speaker 1: it didn't even need to be that, just like a

441
00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:36,119
Speaker 1: six fifty to seven hundred ops month in and month

442
00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:40,359
Speaker 1: out from centerfield, from second base, from shortstop. We're not

443
00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:42,800
Speaker 1: needing Michael Harris. You know, it would be great if

444
00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:45,680
Speaker 1: he didn't, But the Braves don't absolutely need for him

445
00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:48,840
Speaker 1: to have an eleven hundred ops over half the season.

446
00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:53,400
Speaker 1: That's unrealistic to expect. It's just that we don't need

447
00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:55,960
Speaker 1: for him to go through a three week stretch where

448
00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:58,440
Speaker 1: he has a two to three hundred ops and then

449
00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:00,119
Speaker 1: go through a week or two where he is one

450
00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:04,560
Speaker 1: thousand ops. We need that consistent six fifty to seven

451
00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:07,719
Speaker 1: hundred ops from at least two of those three positions,

452
00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:11,160
Speaker 1: and it would work wonders for this offense. It would

453
00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:14,399
Speaker 1: work wonders for this roster, and that's why it's so

454
00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:17,480
Speaker 1: important for us to retain Kim because that's what he

455
00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:20,399
Speaker 1: can provide. The Consistency of him putting together good to

456
00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:23,320
Speaker 1: bats would be such a big boost for the bottom

457
00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:24,880
Speaker 1: of this line and more middle of the lineup wherever

458
00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:28,679
Speaker 1: he's going to bat, and just filling that shortstop position. Now,

459
00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:32,000
Speaker 1: with that being said, we'll have all off season to

460
00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:35,280
Speaker 1: discuss this, I think, and I want to make it

461
00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:38,800
Speaker 1: clear when Steven's talking about that player option potentially be

462
00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:42,280
Speaker 1: in decline now, that is something Boris is absolutely going

463
00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:45,840
Speaker 1: to angle for this. Ozzie Albi's injury is the type

464
00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:50,000
Speaker 1: of development that really Boris looks for. I don't mean

465
00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:53,040
Speaker 1: to I'm not saying that these hoping players get injured,

466
00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:55,800
Speaker 1: but he's the type of agent, as we all know,

467
00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:59,520
Speaker 1: who's going to work every angle possible to get as

468
00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:01,920
Speaker 1: big of a track for the players that he represents

469
00:24:02,160 --> 00:24:04,880
Speaker 1: as he can and for the Braves. Now, the need

470
00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:07,480
Speaker 1: to retain Kim has just gone up. That makes him

471
00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:10,960
Speaker 1: more expensive. Three years fifty five million, four year seventy

472
00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:15,840
Speaker 1: five million, that's not an unrealistic ask for Hasan Kim

473
00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:19,120
Speaker 1: this offseason. And some team is going to pay it.

474
00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:21,359
Speaker 1: It may be the brains, but you can bet some

475
00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:23,320
Speaker 1: team is going to be willing to pay that. And

476
00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:26,359
Speaker 1: that's the reason why the player option is probably going

477
00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:28,880
Speaker 1: to be declined now in my opinion, because there's also

478
00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:31,040
Speaker 1: not a lot of great shortstopped options over the next

479
00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:35,840
Speaker 1: two years, so retaining Kim just became more difficult. But

480
00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:38,000
Speaker 1: the other portion of this that we need to discuss

481
00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:41,240
Speaker 1: in terms of how do we approach roster building this

482
00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:45,880
Speaker 1: offseason to counteract what's occurred. You need a reliable utility guy.

483
00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:48,359
Speaker 1: You need someone We talked about the fact that you

484
00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:53,080
Speaker 1: really don't need that DH position solely a DH option

485
00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:55,439
Speaker 1: that you can't play in the field field up, so

486
00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:57,600
Speaker 1: you can play some of your fielders in that DH

487
00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:01,160
Speaker 1: position every day, a different person the each position every day.

488
00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:03,239
Speaker 1: But now you probably need a guy who you can

489
00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:05,760
Speaker 1: feel just as comfortable playing at second base as you

490
00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:08,199
Speaker 1: can left field. There are plenty of options out there

491
00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:10,159
Speaker 1: that could do that, that probably could get you that

492
00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:13,040
Speaker 1: six fifty to seven hundred ops at least at that

493
00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:17,040
Speaker 1: type of position. That type of guy, especially a controllable option,

494
00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:19,560
Speaker 1: I think would be a great addition for this squad.

495
00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:23,800
Speaker 1: That's that's what you need to find one source that

496
00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:27,000
Speaker 1: potentially could feel multiple needs for this squad, like we

497
00:25:27,040 --> 00:25:30,359
Speaker 1: had hoped Jerkson Profar would do, and he has done

498
00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:31,960
Speaker 1: when we signed him last offseason.

499
00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:36,679
Speaker 2: Yeah, I agree. I mean, I think that utility infield

500
00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:40,080
Speaker 2: position is now substantially more important. But listen, if you

501
00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:42,240
Speaker 2: don't resign Kim, you also got to find a shortstop.

502
00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:44,280
Speaker 2: Like you can't do Nick Allen. I don't think you

503
00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:47,359
Speaker 2: can do Nick Allen. Nick Allen's a great defender, but

504
00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:49,320
Speaker 2: he's literally one of the worst hitters I've ever seen.

505
00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:54,000
Speaker 2: And you know, Vi Deel Bruhan, Luke Williams, like the

506
00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:59,080
Speaker 2: Braves love these, you know, defensive shortstops that run, you know,

507
00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:02,480
Speaker 2: ops is that look like a pitcher. I just don't

508
00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:04,720
Speaker 2: think you can do that. You gotta go find a shortstop.

509
00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:08,879
Speaker 2: And there's not a lot out there this offseason. There's

510
00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:12,080
Speaker 2: you know, there's Boba Schett, who some people aren't even

511
00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:14,400
Speaker 2: sure is gonna be a shortstop in the next couple

512
00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:18,000
Speaker 2: of years. He's certainly not a great one. And there's Kim,

513
00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:20,919
Speaker 2: assuming he declines his option again, we don't know that.

514
00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:23,959
Speaker 2: I do want to make sure we say that it

515
00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:29,320
Speaker 2: is possible, although unlikely. It is possible he picks up

516
00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:31,520
Speaker 2: that player option. It's also possible to Bravest work out

517
00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:34,720
Speaker 2: a contract at this point, I certainly would say the

518
00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:38,840
Speaker 2: likeliest thing is that he declines and gets to the market.

519
00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:41,879
Speaker 2: But we'll see, We'll see what happens. But if they

520
00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:44,280
Speaker 2: don't get Kim back, they're gonna have to find a

521
00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:47,879
Speaker 2: shortstop somewhere. And it's like it's damn near the hardest

522
00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:51,280
Speaker 2: position in the field to go find elsewhere, like, and

523
00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:53,919
Speaker 2: they don't really have anybody up and coming, Like I know,

524
00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:56,000
Speaker 2: they just drafted a bunch of shortstops, but those guys

525
00:26:56,040 --> 00:26:59,240
Speaker 2: are like three years four years away, so they're gonna

526
00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:00,840
Speaker 2: have to figure out shorts up one way or the other.

527
00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:02,399
Speaker 2: It would be a hell of a lot easier just

528
00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:06,640
Speaker 2: to get Kim back. In the strongest possible terms, I

529
00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:11,119
Speaker 2: hope Kim is like a number one priority of this offseason,

530
00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:15,280
Speaker 2: or even before the offseason starts. Get Kim back to

531
00:27:15,359 --> 00:27:18,560
Speaker 2: this team should be the like. That should be the mantra,

532
00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:21,280
Speaker 2: that should be the motto of everything the Braves put

533
00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:25,240
Speaker 2: out over the next three weeks. Get Hassan Kim back.

534
00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:28,560
Speaker 2: On this team next year, and everything else becomes a

535
00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:31,160
Speaker 2: hell of a lot easier. If you don't get Kim back,

536
00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:35,760
Speaker 2: it becomes substantially more difficult. And now, especially with this

537
00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:39,040
Speaker 2: Ozzi injury, the bottom of the lineup already has questions

538
00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:41,600
Speaker 2: because of Ozzie and Michael. You do not want to

539
00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:45,200
Speaker 2: have to add shortstop to that. Bring Hassan Kim back.

540
00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:49,280
Speaker 1: Yeah, and other big names like a Boba shitt or

541
00:27:49,280 --> 00:27:52,919
Speaker 1: a gliber tour Is or training for a k Tell Marte,

542
00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:59,840
Speaker 1: those just are are not as straightforward of a option

543
00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:04,040
Speaker 1: that just helps your roster in multiple ways, like resigning

544
00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:07,400
Speaker 1: Hassan Kim is because Kim's already here, You've already got

545
00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:10,520
Speaker 1: that relationship established. You just have to pay him money.

546
00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:13,080
Speaker 1: Though it's money you may not necessarily want to pay.

547
00:28:13,280 --> 00:28:15,200
Speaker 1: You just have to pay him money. Got to be

548
00:28:16,040 --> 00:28:19,959
Speaker 1: able to fill the shortstop position adequately to above average

549
00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:22,000
Speaker 1: defensive wise, plus what he could do with the bat.

550
00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:25,560
Speaker 1: Torres and Machette nor Marte are going to be reliable

551
00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:28,240
Speaker 1: defenders at shortstop. I'm not saying that Kim is a

552
00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:31,120
Speaker 1: better player than Marte, for instance, but it doesn't make

553
00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:33,919
Speaker 1: sense really in my opinion, to trade what you have

554
00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:36,480
Speaker 1: to trade to get Marte paying what you're gonna have

555
00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:38,720
Speaker 1: to pay, plus you still got to pay Assi Avis

556
00:28:38,760 --> 00:28:40,800
Speaker 1: that that does not make.

557
00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:43,680
Speaker 2: Sense, Marte. Marte's a second basement. Yeah, torres is a

558
00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:45,840
Speaker 2: second basement, like yeah, yeah, yeah, that doesn't help you

559
00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:46,520
Speaker 2: on short.

560
00:28:46,560 --> 00:28:50,040
Speaker 1: No, it doesn't. That's why I'm resigning or retaining Hassan

561
00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:51,880
Speaker 1: Kim is so important. I think that's the reason why

562
00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:56,080
Speaker 1: alex Adappos Alexandopolis realizes this. I think alex Adopolis is

563
00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:58,800
Speaker 1: banking on how good of a fit Hassan Kim has

564
00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:01,200
Speaker 1: been here so far, and I think that he will

565
00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:03,959
Speaker 1: be willing to pay. When I mentioned that three year,

566
00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:07,040
Speaker 1: fifty five to sixty four years seventy five to eighty

567
00:29:07,040 --> 00:29:10,320
Speaker 1: million dollar price tag that Hasong Kim could ask for

568
00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:12,680
Speaker 1: this offseason, I don't think it's out of the realm.

569
00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:16,160
Speaker 1: But AA when he claimed Kim, he could see that

570
00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:19,040
Speaker 1: being a possibility, So I think that he's definitely that's

571
00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:21,320
Speaker 1: run through his head. But I agree with you completely.

572
00:29:21,760 --> 00:29:24,440
Speaker 1: As important as it is for Ozzie Albi's to be healthy,

573
00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:27,080
Speaker 1: it becomes even more important now for the Braves to

574
00:29:27,080 --> 00:29:30,720
Speaker 1: retain Hassan Kim because it just allows for you to

575
00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:34,000
Speaker 1: feel easier about so many other questions for this roster.

576
00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:38,480
Speaker 2: Yeah, and again there's no one. I mean there's there's

577
00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:40,160
Speaker 2: I don't want to say no one else because the

578
00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:43,280
Speaker 2: trade market is always available and it's hard to predict

579
00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:45,760
Speaker 2: what players are going to be available. But teams don't

580
00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:48,840
Speaker 2: trade shortstops, like they just don't guys that are close

581
00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:51,600
Speaker 2: to being in the majors, because shortstops can move all

582
00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:54,640
Speaker 2: over the field. Like there's just very little value in

583
00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:57,840
Speaker 2: trading away somebody who could be a major league shortstop,

584
00:29:57,840 --> 00:30:00,920
Speaker 2: and so teams don't do it. So you know, you

585
00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:04,000
Speaker 2: got the free agent market, you have nothing internally that's

586
00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:08,000
Speaker 2: coming up, Like it's Kim, It's it's pretty much gotta

587
00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:11,240
Speaker 2: be Kim, and Boris knows that. And there are other

588
00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:13,920
Speaker 2: teams out there that need shortstops. So like that's why

589
00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:17,520
Speaker 2: I think the options ultimately gonna get declined and he's

590
00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:19,160
Speaker 2: gonna let to go free agency where there can be

591
00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:21,480
Speaker 2: a bidding war, like I think the Yankees have talked

592
00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:25,400
Speaker 2: about getting rid of Vulpe. I think the Red Sox,

593
00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:28,760
Speaker 2: I know they have Marcela Meyer, but there's talk about

594
00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:31,920
Speaker 2: Trevor's story you know, if the Red Sox need a shortstop,

595
00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:34,560
Speaker 2: there's there's there's actually plenty of shortstop is just the

596
00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:38,200
Speaker 2: hardest position to find, and the Braves have a really

597
00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:40,520
Speaker 2: good one right now. Gotta figure out a way to

598
00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:43,640
Speaker 2: keep him, even if you have to overpay a little bit,

599
00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:47,520
Speaker 2: even if it's not a contract you love. I don't care, like,

600
00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:51,080
Speaker 2: this is not the time to you know, use your

601
00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:53,640
Speaker 2: analytical hat and it's gotta be this precise number or

602
00:30:53,640 --> 00:30:56,000
Speaker 2: we're just not saying yes to it. Sometimes you got

603
00:30:56,040 --> 00:30:57,840
Speaker 2: to say yes to a contract you don't love because

604
00:30:57,840 --> 00:31:01,040
Speaker 2: you need the player. I think the Braves need hass

605
00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:02,520
Speaker 2: On Kim, even if it's a little more than they

606
00:31:02,560 --> 00:31:05,120
Speaker 2: want to spend. You got to bring them back.

607
00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:08,880
Speaker 1: When we talk about organizational focus or organizational approach or

608
00:31:08,920 --> 00:31:11,040
Speaker 1: things such as that, and we're talking about the fact

609
00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:14,480
Speaker 1: that in some aspects that needs to change this offseason,

610
00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:18,560
Speaker 1: this is one of those examples because however you've gone,

611
00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:22,280
Speaker 1: however you've gone about approaching, you're up the middle production

612
00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:26,920
Speaker 1: over the past two years, it absolutely has not worked out. Yes,

613
00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:29,320
Speaker 1: a lot of it has on Michael Harris and Ozzie

614
00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:33,040
Speaker 1: Albi's injuries, underperformance, all that plays a part in it,

615
00:31:33,240 --> 00:31:36,800
Speaker 1: but they have occurred. You've experienced the worst case scenario

616
00:31:37,080 --> 00:31:40,320
Speaker 1: of how your approach to this point has not worked out.

617
00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:43,440
Speaker 1: That means that it's the time to change things or

618
00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:46,080
Speaker 1: do something that you may feel uncomfortable doing. If that's

619
00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:49,520
Speaker 1: overpaying for the consistency and the reliability that comes with

620
00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:52,000
Speaker 1: the hasan Kim do it, because that at least is

621
00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:53,760
Speaker 1: a great starting point for the rest of the off

622
00:31:53,760 --> 00:31:57,760
Speaker 1: season to go by and make progress with. But that's

623
00:31:57,760 --> 00:31:59,560
Speaker 1: not the only news of the day, and we'll have

624
00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:01,720
Speaker 1: plenty of discussed when it comes to Ozzie Albi's and

625
00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:04,400
Speaker 1: Up the Middle production as the off season moves forward.

626
00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:10,520
Speaker 1: Some other notable occurrences happened during the day, including an

627
00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:14,880
Speaker 1: awesome opportunity for a phil return for a beloved member

628
00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:18,320
Speaker 1: of the Braves World Series squad and someone that many

629
00:32:18,400 --> 00:32:21,560
Speaker 1: Braves fans have come to love over the years. Uncle

630
00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:22,920
Speaker 1: Charlie is back.

631
00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:23,920
Speaker 6: Pop Father.

632
00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:26,640
Speaker 3: You and me grew up in Jersey. We liked to

633
00:32:26,680 --> 00:32:31,560
Speaker 3: collect cards, but the way the process got was ridiculous.

634
00:32:32,080 --> 00:32:35,200
Speaker 3: You open up a pack, there's a bunch of cards

635
00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:37,080
Speaker 3: you don't care about. Then you want to get certain

636
00:32:37,080 --> 00:32:39,920
Speaker 3: ones graded takes forever right then you want to maybe

637
00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:40,680
Speaker 3: sell one.

638
00:32:40,920 --> 00:32:42,120
Speaker 2: It's such a to do.

639
00:32:42,440 --> 00:32:44,320
Speaker 3: Arena Club has been the solution for us.

640
00:32:44,560 --> 00:32:48,040
Speaker 6: Arena Club has been a solution for everybody. You go online,

641
00:32:48,080 --> 00:32:50,280
Speaker 6: go to Arena Club and you check out what they have,

642
00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:52,720
Speaker 6: put a little cash down. You might get one of

643
00:32:52,760 --> 00:32:55,120
Speaker 6: the best cards that you've ever seen in your life

644
00:32:55,160 --> 00:32:57,480
Speaker 6: and autographed cards and guess what if you don't like

645
00:32:57,520 --> 00:33:00,640
Speaker 6: the card, easily you could sell about and make a

646
00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:02,960
Speaker 6: little cash. You never know what to expect. It's a

647
00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:04,840
Speaker 6: cool way of doing it. You're gonna get a surprise

648
00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:06,720
Speaker 6: every time. And if you're in the cards, this is

649
00:33:06,760 --> 00:33:08,960
Speaker 6: something you really need to get into right now.

650
00:33:08,960 --> 00:33:11,280
Speaker 3: You can get twenty percent off your first slap pack

651
00:33:11,440 --> 00:33:13,920
Speaker 3: or card purchase by going to Arena club dot com,

652
00:33:13,960 --> 00:33:17,000
Speaker 3: slash foul and use code foul like Todd Father is

653
00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:19,520
Speaker 3: talking about. With those slap packs, every pack is a

654
00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:22,840
Speaker 3: grail that's at least twenty x the price of the pack.

655
00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:24,680
Speaker 3: Check it out.

656
00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:27,600
Speaker 1: So that is true. You know we talk about you

657
00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:29,600
Speaker 1: know the braves, you know how you know in the

658
00:33:29,640 --> 00:33:34,240
Speaker 1: alexandplass era. He just loves his guys. He loves reunions

659
00:33:34,520 --> 00:33:36,920
Speaker 1: with formal players, even if they've been with the Braves

660
00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:39,600
Speaker 1: for a while during his era, they go somewhere else.

661
00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:42,680
Speaker 1: He loves ringing them back and that's exactly what we

662
00:33:42,760 --> 00:33:45,760
Speaker 1: saw occur last Friday. The Braves faced off against Charlie

663
00:33:45,800 --> 00:33:48,240
Speaker 1: Morton of the Tigers, the second time this year. The

664
00:33:48,280 --> 00:33:50,880
Speaker 1: Braves that faced off against Charlie Morton they did earlier

665
00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:53,880
Speaker 1: this year against the Oriols. They had a very good

666
00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:57,920
Speaker 1: offensive game plan. It worked out. Charlie unfortunately, was designated

667
00:33:57,920 --> 00:34:00,440
Speaker 1: for assignment by the Tigers on I believe it was

668
00:34:00,520 --> 00:34:03,280
Speaker 1: Sunday on Sunday, then it may have been Saturday. It

669
00:34:03,280 --> 00:34:07,360
Speaker 1: was over the weekend, but the Tigers actually released Charlie,

670
00:34:07,400 --> 00:34:10,239
Speaker 1: fully released Charlie and that worked out because he is

671
00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:13,960
Speaker 1: back with the Braves. Brian Snicker announced it on Monday

672
00:34:14,280 --> 00:34:17,880
Speaker 1: during the pregame conversations. Now the big question is what

673
00:34:18,120 --> 00:34:20,799
Speaker 1: does Charlie's role look like. At the very least, this

674
00:34:20,880 --> 00:34:23,759
Speaker 1: could be just a farewell well tour. He's back with

675
00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:26,000
Speaker 1: the organization that he had some of his best years

676
00:34:26,040 --> 00:34:28,320
Speaker 1: with and that he started with. That may be enough

677
00:34:28,360 --> 00:34:30,440
Speaker 1: in itself, but of course we'd love to see him

678
00:34:30,480 --> 00:34:32,799
Speaker 1: on the mound again. But overall, just good to have

679
00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:36,760
Speaker 1: Uncle Charlie back. If this is the end for Charlie Morton,

680
00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:39,720
Speaker 1: it's great to see him in it with the Braves.

681
00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:43,920
Speaker 2: Yeah. I could be wrong. I this really feels like

682
00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:47,000
Speaker 2: signing with the team that drafted you, signing with the

683
00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:51,279
Speaker 2: team that you won a World Series with, you know,

684
00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:54,000
Speaker 2: maybe getting one more start to be able to say

685
00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:56,920
Speaker 2: bye to the fan base, and then retiring at the

686
00:34:56,960 --> 00:34:58,840
Speaker 2: end of the year. Like that's what this feels like

687
00:34:58,880 --> 00:35:01,440
Speaker 2: to me. I' see the Braves are going nowhere. Charlie

688
00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:04,759
Speaker 2: Morton was going nowhere. He got dfaded and then he

689
00:35:04,800 --> 00:35:07,080
Speaker 2: got outright release, which allowed the Braves to sign him

690
00:35:07,160 --> 00:35:10,319
Speaker 2: for pennies on the dollar if they had claimed him,

691
00:35:10,520 --> 00:35:12,480
Speaker 2: and this is what Breton Scott were talking about last night.

692
00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:14,600
Speaker 2: If they had claimed him, then they would have been

693
00:35:14,640 --> 00:35:17,000
Speaker 2: responsible for the last like two weeks of his salary,

694
00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:18,839
Speaker 2: which is actually quite a bit of money because he's

695
00:35:18,840 --> 00:35:21,600
Speaker 2: making fifteen million dollars this year. But because the Tiger's

696
00:35:21,640 --> 00:35:24,880
Speaker 2: outright released him, the Brads could sign him for basically nothing.

697
00:35:25,040 --> 00:35:27,759
Speaker 2: So this was a kind of a no you know,

698
00:35:27,760 --> 00:35:30,560
Speaker 2: there was no risk, no cost. They just I think

699
00:35:30,560 --> 00:35:33,520
Speaker 2: they just want to let a kind of a franchise legend.

700
00:35:33,960 --> 00:35:35,759
Speaker 2: That might be too strong of a word, but I

701
00:35:35,760 --> 00:35:38,360
Speaker 2: don't know if it is. People can debate that. I

702
00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:40,400
Speaker 2: know he wasn't with the Braves a lot, but he

703
00:35:40,440 --> 00:35:42,239
Speaker 2: did help the Braves win a World Series, and that

704
00:35:42,360 --> 00:35:46,640
Speaker 2: alone matters in the history of the franchise. There's all.

705
00:35:46,760 --> 00:35:49,720
Speaker 2: You know, how many guys can say that, And Charlie

706
00:35:49,760 --> 00:35:52,000
Speaker 2: was the ace of the staff the year they won

707
00:35:52,040 --> 00:35:54,239
Speaker 2: the World Series, so and I know him and Max

708
00:35:54,239 --> 00:35:57,160
Speaker 2: Freed were obviously the piederal parts of that rotation that year.

709
00:35:58,160 --> 00:35:59,719
Speaker 2: So I think they just want to say goodbye to him.

710
00:35:59,760 --> 00:36:01,960
Speaker 2: Let him say goodbye to the fans. I have no

711
00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:05,680
Speaker 2: idea if he'll even pitch. I think he's He pitched

712
00:36:05,719 --> 00:36:10,800
Speaker 2: on Friday in Detroit against the Braves, so he should

713
00:36:10,840 --> 00:36:13,279
Speaker 2: be available to pitch anytime over the next week if

714
00:36:13,320 --> 00:36:15,239
Speaker 2: they want him to, or if he wants to. He

715
00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:18,160
Speaker 2: might not. This literally might just be like sign him

716
00:36:18,560 --> 00:36:23,120
Speaker 2: as a retirement press conference and that's it. So I mean, hell,

717
00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:25,400
Speaker 2: him and Snip might have a joint retirement press conference

718
00:36:25,400 --> 00:36:28,360
Speaker 2: for all we know. But yeah, I didn't have a

719
00:36:28,360 --> 00:36:30,279
Speaker 2: problem with That's all people freaking out about it. I

720
00:36:30,280 --> 00:36:32,879
Speaker 2: don't really understand why didn't cost the Brads anything. They're

721
00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:36,000
Speaker 2: not going anywhere. The season's over. They got a bunch

722
00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:38,120
Speaker 2: of guys on the roster that are whatever. Like I

723
00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:41,279
Speaker 2: didn't care. It was funny for Brad, you know. I

724
00:36:41,280 --> 00:36:43,200
Speaker 2: think if if he pitches, Brad's gonna go to one

725
00:36:43,239 --> 00:36:45,359
Speaker 2: of the games, because Brad has been the Charlie Morton

726
00:36:45,360 --> 00:36:47,520
Speaker 2: guy for all these years. But yeah, it was cool,

727
00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:49,799
Speaker 2: and I hope they give I hope he at least

728
00:36:49,800 --> 00:36:52,200
Speaker 2: comes out for maybe like an inning so the fan

729
00:36:52,239 --> 00:36:54,440
Speaker 2: base can give him the ovation. And you know that

730
00:36:55,080 --> 00:36:58,319
Speaker 2: stuff's cool to me. But I'm guessing this is so

731
00:36:58,360 --> 00:37:00,960
Speaker 2: he can retire as a b That's what I'm guessing.

732
00:37:01,040 --> 00:37:03,239
Speaker 2: I don't know that for sure, but otherwise I don't

733
00:37:03,239 --> 00:37:05,680
Speaker 2: really understand why you would go through the motions for

734
00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:08,000
Speaker 2: one week of the last week of the season.

735
00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:12,640
Speaker 1: I would give him the chance to end the year

736
00:37:12,840 --> 00:37:15,560
Speaker 1: for the Bras, That's what I would do. With the

737
00:37:15,719 --> 00:37:18,360
Speaker 1: fact that these fail, the Pirates are going to be

738
00:37:18,360 --> 00:37:20,320
Speaker 1: the team that he's going to be facing. Of course,

739
00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:22,600
Speaker 1: as many may remember, back in two thousand and nine,

740
00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:26,319
Speaker 1: Charlie Morton was the prize prospect that was traded from

741
00:37:26,360 --> 00:37:31,040
Speaker 1: the Braves to the Pirates in exchange for outfielder Nate Mcloth,

742
00:37:31,080 --> 00:37:34,000
Speaker 1: who was having a breakout year. It didn't work out, obviously,

743
00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:36,200
Speaker 1: for it did not work out. It did not work out.

744
00:37:36,600 --> 00:37:39,400
Speaker 1: He did. Mcloth did not have a good career with

745
00:37:39,520 --> 00:37:41,480
Speaker 1: the Braves. But then you know, Charlie went on to

746
00:37:41,680 --> 00:37:43,600
Speaker 1: play with the Pirates. Let's see, he also played with

747
00:37:43,640 --> 00:37:46,719
Speaker 1: the Astros, the Rays, the Orioles, and the Tigers, you know,

748
00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:49,120
Speaker 1: after the Braves. But the Pirates and Braves are who

749
00:37:49,120 --> 00:37:51,399
Speaker 1: he spent twelve of his eighteen years with. So him

750
00:37:51,719 --> 00:37:54,840
Speaker 1: closing out the season, closing out potentially his career again,

751
00:37:54,960 --> 00:37:57,000
Speaker 1: it's the team, with the team that he spent the

752
00:37:57,000 --> 00:37:59,399
Speaker 1: majority of his crew with. I think that that would

753
00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:03,239
Speaker 1: be and outstanding development and a great way to end

754
00:38:03,239 --> 00:38:06,799
Speaker 1: the season. Now with Morton being back, if anybody had

755
00:38:06,840 --> 00:38:10,040
Speaker 1: an uproar, I don't think it was anyway, shape or

756
00:38:10,040 --> 00:38:13,839
Speaker 1: form that's nowhere justified for bringing Morton back. Bring Morton

757
00:38:13,880 --> 00:38:17,440
Speaker 1: back all day long. Yeah, he deserves that. It's been outstanding.

758
00:38:17,480 --> 00:38:17,640
Speaker 3: You know.

759
00:38:17,840 --> 00:38:20,520
Speaker 1: I think that the Braves bringing Morton back is a

760
00:38:20,520 --> 00:38:24,279
Speaker 1: great gesture. What probably did confuse some folks is that

761
00:38:24,600 --> 00:38:28,640
Speaker 1: John Callers Laura going back to the Miners. Was the

762
00:38:28,680 --> 00:38:31,800
Speaker 1: move that occurred to bring Charlie back that didn't necessarily

763
00:38:31,880 --> 00:38:35,239
Speaker 1: make much sense to me. In my opinion, it's been

764
00:38:35,239 --> 00:38:38,720
Speaker 1: a missed opportunity to not see what Laura could offer

765
00:38:38,800 --> 00:38:41,360
Speaker 1: to this squad at least for a few weeks, but

766
00:38:41,560 --> 00:38:43,880
Speaker 1: just bringing him up for a road trip for three games,

767
00:38:44,200 --> 00:38:46,040
Speaker 1: that to me doesn't make a lot of sense. And

768
00:38:46,080 --> 00:38:48,400
Speaker 1: that I think if there was any part of the

769
00:38:48,440 --> 00:38:50,640
Speaker 1: moves today that kind of, you know, got a side

770
00:38:50,640 --> 00:38:53,960
Speaker 1: eye glanced of why it would be that Laura should

771
00:38:53,960 --> 00:38:56,480
Speaker 1: have been up here weeks ago contributing to the squad

772
00:38:56,520 --> 00:38:58,399
Speaker 1: to see if he could be an option for next year.

773
00:38:58,520 --> 00:39:01,560
Speaker 1: And I think it's a missed opportunity that not taken advantage.

774
00:39:01,120 --> 00:39:03,840
Speaker 2: Of that well, And they had chances to pitch Laura,

775
00:39:03,880 --> 00:39:07,080
Speaker 2: like the game he came up on Friday, which is

776
00:39:07,080 --> 00:39:10,359
Speaker 2: the game that Morton pitched ironically, and the Braves won

777
00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:13,200
Speaker 2: that game like ten to one, Like why wouldn't you

778
00:39:13,280 --> 00:39:16,120
Speaker 2: pitch him? Yeah, I didn't get that. I don't understand.

779
00:39:16,280 --> 00:39:18,160
Speaker 2: I don't really understand what they've done with Laura this

780
00:39:18,200 --> 00:39:21,240
Speaker 2: whole month. Like I thought he would come up earlier.

781
00:39:21,680 --> 00:39:24,040
Speaker 2: They finally bring him up the last you know, ten

782
00:39:24,120 --> 00:39:25,799
Speaker 2: days of the year, and then they don't use him

783
00:39:25,800 --> 00:39:28,760
Speaker 2: and then they send him down. It has been very weird.

784
00:39:28,920 --> 00:39:31,160
Speaker 2: And I if you're upset about that part of it,

785
00:39:31,480 --> 00:39:34,280
Speaker 2: that's perfectly fine. I don't. I don't understand that either.

786
00:39:35,239 --> 00:39:36,840
Speaker 2: And I you know, once he's up on the roster,

787
00:39:38,200 --> 00:39:40,000
Speaker 2: the first game he plays is a ten to one game.

788
00:39:40,040 --> 00:39:43,400
Speaker 2: It's a perfect game to get him in. And like

789
00:39:43,480 --> 00:39:45,839
Speaker 2: even tonight, like if if they'd kept him on the roster,

790
00:39:45,920 --> 00:39:48,000
Speaker 2: that's been a perfect game. I don't know. Yeah, that

791
00:39:48,040 --> 00:39:51,480
Speaker 2: part's been weird. Charlie coming back, I have no issue

792
00:39:51,520 --> 00:39:55,239
Speaker 2: with whatsoever, but how they've handled Laura doesn't make a

793
00:39:55,280 --> 00:39:57,400
Speaker 2: lot of sense to me. But they've done a lot

794
00:39:57,440 --> 00:39:59,320
Speaker 2: of stuff this year that quite frankly, doesn't make a

795
00:39:59,320 --> 00:39:59,880
Speaker 2: lot of sense to me.

796
00:40:00,080 --> 00:40:03,360
Speaker 1: So yeah, I agreed, I was about I was just

797
00:40:03,400 --> 00:40:05,600
Speaker 1: looking at some of the stats, you know, where Charlie

798
00:40:05,680 --> 00:40:09,040
Speaker 1: ranks in terms of, you know, the since the Braves

799
00:40:09,040 --> 00:40:12,239
Speaker 1: have been in Atlanta since nineteen sixty six, basically over

800
00:40:12,280 --> 00:40:14,759
Speaker 1: the past sixty years, And I wouldn't go as far

801
00:40:14,800 --> 00:40:17,120
Speaker 1: as saying that he's been a top ten pitcher in

802
00:40:17,400 --> 00:40:20,239
Speaker 1: the Braves era in Atlanta. But I'm right there with

803
00:40:20,280 --> 00:40:22,360
Speaker 1: you in terms of narrative and in terms of what

804
00:40:22,440 --> 00:40:24,839
Speaker 1: he's done. You know, we'll have more to talk about

805
00:40:24,840 --> 00:40:28,080
Speaker 1: with Charlie, especially once if he does retire this offseason.

806
00:40:28,280 --> 00:40:30,080
Speaker 1: But one thing that I do not think should be

807
00:40:30,080 --> 00:40:33,160
Speaker 1: lost on folks, Charlie legitimately has been one of the

808
00:40:33,200 --> 00:40:37,160
Speaker 1: most productive after the age of thirty five pitchers in

809
00:40:37,239 --> 00:40:40,440
Speaker 1: Major League Baseball history. Not necessarily in terms of just

810
00:40:40,480 --> 00:40:42,359
Speaker 1: you know, Paudy hasn't been like up to the level

811
00:40:42,360 --> 00:40:44,799
Speaker 1: of a Sures or or a Verlander or a Randy

812
00:40:44,880 --> 00:40:48,080
Speaker 1: Johnson or somebody like that, but he legitimately has had

813
00:40:48,120 --> 00:40:51,480
Speaker 1: some of his best years past thirty five for the Braves,

814
00:40:51,520 --> 00:40:53,400
Speaker 1: and I think that that's what really stands out. Not

815
00:40:53,440 --> 00:40:55,400
Speaker 1: a Hall of Famer or anything like that, but he

816
00:40:55,480 --> 00:40:58,120
Speaker 1: has more than made it clear that he was one

817
00:40:58,160 --> 00:41:01,440
Speaker 1: of the better moves of the Alex Thoughtless era in

818
00:41:01,480 --> 00:41:01,839
Speaker 1: the ITA.

819
00:41:02,600 --> 00:41:08,200
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it was. And franchise, I said, franchise legend.

820
00:41:08,200 --> 00:41:10,120
Speaker 2: That's too strong. He's not a franchise legend. But he

821
00:41:10,120 --> 00:41:12,239
Speaker 2: did help the Raids winn World Series, Yes, but I

822
00:41:12,280 --> 00:41:18,400
Speaker 2: think so. He went from Pittsburgh to Houston, and I

823
00:41:18,440 --> 00:41:21,279
Speaker 2: think he was like thirty two or thirty three years

824
00:41:21,280 --> 00:41:23,879
Speaker 2: old at that time, and at in Pitt he had

825
00:41:23,880 --> 00:41:25,560
Speaker 2: not really done much at all. And then he went

826
00:41:25,600 --> 00:41:29,840
Speaker 2: to Houston and really kind of turned into it a legitimate,

827
00:41:29,880 --> 00:41:34,880
Speaker 2: like not ace level, but very very good starter, pitched

828
00:41:34,920 --> 00:41:37,000
Speaker 2: on those really good Astros teams, and then went to

829
00:41:37,040 --> 00:41:39,440
Speaker 2: Tampa and was like the ace of their staff for

830
00:41:39,480 --> 00:41:42,240
Speaker 2: like two or three years, and all of this happened.

831
00:41:42,280 --> 00:41:44,680
Speaker 2: Like you said, I think he was again. I think

832
00:41:44,680 --> 00:41:47,040
Speaker 2: he went to Houston at like thirty two or thirty three,

833
00:41:47,360 --> 00:41:49,680
Speaker 2: and so all of this has happened after thirty three

834
00:41:49,760 --> 00:41:54,399
Speaker 2: years old, thirty thirty two years old. So that's been

835
00:41:54,400 --> 00:41:57,720
Speaker 2: the incredible part is that he had this entire second

836
00:41:57,760 --> 00:42:00,640
Speaker 2: half of his career that was substanti actually better than

837
00:42:00,680 --> 00:42:02,480
Speaker 2: the first half, which is not how it normally goes

838
00:42:02,520 --> 00:42:06,640
Speaker 2: in terms of aging curve. And so yeah, good for him,

839
00:42:06,680 --> 00:42:08,719
Speaker 2: and I'm happy that Brad's brought him back. It does

840
00:42:08,760 --> 00:42:12,359
Speaker 2: not matter to me. Onceoever gets if he plays, if

841
00:42:12,360 --> 00:42:15,000
Speaker 2: he pitches, if he gets lit up, if he you know,

842
00:42:15,080 --> 00:42:17,719
Speaker 2: throws one pitch, maybe throws one inning, I don't care

843
00:42:17,760 --> 00:42:21,040
Speaker 2: what they do, or if he just retires tomorrow, the

844
00:42:21,080 --> 00:42:23,760
Speaker 2: season's over the roster spots don't mean anything right now,

845
00:42:23,960 --> 00:42:25,920
Speaker 2: I don't understand what they've done with Laura. That's a

846
00:42:25,920 --> 00:42:31,000
Speaker 2: perfectly fair criticism of the team. But yeah, I have

847
00:42:31,080 --> 00:42:33,920
Speaker 2: no problem with Morton coming back to finish his career.

848
00:42:34,560 --> 00:42:36,280
Speaker 2: At least that's what I'm guessing is gonna happen.

849
00:42:36,719 --> 00:42:38,200
Speaker 1: Yeah, And I mean, you know the other thing that

850
00:42:38,239 --> 00:42:40,560
Speaker 1: stands out about Morton as well, is that just the

851
00:42:40,640 --> 00:42:43,480
Speaker 1: success he's had the postseason. I mean, he was a

852
00:42:43,600 --> 00:42:47,200
Speaker 1: huge part of the Astros seventeen World Series run as

853
00:42:47,200 --> 00:42:49,360
Speaker 1: well as the braves twenty one World Series run. He

854
00:42:49,400 --> 00:42:52,080
Speaker 1: also played a big part in Tampa's twenty twenty run

855
00:42:52,120 --> 00:42:54,319
Speaker 1: that he struggled in the World Series. But he's had

856
00:42:54,320 --> 00:42:56,719
Speaker 1: plenty of big postseason moments as well. So just the

857
00:42:56,760 --> 00:42:59,360
Speaker 1: seller overall queer. But he give, We've got plenty of

858
00:42:59,400 --> 00:43:01,279
Speaker 1: time talk about that in the off season. Do you

859
00:43:01,280 --> 00:43:03,839
Speaker 1: want to end on another note? You know, we talk

860
00:43:03,880 --> 00:43:06,880
Speaker 1: about some of these moves that the Braves have made

861
00:43:07,280 --> 00:43:12,240
Speaker 1: in terms of bring in guys, reclamations for reclamation, potential

862
00:43:12,719 --> 00:43:15,839
Speaker 1: projects that could play a role in twenty twenty six

863
00:43:16,040 --> 00:43:18,120
Speaker 1: if the Praise were to figure them out. We've seen

864
00:43:18,160 --> 00:43:21,759
Speaker 1: the man some bullpen arms like Tyler Kinley, Alexis Diaz,

865
00:43:22,000 --> 00:43:25,680
Speaker 1: and today they also added Joel Paams and maybe saying

866
00:43:25,719 --> 00:43:28,160
Speaker 1: his last name role but I think that's great. Joel Pamps.

867
00:43:28,200 --> 00:43:31,880
Speaker 1: Now that name probably looks familiar because he was a

868
00:43:31,920 --> 00:43:36,040
Speaker 1: part of the Sean Murphy William Contrera's trade. He went

869
00:43:36,080 --> 00:43:38,480
Speaker 1: from the A's to the Brewers in that trade, and

870
00:43:38,600 --> 00:43:41,640
Speaker 1: he actually was one of the bigger some. He's probably

871
00:43:41,680 --> 00:43:44,800
Speaker 1: the biggest surprise overall of that trade with how productive

872
00:43:44,840 --> 00:43:47,359
Speaker 1: he was for the Brewers in twenty twenty three, out

873
00:43:47,400 --> 00:43:50,920
Speaker 1: standing reliever in twenty twenty three. Since then, he struggled

874
00:43:50,960 --> 00:43:53,520
Speaker 1: some in twenty twenty four, really fell off the cliff

875
00:43:53,520 --> 00:43:56,080
Speaker 1: this year. So that's why he was made available. There's

876
00:43:56,200 --> 00:43:59,680
Speaker 1: stuff there to work with, Steven. I don't necessarily know

877
00:43:59,719 --> 00:44:03,479
Speaker 1: if it's just an absolute you know, hey this guy

878
00:44:03,520 --> 00:44:06,040
Speaker 1: could you know, he makes perfect sense for the Braves

879
00:44:06,040 --> 00:44:08,520
Speaker 1: to claim him. He's a reclamation project that could really

880
00:44:08,520 --> 00:44:11,440
Speaker 1: turn into a valuable guy in twenty six. It's gonna

881
00:44:11,440 --> 00:44:14,200
Speaker 1: take some work, but the outcome could be there could

882
00:44:14,200 --> 00:44:16,719
Speaker 1: be stuff to still work with for him to potentially

883
00:44:16,719 --> 00:44:19,480
Speaker 1: turn into a part of the bullpen in twenty.

884
00:44:19,200 --> 00:44:23,600
Speaker 2: Six yeah, I mean twenty three, twenty four, he was

885
00:44:23,640 --> 00:44:27,280
Speaker 2: striking out like between nine and ten guys per nine innings.

886
00:44:28,480 --> 00:44:31,040
Speaker 2: He was walking less than three guys per nine innings. So, like,

887
00:44:31,120 --> 00:44:35,080
Speaker 2: just those two numbers alone are attractive to a lot

888
00:44:35,120 --> 00:44:37,279
Speaker 2: of teams. Like, if you're a reliever that strikes a

889
00:44:37,320 --> 00:44:39,640
Speaker 2: lot of people out more than a guy perinning and

890
00:44:39,680 --> 00:44:42,319
Speaker 2: you don't walk a ton of people, there's a lot

891
00:44:42,360 --> 00:44:44,200
Speaker 2: of teams that will give you a shot just based

892
00:44:44,239 --> 00:44:46,840
Speaker 2: on that alone. And yeah, the Braves are one of

893
00:44:46,880 --> 00:44:49,560
Speaker 2: the teams, by the way, that are very high on

894
00:44:50,360 --> 00:44:52,920
Speaker 2: strikeout to walk ratio in terms of their pitchers and

895
00:44:53,000 --> 00:44:56,359
Speaker 2: especially their believers. That was what first attracted the Braves

896
00:44:56,440 --> 00:45:00,839
Speaker 2: to Joejanmenez from the Tigers. He wasn't a high leverage

897
00:45:00,880 --> 00:45:04,080
Speaker 2: reliever for them, but he was. He had these insane

898
00:45:04,160 --> 00:45:08,160
Speaker 2: strikeout to walk numbers, and that's what you know. How

899
00:45:08,160 --> 00:45:09,560
Speaker 2: do you say his last name again? You said, I

900
00:45:09,600 --> 00:45:12,879
Speaker 2: think you said it correctly, pay amps, pay MPs. Yeah,

901
00:45:12,960 --> 00:45:15,799
Speaker 2: I think that's right. So that's what he brings to

902
00:45:15,840 --> 00:45:20,719
Speaker 2: the table strikeouts, not a lot of walks. One thing.

903
00:45:20,760 --> 00:45:23,000
Speaker 2: Though he does not have minor league options for neck.

904
00:45:23,040 --> 00:45:25,799
Speaker 2: He is under team control next year, the Braves will

905
00:45:25,840 --> 00:45:28,439
Speaker 2: have his I think he goes to arbitration next year.

906
00:45:28,640 --> 00:45:30,640
Speaker 2: I have to look that up. But he does not

907
00:45:30,760 --> 00:45:34,400
Speaker 2: have any minor league options, so that's gonna be you know,

908
00:45:34,440 --> 00:45:36,640
Speaker 2: he's got to make the team outright, assuming he's on

909
00:45:36,760 --> 00:45:39,720
Speaker 2: the I'm guessing he'll at least get a spring training invite,

910
00:45:39,760 --> 00:45:41,680
Speaker 2: assuming the Braves don't release him in the off season.

911
00:45:42,040 --> 00:45:43,239
Speaker 2: But if he makes it all the way through the

912
00:45:43,280 --> 00:45:45,680
Speaker 2: off season on the roster, he'll get a spring training invite.

913
00:45:45,960 --> 00:45:49,240
Speaker 2: He will have to win a job outright in spring

914
00:45:49,520 --> 00:45:51,480
Speaker 2: because he can't be optioned. He'd have to be dfaed,

915
00:45:51,760 --> 00:45:53,719
Speaker 2: So just keep that in mind. But he is a

916
00:45:53,719 --> 00:45:56,680
Speaker 2: guy that's got some stuff. He's had some major league success,

917
00:45:57,360 --> 00:46:00,680
Speaker 2: high strikeouts, not a ton of walks. Twenty five has

918
00:46:00,680 --> 00:46:02,880
Speaker 2: not gone well for him, which is why he was available.

919
00:46:03,320 --> 00:46:06,080
Speaker 2: So the Braves are kind of hoping they can find

920
00:46:06,080 --> 00:46:09,160
Speaker 2: some of the magic he had the last couple of years.

921
00:46:09,640 --> 00:46:13,400
Speaker 1: Yeah, it really feels like that the contacts assess. The

922
00:46:13,480 --> 00:46:16,359
Speaker 1: quality of contact opponents have had against him is once

923
00:46:16,440 --> 00:46:18,640
Speaker 1: jumped up. I think he allowed like six or seven

924
00:46:18,880 --> 00:46:21,040
Speaker 1: hits per nine inning in twenty three and twenty four

925
00:46:21,280 --> 00:46:23,719
Speaker 1: jumped all the way up to eleven plus and twenty five,

926
00:46:23,920 --> 00:46:26,040
Speaker 1: and that's just not going to work when you're when

927
00:46:26,080 --> 00:46:31,000
Speaker 1: you're a liever. Plenty that we have discussed again, I

928
00:46:31,040 --> 00:46:35,040
Speaker 1: guess for content purposes, it's nice to have things to discuss,

929
00:46:35,239 --> 00:46:38,279
Speaker 1: but not this way. And I want to end on

930
00:46:38,360 --> 00:46:43,640
Speaker 1: this note. It is gut wrenching and just it's painful.

931
00:46:43,800 --> 00:46:48,600
Speaker 1: It sucks to see someone who is is good a person, good,

932
00:46:48,680 --> 00:46:51,520
Speaker 1: just a vote representative for the braves as Ozzie Albi's

933
00:46:51,520 --> 00:46:55,000
Speaker 1: has been over the past decade nearly to go through

934
00:46:55,000 --> 00:46:56,840
Speaker 1: these injuries and I know that this is kind of

935
00:46:56,880 --> 00:46:59,160
Speaker 1: something that he just he deals with, his plain style,

936
00:46:59,200 --> 00:47:02,200
Speaker 1: deals with what had. It just sucks to see Ozzie

937
00:47:02,280 --> 00:47:05,640
Speaker 1: deal with this. Yes, there's a realistic possibility he can

938
00:47:05,680 --> 00:47:08,160
Speaker 1: be right back to being normal six months from now

939
00:47:08,320 --> 00:47:10,600
Speaker 1: and will be good to go, no questions asked. You know,

940
00:47:10,680 --> 00:47:13,520
Speaker 1: all these concerns are by the wayside. But it's just

941
00:47:13,560 --> 00:47:16,759
Speaker 1: that we've seen this already occur, and we've seen the

942
00:47:16,800 --> 00:47:19,520
Speaker 1: downside of what happens. That's what we're concerned with, which

943
00:47:19,520 --> 00:47:22,560
Speaker 1: I think is a legitimate concern to have. But all

944
00:47:22,560 --> 00:47:24,400
Speaker 1: of what we think and all how we feel and

945
00:47:24,440 --> 00:47:26,200
Speaker 1: all of what we break down the side. I just

946
00:47:26,200 --> 00:47:28,000
Speaker 1: want to see Ozzy Aby's return to healthy.

947
00:47:28,000 --> 00:47:28,200
Speaker 2: Man.

948
00:47:28,480 --> 00:47:30,160
Speaker 1: He deserves to be able to play the game that

949
00:47:30,239 --> 00:47:33,560
Speaker 1: he loves, healthy and confident, just like Ronald Accoona Junior does.

950
00:47:33,719 --> 00:47:36,160
Speaker 1: And hopefully he'll get a stretch here over the next

951
00:47:36,160 --> 00:47:38,239
Speaker 1: couple of years where he puts the injuries past and

952
00:47:38,239 --> 00:47:40,120
Speaker 1: we can get back to being the Azzi Abbis of mode,

953
00:47:40,160 --> 00:47:42,120
Speaker 1: because he certainly deserves that. I know the Braves will

954
00:47:42,160 --> 00:47:45,040
Speaker 1: benefit from it, but man, just hope Ozzie is speedy

955
00:47:45,080 --> 00:47:47,719
Speaker 1: recovery and hope he's back better than ever as soon

956
00:47:47,719 --> 00:47:48,360
Speaker 1: as possible.

957
00:47:49,520 --> 00:47:51,040
Speaker 2: Yeah, and I want to make the point one more time.

958
00:47:51,080 --> 00:47:52,680
Speaker 2: We already made it earlier, but I can already see

959
00:47:52,680 --> 00:47:56,360
Speaker 2: the comments. I can already see people on Twitter. I

960
00:47:56,440 --> 00:48:01,160
Speaker 2: hamn't fracture. The injury itself is not like some crazy injury.

961
00:48:01,200 --> 00:48:02,680
Speaker 2: It's like a it's like a six to eight week

962
00:48:02,719 --> 00:48:05,840
Speaker 2: injury like that. It's not the It's not the injury itself.

963
00:48:06,560 --> 00:48:09,200
Speaker 2: It is the lingering effects of the injury that we

964
00:48:09,239 --> 00:48:12,960
Speaker 2: have already seen from Ozzie this year from his injury

965
00:48:13,040 --> 00:48:15,880
Speaker 2: last year. That is the concern. It is not him.

966
00:48:16,440 --> 00:48:18,840
Speaker 2: He will he will be recovered from this injury, probably

967
00:48:18,920 --> 00:48:21,840
Speaker 2: before the playoffs are over or shortly after the playoffs

968
00:48:21,880 --> 00:48:24,920
Speaker 2: are over. That is not. The concern is not is

969
00:48:24,960 --> 00:48:28,520
Speaker 2: he gonna be healthy once the spring training starts. It

970
00:48:28,560 --> 00:48:32,960
Speaker 2: is what are the lingering effects of the wrist, the hand,

971
00:48:33,440 --> 00:48:36,200
Speaker 2: on his particular swing, the way he holds the bat.

972
00:48:36,520 --> 00:48:39,480
Speaker 2: Does it have impact on his profile, which has to

973
00:48:39,520 --> 00:48:42,759
Speaker 2: be power driven for him to be successful because he

974
00:48:42,800 --> 00:48:44,919
Speaker 2: does not have a high end base percentage, it never has.

975
00:48:45,719 --> 00:48:47,520
Speaker 2: That is the concern. So I don't want to hear

976
00:48:47,520 --> 00:48:50,080
Speaker 2: people like you guys are so stupid the himm You know,

977
00:48:50,120 --> 00:48:52,360
Speaker 2: it's a six week injury. I swear to God, we

978
00:48:52,440 --> 00:48:54,760
Speaker 2: get that. That is not the concern we're talking about.

979
00:48:55,040 --> 00:48:58,880
Speaker 2: We're talking about the lingering effects after that. So and

980
00:48:58,920 --> 00:49:02,440
Speaker 2: that's what the brains are gonna have consider so and everything.

981
00:49:02,440 --> 00:49:04,759
Speaker 2: He just says, one hundred percent. I want Ozzie more

982
00:49:04,800 --> 00:49:07,600
Speaker 2: than anything. This guy just deserves like a healthy Give

983
00:49:07,640 --> 00:49:11,920
Speaker 2: the man a healthy twenty twenty six, just so he

984
00:49:11,960 --> 00:49:14,200
Speaker 2: can not have to worry. He almost made it through

985
00:49:14,200 --> 00:49:17,279
Speaker 2: twenty twenty five, at least physically healthy. I know he

986
00:49:17,280 --> 00:49:18,960
Speaker 2: didn't have the year he wanted, but.

987
00:49:19,239 --> 00:49:20,880
Speaker 1: He was ended and on a good note. He was

988
00:49:20,920 --> 00:49:22,760
Speaker 1: showing he still had it when he was healthy.

989
00:49:23,040 --> 00:49:25,680
Speaker 2: Yeah, and he was. He was far enough removed from

990
00:49:25,760 --> 00:49:28,760
Speaker 2: last year's injury where you started seeing the power again.

991
00:49:29,120 --> 00:49:31,120
Speaker 2: And again that's the concern of going in the next year.

992
00:49:31,160 --> 00:49:34,000
Speaker 2: How long how far past the injury are we gonna

993
00:49:34,000 --> 00:49:37,640
Speaker 2: have to get before we start seeing the production again.

994
00:49:38,080 --> 00:49:39,920
Speaker 2: And so that's the concern. And so I don't want

995
00:49:39,920 --> 00:49:41,960
Speaker 2: to hear I don't want to read any comments about

996
00:49:42,000 --> 00:49:44,920
Speaker 2: like the handmay boat's not that serious. It's it's more

997
00:49:44,960 --> 00:49:45,960
Speaker 2: than just the injury.

998
00:49:45,680 --> 00:49:49,560
Speaker 1: Itself, because this also affects other players. This is this

999
00:49:49,640 --> 00:49:53,279
Speaker 1: is a well known specific injury that goes beyond just

1000
00:49:53,440 --> 00:49:56,280
Speaker 1: healing back to where a player is capable of playing.

1001
00:49:56,600 --> 00:49:59,000
Speaker 1: It's still being able to get their power back. Then

1002
00:49:59,120 --> 00:50:01,560
Speaker 1: have he being able to to have the trust of

1003
00:50:01,640 --> 00:50:04,400
Speaker 1: swinging at different pitches, then being able to know that

1004
00:50:04,440 --> 00:50:07,960
Speaker 1: they can fully go through their batting approach, their batting

1005
00:50:08,000 --> 00:50:10,440
Speaker 1: motion without that, you know, conserving in the back of

1006
00:50:10,440 --> 00:50:12,160
Speaker 1: their mind. I am I'm going to feel that pain again.

1007
00:50:12,400 --> 00:50:14,080
Speaker 1: I'm not saying that it's going to be a mental

1008
00:50:14,120 --> 00:50:16,840
Speaker 1: case for Ozzie moving forward. It's just that it's impacted

1009
00:50:17,320 --> 00:50:19,360
Speaker 1: many of players who have had this injury. It's a

1010
00:50:19,480 --> 00:50:22,359
Speaker 1: very common injury because of how much rotation goes through

1011
00:50:22,400 --> 00:50:25,000
Speaker 1: your risks on a consistent motion when you're swinging the bat.

1012
00:50:25,280 --> 00:50:28,040
Speaker 1: That's one thing, But again, like we talk about with

1013
00:50:28,120 --> 00:50:31,839
Speaker 1: Spencer Strider, him having to readjust himself with the fact

1014
00:50:31,880 --> 00:50:34,799
Speaker 1: that his fastball is nowhere, it is not where it

1015
00:50:34,880 --> 00:50:38,120
Speaker 1: once was. With Ozzie, if he doesn't have that same

1016
00:50:38,440 --> 00:50:40,719
Speaker 1: you know, if he doesn't have the same potential in

1017
00:50:40,800 --> 00:50:42,880
Speaker 1: his risk to help out with his power game, that

1018
00:50:42,960 --> 00:50:46,360
Speaker 1: completely doesn't necessarily throw off, but it just changed his

1019
00:50:46,440 --> 00:50:49,839
Speaker 1: approach to try to be successful. It's the fact that

1020
00:50:50,120 --> 00:50:53,280
Speaker 1: it is such an important part of a position player's

1021
00:50:53,320 --> 00:50:55,880
Speaker 1: ability to hint for power that when you are a

1022
00:50:55,920 --> 00:50:59,359
Speaker 1: player like Ozzie whose offensive production is so based is

1023
00:50:59,440 --> 00:51:03,200
Speaker 1: so you know, it's so so much of his offensive

1024
00:51:03,239 --> 00:51:05,880
Speaker 1: success is determined by how much he hits for power.

1025
00:51:06,160 --> 00:51:07,879
Speaker 1: Anything that gets in the way of him doing that,

1026
00:51:08,200 --> 00:51:11,440
Speaker 1: it becomes very significant if it limits his ability to

1027
00:51:11,560 --> 00:51:14,839
Speaker 1: hit for power. And that's why this exact injury is

1028
00:51:14,880 --> 00:51:17,239
Speaker 1: for Ozzie a bit more concerning than it is for

1029
00:51:17,360 --> 00:51:19,960
Speaker 1: others because how much power plays in his game. And

1030
00:51:20,000 --> 00:51:22,600
Speaker 1: again we've already seen how much he can impact his

1031
00:51:22,680 --> 00:51:25,960
Speaker 1: overall production from this year. We just hope that twenty

1032
00:51:26,000 --> 00:51:28,120
Speaker 1: twenty six isn't the repeat of twenty five and we

1033
00:51:28,160 --> 00:51:29,839
Speaker 1: get more of what we've seen over the past six

1034
00:51:29,840 --> 00:51:32,239
Speaker 1: weeks from Ozzie once he returns in twenty six.

1035
00:51:32,840 --> 00:51:35,680
Speaker 2: Yeah, and again, like when you've had the same injury

1036
00:51:35,760 --> 00:51:37,840
Speaker 2: or close to the same injury, it becomes a mental

1037
00:51:38,080 --> 00:51:41,520
Speaker 2: like you're afraid to swing the way you normally swing

1038
00:51:41,520 --> 00:51:43,680
Speaker 2: because you're like, am I gonna hurt it again? Right

1039
00:51:44,360 --> 00:51:46,120
Speaker 2: the way again? The way he holds the bat with

1040
00:51:46,160 --> 00:51:50,080
Speaker 2: the knob right on the hand. You know, even if

1041
00:51:50,080 --> 00:51:52,839
Speaker 2: you're physically over the injury, it's there's a mental side

1042
00:51:52,840 --> 00:51:55,520
Speaker 2: of it too. So yeah, it's it's just another question

1043
00:51:55,560 --> 00:51:58,840
Speaker 2: that Braves didn't need and now they have. And so

1044
00:51:58,960 --> 00:52:01,439
Speaker 2: now they've got I don't know how much they're gonna

1045
00:52:01,440 --> 00:52:05,440
Speaker 2: it's gonna adjust their plans, but I know this bringing

1046
00:52:05,480 --> 00:52:08,640
Speaker 2: back Hassan Kim would help a lot. So let's start

1047
00:52:08,680 --> 00:52:11,319
Speaker 2: with that. Let's maybe go grab a utility player that

1048
00:52:11,360 --> 00:52:14,719
Speaker 2: can play second in case Ozzie's not the same. But

1049
00:52:15,400 --> 00:52:18,080
Speaker 2: you gotta get you gotta bring Kim back. That's that's

1050
00:52:18,080 --> 00:52:19,439
Speaker 2: my number one takeaway from all.

1051
00:52:19,360 --> 00:52:22,560
Speaker 1: This, and let's end this on a positive note. Let's

1052
00:52:22,560 --> 00:52:27,560
Speaker 1: see a significant Braves player hopefully coming back like his

1053
00:52:27,760 --> 00:52:32,640
Speaker 1: old self after experiencing the same exact injury that he

1054
00:52:32,760 --> 00:52:37,080
Speaker 1: already had a second time. Does this not sound familiar? Oh,

1055
00:52:37,239 --> 00:52:40,600
Speaker 1: it's Ozzie's best friend, Ronald Acuna Junior, who went through

1056
00:52:40,640 --> 00:52:43,960
Speaker 1: the same thing, going coming back from an ACL injury

1057
00:52:44,000 --> 00:52:45,840
Speaker 1: for the second time of his career, and then he

1058
00:52:45,920 --> 00:52:49,120
Speaker 1: picked up right where he left off. Perhaps Ozzie hadn't

1059
00:52:49,120 --> 00:52:51,440
Speaker 1: already been through this. He's got a good support channel

1060
00:52:51,440 --> 00:52:53,680
Speaker 1: for the Braves and obviously a coon you being through

1061
00:52:53,719 --> 00:52:56,560
Speaker 1: something similar. Perhaps Ozzie comes back for this stronger than

1062
00:52:56,600 --> 00:53:01,040
Speaker 1: ever because he's already experienced him. But hey, speculation, it's

1063
00:53:01,080 --> 00:53:04,560
Speaker 1: an unfortunate injury. We hope Ozzie gets a speedy recovery

1064
00:53:04,640 --> 00:53:06,600
Speaker 1: and he he's back and better than ever as soon

1065
00:53:06,640 --> 00:53:10,000
Speaker 1: as possible. But it also is important for the Braves

1066
00:53:10,120 --> 00:53:12,200
Speaker 1: to realize what they need to do to have as

1067
00:53:12,280 --> 00:53:14,960
Speaker 1: much guarantee go when twenty six that they can get

1068
00:53:15,640 --> 00:53:18,520
Speaker 1: get at least league average production. You're better up the

1069
00:53:18,520 --> 00:53:21,080
Speaker 1: middle when it comes to their position players, Steven, anything

1070
00:53:21,080 --> 00:53:22,640
Speaker 1: else from you, as we wrap up this edition in

1071
00:53:22,680 --> 00:53:24,040
Speaker 1: the Hammer Territory podcast.

1072
00:53:25,239 --> 00:53:28,560
Speaker 2: Last week of baseball for Braves fans, at least Braves baseball.

1073
00:53:28,560 --> 00:53:31,480
Speaker 2: Obviously we're gonna watch the playoffs, but you know, for

1074
00:53:31,600 --> 00:53:33,719
Speaker 2: the season, it's the last week. It always goes by

1075
00:53:33,760 --> 00:53:36,400
Speaker 2: so fast. Even when it was a you know, a

1076
00:53:36,480 --> 00:53:39,719
Speaker 2: miserable year at times for Braves fans, it's still sad

1077
00:53:39,800 --> 00:53:41,480
Speaker 2: when the season ends, like it's still kind of a

1078
00:53:41,520 --> 00:53:44,239
Speaker 2: bummer for me. The fact that we're in the last week,

1079
00:53:44,280 --> 00:53:48,279
Speaker 2: the last homestand is kind of wild actually, but yeah,

1080
00:53:48,480 --> 00:53:50,440
Speaker 2: just it's been a fun year, even though it hasn't

1081
00:53:50,440 --> 00:53:52,279
Speaker 2: been the kind of year we wanted the Braves to have.

1082
00:53:53,080 --> 00:53:56,120
Speaker 2: The worst day talking about baseball is still better than

1083
00:53:56,120 --> 00:53:58,520
Speaker 2: most days, so we appreciate it. And we will be

1084
00:53:58,560 --> 00:54:02,720
Speaker 2: here to cover the off season. Anything that happens with Ozzie,

1085
00:54:02,760 --> 00:54:06,080
Speaker 2: with Snitker, with Morton, we will cover it all. It's

1086
00:54:06,120 --> 00:54:08,800
Speaker 2: a twelve month, you know, fifty two week a year podcast,

1087
00:54:08,920 --> 00:54:10,239
Speaker 2: So there it is.

1088
00:54:10,520 --> 00:54:15,160
Speaker 1: And let's not forget. Ron McCune junior looks absolutely locked in.

1089
00:54:15,680 --> 00:54:18,320
Speaker 1: Matt Olson has been hot as can be. Drake Baldwin

1090
00:54:18,640 --> 00:54:19,560
Speaker 1: is getting back to the.

1091
00:54:19,520 --> 00:54:21,520
Speaker 2: Office, looks good offense, looks real good.

1092
00:54:21,840 --> 00:54:29,200
Speaker 1: This Braves team. Braves team now has an eighty eighty

1093
00:54:29,239 --> 00:54:32,279
Speaker 1: three percent winning percentage when they score five or more

1094
00:54:32,360 --> 00:54:36,520
Speaker 1: runs this year, five and twelve this year when they

1095
00:54:36,560 --> 00:54:39,040
Speaker 1: score five or more runs and they've done it for

1096
00:54:39,120 --> 00:54:41,719
Speaker 1: nine straight games and won all of them in terms

1097
00:54:41,719 --> 00:54:43,879
Speaker 1: of on the field production, not a much better way

1098
00:54:43,880 --> 00:54:46,080
Speaker 1: that you can end the season. We get past these injuries,

1099
00:54:46,320 --> 00:54:48,520
Speaker 1: We've got some stuff to build on. Can't thank you

1100
00:54:48,600 --> 00:54:51,160
Speaker 1: enough for joining us here on the Hammit Territory podcast. Myself,

1101
00:54:51,360 --> 00:54:54,360
Speaker 1: Sean Coleman at stats Sac on Twitter, slash acts, Steven

1102
00:54:54,400 --> 00:54:58,720
Speaker 1: Toilbert at b Underscore Outliers on Twitter slash Acts, herot

1103
00:54:58,800 --> 00:55:01,360
Speaker 1: Territory you can find across all forms of social media.

1104
00:55:01,520 --> 00:55:05,000
Speaker 1: Part of the foul Territory family of podcasts you can

1105
00:55:05,040 --> 00:55:08,040
Speaker 1: find across all forms of social media as well. For

1106
00:55:08,160 --> 00:55:11,239
Speaker 1: Steven Tobart Sean Coleman as always a pleasure.

1107
00:55:10,960 --> 00:55:11,400
Speaker 6: To be with you.

1108
00:55:11,480 --> 00:55:13,759
Speaker 1: Go Braves. We'll talk to you again sunor on the

1109
00:55:13,760 --> 00:55:15,080
Speaker 1: Hammer Territory podcast